Weapon triangle: Difference between revisions

The '''weapon triangle''' (Japanese: {{hl|武器の相性|Buki no aishō}} ''weapon compatibility'' or {{hl|武器の３すくみ|Buki no sansukumi}} ''weapon 3 deadlock'') is a "rock-paper-scissors"-type mechanic introduced in {{FE4}} wherein certain categories of weapon are more effective against one category and less so against another. The most common form of the weapon triangle is thus: [[sword]]s are more effective against [[axe]]s but less effective against [[lance (weapon)|lance]]s, lances are more effective against swords but less effective against axes, and axes are more effective against lances but less effective against swords. The weapon triangle remained mostly unchanged until {{title|Fates}}, its last appearance in the main series.

{{FE4}} introduced both the weapon triangle and the trinity of magic. With the weapon triangle, swords are strong against axes, axes are strong against lances, and lances are strong against swords. Under the trinity of magic, [[fire magic]] is strong against [[wind magic]], wind magic is strong against [[thunder magic]], and thunder magic is strong against fire magic; [[light (magic)|light]] and [[dark magic]] are both strong against fire, thunder, and wind and neutral against each other. In both triangles, advantage would grant a bonus to accuracy, while disadvantage would grant a penalty.

In {{title|The Binding Blade}}, fire, thunder, and wind magic were merged into one weapon type: [[anima magic]]. In all of the [[Game Boy Advance]] games—''The Binding Blade'', {{title|The Blazing Blade}}, and {{title|The Sacred Stones}}—anima magic is strong against light magic, light against dark magic, and dark against anima. The weapon triangle was not changed in ''The Binding Blade'', but the effects of both triangles were; in addition to accuracy, advantage or disadvantage would boost or penalize units' damage.

In {{title|Path of Radiance}}, anima magic was split back into three weapon types and dark magic was removed. The individual anima magics retain their effectiveness against each other from ''Genealogy of the Holy War'', but are neutral to light magic. {{title|Radiant Dawn}} re-introduced dark magic and retained the anima magic split; in ''Radiant Dawn'', the individual anima magics have the same effectiveness as they did in ''Path of Radiance'', but light, dark, and anima have the same effectiveness as in the GBA games, creating a layered system of effectiveness. ''Radiant Dawn'' was the last game to feature the trinity of magic.

{{title|Shadow Dragon}} features only [[tome]]s and not different forms of magic, and does not feature the trinity of magic. The weapon triangle was not altered between games but its effects were; the magnitude of the bonus or penalty for advantage or disadvantage was made to depend on the [[weapon level]] of the unit with advantage, with higher levels granting higher bonuses for that unit and higher penalties for their opponent. Additionally, [[Weapon level#Weapon level bonus|weapon level bonuses]]—which were introduced in ''Shadow Dragon''—are canceled out by weapon triangle disadvantage. The system present in ''Shadow Dragon'' was retained in {{title|New Mystery of the Emblem}} and {{title|Awakening}}.

{{title|Fates}} retains the effects of weapon triangle advantage and disadvantage from ''Shadow Dragon''; however, the triangle itself was changed. Most weapon types were given a color: swords and tomes are red, lances and [[dagger]]s are blue, and axes and bows are green; red weapons are effective against green weapons, green against blue, and blue against red.

 

{{title|Heroes}} uses a similar color system to ''Fates''. Swords, lances, and axes have the same colors and colors the same effectiveness as in ''Fates''; however, tomes, bows, daggers, [[breath]]s, and [[beast]] weapons can have a color as well, and neutral weapons are specifically deemed to be colorless. [[Red tome|Red]], [[blue tome|blue]], [[green tome|green]], and [[colorless tome]]s are distinct weapon types; the color of a bow, dagger, breath, or beast weapon is determined by the unit using it; and all staves are colorless. As ''Heroes'' does not feature accuracy, the weapon triangle no longer affect's a units chance to hit; instead, it solely increases or decreases a unit's damage.

 

The weapon triangle was absent from {{title|Shadows of Valentia}}—a remake of {{title|Gaiden}} which lacked the weapon triangle, having been made before the triangle was first introduced. The weapon triangle did not return in {{title|Three Houses}}, though it did retain the numerous "breaker" skills which increase the user's hit and avoid when they have a weapon equipped that is deemed to be advantageous over their opponent's.

 

The weapon triangle is additionally present in {{FEW}}; it only affects swords, lances, and axes, and in the traditional pattern. When a player unit has weapon triangle advantage against an enemy, they deal increased damage, can cause the stun gauge to appear with regular attacks, and deal increased damage to the stun gauge; when they have weapon triangle disadvantage, they receive increased damage, cannot force the stun gauge to appear with strong attacks, and the opponent has an increased chance to block attacks.

In ''The Binding Blade'', ''The Blazing Blade'', and ''The Sacred Stones'', the attack bonus/penalty applied by the weapon triangle affects [[Might|weapon might]], which is factored into [[bonus damage]], rather than the final [[Attack (stat)|attack stat]], which is not.

| colspan="6" | Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1

| colspan="6" | Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1

| {{title|Awakening}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://serenesforest.net/awakening/miscellaneous/calculations/|title=Calculations|site=SErenes Forest|retrieved=July 18, 2018}}</ref>

| Inverts the weapon triangle.

| {{title|The Binding Blade}}, {{title|The Blazing Blade}}, {{title|The Sacred Stones}}, {{title|Warriors}}

| Inverts the weapon triangle.

| Inverts the weapon triangle.

| Inverts the weapon triangle.

| {{title|Fates}}

|jap-name=• {{hover|武器の相性|Buki no aishō}}<br>• {{hover|武器の３すくみ|Buki no sansukumi}}

|jap-mean=• Weapon compatibility<br>• Weapon 3 deadlock

[[Category:Weapons| ]]