#theroycrafting

Armads: Unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack when attacked at HP ≥ 80%.

Pavise - Distant Counter - Goad Armor

Hector was a power house at launch, despite Armads having just Quick Repost 2. Now, this weapon is left unrefined and under powered, solely because Hector can evolve Armads into Berserker Armads from Hector's "Day of Devotion" alt, and then refine it again. For refences here's what normal Armads is up against.

Berserk Armads: "Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of turn, if unit's HP ≤ 75% and unit's attack triggers Special, grants Special cooldown count-1, and deals +10 damage when Special triggers. If foe initiates combat or foe's HP = 100% at start of combat, inflicts Atk/Def-5 on foe during combat, and also, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores 30% of unit's maximum HP. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.)"

Many other heroes got the ability to evolve their weapons to match other alts, got their normal weapons refined, and then their evolved weapons refined. Hector missed that second part for unknown reason. My best guess is IS, at the time Seliph, Eliwood, and Ephriam, were getting refines, wanted players to inherit Vengeful Fighter to Hector, the better option for him, then evolve to Berserk Armads. It would be cheaper in Divine Dew to do evolve than refine the old version, but now it's more expensive to refine the new version. Why even bother?

With this in mind, normal Armads should not be better than Berserk Armads nor should it completely replace Vengeful Fighter.

"Grant Atk +3. If unit's HP ≥ 70% and foe initiates combat, unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack. If foe initiates combat or if unit is not adjacent to allies, inflicts Atk/Def-6 on foe during combat, neutralizes unit's penalties on Atk/Def."

There, the base effect is just Quick Repost 3. The special effect is a foe initiating or solo condition to get more damage and take less damage. The solo is akin to the early game of Blazing Sword where Hector is doing extra chapters by himself (Mathew is there two but it's all Hector). This is no where as good as Special spamming but for a cheaper option, this can be a pass for most people.

Verdict: Just get Berserk Armads, don't wait for the refine.

Reinhardt: Thunder's Fist

Dire Thunder: "Mt: 9 Inflict Spd-5. Attack twice when initiating combat."

Blazing Thunder - Vantage 3 - Goad Cavalry

If you found my blog, you must like FEH, and you must already know this man. He has a brave blue tome, he's a cavalry, and despite the low base stats, he has enough Atk combined with Death Blow 4 + 3 to 2 tap a about 2/3 of the cast. All this and he's 3-4 star. That last (accidently?) gift is why Dire Thunder is not getting a refine. He is so accessible to new players that they will rely on him to solve every, arena counter play will only consist to beat him (with most of those heroes being meta in their own right), and the new players will either get frustrated when their Reinhart gets beat, on they get beat by Reinhart. It's a hypothetical, but it's more IS don't want to buff him, but rather make new heroes that do a better job than him (cough Ninja Corrin).

So, if I have to buff him (and his sister, we'll get to her later), we can increase his damage and resistances, but we can't improve anything outside of his initial two tap. I got a suggestion for making Dire Thunder a duel phase brave tome, like Sword!Reinhart's weapon, as it would open him up to Close Counter Vantage, as weak as his defensives are. But not only would that make his enemy phase harder to counter, we don't even have one mage with a duel phase brave tome (there's some conditional braves, but none have the stats to be full enemy phase). Giving it to a 3-4 star would be dangerous. I also can't give him anything related to specials or follow-ups as there is enough good skills out there he can inherit or get from allies that would make him too powerful if stacked together.

One more advantage Reinhart has is Cavalry bonuses that gets to improve ally cavaliers and get bonuses for himself. Full cavalry teams were a popular noob stomping tactic that have been slowing down thanks to infantry and armours getting new abilities to counter sudden attacks, and trenches started showing up. That's not to say we don't have OP cavaliers, but we don't need all cavalry teams to come back.

So, my best idea for a fair refine is a really unfun one.

"At start of turn, if unit is within a 2 tile radius of an ally, grants Atk+6 to unit and allies within 2 spaces for 1 turn. Granted only if number of unit's or that ally's movement type on current team ≤ 2. . . ."

For the first effect part, it's what I'll call Joint Atk Tactic. If the team contains no more than 2 cavaliers (including Reinhart) they get Atk+6 when near Reinhart and Reinhart gets Atk+6 too. This combine with his already available Ward Calvary means only the one other Calvary will receive the benefits. Yes, Tactic skills do restrict the team available but at least that's not the only benefit.

". . . If unit initiates combat unit or a [Bonus] is active on unit, inflict Atk/Res -5 and Special Cooldown charge -1 to foe per attack during combat (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)."

5 is the most amount of damage / RD I can give him, he would reach effectively 14 Mt, and would lower all range weapons to that 9 Mt. As for the Guard, apparently ranged units can't get Flow skills so this is a great ability to prevent special retaliation. It would not stop Breath, Tempo, Pre-Charged, Blades, or Special Fighters. It also won't stop power houses one shots, follow-up attacks, effective damage, stacks of Res, damage reduction, or Miracle.

Verdict: He's still the bang for your buck, don't expect a refine.

Olwen: Blue Mage Knight

Dire Thunder: "Mt: 9 Inflict Spd-5. Attack twice when initiating combat."

Reposition - Warding Blow 3 - Ward Cavalry

Now, Olwen on the other hand, is another story. Olwen is a 5 star (4 star special) with 26 Atk and 34 Spd compared to Rein's 32 Atk and 23 Spd. While Rein can't follow-up attack, this Atk is enough to kill before a retaliation. Olwen has enough Spd and Res to stop follow-up attack and survive mage attacks, or follow-up herself, but that Atk isn't helping. With the same Death Blow 4 + 3, Olwen only beats . . . 50%, that's actually better than I thought.

What about Life and Death 4 + 3? Slightly better.

Okay, she's fine but a 5 star should be better than the demote version, right? Giving her the same refine as Reinhart will work well as surviving the foe's counter attack and allow for a follow-up attack (which would be 4 hits total, allow for a 2-4 specials to trigger). What we can do is give her true damage and ensure the follow-up attack. So, what do we do? Give her a new perf weapon! It's like Linus's Fanged Balisto.

Dire Thunderhead: Mt. 9 "Grants Spd + 4. Inflicts Def/Res - 4. If unit initiates combat, unit attacks twice."

Yeah, now is a good time to inherit Life and Death.

"At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to an ally, grants Atk/Spd+5 to unit and adjacent allies for 1 turn. . . ."

Remember how I said I don't want the cavalry meta to come back? Forget 'bout, give Olwen Fortify Calvary to buff the near by calvary a bunch and give herself the offensive bonus. It would be nice to make it two range or +6, but she still has another effect.

". . . If unit initiates combat or unit has [Bonus], grant Atk/Spd+5, increases damage by 50% of the total amount of bonuses on unit."

First, more Atk/Spd. Second, it's a blade tome that is half the effect. With the buffs she gets herself, it's 5 true damage, which is as much as the Finisher skills. Combine with a double rally or link skill, she would get a total bonus of 22, giving her 11 true damage per hit. And of course, the maximum amount of bonuses is 7 in each, 28 total, 14 true damage. This is something not even Ninja Corrin can do, but then again, she has 41 Atk, 40 Spd, and can get a max of 7 True damage from out speeding the opponent. Olwen is starting from 26 Atk. 14 + 26 is 40 and True Damage has the advantage of bypassing weapon triangle disadvantage and high Res, but she still not quite as good as N!Corrin since field bonus need to be have to team comp to facilitate. Also, N!Corrin has her Dou Skill.

Verdict: Stuck in shadow of her brother.

Conrad: Masked Knight

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 40/31/22/34/35 Max Invest 48/38/29/42/43

Barrier Lance+ :If foe initiates combat, grants Res+7 during combat.

Glacies - Bracing Stance 2 - Chill Atk 3

Conrad is another lance calvary. He notable had higher Def/Res and low Spd, not that it’s unique now a days. The barrier lance is (funny enough) just Berkut’s inheritable lance. So, what am I going to do?

Masked Lance: If foe initiates combat or foe’s HP ≥ 75%, grants Atk/Def/Res+6 during combat and, when unit deals damage to foe during combat, restores 7 HP to unit. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.)

Well, this can make him more bulky. Sure, there’s no follow-up stuff, but . . . moving on.

Enables [Canto (Rem + 1)].

If any ally's HP ≤ 80%, unit can move to a space adjacent to that ally. If unit is within 3 spaces of an ally, inflict penalty to foe’s Atk/Def during combat = 6 - X (X = number of spaces from start position to end position of whoever initiated combat x 2; max -10), and also, if X ≥ 2, unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack.

And this is just Wing of Mercy, Near Trace, and -Atk/Def Clash. I figured the guy that just runs it to save Celica like he’s Tuxedo Mask would like these effects. And now I gave him the follow-up attack he needs to function in this day in age. Should it have something closer to Wing of Mercy 4 that I theorycrafted a while ago? NOPE. Is this better than-NOPE. Arcane Qua or whatever will still be better to inherit. This is the fate of GHB heroes.

Alfonse: Askran Duo

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 41/38/17/35/30 Max Invest 49/46/24/43/37

Imbued Koma: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, if Special is ready, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat and foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Open the Future: Boosts damage by 50% of unit's Def. Restores HP = 25% of damage dealt.

Close Counter - Special Spiral 3 - Def/Res Oath 3

Duo Skill: Grants Special cooldown count-2 to unit and infantry allies within 3 rows and 3 columns centered on unit.

Alfonse and Shereana of the New York variaty have been a duo unit I have been waiting on a refine for years. Their ability to be a competent close counter mage by spamming Open the Future, and “Nosferatu” tanking was great. However, they needed more oomph and more bulk to function the same, after one year of the meta shifting. Plus, New Years Askr was just added, and he’s surprisingly unkillable, while also having Def/Res Finish instead of Close Counter, but he can absolutely run it.

Imbued Koma: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, unit's HP ≥ 50% or if Special is ready, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat, foe cannot make a follow-up attack, and also, if unit's Def > foe's Def or unit's Res > foe's Res, reduce damage from attacks during combat by percentage = the larger of the two difference between stats × 4 (max 40%).

My first change is to make the base effect easier to get. Since their Dou button doesn’t do much outside of precharge their Special, I figure removing the necessity for having that button push on a 3-year-old unit would help. The other Dous did the same thing. Second, I added not just Dragon Wall, but the Def version as well (Armored Wall? Beast Wall?). They don’t activate at the same time, they only do one or the other, to get a max of 40%. If the difference between Alfonse’s Res and the foe’s Res is higher than the difference between Alfonse’s Def and the foe’s Def, even by 1 point, use Dragon Wall, and visa verse. I could have used just true damage reduction like Askr, but percentage base damage reduction, I feel, works better with Nosferatu tanking.

If unit's HP ≥ 25%, grant Atk/Spd/Def/Res + 5, reduce the effects for [Deep Wounds] by 50%, increase damage by 20% of unit’s Def, grants unit a guaranteed follow-up attack, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores HP = 25% of unit's max HP.

And now, to make this even better at the Nosferatu part, I took Brave Claude’s kit, and gave Alfonse both the 25% max HP healing from Special and [Deep Wounds] nerfing. On top of that, you get more true damage base on his Def, and a guaranteed follow-up. So, he is dealing 70% of his Def when the Special triggers, or 31 true damage, then healing a guaranteed 10 HP and another potential 10 HP if a 40 HP foe is one shot by the Special. And if Alfonse runs into his Fatal Smoke other-self, 12.5% of his max HP and 12.5% of the damage delt, making it back up to 25%. Now, give him Special Spiral 4, and he’ll be busting tanks in his own right.

Edelgard: The Future

Victorious Axe: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If unit is not adjacent to an ally or is within 2 tile radius of a support partner, inflicts Atk/Def-6 on foe during combat, unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack, and reduces damage from foe’s follow-up attack by 80%. *

If the number of foes within 3 spaces of unit ≥ 2, inflicts Atk/Def-6 on foe during combat, deals +10 damage when unit Special triggers during combat, and if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restore 10 HP to unit. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.)

Bantu: Tiki’s Guardian

Elder Breath Wizened Breath: At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd-7 on nearest foes within 4 spaces through their next actions. After combat, if unit attacked, inflicts Atk/Spd-7 on target and nearest foes within 4 spaces of target through their next actions. If foe’s Range = 2, calculates damage using the lower of foe’s Def or Res.

Inflicts Atk/Res on foe = 70% of the total penalties on foe during combat. If foe has [Penalties], neutralizes unit’s penalties.

Silque: Adherent of Mila

Staff of Mila Staff of Lilies: Calculates damage from staff like other weapons. After combat, if unit attacked, resets Special cooldown of target and foes within 2 spaces of target, and inflicts [Guard] on target and foes within 2 spaces of target. *

Wrath 3: At start of turn, if unit's HP ≤ 75% and unit's attack can trigger their Special, grants Special cooldown count-1, and deals +10 damage when Special triggers.

Reminder: This skill is restricted to 1 range infantry and armored units Wrath is pretty good for maintaining pre-charged specials. In a way, it’s like Time’s Pulse, giving Special charge at the start of the turn, while also giving +10 damage when Special triggers. The difference is that it requires low health and an offensive Special (ie. No Agies, Pavise, or Galeforce). So when Time’s Pulse 4 got the ability to grant Special charge not only at the start of turn, but after combat too, allowing for precharged 1 cooldown Specials during enemy phased and after a refresh. I wanted Wrath 4 to be just like that, but when we compare it to Special Spiral 4, it grants +2 after combat while also giving +5 damages and “damage reduction neutralization”, while not having any condition other than the skill needs to trigger before or after combat. I had to add more to my Wrath 4 to make it different.

Wrath 4: If unit's attack can trigger their Special, grant the following: At start of turn, if unit's HP ≤ 90%, grants Special cooldown count-1. At the start of combat, if unit's HP ≤ 90%, deals +10 damage when Special triggers and neutralize effects that inflict "Special Cooldown charge-X" on unit during combat. After combat, if unit's HP ≤ 90%, grants Special cooldown count-1.

This skill makes some changes to further align with the aforementioned Special Spiral 4. You get Guard Neutralization, which can allow for further charging, so you can do higher charged skills if you don’t want 1 charged skills. And then the –1 special charge at the start of the turn and the end of combat. The post-combat damage from Push or Fury also allows this skill to trigger, given this skill has a lowered HP threshold makes it so a 49 HP unit can get the skill triggered with 5 damage from Push. It’s not the amazing <100% that Escape Route is, but it’s at least close enough, given the benefits this skill provides.

Brash Assault 3: If unit initiates combat against a foe that can counter and unit's HP ≤ 50%, unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack.

Well, here’s a not so useful skill. It lets you get a guaranteed follow-up attack when initiating combat, but you need to be low health and fighting a foe that can counterattack. This can’t be use a melee unit to two-tap a squishy mage foe, and vise versa. Also, if your low health, you are letting the foe attack you before you can strike with the follow-up. A simple solution is to remove that condition, or I can add a benefit.

Brash Assault 4: If unit initiates combat against a foe that can counter and unit's HP ≤ 90%, unit gets a guaranteed follow-up attack and reduces damage from foe's first attack by 30% and unit’s next attack deals damage equal to total damage reduced (by any source, including other skills). Resets at the end of combat.

Similar to Quick Riposte 4, this gives a better HP threshold, and damage reduction, increased to 40% since it’s only when the unit initiates, and it still requires that self-inflicted damage. In addition, the attack you still need to take during the combat is used productively to further push damage output similar to Hans’s Aurgelmir or Nyx’s Ginnungagap.

Desperation 3: If unit's HP ≤ 75% and unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Vantage 3: If unit's HP ≤ 75% and foe initiates combat, unit can counterattack before foe's first attack.

These two I’m bunching together just cause, I don’t have anything to improve them. They don’t need to give more damage, have NFU, or reduce damage because they are versatile in their applications and would cause Hardy Baring to be more necessary. For desperation, a lot of units are getting more powerful in their ability to make their follow-ups trigger specials and nuke foes, see both Legendary and Ascendant Celica, Monica, and Khadein! Ursula. As for Vantage, Ninja Camila, Brave Byleth, and even the original Altina is making a good point at how OP vantage tanking is. If I’m going to make the tier 4, I can only increase the HP threshold. That way, you would have to run Fury or Push to get into the HP threshold, and if the unit can’t safely initiate combat, they will just have lower HP, which can mess with their plan.

Desperation 4: Inflict Spd -4 on foe during combat. If unit's HP ≤ 90% and unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Vantage 4: Inflict Atk -4 on foe during combat. When foe initiates combat, if unit's HP ≤ 90%, unit’s counterattack occurs before foe’s first attack.

Okay, I can at least give you -4 Atk or Spd on foe just so you can scrape by when these skill don’t trigger or you can’t kill your foe.

Spurn 3: If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, reduces damage from attacks during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 4 (max 40%). If unit's HP ≤ 75% and unit's attack can trigger their Special, deals +5 damage when Special triggers.

Now that I made Wrath better, I figured we’d work on Spurn. Spurn was the best B slot for dodge after Repel and Close Call since it provided more damage instead of after combat movement. It basically powercrept them. I'm keeping that in mind when I give you the upgrade.

Spurn 4: Inflict Spd -4 on foe during combat. If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, reduces damage from attacks during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 5 (max 50%). If unit's HP ≤ 90% and unit's attack can trigger their Special, deals +10 damage when Special triggers.

This one could have been messy. I gave the -4 Spd, and 50%, but I didn’t include the phantom 7 spd. You can think of Repel 4 as the skills that will more likely max out all forms of Dodge to stack it as high as possible, while this will rely on your base and in-combat Spd. The extra damage when you trigger your Special, which is now on par with Warth’s bonus damage, will be the tradeoff.

Frenzy 3: If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, reduces damage from attacks during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 4 (max 40%). If unit's HP ≤ 50%, when unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Keeping with this trend, Frenzy is an underutilized variant of Desperation that comes with Dodge. This helps you get down to the lower HP threshold of 50%. This can be good on ranged units but they can’t inherit this skill. There’s instead a chance this skill is too good at lowering damage, making it harder to go that low. That’s why the originator of this skill, Charlotte, had more HP than most unit’s, so her could get to 50% with Dodge alone.

Frenzy 4: Inflict Spd -4 on foe during combat. If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, reduces damage from attacks during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 5 (max 50%). If unit's HP ≤ 75%, when unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Boom. Same -4, 50%, no Phantom Spd, as Spurn, and Desperation has been raised to 75%. Easypeasy.

Heavy Blade 4: If unit's Atk > foe's Atk, grants Special cooldown charge +1 per unit’s attack and deal 5 damage. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Flashing Blade 4: If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, grants Special cooldown charge +1 per unit’s attack and deal 5 damage. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Now, I wanna talk about these skills. These skills do a stat check against the foe to get +1 Special cooldown charge but only on unit’s attack (so have when the foe attacks, like Breath or the status condition). This skill is in the A slot, reserved for stat increasing skills and Distant Counter. Flashing Blade is easy to do when Spd can vary between units, from a “dump stat” low, to moderate, high, or “I break the record for highest Spd, pull for me me me!” This skill is however not available to Fliers or Cavaliers, so they need to use Heavy Blade, where everyone has either high Atk stats or higher than high Atk. The average is a comfortable 40 (55 if including weapon might) so it’s difficult to check if you aren't using Atk debuffs. The 3 tier versions are in the Seal slot and it way better in there, since your A slot can be used to increase Atk and Spd (to get follow-ups). Oh yeah, and if you deal too much damage and one shot the foe, you won’t be charging Galeforce. So I thought, what would be a better alternative that would be worth having in your A slot?

Heavy Surge: If unit initiates combat, grants Atk+6 during combat. If unit's Atk > foe's Atk, grants Special cooldown charge +1 per attack, and also, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores HP = X% of unit's max HP (X = unit's max Special cooldown count value × 10 + 10; max 50). (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt. Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Okay, the best idea I have is massing it with Sturdy Surge / Surge Sparrow, and because of that, it will be restricted to only melee units, no ranged units. You get Death Blow 3, an improved Heavy Blade that includes +1 when the foe attacks, and then gets you healing when your trigger offensive Specials. So, if you use AS Moonbow, you get 20% max HP healing, but the charge is only there to bypass Guard. Using AS Luna/Bonfire would be much better for 30% max HP and instantly charged Special counterattack. And if you want Astra or Ignis, no AS, then you can charge them for a follow-up attack after the foe’s counterattack and heal 50% max HP. Remember +5 Atk is only on player phase, so you're more likely to make the Atk check if you initiate, and the healing is only there if you make that Atk check too. If you have a shield Special or Galeforce, you get no benefits outside of the better charge and Death Blow 3. If you have an AOE Special, enjoy the 50% (or 40% if you have AS) of your max HP getting restored before combat while you are likely full health, and only when initiating combat with a pre-charged Special.

Flashing Surge: If unit initiates combat, grants Spd+6 during combat. If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, grants Special cooldown charge +1 per attack, and also, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores HP = X% of unit's max HP (X = unit's max Special cooldown count value × 10 + 10; max 50). (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt. Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

And here’s the Spd variant. Like with Flashing Blade, Fliers and Calvaries can’t have it, and ranged units can’t have this either. For this version, you could use it with Vital Astra, but precharging is much better (try using my Wrath 4).

Steady Breath: If foe initiates combat, grants Def+4 during combat and Special cooldown charge +1 per attack. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Warding Breath: If foe initiates combat, grants Res+4 during combat and Special cooldown charge +1 per attack. (Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Might as well do Steady Breath and Warding Breath too. They are skills that gives Special charge and are in the A slot and Seal slot. they grant more Def/Res and triggers always on only when the foe initiates.

Steady Surge: If foe initiates combat, grants Def+6 during combat, Special cooldown charge +1 per attack, and also, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores HP = X% of unit's max HP (X = unit's max Special cooldown count value × 10 + 10; max 50). (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt. Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

Like the pair of skills above, you get +6 to a stat, Special charge and healing. While you can’t get these benefits in both phases, not doing a stat check is highly useful. This skill has the same restriction of inhrits as Flashing Surge, so don’t expect your fliers to “nosforatu” tank as well as B! Claude. Of course, the alternative to this is Sturdy Stance 4, which can protect you from Specials, and Distant Reversal, to counter ranged units. If you plan on beating pre-charged melee units, or just melee units who deal a lot of damage on their first hit, use this with AS Ignis, and one-shot that foe back in one hit.

Warding Surge: If foe initiates combat, grants Res+6 during combat, Special cooldown charge +1 per attack, and also, if unit deals damage to foe using a Special, restores HP = X% of unit's max HP (X = unit's max Special cooldown count value × 10 + 10; max 50). (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt. Only highest value applied. Does not stack.)

This Warding Surge would function like Warding Stance or Distant Stance, giving low or moderate Res units more resistance against mages (and dragons). It could also give high Res infantry and armored Dragons more Res for Dragon Wall.

Altena: Luminous Rider

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 45/37/25/39/20 Max Invest 53/45/32/47/25

Earthly Gáe Bolg: Grants Def+3. In combat against an infantry, armored, or cavalry foe, inflicts Atk/Def-5 on foe and neutralizes foe's bonuses to Atk/Def (from skills like Fortify, Rally, etc.) during combat.

Reprisal – Sturdy Stance 2 – Brash Assault 3

Didn’t we already get Altina’s refine? Oh, this is someone different?

Let me spin you a yarn. Since the begin, a new banner would have 5 star units, but one of those 5 stars would become what’s known as a 4-5 star once the banner ends, they could be summon as a 4 star or a 5 star (and ruin your pitty rate). Then halfway though the year, these units would change to just 3-4 stars. Norne, Tethys, Echidna, Python, and Altena were the last of these units. The instant demotes differ because they were units that enter the pool as a 3 or 4 star at the start and were not a focus on a new heroes banner. On the 3rd Anniversary in 2020, a change was made so any new heroes that are on the banner, that were gonna be summonable as a 4 star focuse with a separate pity rate. After the banner, they became 3-4 stars. So the last of the 4-5 stars from before became 3-4 with the exeption of one, Altena. For a full year, Altena was the only 4-5 star, and my the 4th Anniversary in 2021, they remembered she exist and quietly demoted her in a newsletter.

I do wonder if the reason she was so rare that last year is because she had a decent perf, when you considered fliers can’t have Lull skills. It’s better than Quan’s Gáe Bolg.

Earthly Gáe Bolg: Grants Def+3. Inflicts Atk/Def-5 on infantry, armored, or cavalry foes within 2 tile radius, and neutralizes those foe's bonuses to Atk/Def (from skills like Fortify, Rally, etc.) during combat.

Yeah, the only change I made was to make all allies benefit from the effects of her weapon. It’s like Atk/Def Rein but it doesn’t affect flying foes, but does include Lull Atk/Def. A team of melee fliers can benefit greatly from this skill, which is where the unique refine comes in.

“If there is a sword, lance, axe, or flying ally on your team (excluding unit), grants Atk/Def+5 to unit during combat. Grants Atk/Def+5 to sword, lance, axe, and flying allies within 3 spaces of unit during combat."

Similar to Quan, this grants more Atk/Def to Altena if there’s another melee fighter or another fighter on your team. It also grants those units Atk/Def. Lore wise, this means that L! Leif (a bow cavalier) can’t work on her team, by Quan can. Also, falcon knights from FE4 could wield staffs, but there were no flying mages or flying archers. Gameplay wise, Altena will be a valueble asset to flying archers, flying dagger throwers, bird or bat people, or even flying dragons since they have adaptable damage and tend to have high Def for countering physical attackers. Mages? They can stay home.

Ced: Hero on the Wind

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 37/35/39/19/31 Max Invest 45/43/47/26/36

Winds of Silesse: Grants Spd+3. If unit is not adjacent to an ally, grants Atk/Spd+6 to unit during combat.

Luna – Spd/Res Solo 3 – Pulse Smoke 3

Update: I have been told Ced is not Lewyn's son in fe4 but is made cannon in fe5. He's Erinys's son. Okay. Whatever.

Ced is the son of the Forseti tome wielder and sexyman Lewyn. Unlike his father, he a serious strategist, not an ounce of fun in this man. He is also doesn't have Forseti nor a weapon that let’s him spam specials, it’s just Atk/Spd solo. We could get a tome that does something exact different thing, with neutralize Atk/Spd penalties on it.

Winds of Silesse: Grants Spd+3. If unit initiates combat or is not adjacent to an ally grants Atk/Spd+6 to unit during combat, neutralize penalties on unit’s Atk/Spd, and inflict Special cooldown -1 on foe per attack.

There we go. The condition I have is what I’m now dumbing Solo Phase Standard. Now this was suppost to be the anti-Forseti tome but I only now remembered that Special Spiral was the only “Special” thing. Forseti was a Desperation tome, was I supposed to add Hardy Bearing? They could reck Desperation and Vantage builds. Instead, he’s going after mage nukes, slow the Specials of the foe, remove their bonuses and remove his penalties (just like the refined Forseti). This allows for more offensive A and B slots, but that Pulse Smoke stays. Why? Cuz of this.

"At start of turn 1-4, inflicts Atk/Spd -6 and [Gaurd] on foes with the lowest maximum Special cooldown for their next action and inflict Special cooldown count+1 on those foes. (Cannot exceed the foe's maximum Special cooldown.)"

Here’s that taction mind at work. To stop special spammers, pre-charge nukes, or units with dangerous perf specials, you inflict Special cooldown count +1 at the start of turn. We have Odd Tie Pulse but that requires having higher HP, which ghost dad L!Sigurd has, at least compared to Ced. This effect only targets the lowest maximum Special cooldown (the lowest highest? Weird way to say it). Let’s take Sigurd, he has 1 charge on Holy-Knight Aura. The only thing stopping him, aside from [False Start], is [Guard], and while it’s much more common now, inflicting Guard prevents him from triggering his special and having his whole team get +1 move. Sigurd is guarantee to get inflicted, even if there’s another foe with 1 charge because they get penalized too. Now if the lowest max cooldown is 2, and that unit happens to be ReArmed Ophelia, who pre-charges Luna, she gets her charge to only 1, and she can’t charge it for her second attack. Now what if both of these units are on the foe’s team? Well, Sigurd gets hit but Ophelia gets pre-charged. You then need Sigurd defeated, the next turn to come, and than Ophelia is debuffed. And on turn 4, if all that’s left is Nowi with Aether (Cd 6), she’s getting debuffed.

Larcei: Keen Kin

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 41/36/40/30/25 Max invest 49/44/48/37/30

Larcei's Edge: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, if unit's Spd > foe's Spd or if foe's HP = 100%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 to unit and neutralizes foe's bonuses (from skills like Fortify, Rally, etc.) during combat.

Regnal Astra: CD 2 Boosts damage by 40% of unit's Spd.

Atk/Solo 3 – Repel 3 – Panic Smoke 3

The apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree. Larcei was the improved version of Ayra, in that she kept Regnal Astra and have AS in her weapon. Ayra original had Flashing Blade in weapon and this was fixed in her refine. For reference, this is what we can use as inspiration for the both her and her cousin Shannan.

Ayra’s Blade: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Grants Atk/Spd+3. During combat, neutralizes effects that grant "Special cooldown charge +X" to foe or inflict "Special cooldown charge -X" on unit. At start of combat, if foe's HP ≥ 75%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat and reduces damage from foe's first attack by 20%.

This was a pretty good refine back in early 2021, mostly cuz Tempo wasn’t an inheritable skill and unconditionally 40% damage reduction on first hit wasn’t common. This is now everywhere. This weapon provides both defensive and offences benefits. My idea is to split the offence and defense between the two.

Larcei's Edge: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Grants Spd+3. At start of combat, if unit's Spd > foe's Spd or if foe's HP ≥ 75%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 to unit and neutralizes foe's bonuses (from skills like Fortify, Rally, etc.) during combat.

"At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 to unit and neutralizes effects that prevent unit's follow up attacks or inflict "Special cooldown charge -X' on unit during combat, and also, if unit's Spd > foe's Spd during combat, deals damage = 70% of difference between stats. (Maximum bonus of +7 damage.)."

So, we got the offensive haft NFU and Tempo, +8 all stats, Lull all, and the 7 bonus damage against foe’s with 10 less Spd. All the offensive parts but she does have Repeal, as a defensive skill, and panic smoke as a situational mix. (also, the bonuses negation doesn’t affect Panic). This doesn’t unfortunately mean that doubling up on NFU or Tempo to get the second haft is pointless. I also gave +3 Spd for reasons you will see soon.

Shannan: Wielder of Astra

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 43/38/36/37/18 Max Invest 51/46/43/45/23

Balmung: Grants Spd+3. If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP = 100% at start of combat, neutralizes penalties on unit and grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 to unit during combat.

Imperial Astra: CD 2 Boosts damage by 40% of unit's Spd.

Steady Posture 3 – Wrath 3 – Even Spd Wave 3

And then there’s Shannamn. He has the same special under a different name, but didn’t have AC, just 3 more Spd to get closer to Larcei, while having more HP, Atk, Def, for tanking with Steady Posture 3, than triggering Wrath. Thou, he did get the short end of the stick so we’ll just make them even.

Balmung: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Grants Spd+3. If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP ≥ 75% at start of combat, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 to unit and neutralizes penalties on unit during combat.

"At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 to unit and neutralizes effects that guarantee foe's follow up attacks or grant "Special cooldown charge +X" to foe during combat, and also, If unit's Spd > foe's Spd, reduces damage from attacks during combat and from area-of-effect Specials (excluding Røkkr area-of-effect Specials) by percentage = difference between stats × 4 (max 40%)."

We got the defensive haft NFU and Tempo, +9 all stats, null all penalties, and dodge, something missing from his kit if he was going to be an enemy phase sword boy. While he will get his follow-up or special charged block, his high Spd and the Guard in steady posture will not get canceled out by guarantee follow up or increased charge. He also has Wrath to pre-charge his special when everyone has Guard, which could only happen with AC. You can also swap skills out for Spurn and Vital Astra for even more DR.

Alright, are we done? Do we keep going? . . . Why not?

Travant: King of Thracia

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 46/36/26/40/18 Max Invest 54/44/33/48/23

Silver Lance+: Mt. 15

Ignis – Vantage 3 – Flier Guidance 3

A surprise GHB refine for the villain that didn’t have a perf, instead a Silver Lance. In the boss battle aginsit him in Act 2, Travant gave his heaven lance Gungnir to his son Arion, and just used a silver lance. I’m glad they kept this reference, but now is the time to bring him back to his prime.

Tyrannical Gungnir: Grants Atk/Spd/Def+5. Inflicts Res-5. At the start of combat, if unit’s HP > 25%, grant unit a guaranteed follow-up attack.

First, I when with Tyrannical Gungnir because he was a tyrant back in chapter 5, and in the even that Od becames a mythical unit, he can have normal Gungnir, and it can be stupid broken.

Yep, none of this in combat boosts. We just got Chloe with +5 to all stats, always, which she uses for Peguses Flight. We also got Alfrend with an perf A slot with Atk +10, Spd +5, and Def +20! (And Res -5) I figured, since the Gungnir in FE4 grant Atk/Spd/Def+10, we can use this to give him more of these stats to use Wyvern Flight. This gives him Atk 57, Spd 31, Def 45, Res 13. At max investment, it’s Atk 65, Spd 38, Def 53, Res 18. We then just add a guaranteed follow-up to bypass preventing follow-up or double faster foes, since he came with Pursuit.

“If unit initiates combat or is not adjacent to an ally, grant Spd/Def +5 to unit and inflict Spd/Def -5 to foe during combat, and also, if unit’s Def+Spd > foe’s Def+Spd, deals damage = 20% of unit's Def (excluding area-of-effect Specials), and reduces damage from foe's attacks by 20% of unit's Def during combat (excluding area-of-effect Specials).”

Well, that’s good. Might be overboard. It is just Chloé's lance, just without the easy " With this he gets effectively 10 more Spd and Def for stat checks when comparing stats during combat. These don’t work with Wyvern Flight but do with Flow Flight. For Wyvern Flight, it might be better to refine it in Spd since that’s the weak point, but it’s better to just use a Canto skill or keep Vantage. A dastardly move. He would already be getting 10 true damage and true damage reduction.

Alright, that's it for now. What will I cook up next time? This month's actually refines are coming soon, that's next. I still need to follow-up on my future Arcane Weapons blog. And make more tier 4 skills. Aside from that, the next banner to cover is . . . .

Sothis got a tame new special that adds 5% to the damage and Hp restored, while also making it immune to the effects of guard. Null C-Disrupt is also great for countering staves, fire sweep weapons, the countless windsweep + Null follow-up units, and more importantly, Legendary!Marth.

So here's what I got for refine.

"Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Neutralizes "effective against dragons" bonuses. Unit can counterattack regardless of foe's range. If foe's Range = 2, calculates damage using the lower of foe's Def or Res."

Yeah, just adding Special trigger. It's a good base effect already.

"At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat neutralizes effects that guarantee foe's follow-up attacks, and prevent unit's follow-up attacks."

Got those stats and null follow-up. I when with 25% rule because she always going to be health and if you let her fall past that point and get attack, that's your fault. Also, her Halloween alt use the enemy phase standard rule (if foe initiate or foe's HP ≥ 75%).

And now, because she's a Dark Mythic that need to work on Defense teams.

"Grants unit and allies Atk/Spd/Def/Res + X during combat (X = number of allies within 2 tile radius of targeted foe x 2, Max 6)."

This effect is one I have been meaning to test out. It's basically the linked attack from Three Houses. For example, if two allies are targeting on foe, the third ally to attack the foe will get combat +4 to all stats. This effect will be present no matter were on the map Sothis is. It's not the game changing effect because you usually don't want all your units to be bunch around one unit without taking them out, it's more common that the foe will be KO or will KO your ally. But hey, if all the units are just crammed together but chances, this will help a lot.

Julia got 3 more stats to inflict on foe and is immune to stat penalties. This mean foe's can't use any foe of field bonuses to give them an advantage and can only use in combat bonuses. Also, thanks to Atk/Res Menace, she's going to have a +12 Atk/Res advantage against foes and Mirror Impact gives Atk+6 and Res+10. This can make her Atk > foe's Atk check in her weapon to give +17 - 23 advantage. And of couse, disabling "calculate damage using the lower of foe's Def or Res", makes her advantage against dragons unstoppable.

So what is my proposed refine?

"Effective against dragon foes. Grants Atk+3. If unit's Atk > foe's Atk at start of combat, grants unit Atk/Res during combat = 80% of difference between Atk stats at start of combat. (Maximum bonus of +12.)"

As I said, she is bound to have more attack than the foe so let's barrow Legendary! Deirdre's new condition that gives her up to 12 Atk/Res if she beats the foe is a Res check and swap it with an Atk check. That's now 24 - 30 Atk / Res.

After that, I was considering giving her close counter but if feel giving her the tools to run Close Counter, Close Ward, or Close Salvo is better, so here's what I got.

"If unit is within 3 spaces of an ally, deals +5 damage during combat, unit makes a guaranteed follow-up attack, and also, if the foe uses magic, staff, or dragonstone, neutralizes foe's effects that "reduce damage by X%" or prevent unit's counterattacks during combat."

Frist, some true damage wouldn't hurt. I also when with the same 3 space for ally check that L!Deirdre and Atk/Res Finish has. Second, Julia has little speed so a follow-up attack like her mom would be helpful. Third, neutralizing effects that reduce damage by X% wouldn't help when facing Dragon Wall foe's since she already will have higher Res than her foe, it would only help against Fixed damage reductions or reductions biased on Spd or Def. This idea came from how Julia's Naga Tome was the only thing that could by past Julius (The final boss of her game's) Loptous tome's barrier. However, in Heroes, any dragon effective weapon can bypass it, even the Splashy Bucket. Finally, since her B slot is taken by her Per, I'm giving her Null C-Disrupt since she is already a tank to magic. It will only be used against Staff units but just incase a Watersweep becomes relevant or we get a Firesweep tome. Also, I wasn't going to add a Watersweep effect since she is tanking with Res and getting another charge of her special is better.

And Haar?

uh

Tempest Claw: "10 MT, Inflicts Spd-5. Unit attacks twice. (Even if foe initiates combat, unit attacks twice.) Enables【Canto (Rem. +1)】.  At start of combat, if foe's HP ≥ 75%, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-4 on foe during combat."

Wind Parthia: "Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Effective against flying foes. If unit initiates combat or if unit is within 2 spaces of an ally, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat, and if unit also deals damage to foe using a Special, restores 50% of unit's maximum HP. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.)"

Moonbow - Fury 4 - Chill Spd/Def 2 - Atk/Spd Rein 3

Claude's Wind Parthia's main effect gives him the ability to heal 50% of unit's maximum HP when dealing damage with a Special. With Moonbow at 1 charge, doubling your foes is all you need, and you can recover the damage of the counter attack. This makes him much more durable in a fight, but instead of making him a sold tank or damage dealer, they gave him Fury 4 put all the stats on the table and then try to heal back with his special next combat. Chill Spd and Def can faster defensive foes more vulnerable and Atk and Spd Rein lowers the offences of surrounding foes for more safety.

Now, is he as good as Legendary!Claude? Of course not, it's the Fallen Star perf that makes him and Summer!Claude amazing as both percentage damage reduction tanks. If B!Claude had that per or his own Golden Deer Rule skill, he'd be on par with them but being second place left him and Lysithea without that prize.

For now, all he has is his weapon skill so lets at least give him some more effects similar to his Legendary counterpart.

* this asterisk denotes text in brackets that have been omitted for clearer reading. the effects in the brackets are still present.

Accelerates Special trigger *. Effective against flying foes. If unit initiates combat or if unit is within 2 spaces of an ally, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat, disable effects that prevent unit's follow-up attacks on unit, and if unit also deals damage to foe using a Special, restores 50% of unit's maximum HP. *

Yeah, all I'm adding is half of null follow-up, because his offence special is what makes him defensive. Easy.

So what am I adding? What is going to make Claude uniqe? Well I thought, Dimitri had lethally Battalion Wrath + Vantage + Avoid combo, Edelgard had an Armor Tank with extra movement and Raging Storm, Claude just had the Barbarossa class, a super mobile flying class with canto and bow abilities. I want Brave Claude to be the embodiment of a broken class.

Well, incase we don't get Golden Deer Rule.

"Enables 【Canto (Rem.)】. ...

This is a no brainer. I was tempted to use a new phantom thief Canto but I wanted to have something more reliable, especially with ...

"... At the start of turn, if unit is within 2 tile radius of allies, unit can move 1 extra space (that turn only; does not stack). ..."

Ah yeah, 3 movement archers. Now, we currently have a very mobile flying archer with Ascended!Florina, and it was a just escape route (at 60%) and I thought that was the best we can get. Now PhantomThief!Nina comes and is a cavalry dagger with insane offence ability and +1 move with a duo button, and I think we can find a middle point. The condition of being near allies at the start of the turn can persuade players to canto back to their allies so they can get the same +5 all stats and healing special during enemy phase. I also figured it would discourage the player from taking Claude to un reachable territories on solo missions.

I also didn't want the same 25% HP condition cuz Claude is going to be a 1 HP frequently. See, Claude is will to put his life on the line, and he came prepared to die, while still having the last laugh. This next part would also be in his Golden Deer rule if he had it.

"... If unit initiates combat and if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of combat, unit's HP > 1, and foe would reduce unit’s HP to 0, unit survives with 1 HP (Once per combat. Does not stack with non-Special effects that allow unit to survive with 1 HP if foe's attack would reduce HP to 0.) ...."

Miracle baby! You thought B!Seliph was the only one to have the Movement + Miracle. This would in turn make B!Claude more resistant than L!Claude, and when combined with his healing special, he can live on one hit, retaliate with a special, and heal past the >25% threshold, to make an endless loop of Miracles.

Admittedly I did take this idea from Fehology

This isn't just in player phase though, cause like L!Claude, we are introduction a new status.

"... and after combat, grants 【Blessing】 to unit. 【Blessing】 For 1 turn, if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of combat, unit's HP > 1, and foe would reduce unit’s HP to 0, unit survives with 1 HP *"

The Blessing status is named after the Gambit from Three Houses that would allow an ally granted the status a free guarantee Miracle proc and it was almost mandator to use in Lunatic mode. With this, there's a opportunity to run Close Foil with Mystic Boost to be a big tank or Close Salvo with Vantage for a more offence mixed phase. I was tempted to only give him the status if he gets bonuses from an ally, through passive skills or assists, but that's to restrictive for team composition.

TLDR

"Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Effective against flying foes. If unit initiates combat or if unit is within 2 spaces of an ally, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+5 during combat, disable effects that prevent unit's follow-up attacks and if unit also deals damage to foe using a Special, restores 50% of unit's maximum HP. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.) Enables 【Canto (Rem.)】. At the start of turn, if unit is within 2 tile radius of allies, unit can move 1 extra space (that turn only; does not stack). If unit initiates combat and if unit's HP ≥ 25% at start of combat, unit's HP > 1, and foe would reduce unit’s HP to 0, unit survives with 1 HP (Once per combat. Does not stack with non-Special effects that allow unit to survive with 1 HP if foe's attack would reduce HP to 0.), and after combat, grants 【Blessing】 to unit."

Pros

Bulk of stats

3 move and canto on a range flyer

Miracle and healing special allow for loop of invincibility

Weaknesses

Units with Guard, Auto-Follow-ups, Faster units

Impenetrable tanks

Archers (use Iote's Shield)

Having no allies