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Staggering Blow

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
An Experimental Demonic Beast unleashing its Staggering Blow, Flame Breath, on an area.
A monster's fierce attack, which requires some posturing before unleashing their blows.
— Help text

Staggering Blows (Japanese: 猛撃 Ferocious Blow) are a special kind of attack introduced in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. They are powerful area-of-effect attacks that are exclusively used by enemy monster units. These attacks are very large and typically have high raw might, though they are offset by the fact that a monster must prepare to use them beforehand. On top of their high power and wide range, they also typically have other secondary effects, ranging from debuffs to changing the terrain briefly.

Overview

Staggering Blows are almost entirely physical attacks which use the user's strength and target the foe's defense stat. The most notable exceptions are Rapids and Gale, which are magical attacks used by only a few unique monsters. All Staggering Blows have an area of effect—usually spreading out from the space in front of the monster—and can damage multiple units at once. They are not limited to damaging player units; if there are other units of the same affiliation as the user within range of a Staggering Blow, they will be affected by them as well.

A monster preparing to use its Staggering Blow. The wavy red patterns denote which spaces will be targeted, depending on which direction the monster is facing.

Each Staggering Blow has its own might, hit, and range stats. The damage dealt by a Staggering Blow scales like most weapon types, being boosted by the user's strength or magic, and reduced by the target's defense or resistance. Staggering Blows can never be counterattacked in any way, though Staggering Blows themselves can also never make follow-up attacks. Unlike the similar area-of-effect Gambits, Staggering Blows hit their targets independently; a single Staggering Blow may hit some targets while missing others, and may deal different damage to each foe it hits. Staggering Blows can additionally kill multiple units at once.

Before a monster can use a Staggering Blow, they must prepare to do so first; this is typically indicated by the monster unit roaring. When a monster is preparing a Staggering Blow, hovering over the monster will display the attack's intended area-of-effect. A monster must stay in place for one phase for the Staggering Blow to be unleashed; if there are no longer any targets in range when the monster's phase comes along, the monster will stop preparing it, and instead move to the nearest target to use a regular attack. If a monster unleashes its Staggering Blow, or it prepares it and does not use a regular attack in the next turn, all of the monster's barriers will be refreshed, unless the monster has previously suffered an armor break.

Staggering Blows in the Fire Emblem series

Weapon Available in: Notes
FE01 FE02 FE03 FE04 FE05 FE06 FE07 FE08 FE09 FE10 FE11 FE12 FE13 FE14 FE15 FE16 FE17
Thorns of Ruin Inflicts debuff of −5 speed on targets on hit.
Heavy Strike Inflicts Is ns01 status rattled.png rattled status on targets on hit.
Poison Breath Inflicts Is ns01 status poison.png poison status on targets on hit.
Flame Breath Inflicts debuff of −5 defense on targets on hit.
Brimstone Breath Inflicts debuff of −5 defense on targets on hit.
Arm Press Inflicts debuff of −5 speed on targets on hit.
Annihilation Magic attack. Inflicts debuff of −5 resistance on targets on hit.
Light-Lance Barrage Magic attack. Inflicts debuff of −5 resistance on targets on hit.
Titanomachy Inflicts debuff of −5 speed on targets on hit.
Light Breath Magic attack. Inflicts debuff of −5 strength on targets on hit.
Aurora Breath Inflicts Is ns01 status rattled.png rattled status on targets on hit. Does not affect units of the same affiliation as the user.
Hoarfrost Range: 1–8. Ignores enemy defense. Heals units of the same affiliation as the user.
Gale Magic attack. Inflicts Is ns01 status rattled.png rattled status on targets on hit.
Rapids Magic attack. Inflicts Is ns01 status rattled.png rattled status on targets on hit.
Sky Fissure Inflicts Is ns01 status frozen.png frozen status on targets on hit.
Sandstorm Inflicts Is ns01 status frozen.png frozen status on targets on hit.
Cyclone Inflicts Is ns01 status frozen.png frozen status on targets on hit.
Wilted Flower Range: 1–6. Ignores enemy defense. Inflicts Is ns01 status rattled.png rattled status on targets on hit.
Umbral Surge Deals 25% of foes' HP as damage. Teleports user and all foes to a random spot. Inflicts Is ns01 status stirrings of reason.png Stirrings of Reason status on user.
A means that the weapon is available in that game, while a indicates the contrary.

Etymology and other languages

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

Staggering Blow

--

Japanese

猛撃

Ferocious Blow

Spanish

Golpe demoledor

Destructive strike

French

Attaque furieuse

Furious attack

German

Wilder Angriff

Wild Attack

Italian

Colpo devastante

Devastating strike

Korean

맹격

Fierce strike

Simplified Chinese

猛击

Fierce strike; identical to the name of the Smash combat art.

Traditional Chinese

猛擊

Fierce strike; identical to the name of the Smash combat art.

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