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Weapon triangle

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Revision as of 12:50, 20 May 2020 by Salron (talk | contribs) (→‎Weapon triangle bonuses: Follow up on my last edit to this page, I have confirmed that in FE12 also, the ±1 attack bonus granted by WT advantage is only at A rank, not at B/A ranks)
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.

Weapons in the Fire Emblem series have been arranged into a few different categories. In earlier games, such as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, there are three basic weapons: swords, axes, and lances. This also introduces the way weapons work. Each weapon has a strength and weakness in the triangle.

Ss fe11 weapon triangle diagram.gif

The weapon triangle (Japanese: 武器の相性 weapon compatibility or 武器の3すくみ), as the game refers to it (first in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War), is in a "rock-paper-scissors" format. 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 effective against lances but less effective against swords.

However, a character with a sword can still defeat an enemy with a lance, and the same holds for the other weapons. Not to mention, there are weapons that reverse the triangle such as a Lancereaver (a type of sword).

Although the weapon triangle does affect damage, it does not necessarily determine the outcome of a battle. It merely determines the strength of the weapon and the chance the unit can hit his or her opponent.

The weapon triangle has been reorganized slightly in Fire Emblem Fates, to encompass almost all available weapon types: Swords and tomes are effective against axes and Bows, axes and bows are effective against lances and daggers, and lances and daggers are effective against swords and magic.[1]

For the first time since Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, the weapon triangle did not reappear in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.

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.

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

style="Template:Roundt; border:none" width="70%" colspan="8"|Weapon triangle bonuses/penalties by game
style="Template:Roundtl; border:none; background-color:#222222;" width="15%" rowspan="2"| Game style="Template:Roundtr; border:none; background-color:#222222" width="60%" colspan="6"| Weapon level of unit with triangle advantage
Genealogy of the Holy War[2] Hit rate ±20%
Thracia 776[3] Hit rate ±5%
The Binding Blade[4] Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
The Blazing Blade[5] Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1
The Sacred Stones[6] Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1
Path of Radiance[7] Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Radiant Dawn[8] Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Shadow Dragon[9] Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
New Mystery of the Emblem[10] Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Awakening[11] Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1 Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1
style="Template:Roundbl; border:none; background-color:#222222"| Fates Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1 Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1 style="Template:Roundbr; border:none; background-color:#222222"| 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.

Items and skills affecting the weapon triangle

This list may be incomplete.
style="Template:Roundtl; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Weapons and skills affecting the weapon triangle
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 gba lancereaver.png Lancereaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba axereaver.png Axereaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba swordreaver.png Swordreaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba swordslayer.png Swordslayer Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
Is 3ds02 katana.png Dual Katana Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 naginata.png Dual Naginata Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 club.png Dual Club Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 shuriken.png Dual Shuriken Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 yumi.png Dual Yumi Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 scroll.png Calamity Gate Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is feh ruby sword.png Ruby Sword Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh whitewing blade.png Whitewing Blade Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh silverbrand.png Silverbrand Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh fólkvangr.png Fólkvangr (refined, +effect) Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh panther sword.png Panther Sword Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh rauðrraven closed.png Rauðrraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh naglfar closed.png Naglfar Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh eternal tome closed.png Eternal Tome Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh sapphire lance.png Sapphire Lance Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh bull spear.png Bull Spear Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh blárraven closed.png Blárraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh tactical bolt closed.png Tactical Bolt Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh emerald axe.png Emerald Axe Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh draconic poleax.png Draconic Poleax Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh gronnraven closed.png Gronnraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh tactical gale closed.png Tactical Gale Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh trilemma.png Trilemma Inflicts a status effect on enemies that doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to the enemies's attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh triangle adept 1.pngIs feh triangle adept 2.pngIs feh triangle adept 3.png Triangle Adept Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh cancel affinity 1.pngIs feh cancel affinity 2.pngIs feh cancel affinity 3.png 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

--

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

References

See also

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)
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