Thecombat forecast (Japanese:戦闘予測combat prediction), also known as thecombat information window orcombat window (Japanese:戦闘情報ウィンドウcombat information window), is a gameplay feature in theFire Emblem series, first appearing inGenealogy of the Holy War, althoughMystery of the Emblem had a similar feature which displayed the enemy's battle stats.

The combat forecast is shown after selecting attack and then a weapon from the menu or, fromShadow Dragon onward, placing the unit onto an attack-able enemy (which skips weapon selection). The targeted unit can be changed by pressing the left and right directions on the +Control Pad, and combat is initiated with the A button. FromShadow Dragon onward, a unit's weapon can be changed right from the combat forecast menu with the X and Y buttons. Due to this, fromNew Mystery of the Emblem untilFates, there is an option to skip selection of a weapon entirely: the player can select "Classic" (Japanese:クラシックClassic), which works like previous games, or "Evolved" (Japanese:アドバンスAdvanced), which skips weapon selection.

Mystery of the Emblem's pseudo-combat forecast shows most of the enemy's battle stats, namely its name, class, weapon, currentHP,attack,hit,avoid,critical rate,attack speed,defense, andresistance.

In theGenealogy of the Holy War, the combat forecast displays the enemy unit's name, class, weapon, and level, and both units'attack,defense/resistance, andhit rate.Thracia 776 adds the player unit's name and level, along with both units'attack speed andcritical rate, and gives the menu a visual overhaul.

FromThe Binding Blade onward, by default it instead shows the already calculated damage and whether the unit can make afollow-up attack, rather than showing attack, defense/resistance, and attack speed. Prior toShadow Dragon, the classic combat forecast menu is able to be chosen in the options menu, or the combat forecast can be turned off entirely.

InShadow Dragon, duringChapter 23, the combat forecast will actively lie when facing one of the fakeGharnefs, displaying 0 damage from all non-Starlight player attacks, preventing the identity of the real Gharnef from being exposed without actually entering combat, where damage values are displayed correctly.

InAwakening andFates, a simplified menu is shown if simplified GUI is selected in the options menu, along with simplifying character stat screens. The simplified menu shows what HP values units could have after the combat.

Echoes: Shadows of Valentia returns to showing attack and defense rather than damage, but also incorporates an HP meter similar to the possible result numbers from the simplified menu of older games; it also shows terrain and support bonuses. In the options, a simplified combat forecast can be chosen which is the same as the menu used fromThe Binding Blade onward, aside from having the HP bar.

Three Houses' combat forecast is similar toShadows of Valentia's simplified combat forecast. Comparing the information shown, skill icons can be seen, and terrain bonuses are no longer shown; durability is also shown again, as the mechanic returns. ZL and ZR can be used to switch between combat arts. If aLinked Attack is active, the side of the "Hit" label corresponding to the unit glows.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

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  The precursor to the combat forecast inMystery of the Emblem.
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  Selecting aweapon to use inMystery of the Emblem.
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  The combat forecast inGenealogy of the Holy War.
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  The combat forecast inThracia 776.
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  The strategic combat forecast inThe Blazing Blade.
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  The detailed combat forecast inThe Blazing Blade.
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  The simple combat forecast inPath of Radiance.
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  The detailed combat forecast inPath of Radiance.
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  The simple combat forecast inRadiant Dawn.
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  The detailed combat forecast inRadiant Dawn.
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  The combat forecast inShadow Dragon.
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  The full combat forecast inAwakening.
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  The simplified combat forecast inAwakening.
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  The normal combat forecast inFates.
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  The simple combat forecast inFates.
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  The standard combat forecast inEchoes: Shadows of Valentia.
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  The simplified combat forecast inEchoes: Shadows of Valentia.
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  The combat forecast inThree Houses.