Fate/strange Fake Episode 4 Review - His True Name is Richard, the Duke of Normandy and King of England!
After waiting a long week, Fate/strange Fake Episode 4—the episode I was super excited for—finally aired on January 24, 2026. Just like the previous three installments, this episode featured everything we need: new characters, lengthy intense battles, interactions between Ayaka Sajyou and True Saber, and clear explanations for the “Fate/strange Fake” universe. All of this makes Episode 4 a must-watch for Winter 2026.
If you want to know how incredible Fate/strange Fake Episode 4 is, you can simply surf the internet to see how hyped everyone is. After watching, fans worldwide are super excited; they have been sharing their impressions in their own ways, spreading the discussion even further. This has made Fate/strange Fake one of the most popular anime of Winter 2026, consistently earning great ratings on IMDb.
After watching Fate/strange Fake Episode 4 myself, I am truly amazed by the high-quality animation and am very satisfied with it. I really feel that Episode 4 is one you definitely don’t want to miss; if possible, you should enjoy it as soon as you can, since Episode 5 is already on the way. Episode 5 will be released in just a few days. Even as I share my thoughts on Episode 4 here, I am sure that Episode 5 will amaze the world again and spark even more intense discussion.
Before diving deep into my thoughts, be warned: Episode 4 has a lot to talk about, so from this point on, this post will contain spoilers. If you haven’t watched Episode 4 yet, or if you’re someone who really wants to avoid spoilers, please stop scrolling and leave now—before you see anything that might affect your watching experience!
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
Avenger Archer & Archer - The “True” vs “Fake”:
One of the biggest highlights of Fate/strange Fake Episode 4 is the battle between Archer and Archer. At the end of Episode 3, our “True” Archer shot an attack at Gilgamesh and Tiné Chelc. Since the battle ended right there in Episode 3, the continuation of that fight is exactly what we were looking for.
It may sound like I’m saying the same thing and giving the same praise multiple times, but the battle between those two is truly great. I’ve watched it over and over, and I still think it’s incredible; I can’t stop myself from watching it again. The animation for Archer vs. Archer is so smooth and clean. The effects when the two of them release their special skills and clash together are so great that I can’t find the words to describe them. Plus, if you watch it with earphones or earbuds, you'll have an even better experience!
The entire battle between Archer and Archer is quite long, and it contains a lot of detail. Our “Fake” Archer, Gilgamesh, is incredibly strong; after watching this battle, we can really understand why the other teams are so alert and don't want to fight him fair and square. Gilgamesh is like a monster. His Noble Phantasms cover so many situations that no matter if you choose long-range or short-range attacks, it is hard to damage him. If you don't have a trump card or a very special Noble Phantasm, it is better to stay away from Gilgamesh.
Normally, staying away from Gilgamesh is the better choice, but if you have a trump card or a special Noble Phantasm like the “True” Archer does, then facing him becomes a viable option. Not only does “True” Archer possess a powerful and unique Noble Phantasm, but he also has a special item that can prevent damage from any human-made weapons.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
Being able to prevent damage from any human-made weapon—just from this special ability alone, we can begin to understand why “True” Archer picked a fight with “Fake” Archer Gilgamesh. Of course, there might be personal reasons, like a showdown for the Archer class title, but I personally think “True” Archer faced Gilgamesh because he knew those Noble Phantasms wouldn't be able to damage him.
Gilgamesh’s Noble Phantasms are incredibly strong. Not only can he handle almost any situation, but he can also perform all kinds of attacks using a vast variety of weapons. For other servants, this is a nightmare to deal with, as his Noble Phantasms make him appear invincible. However, once you notice that every weapon Gilgamesh throws is ultimately human-made, it suddenly becomes a weakness you can take advantage of.
In the “Fate” universe, although every Servant has a chance of winning the Holy Grail War by using tricks or strategies—like Orlando Reeve, Alexandre Dumas, Flat Escardos, and Berserker—it is still very hard to overcome the biggest obstacle: compatibility. There is a natural compatibility among Servants, and once you meet an opponent you have a bad matchup against, like “Fake” Rider versus “Fake” Lancer, it is incredibly hard to win since you can do almost no damage to them.
In the battle of “True” vs. “Fake” Archer, the same rule applies. “True” Archer has a special item that nullifies damage from human-made weapons. This means Gilgamesh, whose Noble Phantasm involves throwing human-made weapons at his opponents, ultimately deals no damage to him. No matter how many weapons Gilgamesh throws, they feel like nothing to “True” Archer. Their intense battle showed us that while having a special Noble Phantasm is important, fighting someone you have better compatibility with is far more crucial.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
“True” Archer & “True” Rider & “Fake” Archer:
After providing us viewers with a great and intense battle between the two Archers, Fate/strange Fake introduced an important character during the fight: the “True” Rider. Unlike the “Fake” Rider, which literally looks like a smiling, weird shadow, the “True” Rider actually looks like a rider—one who is always riding on a horse.
“True” Rider is a very beautiful and strong female character. Although she stays on her horse just like a traditional rider, she fought against two incredibly strong Servants all by herself. There is a lot to talk about regarding her battle, but before that, we need to touch on some “Fate” universe keywords.
In the “Fate” universe, a Servant has a Class Name—such as Saber, Rider, or Archer. Normally, a Master will call their Servant by their Class Name to avoid exposing their True Name. At first, I thought we wouldn't learn anything about the True Names yet, but luckily, we got to know a few of them in Fate/strange Fake Episode 4.
At the end of the intense battle between “True” Archer, “True” Rider, and “Fake” Archer, they suddenly decided to share their True Names; we are very lucky to get to know two important True Names. The first is Hippolyta, the True Name of “True” Rider. Even without knowing the entire “Fate” universe, just from the clues in Fate/strange Fake Episode 4, we know that she was once killed by “True” Archer and that she can use the power of a god.
Source: TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 Official X account
Even though Hippolyta was killed by “True” Archer, she doesn't seem to hold a grudge about it. What she can’t stand isn't the fact that she was killed, but rather that “True” Archer tried to kill Tiné Chelc. From Hippolyta’s perspective, she thought “True” Archer was a sublime warrior who wouldn't attack a child; however, it turns out he is just a Servant who will do anything to win, and he is truly determined to claim the Holy Grail.
While Hippolyta hated “True” Archer’s surprise attack, it actually makes sense, and I would probably do the same thing! “True” Archer—whose True Name is Alcides—didn't actually do anything wrong, as it’s just one of many methods to win. To be honest, Alcides’s plan wasn't bad either; since he has great compatibility against Gilgamesh and Tiné Chelc is quite a formidable Master, it is logical for Alcides to try and take them down first.
Alcides is incredibly strong and looks like a total monster. Not only can he hold his own against Gilgamesh, but he also seems to take almost no damage, despite Hippolyta and Gilgamesh attacking him multiple times. Hippolyta landed a powerful blow from very close range, and Gilgamesh threw countless weapons at him, yet Alcides remains completely unscathed no matter how much he is attacked.
Although the battle ended in a tie after being interrupted by Francesca Prelati’s Servant—who I assume is the man holding her hand in the opening, Provant—it gave us everything we wanted and took this Holy Grail War to a higher level. Between the new characters, True Name reveals, the special Avenger class, and the super high-quality animation, this battle truly delivered. It’s packed with "Fate" lore and is definitely worth watching multiple times.
This X post might catch your interest:
◤『Fate/strange Fake』第4話
— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 22, 2026
先行カット＆あらすじ公開 ◢
第4話「半神達の追走曲」
1月24日(土)23:30～放送予定📺https://t.co/XDajItpKET#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/YOSoXDgAGP
Ayaka Sajyou & the Lionheart:
The last key highlight we must notice—and definitely cannot miss—is the interaction between Ayaka Sajyou and “True” Saber. Since only six Servants can be summoned in the “Fake” Holy Grail War, Ayaka Sajyou’s partner (the seventh Servant) is considered a “True” Servant, also known as “True” Saber.
As we know, Ayaka Sajyou has a rather negative personality and rejects everything about the Holy Grail War, so her attitude toward “True” Saber is still poor—or, we could call it "unique." “True” Saber is a Servant with a great personality; despite Ayaka’s attitude, he still cares for her and shows integrity in his own way.
In the final part of Fate/strange Fake Episode 4, just after Ayaka asks why "True" Saber joined the Holy Grail War, he suddenly decides to tell her everything. First, he introduces her to the name Pierre Basile—the one who killed him. In the “Fate” universe, knowing how a Servant died also means knowing their weakness. Although “True” Saber acts like it’s no big deal, he has actually shared his greatest vulnerability with Ayaka.
Even though Ayaka doesn't want to be involved in the Holy Grail War and pretends to know nothing about it, she realizes "True" Saber is sharing his weakness. She stops him, saying she doesn't want to know since she has no intention of joining the war. This is quite a harsh statement to make when someone is being vulnerable, but “True” Saber isn't concerned; he continues to introduce himself anyway.
His True Name is Richard—the Duke of Normandy, the King of England, and the Lionheart. Ayaka is quite shocked by his introduction, and Episode 4 ends right there. From Ayaka’s perspective, she believes she is not suited to be a Master since she has no interest in the war and no intention of participating; she feels it would be better for Richard to simply find a new Master.
This X post might catch your interest:
◤『Fate/strange Fake』
— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 22, 2026
第4話予告PV公開 ◢
第4話は1月24日(土)23:30より
TOKYO MX･BS11ほかにて放送https://t.co/ADDQB1idqj#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/5cSjWjdJW1
Indeed, from a Servant’s perspective, Ayaka is not exactly the Master you’d want to follow, since following her won't help you grant your own wish. However, it looks like Richard has a different view. Not only does Richard not reject Ayaka, but he still chooses her as his Master. Since it's only Episode 4, we don't fully know Richard's true intentions yet, but he and Ayaka actually make a great team.
Richard and Ayaka are like extreme opposites—the ultimate positive and negative. Richard is always smiling and enjoying himself, while Ayaka looks depressed and rejects everything. Aside from their personalities, teaming with Ayaka is actually safe for Richard; since she has no bad intentions, she would never betray him. Because Ayaka doesn't wish to win or even participate in the Holy Grail War, she won't force Richard to play dirty or launch surprise attacks like Alcides.
Although Ayaka has no confidence in herself and thinks she isn't suited to be a Master, simply staying by her side makes Richard feel safe. In fact, after meeting Ayaka, Richard is always smiling and relaxed in every scene; we don't actually see him look stressed or conflicted at all. Teaming with Ayaka might not help Richard win the Holy Grail War, but she will never betray or sell him out. Ultimately, this gives him exactly the kind of safe space he needs.
This X post might catch your interest:
◤ 『Fate/strange Fake』
— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 27, 2026
──Scene Pick── ◢
第4話「半神達の追走曲」より
「パンフレット買った？ポップコーン持った？」
▼YouTubehttps://t.co/waB4YzhX6G
▼TikTokhttps://t.co/3Kex71JwKx#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/6cBirgriRx
Conclusion:
Personal Rating: 10/10
Personally, Fate/strange Fake Episode 4 deserves the highest ranking. It delivered everything fans could want while pushing the entire series to the next level. Although I am incredibly satisfied with this episode, we must remember that this is only the beginning of the story and the Holy Grail War. In Episode 4, Faldeus Dioland officially teamed up with his “True” Servant—a figure with a skull mask who most likely belongs to the “True” Assassin class.
Besides Faldeus’s team, Francesca Prelati has also officially deployed her “True” Servant, who used Illusion Arts to interfere with the massive battle in Episode 4. On top of that, if we count the teams of Hippolyta and Alcides, there are now four teams from the “True” side that have begun to move. This will surely have a massive impact on the Holy Grail War moving forward.
Even though Episode 4 has just ended, the characters in Fate/strange Fake are already signaling that even bigger moves are coming in the upcoming episodes. As a viewer, I am very curious about the "True" side’s movements, but the "Fake" side is bound to make the situation even more chaotic. I am incredibly eager for the next installment, so please stay tuned—I’ll be back to share more thoughts with you soon!
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Youtube: Provant
This X post might catch your interest:
◤ 『Fate/strange Fake』
— TVアニメ『Fate/strange Fake』公式 (@Fate_SF_Anime) January 27, 2026
──Scene Pick── ◢
第4話「半神達の追走曲」より
▼YouTubehttps://t.co/k4qMwL13p1
▼TikTokhttps://t.co/K9Zo0Qy6iA
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📺#strangefake #ストレンジフェイク pic.twitter.com/unz80yR2zW
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