Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave class unlock guide

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave class unlock guide

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave uses a class system built around tiers, renown, certifications and character-specific requirements. Beginner classes are available as each Flame Lord’s story advances, while some advanced options require requests, mentoring or route progress. Master and divine classes become relevant during Act 3, with some of the highest-tier options hidden in late-game shrines.

This guide covers the currently known classes, requirements, skill ranks and mastery abilities. A small number of master- and divine-tier classes remain undocumented, but they cannot be obtained before Act 3.

How class changes work

Every character begins as either a commoner or noble and receives a useful mastery skill from that starting class. Later tiers become available at specific renown levels, but characters must also buy the relevant certification before sitting the exam.

The game autosaves before showing the exam result, so you cannot repeatedly reload until a failed attempt succeeds. Aim for a 75% pass chance or better. Skill ranks help, although level is more influential: a level 32 character may still have poor odds when level 35 is the intended benchmark.

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Is there a best class for every character?

There is usually a strong option, but the best choice depends on the character’s growths and your build. Characters you have not recruited may change class as the story progresses, offering a useful suggestion rather than a mandatory solution.

For example, Esmeralda becomes an Armored Knight for much of the game if she is not recruited, but Wing Soldier suited her more effectively because of its balanced stat spread. Experimentation is less advisable when a character clearly lacks the traits for a role: Majide may benefit from Myrmidon, but Shaman is a poor fit because he is not built for magic.

Should you master a class before changing?

Stay long enough to learn a mastery skill if it supports the build you want. Otherwise, changing early can be worthwhile when another class offers better abilities or growth potential. You can return to a previous class later and complete its mastery, and remaining in a mastered class is also sensible when no alternative offers useful benefits.

Beginner classes

Beginner classes unlock automatically as you progress through each Flame Lord’s story. Certification licences are still required for their exams.

• Gladiator: Gauntlets D, Axes D, Swords D. Mastery: Attack basics, Strength +1.
• Hunter: Bows D, Swords D. Mastery: Hunting basics, Dexterity and Speed +1.
• Soldier: Axes D, Spears D. Mastery: Soldier, Defence +1.
• Ornius Rider: Riding E+, Axes D, Spears D. Mastery: Offense basics, Strength and Magic +1.
• Diviner: White Magic D, Black Magic D. Mastery: Magic basics, Magic and Resistance +1.

Specialty classes

Specialty classes open at renown level four and have an ideal level of 20. None of the classes in this tier is secret.

• Myrmidon: Swords C. Ravaging arts: critical hits deal 6 additional damage.
• Brigand: Axes C, Swords C. Regroup: Avoid +20 when an enemy avoids an attack.
• Pugilist: Gauntlets C. Attack, get back: Avoid +10 when using a combat art.
• Archer: Bows C. Crescendo: Hit +3 after defeating an enemy for the rest of the battle, up to 30.
• Rogue: Bows C, Swords C. In shadow: Avoid +10 after defeating an enemy until the next combat.
• Armored Knight: Armour E+, Axes C, Spears C. Great counter: Attack +3 when the enemy attacks first.
• Light Cavalry: Riding D, Spears C, Swords C. Bolster health: Maximum HP +3.
• Charioteer: Riding D, Bows C. Charger: Charge grants Protect +10 until the next phase.
• Armored Ornius Rider: Riding D, Axes C, Spears C. Sense threat: Avoid +20 against enemies effective against the unit.
• Wing Soldier: Women only; Flying D, Spears C, Swords C. Protecting wings: Resistance +3.
• Shaman: Black Magic C. Bind dexterity: Target Dexterity -3.
• Priest: White Magic C. Piety: Luck +3.

Advanced classes and requirements

Advanced classes unlock at renown level eight and have an ideal level of 35. Several are automatic, while others depend on route-specific quests or mentoring. A route-exclusive class becomes available on every route once unlocked.

• Shido: Automatic; Swords B. Ever vigilant restores HP after a critical-hit defeat.
• Dancer: Complete “Great Dancer’s Successor” as Leda, available in Chapter 9; Bows B, Swords B. Special dance grants the target ally Speed and Dexterity +3.
• Warrior: Automatic; Gauntlets B, Axes B, Swords B. Practiced art grants Hit +10 with a combat art.
• Blacksmith: Reach level one with Smyrnos and renown level eight; Dietrich only. Black Magic D, Axes C. Makeshift gives a 10% chance of reducing combat-art durability cost to zero.
• Sniper: Automatic; Bows B. Marksmanship grants Hit +15 with a bow.
• Forest Knight: Automatic; Riding D, Bows B. Hunter’s eye grants Attack +3 for a follow-up bow attack.
• Ranger: Complete “Elegant Drink Recipes” as Leda; Bows B, Swords B. Countershot gives a 50% chance to counter adjacent enemies with a bow.
• Guardian: Complete the Il-Lara headhunting contract as Dietrich, or “Send supplies: Roca” and “Send supplies: Kotha Gar” in Theodora’s Chapter 9. Spears B; learned White Magic can also be used. Brace grants Protect +3 until the next phase after defeating an enemy.
• Cataphract: Complete “Send Supplies: Landon Loach” and “Send Supplies: Steel Fish” in Theodora’s Chapter 9; Theodora only. Armour E+, Riding D, Axes B, Spears B. Pavise gives a 20% chance to halve physical damage.
• Dreadnought: Automatic; Armour D, Axes B, Spears B. Focused counter grants Hit +10 when the enemy attacks first.
• Bardinger: Automatic; Riding C, Spears B, Swords B. Aegis gives a 20% chance to halve magic damage.
• Caldarius: Complete Castor’s mentoring on Cai’s route; Riding D, Black Magic B. Overtake grants Movement +1 through the end of the next turn after defeating an enemy, up to +3.
• Dragoon: Complete Aurora’s mentoring as Cai, or “Send supplies: Lir Fish” and “Send supplies: Sea-Star Stone” in Theodora’s Chapter 11. Flying C, Axes B, Spears B. Besieger grants Hit +20 against enemies on favourable terrain.
• Ovate: Automatic; Black Magic B. Bind speed inflicts Speed -3.
• Bishop: Automatic; White Magic B. Barrier grants Resistance +3 to adjacent allies.
• Troubadour: Complete Bertrand’s mentoring as Cai or “Elegant Drink Recipes” as Leda; Riding D, Black Magic B, White Magic B. Song of courage grants Dexterity and Speed +3 to allies in range until the next phase.

Master and divine classes

Several master- and divine-tier classes remain to be identified. They are unavailable until Act 3, so there is no need to worry about missing their requirements during the early and middle sections of the campaign. The final class tier is found in shrines that only become accessible very late in the game.

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