Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave has plenty of major story details to discuss. The Direct presentation revealed that players can follow four heroes at the same time, that Eshmel is the game’s true protagonist, and that time travel will play an important role. Yet one unexpected detail has dominated the conversation: the game includes firearms.
Anatolia is the nun with a gun
Only one character has been shown using a firearm so far. Anatolia’s weapon looks like a modern pistol rather than a stylised fantasy sidearm, and fans have quickly given her a memorable nickname: the “nun with a gun”.
The weapon is called a salamander, and it is currently the only revealed gun type. There is no confirmation of shotguns, rifles or other firearms, although the surprise addition has naturally led to speculation about what else the developers might introduce.
The unexpected firearm has prompted a wave of jokes and fan reactions, with players focusing on the contrast between a traditional fantasy setting and a character carrying what appears to be a contemporary handgun.
Why is a gun classified as a gauntlet?
The strangest part of the reveal may not be the firearm itself, but how it is categorised. In Fortune’s Weave, guns are treated as gauntlets—equipment normally associated with fighting through punches and other close-range attacks.
Gauntlets are technically melee weapons, but they also allow characters to evade attacks more easily. That creates an amusing gameplay question: will a gun-based gauntlet combine the defensive advantages of the category with the ability to attack from a distance?
The classification could also have important tactical consequences. The series traditionally uses a weapon hierarchy in which different weapon types hold strengths and weaknesses against one another—for example, swords are effective against axes but vulnerable to spears. Guns may add another layer to that system, particularly because ranged attacks could potentially target flying enemies while still benefiting from gauntlet-related mechanics.
A striking change for the series
As far as the revealed information indicates, this is the first time firearms have appeared as a weapon category in the franchise. That makes Anatolia’s salamander more than a visual joke: it could represent a significant change to how battles are planned and how weapon match-ups work.
The gun’s sudden appearance has already become one of the most discussed details from the showcase, despite the presentation also confirming the four-protagonist structure, Eshmel’s role and the game’s time-travel elements.
Players interested in the wider arcade and gaming landscape can follow RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog and browse the latest arcade videos. The firearm reveal also has an obvious connection to the genre covered by arcade light-gun shooters, even if Fortune’s Weave remains a strategy RPG rather than an arcade shooter.
When does Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave release?
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is scheduled to launch on 12 September 2026 for the Nintendo Switch 2. Until more footage appears, the key unanswered questions are how the salamander fits into the weapon system and whether Anatolia will be joined by other firearm-wielding characters.
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