Which Fate Stay Night To Watch First

So, you've heard whispers about this Fate/Stay Night thing, right? Maybe a friend has been bugging you, or you stumbled upon some awesome fan art. Now you're staring at a mountain of anime options, completely lost. Fear not, brave adventurer! I'm here to guide you on this epic quest!

The big question: Where do you even start? It's like walking into a bakery filled with thousands of different pastries and being told to pick the *perfect* one. Daunting, I know! But don't worry, we'll make it easy!

The Obvious Starting Point (and why it's good)

Okay, deep breath. The most common recommendation is Fate/Stay Night (2006). Think of it as your anime comfort food – familiar and (mostly) satisfying.

This version follows the Fate route, which focuses on Saber (Artoria Pendragon). Saber is basically the coolest, most honorable knight you'll ever meet. She's like Captain America, but with a sword and a serious craving for food.

It introduces you to the world and the rules of the Holy Grail War. Masters summoning Servants, epic battles, and teenage angst – all the good stuff! It’s a decent introduction.

The Ufotable Glow-Up: Unlimited Blade Works

Now, for a truly visually stunning experience, you could jump to Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (UBW). This is where the animation kicks it up like ten notches! Think going from a flip phone camera to a professional DSLR.

UBW follows the Rin Tohsaka route. Rin is a brilliant mage who is a bit of a tsundere. She is independent and a powerful ally to Shirou in this route.

The action scenes in Unlimited Blade Works are insane! Lasers, swords clashing, explosions – it's a visual feast! You get a deeper dive into Shirou’s ideals and his relationship with Archer. This one's a fan favorite for a reason.

The Dark Horse: Heaven's Feel Trilogy

If you're feeling adventurous (or just really impatient), you *could* technically start with the Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel movies. But here's the thing: this route is dark. Like, *really* dark.

It's the Sakura Matou route. It gets pretty intense and disturbing. Trust me, you’ll appreciate the story and its impact a lot more if you have some context from the earlier routes.

Think of it like starting a complicated puzzle in the middle without looking at the box. You *could* do it, but you’ll be confused and probably frustrated!

My Recommendation (and why it's not just me saying it)

So, if I had to choose, I'd say start with the 2006 anime and then move onto Unlimited Blade Works. This way, you get a solid foundation and then experience the awesomeness of Ufotable's animation.

After that, if you are still hooked (and trust me, you probably will be!), dive into the Heaven's Feel movies. Then, brace yourself. Seriously, grab a blanket and some tissues.

Ultimately, the best order is the one that gets you excited about the series! Don't be afraid to experiment. Just remember to have fun. The Fate universe is vast and exciting. Happy watching!

Important Note: This is just a suggestion! There are other Fate series (Fate/Zero, Fate/Apocrypha, etc.), but these are generally considered spin-offs. Enjoy the journey!