Personal weapons

Personal weapons (Japanese: 専用武器 personal weapons) are weapons which are restricted to be usable only by a limited group of units, or more commonly, a single unit. This concept has existed since Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, with weapons like Marth's Falchion and Linde's Aura, and has appeared in every game since in some capacity.

Lyn unsheathing the Mani Katti, her personal weapon, for the first time.

“	The sword Ike received from his father. It's light and easy to wield. Only Ike can wield it.	”	— The Regal Sword's description, providing a typical example of a personal weapon

Overview

"Personal weapon" is a somewhat generic term used to refer to the concept, with different games referring to them by different names. Most Japanese versions use a ★ to symbolise a personal weapon, described as a "star weapon". The English releases of The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones and Path of Radiance give personal weapons the rank of "Prf", presumably short for "preferred". Some games in both languages simply do not use a special denotation, and instead list the weapon's required rank or weapon level as a blank, "--". From Shadow Dragon onward, personal weapons have actual weapon levels (normally ranked E, but higher ranks have occurred, in which case the wielder must have the required rank to wield it) with the personal weapon status instead denoted in their description.

The series' most prominent example of a personal weapon is the Rapier. It is a personal weapon in eight of the sixteen games, traditionally acting as the starting weapon for one of the main lord characters of the game (Marth, Roy, Eliwood, Eirika). Most other starting personal weapons for units are essentially copies of its anti-mounted/armor abilities for other weapon types, like the Reginleif, Wolf Beil, and Thani.

It should be noted that all of the main regalia weapons used by the protagonists are counted as their personal weapons, like Sigurd's and Seliph's Tyrfing, Ike's Ragnell, Corrin's Yato, and Byleth's Sword of the Creator.

Gameplay

Generally speaking, they have a unique or uncommon added effect, and are either a starting weapon for the unit (or gained very soon after the unit appears), or are their most powerful end-game weapon. Personal weapons come in three varieties: weapons locked to specific characters (this is the variety to which the term normally applies), weapons locked to specific classes, and weapons locked based on the gender of characters. In addition, most personal weapons are either the only ones of their type to be found in the game, or, if there exist more than one, appear very rarely.

In Genealogy of the Holy War the Holy Blood mechanic is an expanded version of personal weapons and the ability to exclusively pass down the ability to use a certain weapon from parent to child is a major gameplay mechanic.

Story

The in-universe justifications for personal weapons varies by game and by weapon itself. Not every weapon lock has an in-universe explanation, however.

Some weapons are simply a character's preferred weapon in combat, while others are locked to characters through magical means. For instance, Hector's Wolf Beil and numerous lord's rapiers do not appear to have magic-related locks, and are simply used only by certain characters due to personal preference.

Even the means of magic locking the weapon can be different. In The Blazing Blade, Lyn's Mani Katti is stated to be a "spirit-inhabited sword", and chose her as its wielder when she picked it up; Lyn is the only person able to draw it from its sheath. Glass, who was not favored by the Mani Katti, was unable to draw it from its sheath. In Awakening, Lucina explains to her sibling that if someone other than the chosen wielder attempts to use Falchion, its blade will be "dull as a stone". In Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the Royal Sword is said to be impossible to lift by anyone not of royal blood; Tobin claims that the sword "weighs a ton", while Alm finds it "light as a feather".

There are many weapons also locked by bloodline, which, as mentioned above, is a major mechanic in Genealogy of the Holy War, though this method also appears in other games. Often, weapons that are blood locked rely on the wielder to have or be descended from one with the gifted blood of a dragon, though weapons linked solely to human bloodlines, like Aura, exist. It is not always explicitly stated what happens if an unworthy wielder uses a physical weapon, though tomes that are magically locked to individuals fail to function and are no more than paperweights.

List of personal weapons by game

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Marth
Mercurius	Sword	Marth
Falchion	Sword	Marth
Levin Sword	Sword	Classes: Any sword-using class except General
Excalibur	Tome	Merric
Aura	Tome	Linde
Imhullu	Tome	Gharnef
Hammerne	Staff	Lena
Aum	Staff	Elice
Divinestone	Stone	Tiki
Earthstone	Stone	Medeus

Gaiden

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Royal Sword	Sword	Alm
Falchion	Sword	Alm
Javelin	Lance	Classes: Any Lance-using class can use it as a ranged weapon except Soldier
Gradivus	Lance	Classes: Any Lance-using class can use it as a ranged weapon except Soldier

Mystery of the Emblem

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Marth, Phina
Falchion	Sword	Marth
Ladyblade	Sword	Gender: Female units
Excalibur	Tome	Merric
Aura	Tome	Linde
Imhullu	Tome	Gharnef
Nosferatu	Tome	Gender: Female units
Hammerne	Staff	Lena, Marisha
Aum	Staff	Elice, Yuliya
Rescue	Staff	Yuliya
Thief	Staff	Marisha
Divinestone	Stone	Tiki
Magestone	Stone	Any Manakete except Bantu
Icestone	Stone	Any Manakete except Bantu
Wyvernstone	Stone	Any Manakete except Bantu

Genealogy of the Holy War

Main article: Holy Blood

In Genealogy of the Holy War, there is a variation on the standard personal weapon system governed by its unique Holy Blood system, wherein a unit's ability to use one of the weapons is tied to whether or not they possess the matching major holy blood. While several units in both generations have major holy blood, for the second generation the majority of possessors of holy blood, and thus of the weapons, are determined by the pairings of the parents possessing the holy blood in question in the first generation.

In addition to the thirteen weapons governed by holy blood, there are a handful of weapons locked by class and gender.

Weapon	Weapon type	Required holy blood
Tyrfing	Sword	Major Baldr
Balmung	Sword	Major Od
Gungnir	Lance	Major Dáinn
Yewfelle	Bow	Major Ullr
Valkyrie	Staff	Major Bragi
Mjölnir	Thunder	Major Thrud
Valflame	Fire	Major Fjalar
Mystletainn	Sword	Major Hoðr
Gáe Bolg	Lance	Major Njörun
Helswath	Axe	Major Nál
Naga	Light	Major Naga
Forseti	Wind	Major Forseti
Loptous	Dark	Major Loptous

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Miracle Sword	Sword	Gender: Female units
Iron Ballista	Bow	Classes: Iron Ballista
Ballista	Bow	Classes: Ballista
Killer Ballista	Bow	Classes: Killer Ballista
Great Ballista	Bow	Classes: Great Ballista

Thracia 776

Thracia 776 sports the largest number of personal weapons of any game in the series; many of the personal weapons are recurring weapons which are not personal weapons in any other game. Additionally, it is the first instance in the series where the Rapier appears but is not a personal weapon; its usual role as the first personal weapon of the main hero is filled instead by the Light Brand.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Light Brand	Sword	Leif
Lands Sword	Sword	Nanna
Shadow Sword	Sword	Mareeta
Mareeta's Sword	Sword	Mareeta
Beo's Sword	Sword	Diarmuid, Fergus
Blessed Sword	Sword	Olwen
Bragi Sword	Sword	Leif, Nanna, Diarmuid, Fergus
Loptr Sword	Sword	Raydrik, Mus
Dragon Lance	Lance	Deen, Altena
Brave Lance	Lance	Finn
Vouge	Axe	Osian, certain enemy units
Iron Ballista	Bow	Enemy Iron Ballista units
Ballista	Bow	Enemy Ballista units
Poison Ballista	Bow	Enemy Poison Ballista units
Valflame	Fire	None*
Dire Thunder	Thunder	Olwen, Reinhardt
Mjölnir	Thunder	Ishtar*
Grafcalibur	Wind	Asbel
Forseti	Wind	Ced
Hel	Dark	Alphand, Veld, certain enemy units
Loptous	Dark	None*
Repair	Staff	Safy
Thief	Staff	Tina, certain enemy units
Unlock	Staff	Tina, certain enemy units
Kia	Staff	Sara

The Binding Blade

Personal weapons in the GBA games, other than Eckesachs, are all locked to classes rather than characters.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Classes: Lord, Great Lord
Binding Blade	Sword	Classes: Lord, Great Lord
Eckesachs	Sword	Zephiel
Wo Dao	Sword	Classes: Myrmidon, Swordmaster

The Blazing Blade

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Mani Katti	Sword	Classes: Lord (Lyn), Blade Lord
Sol Katti	Sword	Classes: Lord (Lyn), Blade Lord
Rapier	Sword	Classes: Lord (Eliwood), Knight Lord
Durandal	Sword	Classes: Lord (Eliwood), Knight Lord
Wo Dao	Sword	Classes: Lord (Lyn), Blade Lord, Myrmidon, Swordmaster
Wolf Beil	Axe	Classes: Lord (Hector), Great Lord
Armads	Axe	Classes: Lord (Hector), Great Lord
Forblaze	Anima	Class: Archsage
Flametongue	Stone	Class: Fire Dragon

The Sacred Stones

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Classes: Lord (Eirika), Great Lord (Eirika)
Sieglinde	Sword	Classes: Lord (Eirika), Great Lord (Eirika)
Shamshir	Sword	Classes: Lord (Eirika), Great Lord (Eirika), Myrmidon, Swordmaster, Assassin, Bonewalker, Wight
Reginleif	Lance	Classes: Lord (Ephraim), Great Lord (Ephraim)
Siegmund	Lance	Classes: Lord (Ephraim), Great Lord (Ephraim)
Dummy	Sword	None*

Path of Radiance

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Regal Sword	Sword	Ike
Ragnell	Sword	Ike
Amiti	Sword	Elincia
Alondite	Sword	Black Knight
Gurgurant	Sword	Ashnard
Rolf's Bow	Bow	Rolf
Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Iron Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Killer Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Onager	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper

Radiant Dawn

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Ettard	Sword	Ike
Ragnell	Sword	Ike
Florete	Sword	Mist
Amiti	Sword	Elincia, Renning*
Caladbolg*	Sword	Edward
Tarvos*	Axe	Nolan
Lughnasadh*	Bow	Leonardo
Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Iron Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Killer Ballista	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Onager	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Cymbeline	Fire	Sanaki
Thani	Light	Micaiah
Creiddylad	Light	Sephiran
Judge	Various	Ashera (except the four hidden variants used by Lekain, Dheginsea and Sephiran)

Shadow Dragon

The way in which Shadow Dragon structured the weapons system resulted in all personal weapons herein still having a normal weapon level; while for most of these weapons said rank is the base rank E, some have a higher rank requiring that a personal weapon's wielder still requires that rank before using the weapon. Additionally, some weapons which were originally full personal weapons allow for greater leeway in accessibility: they can be used by any unit of a certain gender, but have a high weapon level, while still allowing one specific wielder to use them at any rank.

With the implementation of the reclass system, there is the additional caveat that a unit must be of a class able to use the relevant weapon type before they can use the personal weapon; thus, in the case of Aum, of the many units capable of using it only half are of the correct class in the first place, and the others will need to be reclassed before they can use it.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Marth
Falchion	Sword	Marth
Wing Spear	Lance	Caeda
Longbow	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Excalibur	Tome	Gender: Male units Merric can use at any weapon level
Aura	Tome	Gender: Female units Linde can use at any weapon level
Hammerne	Staff	Lena
Aum	Staff	Caeda, Maria, Minerva, Elice
Divinestone	Stone	Tiki, Nagi
Earthstone	Stone	Medeus

New Mystery of the Emblem

The system remains the same as in Shadow Dragon.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Marth
Falchion	Sword	Marth
Ladyblade	Sword	Gender: Female units
Wing Spear	Lance	Caeda
Longbow	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Excalibur	Tome	Gender: Male units Merric can use at any weapon level
Aura	Tome	Gender: Female units Linde can use at any weapon level
Nosferatu	Tome	Gender: Female units
Hammerne	Staff	Lena, Marisha
Aum	Staff	Caeda, Maria, Minerva, Elice, Yuliya, Nyna, Sheena
Divinestone	Stone	Tiki, Nagi

Awakening

The system remains the same as in Shadow Dragon.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Rapier	Sword	Classes: Lord, Great Lord, Lodestar
Noble Rapier	Sword	Classes: Lord, Great Lord, Lodestar
Falchion	Sword	Chrom, Marth
Exalted Falchion	Sword	Chrom, Marth
Parallel Falchion	Sword	Lucina, Marth
Missiletainn	Sword	Owain
Amatsu	Sword	Classes: Myrmidon, Swordmaster
Sol Katti	Sword	Classes: Myrmidon, Swordmaster
Wolf Berg	Axe	Walhart
Longbow	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Towering Bow	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
Double Bow	Bow	Classes: Archer, Sniper
All dark magic	Tome	Classes: Dark Mage, Sorcerer Units possessing Shadowgift
Beaststone	Stone	Classes: Taguel
Beaststone+	Stone	Classes: Taguel
Dragonstone	Stone	Classes: Manakete
Dragonstone+	Stone	Classes: Manakete

Fates

The system remains the same as in Shadow Dragon.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Siegfried	Sword	Xander, Siegbert*
Yato	Katana	Corrin, Kana*
Raijinto	Katana	Ryoma, Shiro*
Arthur's Axe	Axe	Gender: Male units
Camilla's Axe	Axe	Gender: Female units
Fujin Yumi	Yumi	Takumi, Kiragi*
Hair Pin	Shuriken	Gender: Female units
Nosferatu	Tome	Classes: Dark Mage, Sorcerer Units possessing Shadowgift
Brynhildr	Tome	Leo, Forrest*
Missiletainn	Tome	Ophelia
Astral Blessing	Staff	Lilith

Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

The system remains the same as in Gaiden.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Royal Sword	Sword	Alm
Falchion	Sword	Alm
Beloved Zofia	Sword	Celica

Three Houses

Main article: Heroes' Relics

Personal weapons work differently than they do in previous games. Strictly speaking, no weapons are personal; any unit can use any weapon or equipment, but their Crest—or lack thereof—will affect the potency of the item. There are fifteen Heroes' Relics, including Aymr, and ten Sacred weapons.

Heroes' Relics and Aymr require a weapon level of E to use, meaning any unit can use them, but only units with the correlating Crest can use the weapon's unique combat art, while units with no Crest will suffer 10 damage for using the relic in a battle. The Sword of the Creator is an exception to this, as it is tied to Byleth rather than a particular Crest; units with no Crest will not take damage for using it, but it will have greatly increased weight and reduced range when used by anyone other than Byleth. All Heroes Relics have a golden item sprite.

Sacred weapons require a weapon level of A to use; unlike Heroes' Relics, however, units without Crests are not penalized for using them. All Sacred weapons heal a certain portion of HP at the start of each turn when equipped, healing more HP if the unit has the correlating Crest. Some Sacred weapons have additional effects, but those are not tied to the possession of a Crest. All Sacred weapons have a silver item sprite.

Weapon	Weapon type	Crest/Wielder
Sword of the Creator	Sword	Byleth
Thunderbrand	Sword	Crest of Charon
Blutgang	Sword	Crest of the Beast
Sword of Seiros	Sword	Crest of Seiros
Sword of Begalta	Sword	Crest of Riegan
Sword of Moralta	Sword	Crest of Fraldarius
Areadbhar	Lance	Crest of Blaiddyd
Lance of Ruin	Lance	Crest of Gautier
Lúin	Lance	Crest of Daphnel
Spear of Assal	Lance	Crest of Cichol
Aymr	Axe	Crest of Seiros
Crusher	Axe	Crest of Dominic
Freikugel	Axe	Crest of Goneril
Axe of Ukonvasara	Axe	Crest of Gloucester
Failnaught	Bow	Crest of Riegan
Tathlum Bow	Bow	Crest of Lamine
The Inexhaustible	Bow	Crest of Indech
Vajra-Mushti	Gauntlets	Crest of Chevalier
Aegis Shield	Shield	Crest of Fraldarius
Seiros Shield	Shield	Crest of Seiros
Ochain Shield	Shield	Crest of Cichol
Thyrsus	Staff	Crest of Gloucester
Caduceus Staff	Staff	Crest of Cethleann
Rafail Gem	Gem	Crest of Lamine
Fetters of Dromi	Ring	Crest of Aubin

Engage

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Libération	Sword	Lumera and Alear
Misericorde	Knife	Veyle
Obscurité	Tome	Veyle, Sombron, Nel, and Rafal
Wille Glanz	Sword	Lumera and Alear

Heroes

Main article: Personal weapons/Fire Emblem Heroes

Warriors

In Fire Emblem Warriors, all personal weapons are E-Rank and aren't as powerful as the other weapons. With the exception of Chrom's Training Sword and Tiki's Tear, after using a specific scroll found in History Mode and performing 10,000 kills with the weapon, the weapon will be upgraded to the level of an A-Rank weapon. None of them can be used for Forging Material.

Weapon	Weapon type	Wielder
Enliron	Sword	Rowan and Lianna
Facinna	Sword	Rowan and Lianna
Yato	Sword	Corrin
Raijinto	Sword	Ryoma
Siegfried	Sword	Xander
Falchion	Sword	Chrom
Parallel Falchion	Sword	Lucina
Exalted Falchion	Sword	Marth
Lady Sword	Sword	Celica
Sol Katti	Sword	Lyn
Wo Dao	Sword	Navarre
Missiletainn	Sword	Owain
Olivia's Blade	Sword	Olivia
Chrom's Training Sword	Sword	Chrom
Risyl	Sword	Darios
Hinoka's Spear	Lance	Hinoka
Cordelia's Lance	Lance	Cordelia
Wing Spear	Lance	Caeda
Blessed Lance	Lance	Azura
Oboro's Spear	Lance	Oboro
Camilla's Axe	Axe	Camilla
Lissa's Axe	Axe	Lissa
Frederick's Axe	Axe	Frederick
Hauteclere	Axe	Minerva
Fujin Yumi	Bow	Takumi
Spellbane Yumi	Bow	Sakura
Anna's Bow	Bow	Anna
Niles's Bow	Bow	Niles
Brynhildr	Tome	Leo
Moonlight	Tome	Elise
Thoron	Tome	Robin
Aura	Tome	Linde
Tharja's Hex	Tome	Tharja
Grima's Truth	Tome	Validar
Iago's Tome	Tome	Iago
Imhullu	Tome	Gharnef
Divinestone	Stone	Tiki
Tiki's Tear	Stone	Tiki

Warriors: Three Hopes

The system remains the same as in Three Houses.

Weapon	Weapon type	Crest/Wielder
Sublime Creator Sword	Sword	Byleth, Sothis
Thunderbrand	Sword	Crest of Charon
Blutgang	Sword	Crest of the Beast
Sword of Seiros	Sword	Crest of Seiros
Sword of Begalta	Sword	Crest of Riegan
Sword of Moralta	Sword	Crest of Fraldarius
Areadbhar	Lance	Crest of Blaiddyd
Lúin	Lance	Crest of Daphnel
Spear of Assal	Lance	Crest of Cichol
Aymr	Axe	Crest of Seiros
Crusher	Axe	Crest of Dominic
Freikugel	Axe	Crest of Goneril
Axe of Ukonvasara	Axe	Crest of Gloucester
Labraunda	Axe	Crest of Seiros
Failnaught	Bow	Crest of Riegan
Tathlum Bow	Bow	Crest of Lamine
Vajra-Mushti	Gauntlets	Crest of Chevalier
Járngreipr	Gauntlets	Crest of Cichol
Suttungr's Mystery	Tome	Crest of Charon
Hrotti	Tome	Crest of Timotheos
Ichor Scroll	Tome	Crest of Lamine
Wind Caller's Genesis	Tome	Crest of Macuil
Amalthea	Tome	Crest of Cethleann
Aegis Shield	Shield	Crest of Fraldarius
Seiros Shield	Shield	Crest of Seiros
Ochain Shield	Shield	Crest of Cichol
Thyrsus	Staff	Crest of Gloucester
Caduceus Staff	Staff	Crest of Cethleann
Rafail Gem	Gem	Crest of Lamine
Fetters of Dromi	Ring	Crest of Aubin