Starwave

No Ike is absolutely top tier. You're looking at him in a vacuum, you should take into account that: - This tier list was made for hard mode. Ike is one of the few units that can actually get ganged up on and still make it out alive, so can leave him parked in certain areas to soak up hits and tank enemy attacks. He's one of your stronger attackers (which is ideal in HM when enemies are almost always better than your units statistically) -Ragnell is a infinite use sword with 18 MT that can attack at a range. You act like 2 range is crappy, but who on earth on the GM has 2 ranges? Soren? Haar/Titania/etc when they use Hand Axes/ Short Axes, weapons that are not only weaker but have finite use? Why would you say thats crappy at all? In what way?!? Furthermore Ragnell gives Ike a hefty defense bonus, and he ends up being extremely difficult to kill on the right terrain. -Statistically he's a monster. His bases are outrageous and he's capping most of his stats, with BEXP brings up the rest (speed especially!). Res will never be good, but keeping him out of range from being attacked by mages is ideal. I'm in agreement with the rest of your post though. I would like to question why Gareth is above Kurthnaga. Did um... Kurthnaga steal your lunch money? Why on earth is he that low? We're not on gamefaqs, so i'm disregarding the "HE BECOMES SUPER BEAST LATER ON" but Gareth is literally on usable for 2 chapters, and his opponents use magic attacks. His high defense is worthless, and he'll get preyed on his weaker Res stat. Offensively he's irrelevant. Is Blood Tide that important? Ena is forced so you might as well use her, and I don't think a second blood tide user will really make a difference. Also, did you guys forget Kurth's utility in 4-E-3? He makes it less of a nightmare in hard mode, and if you raise him up properly he can actually do passable damage (though he'll never ever double... pity). Night Tide is nowhere is useful as Blood Tide, but its got a niche (and somewhat useful early on). My point is, if Kurth is bottom tier Gareth is sure as hell bottom tier as well. (i'd even argue that Kurth's utility in 4-E-3 alone / forced deployment makes him a candidate for bottom, but I digress. Its not the point i'm trying to make.)

Keep in mind, almost everybody who voted ended up giving her +0.5 / +1 to her score due to bias, which could explain the "higher than average" score.

Not even worth it. I wish had joined sooner so I could partake in these. Would have enjoyed backing Eirika up :/

It's a shame that Nintendo didn't have the foresight to show... or even MENTION this during their E3 press conference. I don't think i'm going off base by saying FE13 awakening is the best possible thing they could have shown. (Speaking objectively as possible here*) Regardless i'm happy, we just avoided another disaster. (I don't think I could stomach another "operation")

Calill is one cool customer. She joins in 2E, and instantly gains utility for her meteor use, which is immeasurably useful as a fail safe should you get RNGed and need to take out an opponent at all costs. Her availability as a mage is a bit iffy, and her stats could use some work, like others have mentioned she can be salvaged. Imo, she's basically the second best mage in the game. Soren is a tiny bit better, but not by much and if you like Calill then by all means drop Soren for her, it won't really hurt your performance if you're properly levelled her. (Also as an Archsage promoting from a Fire Sage, she gets access to pretty much the best tome :p). She's one pretty mommy too. (cookie if you get the reference) 6.5 + 0.5 bias = 7/10

I'm deeply disappointed over the fact that she can't user Swords. Swords were like her trademark weapon (she even has a sword named after he in this game!) and she can't use them? Absurd. I would give up 2 any of the 3 weapon types she can currently use just to use Swords. Honestly it's just an onslaught of bad news. I'm definitely reclassing her into a myrmidon.

He's alright. Usable in part II, and helps out during those chapters, but pointless in part III. Competition is fierce, and Nephenee is almost always better than him. 3.5/10

Would saying "Kieran's speed in part II is acceptable" make you feel better? He's slow as dirt passed that point. Geoffrey isn't really comparable since he's gone for 90% of the game (and he's acceptable in the chapters he's relevant in). The thing is, Haar is pretty slow too but unlike Kieran he's got a ridiculous amount of time to raise his speed, versus Kieran's who's time is rather limited. They have different join times, different utility, different growths(Haar is capping his stats faster than Kieran's, which means he's quicker to BEXP abuse for those speed ups)... they're hardly comparable. Why are you getting bent all out of shape anyway? This discussion is extraneous anyway... ok you might be right... want a cookie?

Does it even matter? Haar is slow, yes but he gets away with because he's damn good. I didn't think I needed to say "Haar's only weakness is his speed" in the Haar thread because it was common knowledge, and most of the posters in the Haar thread were trying to have fun. As for Geof... last I checked he was usable in 3 chapters, and his speed is pretty decent in said chapters. Kieran just doesn't hold up post part II. >:?

Astrid is terrible. Awful stats (awful growths) ridiculously low level, weak as dirt, frail as paper too. She died on her joining chapter on my first run through hard mode because an enemy looked at her funny. What did Astrid do to deserve this? Spill coffee on an IS employee? Sheesh. It's a shame too, since she was super boss in PoR. 1.5/10

Sorry to pile on some more questions BUT. -Why does Zelgius help Micaiah in the first place? His presence is ancillary (Micaiah is dead without him) and Sephiran probably needed her to build up suitable army to cause more bloodshed, but isn't she irrelevant after that point? Why does he show up to help her in 2 more chapters? -At one point Micaiah asks Zelgius if he's here for her and her friends in Part IV. He responds with "not them, just you." Why would say that? Isn't she trying to OPPOSE Sephiran? And if that's the case why didn't he strike her down when he had the chance or take her by will? He gives her a cryptic message and leaves... could he come for her on his own accord? -Why does he refer to her as "his maiden?"

I'd go as far to say that he may the single worst sword user in the entire game (despite being on a pony) Let's see here: +Has a horse -swordlocked -weak -comes at a low level -subpar bases -fast, but not fast enough to double the majority of the enemies in the chapters he's relevant in. He's so-so in his introductory chapter, but damn near worthless past that point. There's no read to use him in part 3 and 4 (but that goes without saying). 4/10, -0.5 because I don't like him so 3.5/10

No man or woman gets left behind. (on my first run anyway)

I would lose a good bit deal of respect I had for her. I like how Eirika, a novice swordy can go toe to toe with some magvels strongest fighters.

Lethe Her only redeeming factor is her laguz esque health (though if she's hit outside of transformation she's dead) and speed, but her awful transformation gauge and weak nature in general makes her a bad unit. Eats up olivi grass like crazy too (you should be giving it to MORDECAI). She's usable, but not very good. 3.5/10 Geoffrey Good bases, high level and decent growths = awesome Crappy availability = not so awesome This dude is one of your premier fighters in part 2. He just demolishes everything with that kickass Brave Lance and levels up pretty quickly (by hard mode standards no less!) with Paragon. If he would only join his royal knights when they're transferred to the GM's in part 3 though... He'd be kickass unit. It's too bad he's usable in very few chapters, and comes back in part 4-5 (really IS...? Really?). 5/10, because as a unit he's really not that bad, the game just screws him over badly. Kieran Kieran isn't really impressive. He's acceptable in part 2 (though he's slow as molasses) but in part 3 he rejoins the GMs and has to compete with Titania. Nothing about him as a unit is interesting, whatsoever. 4/10

That's not Eirika though, she's a frontline fighter. Innes: Eirika. I know this might seem sudden, but... I've decided I mustprotect you for a while. Eirika: What? What do you mean by that? Innes: I was in a difficult situation at Carcino. I... must admit that I oweyou much for you help that day. Eirika: I... I see.Innes: So now, I've decided to protect you in battle. I don't know how tosay this, but... It is unacceptable that I remain indebted to you. Eirika: Oh, you and your fool pride--Innes: Regardless, you can count on me. No arrow can reach all enemies, but I guarantee your safety. Will you accept my oath? Eirika: Er... Sure. I accept. Thank you, Prince Innes. Innes: Follow me, then. Eirika: Uh, wait a moment, Innes. You're an archer... Wouldn't it make moresense if you stayed behind me? Innes: ......

*sigh* She should have gotten a fencer class or a variant of a swordmaster. Oh well, i'll still buy the DLC when I get the chance, but i'm rather disappointed especially when you consider what Eiphram got.

I'm a little disappointed that the sub title for this thread wasn't MORDECAI (in a russian accent to boot) Anyway i'm in agreement with everyone else, Mordecai is just solid. Some people give him a bad rap for being slow, (dat speed growth :<) but his defenses are so high that even if he gets doubled he's not taking much damage. Tank is a good fit for him; he can take a hit and dish one out too. 7.5/10

Marth is boring, a mediocre character in most of his games (can't promote, w00t) and his appearances in smash have both been lame. I've never really liked him, but I respect him for being the face of FE. Ike has a surprisingly good personality for a stock FE lead, (both in PoR and RD) and he was a damn good unit too.

He's guaranteed to level up in prologue once after killing 3/4ths of the mooks. If he doesn't get a speed proc, then its advised that you reset the chapter (it shouldn't take you too long, and I think its reasonable to do so). After killing the boss you're well on your way to your second level up. (I think I was at like 78 EXP at the beginning of chapter 1). In chapter Nolan joins and he should obviously get his fair of the EXP too, but if Edward kills a few mooks + the boss it's likely that he'll gain 2 additional levels. And even if he doesn't, the beginning of chapter 2 has a single mook which is ripe for the picking (in which you're liable to reset too). (~tested last week) I haven't gone past chapter 2, so i'm not sure if he needs to keep proccing speed at this point... does he?

I honestly think Marisa should be changed into a lvl 5-8 Swordmaster. Upping her joining level and boosting her growths is a nice gesture but she still won't be used over Joshua who (if you properly level him up) should have the level lead on her. Making her into a pre-promote gives her an actual niche. I also think Lute and Neimi need more tweaks. Higher bases?

Does he really need to proc speed every level up? His base is 12, and I know you need 14 for chapter 2 (so proccing once in prologue and once in chapter 1 is needed) I think there's a point where you don't need to proc speed every level up. That said, I ended up using a master seal to patch up his speed in my game so I don't know what that point is.

Seth and Titania. I can see them both being absolutely modest about their skills in their respective games, and claim how little of an impact they make in their respective FE games. Then laugh. and proceed to make out.

Edward is now the lord of FE10 -The blood pact is never made since he'd be more of a bro to Pelleas than Micaiah and I quote "don't sign that dumb shit" -Manages to successfully get everyone women (and some men) on Tellius to love him -Ike doesn't leave forever since he's Eddies wingman -Zelgius challenges Edward to a final duel instead of Ike since he's the superior swordsman. Black Knight loses, but isn't killed; he joins the Edward army and becomes a great asset. -Sephiran is killed immediately for being a "little prick" -The mere sight of Edward as a lord is enough to drive every pauncy senator insane. Dozens of "WELL I SAY and THIS IS UNORTHODOX" shouts could be heard. -Edward kills Ashera on his own with his Caladbog; he didn't require Yune's help. -At the end of the game, he sets up a party and everyone is invited -Except Zihark.

I can't give her any more than a 2.5. Lucia is awesome in part 2... for exactly 1 chapter. She's unplayable in the rest of part 2 and is benched until part IV! Which is absurd. Her bases are decent but her growths are vomit worthy. It's a shame, she really is a cool character (and pretty too... that hair) 2.5 + 0.5 bias so 3/10