Dark Emperor

Dark Emperor

Location Millennium Court New units Midia Boss(es) Hardin Previous chapter(s) The Last Decisive Battle Next chapter(s) The Wyvern's Dale Bottom of the Deep Abyss

Dark Emperor (Japanese: 暗黒皇帝 The Dark Emperor) is the twentieth chapter of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem and Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem.

Plot

Main articles: Dark Emperor/Script and Dark Emperor/Conversations

Marth and his allies break into the Archanean castle. Jagen reminds him that whoever wants to defeat Hardin must hold the Lightsphere to counter the effects of the Darksphere. In the castle, Midia has been captured, and Hardin tells her that the world is better off without humans. While fighting the enemy troops, Marth speaks to Hardin. Marth tries to get Hardin to see some reason, saying that the Darksphere has consumed his mind. He responds that he despised Marth in the previous war, and hated the decision of Nyna to give Marth the Fire Emblem. He remains convinced that he will kill Marth.

After Hardin is defeated, he returns to his old self for a brief moment. He laments how he couldn't fight the Darksphere's influence, and asks for forgiveness. He begs Marth to save Nyna, whom he loved until the very end. The four abducted princesses suddenly show up, with Nyna expressing her happiness at Marth's return. However, it turns out to be a trick by Gharnef, and the Binding Shield, which is now complete with the addition of the Darksphere, removes the disguises. Gharnef is surprised and signals for a retreat, saying that the Shadow Dragon must be revived. Gotoh then appears in the castle, and applauds Marth for his efforts in restoring the Binding Shield. He warns that the earth dragons will soon rise and cause a cataclysm, and tells Marth to go and seal the dragons before it's too late.

Chapter data

Mystery of the Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat: Marth dies	12+1	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	32+20	{{{third}}}

When a unit acts within the throne room, the southeast door is opened and the covered area revealed. A unit ending their turn in the area will not cause the door to open, they must actively wait, attack, use a staff, etc.

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat: Marth dies	13	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	28+16	{{{third}}}

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Character data

Mystery of the Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem

Characters

New Units

Midia Paladin HP 28 Inventory -- Level 16 Automatically from turn 1

Returning Characters

Characters

New Units

Midia Paladin HP 35 Inventory -- Level 12 Automatically from turn 1

Returning Characters

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Item data

Mystery of the Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem

Items

Name Obtainment Method Ladyblade Northernmost chest 10,000 G Uppermost treasure room chest Orion's Bolt Upper-middle treasure room chest Knight Crest Lower-middle treasure room chest Skydrake Whip Lower-left treasure room chest Bishop's Ring Lower-right treasure room chest Devil Sword Southernmost chest Gradivus Dropped by Hardin Darksphere Dropped by Hardin Binding Shield Immediately formed after obtaining the Darksphere if the Lightsphere, Starsphere, Geosphere, and Lifesphere were also obtained; consumes each orb

Items

Name Obtainment Method Brave Axe Northernmost chest Bullion (L) Uppermost treasure room chest Brave Sword Upper-middle treasure room chest Master Seal Lower-middle treasure room chest Anew Lower-left treasure room chest Brave Lance Lower-right treasure room chest Brave Bow Southernmost chest Master Key Dropped by a Thief Fortify Dropped by a Bishop Vulnerary Dropped by a Hero x2 Recover Dropped by a Bishop Gradivus Dropped by Hardin Darksphere Dropped by Hardin Binding Shield Immediately formed after obtaining the Darksphere if the Lightsphere, Starsphere, Geosphere, and Lifesphere were also obtained; consumes each orb

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Enemy data

Enemy data

Mystery of the Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem

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Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Cha Con Mov Inventory and Skills Thief Thief 20 1 27 8 9 17 -- 7 0 7 Iron Sword • Outside the castle during preparations, opens the front door and enters the castle during the opening. • Ignores combat; moves to opent chests, then escape to the south Bodyguard Hero 20 3 45 15 16 18 -- 16 3 7 Silver Sword Moves to attack units in range. Bodyguard Hero 20 2 45 15 16 18 -- 16 3 7 Swordslayer Moves to attack units in range. Bodyguard Sniper 20 4 47 13 17 18 -- 13 3 7 Silver Bow • The one west of Hardin does not move, and does not attack until a unit acts in the throne room. • All other ones move to attack units in range. Bodyguard Knight 1 2 18 6 2 0 -- 11 0 5 Steel Lance Do not move, and do not attack until a unit acts in the throne room. Bodyguard General 20 3 52 17 12 9 -- 20 3 5 Javelin • Moves to attack units in range. • The initially covered one does not act until revealed. Bodyguard Mage 20 3 24 5 7 5 -- 6 11 6 Bolganone • The one east of Hardin does not move, and does not attack until a unit acts in the throne room. • All other ones move to attack units in range. Bodyguard Mage 20 2 24 5 7 5 -- 6 11 6 Thoron Moves to attack units in range. Bodyguard Bishop 20 1 34 9 11 7 -- 8 18 6 Bolganone Does not move; does not attack until a unit acts in the throne room. Bodyguard Bishop 20 3 34 9 11 7 -- 8 18 6 Meteor Does not move. Bodyguard Bishop 20 2 34 9 11 7 -- 8 18 6 Swarm • Does not move. • The initially covered one does not act until revealed. Bodyguard Bishop 20 3 34 9 11 7 -- 8 18 6 Fortify The initially covered one does not act until revealed. Earth Dragon Earth Dragon 1 1 52 10 0 0 -- 15 15 5 Dark Breath Moves to attack units in range. Dark Bishop Dark Mage 20 1 34 9 7 5 -- 12 16 6 Dulam Moves to attack units in range. Hardin Emperor 1 1 50 20 20 20 -- 20 20 5 Gradivus • Darksphere Does not move; stands on a throne, the chapter's seize point.

Reinforcements

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Cha Con Mov Inventory and Skills Bodyguard Hero 10 10 37 12 14 16 -- 13 3 7 Silver Sword -- Bodyguard Sniper 10 5 39 11 14 15 -- 11 3 7 Silver Bow -- Bodyguard Mage 10 5 20 3 4 4 -- 4 7 6 Bolganone --

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # Inventory and Skills Notes Archanea Thief 20 1 Levin Sword • Master Key -- Archanea Hero 15 1 Silver Sword Will not move until conversation with Hardin. Archanea Hero 15 1 Silver Axe Will not move until conversation with Hardin. Archanea Hero 15 2 Silver Axe -- Archanea Sniper 15 5 Silver Bow -- Archanea General 15 2 Spear -- Archanea Sage 10 2 Thoron -- Archanea Bishop 10 2 Swarm -- Archanea Bishop 10 1 Fortify -- Archanea Sage 10 2 Bolganone -- Archanea Hero 15 1 Swordslayer • Vulnerary Starts moving after units go into the room just above. Archanea Warrior 15 1 Tomahawk Starts moving after units go into the room just above. Dragon Earth Dragon 15 1 Dark Breath -- Heretic Sorcerer 10 1 Glower -- Archanea General 15 2 Steel Lance -- Archanea Hero 15 1 Silver Sword • Vulnerary -- Archanea Bishop 10 1 Fortify -- Archanea General 15 1 Spear Will not act until revealed. Archanea Bishop 10 1 Fortify Will not act until revealed. Archanea Bishop 10 1 Swarm • Recover Will not act until revealed. Hardin Emperor 30 1 Gradivus • Darksphere Immobile; stands on a throne, the chapter's seize point.

Reinforcements

Name Class Lv # Inventory and Skills Notes Archanea Paladin 20 3 Silver Lance -- Archanea Paladin 20 3 Silver Sword -- Archanea Paladin 20 6 Spear -- Archanea Paladin 20 3 Silver Sword Lunatic only. Archanea Paladin 20 3 Spear Lunatic only. Archanea Hero 15 2 Silver Sword -- Archanea Warrior 15 2 Tomahawk -- Archanea Sniper 15 2 Silver Bow -- Archanea Sage 10 2 Thoron -- Archanea Hero 15 2 Silver Sword Lunatic only. Archanea Warrior 15 2 Tomahawk Lunatic only. Archanea Sniper 15 2 Silver Bow Lunatic only. Archanea Sage 10 2 Thoron Lunatic only.

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Reinforcements

Mystery of the Emblem

• Upon entering the throne room, continuing until 5 of each appear
  • 2 Heroes, 1 Sniper, and 1 Mage from the southeast room
• Note: All reinforcements are halted when Hardin is defeated.

New Mystery of the Emblem

• After going into the treasure room or the corridor right next to it, or after the conversation with Hardin
  • 6 Paladins (Lunatic) or 4 Paladins (all other difficulties) from the east outside
• After the conversation with Hardin
  • 1 Hero, 1 Warrior, 1 Sniper and 1 Sage for 1 turn (Normal), for 2 turns with an empty turn in between (Hard and Maniac), or 2 Heroes, 2 Warriors, 2 Snipers and 2 Sages for 2 turns with an empty turn in between (Lunatic), all from the southeast.

Boss data

Main article: Hardin

Boss data

Mystery of the Emblem New Mystery of the Emblem

Emperor Level 1 Movement 5 Experience 90

Stats Max HP 50 Luck -- Strength 20 W. Level -- Skill 20 Defense 20 Speed 20 Resistance 20

Inventory Gradivus Darksphere Weapons Sword Lance Axe Bow Tome Staff

Normal Hard Maniac Lunatic

Emperor Level 30 Movement --

Stats Max HP 50 Speed 20 Strength 20 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 20 Skill 20 Resistance 15

Inventory Gradivus Darksphere* Weapon Levels -- A -- -- -- --

Emperor Level 30 Movement --

Stats Max HP 62 Speed 24 Strength 24 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 24 Skill 24 Resistance 19

Inventory Gradivus Darksphere* Weapon Levels -- A -- -- -- --

Emperor Level 30 Movement --

Stats Max HP 74 Speed 28 Strength 28 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 28 Skill 28 Resistance 23

Inventory Gradivus Darksphere* Weapon Levels -- A -- -- -- --

Emperor Level 30 Movement --

Stats Max HP 80 Speed 30 Strength 30 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 30 Skill 30 Resistance 25

Inventory Gradivus Darksphere* Weapon Levels -- A -- -- -- --

Note: Boss stats in Lunatic Mode are rounded to the nearest whole number.

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Strategy

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

In lower difficulties, this chapter is best beaten by warping a strong bosskiller to defeat Hardin and warping Marth afterwards to seize the throne. If the player wishes to get the items on this map, they can warp a thief or use the thief staff. This is recommended as the only brave weapons available in the game (in the remake, at least) can be found in the chests of this chapter.

Playing without the Warp staff, or on higher difficulties, further complicates the chapter.

First, the thief can pose an annoyance as you cannot reach him turn one without dancing or usage of the Anew staff, but he isn't particularly bulky and a trained Katarina or Linde should be able to one-shot him. Another thing to consider is the hallway guarded by two heroes. On the opposite side of the wall, there is a sniper, general, and sage nearby. The heroes have capped skill and can only be doubled by swordmasters with capped speed or berserkers and snipers using the Starsphere. The swordslayer deals bonus damage to them, but be careful as one of the Lunatic-exclusive characters also carries a swordslayer. As it is extremely difficult to take on the enemies on both sides, it is best to bait the sage and sniper first by getting in their range with one of your bulkier units and then finishing each of them separately. In the meantime, be careful with the bishop in the jail cell with Swarm. After crossing said hallway, reinforcements will begin to appear; as they are rather strong, it is best to just ignore them and rush towards Hardin. At this point it is a good idea to rescue Midia as it can be difficult to rescue her otherwise. Now, you must choose between going left or right. Going right is more practical as the enemies there are weaker compared to the Earth Dragon and two heroes, the door makes for a good chokepoint, and there are good items there to take. Now, the final part of this map is the Dark Emperor himself, Hardin. Note that it is only possible to harm him if the unit that attacks him has the Lightsphere in their inventory. However, Hardin is incredibly strong, fast and bulky; he will double Generals, Warriors and Dracoknights, even if they have the Starsphere in their inventory. There isn't a particularly easy way to deal with him and it's best to kill him in a single turn by dancing or using the Anew staff with your strongest unit. After defeating him and seizing with Marth, you will either complete the Binding Shield and unlock the Endgame, or only get the Darksphere and finish the game with the bad ending.

In order to access Chapter 20x, the player must have completed the Binding Shield recruited Wolf, Sedgar, Vyland, Roshea and Midia and kept them alive, or must clear this chapter in a certain number of turns. The turn count of the latter requirement varies by difficulty, as follows:

Difficulty	Turn Count
Normal	24
Hard	28
Maniac	33
Lunatic	38
Lunatic′	43

Trivia

• This chapter uses a modified version of the map from The Ageless Palace.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology and notes
English (unofficial)	Dark Emperor	Used in the Mystery of the Emblem and New Mystery of the Emblem fan translations
Japanese	暗黒皇帝	The Dark Emperor

Gallery

• 

  CG image displayed during the intro in Mystery of the Emblem

• 

  CG image displayed during the intro in New Mystery of the Emblem

References

← The Last Decisive Battle •	Dark Emperor	• The Wyvern's Dale → • Bottom of the Deep Abyss →