Fate Third Holy Grail War

Third Holy Grail War

History

The third Holy Grail War to take place in Fuyuki City, the Third Holy Grail War happened in the 1930s leading up to the start of World War II. The war would ultimately end in failure with the destruction of the Lesser Grail before a victor could be determined.

System

The Third Holy Grail War makes use of the “Heaven’s Feel” ritual developed by the Three Founding Families—Einzbern, Matou, and Tohsaka—over 200 years prior as a way to reach Akasha and recover the Third Magic. Kotomine Church was chosen as the evocation site for the Holy Grail during this war. For the first time, an Overseer was also appointed by the Church in order to supervise the war and prevent it from turning chaotic, as happened in previous wars. The Church also runs interference during the war to keep it a secret from the general populace. This includes manipulating information or the memories of witnesses while covering up the damage done during the battles. Also helping in this area is the Mage’s Association, who handles the press.

Outcome

Participants in the Third Holy Grail War included mages from the Tohsaka and Edelfelt families among others. The Einzberns also got involved by attempting to subvert the system by summoning the Zoroastrian god, Angra Mainyu. During the war, battles were fought over the Lesser Grail between Nazi Germany and the Imperial Army. However, the Lesser Grail was destroyed before a victor could be decided, and the Greater Grail was corrupted by Angra Mainyu being absorbed into it.

It is revealed in Fate/Apocrypha that during this time Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia worked with the Nazis to capture the Greater Grail, which he then stole for himself and kept hidden in his castle in Romania for 60 years while it accumulated mana.

Participants

Masters
Einzbern Master‎‎
Avenger’s Master in the Fate/stay night universe and Ruler’s Master in the Fate/Apocrypha universe, the Einzbern Master was a homunculus modeled after Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern and created by the Einzberns after they lost the Second Holy Grail War. In the Fate/stay night universe, she realizes that Avenger is a useless Servant and is quickly killed, and Avenger goes on to corrupt the Grail. In the Fate/Apocrypha universe, she summons Ruler but is killed in battle.

Edelfelt Sisters
The Edelfelt sisters were the Masters of Saber during the Third Holy Grail War. Though regarded as a single Master, due to their ability Ore Scales, they were able to summon two sides of Saber, meaning they each had a Saber Servant. The sisters parted ways during the war and so too did their Servants. One went on to make it to the end of the war, though their wish wasn’t granted due to the Lesser Grail being destroyed. No one knows what happened to the other sister.

Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia
Leader of the Yggdmillennia family, Darnic was cold and calculating, stopping at nothing to get what he wants. He was Lancer’s Master and worked with the Nazis during the Third Holy Grail War. He was ultimately able to steal the Greater Grail for himself and kept it hidden under his castle for 60 years until the events of the Great Holy Grail War.

Unnamed Puppet User
Assassin’s Master, Unnamed Puppet User was a relative of Faldeus and a skilled doll user. He used Assassin together with his many dolls to gain an edge in battle.

Tohsaka Master
A magus chosen from the Tohsaka family to participate in the Third Holy Grail War. They were the Master of an unknown Servant.

Matou Master
A magus chosen from the Matou family to participate in the Third Holy Grail War. They were the Master of an unknown Servant.

Servants
Saber
The Edelfelt sisters’ Servant, Saber was split into two separate entities due to their Sorcery Trait, Ore Scales. Each entity represents a different side to Saber. Saber’s true identity during the Third Holy Grail War is unknown. However, true to their class, one of the Sabers makes it to the end of the war but the Lesser Grail is destroyed before a victor can be decided.

Avenger
The Einzbern Master’s Servant in the Fate/stay night universe, Avenger’s true identity is Angra Mainyu and his participation in the Third Holy Grail War replaced the Berserker class. A useless Servant, he would go on to be absorbed by the Grail and corrupt it with all the world’s evil.

Ruler
The Einzbern Master’s Servant in the Fate/Apocrypha universe, Ruler’s true identity is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.

Assassin
The Unnamed Puppet User’s Servant, Assassin’s true identity is Hassan-i-Sabbah. His activities during the Third Holy Grail War are largely unknown.

Lancer
Darnic’s Servant, Lancer’s true identity is Fionn mac Cumhaill from Irish history. He is an elegant man brimming with charm and is a noble knight who follows a righteous path. He possesses several skills including magic resistance, divinity, magecraft, and clairvoyance. His Noble Phantasms include Mac an Luin, Uisce Beatha, and Fintan Finegas.

Unknown Servant
An unknown Servant who was the Servant of the Tohsaka master.

Unknown Servant
An unknown Servant who was the Servant of the Matou master.