This article is about the chapter ofThe Binding Blade. For the Tempest Trial fromHeroes, seeTempest Trials/Additional data (page 1) § Breath of Destiny.

Breath of Destiny (Japanese:運命の息吹Breath of Destiny) is the first chapter ofFire Emblem: The Binding Blade. In this chapter, the game's main character,Roy, must defend his home march from the attack of a group of bandits. It serves as an introduction to the game's basic mechanics, such as seizing, direct and indirect attack, and movement.

Plot

Main article:Breath of Destiny/Script

A thousand years ago, there was a great war between humans and dragons called theScouring. Since then, the continent ofElibe has become dominated by humans, and currently, it is divided into several nations. The two strongest nations are the westernEtruria and the easternBern, while the less powerful ones are the southernLycia, the snow-covered northern mountains ofIlia, and the north-eastern plains ofSacae. Recently, KingZephiel of Bern launched an invasion to conquer the entire continent, and he has already conquered Sacae and Ilia, now setting his eyes upon Lycia.

In Lycia,Roy ofPherae is called back to his land fromOstia by his fatherEliwood, because Eliwood is ill and somebody must lead the territory's defense.Lilina, the daughter of LordHector of Ostia, is currently in Pherae on a visit to Eliwood, so Roy takes with him an Ostian knight namedBors, who is responsible for Lilina's safety.

When Roy gets back to Pherae, he finds it beset by bandits led byDamas. Eliwood and Lilina had hidden in the castle, and even though Lilina wants to fight the bandits, Eliwood forbids her. He asksMerlinus to send a messenger to Roy, and Merlinus sendsLance, who meets with Roy near the southern village and informs him about the situation. Roy decides to take down the bandits and retake the castle, and so he rushes into battle alongsideMarcus,Wolt,Alen and Lance.

The battle begins, and once Roy defeats the bandits, he meets with Eliwood and Lilina. Eliwood tells him that he is to take over Eliwood's role as acting Marquess of Pherae, because Eliwood is ill and someone needs to lead Pherae's army in the defense of Lycia. Lilina once again offers to help, but Eliwood tells her to go back to Ostia and rule as marchioness in Hector's stead, because Hector is preparing for battle with Bern and Ostia needs a ruler.

Chapter data

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the castle gate	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Roy dies	6	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	14	{{{third}}}
Map dimensions: 15 columns by 21 rows

Character data

Characters
New units
Roy Lord HP 18 Inventory Rapier Vulnerary Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Marcus Paladin HP 32 Inventory Iron Sword Silver Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Alen Cavalier HP 21 Inventory Iron Sword Iron Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Bors Knight HP 20 Inventory Iron Lance Vulnerary Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Wolt Archer HP 18 Inventory Iron Bow Vulnerary Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Lance Cavalier HP 20 Inventory Iron Sword Javelin Vulnerary Level 1 Automatically from turn 1
Available characters
None

Item data

Items

Name Obtainment Method 5,000G Visitvillage

Enemy data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.

NormalHard

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Bandit Archer 1 2 18 4 3 3 0 3 0 7 5 Iron Bow The northwest one begins moving if he can attack a unit within two turns. Damas Fighter 5 1 28 9 5 6 0 4 0 11 5 Steel Axe Moves onto thegate on turn 1, then does not move. Bandit Fighter 1 10 20 5 2 4 0 2 0 11 5 Iron Axe • The northwest one begins moving if he can attack a unit within two turns. • The three southeast ofDamas and the two nearest him move to attack units unprovoked. Bandit Brigand 1 1 20 5 1 5 0 3 0 12 5 Iron Axe Moves to raid thevillage, then moves to attack units unprovoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Bandit Archer 1 2 22~26 6~8 5~7 5~7 2~4 3~5 0~2 7 5 Iron Bow The northwest one begins moving if he can attack a unit within two turns. Damas Fighter 5 1 32~36 11~15 7~9 8~10 0~2 4~6 0~2 11 5 Steel Axe Moves onto thegate on turn 1, then does not move. Bandit Fighter 1 10 24~28 7~11 4~6 6~8 0~2 2~4 0~2 11 5 Iron Axe • The northwest one begins moving if he can attack a unit within two turns. • The three southeast ofDamas and the two nearest him move to attack units unprovoked. Bandit Brigand 1 1 24~28 7~11 3~5 5~7 0~2 3~5 0~2 12 5 Iron Axe Moves to raid thevillage, then moves to attack units unprovoked.

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Boss data

Main article:Damas

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.^[1]

NormalHard

Fighter Level 5

Stats Max HP 28 Luck 0 Strength 9 Defense 4 Skill 5 Resistance 0 Speed 6 Constitution 11 Movement 5 Aid 10

Inventory Steel Axe Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗

Fighter Level 5

Stats Max HP 32~36 Luck 0~2 Strength 11~15 Defense 4~6 Skill 7~9 Resistance 0~2 Speed 8~10 Constitution 11 Movement 5 Aid 10

Inventory Steel Axe Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗

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Strategy

The first chapter inThe Binding Blade can prove a challenge if the player is overconfident. In the first playthrough, it is recommended to act slower, or the enemies can swarm a unit and defeat him. Besides, reinforcements inThe Binding Blade appear at the beginning of the enemy turn, fresh to attack.

At the beginning, the only units who can attack twice in a turn areMarcus andLance. On Normal mode, it is recommended to giveMarcus'sIron Sword toRoy; the player should reserveRoy'srapier for armored or mounted bosses. Nevertheless, there is no need to train thelord immediately; depending on the playthrough,Roy will have 21 to 27 chapters for training before being promoted, so there is enough time. On Hard, however, Marcus can use the Iron Sword to cripple enemy axe units and leave them easy pickings for your unpromoted units. Do not be afraid to use Marcus on Hard, as he is the only unit capable of surviving prolonged combat in your group right now.

Wolt andLance can attack the enemies with theiriron bow andjavelin and make some damage;Alen is the strongest of the unpromoted units, but even he can fall prey to the enemies if they attack him in mass. If any unit receives damage, there are fourvulneraries; the player should not hesitate on using them, as almost all characters can resist only three hits.

If the player does not care too much for turn count, they can make a chokepoint near the starting point, between the water and the cliff. This is highly recommended for beginners and players who are not confident on their luck. In the meantime, thevillage can be visited by a unit who is not fighting. The reward is 5,000gold, which is extremely useful, asRoy's army begins with no money of their own.

The boss hits hard and has a decent amount ofHP; the player should attack him only with swords to ensure they hit. Once the boss is killed,Roy can conquer the castle and end the chapter.

Trivia

• The northern village is coded to give 5,000 gold when visited by a unit, but this is unused as the village is destroyed before turn 1.
• Footage from the Space World 2001 trailer shows Lilina as a playable character in this chapter instead of joining inChapter 8 in the final game.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

• 
  The Map of the chapter.

References