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The Face Beneath: Difference between revisions

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===Enemy data===
===Enemy data===
:''On Maddening, some stats are separated by a '~'. The stats to the left of the ~ are taken during Chapter 15, the earliest possible point where this paralogue may be undertaken; the stats to the right of the ~ are taken from Chapter 16 and later, at which point the enemies gain three levels.''
:''On Maddening, some stats are separated by a '~'. The stats to the left of the ~ are taken during Chapter 15, the earliest possible point where this paralogue may be undertaken; the stats to the right of the ~ are taken from Chapter 16 and later, at which point the enemies gain three levels.
:Every non-[[monster]] enemy other than the [[Death Knight]] begins moving after any unit enters the central forested area.''
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:Every non-[[monster]] enemy other than the [[Death Knight]] begins moving after any unit enters the central forested area.


====Reinforcements====
====Reinforcements====

Revision as of 21:08, 17 June 2021

The Face Beneath

Cm fe16 the face beneath.png

Location

Sealed Forest

Boss(es)

Death Knight

How many years has it been since we last spoke? I'm so sorry... I should have come back for you sooner... I'm sure it wasn't pleasant living in House Bartels.
— Mercedes

The Face Beneath (Japanese: 隠された素顔 Hidden Face) is a paralogue chapter in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It is available from Chapter 15 to Chapter 16 Silver Snow/Chapter 19 Azure Moon/Chapter 17 Verdant Wind and is unavailable on the Crimson Flower route. In order to attempt this paralogue, the player must have recruited Mercedes and Caspar and neither must have fallen in battle previously.

Plot

Main article: The Face Beneath/Script

Caspar reports that Imperial forces have been spotted in the Sealed Forest led by the Death Knight, and an apprehensive Mercedes reveals that she has been thinking about her younger brother Emile. Byleth leads their forces into the forest to drive off the Death Knight. In the forest, Mercedes confronts the Death Knight and asks him to remove his helmet, believing that he is Emile. Imperial reinforcements arrive and order the Death Knight to help them fight Byleth's forces, but the Death Knight refuses, citing a lack of interest in fighting.

Byleth and their companions defeat the Imperial soldiers. Afterwards, Mercedes asks the Death Knight to join their cause, and the Death Knight asks Mercedes to leave Garreg Mach Monastery; neither sibling is willing to back down. The Death Knight gives Mercedes the Heroes' Relic of House Bartels, the Rafail Gem; if Caspar defeated him, he also gifts him his Scythe of Sariel. The Death Knight vows to kill Mercedes the next time they meet before departing. Mercedes blames his upbringing in House Bartels for his current psychotic nature and believes that there is still a kind man within him.

Beginning log

Whispers of Death Knight sightings in Garreg Mach excite Caspar, but Mercedes has a much more pensive reaction. Something must be on her mind...

Chapter data

Normal Hard Maddening

Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Rout all enemies except the Death Knight Player Partner Other Enemy
Defeat: Byleth or Dimitri Azure Moon/Claude Verdant Wind dies*, or Mercedes or Caspar dies 11 {{{partner}}} {{{other}}} 20+6

Preparations Battle

Cm fe16 the face beneath.png

Character data

Silver Snow Silver Snow Azure Moon Azure Moon Verdant Wind Verdant Wind

Characters
New units

None

Available characters
Byleth f 02 ​Ferdinand 02 ​Linhardt 02 ​Caspar 02 ​Bernadetta 02 ​Dorothea 02 ​Petra 02 ​Felix 02 ​Sylvain 02 ​Mercedes 02 ​Annette 02 ​Ingrid 02 ​Raphael 02 ​Ignatz 02 ​Lysithea 02 ​Marianne 02 ​Leonie 02 ​Yuri 02 ​Balthus 02 ​Constance 04 ​Hapi 02 ​Anna ​Shamir ​Hanneman ​Manuela ​Alois ​Flayn ​Seteth ​Catherine ​Cyril 02 ​Hilda 02 ​
Other characters may be available if the paralogue is attempted later.

Item data

Items
Name Obtainment Method
Is ns01 ore.png Umbral Steel Open the southeast chest
Is ns01 seal.png Dark Seal Dropped by the Death Knight
Is ns01 ring.png Accuracy Ring Steal from the Death Knight
Is ns01 potion.png Elixir Steal from the Death Knight
Is ns01 battalion infantry silver.png Church Soldiers Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 battalion infantry silver.png Bergliez War Group Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 gem relic.png Rafail Gem Automatically at the end of the chapter
Is ns01 lance black.png Scythe of Sariel At the end of the chapter if Caspar defeated the Death Knight

Enemy data

On Maddening, some stats are separated by a '~'. The stats to the left of the ~ are taken during Chapter 15, the earliest possible point where this paralogue may be undertaken; the stats to the right of the ~ are taken from Chapter 16 and later, at which point the enemies gain three levels.
Every non-monster enemy other than the Death Knight begins moving after any unit enters the central forested area.

Normal Hard Maddening

Enemy Units
Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Dex Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Ma ns01 hero enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Hero 29 5 43 19 10 12 21 11 17 8 12 5 Silver Sword
Swordfaire Vantage
• The southern two both begin moving if either is provoked.
• The northern two both begin moving if either of them or the nearby Bishop is provoked.
Ma ns01 fortress knight enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Fortress Knight 29 3 45 17 10 12 2 10 32 7 12+3 4 Silver Axe
Axefaire Weight -5
Empire Armored Co. Lv 5: Impregnable Wall
The middle two both begin moving if either is provoked.
Ma ns01 dark mage enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Dark Mage 29 1 29 10 15 11 15 8 6 14 11 4 Banshee Θ Miasma Δ
Miasma Δ Heartseeker
--
Ma ns01 dark mage enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Dark Mage 29 1 30 10 13 8 7 8 5 14 11+5 4 Banshee Θ Miasma Δ Mire Β
Miasma Δ Heartseeker
Empire Magic Users Lv 5: Resonant Flames
Begins moving if a nearby Sniper is provoked.
Ma ns01 sniper enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Sniper 29 3 35 18 10 24 15 13 13 8 12 5 Silver Bow
Bowfaire Bowrange +1
The central two both begin moving if either of them or the nearby Dark Mage is provoked.
Ma ns01 dark knight enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Dark Knight 29 1 39 16 19 16 15 12 15 19 12 7 Mire Β
Canto Black Tomefaire Dark Tomefaire
--
Ma ns01 bishop enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Bishop 29 1 36 11 17 13 15 10 12 22 13+3 4 Seraphim Physic
White Magic Uses x2 White Magic Heal +10 Terrain Resistance
Empire Magic Corps Lv 5: Group Flames
Begins moving if a nearby Hero is provoked.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 48
48
72
20 11 17 8 0 10 9 0 4 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness sword.png Weak to Swords.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 48
48
72
20 11 17 8 0 10 9 0 4 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness lance.png Weak to Lances.
Ma ns01 giant wolf enemy.gif Giant Wolf Giant Wolf 29 1 40
40
16 2 12 17 12 8 4 0 6 Dark Stone (Wolf)
Pass Defiant Crit Enclosing Wall Keen Intuition Defiant Avo Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Cyclone
Is ns01 weakness sword.png Weak to Swords.
Ma ns01 wild demonic beast enemy.gif Wild Demonic Beast Wild Demonic Beast 29 1 48
48
72
20 11 17 8 0 10 9 0 4 Cracked Crest Stone
Poison Poison Strike Barrier Vital Defense Heartseeker Latent; active starting from health bar 2
Poison Breath
Is ns01 weakness axe.png Weak to Axes.
Ma ns01 death knight enemy.gif Death Knight Death Knight 31 1 49 25 17 14 22 12 21 18 6+1 7 Scythe of Sariel Accuracy Ring Elixir Dark SealThis item is dropped upon this unit's defeat.
Murderous Intent Canto Lancefaire Commander Counterattack Mastermind Poison Strike Lance Prowess Lv 5
Reaper Knights Lv 5: Assault Troop
• Starts on a heal tile +.
• Immobile until fought.
Reinforcements
Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Dex Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Ma ns01 dark knight enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Dark Knight 29 2 39 16 19 16 15 12 15 19 12 7 Mire Β
Canto Black Tomefaire Dark Tomefaire
--
Ma ns01 hero enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Hero 29 2 43 19 10 12 21 11 17 8 12 5 Silver Sword
Swordfaire Vantage
--
Ma ns01 sniper enemy.gif Imperial Soldier Sniper 29 2 35 18 10 24 15 13 13 8 12 5 Silver Bow
Bowfaire Bowrange +1
--

Reinforcements

  • On turn 10, or after any player unit other than Mercedes or Caspar ending their turn within three tiles of Mercedes or Caspar; on Maddening, these can move the turn they appear

Boss data

On Maddening, some stats are separated by a '~'. The stats to the left of the ~ are taken during Chapter 15, the earliest possible point where this paralogue may be undertaken; the stats to the right of the ~ are taken from Chapter 16 and later, at which point this boss gains three levels.
Main article: Death Knight

Normal Hard Maddening

Strategy

This section details unofficial strategies that may help with completion of the chapter. This may not work for everybody.

The Rafail Gem obtained from this paralogue is a Hero's Relic associated with the Crest of Lamine; it negates bonus damage and critical hits against the bearer. Enemies wielding effective weapons other than bows is uncommon in Three Houses, and cavalry and flying classes can dismount on their turn without sacrificing their chance to move or make an attack. Enemies with high-crit weapons are also uncommon, though the crit-negation may be useful on a unit with particularly low luck who consistently face a low crit chance against many common enemies.

One of this paralogue's potential rewards is the Scythe of Sariel; it is the most accurate lance in the game with 100 hit, and has high might, high crit, and low weight, but requires A-level in lances. If the Scythe is obtained, the Death Knight will not have it in his later encounters, instead using a Brave Lance; if the Death Knight cannot be reliably one-shot, it may be better to not obtain the lance—even with the fairly heavy Brave Lance, the Death Knight is fast enough to attack many units four times, and the Rafail Gem obtained from this paralogue will negate critical hits outright. Alternately, the Scythe's high crit, especially in conjunction with Wrath and Vantage, can be used as a somewhat reliable way to defeat the Death Knight.

In order to obtain the Scythe of Sariel, Caspar must be the one to defeat the Death Knight. In order to one-shot the Death Knight, a unit would need (on Normal/Hard/Madding after Chapter 15) 73/83/99 physical attack or 68/77/96 magical attack; Caspar has boons and high base skill levels in axes and gauntlets, neither of which have weapons or combat arts effective against cavalry, with one exception. The axe art War Master's Strike, learned by mastering War Master, is effective against all units, including cavalry; however, War Master is a master class and mastering it may take some time, even with each of the saint statues' boosts. To two-shot him, a unit would need 49/56/67 physical attack or 44/50/64 magical attack, and 21/27/37 attack speed. Caspar can ignore the attack speed requirement with gauntlets, a brave weapon, or one of three combat arts which strike consecutively: Bombard, Fierce Iron Fist, or Hunter's Volley—each art also increased crit by 10. Hunter's Volley is the art Caspar is least likely to learn, as it requires mastering Sniper, and Caspar's weakness in bows makes it harder for him to reach the requirements for the class; it is the only art of three to increase hit, though with Caspar's Born Fighter, it is only a net increase of 5 points compared to the other two arts. Bows generally have similar hit to gauntlets, but usually have higher might. Caspar can learn Bombard at C+ brawling, but it only adds 3 might to each strike when gauntlets already strike twice. Fierce Iron Fist also adds little might, but it strikes three times—when striking thrice, Caspar needs 41/47/57 physical attack, or 36/41/54 magical attack with the Aura Knuckles; additionally, as Fierce Iron Fist strikes thrice, it is the art with which Caspar is the most likely to get at least one crit, potentially allowing him to defeat the Death Knight without meeting the three-shot requirement. If Caspar was not significantly invested into, he is unlikely to be able to defeat the Death Knight alone.

With his goal set to lances, Caspar can reach D lances in only a few weeks—even less time with instruction and seminars—which allows him to use the Horseslayer and learn Tempest Lance; at base strength using Tempest Lance and a Horseslayer, Caspar will deal 6 damage to the Death Knight on Maddening. If Caspar reaches C lances—which requires more investment than D but is still feasible—he will learn the Knightkneeler combat art; at base strength using the Lance of Ruin and Knightkneeler, Caspar will deal 23 damage to the Death Knight on Maddening. Caspar will not be able to defeat the Death Knight without help this way, but he can reliably defeat him. If Caspar has not been invested into, the Death Knight can be weakened to 1 HP and Caspar can deal the last point of damage; on Normal and Hard, with his stats and skill levels as they are when he is first recruited in the Black Eagles, Caspar can deal at least 1 damage with Freikugel or a Devil Axe and Smash—on Maddening, he needs one point of strength from base to deal 1 damage with Freikugel and Smash. Weakening the Death Knight may be difficult, as Commander reduces the damage of gambits and Counterattack does not allow ranged attackers to avoid damage. The Windsweep sword combat art, learned by Byleth and Dimitri at A and Yuri at C+, can prevent a counter attack, or the Subdue sword art, learned by mastering Lord, can leave the Death Knight at 1 HP; both arts can be used with the cavalry-effective Rapier.

One final potential strategy to defeat the Death Knight can be used if Caspar's recruitment is delayed until Chapter 12. If recruited in Chapter 12 and certified as a Warrior, Caspar has 35 attack with the Smash combat art, and needs 41/47/57 attack to kill the Death Knight with a single critical hit. On Normal and Hard, the Killer Axe+ provides enough might to reach the threshold; on Maddening, the Freikugel has enough might to ensure a critical kills, although the Axe of Ukonvasara provides more crit chance and the 3 points needed to reach the one-shot threshold can be granted by a battalion.

Disregarding the Death Knight, the rest of the battle is a fairly straightforward rout map. Most enemies move in relatively small groups, and can be lured and fought with little risk of being overwhelmed. However, the Sniper reinforcements from the north can pose a significant threat to Mercedes and Caspar. The reinforcements will appear on turn 10, or if any other player unit enters within two tiles of Mercedes or Caspar; moving a unit north to aid them could potentially put them in more danger, so it is best to move Mercedes and Caspar south towards other units.

Trivia

  • The various spaces of "rock" terrain that can be seen on the map are actually the destroyed bodies of Golems.
  • If zoom view is used to observe the northern cliff, one can find a rock bearing the Crest of Flames.
  • This is the only chapter where, as an enemy, the Death Knight's level increases with the difficulty. In all other chapters, his stats increase with difficulty while his level remains the same.
  • The in-game dialogue and text hinting how to obtain the Scythe of Sariel in this paralogue is present only in Normal difficulty.

Etymology and other languages

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

The Face Beneath

--

Spanish

El enmascarado

The masked

French

Quand le masque tombe

When the mask falls

German

Das verborgene Antlitz

The hidden Face

Italian

Dietro la maschera

Behind the mask

Korean

감춰진 얼굴

Hidden face

Simplified Chinese

藏起来的真面目

Hidden identity

Traditional Chinese

藏起來的真面目

Hidden identity

Gallery

References

The Face Beneath
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Playable characters Black Eagles BernadettaCasparDorotheaEdelgardFerdinandHubertLinhardtPetra
Blue Lions AnnetteAsheDedueDimitriFelixIngridMercedesSylvain
Golden Deer ClaudeHildaIgnatzLeonieLorenzLysitheaMarianneRaphael
Other AloisAnnaDLCBylethCatherineCyrilFlaynGilbertHannemanJeritzaManuelaSetethShamir
Ashen WolvesDLC BalthusConstanceHapiYuri
Non-playable characters AbysskeeperDLCDuke AegirFlecheGatekeeperDuke GerthIonius IXJeraltJudithLadislavaNaderRandolphRheaRodrigueSothis
Bosses AcheronAelfricDLCAloisLord ArundelBiasBlaiddydCasparCatherineCharonChilonClaudeCorneliaDaphnelDedueDeath KnightDimitriDominicBaron DominicEdelgardFelixFerdinandFlame EmperorFlaynFraldariusGautierGloucesterGonerilGwendalHubertIngridThe Immaculate OneThe ImmovableJudithKostasKronyaLadislavaLamineLinhardtLonatoLorenzMercedesMetodeyMiklanMysonNaderNemesisBaron OchsDLCOdessePallardóPittacusRandolphRheaRieganRodrigueSetethShamirSolonSylvainThalesWandering BeastThe Wind Caller
Background characters Lord ArundelCount BergliezCorneliaMargrave GautierGlennCount GloucesterCount HevringHolstLambertMonicaPatriciaRufusSeirosSitriTomasTianaCount Varley
Personal weapons and regalia Aegis ShieldAreadbharAsclepiusAthameAxe of UkonvasaraAymrBlutgangCaduceus StaffCirce StaffCrusherFailnaughtFetters of DromiFreikugelThe InexhaustibleLance of RuinLúinOchain ShieldRafail GemScythe of SarielSeiros ShieldSpear of AssalSword of BegaltaSword of MoraltaSword of SeirosSword of the CreatorTathlum BowThunderbrandThyrsusVajra-Mushti
Chapters Part I
White Clouds
P: An Inevitable Encounter • 1: Three Houses • 2: Familiar Scenery • 3: Mutiny in the Mist • 4: The Goddess's Rite of Rebirth • 5: Tower of Black Winds • 6: Rumors of a Reaper • 7: Field of the Eagle and Lion • 8: The Flame in the Darkness • 9: The Cause of Sorrow • 10: Where the Goddess Dwells • 11: Throne of Knowledge • 12: To War Black Eagles, if Byleth sides against EdelgardBlue LionsGolden Deer / Outset of a Power Struggle Black Eagles, if Byleth sides with Edelgard
Part II Silver Snow
Silver Snow
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: A King Without a Kingdom • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: The Impregnable Fortress • 18: The Chaos of War • 19: Conclusion of the Crossing Roads • 20: The City Without Light • 21: Following a Dream
Azure Moon
Azure Moon
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: The Delusional Prince • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: Blood of the Eagle and Lion • 18: The King's Triumphant Return • 19: The Golden Deer's Plea • 20: The Impregnable Fortress • 21: Our Chosen Paths • 22: Oath of the Dagger
Verdant Wind
Verdant Wind
13: Reunion at Dawn • 14: The Alliance Leader's Ambitions • 15: Valley of Torment • 16: The Rose-Colored River • 17: Blood of the Eagle and Lion • 18: The Golden Scheme • 19: The Chaos of War • 20: Conclusion of the Crossing Roads • 21: The City Without Light • 22: Fódlan's New Dawn
Crimson Flower
Crimson Flower
13: Beyond Escape • 14: The Master Tactician • 15: Tempest of Swords and Shields • 16: Lady of Deceit • 17: Field of Revenge • 18: To the End of a Dream
Paralogues Paralogues Part I Black Market SchemeDLCA Cursed RelicDLCDeath TollDividing the World Black Eagles, if Byleth sides against EdelgardBlue LionsGolden DeerFalling Short of HeavenThe ForgottenLand of the Golden DeerAn Ocean ViewOil and WaterRumored NuptialsThe Secret MerchantDLC Blue LionsGolden DeerSword and Shield of SeirosTales of the Red CanyonTrue ChivalryWar for the Weak Blue Lions
Part II Darkness Beneath the Earth Crimson FlowerDividing the World Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindEternal Guardian Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindThe Face Beneath Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindForeign Land and SkyForgotten HeroInsurmountable Crimson FlowerLegend of the LakeRetribution Silver SnowAzure MoonVerdant WindThe Secret MerchantDLC Crimson FlowerThe Silver Maiden Azure MoonThe Sleeping Sand Legend Verdant WindWeathervanes of Fódlan Azure Moon
Cindered Shadows
Cindered Shadows
1: The Fourth House • 2: What Lies Beneath • 3: The Rite of Rising • 4: Danger in the Dark • 5: Betrayal • 6: Return to Me • 7: Wolf Pack
Locations FódlanAdrestiaFaerghusGarreg Mach Monastery (Abyss) • LeicesterAlmyraBrigidDagdaSrengZahras
Groups, objects and concepts 10 ElitesAshen WolvesBlack Eagles (Black Eagle Strike Force) • Blue LionsChildren of the GoddessChurch of Seiros (Knights of Seiros) • Crests (Crest Stone) • Divine PulseGolden DeerHeroes' RelicsInsurrection of the SevenMonstersThose who slither in the darkTragedy of DuscurWar of Heroes
Lists AbilitiesChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItems (Monastery items) • QuestsScriptsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Music LibraryName chart • Other games (Warriors: Three Hopes) • Pre-release informationUnused contentDownloadable contentClass mastery