A-1 Pictures created a surprise for the entire Fate fandom with the release of Fate Strange/Fake – Whispers of Dawn. This anime brought forth the idea of Real and Fake Holy Grail Wars, leading to considerable perplexity within the community. To address this confusion, we present a comprehensive explanation of the Snowfield Holy Grail War.
What is the real Holy Grail War in Fate Strange/Fake?
The Real Holy Grail War in the Fate Series
The Holy Grail War is a recurring theme in the Fate series, where mages form partnerships with heroes from myths and legends to engage in a deadly battle, all for the coveted prize: a wish granted by the magical Holy Grail.
This competition, known as the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, has been conducted for two hundred years and was established by the Three Founding Families – Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern – as a means to reach Akasha. While initially thought to be a contest for a potential Holy Grail, its true purpose lies in using the returning seven Servants to create a direct link to the root, Akasha.
However, there is a significant flaw in this system. The Grail requires the combined energy of all seven Servants to activate the Greater Grail and access Akasha. Consequently, this means that all Servants, including the victorious one, must be sacrificed. Moreover, since the Grail can only be held by a Servant, the Greater Grail cannot be activated, and the Holy Grail cannot be retrieved without one. As a result, the Grail is limited in its ability to grant wishes, as it can only fulfill the desires of Masters and Servants.
The end of the Real Holy Grail War of Fuyuki
Ten years after the Fifth Holy Grail War in the 2010s, the Holy Grail was taken apart. Lord El-Melloi II, who had previously been a Master in the Fourth Holy Grail War, teamed up with Rin Tohsaka and arrived in Fuyuki with the specific mission of completely dismantling the Greater Grail. This move directly contradicted the Mage’s Association’s plan of reestablishing the Grail, leading to fierce opposition between the two sides. The resulting upheaval was on par with the intensity of a Holy Grail War, but ultimately, the Greater Grail was successfully dismantled. As a consequence, the Holy Grail Wars of Fuyuki came to a definitive and conclusive end.
How is the Fake Strange/Fake Holy Grail War different from the Real Holy Grail War?
In Fate/strange Fake, there are two simultaneous Holy Grail Wars known as the True Holy Grail War and the False Holy Grail War. These Wars take place in Snowfield, United States, and are collectively referred to as the Snowfield Holy Grail War. These events occur some years after the Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki.
The system for these Wars is based on the Fuyuki system but with certain modifications. The process of becoming a Master and summoning Servants is more flexible compared to the traditional rules. For instance, Tsubaki Kuruoka, a young comatose girl, became a Master and summoned Pale Rider, an entity that isn’t a Heroic Spirit or a Divine Spirit.
Similarly, Flat Escardos managed to summon his Servant, Jack the Ripper, without a summoning circle or a chant, merely using his catalyst and the Ley Lines around the area. Additionally, Enkidu, a being closer to a Noble Phantasm of the Gods, was also summoned during these Wars. The True War, in particular, has its unique occurrences, such as the summoning of the Watcher.
The Holy Grail in Fate Strange/Fake
The Holy Grail itself is yet to be shown, as the False War alone won’t cause it to manifest. Even after the summoning of the “True” Servants, the Holy Grail hasn’t been shown. According to Faldeus Dioland, the war is to last seven days.
The False Holy Grail War in Fate Strange/Fake
The False War serves as a precursor to the true war, gathering sufficient energy through the summoning of six Servants. Unlike the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki, where the goal is the Holy Grail itself, this war revolves around a “False Grail”. This makes the ritual highly unpredictable. The scale of preparation for this ritual appears to require the involvement of a powerful Magi family. They seem similar to the esteemed Einzberns. And yet, the enigmatic “Initiator” of the Holy Grail War remains unseen till now. They have also not detectable presence indicative of such a renowned Magus.
The concept of “Summoning Rituals” becomes rather ambiguous within this flawed system, as evidenced by the summoning of False Rider. After the fifth Servant is summoned, the False Grail demands the materialization of the sixth Servant. They even resort to brutal force if necessary.
The True Holy Grail War in Fate Strange/Fake
The “True” War commences after the summoning of the “False” Servants has taken place. In contrast to the False Masters, who are mostly individuals who chanced upon knowledge of the War, the True Masters are chosen with great care. Moreover, unlike the False War, the True War boasts a complete roster of seven Servants. There is even the possibility of summoning a Ruler Servant.
Although the False and True Wars are categorized as distinct events, the Masters and Servants have the freedom to battle and cooperate with one another. This blurs the lines between the Wars, at least for now. The exact disparities between the “False” and “True” Servants remain uncertain if any exist at all. These two Wars are sometimes referred to separately or collectively as the ‘Snowfield Holy Grail War’.
