Aether Raids

Aether Raids (Japanese: 飛空城 Flying Sky Castle) is a game mode in Fire Emblem Heroes, introduced to the game on November 9, 2018. During Aether Raids events, players can create Aether Keeps with certain structures to attack and defend with certain teams to increase their lift.

Plot

Main article: Aether Raids/Script

As Anna stares at an Aether Keep in shock, Alfonse explains that the abandoned keep was first occupied by the first King of Askr, Líf. Anna is unsure on where the exact source of the information given to them came from, but Sharena rushes to Anna and Alfonse asking them what the destroyed object was used for. Alfonse looks in the partially burned down library and then explaining to Sharena that Askrans would once come to do battle high in the skies seeking power as a single goal, while using various offensive and defensive weapons. Sharena is excited to hear about the keep's weaponry and asks if there are any more around. Anna states that it will be looked at later as they explore the Aether Keep.

Gameplay

Aether Keep

Players can edit an Aether Keep (Japanese: 飛空城 Flying Sky Castle) and freely test their defensive map's structures without consuming Aether. Aether Keeps are split into two maps, the Defense Map for defending your keep and the Offense Map for attacking an opponents keep.

Battling

Players may use a resource named Aether (Japanese: エナジー Energy) that acts as stamina to participate in Aether Raids which restores a certain amount once each day and fully during the start of a new season. For every first battle each day, the Aether cost is 0, and the total cost of Aether to battle increases as your lift is raised higher.

Lift and Tiers

Your current tier is based upon your Lift which changes based on your attack and defense results. Using bonus characters in your team grants you +20 bonus to your Lift, but only one bonus character with the highest value is counted. If you lose the battle while attacking an opponent's Aether Keep, you'll acquire less Lift. Once you achieve tier 11, you will be able to unlock a 5th slot in your offensive teams for 300 Aether Stones. Furthermore, you can spend another 300 Aether Stones for a 5th slot in your defensive team. You can unlock a 6th slot for offensive teams on tier 19, once again for 300 Aether Stones.

Structures

Structures can be placed on any map to defend an Aether Keep or decorate, but some cannot be removed and/or destroyed. Other structures are available for a limited time, but the required items can be obtained during that time. Up to five structures (including the fort) can be carried when attacking an opponents Aether Keep.

Defense

These structures are used to help defenders of an Aether Keep.

List of Defensive structures
Image	Structure	Type	Cost	Description
	Armor School (D)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on armored foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Bolt Tower (D)		100 300 500	At the start of turn 3, deals 10/15/20 damage to foes within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure.
	Catapult (D)		100 300 500	At start of turn, destroys offensive structures within the same column as this structure if their level ≤ this structure's level. Note: Fortress (O) cannot be destroyed.
	Cavalry School (D)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on cavalry foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Flier School (D)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on flying foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Fortress (D)		0 500 1000 1500 2000	If structure's level > opponent's Fortress (O) level, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+X to all allies. (X = difference in level × 4). Note: Cannot be removed or destroyed.
	Healing Tower (D)		100 300 500	At start of turn, restores 10/15/20 HP to allies within 3 rows and 5 columns centered on structure.
	Infantry School (D)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on infantry foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Panic Manor (D)		100 300 500	At start of turn, if any foes are within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure and their HP ≤ 40/45/50, converts bonuses on those foes into penalties through their next actions.
	Tactics Room (D)		100 300 500	At start of turn, if any foes are within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure and their HP ≤ 40/45/50 and they use bow, dagger, magic, or staff, restricts those foes' movement to 1 space through their next actions.

Offense

These structures are used to help attackers of an Aether Keep.

List of Offensive structures
Image	Structure	Type	Cost	Description
	Armor School (O)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on armored foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Bolt Tower (O)		100 300 500	At the start of turn 3, deals 10/15/20 damage to foes within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure.
	Catapult (O)		100 300 500	At start of turn, destroys offensive structures within the same column as this structure if their level ≤ this structure's level. Note: Fortress (D) cannot be destroyed.
	Cavalry School (O)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on cavalry foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Flier School (O)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on flying foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Escape Ladder (O)		100 300 500	A lost battle's Aether cost will be returned. (If used on the first battle of the day, you'll be able to battle again without spending Aether.) May be used up to 1/2/3 times per season. Note: Cannot be destroyed.
	Fortress (O)		0 500 1000 1500 2000	If structure's level > opponent's Fortress (D) level, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+X to all allies. (X = difference in level × 4). Note: Cannot be removed or destroyed.
	Healing Tower (O)		100 300 500	At start of turn, restores 10/15/20 HP to allies within 5 rows and 5 columns centered on structure.
	Infantry School (O)		50 150 250	At start of turn, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def/Res-2/3/4 on infantry foes within 3 columns centered on structure through their next actions. Note: Only one school can be placed at a time.
	Panic Manor (O)		100 300 500	At start of turn, if any foes are within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure and their HP ≤ 40/45/50, converts bonuses on those foes into penalties through their next actions.
	Tactics Room (O)		100 300 500	At start of turn, if any foes are within 7 rows and 3 columns centered on structure and their HP ≤ 40/45/50 and they use bow, dagger, magic, or staff, restricts those foes' movement to 1 space through their next actions.

Trap

These traps trigger when an a foe ends movement on one.

List of Trap structures
Image	Structure	Type	Cost	Description
	Bolt Trap		0 100 300 500 700	If foe ends movement on this structure's space, deals 10/20/30/40/50 damage to target and units within 3 spaces. (Cancels foe's attack or Assist skill.)
	False Bolt Trap		0	This looks like a Bolt Trap, but it's just a fake.
	False Heavy Trap		0	This looks like a Heavy Trap, but it's just a fake.
	Heavy Trap		0 100 300 500 700	If foe ends movement on this structure's space, restricts movement of target and units within 2 spaces with HP ≤ 40/45/50/55/60 to 1 space through their next actions. (Cancels foe's attack and Assist skills.)

Resources

These structures store/restore Aether and can be restored to the attacker whenever one is destroyed (if the attacker wins).

Image	Structure	Type	Cost	Description
	Aether Amphorae		0 100 300	Stores up to 100/150/200 Aether. If destroyed in an attack, it restores Aether to the raiding party (if they win). Note: Cannot be removed. Can be destroyed.
	Aether Fountain		0 100 300	Restores 50/60/70 Aether to the Aether Keep each day. If destroyed in an attack, it restores Aether to the raiding party (if they win). Note: Cannot be removed. Can be destroyed.

Ornaments

These structures have no combat effects and are solely for decorating an Aether Keep.

Image	Structure	Type	Cost	Description
	Bronze Throne		0	A throne suitable only for those who have achieved a rank from 1 to 10000 in Aether Raids.
	Feh Kagami Mochi		500	Not the real Feh! It's a decoration that brings good luck for the New Year. It's an event item.
	Feh Statue		500	An objet d'art produced under the direct supervision of its model. It's an event item.
	Fireplace		500	If it's cold where you are, this item should help you feel a little bit warmer. It's an event item.
	Flower Bed		500	An arrangement of flowers in vivid colors. It's an event item.
	Golden Throne		0	A throne suitable only for those who have achieved a rank from 1 to 3000 in Aether Raids. From the second time onward, the number of times this feat has been achieved will be inscribed upon it.
	Silver Throne		0	A throne suitable only for those who have achieved a rank from 1 to 6000 in Aether Raids.
	Snow Family		500	It seems they're brother and sister. It's an event item.
	Street Lamp		500	A lamp in an elegant, classic design. It's an event item.

Terrain

Players can change the terrain of an Aether Keep, though some terrains require Aether Stone to unlock.

List of Terrain
Name	Thumbnail	Map
Springwater
Wintry
Abandoned Castle
Snowdust
Desert
Spring Breeze
Leafy Canopy
Lost Castle
Bright Grassland
Lava Floes

Rewards

Rank

Score	Reward
1–3,000	1 + 1 + 1 + 30
3,001–6,000	1 + 1 + 25
6,001–10,000	1 + 22
10,001–20,000	17
20,001–30,000	15
30,001–50,000	14
50,001–70,000	13
70,001–100,000	12
100,000–300,000	11
300,001+	10

AR Tier

AR Tier	Lift	Reward
1	0–399	10 + 10
2	200–799	20 + 10
3	800–1,199	30 + 10
4	1,200–1,599	40 + 10
5	1,600–1,999	50 + 10
6	2,000–2,399	60 + 10
7	2,400–2,799	70 + 12
8	2,800–3,199	80 + 14
9	3,200–3,599	90 + 16
10	3,600–3,999	100 + 18
11	4,000–4,399	110 + 20 (Fifth ally 300)
12	4,400–5,199	120 + 22
13	4,800–5,199	130 + 24
14	5,200–5,999	140 + 26
15	5,600–5,999	150 + 28
16	6,000–6,499	160 + 30
17	6,500–7,199	170 + 32
18	7,200–8,199	180 + 34
19	8,200–9,399	190 + 36 (Sixth ally 300)
20	9,400–10,999	200 + 38
21	11,000+	210 + 40

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Aether Raids	--
Japanese	飛空城	Flying Sky Castle
Spanish	Asaltos etéreos	Aether Assault
French	Raid céleste	Celestial Raid
German	Ätherraubzüge	Aether Raids
Italian	Blitz eteri	Aether Raids
Portuguese (Brazil)	Investidas etéreas	Ethereal assaults
Traditional Chinese	飛空城	Flying Sky Castle

Gallery

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  Background of Tropos

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  Background of Stratos

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  Background of Mesos

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  Background of Thermos

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  Background of Exos