Site News
Warning: This wiki contains spoilers. Read at your own risk!

Social media: If you would like, please join our Discord server, and/or follow us on Twitter (X) or Tumblr!

Personal weapons

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Revision as of 09:54, 28 July 2021 by PikaSamus (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "Ulir" to "Ullr")
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

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.

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.

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

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
Icestone Stone Tiki
Wyvernstone Stone Tiki

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 magic Major Thrud
Valflame Fire magic Major Fjalar
Mystletainn Sword Major Hezul
Gáe Bolg Lance Major Njörun
Helswath Axe Major Nál
Naga Light magic Major Naga
Forseti Wind magic Major Forseti
Loptous Dark Major Loptous
Weapon Weapon type Wielder
Miracle Sword Sword Gender: Female units
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Iron Ballista
Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Ballista
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Killer 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
File:Is snes03 earth sword.png Earth 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
Dragonpike Lance Deen, Altena
Brave Lance Lance Finn
Vouge Axe Osian, certain enemy units
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Enemy Iron Ballista units
Ballista Bow (Ballista) Enemy Ballista units
Poison Ballista Bow (Ballista) Enemy Poison Ballista units
Valflame Fire magic None*
Dire Thunder Thunder magic Olwen, Reinhardt
Mjölnir Thunder magic Ishtar*
Grafcalibur Wind magic Asbel
Forseti Wind magic Ced
Hel Dark magic Alphand, Veld, certain enemy units
Loptous Dark magic None*
Repair Staff Safy
Thief Staff Tina, certain enemy units
Unlock Staff Tina, certain enemy units
Kia Staff Sara

The Binding Blade

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
Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Long Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper

The Blazing Blade

Weapon Weapon type Wielder
Mani Katti Sword Classes: Lord*, Blade Lord
Sol Katti Sword Classes: Lord*, Blade Lord
Rapier Sword Classes: Lord*, Knight Lord
Durandal Sword Classes: Lord*, Knight Lord
Wo Dao Sword Classes: Blade Lord, Myrmidon, Swordmaster
Wolf Beil Axe Classes: Lord*, Great Lord
Armads Axe Classes: Lord*, Great Lord
Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Forblaze Anima magic Classes: Archsage
Flametongue Stone Classes: Fire Dragon

The Sacred Stones

Weapon Weapon type Wielder
Rapier Sword Classes: Lord*, Great Lord*
Sieglinde Sword Classes: Lord*, Great Lord*
Shamshir Sword Classes: Lord*, Great Lord*, Myrmidon,
Swordmaster, Assassin, Bonewalker, Wight
Reginleif Lance Classes: Lord*, Great Lord*
Siegmund Lance Classes: Lord*, Great Lord*
Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Fleet
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Fleet
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Fleet
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 (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper
Onager Bow (Ballista) 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 (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Iron Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Killer Ballista Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Onager Bow (Ballista) Classes: Archer, Sniper, Marksman
Cymbeline Fire magic Sanaki
Thani Light magic Micaiah
Creiddylad Light magic 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 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
Ganglari
(weaker version only)
Sword Corrin
Siegfried Sword Xander
Falchion Sword Marth
Ragnell Sword Ike
Parallel Falchion Sword Lucina
Yato Katana Corrin
Raijinto Katana Ryoma
Bölverk Axe Garon*
Arthur's Axe Axe Gender: Male units
Camilla's Axe Axe Gender: Female units
Fujin Yumi Yumi Takumi
Hair Pin Shuriken Gender: Female units
Nosferatu Tome Classes: Dark Mage, Sorcerer
Units possessing Shadowgift
Brynhildr Tome Leo
Missiletainn Tome Ophelia
Thoron Tome Robin
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 Relics.

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 Relics require a weapon level of A to use; unlike Heroes' Relics, however, units without Crests are not penalized for using them. All Sacred Relics 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 Relics have additional effects, but those are not tied to the posession of a Crest. All Sacred Relics 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

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

References

Game mechanics
Out-of-battle management Base (BarracksBase CampBase conversationEveryone's ConditionsExpeditionGarreg Mach Monastery (Abyss) • My CastleSomniel) • Bonus experienceDungeonsGameplay modes (DifficultyCreature CampaignNew Game +) • GoldLessonsMila ShrinesPeddlerPreparationsRenownShopping (ArmoryBargainsForgeItem shopMerchantOnline shopSecret shop) • Supply convoyWorld map
Battles and chapters ArenaBattle saveBossCastleChapter (Alternate routeParalogueSide quest) • ChestCombat forecastEvent tilesHidden treasureObjectivesReinforcementSkirmishTerrain (Hazards) • Turn (Turn rewind) • Weather (Fog of war) • Village
Stats Units ActionAffinityAuthorityBiorhythmCharmClass (Class masteryClass relative powerUnit type) • Constitution (Aid) • DefenseExperienceFollow-up critical multiplierGrowth rateHit pointHoly BloodInventoryLevelLuckMagicMovementProficiencyResistanceSkillSpeedStrengthWeapon levelWeight
Weapons Brave weaponCritical rateDurabilityHitKill bonusMightPersonal weaponsRangeWeapon experienceWeapon levelWeightWorth
Unit mechanics and commands AdjutantAttack (Counterattack) • Auto-BattleBattalion (Gambit) • CantoChain attackChain GuardClass change (Reclass) • Combat artCrestsDance (GaldrarPlaySing) • Death (Decoy) • DismountDragon VeinEmblem RingsFatigueInventoryLaguz transformationLove (JealousyInheritance) • Pair UpRallyRecruitmentRescue (Capture) • Skills (Offensive skill) • SmashStaggering BlowStatus effectsSupportTalkTradeUnit (AvatarBond unitsBonus unitEinherjarLoan unitPrisonerReplacement unitSubstitute character) • Visit
Calculations AttackAttack speedAvoidBonus damageCritical hit (Combination bonusDodgeTriangle Attack) • Hit rate (True hit) • Random number generatorWeapon triangle (Trinity of magic)
Connectivity amiiboData transferDouble DuelDownloadable contentLink ArenaMultiplayer battleOnline shopSpotPassStreetPass
Other BarrierBirthdayClass rollGlitchesMultiple endingsRankingsSound RoomTactician bonus