Erk (Japanese:エルクErk) is anEtrurian mage appearing inFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. He is a student of magic studying under Etruria'sMage General,Pent.

He initially appears inLyn's tale, serving asSerra's escort. He also appears inHector's andEliwood's stories under the employ ofPriscilla.

Biography

Erk was chosen to be the pupil of LordPent at the young age of twelve, and lived in Castle Reglay in Etruria with Pent and his wife,Louise. Although he was readily accepted by Pent and Louise and treated like a son by them, Erk's aloof nature caused him to remain in his room and study all day at the expense of his health, much to the concern of Pent and Louise.

As part of his training under Pent, Erk was employed by theOstian priestessSerra to escort her from Bern to Ostia. Along the way, the duo encountered a battle betweenLyn of Caelin and the Ganelon Bandits. They joined the battle on Lyn's side and defeated the bandits. Serra then decided to accompany Lyn on her quest to meet her grandfather, and Erk accompanied Lyn as well. Once Lyn reached Caelin and defeatedLundgren, Erk and Serra left and returned to Ostia, much to Erk's relief.

After his training had concluded, Erk returned to Castle Reglay, but very soon afterward, he left on another journey^[3] to accompany the noblewomanPriscilla on the orders of Pent^[4] to search for her missing older brotherRaymond. About one year later, Priscilla was detained in Laus by MarquessDarin, and Erk was unable to rescue her until the arrival ofEliwood,Hector, and their companions. Serra convinced Erk to join them, and the group successfully rescued Priscilla. Alternatively, the group saved Priscilla first, and she convinced Erk to join Eliwood and Hector. Either way, Erk helped Priscilla find Raymond, and then became a soldier in Eliwood and Hector's army.

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

Role

Erk is a playable unit who appears in bothLyn's tale andEliwood's/Hector's tales. If Lyn's tale was played, then Erk's stats by the end of Lyn's tale will be transferred when he reappears during Eliwood's/Hector's tales.

Starting stats and growth rates

Lyn's taleEliwood's/Hector's tales

Mage Level 1 Affinity

Recruitment:Chapter 5, talk to him orSerra withLyn StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 17 Luck 3 Magic 5 Defense 2 Skill 6 Resistance 4 Speed 7 Constitution 5 Movement 5 Aid 4 Max HP 65% Luck 30% Magic 40% Defense 20% Skill 40% Resistance 40% Speed 50% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Fire Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- D -- -- --

Mage Level 1 Affinity

Recruitment:Chapter 14, talk to withSerra orPriscilla StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 17 Luck 3 Magic 5 Defense 2 Skill 6 Resistance 4 Speed 7 Constitution 5 Movement 5 Aid 4 Max HP 65% Luck 30% Magic 40% Defense 20% Skill 40% Resistance 40% Speed 50% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Thunder Goddess Icon Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- D -- -- --

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• Note: Erk has the same starting stats in Eliwood/Hector's tale if he was defeated during Lyn's tale or if it was skipped.

Promotion stat gains

Class	HP	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Con	Mov	Weapon level
Sage	+4	+1	+0	+0	+0	+3	+3	+1	+1	+ 40, E

Analysis

If the player has not playedLyn Mode, Erk joins as a level 1Mage. He has decent all-around base stats and balanced growth rates. None of his stats stand out as high, though, and his durability is low. With 17 base HP and 2 defense, physical enemies will kill Erk in two hits. That said, Erk is fast enough to avoid getting doubled by any enemies, so he can take a stray attack.

Erk can be offensively competent. He has a D-rank in anima magic, letting him useThunder at base level. His base speed is not enough to double but sufficient to prevent him from getting doubled. Higher-rank tomes are heavy, and Erk only has 5 base constitution, so wielding them slows him down significantly. In the early game, though, he can just useFire and Thunder, and they're likely going to be his most used tomes in the late-game as well. Fire does not weigh him down at all, and Thunder only weighs him down by 1 point. Erk's promotion bonus toSage gives him +1 constitution, among other perks, so Thunder no longer weighs him down after he promotes.

Erk's promotion is useful. He gains +4 HP, +3 defense and resistance, +1 magic, +1 constitution and +1 movement. The durability and movement increases are welcome, considering Erk struggles with both. He also gains +40 weapon experience in anima magic and E-rank staves. After promoting, Erk can useHeal to support other units.

It takes Erk a while to reach doubling thresholds against most enemies. He struggles even more to double faster enemies, although these are rare. Erk also lacks a mount, so he falls behind the mounted frontline. While having a competent magic user is useful, Erk cannot one-round without doubling. He also cannot one-round magical enemies because of their higher resistance. That said, once Erk reaches doubling thresholds and promotes, he can one-round most enemy types by using a Thunder tome, and when he is not fighting, he can heal allies, though he can only use E-rank staves without investment.

With Lyn Mode, Erk is a significantly better unit. He is one of the best recipients of Lyn Mode'sEnergy Ring andAngelic Robe. The former increases his damage output, bringing him closer to one-rounding, and the latter improves his durability. He can also gain additional experience there, before the primary campaign. If Erk receives enough training with decent level-ups, he can reach doubling and one-rounding thresholds in advance. An Erk trained in Lyn Mode can one-round every enemy in his joining chapter and continues to do so throughout the game. He can also be promoted as soon as the player gets aGuiding Ring.

Overall, Erk is an average combat unit capable of one-rounding if he can double enemies. His stats are good offensively, but his defenses are weak. After promotion, he can contribute to healing here and there. With Lyn Mode investment, however, Erk becomes significantly better. Unless the player is unlucky with his growths, he will be capable of one-rounding most enemies as soon as he joins after Lyn Mode. Even inHector Hard Mode, the hardest difficulty in the game, an Erk with this investment will be among the player's most competent combat units.

Fire Emblem Heroes

Role

Erk is one of the characters added to the game in theTreachery update, and became available for summoning by players on April 6, 2021. Only one variation of Erk is currently available inHeroes, based on hisThe Blazing Blade incarnation.

Erk: Studious Mage

Starting stats

★★★★★★★★★★★★

Rarity ★★★ Weapon type Movement type

Initial StatsLevel 40 Stats Maximum HP 17/18/19 Attack 5/6/7 Speed 7/8/9 Defense 4/5/6 Resistance 6/7/8 Maximum HP 38/41/44 Attack 28/31/34 Speed 32/35/38 Defense 13/16/19 Resistance 21/24/27 {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}

Skills Elfire -- --

Rarity ★★★★ Weapon type Movement type

Initial StatsLevel 40 Stats Maximum HP 17/18/19 Attack 5/6/7 Speed 8/9/10 Defense 4/5/6 Resistance 7/8/9 Maximum HP 39/42/45 Attack 29/32/35 Speed 34/37/41 Defense 14/17/20 Resistance 23/26/29 {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}

Skills Rauðrfox -- New Moon

Rarity ★★★★★ Weapon type Movement type

Initial StatsLevel 40 Stats Maximum HP 18/19/20 Attack 6/7/8 Speed 8/9/10 Defense 5/6/7 Resistance 7/8/9 Maximum HP 42/45/48 Attack 32/35/38 Speed 36/39/43 Defense 15/19/22 Resistance 24/27/31 {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}

Skills Rauðrfox+ -- New Moon

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Skill set

Skill set
Skill		Unlock	Auto-unlock	SP cost
	Fire	★★★	★★★	50
	Elfire	★★★	★★★	100
	Rauðrfox	★★★	★★★★	200
	Rauðrfox+	★★★★★	★★★★★	300
	New Moon	★★★	★★★★	100
	Moonbow	★★★★	—	200
A	Spd/Res Solo 1	★★★	—	60
A	Spd/Res Solo 2	★★★★	—	120
A	Spd/Res Solo 3	★★★★★	—	240
C	Spd Opening 1	★★★	—	60
C	Spd Opening 2	★★★	—	120
C	Spd Opening 3	★★★★	—	240

Personality

Erk is a hard-working mage who is known to have been so engrossed in his studies that he frequently forgot to eat or sleep when he was younger.^[5] Even in battle, he has a habit of overexerting himself, much to the chagrin of his master Pent.^[6]

Although he has little patience for Serra's loud and obnoxious behavior, Erk takes his job of protecting her seriously. Even after his contract with her is ended, he also sees the merit of fighting alongside her against a common enemy, irrespective of his personal feelings about her.^[7] Nonetheless, he enjoys his work as a bodyguard for Priscilla much more than for Serra.^[8]

Erk has a sense of self-deprecation as well, believing that he will never be as strong a mage as Pent is.^[9]

Supports

Main article:Erk/Supports

Erk Mage Louise Sniper Initial: 20 Per turn:+2 Pent Sage Initial: 25 Per turn:+3 Serra Cleric Initial: 2 Per turn:+1 [[{{{support7}}}]] [[]] [[File:Is gba {{{affin7}}}affin.png|link={{{affin7}}} (affinity)]] Initial: {{{initialpoints7}}} Per turn:+ [[{{{support9}}}]] [[]] [[File:Is gba {{{affin9}}}affin.png|link={{{affin9}}} (affinity)]] Initial: {{{initialpoints9}}} Per turn:+ Nino Mage Initial: 0 Per turn:+3 Priscilla Troubadour Initial: 15 Per turn:+3 [[{{{support6}}}]] [[]] [[File:Is gba {{{affin6}}}affin.png|link={{{affin6}}} (affinity)]] Initial: {{{initialpoints6}}} Per turn:+ [[{{{support8}}}]] [[]] [[File:Is gba {{{affin8}}}affin.png|link={{{affin8}}} (affinity)]] Initial: {{{initialpoints8}}} Per turn:+ [[{{{support10}}}]] [[]] [[File:Is gba {{{affin10}}}affin.png|link={{{affin10}}} (affinity)]] Initial: {{{initialpoints10}}} Per turn:+

Endings

Lyn's Tale

Erk, the Wandering Mage
His contract with Serra complete, Erk sets off for Etruria. His time as a mercenary is just part of his training, and he is glad to see it end. He has since returned to his mentor.

Erk, the Wandering Mage (if Erk was defeated)
After recovering from his injuries, Erk parts ways with Lyn.

Eliwood/Hector's Tale

Erk, Studious Mage
Erk returned to Etruria and was asked to succeed the retiring Lord Pent. He refused and devoted his life to the study of magic.

Erk and Serra
After the battle, Erk returned to his studies. His newfound feelings for Serra were an unwelcome distraction. In Ostia, Serra declared she would "live for love" with Erk, and Marquess Ostia gladly saw her off.

Erk and Priscilla
They fell in love amidst conflict. Though he was not nobly born, Erk's talent and his link to Lord Pent earned him the peerage he needed to wed Priscilla. As a trusted magic teacher, he lived his life in happiness.

Erk and Nino
They were married after the conflict and were gifted with twin boys. Their time in Pherae was happy until bounty hunters came for Nino. To protect her family, she disappeared. Erk vanished looking for her.

Quotes

Death quote

Battle quotes

Heroes quotes

Main article:Erk/Quotes (Heroes)

Other appearances

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Erk's official artwork fromThe Blazing Blade can be viewed inPath of Radiance's extras menu if a copy ofThe Blazing Blade is connected to a copy ofPath of Radiance.

Fire Emblem Cipher

Erk is featured on one card inFire Emblem Cipher.

Fire Emblem Cipher data for Erk
	Mage in Training, Erk
		"Serra! Behind me! You there! See if you can match me!"
		Attack: 40	Support: 20	Range: 1-2	Deploy Cost: 2
		Class: Mage		Tier:Base	Class Change Cost: --
		The Frail Cleric's Escort:[Always] During your turn, if you have one or more allies, this unit gains +20 attack.
	Card #S10-004ST • Artist:Enji Kazura
Some card information translation provided by Serenes Forest. For more detailed strategic information on these cards, seetheir TCG wiki article on Erk .

Flavor text

Meet some of the Heroes entries

Erk: Studious Mage
Here's Erk, an Etrurian mage! He's a very dour, no-nonsense Hero.	Orphaned at a young age, Erk was brought into the care of House Reglay, one of Etruria's leading noble families. From then on, Pent took charge of his education, training him in the ways of magic!	Under Pent's tutelage, Erk grew into a fine mage in his own right. But he didn't want to rely on the kindness of House Reglay forever, and so he started work as a bodyguard.	Perhaps it was because of his overly serious personality, but Erk didn't seem to have a great time working as bodyguard… Hopefully, working with the Order of Heroes will help him to finally relax and let go of some of that stress!
Closely Associated Characters
Pent Louise Serra {{{Related_name4}}} {{{Related_name5}}} Mage General, Count Reglay of Etruria. Erk studied magic under his tutelage. Wife of Pent, Count Reglay of Etruria. She loves Erk dearly, treating him as she would her own son. Cleric who thinks less of others, more of herself. Serves Hector, brother of the marquess of Ostia. Frequently makes Erk's life difficult. {{{Related_blurb4}}} {{{Related_blurb5}}}

Choose Your Legends placement history

Round	Placement	Character	Votes

CYL 1 (2017)

143

Erk The Blazing Blade

1,951

CYL 2 (2018)

135 (−8)

Erk The Blazing Blade

1,912 (−39)

CYL 3 (2019)

127 (−14)

Erk The Blazing Blade

2,040 (+128)

CYL 4 (2020)

113 (−16)

Erk The Blazing Blade

1,445 (−595)

CYL 5 (2021)

94 (−19)

Erk The Blazing Blade

1,085 (−360)

CYL 6 (2022)

359 (+265)

Erk The Blazing Blade

229 (−856)

CYL 7 (2023)

424 (+65)

Erk The Blazing Blade

125 (−104)

CYL 8 (2024)

408 (−16)

Erk The Blazing Blade

128 (+3)

CYL 9 (2025)

378 (−30)

Erk The Blazing Blade

122 (−6)

Total results		This character has 9 entries across all Choose Your Legends polls.	9,037

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Mage Sage Anima Anima Staff

Official artwork

• 

  Artwork of Erk fromThe Blazing Blade.

CG images

• 

  CG image ofLyn,Dorcas,Serra, and Erk fighting enemies inThe Blazing Blade.

Heroes artwork

Character artwork

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

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  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

Meet some of the Heroes artwork

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Artwork of Erk: Studious Mage.

• 

  Erk in artwork ofPriscilla: Delicate Princess.

Other artwork

• 

  Artwork featuring Erk released on the fifth day ofChoose Your Legends:Round 9.

Cipher artwork

• 

  Artwork of Erk.

• 

  Commemorative artwork featuring Erk.

References

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