History Characters / FireEmblemCharacterClasses

** For this reason, Archers and Snipers functioning as bosses are extremely rare; one of the few, in ''Radiant Dawn'', wields a crossbow. On other occasions, such as in ''Blazing Blade'', they're bosses in siege maps with lots of walls and a need for the player to stay put while the enemy comes to them. [[spoiler:In ''Fates'', Takumi, a Sniper, is fought several times with Point Blank (which allows user to attack at 1 range with bows) and as the final boss in the ''Conquest'' campaign, but wields a bow that can hit from 1-4 range.]]

* ActionInitiative: In the 3DS games, they gain Vantage which allows them to attack first when their HP is below 50%.

* AnAxeToGrind: Like Fighters, they can only wield axes (or something along the lines of it) as their weapons. But Pirate and Brigand promote to Berserker, which is an Axe specialist much like the Swordmaster is to swords. {{BFS}}-sized axes are very common, especially among Berserkers.

* CriticalHitClass: The ''Berserker'' outside of ''Jugdral'', ''Awakening'', and the [[RegionalBonus Japanese version]] of ''Path of Radiance'', has an innate critical rate bonus, making them very capable of killing anything in one hit because of their high strength.
* CriticalStatusBuff: The ''Wrath'' skill in ''Awakening'', which increases their critical rate when under 50% HP.

** Pirates and Brigands can't destroy villages in the Archanea games, a trait that appears in later games. Only thieves could destroy villages in those games.

** There's a class called "Corsair" that appears in '''one chapter''' of ''Blazing Sword'' (on one route of a path split, no less) that is essentially a re-skinned Pirate.

* HornyVikings: Most portrayals of the Berserker.

Fighters are axe-wielding infantry practically defined by their wild fighting style relying primarily on power; it's quite common to receive at least one at the start of the game. They Class Change to the '''Warrior''' class which gives them bows, and in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'' Class Change again to the '''Reaver''' class. In the branched promotion lines of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' they also have the option to Class Change into '''Hero''' and gain the ability to use swords. In ''Fates'', Fighters become '''Berserkers''', rather than the usual Warriors.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Draug, Roger, Dolph, Macellan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Lorenz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]''); Valbar (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Sheena (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Arden, Hannibal (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Dalsin, Xavier (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Bors, Barthe, Gwendolyn, Douglas (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Wallace, Oswin (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Gilliam (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Gatrie, Brom, Tauroneo (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Meg (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Horace (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Kellam, Kjelle (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Effie, Benny, Ignatius (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: With the exception of Archanea (because they didn't exist at the time until the remake) and Tellius, most myrmidons hail from a fictional version of an East Asian culture like the Mongol (Sacae) and Japanese (Chon'sin, Hoshido). Jehanna (a Middle Eastern-inspired desert nation) and Isaach doesn't follow this theme, although Isaach is described as an Eastern kingdom, are known to train Swordmasters and their AncestralWeapon loosely resembles a katana.

* DivergentCharacterEvolution: The Myrmidon class originated as the ''Gaiden'' equivalent of the promoted Hero (as "Hero" was Alm's personal promoted class). In the Jugdral games, the class was a functional mix of the Mercenary and Myrmidon classes, promoting into either Swordmaster or Forrest depending on the cahracter. Starting from ''The Binding Blade'', the two classes have become distinct from one another.

* DivergentCharacterEvolution: The Myrmidon class originated as the ''Gaiden'' equivalent of the promoted Hero (as "Hero" was Alm's personal promoted class). In the Jugdral games, the class was a functional mix of the Mercenary and Myrmidon classes, promoting to both the Swordmaster and Forrest. Starting from ''The Binding Blade'', the two classes have become distinct from one another.

* FantasyCounterpartCulture: With the exception of Archanea (because they didn't exist at the time until the remake) and Tellius, most myrmidons hail from a fictional version of an Asian culture like the Mongol (Sacae) and Japanese (Chon'sin, Hoshido). Jehanna and Isaach doesn't follow this theme, although Isaach is described as an Eastern kingdom and are known to train Swordmasters.

Mercenaries are one of the basic sword-wielding classes. They are generally defined as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin just that]] -- soldiers-for-hire. Compared to the FragileSpeedster build of the Myrmidon, Mercenaries tend to be [[JackOfAllStats overall well-rounded and balanced]] when it comes stats.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:'''[[note]]Characters marked with an * were changed to Myrmidons in [=FE11=] and [=FE12=][[/note]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Ogma, Navarre*, Caesar, Radd*, Astram, Samson,]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Saber, Kamui, Jesse, Deen,]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Samuel*, Malice*;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Dieck, Ogier, Echidna, Raven, Harken;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Gerik;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Gregor, Inigo, Severa, Flavia, Priam, DLC Roy, DLC Alm, DLC Ike;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Selena, Laslow, Soleil]]

A class closely related to the Mercenary, originally deriving from Mercenaries with specifically different gameplay constitutions; whereas Mercenaries are balanced, Myrmidons turn up the speed to near-ridiculous levels at the expense of defense.

The basic offensive magic class, dealing in the three "anima", or nature, magic types. Mages almost always promote into the '''Sage''' class, and in ''Radiant Dawn'', promote further to the third-tier '''Arch Sage''' class (which also existed in ''[=FE7=]'' as the exclusive class of Athos). ''The Sacred Stones'' also allows Mages to promote into the mounted '''Mage Knight''' class. In the original Archanea games, Mages promoted into '''Bishops''' like every other magic user; the Sage class was implemented in the remakes.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Barst, Bord, Cord (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Iucharba (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Orsin, Halvan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Lott, Wade, Bartre (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Dorcas, Bartre, Geitz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Garcia (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Boyd (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Nolan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Ymir (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Jake (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Vaike, Basilio (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Rinkah, Arthur, Charlotte (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Barst, Bord, Cord (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Iucharba (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Orsin, Halvan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Lott, Wade, Bartre (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Dorcas, Bartre, Geitz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Garcia (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Boyd, Nolan; Ymir (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Jake (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Vaike, Basilio (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Rinkah, Arthur, Charlotte (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Barst, Bord, Cord, Ymir, Jake;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Iucharba, Orsin, Halvan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Lott, Wade, Bartre, Dorcas, Geitz;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Garcia;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Boyd, Nolan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Vaike, Basilio;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Rinkah, Arthur, Charlotte]]

Brigands, sometimes known as Barbarians, are a recurring bandit class that are known to pillage and rob villages of their content. Brigands' stats are much like the Fighters except their's are more exaggerated, with more HP and strength but even lower skill and defense. Brigand sometimes has the ability to cross mountains and peaks. They Class Change into the '''Berserker''', which boost their already high offense and give them a critical boost.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Darros (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Dagdar, Marty (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Gonzales, Geese, Garrett (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''), Dart, Hawkeye (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Dozla (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Largo;]]

* AnAxeToGrind: Like Fighters, they can only wield axes (or something along the lines of it) as their weapons. But Pirate and Brigand promote to Berserker, which is an Axe specialist much like the Swordmaster. {{BFS}}-sized axes are very common, especially among Berserkers.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Barst, Bord, Cord, Darros, Ymir, Jake;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Iucharba, Orsin, Halvan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Lott, Wade, Bartre, Dorcas, Geitz;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Garcia;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Boyd, Nolan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Vaike, Basilio;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Rinkah, Arthur, Charlotte]]

* MightyGlacier: The Oni Fighter introduced in ''Fates'' is slow, but with high defense.

* StatusBuff: Warriors in ''Awakening'' gain Rally Strength, which gives a boost to strength to allies when commanded.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Dagdar, Marty;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Gonzales, Geese, Garrett, Dart, Hawkeye;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Dozla;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Largo;]]

* StatusBuff: Berserkers in ''Fates'' gain Rally Strength, which gives a boost to strength to allies when commanded.

Related are the '''Brigand/Bandit/Barbarian''' and '''Pirate''' family, which is pretty much the same thing except less reputable in-universe and capable of crossing mountains and water respectively; both Class Change into the '''Berserker''' class. ''Fates'' introduces the alternative '''Oni Savage''' class, which Class Changes into the '''Oni Chieftain''', which uses [[MagicKnight axes and tomes]] or branches into '''Blacksmith''', which uses axes and swords.

* AlwaysMale: All the playable and non-playable Fighters were male for ''fourteen games''. Charlotte in ''Fates'' is the first female to be a Fighter in the series. This also applies to Berserker, which Fighters promote to in ''Fates'' unlike other games. Pirates, Bandits, and Warriors remain male-only thus far due to being left out of ''Fates.''

** Fighters and Pirates were unable to promote in ''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light'' and ''Mystery of the Emblem'': it wasn't until ''Genealogy of the Holy War'' where Fighters were able to promote into Warriors.

* MightyGlacier: The Oni Fighter introduced in ''Fates'' is slow, but with high defense as opposed to Fighters and Bandits/Pirates.

Related are the '''Brigand/Bandit/Barbarian''' and '''Pirate''' family, which is pretty much the same thing except less reputable in-universe and capable of crossing mountains and water respectively; both Class Change into the '''Berserker''' class. ''Fates'' introduces the alternative '''Oni Savage''' class, which Class Changes into the '''Oni Chieftain''', which uses [[MagicKnight axes and tomes]] or branches into '''Blacksmith''', which uses axes and swords.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Barst, Bord, Cord, Darros, Ymir, Jake;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Johalva, Orsin, Halvan, Dagdar, Marty;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Lott, Wade, Gonzales, Geese, Bartre, Garrett, Dorcas, Dart, Hawkeye, Geitz;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Garcia, Dozla;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Boyd, Largo, Nolan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Vaike, Basilio;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Rinkah, Arthur, Charlotte]]

Brigands are a recurring bandit class that are known to pillage and rob villages of their content. Brigands' stats are much like the Fighters except their's are more exagerrated, with more HP and strength but even lower skill and defense. Brigand sometimes has the ability to cross mountains and peaks. They Class Change into the Berserker, which boost their already high offense and give them a critical boost.

'''Pirate''' are similar to the Brigands, except swap the ability to move across mountain with water.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Marty;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Gonzales, GeeseDart, Hawkeye;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Dozla;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Largo;]]

** There is a "Berserker" in ''Mystery of the Emblem'', except it was just a renamed Hero and [[UniqueEnemy only exist in one chapter]]. In the remake, the "Berserker" was replaced by a Swordmaster. Berserkers first appeared in ''Thracia 776'', except it was an enemy-exclusive class, as the only brigand in the game (Marty) promotes to a Warrior.

* AnAxeToGrind: They can only wield axes (or something along the lines of it) as their weapons. Fighters promote to Warrior, which uses Bows as well. But Pirate and Brigand promote to Berserker, which is an Axe specialist much like the Swordmaster. {{BFS}}-sized axes are very common, especially among Berserkers.
* AlwaysMale: All the playable and non-playable Fighters were male for ''fourteen games''. Charlotte in ''Fates'' is the first woman to be a Fighter in the series. This also applies to Berserker, which Fighters promote to in ''Fates'' unlike other games. Pirates, Bandits, and Warriors remain male-only thus far due to being left out of ''Fates.''

* BadassesWearBandanas: Pirates always wear bandanas. Brigands and Berserkers often wear them as well.
* BanditMook: Brigands and Pirates, when in the service of the enemy, destroy villages which give out items and money.
* TheBerserker: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Guess]]. That said, playable members of the class are normally an aversion, bearing no such tendencies beyond their class name.

* CriticalHitClass: The ''Berserker'' outside of ''Jugdral'', ''Awakening'', and the [[RegionalBonus Japanese version]] of ''Path of Radiance'', has an innate critical rate bonus, making them very capable of killing anything in one hit because of their high strength.
* CriticalStatusBuff: The ''Wrath'' skill in ''Awakening'', which increases their critical rate when under 50% HP.
* DressedToPlunder: Pirates wear the usual garb.

** Fighters and Pirates were unable to promote in ''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light'' and ''Mystery of the Emblem'': it wasn't until ''Genealogy of the Holy War'' where Fighters were able to promote into Warriors, and ''Binding Blade'' was the first game to allow Brigands and Pirates to promote into Berserkers.
** Fighters and Brigands/Pirates had stats more along the line of a MightyGlacier in the first three games. This is despite the class roll in the first and third game describing them as having low defense.
** Pirates and Brigands can't destroy villages in the Archanea games, a trait that appears in later games. Only thieves could destroy villages in those games.
** There is a "Berserker" in ''Mystery of the Emblem'', except it was just a renamed Hero and [[UniqueEnemy only exist in one chapter]]. In the remake, the "Berserker" was replaced by a Swordmaster. Berserkers first appeared in ''Thracia 776'', except it was an enemy-exclusive class, as the only brigand in the game (Marty) promotes to a Warrior.
** There's a class called "Corsair" that appears in '''one chapter''' of ''Blazing Sword'' (on one route of a path split, no less) that is essentially a re-skinned Pirate.

* GlassCannon:
** Fighters and Warriors have massive strength and decent skill and/or speed, but low defense.
** The Pirate/Brigand/Barbarians and Berserkers, however, have good speed on top of their massive strength, but have even worse defense than the Fighter and Warrior, and are usually more inaccurate as well.
** ''Fates'' Berserkers are much riskier, as while they gain +20 critical rate, the highest critical rate gain in the game, they lose -5 critical avoid (the only class which has a negative boost), which makes enemies score critical hits more easily on ''them''.
** Averted with the Oni Savage line, which are more defensive than Fighters.

* HornyVikings: Most portrayals of the Berserker. Warriors in the GBA and DS games wear similar attire.

* NemeanSkinning: Berserkers in ''Path of Radiance'' wear wolf skins. Berserkers in ''Fates'' also wear wolf pelts under their armor.

* RoarBeforeBeating: The critical hits of Brigands in the GBA games. Berserkers do this when Colossus is activated in ''Path of Radiance''.

* StatusBuff: Warriors in ''Awakening'' and Berserkers in ''Fates'' gain Rally Strength, which gives a boost to strength to allies when commanded.

* TurningRed: Berserkers in ''Awakening'' can get the Wrath skill, which increases their critical rate when under half of their max HP.
* UnskilledButStrong: A good part of the characters in this class, particularly those that promote into Berserker, as well as Oni Savages and Oni Chieftains, get rather bad skill. (Which is funny, considering that critical hits are a huge part of the Berserker's shtick.) Averted in ''Fates'', where Berserkers have decent Skill by ''Fates'' standards.
* WalkingShirtlessScene: Often applies, especially with Berserkers.
* WarmUpBoss: Because Lords often use [[HeroesPreferSwords swords]], an unpromoted axe user will often serve as the first boss the player will meet, so that the developers can create a challenging unit on the surface but still be easy to defeat thanks to the weapon triangle.

[[folder:Archer]]
!!Archer
Lightly armored soldiers wielding bows. Archers don't have much in the way of defense or other related stats, but that's the thing -- that's not why they exist. They're supposed to take down the enemy from afar using their bows, and if you're throwing them into the thick of things, you're doing it wrong. They Class Change into the '''Sniper''' class, then again to the '''Bow Knight''' class in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]'' or the '''Marksman''' class in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''.

In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]'', Archers are demoted into a {{mook|s}} class, and replaced by '''Bow Fighters''' who fulfill the same role.

In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', they can alternatively choose to Class Change into '''Ranger''' and '''Bow Knight''' respectively, gaining the ability to wield BowAndSwordInAccord.

Related are the '''Ballisticians''' of the Archanea and Jugdral canon, a class which exclusively uses SiegeEngines, an ability which in other games is available just to Archers. Also related is the '''Hunter''' class, exclusive to the Archanea games, which is pretty much the Archer with slightly different stat distribution and the ability to traverse forest terrain easier; they Class Change to '''Horseman'''[[note]]In the very first game, they were two, separate classes, but unified in Mystery of the Emblem[[/note]], the mounted, near-identical progenitor of an endless line of [[BowAndSwordInAccord bow-and-sword-using]] mounted classes like the Ranger, Bow Knight, and Nomadic Trooper. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'', Archers can Class Change to the '''Sniper''' class or branch into the flying mounted '''Kinshi Knight''' class. It also got a slower-but-stronger variant named the '''Apothecary''', which can Class Change into '''Merchant''' (gains use of lances in addition to bows) or '''Mechanist''' (who gets access to shuriken and a mount) classes respectively. Ballisticians reappear in ''Fates'' as a male-only DLC class, riding in what is essentially a medieval tank.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Gordin, Norne, Castor, Wolf, Sedgar, Jeorge, Tomas, Jake, Beck, Python, Leon;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Jamke, Briggid, Faval/Asaello, Tania, Ronan;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Wolt, Dorothy, Klein, Igrene, Wil, Rebecca, Louise;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Neimi, Innes;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Rolf, Shinon, Leonardo;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Virion, Noire;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Setsuna, Takumi, Yukimura, Midori, Kiragi]]

* AchillesHeel: Whether or not mounted archers are affected by Horse-slaying weapons varies by game. Mechanists outright defies this weakness because their mounts are artificial.
* AlwaysAccurateAttack: Deadeye/Sure Strike, the Sniper and Marksman's mastery skill. It's a bit of a PowerupLetdown, in that by the point they have access to it, a Sniper/Marksman will have such high Skill that they don't ''need'' an accuracy boost. Skills like Hit Rate +20 ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which increases 20 hit]]) and Certain Blow (increasing hit rate by 40 when the user attacks first) were more useful in ''Awakening'' and ''Fates'', as they allow promoted units to dip into other classes for their skills.
* AntiAir: The role they excel greatly at is punishing fliers that try to close in from long distances.
* CripplingOverspecialisation: By design, they can only attack over distances, and as such are incapable of retaliation when attacked at close-quarters. The only game to change this is ''Radiant Dawn'', where crossbows (fixed-damage weapons that as a result are generally inferior to bows, which take strength into account, except against flying units, since, due to their ludicrous weapon might that gets tripled against flying units, they can instantly kill pretty much anything that flies, ''including Tibarn'') and the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Double Bow]] can be used both in close-quarters and over a distance.[[note]]Though the Double Bow has halved accuracy when used at close range.[[/note]]
** For this reason, Archers and Snipers functioning as bosses are extremely rare; one of the few, in ''Radiant Dawn'', wields a crossbow. On other occasions, such as in ''Blazing Blade'', they're bosses in siege maps with lots of walls and a need for the player to stay put while the enemy comes to them. [[spoiler:In ''Fates'', Takumi, a Sniper, is fought several times with Point Blank (which allows user to attack at 1 range with bows) and as the final boss in the ''Conquest'' campaign, but wields a bow that can hit from 1-4 range.]]
* CriticalHitClass: Snipers in the Tellius games and ''Fates'' gain a critical boost, while the latter also increases hit rate.
* DemotedToExtra: Archers are an enemy-exclusive {{Mook}} class in ''Thracia 776'". Bow Fighter, however, fulfills the same role, and promotes to Sniper.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In ''Gaiden'', Archers have 1-3 range, and gain an additional 1-4 range when equipped with a non-basic bow. In ''Thracia 776'', Archers are a {{Mook}} class with terrible stats, while Bow Fighters are the playable class that promotes to Sniper.
* LongRangeFighter: Archers and Snipers can only attack from range and are defenseless in close quarters. Exceptions include ''Gaiden'' where [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness archers can attack from extreme range]], crossbows in ''Radiant Dawn'', various special bows and yumis in ''Fates'', and archers with the Point Blank skill[[note]]This skill lets the user attack with bows at 1-2 range.[[/note]].
* {{Mooks}}: The role of Archers in ''Thracia 776'' is weak enemy soldiers while Bow Fighters take their playable spot.
* NoArcInArchery: Until ''Echoes'', no ''Fire Emblem'' game depicts archers or other bow users as arcing their shot. Could be considered a subversion, however, in that generally units are too close for arcing to be needed: the ballista users, who do fire at that kind of range, are generally shown firing at an angle. In addition, since arrows can be shot over walls in all games, one can only assume that, while it's not shown in the animation, their shots are being arced there.
* SiegeEngines: They're the only class family which can use ballistae and similar weapons, until ''Fates'', where anybody who can use bows can use ballistae, and other siege weapons are available to units with other weapons. The Ballistician class in ''Fates'' ride in their own personal medieval "tank", which functions as a mobile ballista.
* TankGoodness: The Ballistician in ''Fates''' rides a giant wooden tank that fires arrows.

[[folder:Mage]]
!!Mage
The basic offensive magic class, dealing in the three "anima", or nature, magic types. Mages almost always promote into the '''Sage''' class, and in ''Radiant Dawn'', promote further to the third-tier '''Arch Sage''' class (which also existed in ''[=FE7=]'' as the exclusive class of Athos). ''The Sacred Stones'' also allows Mages to promote into the mounted '''Mage Knight''' class. In the original Archanea games, Mages promoted into '''Bishops''' like every other magic user; the Sage class was implemented in the remakes.

The Jugdral games and ''Radiant Dawn''[[note]]''Path of Radiance'' just has normal unsplit Mages and Sages, with both being able to wield all three anima magic types from the beginning[[/note]] split the Mage class into three variant classes, each specializing in one of the three anima magic types: the '''Fire Mage''', '''Wind Mage''', and '''Thunder Mage'''. In ''Radiant Dawn'', they promote into similarly split Sage variants; in the Jugdral games, all four variants promote into one of two other promoted classes: the '''Mage Fighter''' and '''Mage Knight''', which are generally identical in that both wield swords alongside three anima magic types, differing only in that the Mage Knight rides a horse and the Mage Fighter can also wield staves.

In ''Sacred Stones'', they can choose to promote into '''Mage Knight''', but unlike the Jugdral version, this particular Mage Knight can only use magic and staves, making them more similar to the '''Valkyrie''' class. In ''Awakening'', they can instead choose to promote into a class similar to the Jugdral one: the '''Dark Knight'''. In ''Fates'', Mages are called '''Diviners''', which promote into '''[[UsefulNote/{{Onmyodo}} Onmyoji]]''', which use tomes and staves, like Sages, or into the '''Basara''' class, a MagicKnight class that uses tomes and lances. Female Mages in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]'' and ''Shadows of Valentia'' do not Class Change into Sage. They Class Change to '''Priestess''' instead, who are capable of using swords alongside their magic.

Related is the '''Bard'''[[note]]not to be confused with the normal Bard support class, discussed below[[/note]], a class exclusive to the Jugdral games which wields all three types of Anima Magic and Light Magic and also promotes to Sage. Also related is the '''Empress''' class, exclusive to Sanaki in ''Radiant Dawn'', which also can wield all three types of Anima Magic and Light Magic, but does not promote to or from anything.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:'''[[note]]Characters marked with a * were originally prepromoted Bishops in the first and third games, before the remakes added the separate Sage class[[/note]] Merric, Wendell*, Linde (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Gotoh* (''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light''); Luthier, Delthea, Mae, Boey, Sonya, Nomah (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Jubelo, Arlen (''Mystery of the Emblem''); Azelle, Lewyn, Tailtiu, Arthur/Amid, Tine/Linda, Ced/Hawk (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Asbel, Olwen, Homer, Ilios, Miranda (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Lugh, Lilina, Hugh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Erk, Pent, Nino, Athos (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Lute, Saleh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Soren, Ilyana, Tormod, Calill, Bastian (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), Sanaki (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Katarina (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Miriel, Ricken, Laurent, Emmeryn, DLC!Celica (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Orochi, Hayato, Rhajat (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

** Fighters and Pirates were unable to promote in ''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light'' and ''Mystery of the Emblem'': it wasn't until ''Genealogy of the Holy War'' where Fighters were able to promote into Warriors, and ''Binding Blade'' was the first game to allow Pirates to promote into Berserkers.

** Pirates and Brigands don't destroy villages in the Archanea games, despite the fact that they usually can. Only thieves could destroy villages in those games, even though they usually can't.
** Berserker technically existed in ''Mystery of the Emblem'', except it was just a renamed Hero. In the remake, the "Berserker" was replaced by a Swordmaster. Berserkers first appeared in ''Thracia 776'', except it was an enemy-exclusive class, as the only brigand in the game (Marty) promotes to a Warrior.

* DefogOfWar: With the exception of Thracia 776 ([[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness the first game to introduce fog of war, mind you) and the DS remakes, thieves have really high vision in fog of war, making them good asset to bring them in. Combine it with the Torch item, they'll likely uncover most of the map.

One of the most common and basic of classes, Cavaliers are horse-mounted knights that have been in the series since the beginning. [[JackOfAllStats They tend to have balanced stats]] and almost always wield swords and lances. Cavaliers usually Class Change into '''Paladins''', which occasionally gives them access to another weapon such as axes while also providing a Movement buff. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' they have the alternate Class Change option of '''Great Knight'''; this increases their Defense and gives them the ability to use axes, but comes at the cost of lower Speed and a weakness to AntiArmor weapons. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'' they can Class Change once again into '''Gold Knight''', which only uses lances in ''Gaiden'' and swords and axes in ''Radiant Dawn''.

In ''Gaiden'' and ''Shadows of Valentia'', Witch is exclusive to [=NPCs=]. Here, they are said to be women who sacrificed themselves to Duma for power, which also gives them a pale complexion.

* JackOfAllStats: They tend to be the most balanced of the mounted/flying units.

* MultiMeleeMaster: Cavaliers are usually the only unpromoted class that can wield multiple weapon types. Additionally, Paladins in Elibe games and Great Knights in ''The Sacred Stones'', ''Awakening'' and ''Fates'' can use all three melee weapons.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Cain, Abel, Jagen, Hardin, Roshea, Vyland, Midia, Arran, (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Clive, Mathilda, Zeke, Mycen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Cecil, Roderick, Luke, Sirius (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Alec, Naoise, Lex, Quan, Finn, Midir, Beowolf, Oifey, Diarmuid/Tristan, Lester/Deimne, Iuchar, Ares (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Finn, Brighton, Felgus, Hicks, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert, Fred, Glade, Conomor, Diarmuid (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Alan, Lance, Marcus, Sue, Noah, Treck, Zealot, Shin, Perceval, Dayan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Sain, Kent, Rath, Marcus, Lowen, Isadora (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Orson, Duessel (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Titania, Oscar, Kieran, Astrid, Makalov, Geoffrey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'') and (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Fiona, Renning (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Frey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Roberto, Reiden, Belf (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Frederick, Stahl, Sully, DLC!Ephraim (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Gunter, Silas, Peri, Xander, Sophie, Siegbert (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Conrad (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Shadows of Valentia]]'')

* AchillesHeel: Horse-slaying weapons, like the poleaxe and longsword, along with a majority of the lords' exclusive weapons, can deal effective damage to them. Whether or not mounted archers are affected by Horse-slaying weapons varies by game.
* AnAxeToGrind: In the Jugdral and Tellius games, there are the Axe Knight who exclusively use axes.
** Upon promotion in the Elibe games, and also if you promote to Great Knight in ''Sacred Stones'' and ''Awakening''.
* ArmorPiercingAttack: ''Awakening'' and ''Fates'' Great Knights can learn Luna skill to halve the opponent's defense.

* StatusBuff: Bow Knight in ''Awakening'' and ''Fates'' gain Rally Skill, which gives a boost to skill to allies when commanded.

* AchillesHeel: Anti-armor weapons, like the hammer and heavy spear, and, again, most of the lords' exclusive weapons. Their low Resistance also makes them vulnerable to magic-based attacks (though Jugdral's Barons and the Tellius armored line lack the latter weakness). Ironically, they have weapon triangle advantage in ''Fates'' since Tomes are in place with Swords, which are bad against lances.

* AnAxeToGrind: Promoted Heroes, and also Dread Fighters in ''Awakening''.

Related is the '''Monk''' class, an offensive magic class exclusive to the GBA games which uses light magic; they also promote into Bishops (and branch to Sages in ''Sacred Stones''), and so are considered part of this class tree. Also related is the '''Light Mage''' and its promotions, Micaiah's Lord class in ''Radiant Dawn'', and the '''Shaman'''[[note]]not to be confused with the normal dark-wielding Shaman class, discussed below[[/note]], Deirdre's and Julia's class in ''Genealogy'', which promotes to '''Sage'''. Also related is the '''Chancellor''' class of the Tellius games (which uses dark magic in addition to light magic and staves), which is exclusive to Sephiran/[[spoiler:Lehran]].

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Cain, Abel, Jagen, Hardin, Roshea, Vyland, Midia, Arran, (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Clive, Mathilda, Zeke, Mycen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Cecil, Roderick, Luke, Sirius(''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Alec, Naoise, Lex, Quan, Finn, Midir, Beowolf, Oifey, Diarmuid/Tristan, Lester/Deimne, Iuchar, Ares (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Finn, Brighton, Felgus, Hicks, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert, Fred, Glade, Conomor, Diarmuid (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Alan, Lance, Marcus, Sue, Noah, Treck, Zealot, Shin, Perceval, Dayan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Sain, Kent, Rath, Marcus, Lowen, Isadora (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Orson, Duessel (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Titania, Oscar, Kieran, Astrid, Makalov, Geoffrey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'') and (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Fiona, Renning (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Frey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Roberto, Reiden, Belf (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Frederick, Stahl, Sully, DLC!Ephraim (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Gunter, Silas, Peri, Xander, Sophie, Siegbert (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Conrad (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Shadows of Valentia]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Draug, Roger, Dolph, Macellan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Lorenz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]''); Valbar (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Sheena (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Arden, Hannibal (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Dalsin, Xavier (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Bors, Barthe, Gwendolyn, Douglas (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Wallace, Oswin (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Gilliam (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Gatrie, Brom, Tauroneo (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Meg (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Kellam, Kjelle (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Effie, Benny, Ignatius (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:'''[[note]]Characters marked with a * were originally prepromoted Bishops in the first and third games, before the remakes added the separate Sage class[[/note]] Merric, Wendell*, Linde (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Gotoh* (''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light''); Luthier, Delthea, Mae, Boey, Sonya, Nomah (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Jubelo, Arlen (''Mystery of the Emblem''); Azelle, Lewyn, Tailtiu, Arthur/Amid, Tine/Linda, Ced/Hawk (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Asbel, Olwen, Homer, Ilios, Miranda (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Lugh, Lilina, Hugh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Erk, Pent, Nino, Athos (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Lute, Saleh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Soren, Ilyana, Tormod, Calill, Bastian (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), Sanaki (''Radiant Dawn''); Katarina (''New Mystery of the Emblem''); Miriel, Ricken, Laurent, Emmeryn, DLC!Celica (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Orochi, Hayato, Rhajat (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Ethlyn, Nanna/Janne, Amalda;]] Clarine, Cecilia (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Priscilla (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); L'Arachel (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Maribelle (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Felicia, Jakob, Elise, Flora, Dwyer, Forrest (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Minerva (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade Of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Altena (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Dean and Eda (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Miledy and Zeiss (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Heath and Vaida (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Cormag (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Jill and Haar (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Michalis (''New Mystery of the Emblem''); Cherche and Gerome (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Camilla, Beruka, Scarlet and Percy (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

* FlashStep: Assassins are practitioners of this art.

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Draug, Roger, Dolph, Macellan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Lorenz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]''); Valbar (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Sheena (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Arden, Hannibal (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Dalsin, Xavier (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Bors, Barthe, Gwendolyn, Douglas (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Wallace, Oswin (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Gilliam (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Gatrie, Brom, Tauroneo (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Meg (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Kellam, Kjelle (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'')); Effie, Benny, Ignatius (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Draug, Roger, Dolph, Macellan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Lorenz (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]''); Valbar (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Sheena (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Arden, Hannibal (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Dalsin, Xavier (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Bors, Barthe, Gwendolyn, Douglas (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Wallace, Oswin (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Gilliam (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Gatrie, Brom, Tauroneo (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'')); Meg (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Kellam, Kjelle ((''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'')); Effie, Benny, Ignatius ((''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''))

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' Cain, Abel, Jagen, Hardin, Roshea, Vyland, Midia, Arran, (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Clive, Mathilda, Zeke, Mycen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Cecil, Roderick, Luke, Sirius(''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Alec, Naoise, Lex, Quan, Finn, Midir, Beowolf, Oifey, Diarmuid/Tristan, Lester/Deimne, Iuchar, Ares (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Finn, Brighton, Felgus, Hicks, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert, Fred, Glade, Conomor, Diarmuid (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Alan, Lance, Marcus, Sue, Noah, Treck, Zealot, Shin, Perceval, Dayan (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Sain, Kent, Rath, Marcus, Lowen, Isadora (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Orson, Duessel (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones]]''); Titania, Oscar, Kieran, Astrid, Makalov, Geoffrey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'') and (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Fiona, Renning (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''); Frey (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Roberto, Reiden, Belf (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem New Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Frederick, Stahl, Sully, DLC!Ephraim (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Gunter, Silas, Peri, Xander, Sophie, Siegbert (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Conrad (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Shadows of Valentia]]'')

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Cain, Abel, Jagen, Hardin, Roshea, Vyland, Midia, Arran, Clive, Camus/Zeke/Sirius, Mycen, Cecil, Roderick, Luke, Roberto, Reiden, Belf;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Alec, Naoise, Lex, Quan, Finn, Midir, Beowolf, Oifey, Delmud/Tristan, Lester/Dimna, Iuchar, Ares, Brighton, Felgus, Hicks, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert, Fred, Glade, Conomore;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Alan, Lance, Marcus, Sue, Noah, Treck, Zealot, Shin, Perceval, Dayan, Sain, Kent, Rath, Lowen, Isadora;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Orson, Duessel;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Titania, Oscar, Kieran, Astrid, Makalov, Geoffrey, Fiona, Renning;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Frederick, Stahl, Sully, DLC!Ephraim;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Gunter, Silas, Peri, Xander, Sophie, Siegbert]]

->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Draug, Roger, Dolph, Macellan, Lorenz, Sheena;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Valbar;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Arden, Hannibal, Dalsin, Xavier;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Bors, Barthe, Gwendolyn, Douglas, Wallace, Oswin;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Gilliam;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Gatrie, Brom, Tauroneo, Meg;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Kellam, Kjelle;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Effie, Benny, Ignatius]]

-->'''Playable characters of this class family:'''[[note]]Characters marked with a * were originally prepromoted Bishops in the first and third games, before the remakes added the separate Sage class[[/note]] Merric, Wendell*, Linde (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem Mystery of the Emblem]]''); Gotoh* (''Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light''); Luthier, Delthea, Mae, Boey, Sonya, Nomah (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''); Jubelo, Arlen (''Mystery of the Emblem''); Azelle, Lewyn, Tailtiu, Arthur/Amid, Tine/Linda, Ced/Hawk (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]''); Asbel, Olwen, Homer, Ilios, Miranda (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Lugh, Lilina, Hugh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''); Erk, Pent, Nino, Athos (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Lute, Saleh (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''); Soren, Ilyana, Tormod, Calill, Bastian (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), Sanaki (''Radiant Dawn''); Katarina (''New Mystery of the Emblem''); Miriel, Ricken, Laurent, Emmeryn, DLC!Celica (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''); Orochi, Hayato, Rhajat (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'')

-->'''Playable characters of this class family:''' [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Wrys, Lena, Maria, Boey, Elice, Silk, Jenny, Malliesia, Frost, Nyna;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Adean, Claude, Lana/Mana, Corpul/Sharlow, Safy, Tina, Linoan, Sleuf, Sara, Cyas;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Ellen, Saul, Yodel, Serra, Lucius, Renault;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Moulder, Natasha, Artur;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Rhys, Mist, Laura, Oliver,]] [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius and Lehran;]]]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Lissa, Libra, Brady;]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Sakura, Azama, Izana, Mitama]]

They Class Change into '''Hero'''[[note]]'''Forrest''' in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''; somewhat related to the Forrest Knight[[/note]], which usually gives them the ability to wield axes. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]'', they Class Change into '''Myrmidon''', and can Class Change again into the third-tier '''Dread Fighter'''. The Mercenary class was technically replaced by the '''Myrmidon''' class in ''Genealogy of the Holy War'' and ''Thracia 776''; the equivalent class there is called '''Swordfighter''', which is quite similar to the Myrmidon class of later games; some Swordfighters Class Change to Forrest (aka Hero), while Class Change to '''Swordmaster''', depending on the character. Likewise, Mercenaries do not exist in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' or ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]'', ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' they can branch into a mounted class[[note]]'''Ranger''' in ''The Sacred Stones'', '''Bow Knight''' in ''Awakening'' and ''Fates''[[/note]] which can use BowAndSwordInAccord.

In ''Fates'', Witch is a special playable class only obtainable via DLC. Using an item called a Witch's Mark, any female character is able to Class Changes into Witch. They can use Dark Magic (otherwise exclusive to Dark Mages and Sorcerers) via the "Shadowgift" Skill and are capable of getting S-Rank in Tomes/Scrolls.

Dread Fighter is one of the rarer classes, only appearing in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]'', its remake ''Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'', ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''. It is part of the Mercenary line in ''Gaiden'' and its remake, acting as the line's third and final Class Change before allowing a loop back into Villager. In ''Awakening'' and ''Fates'', Dread Fighter is a standalone class that is only available via DLC. ''Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'' adds an Overclass called Yasha, which is also only available via DLC. All incarnations are exclusive to male characters.

* AlwaysMale: Dread Fighter is exclusive to male characters.