The next anime installment of the Fate franchise, Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn- is set to premiere soon. With a franchise as large and complex as Fate, it can be tricky to get a grasp on how any individual entry relates to any other and what you need to know before watching it. Luckily, Fate/strange Fake seems relatively self-contained, although it does seem to be turning the typical Fate formula on its head.

Most Fate anime focus on a Holy Grail War. These are magical conflicts wherein various masters summon historical or mythological servants to fight for them until one is left standing. This victor then will receive a wish from the Holy Grail. A typical Holy Grail War will include a set of six servants each serving in a specific niche of Saber, Archer, Lancer, Assassin, Caster, and Rider. Some anime have changed this formula however, such as Fate/Apocrypha,...