Watch Order 3 Core Entries 10 Optional

FATE SERIES:
WATCH ORDER

The Fate franchise has one of the most confusing watch orders in anime — multiple studios, two timelines, and several spin-off series that branch off the main story. This guide breaks it into a clean main path plus optional spin-offs, based on what actually matters for understanding the story.

Core path 3 entries
Optional 10 spin-offs
Total time 92h
Aired 2006–2022
0/10 entries watched0%
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Finish date

August 9, 2026

Hours left

64.7h

Entries left

10

Optional entries

7

#1

Fate/Zero

Required

TV Series · 25 episodes · 2011–2012 · 10.0h

Prequel to Fate/Stay Night, chronologically first. Best animated entry to start with — sets up the entire Grail War mythology.

💡Start here even though it released after Fate/Stay Night (2006). It's the correct chronological entry point.
#2

Fate/Stay Night (2006)

Optional⚠ Very dated animation

TV Series · 24 episodes · 2006 · 9.6h

The original adaptation. Animation has aged poorly compared to later entries.

💡Skip this — go straight to Unlimited Blade Works (2014) instead. Same story, far better animation.
#3

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

Required

TV Series · 25 episodes · 2014–2015 · 10.0h

The definitive adaptation of the Unlimited Blade Works route. Ufotable's animation. This is the version most fans recommend.

💡This is the proper entry point into the main Fate/Stay Night story — not the 2006 version.
#4

Heaven's Feel — Trilogy

Required

Movie Trilogy · 3 films · 2017–2020 · 6.5h

The third and final route of Fate/Stay Night, told as 3 movies. Widely considered the best part of the franchise.

I. Presage Flower (2017)II. Lost Butterfly (2019)III. Spring Song (2020)
💡Watch all 3 movies back to back — they form one continuous story.
#5

Lord El-Melloi II Case Files

Optional

TV Series · 13 episodes · 2019 · 5.2h

Follows Waver Velvet (now Lord El-Melloi II) from Fate/Zero as a detective in the Mage's Association. Mystery-driven, slower pace.

💡Watch after Fate/Zero for maximum character connection.
#6

Fate/Apocrypha

Optional

TV Series · 25 episodes · 2017 · 10.0h

An alternate Holy Grail War with 14 servants instead of 7. Disconnected from the main Fate/Stay Night storyline.

💡Can be watched any time after Fate/Zero — it doesn't require Unlimited Blade Works or Heaven's Feel.
#7

Fate/Grand Order: First Order

Optional

Movie · 1 film · 2016 · 1.0h

Prologue movie introducing the Fate/Grand Order game's setting and the protagonist Ritsuka Fujimaru.

💡Watch this first if you plan to continue into the Camelot and Babylonia arcs.
#8

Fate/Grand Order: Camelot

Optional

Movie Duology · 2 films · 2020–2021 · 3.0h

Two-part movie covering the Camelot Singularity — King Arthur's corrupted kingdom.

Part 1: Wandering; Agateram (2020)Part 2: Paladin; Agateram (2021)
#9

Fate/Grand Order: Babylonia

Optional

TV Series · 21 episodes · 2019–2020 · 8.4h

Considered the best Grand Order arc. Set in ancient Mesopotamia, following Gilgamesh and the fight against Goetia.

💡Most fans recommend this as the best entry point into the Grand Order side of the franchise.
#10

Fate/Grand Order: Solomon

Optional

Movie · 1 film · 2022 · 1.0h

The final movie in the Grand Order saga, concluding the Babylonia storyline.

💡Watch immediately after Babylonia — it's the direct conclusion.

Story, Creator & Reception

The Fate franchise originates from a 2004 visual novel written by Kinoko Nasu for Type-Moon. Fate/Zero, written by novelist Gen Urobuchi as a prequel, is often cited as the entry point that elevated the franchise's reputation, holding a MyAnimeList score above 8.2 — among the highest-rated entries in the series.

Why Order Matters

The franchise is tangled because it began as a branching visual novel, and each anime adapts a different route or spin-off timeline. Fate/Zero is a prequel produced later than the original series, which is exactly why watching release order instead of story order confuses so many newcomers.

Studio & Dub Cast

Fate/Zero was produced by ufotable, the same studio behind Unlimited Blade Works and the Heaven's Feel films, keeping visual quality consistent across the core trilogy despite different production years. Saber's English dub voice actor is Kate Higgins.

Trivia

Nasu originally conceived Fate/stay night as a darker, more violent story before revising it for a broader release. The Grand Order mobile game, launched in 2015, later became the franchise's highest-grossing entry, generating billions in lifetime revenue.

Common Mistakes

Browse All Anime Guides → Monogatari Watch Order JoJo Watch Order

FAQ

Do I need to watch Fate/Stay Night 2006 before Unlimited Blade Works?

No. Unlimited Blade Works (2014) is a complete standalone retelling of that route with far better animation. The 2006 version is optional and mainly for franchise completionists.

What's the correct order: Fate/Zero or Fate/Stay Night first?

Chronologically Fate/Zero happens first and most fans recommend starting there since it has the best animation quality for an introduction and sets up the Grail War rules clearly.

Is Fate/Apocrypha connected to the main story?

No, Fate/Apocrypha is a separate alternate Holy Grail War and isn't required to understand Fate/Stay Night or Heaven's Feel. It can be watched independently any time after Fate/Zero.

Do I need to play the Fate/Grand Order game to understand the anime adaptations?

No. Babylonia, Camelot, and Solomon are self-contained adaptations that don't require any game knowledge, though First Order helps set the stage.

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