Beast (ビースト, Bīsuto?) is an Extra Class that manifests as calamities that threaten human history. The Grand Servants are fail-safes summoned forth to counteract them.
Beasts are typically a larger class of Saint Graph beyond the scope of Servant Saint Graphs, but they do share the characteristics of Parameters, Skills, and Noble Phantasms.[1] Four Beasts have directly manifested in the capacity of Servants, Beast of 666 in the Tokyo Holy Grail War, Sodom's Beast/Draco, U-Olga Marie, and Space Ereshkigal during the Grand Orders. It is an atypical state for Beasts, and usually requires them to take a different Class to be summoned, with Draco being the only one from Proper Human History who can naturally reach a neutral state where it is permissible to fight for the Human Order while still retaining the Beast Class. It may be possible for Beasts not of Proper Human History to naturally be able to manifest as Servants.[2]
Overview[]
Example of a Beast.
The Beasts of the Counter Force are comprised of Evils of Humanity (人類悪, Jinrui Aku?).[3] They are evils born from "the karma produced by humanity's progress." There are two categories: beings oppressed/persecuted by humanity, and beings used by humanity for oppression/persecution.[4]
Henry Jekyll, having explored the idea of separating good and evil in humans, posits that the evils of humanity are intrinsic to humans and cannot be separated from them. Rather than the seven sinsWP cleansed by the messiah, the evils of humanity are fundamental to human nature itself. Jekyll believes the evil within humans cannot be defeated, and humans cannot run away from the evil. As humans cannot cast away their intelligence, they are unable to cast away evil. Though humanity is aware of its tragic end, the evil is an unstoppable impulse that cannot be separated due to that very intelligence.[5]
Beasts possess a unique ability to forcibly erode the space around them, transforming their surroundings into something else.[6] This even takes effect within a Reality Marble.[7]
Qualification and manifestation[]
Beasts number from one (I) to seven (VII), each of the positions open to be filled by a corresponding Evil of Humanity. It is possible for the Logos[Note 1] (理, Kotowari?, localized variously as "law", "principle", and "aspect") of a respective seat to differ between individuals, but each number designation has fundamental similarities at their core.[8]
| # | Keyword(s) | Shared characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| I | Unknown | Unknown |
| II | Unknown | Unknown |
| III | Unknown | Unknown |
| IV | Animal and Nature[8] | Unknown |
| V | Unknown | Unknown |
| VI | Unknown | "City eaters"[9] |
| VII | Unknown | Unknown |
Qualifiying individuals are called Beast Candidates (ビースト候補, Bīsuto Kōho?), and they possess some level of Authority of the Beast even before manifestation, which allowed the records of Evil of Humanity Kiara Sessyoin to persist even after the Imaginary Numbers phenomenon made it so the Kiara incident on the Far Side of the Moon Cell never occurred.[10]
One qualification to manifest is a "love for humanity." Evils of Humanity act not out of malice towards humanity, but rather threaten humanity through an underlying desire to protect it in a manner. Their pursuit for a future more favorable threatens the peace of the current world.[11] The manifestation of this love is not always apparent, ranging from the lingering desire of a mother to not be overcome and abandoned for the growth of humanity,[12] loving oneself, the only human in the world,[13] and wishing for humanity's demise while yet loving them as another species of animals that exists as part of nature.[14]
Some Beasts naturally manifest within the Class through their way of being, while others go through a growth period. In the case of Goetia, his Class was determined through "with what he had achieved and more" in terms of the Human Order Incineration.[15] In the case of Tiamat, her Class was determined by her "real nature."[12]
Those who possess the characteristics of a Beast but have yet to fully ascend to the position are called Juvenile Beasts (ビースト幼体, Bīsuto Yōtai?). It is possible for one to obtain the characteristics of Class Beast without obtaining a numerical designation, eventually even becoming powerful enough to trigger a response from Counter Force through the manifestation of a Grand Servant.[16] Due to the process of their manifestation, Beast III/L and Beast III/R are considered Juvenile Beasts not recognized by the Counter Force, so they do not trigger the summoning of a Grand Servant.[17] For Beast III/R, her existence being tied to the SE.RA.PH. Singularity means she is unable to move until merging with the Earth's core, but her strength itself has already matured.[18] For Beast III/L, she is maturing within the Ooku within the Edo Singularity so as to evade the Counter Force.[17]
The growth into an Adult Beast (ビースト成体, Bīsuto Seitai?) is indicated by the growth of large horns, the Beast's Crown.[14]
The Fantasy Trees possess within them a ritual to allow the Alien God to descend and grant the status of Beast. This ritual allows for the framework to be used by others, Ashiya Douman initially planning to ascend Ibuki-douji the position due to her "vast Saint Graph" and her being an embodiment of Yamata-no-Orochi as his Divided Spirit, which Ashiya believed would transform her into a vessel for a Beast-class Orochi. After deciding to take the position for himself, he uses his Naraka Mandala containing the power of five Heroic Spirits and three Divine Spirits in an attempt to ascend to the position of Beast, but it fails to manifest. Abe no Seimei reveals to him, despite the Gods he consumed, that he without love for humanity has no qualification to ascend to the position of an Evil of Humanity and Beast.[19]
Once a Beast appears in a world, they will manifest in a chain-reaction like manner, one Evil of Humanity bringing other calamities that eventually culminate in "The Final Evil" appearing. Gilgamesh says Beast I Goetia manifesting means Beast VII is somewhere within the world as well.[11] Demon Gods work in the same manner, acting as a trigger for Beasts so long as someone witnesses and confronts them.[20] The manifestation of Beasts is seen as a trigger for the end of the world on occasion during Atlas' calculations in predicting and avoiding the end of the world.[17]
Beast's Crown[]
Each Beast possesses a different Beast's Crown (獣冠, Jūkan?) in the form of their horns. Beast III/L in particular has two forms of her Crown: one of stone, that eventually cracks to reveal a crown of light.[21]
L and R[]
Some of the Beasts are split into two halves, each possessing paired "antithesis" concepts. They are "Left and Right", "black and white," and "yin and yang," each unable to coexist with the other. These halves are called L and R. In the case of Beast III, they also stand for Lapse[21] and Rapture[18].
If one half is to manifest, the other will manifest in due time. While Beast III/L asks Beast III/R if she seeks to devour her to become whole as a complete body, Beast III/R says that is impossible. Though both born from the same Logos, they are both completely opposed. They are not two halves to be joined, but two enemies that are diametrically opposed.
The position of Beast VI is instead split into S and G,[22] standing for "Sodom"/"Sodom's Beast"[23] and presumably "Gomorrah". According to Arthur Pendragon, VI/S and VI/G manifest after L and R have already appeared.
Skills[]
The Beast class has unique Class Skills, but each individual Beast possesses Class Skills unique to themselves as well. In the case of Goetia, he possesses Caster Class Skills, while the normal Beast Class Skills are listed as Personal Skills.
- Independent Manifestation is a capacity that permits the unrestricted projection and materialization of the soul, permitting the skillholder to freely manifest within a time period and location of one's choosing. Being that the skillholder's soul fundamentally exists in a place beyond the boundaries of life and death and the limits of the History of Humanity, time travel may be enacted at will; and the projected flesh is in essence an immortal puppet controlled by the skillholder's consciousness. In the Final Singularity of Fate/Grand Order, Chloe von Einzbern implies that the Independent Manifestation exhibited by Goetia's Demon God Pillars is a mockery and inferior use of the Third Magic.[24] While fundamentally unique to Beasts, Shiki Ryougi, Merlin, and Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya possess it. Shiki's case is unexplained, only noting it is normally restricted. Merlin is able to grant it to himself. Tamamo Vitch is in the process of becoming a Beast and can manifest as one for a limited time. Gilgamesh is able to utilize it in the Moon Cell through unique circumstances.
- Authority of the Beast is an Anti-Human Order Skill that enhances the skillholder's capacity to harm existences that are classified as Humans. In the specific case of Tiamat, it is stated that access to such a Skill is held by right of standing as the Sea of Life itself—being essentially a Divine Authority to destroy what one has birthed. It is likely that the Skill as held by the other Evils of Humanity is justified by alternative means. Again by the example of Tiamat as well as the use of the Karmaphages by Beast III/R, the Authority of Beasts is apparently communicable to other entities per the will of the skillholder.
- Unique Nega Skills are possessed by each Beast.
Known Beasts[]
| # | Name | War | Nega Skill | Logos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Goetia | Grand Order | Nega-Summon | Pity (憐憫, Renbin?) |
| I:L | Camazotz | Grand Order | Unknown | Oblivion (忘却, Bōkyaku?) Salvation (救世, Guze?) Exoneration (免罪, Menzai?) Sacrifice (犠牲, Gisei?) Pity (憐憫, Renbin?)[25] |
| II | Tiamat | Grand Order | Nega-Genesis | Regression (回帰, Kaiki?) |
| III/L | Kama/Mara | Grand Order | Nega-Desire | Lust (愛欲, Aiyoku?) Lapse (堕落, Daraku?)[21] |
| III/R | Heaven's Hole | Grand Order | Nega-Saver | Lust (愛欲, Aiyoku?) Rapture (随喜, Zuiki?)[26] |
| IV | Cath Palug | Grand Order | Unknown | Comparison (比較, Hikaku?) |
| IV:L | Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya | Grand Order | Nega-Weapon Nega-Self |
Cherishment (愛玩, Aigan?) |
| V | Unknown | None | Unknown | Unknown |
| VI/S | Whore of Babylon | Grand Order | Nega-Messiah | Depravity (堕落, Daraku?) Immorality (背徳, Haitoku?)[23] Applause (喝采, Kassai?)[27] |
| VI/S | Rebloomed Bestia Coccinea | Grand Order | Nega-Messiah | Depravity (堕落, Daraku?) Immorality (背徳, Haitoku?)[23] Applause (喝采, Kassai?)[27] |
| VI/G | Beast of 666 | Second Holy Grail War | Nega-Messiah? | Unknown |
| VII | U-Olga Marie | Grand Order | Unknown | Unknown |
| Null | Space Ereshkigal | Grand Order | Nega-Space | Conservation (保存, Hozon?)[28] Hoarding (死蔵?, Shizō)[29] |
| Unknown | Unknown | Grand Order | Unknown | Shame (慚愧, Zanki?) |
| ? | Daji | Distant past | Unknown | Collapse (傾国, Keikoku?) |
Beasts summoned as Servants[]
| # | Name | War | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| VI/S | Sodom's Beast/Draco | Grand Order | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| Null | Space Ereshkigal | Grand Order | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
| VI/G | Beast of 666 | Second Holy Grail War | Manaka Sajyou |
Beast Candidates[]
| Name | Position | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angra Mainyu | Unknown | Not achieved | Naturally an Evil of Humanity with the trait of Retribution (報復, Hōfuku?), Angra Mainyu could become a Beast through manifestation from the Greater Grail and uniting with host Sakura Matou. Grand Servants would respond by the time half the world was submerged in Holy Grail Mud.[30] |
| Ereshkigal | Null | Achieved | Beast of the Universe. Obtained her seat through as-of-yet unknown means after merging with her Servant Universe counterpart.[31] |
| Kiara Sessyoin | III/R | Achieved | Qualified in the world of Fate/Extra CCC, but did not become one until merging with her alternate self due to the machinations of Zepar. |
| Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya | IV | Partially achieved | Obtained her the seat of the Beast during the Human Order Revision incident, but remained a Juvenile Beast and never chose a direct means of attack against humanity. Obtained the designation Beast IV: Lost. |
Sub-Beasts[]
Entities that display the Beast classification due to being considered part of a Beast.
Evils of Humanity[]
Those mentioned as Evils of Humanity without having yet been designated as a Beast.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Amaterasu | Self-described as an Evil of Humanity.[32] |
| BB | Gilgamesh describes BB as a "completely new Evil of Humanity".[33] In Grand Order, battles against her open with the "Advent Beast" splash, but it is obscured by other effects. However, as she was working for Kiara at the time this may simply be a reflection of her alleged loyalties. |
| Manaka Sajyou | In Fly Away! Toraburu Hanafuda Travel Journal, Tamamo-no-Mae calls Manaka Sajyou a "natural-born Evil of Humanity".[34] |
| Merlin (Prototype) | Beast VI/S refers to Merlin as a Beast of the Planet (星の獣, Hoshi no Kemono?).[35] |
Development[]
Class Beast first appeared in Fate/Prototype.[36] The term Evil of Humanity was first presented in Fate/EXTRA CCC.[32] Class Beast was expanded upon in Fate/Grand Order as a NPC class in 2016. As of 2023, Kinoko Nasu decided that the implementation of at least one Beast Class Servant in the game was permissible, implementing Sodom's Beast/Draco.[2]
Notes[]
- ↑ See here for Petrikow's full explanation of this translation. In short, 理 simply doesn't mean "sin", and "principle" is to be avoided due to its use in Tsukihime.
References[]
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Beast profiles
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nasu and Takeuchi's 8th Anniversary interview, part 3
- ↑
[] Fate/Grand Order - Babylonia: The Absolute Frontline in the War Against the Demonic Beasts - Section 16: Demise Gilgamesh: Now, Merlin truly did say Evil of Humanity?
Mashu: Yes he did. He said the King of Magic awoke one of the seven evils of humanity. Excuse me, King Gilgamesh, but what are the evils of humanity?
Gilgamesh: What, you have yet to know? I thought you already found the answer in your quest. The evils of humanity are blights of humanity, they refer to the many disasters that would destroy humanity. They become stronger the more humanity develops, like a cancer eating its society from the inside. It’s backwater resting in human history, to be frank.
Da Vinci: Do you mean something looking for vengeance like the Gorgon? Something that will destroy humanity with enmity?
Gilgamesh: It’s the opposite, o fair creature. The evils of humanity are not the evils that will destroy humanity. They are the evils that humanity will destroy.
Mashu: The evils that humanity will destroy?
Gilgamesh: Yes, hm. You should ask the explanation for that from the one appropriate for it. For now, just remember that they are disasters that threaten human history: the self-extinction mechanisms and safety devices of humanity that were the basis for the heroic spirit summoning. The seven evils of humanities. They too manifest as spiritual foundations, as seven disasters born by the beastliness of humanity. In other words, Class Beast. What the King of Magic awoke was such a beast.
Ishtar: Hold on. The primordial sea should be Mother. Isn’t this anomaly being caused by the goddess Tiamat?
Gilgamesh: Fool. I said Tiamat is the Beast. The foe we face is a legitimate and true god of primordial earth. - ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Koyanskaya of Light's Profile - translated by Comun
- ↑ A Study in the Color of Ravens' Feathers
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Tunguska Sanctuary: Anti-Primate Ecosphere, Section 12: The Only Neat Thing to Do
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Tunguska Sanctuary: Anti-Primate Ecosphere, Section 11: Advent of Cherishment
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Fate/Grand Order — Beast IV:L Profile
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Babylon: Critical Prosperous City
- ↑ BAMBOO BROOM 5/12/17
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Fate/Grand Order - Solomon: The Grand Time Temple, Section 14: Fate/Grand Order
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Fate/Grand Order material IV - Tiamat
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order material V - Beast III/R Profile
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Tunguska Sanctuary: Anti-Primate Ecosphere, Section 13: Love is Karma, and Karma is───
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order material IV - Beast I Profile
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Olympus: Interstellar Mountain City, Section 11: Investigate/Encounter/Cherish
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Ooku: Tokugawa Restoration Labyrinth, Section 8: The End of Tokugawa
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant - SE.RA.PH.: Deep-Sea Cyber-Nirvana, Finale
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Heian-kyō: Naraka Mandala, Section 14: Rasetsu-Ō・Cranial Eboshi Ashiya Dōman
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Halphas Profile
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Fate/Grand Order material VIII - Beast III/L Profile translated by Konchew
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Lilim Harlot: Corrupted Fruit City, Final Node
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Lilim Harlot: Corrupted Fruit City, Beast VI/Sodom's Beast Profile loading screen
- ↑
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Nahui Mictlan: Golden Sea of Trees Travelogue - Section 17: Yayauhqui, the Fourth Underworld Border
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Ooku: Tokugawa Restoration Labyrinth, Section 7: God of Love
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Lilim Harlot: Corrupted Fruit City, Node 7 post-battle cutscene
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Succession Battle for the New Prime Species, Archetype Inception - Section 3: Seven Final Bosses
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Succession Battle for the New Prime Species, Archetype Inception - Section 14
- ↑
Fate/stay night Heaven's Feel III. spring song Q&A [T] Q: In HF, Angra Mainyu is mentioned as All Evils of Humanity, is it the same as that Evil of Humanity Gilgamesh mention in UBW? If he is born, will a Grand Servant be summoned?
Nasu: Angra Mainyu who is fully enfleshed with the Fuyuki Grail is an Evil of Humanity. Angra's Evil of Humanity is Retribution (報復?). If his enflashed body fuses with Sakura, he would have become a Beast. At that time, half of the world would be polluted and a Grand will appear.
Takeuchi: This will be told in Rebuild of Heaven' Feel new edition! - ↑ Fate/Grand Order - Space Ereshkigal Profile - Translated by UdonSamurai
- ↑ 32.0 32.1
[] Fate/EXTRA CCC - Tamamo-no-Mae - Secret Garden #3 Event Conversation But hear Us. Good and Evil; Lawfulness and Chaos; Great and Meager; Perpetrator and Victim. Such dichotomies as these are of no relevance to Us.
We exist as an Evil of Humanity that is merely extant, just so as the Divinities are merely extant as configurations of temporal circumstance and phenomena.
That which we desire to harvest are the fruits of Ideation alone. But be that they come of prayers for peace or the hatred accumulated of war, the thoughts of Men are equal in Heat.
In those eras where peace is valued, let that Men may prosper; that they are cultivated, such that we might harvest their faith.
In those eras where war is valued, let that Men be driven; that they are slaughtered, such that we might harvest their enmity.
Do you come now to comprehend? The benevolence and malice borne by a Divinity necessarily conforms with the will of Men, and with the conditions of an era. Therefore --
So too shall the one that you love change with the passage of time. Irrelevant of your devotions, she shall come one day to bare her fangs against Humanity.
Can your love for that Tail be unfaltering even so? Can it endure that a Monstrosity lurks everpresent within her shadow, beckoning uncertain Calamity?だが聞け。 善と悪。法と無法。 強者と弱者。加害者と被害者。そのような理由に妾は関与せぬ。
妾はただそこにあるだけの人類悪。 神とはそこにあるだけの時勢、現象じゃ。
妾たちが集めるものは想念のみ。 平和への祈りも、殺し合いの憎しみも、 想いとして熱量は変わらぬ。
平和に価値ある時代であれば、 人々を生かし、育み、信心を集めよう。
戦に価値ある時代であれば、 人々をあおり、殺し、憎しみを採取しよう。
理解したかえ？ 神の善悪は時代と人間が決めるもの。 然るに―――
おまえが愛するアレも、時代によって 変貌する。おまえの愛とは関係なく、 人を殺す悪鬼となる。
それでも貴様はあの一尾を愛するのか？ いつ怪物になるか分からぬ、 いつ破滅を呼ぶか分からぬ災害を？ - ↑
[] Fate/EXTRA CCC, Chapter 7: I love You - Gilgamesh That beauty is the beauty of a machine. There’s not a single sign of life here. Every element of this place rejects life. I have seen many disasters and much of mankind’s evil. Even those you would consider evil originally held some feeling toward humanity. It might be a benevolence turned only on themselves, or a hatred toward others, of course. But this is different. This darkness is human, in a sense, but it is also a cosmos that rejects everything, holding no human emotions. A wholly new “human evil” surpassing all the evils of this world.
その美しさは、機械としての美しさだ。 ここには生命の息吹が一切ない。 あらゆる要素が生命活動を否定している。
我は多くの災害と人悪を見定めてきた。 貴様らにとって悪とされるモノたちも、 根本には人間への情があった。
それが自己にのみ向けられた博愛であれ、 他者に向けた憎悪であれな。 だが、これは違う。
この闇は人間的でありながら、人間としての 情を持たぬ排斥の宇宙。この世すべての悪を 上回る、まったく新しい"人類悪"だ。 - ↑ Take Off! Super Dimensional Trouble Hanafuda Epic Battle - Fate/EXTRA Arc.
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order Arcade - Lilim Harlot: Corrupted Fruit City, Section 7
- ↑ Fate/Prototype