Fate/strange Fake: Why Philia is the Most Dangerous Character You Don’t Know
There's a reason every characters are terrified of Philia. Dive into our Fate/strange Fake character guide, we break down why this character is a game-changer for the Fate universe.
Fate/strange Fake Episode 7 is an amazing episode. Not only does it give us high-quality battle animations and introduce the last “True” Servant, but it also introduces the mysterious and beautiful Philia. Philia actually entered Snowfield in Episode 2, but she hadn’t done anything since then until now.
In Episode 7, Philia starts her journey in the Snowfield Holy Grail War by first healing the seriously injured or Halri Vorzak. After summoning the “True” Berserker, Halri was severely damaged and on the verge of death; luckily, Philia suddenly appeared and healed her in no time. While a normal person might not be able to guess who Philia actually is, Halri is a mage and recognized Philia’s true identity very quickly.
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While a goddess participating in a Holy Grail War is shocking news for everyone, Philia doesn't intend to hide her true identity; she admits it quite easily. When she first makes this claim, it is hard for anyone to believe since a god typically cannot be summoned in a Holy Grail War. However, after watching her fight against the “dark adult” team in Episode 7, and seeing how she has planned everything to kill one of the “Fake” Servants, the “Fake” Archer, Gilgamesh—it’s clear that her strength and power are unquestionably goddess-class.
As a goddess participating in the Holy Grail War, Philia won't be satisfied with just killing Gilgamesh. She likely has more plans to make the Snowfield Holy Grail War even more chaotic alongside Halri and “True” Berserker in the future. Since Episode 10 finally gives us a glimpse of her true identity, I want to use this post to dive deep into Philia and explain why fans around the world are so excited and busy discussing her.
Before we dive in, please note that this post only covers the Fate/strange Fake anime. Even though the story exists as a light novel and manga, I am an "anime-only" viewer and will be sharing my opinions based solely on the show. Additionally, please be aware that this post contains episodic spoilers. If you haven't watched the latest episode or want to avoid spoilers entirely, stop scrolling and leave now!
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
The Unexpected Participant in the Snowfield Holy Grail War: A True Goddess
Except for Fate/Grand Order, Master-servant pairs in the Fate universe usually cannot summon gods in a Holy Grail War. The reason is simple: how can a human hero win against a god? It’s like asking Jack the Ripper to kill Zeus; no matter how you look at it, it is simply impossible. Although the Holy Grail War is typically a "home game" between the Makiri (also known as Matou), Tohsaka, and Einzbern families, if someone were to summon a god, it would be impossible for anyone else to win. Therefore, banning gods from joining the Holy Grail War is inevitable.
This is also why everyone seeks out the "Fake" Archer, Gilgamesh, and the "True" Berserker, Heracles (also known as Alcides). Gilgamesh was the first human hero and lived during the Age of Gods, while Heracles is directly related to the gods by blood, making them both incredibly strong. This is why Tokiomi Tohsaka and Tiné Chelc wanted Gilgamesh, while Illyasviel von Einzbern (the cute Illya) and Bazdilot Cordelion wanted Heracles.
Just by comparing the Servants' legends, Gilgamesh and Alcides are definitely the ones with the highest chance of winning the Snowfield Holy Grail War. With the highest-rank Noble Phantasm, Gate of Babylon—the mysterious golden treasury from which Gilgamesh can draw and fire an endless supply of weapons—it seems impossible for him to lose against any other Servant. This is why Tiné keeps saying "we can win" in Episode 10; Gilgamesh truly has the power to wipe out everyone on his own.
That is, until a true goddess joined the Holy Grail War. Philia isn't just someone calling herself a goddess, nor is she a spoiled child acting like one; she is the real deal. Normally, gods cannot be summoned in a Holy Grail War, but this particular war has become so "strange" and filled with god-related Servants that the true goddess, Ishtar, finally found her chance to manifest.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
The name Ishtar might sound familiar to some, while others may not know it at all. For those unfamiliar with the Fate universe, you might not know much about her yet. However, for those who have played Fate/Grand Order or watched related anime like Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia, or even the Fate/Grand Order: You've Lost Ritsuka Fujimaru, you will immediately know who Ishtar is.
Since this isn't a history lesson, I’ll give a simple explanation of the historical Ishtar. She is the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, fertility, and war. "Mesopotamian" is the key word to remember here. Although a Holy Grail War normally cannot summon gods, so many Mesopotamia-related figures were summoned in this Snowfield Holy Grail War that it gave Ishtar a chance to manifest.
What happens when a god joins the Holy Grail War? Fate/strange Fake Episodes 7 and 10 show us exactly that. When a true goddess enters the fray, she can simply pick fights with anyone and attempt to destroy their territory without a second thought. She can also interrupt any battle, at any time and from anywhere, just to satisfy her desire for revenge.
In just two episodes, Ishtar has demonstrated the terrifying power of a true goddess, showing that she can really do anything she wants. While her individual strength is frightening, what’s even more dangerous is that she has Halri Vorzak and the “True” Berserker backing her up. In Fate/strange Fake, Ishtar made a brilliant move by finding a young girl who will always listen to and obey her—for better or worse.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
The Unusual Yet Strongest Team: Ishtar, Philia, and Halri Vorzak
Even though a god isn't supposed to join the Snowfield Holy Grail War, Ishtar is not only doing whatever she wants, she has also formed a powerful alliance with Halri Vorzak. Although Halri seems very weak and young compared to other Masters, Ishtar was actually quite clever to form an alliance with her.
There are two main reasons why this was a smart move. The first is the “True” Berserker. Unlike the “Fake” Berserker, Jack the Ripper, the “True” Berserker actually acts like a proper Berserker—destroying and killing everything in his path. In the Fate anime universe, having a Berserker as a Servant usually comes with a major weakness: the Servant won't listen to the Master and will constantly go on a rampage. Because of this, a Berserker is usually a risky ally—except for Ishtar.
Simply because a goddess is standing before them, Halri and the “True” Berserker obey her without question. In Episode 7, the “True” Berserker protected Ishtar when she was in danger without even needing a command, and in Episode 10, it appears exactly when Ishtar wants it to. With three Command Spells and a completely obedient Berserker, Ishtar is unquestionably the strongest and most unstoppable force right now.
The second reason is the simplicity of Halri’s goal. Halri doesn’t have any grand ambitions or a specific wish for the Holy Grail; she simply wants to destroy the mages and everything they have built. This is crucial for Ishtar, who wants a follower rather than someone who will question her. While it may sound like manipulation, someone in Halri’s position is more than willing to listen and obey. In fact, no matter what Ishtar wants to do, Halri follows along and does exactly as she is told.
From a certain perspective, it really does feel like Ishtar is using a young girl, but at the same time, we can understand why Halri obeys her. Because of the mages, Halri lost her entire family; she has no one left to rely on and has had to survive on her own. Currently, she only wants revenge, but she is young and weak compared to the other Masters—and she even summoned a Berserker. If Ishtar hadn’t formed an alliance with her, the Berserker would have already gone on a rampage and killed its own Master. For Halri, listening to Ishtar is a smart choice, as Ishtar handles every difficult situation and truly leads her toward victory.
On AnimeOshi, 21 scouts have left reviews for Fate/strange Fake Episode 7, and it currently holds a massive 98% high score! This data shows that the alliance between Ishtar and Halri has truly left a huge impact on everyone!
The Key Link Between Ishtar and the Snowfield Holy Grail War: Mesopotamia
For those who are new to the Fate universe, allow me to explain Ishtar’s existence. Ishtar wasn't simply born out of nowhere, nor did humans create her; instead, she possessed the body of a homunculus to participate in her adventure. This is why, when Halri Vorzak and Bazdilot Cordelion first saw Ishtar in Episode 7, they called her an "Einzbern homunculus."
As I have explained in other posts, the Einzbern family loves homunculus and has created many of them for various purposes. The most common reason the Einzberns use homunculus is to facilitate the Holy Grail War, but this time, a homunculus was used as a vessel for a god. The Einzberns love these kinds of experiments, and just like in previous stories, they have provided the "spice" that makes the Fate universe so interesting. Understanding how Ishtar manifested is crucial, because once we understand the logic, we can discuss the bigger question: why Ishtar and not some other god?
As one of the “True” Servants, the Watcher, explained a strange phenomenon to us: Servants are attracting one another to manifest in the Snowfield Holy Grail War. In other Fate stories, a Servant's summons normally requires a catalyst, which Masters obtain in various ways; therefore, this kind of attraction doesn't usually happen. However, the Snowfield Holy Grail War is different.
After Francesca Prelati did everything she wanted to set the stage in Snowfield, this attraction became even stronger. Just as the “True” Archer, Alcides, is linked to the “True” Rider, Hippolyta, there is another major attraction in this war: Mesopotamia. As many may already know, the “Fake” Archer, Gilgamesh, and the “Fake” Lancer, Enkidu, are both deeply connected to Mesopotamia.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
Why is this important? Because in Episode 10, we learned that the goddess who manifested is deeply connected to Gilgamesh. Both Ishtar and the “True” Berserker truly want to kill him. While Ishtar set the trap for Gilgamesh, it was the “True” Berserker who delivered the final blow. As I mentioned before, Ishtar is also deeply connected to Mesopotamia.
Although the True Name of the “True” Berserker hasn’t been revealed yet, the fact that three characters are now deeply linked to Mesopotamia makes it much easier to guess who he is. More importantly, this situation explains the reason for Ishtar’s existence in this war. The Einzberns created a vessel, but they weren't powerful enough to decide which specific god would inhabit it.
There are so many gods in the world, and the reason it was a Mesopotamian goddess—rather than a Chinese, Japanese, or Indian deity—who manifested is because of attraction. Just as Gilgamesh attracted his friend, he also attracted those who want to kill him: Ishtar and the “True” Berserker. It may seem difficult to clarify the timeline, but you can think of it like this:
Since the Einzbern homunculus stayed low and only suddenly moved after the summoning of the “True” Berserker, we can assume that once Gilgamesh and Enkidu joined the Snowfield Holy Grail War, they attracted the “True” Berserker. Once Halri summoned the “True” Berserker, the connection to Mesopotamia became so strong that it attracted Ishtar. Because of this bond, Ishtar was the deity who manifested—and coincidentally, she is the one who knows Gilgamesh well enough to easily defeat the man everyone else is afraid of.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
Why Everyone Is Discussing Ishtar: The Alternate Universe Version
Before Ishtar joined the Snowfield Holy Grail War, the “Fake” Archer, Gilgamesh, was the strongest player in the war; now, she has become the greatest threat to every team. Not only does she possess a supreme level of power, but she also has a powerful team behind her. The current Ishtar is truly the most unstoppable force in the conflict.
Ishtar messing up the Snowfield Holy Grail War adds a fantastic "spice" to Fate/strange Fake, making the war incredibly chaotic and difficult to win. However, many fans worldwide are quite shocked because the Ishtar they know isn't like this. Usually, she is someone clumsy who is always doing funny things to make us laugh!
As the final part of this post, let me explain why fans worldwide are discussing Ishtar so much. Of course, her beauty and strength are part of it, but the main reason is the massive gap between her and her alternate universe version. For those unfamiliar with the Fate universe, there is actually another Ishtar in Fate/Grand Order.
The Fate/Grand Order Ishtar is completely different from the current one. Not only do they look nothing alike, but their personalities are also total opposites! The FGO Ishtar is a clumsy goddess who is always doing silly things to make us laugh. She is also famously obsessed with jewels and gold—especially Gilgamesh’s treasures.
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— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) February 17, 2026
──Scene Pick── ◢
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In Episode 10, you may not understand what is Gilgamesh mentioning when he said, closing the door before treasure dazzle eyes, the FGO Ishtar really can’t stand for the treasures of Gilgamesh. In Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia, the main characters had even lured the FGO Ishtar with Gilgamesh’s treasure and tamed her!
The gap between these two versions of Ishtar is massive, and fans worldwide just can’t stop discussing her. I'd like to share an interesting fact: in FGO, every version of Ishtar is voiced by Kana Ueda, who always does a great job making us laugh. However, in Fate/strange Fake, Ishtar is voiced by Yui Makino.
The reason I’m sharing this is to highlight that these are two entirely different versions of Ishtar from different universes. Most Servants who appear in both FGO and other media usually keep the same voice actors because they are the same character, but Ishtar is different. This "True" Ishtar is a complete departure from the FGO version, which fans find incredibly cool and exciting. No one expected an Ishtar who is so well-prepared, who doesn't fall for "treasure traps," and—most importantly—is the one terrifying everyone else!
Without any clumsiness or personality flaws, the current Ishtar is no longer a goddess who listens to humans; she is a goddess ready to dominate the human world once again. Ishtar is prepared, and although we have no clues about what will happen in the later episodes, defeating her has become the top priority for every team.
The FGO version of Ishtar is truly cute and funny. For those who don't know what I am talking about, I strongly recommend watching Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front - Babylonia and Fate/Grand Order: Fujimaru Ritsuka Doesn't Get It Season 2. They perfectly showcase her clumsiness and charm. After watching the FGO version and returning to strange Fake, you’ll definitely be the next person talking about the massive gap between the two!
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Conclusion:
Throughout the Fate/strange Fake anime, every team thought the “Fake” Archer, Gilgamesh, was their strongest enemy; however, it turns out that the goddess Ishtar is their true "final boss." Although the main character, Ayaka Sajyou, doesn't want the Holy Grail and isn't interested in the Holy Grail War, she is somehow connected to Ishtar. Sooner or later, the day will come when Ayaka must face her.
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Thank you for reading! I will be publishing more content soon, including plot explanations, character deep-dives, and much more, so please stay tuned. While you wait for my next post, please leave as many episodic reviews as possible; there are many challenges waiting for you on AnimeOshi!
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