WARNING! Contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore saw Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) rally up an eclectic team in order to curb Gellert Grindelwald's (Mads Mikkelsen) rise in power, and here's his deliberately confusing plan explained. The third of what may be a five-movie series explored Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship and revealed Credence's (Ezra Miller) identity as Aurelius Dumbledore, Aberforth's (Richard Coyle) long-lost son. Fantastic Beasts 3 is filled with twists, many of which are thanks to Dumbledore's complicated plan to stop Grindelwald's reign of terror.
As Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner) accurately puts it, Dumbledore's team is an unusual one: "A Magizoologist, his indispensable assistant, a wizard descended from a very old family, a school teacher, and a Muggle" (and of course, Theseus himself, as Jacob adds). Just like in the Harry Potter series, it seems like Dumbledore is the only one who truly knows the grand plan, everyone on his side being a mere pawn in his game. Throughout Harry Potter, Dumbledore conceals many bits of crucial information from Harry (including that Harry must die for Voldemort to be killed). But if Dumbledore keeps others in the shadow (while putting them in danger) in Harry Potter, in Fantastic Beasts, he has a good reason for it.
Grindelwald is a Seer - this means he has the ability to see glimpses of the future - and he enhances this by killing the baby Qilin, harnessing its own powers of precognition. Through Dumbledore, Newt conveys this message to the rest of the team: "our best hope is to confuse him" by having several plans instead of one. Furthermore, none of the characters can know the full extent of the plan, as Grindelwald would find a way to use this to his advantage. Dumbledore thus gives every character a separate task (at times intertwining with another's) and watches everyone from afar, ever ready to decide the next move depending on the current situation. Here's a complete breakdown of Dumbledore's plan against Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3.
Dumbledore's Plan In Fantastic Beats 3 Is Deliberately Confusing
It helps to see Dumbledore's plan for his "army" like a game of chess. He knows he can't predict what will happen (and that he isn't in control of Grindelwald and other factors), but he has a plan for every scenario, and he has foreseen several. This is all because Grindelwald is a Seer. As Newt tells the team, "We have to assume that he'll be able to anticipate what we do before we do it." This means the team cannot stick to one good plan, as Grindelwald will soon see right through it and move against them. Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam) explains what they must do is "counter-sight" - or "many overlapping plans" as Eulalie "Lally" Hicks (Jessica Willians) simply clarifies. Each character will go about their task, unaware of the others' tasks and thus unable to let Grindelwald take control of the situation.
In fact, Dumbledore uses Grindelwald's Seer powers against him, creating some scenarios as a lure for the dark wizard. When he sends Lally with Jacob (Dan Fogler) to the dinner, he isn't just ensuring Lally stops the assassination attempt on Vicência Santos (Maria Fernanda Cândido). He knows Jacob will cause a scene after seeing Queenie (Alison Sudol) with Grindelwald. When Jacob confronts Grindelwald with his snakewood wand, Lally causes the wand to break into a storm, which is the perfect diversion for their escape and a lure for Grindelwald to find and attack Jacob publicly later, exposing Grindelwald's bigotry and helping end his ascension to power.
What Dumbledore Gives Each Army Member (& Why)
In Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Albus gives Jacob a snakewood wand (without a core), which Jacob is delighted to keep. Dumbledore knows the wand can't produce magic but that Jacob will try to use it at the perfect moment - the wand is a means to distract Grindelwald and attract him into a trap. Theseus receives a red tie, which is later revealed to be a Portkey. Newt knows this when he rescues his brother from the cave, or "the Ministry's secret little bed and breakfast." Lally is given a book, which, according to her, "can take you around the world and back, all you have to do is open it." Lally is a renowned teacher, so a book might seem like the perfect gift from Dumbledore - but like Jacob confirms when he says "she ain't kidding", the book is in fact a Portkey, which Lally uses to find Jacob and take him to the train.
Dumbledore also gives Bunty (Victoria Yeates) a note that's designed only for her to read - perhaps these are her instructions to create six copies of Newt's suitcase, but the note might also include the crucial information that Bunty will be the one to carry the real suitcase (Fantastic Beasts 3's new magical creature, the Qilin, included) to Bhutan. This is the final step in exposing Grindelwald's lies and making sure he doesn't rise to Supreme Mugwump. Finally, Newt is about to tell Yusuf what Dumbledore gave him when Yusuf cuts him short, saying he has what he needs. It's safe to say Yusuf has received instructions to infiltrate Grindelwald's army and act as an informant for Dumbledore (and finally, as a savior for Lally and Theseus in Bhutan).
Each Character's Mission In Dumbledore's Plan Explained
Jacob - As he is a Muggle (debunking the theory that Jacob can become a wizard), Jacob can't produce magic, so he can't actually use his wand. But Dumbledore relies on the fact that Jacob will ignore this when confronting Grindelwald at the dinner. Furthermore, Lally actually makes Jacob's wand produce a storm, which is also part of Dumbledore's plan to attract Grindelwald into a trap. Finally, Dumbledore takes Jacob with him to Bhutan (and makes sure he carries an unimportant suitcase copy). Jacob not only gets Queenie back to the good side but he is also used (although Dumbledore admits he never meant for Jacob to receive the Cruciatus curse) by Grindelwald to show people what will happen to Muggles under his rule. This exposes Grindelwald's evil and urges people to vote for Santos.
Yusuf - Dumbledore gives Yusuf the task to infiltrate Grindelwald's people and act as an informant, helping Dumbledore plan his next steps in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Yusuf has just lost his sister, Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz), to Grindelwald and will want to avenge her one way or another. Furthermore, Dumbledore knows that Grindelwald will want Yusuf to prove his loyalty to him and will thus give him an important task in Bhutan. This allows Yusuf to be near Lally and Theseus, rescuing them from Grindelwald's men at the perfect time.
Theseus - Theseus is, above all else, a great Auror. When Dumbledore chooses to involve him in the mission, he knows Theseus would dive headfirst into the action without dwelling on the consequences because he's defined by bravery and a strong will to do the right thing (much like Harry Potter). The Portkey tie seems a symbol of Dumbledore knowing Theseus will somehow get himself in trouble, but that his brother will come to his aid.
Lally - Lally is an exceptional charms teacher and Dumbledore makes full use of her skills in his war against Grindelwald. She recognizes the cursed drink Grindelwald's man is about to serve to Santos, prevents the assassination, and saves Jacob from the situation he got himself in. In Bhutan, Lally and Theseus fight bravely together, and it's likely Lally charmed the fake suitcases (with a spell reminding of Bellatrix Lestrange's vault charm) so as to distract and attack Grindelwald's people.
Bunty - Jude Law's Dumbledore gives Bunty the task of creating six identical replicas of Newt's magical suitcase, in order to distract Grindelwald's men and avoid the Qilin being found and killed. Newt himself doesn't know Bunty will be carrying the actual suitcase to Bhutan (as Bunty reminds him, "no one can know everything"). Bunty remains inconspicuous throughout the journey in Fantastic Beasts 3, while Newt gets apprehended and has his suitcase stolen - Dumbledore knows the suitcase will be safest with a disguised Bunty who remains completely unknown to Grindelwald or his people until the very end.
Newt - At the beginning of the film, Newt oversees the birth of twin Qilins. These are very rare magical creatures and Dumbledore knows Grindelwald will want to get his hands on them, as a Qilin can help him get elected as Supreme Mugwump. Although Newt loses one of the Qilins to Grindelwald (via Credence), Dumbledore knows Newt will be indispensable in caring for the other one, and in holding the team together.
How Dumbledore Knows Yusuf Will Fool Grindelwald
In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald's ending, Yusuf Kama reunites with his half-sister, Leta Lestrange. But the reunion is short-lived, as Leta sacrifices herself to save everyone else (Yusuf, Newt, and her fiancé Theseus included) from Grindelwald's fire. Dumbledore knows Yusuf will want revenge for Leta's death, and getting close to (and betraying) Grindelwald is a good opportunity. Dumbledore also knows Yusuf will be able to fool Grindelwald and enter his team, as he comes from one of the few pureblood families in the world. Grindelwald's obsession with keeping the wizard race pure means he will be tempted to believe Yusuf's story and welcome him among his people.
Why Dumbledore Involves Jacob In His Grindelwald Plan
In Fantastic Beasts 3, it's clear Dumbledore knows that Jacob never gave up on Queenie and that he will do anything to get her back. He thus sends Lally to rally him up and, to his delight, offers him a snakewood wand. Throughout his plan, Dumbledore uses Jacob as a pawn to rile up Grindelwald and make him come after Jacob in front of his supporters, proving what a two-faced bigoted wizard he is. When Grindelwald casts Crucio on Jacob and declares war on the Muggles, people finally see his true, demented side, which he had been hiding under a clean-cut, well-spoken facade. Finally, Dumbledore values Jacob's "full heart," bravery, and honesty. Dumbledore has always sought people around him that have indispensable human virtues, sometimes even prioritizing those over their magical skills.
Why Dumbledore Gives The Real Qilin Case To Bunty
Dumbledore knows one of Grindelwald's followers will be expecting Newt in Bhutan. In Fantastic Beasts, Newt values his magical creatures above all else, and so Grindelwald expects, diversion included or not, the suitcase to be in the magizoologist's possession at all times. Bunty has been famously inconspicuous for the whole duration of Fantastic Beasts 3: no one in Grindelwald's team knows her, and in Bhutan, she shows up disguised as one of the local nuns. Furthermore, neither Dumbledore nor Bunty tells Newt about this plan, making sure Grindelwald stays unaware of it. When Grindelwald's follower grabs Newt's suitcase, he fights for it and is devastated to see her destroy it, making it look genuine and protecting Bunty, the real suitcase, and all the creatures within.
How Much Did Dumbledore Know All Along In Fantastic Beasts 3?
Dumbledore seemed to carry out his "over-sight" plan like a game of chess. In the first part of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, he sends Newt to convey a message to Anton Vogel (Oliver Masucci), the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. Newt asks Vogel to do "the right thing, not the easy thing." Dumbledore thus knew the plan could go both ways, depending on Vogel (eventually he does the easy thing and acquits Grindelwald of all crimes, and even allows him to stand as a candidate for the Mugwump position). This goes to show Dumbledore knew he wasn't always in control. He just had a plan for every scenario, much like a chess grandmaster.
Albus Dumbledore always seems to know more than he lets on (this being the case in every Harry Potter book/movie), but in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, there are a few big things he learns on the go. The most notable piece of information is Credence/Aurelius being Aberforth's son (and his very poor health, as Dumbledore recognizes the signs shown by his phoenix). But being the very knowledgeable and resourceful wizard he is, Dumbledore quickly concocts the perfect plan based on the current context. Dumbledore uses every new piece of information to his advantage, uniting several people against his lover-turned-foe Grindelwald.