Fate/strange Fake Characters: Guide to the 6 "Fake" Servants

Since the end of Fate/strange Fake Episode 3, new servants have been joining the Holy Grail War in Snowfield one after another. Normally in the "Fate" universe, only seven teams of masters and servants participate in the Holy Grail War. However, in Snowfield, the situation is completely different; it isn’t just six or seven teams, but rather 6 + 7, for a total of 13 teams participating in the Snowfield Holy Grail War.

At the beginning of Fate/strange Fake Episode 4, the "Fake" Caster explains several important facts to the viewers. One of the masterminds hosting the Snowfield Holy Grail War, Faldeus Dioland, used six teams of Masters and Servants as a catalyst to trigger the "Real" Holy Grail War. Since Snowfield itself does not contain enough magical power to support a Holy Grail War, Faldeus, Francesca Prelati, and their companions hosted a "Fake" war first to gather enough mana to manifest the real one.

Although this may sound like an impossible plan that would take a lot of time and effort, Faldeus Dioland and Francesca Prelati have actually succeeded. Starting with "True" Archer Alcides, "True" Rider Hippolyta, and "True" Saber Richard, there will be even more "True" Servants appearing from now on.

Before the Holy Grail War in Snowfield becomes even more chaotic, intense, and cruel, we first need to know which Servants belong to the "Fake" side. Aside from those six, the others automatically belong to the "True" side, just like Richard. During the Holy Grail War, teams may team up with each other to win, so knowing which side everyone belongs to will ultimately help us understand the situation as it unfolds.

Before diving deep into the content, please be informed that this post only covers the Fate/strange Fake anime. While Fate/strange Fake exists as a light novel, manga, and anime, I am an "anime-only" viewer and will be sharing my opinions based solely on the show. Since this post contains episodic spoilers, those who haven't watched it yet should leave now to avoid being spoiled!

An X post you might find interesting:

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第3話「英霊なき戦い」
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— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 17, 2026

"Fake" Archer — The servant with the highest rank and a heart full of pride:

The first servant from the "Fake" side I want to introduce is "Fake" Archer. As you may have noticed, "Fake" Archer is arrogant, prideful, and always looks down on others. To be honest, his personality is quite a problem; however, since he is one of the strongest servants and holds the highest rank among them, it is understandable why he acts this way.

Although every Servant (also known as a Heroic Spirit) should theoretically have a chance to win the Holy Grail War, there are actually distinct ranks among them. Ranking Heroic Spirits in the "Fate" universe is quite complicated, but to put it simply: the greater the history and legend behind a Heroic Spirit, the stronger they will be once summoned.

"Fake" Archer is actually Gilgamesh, a hero with vast history and legends; therefore, once he is summoned to the Holy Grail War in Snowfield, he automatically possesses absolute power. "Fake" Archer truly has the strength to look down on others, and his Master, Tiné Chelc, is well aware of this. Knowing that Gilgamesh holds such absolute power, Tiné is willing to give everything to support him, as she has her own important reasons to fight.

Tiné must fight and win the Holy Grail War for her people and her homeland. After solidifying her relationship with "Fake" Archer, she has truly done a great job. Not only does she support "Fake" Archer by ensuring he lives a life of comfort, but she also respects and adores him, remaining cautious at all times since the war began.

As a Protector of the Land, Tiné carries a heavy burden that does not match her young age. Although she is a talented mage with great resources and the potential to win the Holy Grail War, she often forces herself to fight out of a sense of duty. While this is an unconscious habit for Tiné, "Fake" Archer has already noticed it.

Among all the "Fake" teams, Tiné and "Fake" Archer have formed an excellent partnership. To Tiné, "Fake" Archer isn’t just a Servant helping her win; he is also someone who provides the wisdom she needs. He is truly one of the greatest Servants; not only can he fulfill Tiné’s wishes, but he also teaches her important life lessons. In fact, starting from Episode 2, "Fake" Archer has been trying to lead Tiné to think for herself, fight her own battles, and forge her own path.

If "Fake" Archer can truly lead Tiné and help her grow throughout the Holy Grail War, they may have the highest chance of winning. Tiné has a strong will to win, and "Fake" Archer is certainly capable of helping her achieve that. In fact, in Fate/strange Fake Episodes 3 and 4, "Fake" Archer not only protected Tiné but even held an absolute advantage against "True" Archer and "True" Rider. Although the main characters of Fate/strange Fake are Ayaka Sajyou and her Saber, Tiné and "Fake" Archer definitely seem to have the best shot at winning the war.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

"Fake" Lancer — The servant with monstrous power who enjoys peace:

As the name suggests, many strange things happen in Fate/strange Fake. Among all these anomalies, the fact that an animal summoned a servant is strange enough, but the fact that the servant summoned is of the highest rank is what truly amazed everyone. Much like "Fake" Archer, the "Fake" Lancer summoned by the Silver Wolf Chimera is a top-tier servant who possesses monstrous power capable of easily destroying the world.

If the Silver Wolf Chimera and "Fake" Lancer really wanted the Holy Grail and actively participated in the war, they could easily wipe out the other teams. Strangely enough, however, "Fake" Lancer isn't someone who actually wants to fight or participate in the Holy Grail War. Normally, when Servants join the war, they have specific reasons or goals, but "Fake" Lancer has none—and neither does its Master.

"Fake" Lancer is actually Enkidu, a Heroic Spirit who—just like Gilgamesh—has a vast history and legend. With "Fake" Lancer, any Master could easily have their wish granted by the Holy Grail. However, since the Silver Wolf Chimera summoned "Fake" Lancer by accident and has no real desire to join the war, the two of them chose to stay in the forest and do nothing.

In Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, during the dialogue between "Fake" Lancer and "Fake" Archer, we learn that "Fake" Lancer has the power to create a small Holy Grail which can also be used to fulfill wishes. This means that even without participating in the war, the Silver Wolf Chimera could actually have its wishes granted. However, since the wolf lacks human desire, it hasn't used "Fake" Lancer to fulfill any wishes.

"Fake" Lancer definitely has the second-highest chance of winning the Holy Grail War. If he had the intention to win, it would be incredibly hard to stop him. In fact, "Fake" Archer even set his Noble Phantasm to an "auto-defense" mode, just to protect himself and Tiné from any surprises from "Fake" Lancer.

"Fake" Lancer would be unstoppable if he truly wanted the Holy Grail. Luckily, his Master doesn’t seem to want it either, so they have spent their time living peacefully in the forest. However, even though "Fake" Lancer doesn't want the Grail and has no intention of participating further, I don't think he will stay out of the fight entirely; there is someone—or something—in Snowfield that will eventually force him to join the war.

"Fake" Caster — The servant full of desires, always demanding food, women, and the casino:

As a Servant, "Fake" Caster is the exact opposite of "Fake" Lancer. While "Fake" Lancer is a Servant who doesn't really have any desires, "Fake" Caster is full of them. He is constantly asking his Master, Orlando Reeve, for something—whether it’s gourmet food, women, or even asking Orlando to let him have some fun at the casino.

As the person in charge of Snowfield’s security, I can understand why Orlando has to be cautious about everything and why he tries to trust nothing but his own power. It is understandable for Orlando to have such a personality; in fact, I think this is exactly why he chose "Fake" Caster as his Servant for the Holy Grail War.

Although Masters and Servants work as a team, and a Master is necessary for the Holy Grail War, it is ultimately the Servants who fight and determine the outcome. It may sound harsh, but it is obvious to everyone, as it is nearly impossible for a human to kill a Servant—even with a gun. Therefore, as someone who only trusts his own power, Orlando naturally chose a Servant who wouldn't be active on the frontlines, rather than summoning a monstrous Caster that he couldn't control.

If Orlando truly wanted the Holy Grail, he should have summoned a strong frontline Servant like Tiné Chelc did to increase his chances, letting his Servant become the "star" of the war. Although his choice seems counterintuitive, it’s clear why Orlando chose the opposite path. He takes full responsibility for the safety of Snowfield and deeply loves his job; therefore, he wouldn't want an uncontrollable entity determining the outcome. He wants to win the war on his own terms.

As a result of don’t believe anyone, Orlando had attracted a servant who you can’t believe with. The ‘Fake’ Caster, just by his appearance, you will feel that he is someone you can’t trust. He had a weird appearance, always call his master as ‘brother’, and unlike any other ‘Fake’ servants, he always ask Orlando to give him something. 

Orlando is the exact opposite of Tiné. While Tiné respects and adores her Servant, Orlando doesn’t even trust his own. Tiné gives her Servant total freedom, but Orlando won't even let his Servant go to the casino. Even though "Fake" Archer and "Fake" Caster are both Servants, they receive completely different treatment.

Orlando clearly wants to obtain the Holy Grail, but the relationship between him and "Fake" Caster is incredibly unhealthy. The Holy Grail War is built on the partnership between Masters and Servants; if Orlando cannot learn to work with "Fake" Caster, it will be impossible for them to win—especially as other teams continue to deepen their bonds.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

"Fake" Assassin — The servant with absolute beauty and the master of "Zabaniya":

Among all the Servants on the "Fake" side, "Fake" Assassin is the most hardworking and active in Fate/strange Fake. After being summoned in Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn, she immediately used "Zabaniya" to crush her Master’s heart. Since then, she has traveled to many different places, and whenever she appears, she is ready to strike with her "Zabaniya" techniques.

"Fake" Assassin is a powerful Servant. Although her rank cannot compete with "Fake" Archer or Lancer, her "Zabaniya" techniques are incredibly effective and can handle many different situations. Up until Fate/strange Fake Episode 5, the "Zabaniya" techniques she has displayed include crushing an opponent's heart, extending and multiplying her hair, causing an opponent's magical circuits to go on a rampage, and using ice to protect herself.

Besides her "Zabaniya" techniques, "Fake" Assassin possesses incredible agility and speed, allowing her to move at high velocities. In Whispers of Dawn, even though "True" Saber tracked her down and unleashed his powerful Excalibur, "Fake" Assassin was able to dodge it instantly. Although "Fake" Assassin is not the strongest Servant, her overall stats are so high that using her to win the Holy Grail War is certainly possible. Her versatility makes her a threat that any Master should take seriously.

"Fake" Assassin possesses every quality an Assassin needs; based on her performance alone, there is no doubt she belongs to that class. However, she is very different from the traditional Assassins of the "Fate" universe. Usually, Servants of the Assassin class wear a skull mask, just like the "True" Assassin. The Servant that Faldeus Dioland summoned is also an Assassin and wears the iconic skull mask, but "Fake" Assassin does not.

Besides that, although "sneak and attack" is the typical style for an Assassin, "Fake" Assassin stands out far too much. Ever since she thought she killed her Master, she has traveled to many places and attacked numerous people. From a viewer’s perspective, it is thrilling to watch, but this isn't how an Assassin usually operates. In Fate/strange Fake Episode 4, Faldeus Dioland’s "True" Assassin doesn't even show his true form to his Master; when he appears, he shuts out all the lights to ensure he remains a mystery.

That is the style of Assassin we are used to, but "Fake" Assassin is completely different. She doesn’t hide, she doesn’t bother to shut off the lights, and more importantly, she openly uses her "Zabaniya" techniques in front of others. This is very strange because a Noble Phantasm like "Zabaniya" is usually a secret trump card, not something used to "show off."

Although "Fake" Assassin is a Servant capable of winning the Holy Grail War, she hates her "Fake" Master, Jester Karture, so much that I personally don’t think she would ever help him obtain the Holy Grail. As a viewer, I want to watch her fight against other Servants, but it is also very exciting to slowly unlock the mysteries surrounding her character.

"Fake" Berserker — The servant with no physical body, capable of transforming into anyone:

The strange occurrences in Fate/strange Fake never end; they constantly exceed your imagination. Normally, to participate in any war, one needs a physical body—that is common sense to us—but "Fake" Berserker doesn't have one. Lord El-Melloi II’s apprentice, Flat Escardos, has summoned a servant that is incredibly "strange" compared to those in the rest of the "Fate" universe.

Among all the Servants in Fate/strange Fake, "Fake" Berserker is the quickest to share his True Name: the infamous Jack the Ripper. "Fake" Berserker is not a traditional Heroic Spirit; since no one truly knows Jack the Ripper’s identity, every person has a different mental image of him. Because of this, after being summoned by Flat, "Fake" Berserker does not have a fixed physical body.

It may seem difficult to fight other Servants without a physical body, but "Fake" Berserker has a unique advantage. The lack of a fixed form allows him to transform into anyone; by using this ability, he could easily eliminate other Masters. This is actually an excellent strategy, since defeating a Master doesn't necessarily require raw power or a Noble Phantasm. However, because Flat doesn't really care about winning, the chances of them actually using such a ruthless plan are very low.

Not having a physical body isn't the only strange thing about "Fake" Berserker; among the Servants on the "Fake" side, he is the only one who truly has a goal. Unlike the others, "Fake" Berserker doesn’t just fight for Flat—he fights for himself. While his goal may not be something "grand," it is quite understandable. Since no one knows his identity, and he doesn't even know his own history, "Fake" Berserker wants to use the power of the Holy Grail to discover the truth of his own story.

For better or worse, teaming up with Flat doesn’t necessarily help "Fake" Berserker's goal, as Flat doesn't care about the war and is mostly looking forward to becoming friends with everyone. On the other hand, most Masters wouldn't want to team up with a Servant who lacks a physical body, as it makes traditional combat against other teams very difficult. In that sense, Flat and "Fake" Berserker are truly the only ones for each other.

Until now, Flat and "Fake" Berserker haven't been very active in the Holy Grail War, serving mostly as a "funny duo" in Fate/strange Fake. Because of this, I am really looking forward to seeing the two of them execute a brilliant plan, or seeing "Fake" Berserker reveal a much more powerful transformation.

Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account

"Fake" Rider — The scariest, yet warmest shadow for a little girl:

The last Servant from the "Fake" side I want to introduce is "Fake" Rider. As I mentioned before, the strange occurrences in Fate/strange Fake never end. In any other "Fate" series, this would be considered impossible, but if a Servant without a physical body can join the Holy Grail War, why can't a black shadow join as well?

"Fake" Rider is the most mysterious Servant of all, including the "True" Servants in Fate/strange Fake. Before the epic battle between "Fake" Archer and "Fake" Lancer in Whispers of Dawn, no one even knew it existed in this world, as it had been residing in a different dimension the entire time.

Normally, a Servant exists in the physical world alongside their Master; even "Fake" Berserker exists in the same dimension as Flat Escardos. Although "Fake" Berserker lacks a physical body, he still occupies the same space, allowing them to communicate. Even if it looks like Flat is talking to himself from an outsider’s perspective, they are at least in the same reality as everyone else. "Fake" Rider, on the other hand, is completely different, as it doesn't even exist in the same dimension as the other participants in the first place.

"Fake" Rider stays in another dimension not because of an ability or Noble Phantasm, but because it is teamed up with a little girl in a coma, Tsubaki Kuruoka. Unlike any other Master, little Tsubaki cannot interact with the physical world; she cannot see or hear anything, nor can she interact with her surroundings because of her comatose state.

Although little Tsubaki’s physical body is lying in a Snowfield hospital, she is completely helpless; all she can do is live "happily" within her dream world. This leads to an important question: how can a little girl in a coma participate in the Holy Grail War in the first place? The answer is simple, yet tragic: it is because of her twisted parents.

Tsubaki’s parents are cruel and obsessed. They knew their daughter was comatose and could no longer interact with the physical world, but because they only cared about winning the Holy Grail War, they forced her into the conflict anyway. Ultimately, since Servants can sometimes choose their own Masters, "Fake" Rider chose little Tsubaki as its partner.

Although little Tsubaki doesn't often appear physically in Fate/strange Fake, it is easy to imagine her relationship with "Fake" Rider—or "Mr. Black," as she calls it. Since no one else can enter Tsubaki’s dream world, "Mr. Black" is the only one who can act like a real person to her. He is the only one who can hear her, interact with her, and even grant her every wish. As a child who is isolated from everything else, it’s only natural that Tsubaki trusts "Mr. Black" unquestionably and shares everything with him.

Little Tsubaki truly trusts "Mr. Black." She shares everything with him and tells him every wish she has. Like anyone else who has been alone for a long time, Tsubaki simply wants what is normal: she wants her parents, animals, and more people to live in a beautiful world with her. The most amazing—and chilling—part is that "Mr. Black" actually grants all these wishes, giving Tsubaki everything she wants within her dream world.

Little Tsubaki has wishes just like any other Master. Compared to Tiné Chelc, Orlando Reeve, Faldeus Dioland, or even Francesca Prelati, Tsubaki’s desires are incredibly simple and innocent. "Mr. Black" is also like any other Servant, doing everything in his power to fulfill his Master’s wishes. Tsubaki and "Mr. Black" aren't trying to do anything wrong; it’s just that everything comes at a cost. When something is dragged from the physical world into the dream world, the sacrifice required is immense.

For better or worse, since little Tsubaki was dragged into the Holy Grail War by her parents, "Mr. Black" is the only one who can provide her with any happiness. Tsubaki doesn’t need a traditional Heroic Spirit; she lacks the power to fight in the physical world, and it is hard to say what would have happened if her parents were still around. The situation would likely have been even more chaotic if her Servant were "normal." "Mr. Black" may have no moral values, but he possesses the power to grant Tsubaki’s wishes and give her happiness—even if it is only for a short time.

An X post you might find interesting:

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アサシン：#Lynn

第5話「スターパフォーマー《真打ち》達の宴」
1月31日(土)23:30～放送予定📺https://t.co/oO0dMGdcs3#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/3CMqjTCGqK

— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 31, 2026

Conclusion:

Although the "Fake" Masters and Servants were merely intended as a catalyst to summon the "True" Servants and begin the "True" Holy Grail War, these six "Fake" pairs have done a wonderful job giving the Fate/strange Fake anime a thrilling start. Even though the "True" Servants are incredibly powerful and determined to win, I don't think the "Fake" side will give up so easily.

Thank you for reading! If you are curious about the Masters of the "Fake" side, please check out my other post where I introduce all six of them. Stay tuned, as I will be uploading more posts to help everyone dive deeper into the world of Fate/strange Fake!

An X post you might find interesting:

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キャスター：#森久保祥太郎

第4話「半神達の追走曲」
1月24日(土)23:30～放送予定📺https://t.co/oO0dMGdcs3#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/ZyJHW3nBjt

— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 24, 2026