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Class change
| “ | So you've noticed myknight crest, have you? You've eyes like an eagle, my friend! Once I've used the crest, I'll be even stronger! A terrifying thought, isn't it? Ha ha ha haaaa! | ” | — Wallace, on being able to change class |
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Class change (Japanese:クラスチェンジclass change), more commonly called"promotion", is the process by which aunit is transformed from a basicclass into a more powerful class. With very few exceptions, the act of class changing substantially increases thestats of the unit, may increase the number of accessible weapon types available to them, and resets theirlevel to 1 to grant them another twenty levels in which to gain stats.
In the majority of games, class changing is achieved by using special items on units once they reach a certain level threshold, usually 10. While the level threshold requirement remains consistent across the series, some other games implement different methods of changing class, some of which occasionally coexist: visiting set locations in the game, reaching their maximum level, or through story events. The main character is typically able to change class only through story events, which often happen late in the game or sometimes even only a chapter or two away from its end; this is sometimes tied with obtaining a special plot-related weapon or item, or being granted a special title or status.
While normally class change consists only of a singlebasic class and a singleadvanced class, there are a handful of games which implement some variation in this status quo.The Sacred Stones,Awakening,Fates,Engage and to a lesser extentGaiden implement "branched promotion", where one class will have multiple class change options (often two) which can be chosen between by the player; some games also feature "trainee" classes, weaker classes which have several basic classes as their class change options, allowing them some greater variation and flexibility in their eventual advanced class choice.Gaiden andRadiant Dawn feature a more powerfulthird tier of classes, which the usual advanced classes promote to in turn.Three Houses goes even further and features four tiers of classes: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and master.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light
InShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, class change is achieved through the use ofitems specific to each class, specifically theKnight Crest for cavaliers, theHero Crest for mercenaries, theSkydrake Whip for pegasus knights, theOrion's Bolt for archers, and theBishop's Ring for mages, clerics, and curates. All other units—including theLord—are incapable of promotion at all.
Fire Emblem Gaiden
InGaiden, class changing is achieved by visiting anyMila Shrine. By interacting with the female statue in the center of each, the player is prompted as to whether they want to promote each unit capable of promoting at the time. Each class has a set threshold level for class changing; once they reach this, the player is notified when the unit levels up to the correct level.Gaiden is the first game to feature trainee classes (albeit only one, theVillager) and third-tier advanced classes.
Alm andCelica both promote in events: Celica promotes toPrincess by talking to a woman in Grieth's Fort after clearing it inChapter 3, and Alm promotes toHero when Celica talks toHalcyon in the Sage's Hamlet inChapter 4. While Celica's initial class,Priestess, is not exclusive to her, no other Priestess can promote to Princess. When promoting a Villager, the player is randomly offered a class to promote it to; if the option is not to the player's wishes, they may cancel and try again to get a different offered class. When aDread Fighter promotes to Villager, they can promote again to any of the five options available to the Villager as usual, looping the process of the class change tree from the beginning.
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
The class change system ofMystery of the Emblem is mostly unchanged fromShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, using a variety of class-specific items for each class to promote. In addition to the promotions inShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, TheKnight can now use aKnight Crest to promote toGeneral, and theHunter can now use anOrion's Bolt to promote toHorseman; however,Marth, theFighter andThief are still incapable of promotion.
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
InGenealogy of the Holy War, physical items are not used to class change, effectively removing the main limitation of a small number of available class change items. Class changing can be initiated at any time in the chapter'shome castle, by selecting a unit and picking the "Class Change" option. AfterOifey (first generation) orLewyn (second generation) confirms the player's intent, the unit in question changes class. Unlike most games, a unit becomes capable of changing class at level 20, not 10; a unit who has reached this threshold will be marked on status screens with a green up-pointing arrow and the word "OK". After promotion, their class does not roll back over to 1, but rather remains the same; the game's level cap is 30.
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
TheThracia 776 class change system reverted to being akin to that ofMystery of the Emblem: class changing is again achieved through the use of items while on the battlefield, instead of having to visit a specific location. UnlikeMystery of the Emblem, this time class changing is achieved entirely through a single item for almost all classes: theKnight Proof. As with inGenealogy of the Holy War, some classes may have multiple promotion options, but they depend on the specific character promoting and cannot be chosen between by the player.
Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
The Binding Blade restored the use of multiple class change items, each associated with multiple classes, as opposed to the single class change item ofThracia; most of these items are either returning from or based on the earlier class change items ofMystery of the Emblem. Compared toGenealogy andThracia, like most other facets of the game, the range of classes available is smaller and simplified. As inMystery of the Emblem, theKnight Crest is again used by Cavaliers and Knights to become Paladins and Generals. Additionally, theHero Crest is used by Mercenaries, Myrmidons, Fighters, Pirates, and Brigands to become Heroes, Swordmasters, Warriors, and Berserkers; theOrion's Bolt is used by Archers and Nomads to become Snipers and Nomad Troopers; theGuiding Ring is used by Mages, Priests, Shamans, and Troubadours to become Sages, Bishops, Druids, and Valkyries; and theElysian Whip is used by Pegasus Knights and Wyvern Riders to become Falcoknights and Wyvern Lords. The Lord promotes automatically at a certain point in the story, while Thieves, Bards, Dancers, and Manaketes cannot promote at all.
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
The class change system ofThe Binding Blade remains largely unchanged inThe Blazing Blade. The biggest difference is that class changing can now be done from thepreparations screen, asThe Blazing Blade introduced the ability to use items from this menu.The Blazing Blade also introduced theEarth Seal, a secondary class change item option for almost every class in the vein of theKnight Proof ofThracia 776. In addition, Monks and Clerics can use theGuiding Ring to become Bishops; Thieves can now use aFell Contract to become Assassins; Pirates now use anOcean Seal rather than a Hero Crest to become Berserkers; and Brigands are now an enemy-exclusive class that does not promote at all.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
The class change system ofThe Sacred Stones remains mostly the same as inThe Blazing Blade, with the addition of branched class change trees, giving every class save theLord two class options to promote to, which are actively chosen between by the player at the time of promotion. As withThe Blazing Blade, in addition to the individual class change items, there is also a secondary unified class change item which works on all classes except the Lord: theMaster Seal. Thieves now use anOcean Seal to promote; all other classes use the same items as inThe Blazing Blade.
The Sacred Stones houses the most robust incarnation of thetrainee classes system. In it, there are three trainee classes—Journeyman,Recruit andPupil—which have a branching set of three class change options. From a trainee class, a unit will promote to become a conventional base class, and then can in turn promote into advanced classes normally.
The trainee classes automatically promote at level 10. After certain requirements are met, the trainees have the option to stay in their respective classes for this first promotion. If this is done, the Journeyman needs a Hero Crest, the Recruit a Knight Crest, and the Pupil a Guiding Ring, for their second promotion.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
ThePath of Radiance class change system returns to each base class having a single class change option, and condenses class change items into a single item for all classes: theMaster Seal. However, a Master Seal is not the only way to promote—compatible units will automatically promote without one if they gain 100 moreexperience after reacing Level 20. Of the two playableThieves, onlyVolke is capable of promotion toAssassin, doing so in an event at the end ofChapter 19 if the player selects to hire him;Sothe cannot promote at all.
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
The class change mechanics ofRadiant Dawn remain mostly the same as inPath of Radiance, with the addition of a third tier promotion for every advanced class. In all cases of promotion regardless of tier, either gaining 100 EXP after reaching level 20 or the use of a promotion item (Master Seal for basic classes,Master Crown for advanced classes) are the means of accessing promotion (however, in the Japanese version, advanced classes cannot promote through leveling and instead must use a Master Crown). For third-tier advanced classes,mastery skills are learned automatically upon promotion and do not require an item like inPath of Radiance.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
As an enhanced remake ofShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light andMystery of the Emblem Book 1, the class change structure ofShadow Dragon is an expanded version of the original two games. The two primary differences are the use of theMaster Seal as the near-exclusive class change item for all classes, and the implementation of several classes introduced in later games to give class change options to classes still lacking them inMystery of the Emblem; however, theLord,Thief,Freelancer,Manakete andBallistician still cannot promote and are in compensation treated asspecial classes with a maximum level of 30.
Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem
InNew Mystery of the Emblem, the class change system, array of classes and promotion games are almost entirely identical to those ofShadow Dragon, differing only in a few variations class base stats and therefore a few variations in promotion gains. Unlike inShadow Dragon, theElysian Whip can be found during the normal course of the main game, removing the restriction on Falcoknight availability.
Fire Emblem Awakening
Awakening reintroduces branching class changes for almost every class, the exceptions being theLord andTactician classes. A single item—theMaster Seal—is used to promote all classes, includingLords. Master Seals are freely available from certain merchants on theworld map, effectively allowing the player to promote every playable character.
Fire Emblem Fates
- Main article:
Class change/Nintendo 3DS games §Fire Emblem Fates
TheFates system is unchanged fromAwakening.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia largely copies the class change system ofGaiden verbatim, with characters being required to visitMila Shrines in order to promote, after they reach a required level. Almost all quirks associated with the class change system ofGaiden remain intact, such as promotion gains being based on whether or not a stat has reached the promoted class' base stat, and the ability forDread Fighters to "promote" back to theVillager class, thus looping through the class change tree. As in the original,Celica promotes through an event inChapter 3; unlike in the original, however,Alm does not promote inChapter 4 when Celica speaks toHalcyon in the Sage's Hamlet—this merely enables him to promote, but like any other character, he must visit a Mila Shrine to do so.
TheDLC ofShadows of Valentia introduces the concept of "over classes", which, once purchased by the player, may be accessed by units who have reached level 20 of their standard highest-tier class by visiting the appropriate altar; e.g.Alm must visit theAltar of the King in order to promote toConqueror, once he has reached level 20 in theHero class. Overclasses also grant enhanced maximum stats, additional 20 levels to grow and even new attributes as the ability to useblack magic forHarrier, new spells forEnchantresses,Gurus andExemplars or newskills likeTri-affliction forYashas,Phalanx forSpartans andBowrange +3 forOliphantiers.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Three Houses greatly overhauls the class change system, while retaining some features fromShadows of Valentia. Class changing is achieved by completing certification exams, which require specific skill levels and seals. There are now four tiers of classes available: beginner classes at level 5, intermediate classes at level 10, advanced classes at level 20, and master classes at level 30. Units can attempt a certification exam for any of these tiers if their level is high enough and they have the appropriate seal. These exams can be taken if a unit's skill level is not quite high enough, though this reduces the chances of the unit actually passing the exam and gaining access to the new class. A certification exam cannot be attempted if the unit's chance of passing it is less than 30%.
Completing an exam also does not forcibly switch the unit to the new class, instead prompting the player if they would like to do so themselves. Upon passing a certification exam, the unit will have their base stats boosted to the class's base stats if they are lower, like inShadows of Valentia. Changing classes will also provide the unit various class stat modifiers, as well as bonuses or penalties to certaingrowth rates. A unit's level is not reset upon class changing or gaining access to a class.
Some specific classes are available only through events, and do not require passing an exam to obtain them.Byleth gains access toEnlightened One after completingChapter 10.Edelgard,Dimitri, andClaude all automatically switch to new classes at the start of Part 2: these classes areArmored Lord,High Lord, andWyvern Master respectively. They later also gain access to stronger versions of these classes, those beingEmperor,Great Lord, andBarbarossa. Additionally, theDancer class is made available to a unit if they win the White Heron Cup inChapter 9.
Fire Emblem Engage
Class change is achieved by using aMaster Seal at level 10 or higher. Personal classes only have one option, while generic classes have two. Class changing requires havingproficiency for the weapons of the new class. Each promoted class has a uniqueskill that is learned at level 5, and is lost whenreclassing to a new class.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE
InTokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, class change is unlocked afterChapter 3. Every character is given the option of two promotions. Performing a class change will also unlock newCarnages and skills.
Fire Emblem Warriors
- Main article:
Class change/Spin-off games §Fire Emblem Warriors
InWarriors, class change offers a stat boost and the ability to unlock newCrests. Unlike mostFire Emblem games, the advanced class and stat gains are dependent on the character. Performing a class change will also unlock the associatedcostume. Players may switch back to the base class's costume at any point, which will change back the name for their class, but will not revert the stats gained from promotion.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
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Other appearances
Genealogy of the Holy War Ōsawa manga adaptation
In this manga adaptation, the concept of class changing is adapted somewhat into being a process of special training. Promoted classes are considered to be an honorific title, which one has to earn by way of practical mastery of the required skills, and the process of "promoting" is a knighting ceremony.
While in exile inSilesse,Lachesis decided to attempt to pursue attaining the title of "Master", and enlistedFinn's assistance in doing so by asking him to help her train in the use of lances. She successfully attained the title, withClaud administering the ceremony, and afterwardQuan reminded Finn that it was time to pursuehis own knightly promotion.
Fire Emblem: Hasha no Tsurugi
Al's starting class is???. However, he can temporarely promote toDragon Lord using hisDragonstone.
Gant's starting class isKnight, but he becomes aGeneral upon receiving his new armor.
Etymology and other languages
| Names, etymology, and in other regions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Definition, etymology, and notes |
| English | Class change | -- |
| English (unofficial) | Promotion | While "Class change" has been the official English term since theFire Emblem series's first localization, fan materials typically favor this term. The term also appears in-game in the descriptions of theMaster Seal fromRadiant Dawn throughFates. |
| Japanese | クラスチェンジ | Class change |
| Spanish | Cambio de clase | Class change |
| French | Changement de classe | Class change |
