The Honkai: Star Rail Fate Crossover Worked so Well

After the events of the 2.0 storyline that took the Trailblazer and Astral Express to Penacony to deal with a capital-S Situation, it left off with Alfalfa Family head Old Oti being one of the most powerful folks there and Robin in charge of the Oak Family. Oti acquired the Holy Grail and is hoping to create an event along the lines of the Charmony Festival to draw in attention. The idea is that people summoned as Masters to compete, such as the Trailblazer, Robin, Boothill, Aventurine, and Lyndon Skott, are supposed to summon Servants based on major figures in Penacony’s history. That does happen for Robin and Skott, who end up with the Caster Miss Note and Assassin Grady (Mr. Reca). 

To explain the fact that characters who shouldn’t be there, which are Archer, Lancer, and Saber, the idea is planted that there’s something wrong with this Holy Grail War. Archer first brings this up after being summoned as Aventurine’s Servant and when talking with him, Boothill, and Lancer, and Lancer agrees it seems plausible. So right away, we have seeds planted to make this all make sense. It’s happening in the dream world Penacony, during dreams. It went awry, causing Servants who typically appear in these fights, but shouldn’t under Old Oti’s restrictions, to appear. Since this is supposed to deal with Penacony’s history, and we do have two Servants based on those people that end up forming part of the crux of the conflicts here, it also keeps the Fate crossover grounded in established Honkai: Star Rail lore in a way.

The execution is such that people who aren’t aware of Fate as a series or the mechanics that make the game and anime memorable still get that takeaway in Honkai: Star Rail due to the execution here. It established that the Master and Servant who win it get a wish. It showcased the concept of Command Spells. It addressed the importance of secrecy when it comes to obscuring names, with Mr. Reca trying to go by Grady even though we are aware of his identity due to past adventures on Penacony. The dynamics are well established, and it even explains Saber’s voracious appetite due to the source of magic and power here not being what they are in the normal confines of the Fate series. 

Dynamics between characters are perfect for this Honkai: Star Rail Fate crossover too. Lancer’s superiority comes across well and deserved, and it plays quite well with Boothill’s bluntness. Saber and Trailblazer go well together, what with both having deadpan and stoic demeanors, but the ability to be ridiculous in fun ways sometimes. The Aventurine and Archer dynamic is perfect, with the latter criticizing the former at every opportunity and doing some hilarious roasting.