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Critical hit

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Lon'qu inflicts a critical hit upon an enemy Knight. Myrmidons like Lon'qu frequently deal critical hits due to their high skill.

A critical hit (Japanese: 必殺の一撃 critical hit), often abbreviated as critical or crit, is an uncommon and powerful type of attack inflicted at random, which deals more damage to a foe than usual. The ability to and chance of inflicting a critical hit is dictated by both a unit's stats and those of the weapons they wield, and in turn a unit's luck stat helps lower their risk of falling victim to critical hits themselves.

Overview

The concept of critical hits is widespread in role-playing games in general, both computer and tabletop, and is generally intended to simulate the random chance of a warrior's attack hitting a vital weak point on their enemy such as an organ. The Fire Emblem series use of critical hits is very much in line with this practice. Each unit has a critical hit rate which is calculated based on both their own skill stat and the crit value on the weapon they presently wield, in addition to other game-dependent factors such as skills or support bonuses. In battles, this is subtracted from the opposing unit's dodge calculation, based on their luck, in order to generate a percentage chance of successfully activating and dealing a critical hit.

Most games in the series feature a collection of classes and items which are intrinsically possessed of far higher critical hit chances than usual. Some classes, most prominently the Myrmidon class family, possess an in-built class bonus which awards a set increase to their critical hit rate at all times. While the crit stat on weapons is typically relatively low, some weapons feature a distinctly high crit stat and are specifically touted as giving their wielder a significant critical rate increase; the most prominent of these is the recurring "killer weapons" line, including the Killing Edge, Killer Lance, Killer Axe and Killer Bow, all of which typically offer a high crit stat ranging between 20 and 30. Conversely, the player is occasionally offered ways to protect units from critical hits without relying on luck stats. Certain items and skills, such as the Hoplon Guard and Fortune, completely block opposing units from ever executing critical hits.

From Genealogy of the Holy War onward, critical hits are infamously typically associated with distinct animations, actions and flourishes performed by each class to clearly demonstrate that the hit they are about to inflict is a critical hit. For units wielding physical weapons these typically involve spinning one's weapon (or, for bow users, their arrows) around at high speed, while magical units typically wave their hands more than usual or summon additional magical runes surrounding them as they cast the spell. Additionally, Radiant Dawn, New Mystery of the Emblem and Awakening will announce an impending critical hit with a bright flash and distinct noise.

Calculations

Damage inflicted

  • All games except Genealogy and Thracia: Critical hits multiply the damage dealt by ×3.
  • Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776: Critical hits multiply the attack power before defense reduction by ×2.

Critical rate

These calculations are for the raw pre-battle critical rate of units, as typically expressed on a unit's status profile. In battle, the foe's dodge calculation is subtracted from the raw critical rate to produce their actual practical critical rate percentage. If an attack misses it cannot be a critical hit, this is because the game will not determine whether or not an attack is a critical hit unless it has already determined that the attack will hit. Even if the critical rate is 100% you will not always land a critical hit, because when your attack misses the game will not check if it is a critical hit.

style="Template:Roundtl; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222" | Game Formula style="Template:Roundtr; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222" | Notes
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (Skill + Luck) / 2 + (Weapon's Crit) --
Gaiden (Skill + Luck) / 2 + (Weapon's Crit) --
Mystery of the Emblem (Skill) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Genealogy of the Holy War Without Critical skill: (Combination bonus)

With Critical skill: (Skill) + (Kill bonus - 50) + (Combination bonus)
With Wrath: 100%*

If a unit or their weapon lacks the Critical skill, they are incapable of performing critical hits outside of combination bonuses or Wrath.
If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
+20% critical hit rate when the combination bonus is in effect.
Thracia 776 (Skill) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus)
With Wrath: 100%*
If the support bonus is not relevant, it is taken to be 0.
In battle, a unit's pursuit critical coefficient is used when double-attacking.
The Binding Blade (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +30 if the unit is a Swordmaster or Berserker.
When using a Light Brand at indirect range, the critical rate is locked at 0.
The Blazing Blade (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (S-Rank bonus) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster or Berserker.
When using a Light Brand or Wind Sword at indirect range, or a Runesword, the critical rate is locked at 0.
The Sacred Stones (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (S-Rank bonus) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster, Berserker, Journeyman (3) or Recruit (3).
When using a Light Brand or Wind Sword at indirect range, or a Runesword, the critical rate is locked at 0.
Path of Radiance (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (Any bonuses from skills) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster, Sniper, or Berserker.
Radiant Dawn (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Bond support bonus) + (Any bonuses from skills) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Shadow Dragon (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +5 if the unit is a Sniper, +10 if a Swordmaster.
New Mystery of the Emblem If unit's skill < 20: (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus)
If unit's skill ≥ 20: (Skill - 10) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus)
If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
The class bonus is +5 if the unit is a Sniper, +10 if a Berserker.
style="Template:Roundbl; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222; text-align: center" | Awakening (Skill / 2) + (Weapon's Crit) + (Support/Dual bonus) + (Any bonuses from skills) style="Template:Roundbr; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222; text-align: center" | If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.

Items and skills affecting critical hit

style="Template:Roundtl; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Weapons, items and skills awarding hit rate bonuses or penalties
style="Template:Roundtl; border:none; background-color:#222222; color:#fff" width="1%"| Item Effect style="Template:Roundtr; border:none; background-color:#222222; color:#fff" width="40%"|Games
Is snes02 critical.png Critical (skill) Allows the user to perform critical hit when equipped. Genealogy of the Holy War
Is snes02 nihil.png Nihil Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user when equipped. Genealogy of the Holy War
Is gba light brand.png Light Brand Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
Is gba runesword.png Runesword Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
Is wii critical +15.png Critical +15 Grants a 15% bonus to the user Critical rate when equipped. The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Radiant Dawn
Is gba wind sword.png Wind Sword Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
Is gba iron rune.png Iron Rune Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user when equipped. The Blazing Blade
Is gba hoplon guard.png Hoplon Guard Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user when equipped. The Sacred Stones
Is gcn trainer.png Trainer Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. Path of Radiance
Is gcn practice axe.png Practice Axe Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. Path of Radiance
Is wii daunt.png Daunt -5 critical rate and avoid to all enemy units within a 3-tile radius of the user when equipped. Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
Is 3ds02 gamble.png Gamble Doubles critical hit rate and halves hit rate for the user for one round of attack on command*/+10 critical hit rate, -5 hit rate*/+10 critical hit rate, -10 hit rate* when equipped. Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Awakening, Fates
All Bronze-weapons Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. Radiant Dawn, Fates
Is wii critical +5.png Critical +5 Grants a 5% bonus to the user's Critical rate when equipped. Radiant Dawn
Is wii critical +10.png Critical +10 Grants a 10% bonus to the user's Critical rate when equipped. Radiant Dawn
Is wii critical +20.png Critical +20 Grants a 20% bonus to the user's Critical rate when equipped. Radiant Dawn
Is wii critical +25.png Critical +25 Grants a 25% bonus to the user's Critical rate when equipped. Radiant Dawn
Is wii fortune.png Fortune Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user when equipped. Radiant Dawn
Is 3ds01 zeal.png Zeal Increases the unit's critical rate by 5 when equipped. Awakening
Is 3ds01 solidarity.png Solidarity Increases the critical rate by 10 to all adjacent allies when equipped. Awakening
All Brass-weapons, Kodachi, Javelin, Xander's Lance, Hand Axe, Throwing Club, Nosferatu Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. Fates
All Magical-weapons other than Dragonstone, Felicia's Plate and Leo's Iceblade Prevent the user from inflicting critical hit. Fates
Is 3ds02 bushido.png Bushido +10 critical rate when user is the lead unit and has an equal to or higher level than the support unit. Fates
Is 3ds02 competitive.png Competitive +10 critical rate when user is the lead unit and has an equal to or lower level than the support unit. Fates
Is 3ds02 bibliophile.png Bibliophile +10 critical rate when user has 3 or more tomes/scrolls in inventory. Fates
Is 3ds02 death blow.png Death Blow +20 critical rate if the user initiates the attack when equipped. Fates
Is 3ds02 dragonskin.png Dragonskin Reduces all critical hits dealt to the user by 50% when equipped. Fates

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

Marth performing Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
SSB.png This article or section is a short summary of Critical hit.
SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

The Super Smash Bros. series uses the critical hit concept to form the move Critical Hit, Marth's Final Smash from Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward, as well as Roy's and Lucina's in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, activated through use of a Smash Ball. Marth and Lucina share the same basic version of the move, while Roy's is radically different:

  • After thrusting their Falchion skyward, Marth/Lucina darts forward at high speed and, if they encounter any opponents, deals a powerful blow to them accompanied with a Fire Emblem-style HP box rapidly depleting. In Brawl, Critical Hit is considered to possess more raw power than any other Final Smash, as its attack deals significant damage and immense knockback and is under most circumstances guaranteed to knock out the opponent should it connect, but conversely is predictable and relatively easy to dodge. The animation loosely imitates Marth's critical hit animation in his debut appearance in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.
  • Roy moves the Binding Blade in a circle, then sharply whips it down behind him and unleashes a single, powerful overhead swing which deals immense damage to the foe if it hits, accompanied by a rapidly depleting Fire Emblem-style HP bar. Roy's variant directly imitates his critical hit animation when using the Binding Blade in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade.

As with all Final Smashes, Critical Hit is depicted on trophies in Brawl and for Wii U, awarded for completing All-Star Mode with the respective character.

The HP bar in Brawl is based off of that of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, and the one in 3DS/Wii U and Ultimate is based off of that of Awakening.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Critical Hit
SSBB Trophy Critical Hit.png Marth's Final Smash. He thrusts his sword skyward, then rushes to meet his targeted enemy with furious speed. The blow he strikes is so powerful that his foe is instantly launched off the screen. As in Fire Emblem, a window appears that shows the character's hit points dropping rapidly to zero—but this is just for effect. Smash Bros. does not use a hit-point system.

SSBWU console icon Wii.png Super Smash Bros. Brawl

All-Star Mode

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophies

Critical Hit (Marth)
SSBWU Trophy Critical Hit (Marth).png NA: Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky and then rushes forward to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KO'ing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When it's used in the air, he'll fly forward a certain distance. On the ground, however, he'll only dash to the edge of the platform he's standing on.
PAL: Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky, then rushes forwards to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KOing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When used in the air, he'll fly forwards a set distance, but on the ground, he'll only dash up to the edge of the platform he's standing on.
All-Star Mode (Wii U)
Critical Hit (Lucina)
SSBWU Trophy Critical Hit (Lucina).png NA: In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high before dashing swiftly forward to deliver a deadly blow to whomever she makes contact with first. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take out foes in a single hit. Just make sure you don't dash off the stage when you use it in midair!
PAL: In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high, then dashes swiftly forwards to deliver a deadly blow to whoever stands in her way. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take them out in a single hit. Just be careful not to dash off the stage if you use it in mid-air!
All-Star Mode (Wii U)
Critical Hit (Roy)
SSBWU Trophy Critical Hit (Roy).png For Roy’s Final Smash, he traps enemies in a circular swing of the blade, brings it up behind him, and then, in a blast of fire, brings the blade down for a powerful finisher! The downward attack is powerful on its own but doesn’t have much range, so make sure you’re close enough to hit your enemies with the full combo and really seal their fate! All-Star Mode (Wii U)

Trivia

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Critical hit

--

Spanish

Golpe crítico

Critical hit

French

Coup critique

Critical hit

German

Kritischer Treffer

Critical hit

Italian

Colpo triplo

Triple hit

Gallery

GBA titles

Other appearances

References

Game mechanics
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Weapons Brave weaponCritical rateDurabilityHitKill bonusMightPersonal weaponsRangeWeapon experienceWeapon levelWeightWorth
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Calculations AttackAttack speedAvoidBonus damageCritical hit (Combination bonusDodgeTriangle Attack) • Hit rate (True hit) • Random number generatorWeapon triangle (Trinity of magic)
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