Weapon triangle

“	Weapons possess a unique hierarchy: Swords best axes. Axes best lances. Lances best swords. This is called the weapon triangle.	”	— Weapon triangle guide in Shadow Dragon.

The weapon triangle (Japanese: 武器の相性 weapon compatibility or 武器の３すくみ weapon 3 deadlock) is a "rock-paper-scissors"-type mechanic introduced in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War 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: swords are more effective against axes but less effective against lances, 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 Fates, its last appearance in the main series.

While the weapon triangle affects most physical weapons, magical weapons are affected by the trinity of magic (Japanese: 魔法の３すくみ magic 3 deadlock). The trinity of magic first appeared alongside the weapon triangle in Genealogy of the Holy War, and made its last appearance in Radiant Dawn—the last game in the main series to sub-divide tomes into separate categories. The nature of the trinity of magic changes with the nature of tomes from game to game.

The weapon triangle was reorganized in Fire Emblem Fates to encompass almost all available weapon types. Every weapon has been given a color, with red weapons being effective against green weapons, green weapons against blue, and blue against red. Fire Emblem Heroes uses a similar system; every weapon is given a color, but introduces colorless weapons, which are completely unaffected by the weapon triangle.

The weapon triangle and the trinity of magic provide a bonus to the hit rate of the unit with advantage and a penalty to the unit with disadvantage; in some games, the weapon triangle can also increase or decrease units' weapon might or attack.

Overview

The weapon triangle was introduced in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. In its most basic and consistent form, swords are strong against axes, axes are strong against lances, and lances are strong against swords.

An equivalent to the weapon triangle for magic types—called the "Trinity of Magic"—was also introduced in Genealogy of the Holy War; though it is less common in the series, but typically in 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. The relationship between the light, dark, and anima magics is inconsistent, but in the most common form, light is strong against dark, dark is strong against anima, and anima is strong against light.

The weapon triangle was not significantly altered until Fire Emblem Fates, where sets of two weapon types are grouped into colors; in Fates, red weapons are effective against green weapons, green weapons are effective against blue weapons, and blue weapons are effective against red weapons. Fire Emblem Heroes retains the color relationship established in Fates, but changes some weapon types' color—for example, all daggers in Fates are blue weapons, but daggers in Heroes can be any color depending on the user.

Weapon triangle by game
Game	Weapon Triangle
Genealogy of the Holy War, Thracia 776	> > > > > > >
The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones	> > > > > >
Path of Radiance	> > > > > >
Radiant Dawn	> > > > > > > > >
Shadow Dragon, New Mystery of the Emblem	> > >
Awakening	> > >
Fates	> > >
Engage	> > > >
Heroes	Red weapons > Green weapons > Blue weapons > Red weapons
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE	> > >
Warriors	> > >
Warriors: Three Hopes	> > > > > >
The greater-than sign (>) denotes "is strong against"; e.g. " > " means "swords are strong against axes".

Weapon triangle bonuses

A unit with weapon triangle advantage has one the following sets of values added to their respective stats, while one with weapon triangle disadvantage has one of the sets subtracted from their respective stats instead. Additionally, if a unit suffers weapon triangle disadvantage, their weapon level bonuses are negated during the battle.

In The Binding Blade through Radiant Dawn, the attack bonus/penalty applied by the weapon triangle affects weapon might, which is factored into bonus damage, rather than the final attack stat, which is not.

From Shadow Dragon onward, the bonuses gained or penalties inflicted by the weapon triangle are dependent on the weapon level of the unit with weapon triangle advantage.

Weapon triangle bonuses/penalties by game
Game	Weapon level of unit with triangle advantage
	E	D	C	B	A	S
Genealogy of the Holy War	✗		Hit rate ±20%			✗
Thracia 776	Hit rate ±5%					✗
The Binding Blade	Hit rate ±10%, Weapon might ±1
The Blazing Blade	Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
The Sacred Stones	Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
Path of Radiance	Hit rate ±10%, Weapon might ±1
Radiant Dawn	Hit rate ±10%, Weapon might ±1
Shadow Dragon	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%		Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	✗
New Mystery of the Emblem	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%		Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	✗
Awakening	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1	✗
Fates	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±20%, Attack ±2

In Heroes, the weapon triangle boosts the attack of the unit with advantage by 20%, while reducing the attack of the unit with disadvantage by 20% as well.

In Engage, when a unit initiates combat with weapon triangle advantage and damages their foe, the foe is inflicted with break; however, armored units are immune to break from weapon triangle.

Items and skills affecting the weapon triangle

This list may be incomplete.

Weapons and skills affecting the weapon triangle
	Item	Effect	Games
	Lancereaver	Inverts the weapon triangle. In The Blazing Blade and The Sacred Stones, also doubles its effects.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors, Engage
	Axereaver	Inverts the weapon triangle. In The Blazing Blade and The Sacred Stones, also doubles its effects.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
	Swordreaver	Inverts the weapon triangle. In The Blazing Blade and The Sacred Stones, also doubles its effects.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
	Swordslayer	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Dual Katana	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates, Engage
	Dual Naginata	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Club	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Shuriken	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Yumi	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Calamity Gate	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Arms Shield	Reduces damage taken if the user has weapon triangle advantage.	Engage
	Triangle Adept	User or foe makes a guaranteed follow-up attack if they have weapon triangle advantage.*/Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).*	Engage, Heroes
	Ruby Sword	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Whitewing Blade	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Silverbrand	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Fólkvangr (refined, +effect)	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Panther Sword	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Rauðrraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Naglfar	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Eternal Tome	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Sapphire Lance	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Bull Spear	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Blárraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Tactical Bolt	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Emerald Axe	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Draconic Poleax	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Gronnraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Tactical Gale	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Trilemma	Inflicts a status effect on enemies that doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to the enemies's attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Cancel Affinity	Negates weapon triangle affinity effects of user's skills, negates/reverses weapon triangle affinity effects of foe's skills.	Heroes

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Weapon triangle	--
Japanese	• 武器の相性 • 武器の３すくみ	• Weapon compatibility • Weapon 3 deadlock
Spanish	Triángulo de las armes	Triangle of the weapons
French	Triangle des armes	Triangle of the weapons
German	Waffen-Dreieck	Weapon triangle
Italian	Triangolo delle armi	Triangle of the weapons