Laguz transformation

Ranulf, in the middle of shifting into his cat form.

In Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn, laguz units are governed by a unique system of transformation which is known as shifting. Unlike other shapeshifter species from other games, such as manaketes, most laguz cannot instantly assume their beast form. Instead, they must first build up a transformation gauge (also known as the transform gauge) which allows them to shift when full, and once they have shifted, it will slowly deplete and force them to revert to their humanoid form once it reaches zero. When untransformed, the gauge fills by a small amount at the start of every turn and is increased if they are attacked, and when shifted it depletes at the start of every turn and when they participate in a battle.

Laguz must be shifted in order to attack enemies, with the transformation also giving them significant statistical bonuses which make them formidable, and conversely they are unable to attack when untransformed, only having the ability to give weak counterattacks when attacked in Radiant Dawn.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

In Path of Radiance, shifting is automatic and occurs at the beginning of a laguz unit's phase once their transform gauge is full, or if they are attacked during the opposing army's phase, at the end of the battle that fills their gauge. Reversion is also automatic and occurs at the same times.

Transformation gauge

In Path of Radiance, the transformation gauge requires 20 points for a laguz to transform. Transformation point gains are the same for all laguz classes, and are as follows:

Laguz transformation gauge gains in Path of Radiance
Unshifted state	Shifted state	When unshifted		When shifted
		Per turn	Per battle	Per turn	Per battle
All laguz	All laguz	+4	+2	-3	-1

Each playable laguz (excluding the laguz royals) starts chapters with their transformation gauge set to a certain number of points, allowing some to transform faster than others.

#	Units starting with these points
0	Mordecai • Reyson
5	Muarim • Ulki • Ena • Nasir
10	Ranulf
16	Lethe • Janaff • Giffca

Stat gains

In Path of Radiance, laguz transformation awards a fixed set of stat boosts which do not change as the unit gains levels. All gains are halved if the unit is using a Demi Band to halfshift. These stat boosts are as follows:

Laguz transformation stat gains in Path of Radiance
Unshifted state	Shifted state	HP	Str	Mag	Skl	Spd	Luck	Def	Res	Con	Mov
Beast Tribe	Cat	+0	+6	+0	+4	+3	+0	+5	+3	+15	+2
Beast Tribe	Tiger	+0	+7	+0	+4	+3	+0	+3	+3	+15	+2
Beast Tribe	Lion	+0	+8	+0	+4	+3	+0	+5	+3	+15	+2
Bird Tribe	Hawk	+0	+6	+0	+5	+3	+0	+4	+2	+10	+2
Bird Tribe	Raven	+0	+5	+1	+4	+4	+0	+3	+4	+9	+2
Bird Tribe	Heron	+0	+0	+5	+3	+4	+0	+1	+5	+6	+3
Dragon Tribe (M)	Red Dragon (M)	+0	+10	+0	+6	+3	+0	+4	+5	+26	+1
Dragon Tribe (F)	Red Dragon (F)	+0	+5	+0	+4	+4	+0	+4	+5	+12	+1
Dragon Tribe	White Dragon	+0	+10	+0	+5	+3	+0	+5	+5	+24	+1

Items affecting laguz transformation

In Path of Radiance, three items have an effect on the mechanisms of laguz transformation. Two of these are equippable bands.

Items affecting laguz transformation in Path of Radiance
	Item	Effect	Games
	Demi Band	A band that, when equipped, allows its wearer to maintain animal form at all times. All abilities are slightly lower while using the band.	Path of Radiance
	Laguz Band	A band that, when equipped, allows its wearer to maintain animal form at all times. Abilities are not affected. For laguz nobles only.	Path of Radiance
	Laguz Stone	An item that allows a laguz to remain in animal form.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

In Path of Radiance, shifting is now at the player's discretion and no longer automatic. Once a laguz's transform gauge is at maximum, a green icon reading "MAX" will appear over them on the map, and they can be shifted at any time by moving them and selecting the Shift command. Reversion is still automatic and occurs at the beginning of a laguz unit's phase once their transform gauge is empty, or at the end of a battle that empties their gauge. However, a shifted laguz unit can also be reverted at the player's discretion by moving them and selecting the Revert command; if reverted this way, they will keep any transform points they still had at that point.

Transformation gauge

In Radiant Dawn, the transformation gauge requires 30 points for a laguz to shift. Unlike in Path of Radiance, every laguz class now has unique transformation point gains.

Laguz transformation gauge gains in Radiant Dawn
Unshifted state	Shifted state	When unshifted		When shifted
		Per turn	Per battle	Per turn	Per battle
Cat	Cat	+10	+15	-5	-4
Tiger	Tiger	+8	+15	-4	-3
Wolf	Wolf	+6	+10	-4	-3
Lion	Lion	+5	+10	-3	-2
Lion (Giffca)	Giffca	+5	+10	-3	-2
Hawk	Hawk	+8	+15	-4	-3
Raven	Raven	+6	+10	-4	-3
Heron (Rafiel)	Heron (Rafiel)	+3	+6	-5	-8
Heron (Leanne)	Heron (Leanne)	+3	+8	-5	-8
Heron (Reyson)	Heron (Reyson)	+4	+10	-5	-6
Red Dragon	Red Dragon	+5	+6	-2	-1
White Dragon	White Dragon	+4	+5	-2	-1
Dragon Prince	Black Dragon	+5	+6	-2	-1

Stat gains

In Radiant Dawn, laguz stat gains are changed considerably. Shifting now awards a 2× multiplication of the laguz's unshifted strength, magic, skill, speed, defense and resistance stats to all laguz classes; these gains are reduced to multiplying the stats by 1.5 if the unit is using Wildheart to halfshift. Additionally, the unit's movement, weight and constitution are awarded flat stat boosts, which are as follows:

Laguz transformation stat gains in Radiant Dawn
Unshifted state	Shifted state	Con	Wt	Mov
Cat	Cat	+5	+20	+2
Tiger	Tiger	+10	+21	+2
Wolf	Wolf	+9	+22	+2
Wolf Queen	Wolf	+10	+23	+2
Lion	Lion	+10	+20	+2
Lion (Giffca)	Giffca	+10	+20	+2
Lion King	Lion	+10	+20	+2
Hawk	Hawk	+10	+9	+2
Hawk King	Hawk King	+14	+12	+2
Raven (M)	Raven (M)	+9	+8	+2
Raven (F)	Raven (F)	+9	+9	+2
Raven King	Raven	+10	+8	+2
Heron (Rafiel)	Heron (Rafiel)	+6	+4	+0
Heron (Leanne)	Heron (Leanne)	+6	+4	+1
Heron (Reyson)	Heron (Reyson)	+6	+4	+2
Red Dragon (M)	Red Dragon (M)	+26	+58	+1
Red Dragon (F)	Red Dragon (F)	+12	+33	+1
White Dragon	White Dragon	+24	+57	+1
Dragon Prince	Black Dragon	+10	+30	-1
Dragon King	Black Dragon	+26	+56	+1

Items and skills affecting laguz transformation

In Radiant Dawn, three items and two skills have an effect on the mechanisms of laguz transformation.

Items affecting laguz transformation in Radiant Dawn
	Item	Effect	Games
	Olivi Grass	An herb that restores 15 points to a laguz's transformation gauge.	Radiant Dawn
	Laguz Stone	An item that fills up the transformation gauge, allowing laguz to shift forms. For laguz only.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Laguz Gem	An item that allows laguz to maintain their animal form for an entire battle. For laguz only.	Radiant Dawn
	Wildheart	Cut ability points gained in half but allow the unit to transform at any time. Laguz other than herons	Radiant Dawn
	Formshift	Allows the unit to transform at any time. The unit will stay transformed until choosing to revert forms.	Radiant Dawn

Additionally, in Radiant Dawn, right before Rebirth (3), Yune blesses every laguz unit in the party. This grants them full transformation gauge at the start of each map and the ability to pierce the Mantle skill.

Other appearances

Fire Emblem Cipher

In Fire Emblem Cipher, shifting is present as a recurring skill found on laguz cards with higher costs, including Lethe, Ranulf, Volug, and Lyre. Shift is a Level S Skill which becomes permanently active if the unit is in a stack of 2 or more cards. When active, as long as the unit remains in the player's Vanguard, the laguz unit gets a +10 attack increase and is able to ignore their usual range restrictions to attack enemies positioned in their Rearguard.

Trivia

• Manaketes in Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem work on a system similar to Laguz shifting, they use their dragonstones to transform for five amount of turns. In particular, this allows Manaketes to reap benefits or detriments to their movement.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Shifting	--
French	Mutation