classes
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Description- Soldiers who attack from a distance with their bows.
Weapons- Bows & Arrows
Movement- 5 Party units- Wil, Rebecca
Upgrade- Sniper
Upgrade item- Orion's Bolt
Review- Archers are a very usefull addtion to your army... if you use them the right way. Keep them behind friendly units at all times. Because they are physically frail-- and don't counterattack direct assaults-- they are virtually helpless in direct fights. They are best used to pick off units that are almost dead, but you can use them to weaken units ahead of you. Just always make sure they never travel alone. Never have them in the front.
Description- Mounted knights with superior movement.
Weapons- Lances, swords
Movement- 7
Party units- Kent, Sain, Lowen
Upgrade- Paladin
Upgrade item- Knight's Crest
Review- Cavaliers are very strong units. They have high defense and a rather strong attack. Always keep at least one in your party... though two would be better. They can move huge distances, too.
Description- Priestesses who aid their allies with sacred staves.
Weapons- Staves
Movement- 5
Party units- Serra
Upgrade- Bishop
Upgrade item- Guiding Ring
Review- Clerics are pretty good. They start of with Heal, which can get the job done. If you want to have them use Mend, you have to buy it or take it from Priscilla. Train Serra if you want to use Light Magic when she upgrades.
Description- Axe-wielding soldiers whose attack offers little defense.
Weapons- Axes
Movement- 5
Party units- Dorcas, Bartre
Upgrade- Warrior
Upgrade item- Hero's Crest
Review- I've never really liked fighters... they really aren't all that amazing. I guess it's just personal preferance, though. If you are going to have one in your active party, I suggest training Bartre over Dorcas. All bias aside, they are decent fighters. My only true gripe is that they always seem to miss when you need them most. I guess that's why I never used them.
Description- Heavily armored knights with stout defense, but low speed.
Weapons- Lances
Movement- 4
Party units- Wallace, Oswin
Upgrade- General
Upgrade item- Knight's Crest
Review- I actually Knights. However, only train Oswin. Wallace really isn't worth it. Besides that... Knights are great tanks. They have ungodly amounts of defense, and most normal units won't do damage to them. They also have a really strong attack, and they can reduce an enemy to less than 5 HP with one hit, if they don't kill them. A solid addition to your team.
Lord
Description- A noble attached to a ruling house. Has great potential.
Weapons- Swords, Axes
Movement- 5
Party units- Lyn, Eliwood, Hector
Upgrade- Blade Lord
Upgrade item- Heaven Seal
Review- Lords are great. If you train them well, they are easily the strongest units. Although they may start off a little weak, train them! Do not leave them in a corner and forget about them. They quickly become invaluable to your success. But protect them well, for if they die, your game is over.
Description- Masters of justice. Strong against well-defended foes.
Weapons- Anima
Movement- 5
Party units- Erk, Nino
Upgrade- Sage
Upgrade item- Guiding Ring
Review- I really like Mages. They have a good attack and are quick, so they can dodge attacks and do a double attack. You should always keep one in your active party; they will help out a lot. And plus, once they changes classes, they double as healers. Definitely worth training.
Description- Professional soldiers with a balanced set of skills.
Weapons- Swords
Movement- 5
Party units- Raven
Upgrade- Hero
Upgrade item- Hero's Crest
Review- Mercenaries are decent. They may start off a little weak, but after a few levels they become pretty good. They usually attack twice and deal a good amount of damage. I suggest using one.
Merchant
Description- A conveyor of goods and items. Lacks combat skills.
Weapons- N/A
Movement- 0
Party units- Merlinus
Upgrade- Transporter
Upgrade item- N/A
Review- A merchant does not take up any unit space. Because of this, you should take one with you in every battle. Although they cannot move, you can defend them. The use of them is that you can store extra items in there. Also, each battle it survives in it gains a level and becomes stronger.
Description- Ascetics who wield light magic, but can't use staves.
Weapons- Light Magic
Movement- 5
Party units- Lucius
Upgrade- Bishop
Upgrade item- Guiding Ring
Review- Train a monk. I really like them. They are extremely quick, dodge most attacks, and always attack twice. Not only are they useful against users of Dark Magic, but they can usually defeat most normal enemies. Very useful indeed. But they are like archers-- keep them in the back. They are extremely frail and have pathetically low HP and Defense.
Description- Swordfighters with superior skill. Swift at killing strokes.
Weapons- Swords
Movement- 5
Party units- Guy
Upgrade- Swordmaster
Upgrade item- Hero's Crest
Review- Myrmidons are like faster, fragiler version of Mercenaries. They have higher speed, but deal less damage per hit. They have a relatively low defense, but due to their high dodge rates, they won't get hit much. Unfortunately, they do rely largely on luck to dish out powerful criticals, which is where most of their use comes from. If you like to take chances, the class can be worth it-- otherwise, stick to a Mercanary instead.
Description- Sacaen plainsmen with good movement. Armed with bows.
Weapons- Bows & Arrows
Movement- 7
Party units- Rath
Upgrade- Nomadic Trooper
Upgrade item- Orion's Bolt
Review- Nomads are pretty good. They are physically stronger than Archers, so you don't have to worry about them being killed as much. They can move farther, too. The only thing about them is that they never really become true killing machines, like some Archers and Snipers can become. They're pretty good, though.
Description- Knights who've earned the right to fly winged steeds.
Weapons- Lances
Movement- 7
Party units- Florina, Fiora, Farina
Upgrade- Falco Knight
Upgrade item- Elysian Whip
Review- Pegasus Knights are good characters. They may start off weak (low defense and HP) but can quickly become very strong. Always train at least one, but beware of archers-- they totally dominate Pegasus Knights. If you train all 3 (Florina, Fiora, Farina) you can do the awesome Triangle attack.
Description- Bold pirates who use axes in battle. Quite adept at sea.
Weapons- Axes
Movement- 5
Party units- Dart
Upgrade- Berserker
Upgrade item- Ocean Seal
Review- A Pirate is the best axe user aside from Hector. If you want an axe user, use a Pirate instead of a Fighter. They have strong attack and can actually move well. They also can move over water. They have a slightly low defense, but that's really the only bad thing.
Description- Students of dark magic. Powerful, but very slow.
Weapons- Dark Magic
Movement- 5
Party units- Canas
Upgrade- Druid
Upgrade item- Guiding Ring
Review- Shamans are very different from Mages and Monks. They are physically stronger, but also much slower. Dark Magic can deal insane amounts of damage, but Shamans will double-attack less and get criticals more infrequently than the other spellcasters. With some training, though, a Shaman can be a powerful addition to your team. Also note, that in a fight between the two, a Shaman will usually win between another spellcaster.
Description- Jacks of all trades who can pick locks and learn secrets.
Weapons- Swords
Movement- 6
Party units- Legault, Matthew
Upgrade- Assassin
Upgrade item- Fell Contract
Review- ...this is a hard one. Thieves are good because they can steal items and open chests and doors. But when it comes to fighting... this is what I can't decide. They can be pretty good, but they have low HP and Defense and die easily. I want to use them often, but I usually have to bench them for more powerful characters. Use them if they're your style; hit and run tactics, so to speak.
Description- Staff-wielding maidens who travel by horseback.
Weapons- Staves
Movement- 7
Party units- Priscilla
Upgrade- Valkyrie
Upgrade item- Guiding Ring
Review- You're either going to use a Troubador or Cleric... and I chose the Troubador. The fact that they're mounted on horseback alone makes them a better choice, because they can move so much farther. A good choice to train, and they learn Anima Magic when they upgrade classes. They are a bit of a chore to level up, but it is well worth it in the end.
Description- Wyvern riders, weak only against magic and bows.
Weapons- Lances
Movement- 7
Party units- Heath
Upgrade- Wyvern Lord
Upgrade item- Elysian Whip
Review- Wyvern Riders are like the opposite of Pegasus Knights. They have high strength, defense, and HP but low speed and resistance ratings. A Wyvern Rider's worst foe isn't an Archer, but a magic user. They do, however, fare better against infantry units better than Pegasus Knights do and can take more a beating. It's really all personal preferance of which style you prefer.
Promoted Classes
Archsage
Description- An honorific bestowed upon the wisest of sages.
Weapons- Anima Magic, Light Magic, Dark Magic, Staves
Movement- 6
Party units- Athos
Review- An Archsage is the ultimate magic user. The only problem is, you get your only Archsage during the last mission of the game. He comes loaded with some of the best spells in the game, making him tower over your other spellcasters in comparison. Though an Archsage is a very, very good unit, a fully leveled up Sage, Bishop, or Druid can actually be better. Don't take that the wrong way though-- the Archsage class is extremely powerful and will defeat almost every unit effortlessly.
Description- Trained killers who can deal death in a single blow.
Weapons- Swords
Movement- 7
Party units- Matthew, Legault, Jaffar
Review- Assassins are just downright cool, and they kick major butt. They have a much higher attack than a Thief, and can even kill a unit in one hit! This happens more often than you would think. They are very speedy, and their low defense probably won't matter much since they'll never get hit. The only thin you lose is the ability to steal, so be aware of that.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon fighters of incredible fury.
Weapons- Axes
Movement- 6
Party units- Dart, Hawkeye
Review- Berserkers are very good units. They specialize in axes, and can deal heavy damage with them. They also have loads of HP and Defense. One of the best things about them is that they can traverse over water. I highly suggest using one.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon devout monks and clerics.
Weapons- Light Magic, Staves
Movement- 6
Party units- Lucius, Serra
Review- Bishops are amazingly useful. Not only can they attack with Light Magic, but they also can heal party members with Staves. It would be very helpful to have one in your party.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon masters of the sword and bow.
Weapons- Swords, Bows
Movement- 6
Party units- Lyn
Review- Wow. A Blade Lord is quite possibily the best unit in the game. Not only does the class have insane amouts of Speed, Skill, and Resistance, there is also a great improvement in Strength. A Blade Lord will often dodge every attack and then retalitate with an unstoppable Critical. This class is amazing.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon true masters of dark arts.
Weapons- Dark Magic, Staves
Movement- 6
Party units- Canas
Review- Erm, I don't have a Druid. But from what I've seen, they're pretty strong units. They have strong attacks that can deal good amounts of damage. But they're very slow, as with Shamans.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon the swiftest pegasus knights.
Weapons- Lances, Swords
Movement- 8
Party units- Florina, Fiora, Farina
Review- Falcoknights are a major improvement over their counterparts. They become much less fragile than before, gaining more HP, improved strenght, and having speed go through the roof. The added ability of swords also aids against fights with other lance users.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon seasoned knights.
Weapons- Lances, Axes
Movement- 5
Party units- Wallace, Oswin
Review- Generals are most physically tough units in the game. Full leveled, almost nothing will leave a scratch in their armor and they can easily destroy even the most heavily armored foes. Of course, they are ridiculously slow-- but does that really matter when you're a tank?
Description- An honorific bestowed upon especially gifted generals.
Weapons- Axes, Swords
Movement- 5
Party units- Hector
Review- A Great Lord is the best axe user in the game, hands down. With insane amounts of strength, defense, and resistance, a Great Lord is more than a tank-- it's an unstoppable force. Though you can use swords, I'd recommend sticking to axes, as no other unit will match a Great Lord's power. Not much else can be said except "wow".
Description- An honorific bestowed upon Lycia's mounted knights.
Weapons- Swords, Lances
Movement- 7
Party units- Eliwood
Review- The Knight Lord is an interesting class, as it is a mix between an infantry unit and a cavalry unit. Specializing in swords but mounted on a horse, you get the best of both worlds. The only problem is that you don't get the option to promote until very late in the game; by then, leveling up is somewhat daunting. But it is well worth it in the end, as this class can be truly rewarding if you invest the time.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon nomads of great skill
Weapons- Bows, Swords
Movement- 8
Party units- Rath
Review- I absolutely love Nomad Troopers. Because of their horse, they can move almost anywhere to kill enemies from afar. Don't think this unit just weakens them-- it will usually kill them with high strength and speed ratings, if you train them properly. Because of the high speed, they can dodge most attacks sent their. The ability to use swords also helps defend against units that sneak up close. Overall, Nomad Troopers are great and definitely a strong choice for your team.
Description- Dedicated cavaliers with superior abilites all around.
Weapons- Lances, Swords, Axes
Movement- 8
Party units- Kent, Sain, Lowen, Marcus, Isadora
Review- Paladins are simply a good unit. They have wide movement, and can use a good variety of weapons. They're nothing spectactular though, and will be overshadowed by other units as the game progresses. You should have at least one in your party, because there's no reason not to use one.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon staff-wielding mages.
Weapons- Anima Magic, Staves
Movement- 6
Party units- Erk, Nino, Pent
Review- Sages are the master of Anima Magic, and are an important unit to have. They are basically an archer with magic, thus making them very fragile in direct combat. The advantage they have over bow users, however, is that, like all magic users, they will counterattack a direct blow. They're not as speedy as Bishops, so you'll see less consecutive attacks and criticals-- but the spells that do land are powerful. The Stave ability also helps with healing.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon peerless veteran archers.
Weapons- Bows
Movement- 6
Party units- Wil, Rebecca, Louise
Review- Snipers are a solid unit, if you protect them well. They can decimate the opponent from range, and even though they're a bit tougher than Archers, they are still fragile like crazy. If you load up a well-trained Sniper with a powerful weapon, you have a true killing machine on your hands. They are slower than Nomad Troopers, however.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon true masters of swordplay.
Weapons- Swords
Movement- 6
Party units- Guy, Karel, Karla
Review- Swordmasters are decent units. They pretty much an improved Myrmidon, and the same rules generally apply. Their criticals are very strong, but to be honest, they have rather weak normal attacks. It's more of a risk versus reward class; if you like that style, go ahead and use it.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon truly talented troubadors.
Weapons- Anima Magic, Staves
Movement- 8
Party units- Priscilla
Review- Valkyries are probably the best healers in the game, soley because they are mounted. Combine their high movement with a long-range healing staff, and you can heal virtually any unit on the map at any given time. They do gain the ability to use Anima Magic, but to be honest, I never used them offensively. You could utilize them as secondary casters, but I liked to stay safe and keep them in the back lines. Just load up all your healing staves and protect the Valkyrie well-- you won't be dissapointed.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon strong, battle-worn fighters.
Weapons- Axes, Bows
Movement- 6
Party units- Dorcas, Bartre, Geitz
Review- Warriors are a pumped-up fighter, as expected. However, fighters were never a great class to begin with, so that's not exactly a good thing. The added ability to use bows increases their versatility, but seems somewhat out of place with the class. I never used them much, and in my opinion, the Beserker is a much better choice.
Description- An honorific bestowed upon skilled wyvern riders.
Weapons- Lances, Swords
Movement- 68
Party units- Heath, Vaida
Review- A wyvern lord can become a very powerful unit if trained properly. Their defense and HP can reach very levels, making them a highly mobile tank. Still, though, they are very vulnerable to magic and arrows.
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Note: A portion of this content was originally written by Evil Genius.