HHM S Rank

[Anouleth]

No-Merlinus S Rank run

I have been considering this idea for a long time now, ever since someone claimed on the tier list that Merlinus would auto-top a FE7 ranked tier list. It seems like an interesting challenge to try and S Rank HM without ever deploying Merlinus... so I am going to do so!

-I am visiting all chapters (I got Nils to level 7 for LM), even Merlinus' recruitment chapter.

-I am never going to deploy Merlinus.

-Hector Hard Mode.

-I haven't decided which characters I will be using yet.

This is also my first S Rank HHM playlog. I will not bother to give strategies for chapters before Merlinus.

Turncount:

           Total Cum. Total
C11   9/ 0   +9       +9
C12   5/10   -5       +4
C13  10/10   +0       +4
C13x  8/ 7   +1       +5
C14   8/12   -4       +1
C15   7/ 0   +7       +8
C16   7/ 7   +0       +8
C17  10/17   -7       +1

Current rank is ****

Current rank for Funds and EXP are *****

Stats:

Name     Level XP  HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector    8     2  26  11   7   8   6  11   3
Matthew   9    79  25   5   9  17   4   4   1
Oswin     9    93  28  13   9   5   3  13   3
Serra     6    43  21   6   7  11   9   2   8
Eliwood   4    99  21   8   7   7   8   5   1
Marcus   --/01 86  31  15  15  11   8  10   8
Lowen     5    25  26   7   6   8   4   9   0
Rebecca   5    81  20   6   8   9   5   3   2
Bartre    5     8  32  11   6   5   5   6   2
Dorcas    7    88  34  10   7   6   5   3   0
Guy       4    91  26   8  15  13   6   5   1

Feedback and advice is appreciated.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Mr. Know-it-all-Anouleth

[Gergeshwan]

This should be interesting. Shopping will probably be a pain, especially for commonly spammed stuff like Javelins, but you could probably just clear out two units or so and get what you can. Or more, since there's plenty of leeway with Tactics it probably won't hurt you to send 4 or 5 units to shop if that's what you needed. Good luck with it.

[Tangerine]

You're gonna take 19xx? That'll make S ranking a little bit harder, usually skip that chapter since there is no point in doing it.

[Inui]

this does not sound very fun...

[Anouleth]

Chapter 14

8/12 turns

I leave Barf-tray and Dork-ass behind to flail at the soldiers. This chapter is an enjoyable departure from the modern norm of having mounted enemies that could be killed by a small child, as shown by Rebecca having about 4 or 5 damage on the Cavaliers.

I get sloppy and forget about the Banditos, so I need to save the village with (of all people) Serra. Getting slaughtered by Bandits never looked so good. Sadly, this means my healer is stuck up on the cliffs getting attacked by Bandits herself and not gaining exp. Marcus is forced to run down to fetch Priscilla and go shopping (I buy two Swords, a Bow, an Axe, a Heal and a Fire).

And then I remember... rain. The approach of rain to me is like the

. Rain/snow is probably the worst idea ever in Fire Emblem.

Hector is beasting it up with Wolf Beil, but he only has 4 uses on it left. Eliwood has 23 on his Rapier.

Hector/Eliwood got C support in this chapter.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector     9    54   27  11   7   8   6  11   3
Matthew   10    26   25   5  10  18   5   4   1
Oswin     10    57   29  13  10   5   4  14   3
Serra      6    67   21   6   7  11   9   2   8
Eliwood    6    60   22   9   8   8   9   6   1
Marcus    --/02  3   32  15  16  11   9  10   9
Lowen      5    92   26   7   6   8   4   9   0
Rebecca    6    39   21   6   8  10   5   3   3
Bartre     6    69   33  11   6   5   6   6   2
Dorcas     8    48   34  11   7   6   5   3   0
Guy        5    74   27   8  16  13   6   6   1
Erk        6    92   20   5   7   9   4   2   6
Priscilla  3     0   16   6   6   8   7   3   6

You amaze me too, Oswin, I never would have thought that Armours could be useful.

Edited December 4, 2010 by Mr. Know-it-all-Anouleth

[Galenforcer]

Any units you plan on using? Like the cavaliers or the Raven/Lucius duo?

[Salad Utensil]

Chapter 14

8/12 turns

I leave Barf-tray and Dork-ass behind to flail at the soldiers. This chapter is an enjoyable departure from the modern norm of having mounted enemies that could be killed by a small child, as shown by Rebecca having about 4 or 5 damage on the Cavaliers.

I get sloppy and forget about the Banditos, so I need to save the village with (of all people) Serra. Getting slaughtered by Bandits never looked so good. Sadly, this means my healer is stuck up on the cliffs getting attacked by Bandits herself and not gaining exp. Marcus is forced to run down to fetch Clarine and go shopping (I buy two Swords, a Bow, an Axe, a Heal and a Fire).

And then I remember... rain. The approach of rain to me is like the

. Rain/snow is probably the worst idea ever in Fire Emblem.

Hector is beasting it up with Wolf Beil, but he only has 4 uses on it left. Eliwood has 23 on his Rapier.

Hector/Eliwood got C support in this chapter.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector     9    54   27  11   7   8   6  11   3
Matthew   10    26   25   5  10  18   5   4   1
Oswin     10    57   29  13  10   5   4  14   3
Serra      6    67   21   6   7  11   9   2   8
Eliwood    6    60   22   9   8   8   9   6   1
Marcus    --/02  3   32  15  16  11   9  10   9
Lowen      5    92   26   7   6   8   4   9   0
Rebecca    6    39   21   6   8  10   5   3   3
Bartre     6    69   33  11   6   5   6   6   2
Dorcas     8    48   34  11   7   6   5   3   0
Guy        5    74   27   8  16  13   6   6   1
Erk        6    92   20   5   7   9   4   2   6
Priscilla  3     0   16   6   6   8   7   3   6

You amaze me too, Oswin, I never would have thought that Armours could be useful.

Not meaning to be picky, but you refer to Priscilla as Clarine in the log. Typo.

[Anouleth]

Not meaning to be picky, but you refer to Priscilla as Clarine in the log. Typo.

Wow, you're right... but it's still an easy mistake to make. Two female troubadours, same map, same place on the map, both in the fourth chapter, both have things for their brother...

[Life]

I have been considering this idea for a long time now, ever since someone claimed on the tier list that Merlinus would auto-top a FE7 ranked tier list. It seems like an interesting challenge to try and S Rank HM without ever deploying Merlinus... so I am going to do so!

That was me who said it. And I stand by it.

But good luck!

[Anouleth]

Any units you plan on using? Like the cavaliers or the Raven/Lucius duo?

I'm adopting a 'wait and see' approach. I will be using tons of people anyway in earlygame just for EXP Rank, which gives me perfect freedom to discard the RNG-screwed and focus on the RNG-blessed. For example, Eliwood is doing really well, but Matthew is kind of failing

But good luck!

Well, if you could link me to any old S Rank playlogs, that would be helpful. I assume you'd know where to find them.

Chapter 15

I don't like this chapter! Mainly because of the boss... but the free 11200 in assets is appreciated :P

I make a big wall with Hector, Dorcas, Lowen and Marcus to the south. Erk, Priscilla and Serra move to support them, with Eliwood sitting on the throne. Eliwood burns through a few uses of his Rapier (now on 17 uses) and the Killing Edge (12 uses) against the enemies. I have Matthew grab the Lockpick and the Chests, while Marcus lures Sealen across on Turn 4. Erk takes the boss kill, since he's the only ranged unit accurate enough that I can trust him to finish properly. Serra and Priscilla get in lots of healing.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector    10    31   28  11   7   9   6  11   3
Matthew   10    72   25   5  10  18   5   4   1
Oswin     10    57   29  13  10   5   4  14   3
Serra      7    35   21   7   8  12  10   2   9
Eliwood    8    10   24  10  10   9  10   7   3
Marcus    --/02 46   32  15  16  11   9  10   9
Lowen      7    25   28   8   7   9   4  11   1
Rebecca    6    39   21   6   8  10   5   3   3
Bartre     6    69   33  11   6   5   6   6   2
Dorcas     9    45   35  11   8   6   5   3   0
Guy        5    74   27   8  16  13   6   6   1
Erk        8    29   21   7   8   9   4   2   7
Priscilla  3    59   16   6   6   8   7   3   6

Serra is pretty beastly.

[Balcerzak]

Well, if you could link me to any old S Rank playlogs, that would be helpful. I assume you'd know where to find them.

The only complete logs I'm aware of (on this site) are dondon's and my own.

Doubtless other forums have their own, but I've never looked for them.

[Life]

Serra      7    35   21   7   8  12  10   2   9

Serra. 7 Mag. At level 7.

wat is this i dont even

[Anouleth]

Chapter 16

7 turns

Another unhappy map, especially since I don't have the freedom to buy everything I can afford due to lack of Merlinus. I end up selling the Red Gem and buying:

-Two Iron Lances

-Two Steel Swords

-Two Iron Swords

-One Steel Lance

-One Hand Axe

-One Steel Bow (waste of money, only used it for one Pegasus)

Wil and Lyn go shopping, Kent and Sain go to protect the bottom village. Lowen/Guy/Oswin/Serra/Priscilla work through the forests while Florina drops Hector and Marcus drops Eliwood through the mountains. The rush of Cavaliers is a little bit hairy, but Marcus tanks them all like a man.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector    11    37   29  12   8   9   6  12   3
Oswin     10    88   29  13  10   5   4  14   3
Serra      8     4   22   8   8  13  11   2   9
Eliwood    9     3   25  10  10   9  11   7   4
Marcus    --/02 93   32  15  16  11   9  10   9
Lowen      8    58   29   8   7  10   5  11   1
Guy        6    33   28   8  16  13   7   7   2
Priscilla  3    82   16   6   6   8   7   3   6
Kent       8     8   26  10  10   9   3   7   3
Sain       8    43   26  13   4   9   7   7   1
Lyn        9    12   22   8  13  15   9   5   2
Wil        6    50   23   9   5   6   9   6   0
Florina    8     1   29   8   8  14  11   4   6

lolSerra

[Anouleth]

Chapter 17

10 turns

Deployed: Sain, Kent, Lowen, Marcus, Lyn, Serra, Florina, Priscilla, Matthew

Basic strategy here is to let Kent, Lyn, Serra, and Matthew deal with the initial archers, while everyone else heads north. Being able to deploy so many mounted units is really helpful here. I feel like I may have overused Marcus here, but if I intend to go to Chapter 19xx, I need every turn I can get. Marcus is instrumental for clearing out the archers at the corridor near Raven, and he weakens a lot of stuff as well. After the archers are cleared out, Kent can head north to support the others while Lyn kills Cavs for EXP and Matthew ransacks the chests. The Knight Crest Thief is caught, with plenty of time to spare (Kent takes the kill), while Sain and Florina pick off the Archer reinforcements and Lowen/Marcus/Hector clear out the throne room.

To be honest, I could even have 9 turned this chapter, but I wanted to give the boss kill to Hector rather than Marcus, who has already gotten way too many kills this chapter. Lyn also burnt through a ton of Mani Katti uses.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector    13    32   31  13   9  10   7  13   3
Serra      8    63   22   8   8  13  11   2   9
Marcus    --/ 3 66   32  15  16  11   9  10  10
Lowen     10     7   31   9   9  11   5  11   1
Priscilla  4    82   16   6   7   8   8   3   6
Kent       9    16   27  11  11  10   3   7   3
Sain      10     3   27  15   5  11   7   7   2
Lyn       10    65   23   8  13  16  10   5   3  C Florina
Florina    8    79   29   8   8  14  11   4   6  C Lyn
Matthew   11    24   27   6  10  18   6   4   1
Raven      5    39   29  10  13  14   2   6   3
Lucius     7    31   19   9   8  12   2   1   8

I feel like I should actually tally up my EXP and Funds to see how much I have, but it's such a long process... and I don't have the savestates on hand to check some characters starting level.

My Tactics is now back up to 4 stars, which pleases me.

[Anouleth]

Chapter 17x

5 turns

699 EXP

Deployed: Hector, Florina, Lyn, Kent, Guy, Lucius

I had a lot of difficulty with this chapter before I decided to deploy Lyn over Eliwood. Even now, I'm not 100% happy with the amount of EXP I got.

Guy goes north to fight the Pirates. Hector and Canas take the middle road, while Lyn, Lucius and Kent take the bottom path. Lyn's Mani Katti is crucial to taking out Damien, who is monstrously durable and fast enough that I can't have someone double him with the Horseslayer. As should be expected, a lot of luck is needed on this chapter with all the killer weapons, and also to get my own crits on Damien and for Lyn to stay alive.

Name      Level XP   HP Str Skl Spd Luk Def Res Other
Hector    14    38   32  14  10  10   7  14   4
Kent       9    43   27  11  11  10   3   7   3
Lyn       12    24   25   9  14  17  11   5   4
Florina    8    88   29   8   8  14  11   4   6
Lucius     8    97   20  10   8  13   2   1   8
Guy        7    82   29   8  16  14   8   7   2
Canas      9    43   27  11  11  10   3   7   3

[Anouleth]

Chapter 18

11 turns

1328 EXP

On turn 1, Raven lures the Pegasus Knights while Hector and the Cavs form a wall across the bottom. I begin pushing south slowly, with Serra and the cavs on the RHS and Priscilla and Hector/Raven on the left. Once most of the Mercs are dead, I switch Lowen over. I need to be careful with my money because this is my last opportunity to shop before the Dread Isle. I get a few weapons, three Door Keys, and a ton of staves. I could have cleared this on turn 9, but I decided to stick around, overall I got about 200-300 more EXP out of it that way. The EXP rank is really harsh and it's actually beginning to get me worried. On the plus side though, I have 5* Tactics, so I should be fine to go to Chapter 19xx.

I successfully stole the Elysian Whip and the Guiding Ring.

Oswin, you can flatter me all you like. I'm still not deploying you.

Chapter 19

9 turns

1391 EXP

I deploy Matthew, Serra, Priscilla, Rebecca, Bartre, Erk, Lucius, Raven, Guy, Eliwood, and Florina in this battle. Priscilla, Erk, Rebecca and Dart head to the beach at the north. Eliwood, Raven and Lucius take the area around the two snags, with everyone else heading to the pair of forts. I don't pick up the Torch staff, unfortunately for Chapter 21. Uhai is annoying, the fastest way to deal damage is for Hector to thwack him with the Silver Axe, and Eliwood finishes with the Rapier.

Edited March 13, 2011 by Anouleth

[monkymeet]

It's a shame Oswin isn't talking about Sain's stats.

How're Lyn and Eliwood doing now?