Is Fate/strange Fake Canon? Nasu's Answer & Timeline Explained

It is the question that haunts every Fate fan's nightmares.

You watch Fate/strange Fake, see Gilgamesh referencing the burning mud of Fuyuki, but then you see Dead Apostles running around like they own the place. You scratch your head. "Wait, I thought Servants and Dead Apostles couldn't coexist in the same world?"

Welcome to the headache that is the Nasuverse. But don't worry, we have the answer.

And the answer is: YES. It is Canon.

But like everything in this franchise, there is a "but."

1. The Short Answer: It's a "Fake" That Became Real

Let's rip the band-aid off. Fate/strange Fake takes place in a Parallel World.

Just like Fate/Zero is slightly different from Fate/stay night, and Apocrypha is a completely different timeline where the Grail was stolen, strange Fake operates in its own unique bubble.

However, it is NOT fanfiction. It is fully supervised by Kinoko Nasu. The reason Gilgamesh remembers Fuyuki is because this world shares a history with Fate/stay night up until a certain point, before branching off into absolute chaos.

2. Narita's "Special Timeline" (The Hybrid World)

Here is where it gets spicy.

In the rigid laws of the Nasuverse, two major forces typically cannot coexist at full power:

1. Human Order (Alaya): Where Servants are summonable (Fate worlds).
2. Chaos (Gaia): Where Dead Apostles (Vampires) are dominant (Tsukihime worlds).

Usually, if one is strong, the other is weak.

Ryohgo Narita (the madman behind Durarara!! and Baccano!) basically ignored this rule. He asked Nasu for permission to create a "Hybrid World" where he could smash action figures from both franchises together.

!NOTE Nasu's response? "Sure, go crazy." And thus, a world was born where you can have a Grail War and high-level Vampire shenanigans happening in the same zip code.

3. Timeline Placement: When is This?

If you want to pin it down, Fate/strange Fake takes place roughly around 2008-2009.

• It is several years AFTER the 5th Holy Grail War (Fate/stay night).
• The war in Snowfield, USA, is a "False Holy Grail War" created by copying data from Fuyuki's 3rd War.

The biggest proof? Lord El-Melloi II (Waver Velvet).

He appears as an adult, distinctly older than his Fate/Zero self and seemingly consistent with his appearance in The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II. He acknowledges the Fuyuki wars as past events. If you are confused about the viewing order, check out our Fate/strange Fake Watch Order to see where it fits.

4. Why Does It Feel Different? (The "Fake" Aspect)

Because the system is fundamentally broken.

The mages in America didn't copy the homework correctly. They built a "False Grail" that is glitchy as hell.

• No Saber Class (initially).
• Strange Summons: Jack the Ripper isn't a loli assassin here; he's a formless "concept" of mystery.
• The Police are Involved: Unlike Fuyuki, where everyone pretended it was a "gas leak," the US government and police are actively trying to manage the superhero battles destroying their city.

This gives the series a wildly different "urban fantasy" vibe compared to the gothic tragedy of the original VN. If you want to see how the visual style reflects this shift, read our Visual Analysis: Ufotable vs A-1.

5. Conclusion: The "Avengers" of the Nasuverse

Don't overthink the timeline mechanics.

Think of Fate/strange Fake as the Avengers: Multiverse of the Fate franchise. It is a sandbox where the author gets to pull characters from Stay Night, Tsukihime, Grand Order, and Case Files, throw them into a casino in Nevada, and watch them fight.

It is canon. It is valid. And it is arguably the most fun the franchise has had in years.

So yes, Gilgamesh is the same arrogant King of Heroes you love—he's just on a vacation in America, and the room service is terrible.