- In general, this game has some very sad and dark death quotes
, even by the series' usual standards. - Greil's death, and the subsequent scene with Ike and Mist at his grave. Especially Mist's breakdown. And the music doesn't help matters.
Mist: Dad’s gone… He’s gone, Ike. Sniff…And…I…don’t…I don’t know what to do…
- Finding out the truth of how Ike's mother died. Greil, her husband, touched the medallion, went berserk, and accidentally killed her. And she went out with a smile, which was enough to bring him to his senses. Greil was so wracked by guilt that he intentionally injured his arm so he could never use a sword again, and hired the assassin Volke to kill him if he ever went berserk again.
- Several cutscenes and pieces of dialogue will be altered to be more somber or serious if certain characters are dead throughout the story, especially during the first half if any of the original Greil Mercenaries (Boyd, Oscar, Rolf, Rhys, Gatrie, Shinon) die. Titania's and Soren's "deaths" will also affect multiple cutscenes, but they are instead referred to as being too wounded to ever fight again rather than actually dying.
- In Chapter 2, when Mist and Rolf are kidnapped by bandits, there's a particularly sad alternate cutscene if both Boyd and Oscar died in the previous chapter:
Rolf: Oh...sniff...
Mist: Keep your chin up, Rolf! Boys aren't supposed to cry!
Rolf: But... I'm so scared... Aren't you even a bit scared, Mist?
Mist: Of course I am, butt... Listen, we'll be fine! My brother will definitely come rescue us.
Rolf: Oh, yeah... You've still got... Ike to look after you.
Mist: Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't mean...
Rolf: It's all right. I know.
Mist: Rolf, really... I'm sorry.
Rolf: If my brothers were still alive...they'd come get me, wouldn't they?
Mist: Yes, of course they would.
Rolf: So I shouldn't keep crying, should I? I mean, we are going to be rescued.
Mist: That's right! And we should be ready, all right?
At the end of the chapter, after Shinon narrowly saves Rolf from death, Ike also has this to add:
Ike: Mist! Is Rolf— Is he...
Mist: He's fine. He just fainted is all. There's not a scratch on him.
Ike: That's a relief. If something happened to Rolf, I'd never forgive myself. Not after losing both Oscar and Boyd.
Mist: Ike...
- When encountering Shinon as an enemy in Chapter 18, there's a very bittersweet scene if Rolf talks to him.
Rolf: Shinon?
Shinon: Rolf...
Rolf: Shinon! It is you!
Shinon: Look at you. You've grown so much... You actually look like an archer.
Rolf: Really? Ha ha!
Shinon: You always did have what it takes.
Shinon: It's just like I told you—you train the right way, and you'll surpass both your brothers.
Rolf: I had a good teacher!
Shinon: Yeah, you did. You...haven't told anyone else about that, have you?
Rolf: Nope. Never said a word. I keep my promises.
Shinon: Good man.
Rolf: Ha ha ha! Um...Shinon?
Shinon: What?
Rolf: Are you...with the enemy?
Shinon: Yep.
Rolf: ...Sniff...sniff...
Shinon: Stop that. I told you things like this happen. Did you forget?
Rolf: ...But...it's...not... It's not...fair... Sniff...
Shinon: Ready your bow. It's time for the pupil to face his master.
- If Rolf fights Shinon himself, he's obviously very upset to do so.
Rolf: Shinon...
Shinon: Wipe that pathetic look off your face. Come on, ready your bow.
Shinon: On the battlefield, emotion ain't worth spit. I taught you that, didn't I?
Rolf: Uh...huh... Uncle Shinon...
- If Rolf is the one to get the finishing blow on Shinon, this tearful exchange will happen:
Shinon: Unnnh... Curses...
Rolf: Shinon! Uncle Shinon! ...Sniff...N-no...
Shinon: I told you... No crying...
Rolf: ...
Shinon: ...This is...for the best... I...can...
Rolf: Uncle Shinon...
Rolf: Nu, nuh, no...sniff...
- The death of General Shiharam, Jill's father: not so much during the actual event, but the conversation with Haar and the surviving troops afterwards.
Haar: One, two, three...five in all. We're lucky to have that many.
Soldier: Captain Haar...what are we supposed to do now? General Shiharam is dead, and our homes are gone. What are we to do with our families?
Haar: What do you want to do? We've lost any right we had to stay here. So that leaves Begnion or Crimea...
Soldier: General Shiharam was slain by Crimea...joining with them now is not...it's not possible.
Haar: Then all you can do is return to Begnion. I doubt you'll get a hero's welcome but...I've an old friend in the pegasus knights. Shall I contact her?
Soldier: Sniff...Ah, gods. Eighteen long years...what does any of it mean now?
Haar: Don't say that! No matter what, I'm proud to have served under General Shiharam.
Soldier: You're right...it was an honor...
- At the end, when Ena is finally reunited with her boyfriend Rajaion, who has been driven insane and is about to die because of the Feral drug. Then the Heron Laguz sing the Galdr of Rebirth, which restores his sanity and turns him back into a normal Laguz... but he still dies a few minutes later. At least he got to die in the arms of the one he loved. And Ena's also pregnant with his child.
- In Astrid's A support with Sothe, she mentions how her sisters are "traded like commodities," and married off to men they don't love. Astrid only hears from them once every few years, and sees that their letters "are warped and stained from tears." Say what you will about her taste in men, but it's understandable that she doesn't want to end up like her sisters.
