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Gambit

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
For the skill from Engage, see Gambit (Engage skill). For the skill from Heroes, see Gambit (Heroes skill).
A gambit, Assault Troop, being used against an enemy Soldier.

Gambits (Japanese: 計略 Stratagem) are a special kind of action introduced in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Tied to the use of battalions, they have a variety of uses, ranging from powerful attacks, enhancing the capabilities of multiple units, and various other effects. They have large areas of effect, and can affect multiple units in a single use. To compensate for their power, they have limited uses per battle, and their hit rates can fluctuate significantly, though the latter is tied to the charm stat.

Overview

Lorenz preparing to use a gambit against an enemy Soldier. The yellow cursor denotes the primary target of the gambit, while the smaller orange arrows denote other targets that will be affected by the gambit.

All gambits are categorized as one of the following: Is ns01 gambit.png physical attacks, Is ns01 gambit magic.png magical attacks, and Is ns01 gambit support.png supportive actions. Gambits have an area of effect, allowing them to damage, afflict, or aid multiple units at once; these areas extend out from whichever target is chosen. The shape and size of the area of effect can vary significantly, with some being straight lines, some being radial, and some even being triangular. Offensive gambits will only affect enemy units, while support gambits will only affect allied units. All gambits additionally have a set number of uses per battle, which are replenished at the end of each map.

Like weapons, each gambit has its own might, hit, and range stats. The damage dealt by an offensive gambit scales similarly to regular attacks, being boosted by the user's strength or magic, and reduced by the target's defense or resistance. The charm stat additionally improves the power of gambits, though to a much smaller extent. The accuracy of a gambit, on the other hand, is handled much differently from weapon or spell accuracy. For accuracy, charm is the primary factor, with the difference between the user's and the target's deciding how accurate the attack is; if the user's charm is higher than their target's, the gambit will have a higher chance of succeeding. Gambits can never be counterattacked in any way, though gambits themselves can also never make follow-up attacks or land critical hits.

If a gambit hits its primary target, then all other opponents in the gambit's area of effect will also be affected by it. If a gambit misses its primary target, however, then no units will be affected by it at all. Units that are affected by an offensive gambit will be afflicted with the rattled status, limiting their movement to zero and preventing them from benefiting from battalions, or using a gambit themselves. Most offensive gambits also have a secondary effect, which can range from changing terrain, to moving the affected units' positions, to other various effects. Gambits can only kill their primary target; any other enemies within their area of effect will be left at 1 HP if the attack would kill them otherwise.

If a gambit's area of effect contains multiple spaces occupied by a monster unit, the monster will only take the damage dealt to the main target. The main target's barrier will also be destroyed instantly, while other barriers within the area of effect will be weakened, or destroyed if they have already been weakened by another attack. In addition, using a gambit on a monster will force the monster to target the gambit user instead of whoever they were targeting previously.

Calculations

Damage

Game Formula Notes
Three Houses Mt + (Strength or Magic) + (Charm / 5) + (Ability bonus) + (Battalion bonus) + (Gambit Boost) − (Target's Protection or Resilience) Strength and Protection are used for physical gambits.
Magic and Resilience are used for magical gambits.
If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
For targets that are not the primary target, the gambit's attack power will be reduced by 50% before factoring in protection/resilience.

Hit rate

Game Formula Notes
Three Houses Hit + [(Unit's Charm − Target's Charm) × 5] + (Ability bonus) + (Equipment bonus) + (Gambit Boost) Charm's effects on hit rate are capped at +30/-30 hit.
If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.

Gambit Boost

Claude receiving a Gambit Boost from Byleth, Lysithea, and Marianne.
See also: Linked Attack

If a unit uses a gambit while also fulfilling the conditions for a Linked Attack—that is, if there are other allied units that can attack the target from their current range—a Gambit Boost will occur. Applied only for offensive gambits, Gambit Boosts increase both the power and hit rate of the used gambit. The potency of this increase is proportional to both how many allies are supporting the unit, as well as the unit's support level with each of them.

Gambit Boost from a single ally
Support level Stat boost
None Attack +1, hit +5
C Attack +2, hit +10
B Attack +3, hit +15
A Attack +4, hit +20
S Attack +5, hit +25

Like a Linked Attack, a Gambit Boost will only factor in up to three supporting allies on the field along with an adjutant, for a total of four allies, prioritizing the adjutant and units higher in deployment order if more units could contribute. The maximum Gambit Boost values in a typical playthrough are +16 attack and +80 hit, if three supporting allies are in range, an adjutant is set, and the user has reached an A-rank support with all of them; with New Game +, Byleth can unlock their S supports with multiple units, allowing for a maximum bonus of +20 attack and +100 hit.

Items and abilities affecting gambits

Items and abilities providing equipping bonus
Item Effect Games
Is ns01 ring.png Accuracy Ring +10 hit when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 authority lv 1.png Authority +2/+4/+6/+8/+10 might when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 hit +20.png Hit +20 +20 hit when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 uncanny blow.png Uncanny Blow +30 hit when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 skill gambit.png Officer Duty +5 might when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 skill self buff.png Confidence +15 hit when using gambits, if user's HP = 100%. Three Houses
Is ns01 skill gambit.png Lady Knight +3 might and +5 hit when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 heartseeker.png Murderous Intent +20 hit when using gambits, if user initiates combat. Three Houses
Is ns01 offensive tactics.png Offensive Tactics +5 might and +20 hit when using gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 general.png General User takes 50% less damage from gambits. Three Houses
Is ns01 commander.png Commander User takes 75% less damage from gambits. Three Houses

Etymology and other languages

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

Gambit

--

Japanese

計略

A stratagem, trick, or ruse.

Spanish

Tactica

Tactics

French

Tactique

Tactics

German

Strategem

Stratagem

Italian

Stratagemma

Stratagem

Korean

계략

Stratagem or trick

Simplified Chinese

计策

Stratagem

Traditional Chinese

計策

Stratagem

Gallery

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)
Connectivity amiiboData transferDouble DuelDownloadable contentLink ArenaMultiplayer battleOnline shopSpotPassStreetPass
Other BarrierBirthdayClass rollGlitchesMultiple endingsRankingsSound RoomTactician bonus
Gambits and Staggering Blows
Physical gambits AbsorptionAshes and DustAssault TroopAssemblyBattleground Clean UpBlazeDisturbanceFlash-Fire ArrowsFusilladeGroup Lance AttackLine of LancesLinked HorsesLureMad MeleeOnslaughtPoisoned ArrowsPoison TacticRaging FlamesRandom ShotReversalWave Attack
Magical gambits Group FlamesGroup IceGroup LightningResonant FlamesResonant IceResonant Lightning
Support gambits Absolute DefenseBag of TricksBattleground CaféBlessingDance of the GoddessImpregnable WallRecovery RoarResonant White MagicRetributionSacred ShieldStride
Staggering Blows AnnihilationArm PressAurora BreathBrimstone BreathCycloneFlame BreathGaleHeavy StrikeHoarfrostLight BreathLight-Lance BarragePoison BreathRapidsSandstormSky FissureThorns of RuinTitanomachyUmbral SurgeWilted Flower