“Fate/Grand Order” Explanation of world view and terminology

In this article, I will explain the terminology and the worldview of Fate that you need to remember when watching the Fate series.

|Fate Series Overview

Fate/stay night” is the commercial debut work of the game brand TYPE-MOON.
Today, the Fate series is a wide variety of games, anime, and other media.

The main story of Fate is based on the Holy Grail War.

The story differs greatly from series to series, but the fact that the “Holy Grail” is the key to the story, and that there are “Masters” and “Servants” who fight for their own goals, is consistent, and is one of the charms of the Fate series.

|Worldview of the Fate series

◆A battle is fought with magic.

In the world of the Fate series, “magic” exists in common, and “Servants” are summoned using magic.
Servants use magic to summon “Servants”. Servants use their own magic in battle, and Masters also use their own magic to assist in battle, and sometimes to fight other Masters.

◆The difference between “magic” and “witchcraft

In the world of Fate, the definitions of “sorcery” and “magic” are clearly separated.

In the manifestation of mysteries, those that can be replaced by science or technology to cause a certain “result” are called “magic”.
On the other hand, “magic” is that which brings about a “result” that is absolutely unattainable no matter what technology or knowledge is used in that era.

|Common world setting in the Fate series

As magic is common in all Fate works, there are small errors, but it is basically the “same world setting (= common worldview)”.
For example, both “Fate/stay night” and “Fate/Grand Order” have magic and the concept of the Holy Grail, but these two works do not continue in the same timeline.
Even though they are set in the same world, they are in parallel worlds.

Since the common setting is used, once you know about Fate, you can enjoy watching any of the series and make progress in examining each other’s works.

◆The same TYPE-MOON works share the same world setting.

TYPE-MOON, the creator of the Fate series, has also created other famous works such as “Tsukihime” and “Kara no Kyoukai”.
Although there are differences in details, the world of “The Garden of the Sinners” has many common elements in its setting, such as the existence of magic.

|Fate/stay night series is mainly about the Holy Grail War.

Fate/stay night, which takes place in the Fifth Holy Grail War, and Fate/Zero, which takes place ten years ago in the Fourth Holy Grail War, have the Holy Grail War as their main focus.
It’s also the royal story of Fate, and knowing it will help you understand the rest of the series better.

|Fate/Grand Order doesn’t have a Holy Grail War.

Among the derivative works of Fate, Fate/Grand Order does not have the Holy Grail War.
As in the Fate series, magic and servants exist, but the major difference is that each story takes place in a different time period and setting, and the servants who appear in each story also change.

|List of important terms in the Fate series

There are so many series of Fate works, and they are dotted with unique words and settings.
If you don’t know much about Fate, it’s a good idea to learn some of the important terms so you can enjoy the anime even more!

◆Vocabulary to be memorized throughout the series

TermOriginal	Explanation
Holy Grail	A being with the power to make the wishes of those who hold it come true.It is said to be an “all-powerful wishing machine” that can fulfill all desires and people’s wishes. In FGO, the power of the Holy Grail is often the cause of the occurrence of singularities in each era.
Holy Grail War	A battle for the Holy Grail, in which seven masters and their seven servants compete for supremacy, and only the last remaining pair can take possession of the Grail. In Fate/Zero, the Fourth Holy Grail War takes place, and in Fate/stay night, the Fifth Holy Grail War takes place.
Servant	The power of the Holy Grail is used by the master sorcerer to summon the heroes of myth and legend, as well as great deeds and concepts, as spirits, binding them by means of formulas and contracts, and turning them into users. In FGO, they are summoned by using the summoning system called “Guardian Heroic Spirit Summoning System Fate” of Chaldea.
Mana	Servant’s name. Since revealing the true identity of an Heroic Spirit means exposing their weaknesses, they basically hide their true name and use their class name, such as “Saber.
class	A kind of vessel to possess in order to summon Heroic Spirits. Basically, there are seven classes: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker. During the Holy Grail War, the summoned classes do not overlap. Exceptions include extra classes such as Avenger and Looter.
master	A sorcerer who is qualified to follow a Servant. The Master has the absolute right to command the Servant, called a “command spell.
Reijyu	A sorcerer who is qualified to follow a Servant. The Master has the absolute right to command the Servant, called a “command spell.
origin	The predetermined nature of things.
Noble Phantasm	A special move possessed by a servant. Since it consumes a lot of magic power, it is used only when it is necessary.
Magic	A general term for the art of artificially recreating mysteries and miracles using magical power. The definition of “magic” is different from that of “witchcraft.
witchcraft	It is different from “magic” in that it is a manifestation of power drawn from the final destination of the sorcerers.
magic circuit	A pseudo-nerve that a sorcerer has in his body to handle magic. The more circuits a sorcerer has, the better he is. The number of circuits a sorcerer can have is determined at birth, and sorcerers from older families tend to be more powerful.
witchcraft society	The governing body of sorcerers, composed of sorcerers. Clock Tower, Atlas Institute, etc.
eigenfrequency	It is a ward that embodies the mental image of the surgeon. It can develop its own rules that can only be applied within its own boundaries.
Craft Essence	A concept that can be picked out and made to wear.
homunculus	Artificial life form. No physical growth.

◆Words to remember when watching “stay night” series

TermOriginal	Explanation
遠坂（Tosaka）	One of the three families that established the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. Main Character: Rin Tosaka
Einzbern	One of the three families that established the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. Main Character: Ilyasfiel
間桐（Matou）	One of the three families that established the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. Main Character: Sakura Matou

◆Words to remember when watching FGO

TermOriginal	Explanation
Chaldean	Its official name is the Humanity Continuity Assurance Organization, Chaldean. It is a special agency established with the cooperation of various countries for the purpose of observing a world that cannot be measured by magic alone or science alone, and preventing the definitive extinction of humanity.
singular point	A realm that is different from normal. A past that should never have existed. It is believed to be the cause of the disappearance of human history. There are seven singularities that are thought to have had a particularly serious impact on human history.
Designation of humanitarian protection Grand Order	Fujimaru and his friends, who are on a journey to search for the Holy Grail in order to restore humanity, are sent on the last and original mission of Chaldea.
rayshift	A method of navigation that pseudo-transforms a human being into a spirit and transfers them to a different time and space. A simple way to describe it is “time travel to a parallel world.
Pseudo-servants	A spirit that cannot be summoned for some reason is forcibly summoned by putting it into a human vessel. Such as Marsh and Ishtar.
gift	An extremely powerful power granted by the Knight King to the Knights of the Round Table in the Sixth Singularity.

|Overview of the Anime Fate Series

◆Fate/stay night Studio Deen Ver.

◆Fate/stay night ufotable

◆Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya

◆Fate/Grand Order

◆Fate and other anime series

[speech_bubble type=”drop” subtype=”L1″ icon=”surprise.png” name=”Nazuna”] How was it? I hope this has been of some help to you. If you understand the terms, you can enjoy the story more. Whether you haven’t seen the anime yet, or you have already seen it I hope you will take this opportunity to watch it. Let’s enjoy FGO together with me! [/speech_bubble]