They fight by using Servants, or summoned heroes from history and myth, that they bond with. So what's a Holy Grail War? The battle royale at the heart of the 'Fate' franchise, a Holy Grail War pits seven Masters, or magi, against each other for the wish-granting Holy Grail. The central 'Fate/stay night' continuity is about the Fifth Holy Grail War, and the prequel 'Fate/Zero' is about the Fourth Holy Grail War. 'Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya,' on the other hand, splits off before the Third Holy Grail War. Overall, the timeline can be understood as a series of six Holy Grail Wars, with different shows focused on (or splitting off from) a given Holy Grail War. It also means 'Fate' is almost impossible to get into without proper guidance since almost any story in the 'Fate' multiverse splits off from the continuity eventually. The complexity of the series' production also means you may need a guide to the best places to watch every episode.
