"Alan" redirects here. For the character fromThe Binding Blade, seeAlen. For the character fromRadiant Dawn, seeAran.

Arran (Japanese:アランAran) is apaladin fromAltea. He appears inShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light,Mystery of the Emblem and both of the DS remakes.

Biography

Note: This biography assumes that Arran was recruited inChapter 16 ofShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and its remakes instead of Samson.

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Arran was once a knight for an unnamed kingdom. The civilians of the kingdom started a rebellion due to them being unable to survive the poor living conditions of their home, and Arran was ordered by his liege to suppress the rebellion. Arran followed his liege's orders despite his objections, an action that he would later heavily regret. Afterwards, Arran left his liege and became a wandering knight in order to consider what it means to be a knight, eventually settling in a village inAltea.^[1]

During theArchanean League's reclaiming of Altea in theWar of Shadows. The village that Arran was living in was approached by PrinceMarth and Arran offered to fight for Marth's cause, an offer that Marth accepted. Arran then assisted Marth throughout the war. Following the end of the war, Arran continued to stay by Marth's side as a soldier for Altea. It is also presumably during this time that he developed a serious illness, something he hid from everyone else.

Two years later, Marth was directed by EmperorHardin ofArchanea to suppress the large rebellions occurring inGrust andMacedon. Arran was one of the soldiers deployed to stop these rebellions. Later on, when Marth's defiance towards the corrupt Archanean generalLang's orders begun theWar of Heroes, Arran followed and continued to fight for Marth throughout the war. After the defeat ofMedeus and the end of the war, Arran died peacefully of his illness.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

Role

Arran lives in a village near theAltean castle near another village which has bad blood with Arran's village. WhenMarth's army arrives to retake Altea, he has to choose between visiting Arran's village and recruiting him, or visiting the other village and recruiting the heroSamson. If Arran is chosen, he serves as a soldier in Marth's army for the rest of theWar of Shadows.

Starting stats and growth rates

Paladin Level 1 Movement 10 Experience 0

Recruitment:Chapter 16, visit westernvillage StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 24 Speed 11 Strength 8 Luck 4 Skill 8 Defense 10 W. Level 10 Resistance 0 Max HP 50% Speed 40% Strength 50% Luck 40% Skill 30% Defense 10% W. Level 50% Resistance 0% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Ridersbane Silver Sword Weapons Sword ✓ Lance ✓ Axe ✗ Bow ✗ Tome ✗ Staff ✗ Ballista ✗ Stone ✗

Analysis

Arran joins in Chapter 16 as a pre-promoted Paladin. Because of his late recruitment he won't have much time to contribute or grow. Unfortunately, by the time you recruit him he will likely not hold up in comparison to your other units. He does have some strong attributes: his movement is excellent at 10, his weapon level is high enough to use every sword not exclusive to Marth and every lance besides the Gradivus, his speed and defense are fairly decent and his growths in HP, strength, skill, weapon level, speed and luck are all serviceable. He is also a good candidate to use the Manual to allow him to use the Gradivus, assuming you don't have a better unit who can use it. Unfortunately, these decent attributes don't make up for his weaknesses. Most of his stats, especially his strength, are fairly poor for how late he joins. In order to bring him on par with your trained up units he will need to get several levels or use multiple stat boosters, however with how late he joins by the time he is on par with your other units through level ups the game will be close to done, and your stat boosters are better used elsewhere. If you don't have any units that can effectively use the Gradivus when Arran is recruited he is your best bet, but otherwise he has very little utility.

In comparison to Samson

The main disadvantage Samson has to Arran is his movement: Arran is a Paladin with 10 movement, while Samson is a Hero with 7. This difference is significant as it makes Arran much better at traversing the map, and gives him more options to be positioned; Samson's movement is serviceable but is still weaker. Arran is also able to use lances, which Samson cannot, meaning he can use useful weapons like the Javelin, Silver Lance, and potentially Gradivus if he increases his weapon level by 4—either through leveling up or using the Manual. Arran also has stronger growths in strength and speed, which are very significant stats. However, Samson's base stats in strength, skill, speed, and luck are significantly higher, so even with Arran's superior growths in speed and strength he will likely not surpass Samson's stats. His speed in particular make it very easy for Samson to double, so he will more consistently one-round enemies. Arran typically needs some investment to hold his own compared to other units, but Samson can compete as soon as he joins.

One of the most practical reason to deploy Arran or Samson is to fill out a roster, and for that purpose Samson is more useful as he starts stronger, though he does not get access to a weapon as powerful as the Gradivus later. Arran does have a small advantage in equipment as he comes with a Ridersbane, in addition to a Silver Sword, whilst Samson only comes with the latter.

Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem

Book 1

Role

Arran lives in a village near theAltean castle near another village which has bad blood with Arran's village. WhenMarth's army arrives to retake Altea, he has to choose between visiting Arran's village and recruiting him, or visiting the other village and recruiting the heroSamson. If Arran is chosen, he serves as a soldier in Marth's army for the rest of theWar of Shadows.

Starting stats and growth rates

Paladin (Knight) Level 1 Movement 10/6 Experience 0

Recruitment:Chapter 13, visit westernvillage StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 24 Luck 4 Strength 8/6 W. Level 10 Skill 8/5 Defense 10/8 Speed 11/8 Resistance 6/0 Max HP 50% Luck 40% Strength 50% W. Level 50% Skill 30% Defense 10% Speed 40% Resistance 3% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Weapons Items Silver Sword Iron Lance -- Weapons Sword ✓D Lance ✓M Axe ✗ Bow ✗ Tome ✗ Staff ✗

Analysis

Arran is the alternative to recruitingSamson. Unlike most cases, where having a horse is better, Arran suffers from significantly more flaws than his foot counterpart. His mounted bases are merely mediocre; they are enough to double every remaining mounted enemy and defeat them in two rounds with aSilver Lance, but he struggles against fast infantry units likeHeroes orSnipers. His bulk, while on the low side, is still workable; like Samson, he can survive one hit from any enemy butCamus orMedeus.

Arran's biggest flaw is that he is a mounted unit. Counting the map he is recruited on, four out of the eight remaining maps are indoors; they force him off of his horse and reduce his already mediocre stats. At that point, he becomes a strictly inferior version of Samson; his awful 6 strength and 8 speed fails to provide any offensive presence, and the latter makes him prone to being doubled and one-rounded by enemy Heroes and Snipers with silver weapons. Even while mounted, his durability is about the same as Samson, being unable to survive two hits from stronger enemies; while Arran's offensive growths are good, the same cannot be said about his poor defense and HP growths. On outdoor maps, he is unable to get too much mileage out of having 3 more movement than Samson because he cannot go beyond the front line, or he will risk dying to multiple enemies, preventing him from doing anything noteworthy that Samson cannot already do.

Book 2

Role

During the time betweenFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon andFire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem, Arran contracts a disease that severely hampers his combat abilities and will eventually kill him. Despite this, he continues to serveMarth as one of his knights. One day, Marth is given an imperial edict byHardin ofArchanea to deploy his troops toGrust to quash a rebellion led by GeneralLorenz. Arran is among the knights Marth chooses to accompany him, and he continues to serve Marth throughout theWar of Heroes.

Starting stats and growth rates

Paladin (Knight) Level 3 Movement 10/6 Experience 0

Recruitment:Chapter 1, automatically from the start StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 22 Luck 4 Strength 8/6 W. Level 10 Skill 8/5 Defense 10/8 Speed 11/8 Resistance 6/0 Max HP 10% Luck 0% Strength 10% W. Level 10% Skill 10% Defense 10% Speed 10% Resistance 3% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Weapons Items Silver Lance Steel Sword -- Weapons Sword ✓D Lance ✓M Axe ✗ Bow ✗ Tome ✗ Staff ✗

Analysis

Arran joins in Chapter 1 as a prepromoted paladin with better base stats and worse growth rates than the rest of your army. Most notable is his superior bulk than your other units, having 10 defense, which is 3 points higher thanMarth,Cecil, andLuke, and only one less thanDraug. His defense lead over these units will remain for a long time due to the generally low defense growth rates inMystery of the Emblem, until promotion for the cavaliers and until Level 18 on average for Marth (not factoring in any star shards that may be carried).

Arran's other notable stat leads are in speed and weapon level, and he can use the Silver Lance at base. Cecil can also use the Silver Lance at base, but she gets weighed down to 1 attack speed and cannot double with it. In contrast, Arran has 4 attack speed and can double the many 0 attack speed enemies in the early game, including the brigands in Chapters 1 and 4, the soldiers and cavaliers in Chapter 2, and the cavaliers in Chapter 3.Catria, who joins in Chapter 2, can also use the Silver Lance at base, and while she will have a higher attack speed with it than Arran she has worse bulk and strength than him.

Arran's abysmal growth rates make him a bad unit to use in the long term, as his bases, while solid, are not good enough to carry him through the late game, so he will have to rely on theAstral Shards to reach late-game thresholds. Any of the unpromoted cavaliers that join will make for better long-term units than Arran, as will other early-joining growth units like Marth, Catria,Gordin, andOgma. Arran's status as the strongest early-game unit does not last long either, asSirius, who joins in Chapter 4, strictly outclasses Arran in both bases and growths;Palla, who joins in Chapter 3, also strictly outclasses Arran in stats and can fly (an incredibly powerful trait inMystery of the Emblem), and Catria will surpass Arran within a few chapters and can also fly. Even if Arran were to receive stat help from stat boosters or Astral Shards, Paladin is a poor class for many chapters post Chapter 8 that are either indoors or have terrain that limits movement.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Role

Arran lives in a village near theAltean castle near another village which has bad blood with Arran's village. WhenMarth's army arrives to retake Altea, he has to choose between visiting Arran's village and recruiting him, or visiting the other village and recruiting the heroSamson. If Arran is chosen, he serves as a soldier in Marth's army for the rest of theWar of Shadows.

Starting stats and growth rates

Paladin Level 10 Movement 10

Recruitment:Chapter 16, visit westernvillage StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 24 Speed 11 Strength 8 Luck 4 Magic 1 Defense 10 Skill 8 Resistance 6 Max HP 50% Speed 40% Strength 50% Luck 40% Magic 0% Defense 15% Skill 30% Resistance 5% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Silver Lance Killer Lance Weapon Levels D A -- -- -- --

Growth rates when reclassed

Analysis

Arran joins in Chapter 16 ofShadow Dragon as a pre-promoted level 10Paladin. Arran's personal base stats are very low, and reclassing does not improve them. While his growths are high for a pre-promote, he does not have many levels to gain, and he gains experience slower because of his level. His base stats are worse thanSamson's by a significant margin, and the player can only recruit either him or Samson. Samson also has a more unique niche; many units inShadow Dragon have a good lance rank, but fewer have a good axe rank like Samson does.

Arran does have A rank in lances; it is the highest base lance rank in the game among playable units, and with it, Arran can use every lance in the game with no investment. If the player gives him powerful weapons like theGradivus, Arran can deal significant damage despite his low stats. Arran can also use lances that deal effective damage, such asRidersbane andDragonpike. However, at this point of the game, the player will have access to many effective lance users, and Arran's base stats are very poor, making him one of the worst candidates for their usage.

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

Role

During the time betweenFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon andFire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem, Arran contracts a disease that severely hampers his combat abilities and will eventually kill him. Despite this, he continues to serveMarth as one of his knights. One day, Marth is given an imperial edict byHardin ofArchanea to deploy his troops toGrust to quash a rebellion led by GeneralLorenz. Arran is among the knights Marth chooses to accompany him, and he continues to serve Marth throughout theWar of Heroes.

Starting stats and growth rates

Paladin Level 3 Movement 10

Recruitment:Chapter 1, automatically from the start StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 26 Speed 11 Strength 10 Luck 4 Magic 1 Defense 10 Skill 12 Resistance 6 Max HP 40% Speed 10% Strength 15% Luck 10% Magic 0% Defense 15% Skill 25% Resistance 0% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Silver Lance Iron Sword Weapon Levels D B -- -- -- --

Growth rates when reclassed

Original set

Second set

These classes are only available after beating Hard Mode.

Analysis

Arran is the first prepromoted unit you get access to inNew Mystery of the Emblem and, as such, has both good bases and high weapon levels for his join time. Furthermore, he has access to the silver lance to deal high damage against the earlygame enemies and set up kills for your other units. Arran's stats won't be very impressive for long, however, due to his terrible growth rates and the high growths of most other characters inNew Mystery. In addition, seeing as the enemies inNew Mystery are generally powerful and grow in strength faster than Arran does, he will become irrelevant combat wise around the midgame (Palla andSirius joining a few chapters later with not only the same lance rank but also higher bases and growths doesn't help either). Arran's best niches are achieved through reclassing: he can become aGeneral to serve as a great tank against the powerful early-game enemies, aDracoknight to improve his strength and give extra flying utility to the army, or serve as a staffbot by reclassing to either aSage or aBishop. Overall, like a typicalJagen unit, Arran is very useful in the earlygame and can find some use in the midgame as well, but falls off afterward.

Personality

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Supports

Mystery of the Emblem

Arran Paladin Supports: None. [[{{{supportg1}}}]] Bishop Bonus: {{{bonusg1}}} [[{{{supportg2}}}]] Bishop Bonus: {{{bonusg2}}} [[{{{supportg3}}}]] Bishop Bonus: {{{bonusg3}}} Supported by: None. [[{{{supporto1}}}]] Bishop Bonus: {{{bonuso1}}} [[{{{supporto2}}}]] Bishop Bonus: {{{bonuso2}}}

Shadow Dragon

Arran Paladin Mutual supports: None. [[{{{supportm1}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm1}}} B: {{{bm1}}} A: {{{am1}}} [[{{{supportm2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm2}}} B: {{{bm2}}} A: {{{am2}}} [[{{{supportm3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm3}}} B: {{{bm3}}} A: {{{am3}}} [[{{{supportm4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm4}}} B: {{{bm4}}} A: {{{am4}}} [[{{{supportm5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm5}}} B: {{{bm5}}} A: {{{am5}}} Supported by:* Marth Lord C: 5 B: 8 A: 35 [[{{{supporto2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co2}}} B: {{{bo2}}} A: {{{ao2}}} [[{{{supporto3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co3}}} B: {{{bo3}}} A: {{{ao3}}} [[{{{supporto4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co4}}} B: {{{bo4}}} A: {{{ao4}}} [[{{{supporto5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co5}}} B: {{{bo5}}} A: {{{ao5}}}

New Mystery of the Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow

Arran Paladin Mutual supports: Samson Hero C: 3 B: 6 A:- [[{{{supportm2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm2}}} B: {{{bm2}}} A: {{{am2}}} [[{{{supportm3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm3}}} B: {{{bm3}}} A: {{{am3}}} [[{{{supportm4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm4}}} B: {{{bm4}}} A: {{{am4}}} [[{{{supportm5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm5}}} B: {{{bm5}}} A: {{{am5}}} Supported by:* Kris Myrmidon C: 5 B: 11 A: 18 Marth Lord C: 5 B: 11 A: 18 [[{{{supporto3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co3}}} B: {{{bo3}}} A: {{{ao3}}} [[{{{supporto4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co4}}} B: {{{bo4}}} A: {{{ao4}}} [[{{{supporto5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co5}}} B: {{{bo5}}} A: {{{ao5}}}

Base conversations

Main article:Arran/Conversations

Endings

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

Arran
Rebuilds villages razed during the war.

Mystery of the Emblem

Book 1

Arran, Wayward Paladin
At Jagen's request, Arran became Altea's new knight captain. His efforts helped many a town rise from the ashes after the war.

Book 2

Arran, Grim Paladin
Despite his hopes, he survived the war, later dying at home of an unspecified illness. To him, a dishonorable end.

Shadow Dragon

Arran, Free Paladin
Arran became captain of Altea's knights. His efforts helped many a town rise from the ashes after the war.

New Mystery of the Emblem: Heroes of Light and Shadow

Arran, Ailing Paladin
Arran died of illness shortly after the war.

Quotes

Death quotes

Everyone's Conditions quotes

Other appearances

Fire Emblem Trading Card Game

Arran was featured on one TCG card in the fifth series.

Fire Emblem Trading Card Game data for Arran
	Class:Paladin	Level 10 Cavalry	Direct Attack
	Energy: 7	Atk.: 4 / Counter: 2	WLv.: A
	Equip:Silver Lance	Skills:Rush (If an attack after moving causes an adjacent enemy to withdraw, can move to the square the enemy unit was) Emblem Skills:[Power] (Energy 2) •[Resistance] (Discard 2)
	Card #5-016 •Rarity: ★ •Artist:Katsuyoshi Koya
Card scans and information translation provided byAquantis.

Fire Emblem Cipher

Arran is featured on one card inFire Emblem Cipher.

Fire Emblem Cipher data for Arran
	Ready-to-Die Paladin, Arran
		"The fact that I could devote my final days to fighting under Prince Marth is my life's pride."
		Attack: 70	Support: 10	Range: 1	Deploy Cost: 3
		Class: Paladin		Tier:Advanced	Class Change Cost: 2
		Commander of the Altean Knights:[Always] If this unit is in the Front Line, this unit gains +10 attack. Looming Malady:[Trigger] At the beginning of your turn, if you have 2 or fewer orbs and this unit is not your lord, send this unit to the Boundless Area.
	Card #B15-024HN • Artist:Setsu
Some card information translation provided by Serenes Forest. For more detailed strategic information on these cards, seetheir TCG wiki article on Arran .

Flavor text

Choose Your Legends placement history

Round	Placement	Character	Votes

CYL 1 (2017)	582	Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon	138
	679	Arran Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem	73

CYL 2 (2018)	643	Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon	96 (−42)
	778	Arran Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem	28 (−45)

CYL 3 (2019)

530 (−20)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

172 (+47)

CYL 4 (2020)

642 (+42)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

85 (−87)

CYL 5 (2021)

661 (+19)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

58 (−27)

CYL 6 (2022)

657 (−6)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

60 (+2)

CYL 7 (2023)

576 (−81)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

71 (+11)

CYL 8 (2024)

608 (+32)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

64 (−7)

CYL 9 (2025)

602 (−6)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

52 (−12)

CYL 10 (2026)

550 (−52)

Arran Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

47 (−5)

Total results		This character has 12 entries across all Choose Your Legends polls.	944

Trivia

• Arran's name, paired with the name ofSamson's, who the player must choose between inShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light/Shadow Dragon, is a possible pun on major Nintendo characterSamus Aran.
• The developers originally intended for the plot ofShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light to change depending on whether the player recruited Arran or Samson, but the limitations of theFamily Computer made this impossible. This concept later served as the basis of the split versions and storylines ofFire Emblem Fates, in whichCorrin must choose to side with eitherthe country that adopted and raised them,the alleged country of their birth, or neither, with their decision having major ramifications on the games' plot.^[2]
• Arran is erroneously referred to as "Allan" in theFire Emblem Trading Card Game section ofLegacy of Archanea.
• In theMystery of the Emblem Hideo Takayashiki novels, the surname "Argis" (Japaneseアルギス) is given to Arran.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Paladin Sword Lance Javelin/Gradivus
Mystery of the Emblem Paladin Knight Lance Sword (Promoted)
Shadow Dragon PaladinDracoknightSniperSwordmasterSageBishop Paladin Sword Lance Dracoknight Lance Axe Sniper Bow Swordmaster Sword Sage Tome,Staff Bishop Tome,Staff {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
New Mystery of the Emblem PaladinDracoknightSniperSwordmasterSageBishopGeneralHeroWarriorHorsemanBerserkerSorcerer Paladin Sword Lance Dracoknight Lance Axe Sniper Bow Swordmaster Sword Sage Tome,Staff Bishop Tome,Staff General Lance Bow Hero Sword Axe Warrior Axe Bow Horseman Bow Sword Berserker Axe Sorcerer Tome {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}

Official artwork

• 
  Artwork of Arran fromShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.
• 
  Artwork of Arran fromMystery of the Emblem.
• 
  Artwork of Arran from theTrading Card Game.

Cipher artwork

• 
  Artwork of Arran.

References

This article is part ofProject Characters, a project focused on writing articles for every character present in theFire Emblem series.