Ethlyn (Japanese:エスリンEthlin) was a member of theChalphy nobility ofGrannvale, and the wife of PrinceQuan ofLeonster. She was an ally of her elder brother,Sigurd of Chalphy, in his battles withVerdane andAgustria and after he was deemed a traitor. Her children,Altena andLeif, would later play pivotal roles in assisting Sigurd's sonSeliph in his liberation war against the Grannvale Empire.

Biography

Early life

Ethlyn is the youngest of the two children of DukeByron. Her mother died during her youth, and for several years she took over taking care of her father and brother in her mother's place, which earned her a joking reputation as a nag according to Sigurd.^[1] She appears to have been a friend ofEdain ofYngvi during her time in Grannvale.^[2] She eventually married Sigurd's longtime friendQuan and moved to Leonster with him, where she eventually gave birth to a daughter,Altena. The couple once visitedMiletos, where Quan purchased a pearl tiara for Ethlyn as a gift.^[3] During her time in Leonster, Ethlyn became close to the young Leonster knightSelphina and even treated her like a younger sister.^[4]

Sigurd's campaign

In the year 757, Ethlyn learned of an attempted invasion of Grannvale byVerdane, and of how only Sigurd remained to defend her home. Ethlyn and Quan immediately departed for Chalphy to come to his aid, taking onlyFinn with them; before they left, Quan's fatherCalf leftGáe Bolg with Ethlyn just in case the conflict escalated, although after he told her the legend associated to it, Ethlyn was reluctant to give it to Quan.^[5] Though Ethlyn apologized for dragging Quan into it, he remarked that he had just as much of an interest in helping Sigurd as she did.

Ethlyn and Quan remained with Sigurd's army through the wars with Verdane andAgustria. In the final battle with Agustria, followingDeirdre's disappearance, Ethlyn finally gave Gáe Bolg to Quan; despite how she still feared its legend, Quan promised her it would not affect him. Ethlyn and Quan fled with Sigurd toSilesse after he was branded as a traitor andReptor andLombard came to arrest him, but she, Quan and Finn left soon after they arrived, returning to Leonster with the promise that they would come back with reinforcements to help clear Sigurd's name. While they were back in Leonster, Ethlyn gave birth to their second child,Leif. Although their time together after his birth was relatively brief, Ethlyn had a particularly close and happy motherly bond with Leif, to the point that Altena was jealous of her brother.^[6]

Aed

In the spring of 760, Ethlyn and Quan set out with theLanceritter to rejoin Sigurd and fight for his liberty. Despite Quan's insistence otherwise, Ethlyn took the infant Altena with her because she would not stop crying. Quan expected Ethlyn and Altena to leave partway through, once they reached theAed Desert, but she insisted on staying "a little longer".

Neither of them had any idea that KingTravant and a brigade ofThracian wyvern knights had been stalking them the entire time, following a tip fromVeld.^[7] The group was caught by the Thracians in the south of the Aed Desert, where none of them stood a chance of escaping through the thick sand. Despite her confidence that she and Quan could win if they fought together, both Ethlyn and Quan died to the Thracians. Of the Leonster party, Altena was the only survivor, and Travant took her from Ethlyn's corpse and raised her as his own daughter. This battle became known as theAed Massacre, and led directly to theFall of Leonster several years later.

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

Role

Ethlyn is a playable character in the game's first generation. If either Quan or Ethlyn aredefeated in battle while playable, both will leave the player's party. Both will leave the party, along withFinn, before the beginning ofChapter 4.

InChapter 5, after Lubeck Castle has been seized, Ethlyn, Quan and a squad of Leonster knights will appear as partner units in the map's south-east corner. Her stats and class here are the same as they were when she left in Chapter 4, except for her items—she instead possesses anIron Sword andMend. As part of the map's story, she is expected to die to theThracian army.

Starting stats and growth rates

Troubadour Level 1 Holy Blood Movement 8

Recruitment:Prologue, automatically on turn 3 StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 28 Speed 12 Strength 5 Luck 8 Magic 8 Defense 4 Skill 11 Resistance 6 Max HP 60% Speed 30% Strength 30% Luck 20% Magic 5% Defense 20% Skill 30% Resistance 10% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Skills Slim Sword Heal 4,000Gold Critical Weapon Levels A -- -- -- C -- -- -- -- --

Promotion stat gains

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Paladin	+0	+6	+2	+3	+3	+0	+6	+2	+1	C

Love growths and events

When recruited, Ethlyn already has fulllove growth withQuan; should Quan be defeated, he and Ethlyn will both leave the party.

• Inthe Prologue, Ethlyn can talk to Sigurd after she has been recruited. This conversation yields no reward.
• InChapter 1,Edain can talk to Ethlyn at any time after the former has been recruited, rewarding her with aReturn staff.
• InChapter 2,Deirdre can talk to Ethlyn at any time, rewarding her with aLight Brand.
• InChapter 3, Ethlyn can talk toQuan after Sylvale Castle has been seized, giving him theGáe Bolg.

Analysis

Ethlyn joins in the Prologue alongsideQuan andFinn; she leaves the party if Quan is ever defeated, or at the start ofChapter 4 alongside Quan and Finn.

Ethlyn is the first unit inSigurd's army capable of wielding staves, and the only one available in the Prologue. As she has a mount, Ethlyn can keep up with or catch up to other mounted units, and can useCanto to heal a unit inside an enemy's range before returning safely outside of it. Ethlyn's staff level is C, and it cannot improve beyond that; as her magic base is middling and her growth is very low, she relies onMend to heal greater amounts of HP. C staves allows Ethlyn to useReturn, which she can obtain in an event inChapter 1 between her andEdain. Return sends a unit to the homecastle, and grants its user 35experience; Ethlyn (or any user) can be left at the home castle with another unit where she can use Return on them every turn, quickly leveling her up to bolster the experienceranking or to reach promotion faster. Her base skill and speed are high and her base resistance is good, so she has good avoid and is decent against mages. As she's already married with Quan and is Sigurd's sister, Ethlyn also has twocombination bonuses from the beginning. These bonuses increase the chance of performing acritical hit by 20% if she's adjacent to one of them during battle.

Ethlyn is capable of using A-level swords at base thanks to her Minor Baldr blood. Swords' lowweight has only a minor impact onavoid (and will boost it against the numerous axe users in the first two chapters) andattack speed, and Ethlyn can use high-might swords to boost herattack ormagic swords to take advantage of enemies' generally low resistance—inChapter 2, she has an event withDeirdre which grants her aLight Brand, one such magic sword. However, Ethlyn's combat is limited by her low HP and defense, preventing her from reliably surviving multiple attacks from most enemies, especially notable with Genealogy's massive enemy groups. While Ethlyn has fairly high avoid, she cannot reliably dodge all enemies' attacks, and suffers greatly from failing to do so. Additionally, her avoid is reduced against lance users, who are prevalent after Chapter 1. She also lacksFollow-Up, which prevents her from doubling enemies in spite of her high speed. Ethlyn's only skill (aside from Canto) is Critical, which gives her a chance to land a critical hit on an enemy (11% at base); this can enable her to get far into thearena (especially with theBrave Sword), but is not reliable on the battlefield—the combination bonus she has with Sigurd and Quan is more reliable and both of them can utilize it as well, though taking advantage of this bonus requires that she be near an enemy, potentially endangering her. For this reason, the Light Brand she gets is usually better sold to another unit, especially as getting enough kills on a weapon gives it the ability to crit.

Once promoted toPaladin, Ethlyn gains +6 in both strength and defense, greatly increasing her damage and survivability. Her staff level does not increase, but she gains C lances; lances will weigh Ethlyn down more than swords and, though lances generally have higher might than swords, she is capable of wielding swords with higher might than the lances she can use.

Ethlyn has two children:Leif andAltena. Leif willinherit Ethlyn's items; he can inherit swords, but cannot inherit staves or lances. The items Leif inherits must be in Ethlyn's inventory at the end ofChapter 3; those items will be unavailable for Chapters 4,5, and6. He will want a good sword, but he will not need more than one. Leif promotes toMaster Knight and is one of the strongest units in the second generation; items such as theParagon Ring orFollow-Up Ring can help him reach that point much faster, but him inheriting them will deprive them from other units in both generations who may also want them. Alternately, Leif can inherit enough valuable items that he can sell forgold in order to purchase the items he wants once other units are finished with them, or she can pick up theBargain Band, but this requires that Ethlyn acquire the items herself, and still requires that those items be unavailable for three chapters. Leif is also an excellent candidate for theArmorslayer, as he appears in an area that is attacked by severalArmored Knights, giving him guaranteed crits against them and making him easier to train early on.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Ethlyn is playable as aSpotPass character, released in theGenealogy of the Holy War first-generation character set.

Ethlyn also appears as an enemy unit in twoDLC episodes—Lost Bloodlines 1 andLost Bloodlines 3—and as a NPC in a further one episode,Lost Bloodlines 2.

Starting stats and growth rates

Valkyrie Level 5 Movement 8

Recruitment:SpotPass, hire her for 10,300G or defeat her in askirmish StatsGrowth RatesCap Modifiers Max HP 39 Speed 24 Strength 4 Luck 18 Magic 19 Defense 11 Skill 23 Resistance 16+2 Max HP 75% Speed 70% Strength 30% Luck 60% Magic 55% Defense 30% Skill 45% Resistance 35% Speed +4 Strength −3 Luck +2 Magic ±0 Defense −1 Skill +1 Resistance ±0 {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Skills Arcthunder* Physic* Resistance +2 Demoiselle Rally Resistance Focus Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- C B

Reclassing options

Ethlyn Base classes:* Troubadour Valkyrie War Cleric Reclass options: This unit can reclass to any female class available through reclassing.

Growth rates when reclassed

Promotion stat gains

ArcherCavalierClericDark MageWyvern RiderKnightMageMercenaryMyrmidonPegasus KnightTacticianThiefTroubadour

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Sniper	+4	+2	+1	+4	+3	+0	+5	+3	+1	--
Bow Knight	+8	+3	+0	+2	+4	+0	+1	+2	+3	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Paladin	+7	+3	+1	+2	+2	+0	+3	+6	+1	--
Great Knight	+8	+5	+0	+1	−1	+0	+7	+1	+0	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
War Cleric	+8	+5	+2	+2	+2	+0	+5	+0	+1	E
Sage	+4	+1	+4	+3	+3	+0	+3	−1	+1	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Sorcerer	+5	+1	+3	+2	+1	+0	+3	+3	+1	--
Dark Knight	+7	+3	+2	+4	+2	+0	+5	+1	+3	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Wyvern Lord	+5	+4	+0	+2	+2	+0	+3	+3	+1	E
Griffon Rider	+3	+2	+0	+4	+4	+0	+0	+3	+1	--

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
General	+10	+4	+0	+3	+2	+0	+4	+3	+1	E
Great Knight	+8	+3	+0	+2	+3	+0	+3	+1	+3	E E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Sage	+4	+1	+3	+2	+3	+0	+2	+2	+1	E
Dark Knight	+9	+4	+1	+3	+1	+0	+7	+2	+3	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Hero	+6	+3	+1	+3	+3	+0	+3	+3	+1	E
Bow Knight	+8	+3	+0	+2	+3	+0	+1	+2	+3	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Swordmaster	+4	+3	+1	+2	+3	+0	+2	+3	+1	--
Assassin	+5	+4	−1	+4	+2	+0	+1	+0	+1	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Falcon Knight	+4	+2	+1	+3	+3	+0	+2	+3	+1	E
Dark Flier	+3	+1	+4	+1	+2	+0	+1	+3	+1	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Grandmaster	+4	+3	+3	+2	+2	+0	+2	+2	+1	--

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Assassin	+5	+5	+0	+7	+4	+0	+3	+1	+1	E
Trickster	+3	+1	+4	+4	+3	+0	+1	+5	+1	E

Class	HP	Str	Mag	Skill	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Mov	Weapon level
Valkyrie	+3	+0	+2	+2	+3	+0	+2	+3	+1	E
War Cleric	+8	+5	+2	+2	+1	+0	+5	+1	−1	E

{{{content14}}}

{{{content15}}}

Skill set

Like all female bonus units inAwakening, Ethlyn has access to all base class and advanced class skills available to standard female units.

Fire Emblem Engage

Role

Ethlyn appears as an equippableBond Ring. She can be summoned usingSigurd'sEmblem Ring.

Bond Ring data

Stat modifiers Ring level HP Dex Spd C +2 +0 +0 B +2 +0 +1 A +2 +1 +1 S +4 +1 +1

Fire Emblem Heroes

Main article:Ethlyn/Heroes

There are two different variations of Ethlyn available inHeroes.

Personality

Ethlyn is very level-headed, in contrast to her brother's more reckless ways. During their childhood, she assumed the role of the mother figure of the Chalphy family after their mother's death, taking care of her father and Sigurd; this led to her never really being particularly "lady-like", even after she married Quan and became a princess. Sigurd claims that she was rather harsh and naggy about it, which she retorts was out of necessity from how sloppy Sigurd and Byron were.^[1] She is considered something of a role model by the Leonster knightSelphina, and the two used to be rather close.^[4][6]

Endings

Genealogy of the Holy War

Many heroes lost their lives on this path...
...
Ethlyn, his wife...
...

These brave youths fought to change the world for the better, yet now their unfulfilled dreams lie dead with them on the battlefield...
Was their sacrifice in vain? What were they fighting for all along?
And what of the light...?

Quotes

Battle quotes

Death quotes

Heroes quotes

Main article:Ethlyn/Quotes (Heroes)

Other appearances

Fire Emblem Trading Card Game

Ethlyn was featured on three TCG cards.

Fire Emblem Trading Card Game data for Ethlyn
	Class:Troubadour	Level 1 Cavalry	Direct Attack
	Energy: 3	Atk.: 1 / Counter: 1	WLv.: A C
	Equip:Iron Sword	Skills:Canto •Critical
	Card #023 •Rarity: ★★ •Artist:Mayumi Hirota
	Class:Troubadour	Level 10 Cavalry	Direct Attack
	Energy: 5	Atk.: 2 / Counter: 1	WLv.: A C
	Equip:Steel Sword	Skills:Canto •Critical
	Card #2-007 •Rarity: ★★ •Artist:Katsuyoshi Koya
	Class:Paladin	Level 15 Cavalry	Direct Attack
	Energy: 6	Atk.: 2 / Counter: 2	WLv.: A C C
	Equip:Steel Sword	Skills: Class Change •Canto • Training •Critical
	Card #3-007 •Rarity: ★ •Artist:Katsuyoshi Koya
Card scans and information translation provided byAquantis.

Fire Emblem Cipher

Ethlyn is featured on four cards inFire Emblem Cipher.

Fire Emblem Cipher data for Ethlyn
NormalR+ {{{alt2image1}}} {{{alt3image1}}} {{{alt4image1}}} {{{alt5image1}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}	Determined Lady Knight, Ethlyn
		"We're together, aren't we? At the very least, together we'll not go down easily!" "I'd like just a little more time....I want to stay by your side a little longer."
		Attack: 60	Support: 10	Range: 1	Deploy Cost: 3
		Class: Paladin		Tier:Advanced	Class Change Cost: 2
		Unbroken Heart:[Trigger] If an enemy is defeated by this unit's attack, you may select one face-down bond card and flip it face-up. Light Brand:[Once per turn][Activate] [] Until the end of this turn, this unit gets +10 attack, 1-2 range, and attacks as a. ( skills may be active only if this unit haschanged class.)
	Card #B06-010R(+) • Artist:VOCO
	Tomboyish Princess, Ethlyn
		"I'll watch over my brother."
		Attack: 20	Support: 20	Range: -	Deploy Cost: 1
		Class: Troubadour		Tier:Base	Class Change Cost: --
		Heal:[Activate] [] [] Choose 1 non-"Ethlyn" card from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand. Slim Sword:[Activate][Once per turn] [ Flip 1 Bond ] Until the end of this turn, this unit gains 10 attack, the affinity and 1 range. Miracle Emblem:[Support] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a Critical Hit.
	Card #B06-011N, B06-011ST • Artist:VOCO
	Lady Related to the Light God, Ethlyn
		"Hold fast, Altena! I'll protect you no matter what happens!"
		Attack: 70	Support: 10	Range: 1	Deploy Cost: 4
		Class: Paladin		Tier:Advanced	Class Change Cost: 3
		"Grant me strength, O Baldr!":[Activate] [] Until the end of your opponent's next turn, this unit gains +10 attack. A Mother's Deep Love:[Always] If you have 6 or more bond cards, all allies cannot be destroyed as the cost or effect of skills.
	Card #B15-082HN • Artist:Uroko Naruse
	Noblewoman of Chalphy, Ethlyn
		"I am what you and Father made me, thank you very much, Sigurd! Perhaps if the two of you hadn't been so slovenly, I would never have needed to be, as you oh-so-delicately put it, a fusspot!"
		Attack: 30	Support: 20	Range: -	Deploy Cost: 1
		Class: Troubadour		Tier:Base	Class Change Cost: --
		Heal:[Activate] [] [] Choose 1 non-"Ethlyn" card from your Retreat Area, and add it to your hand. Miracle Emblem:[Support] Until the end of this combat, your opponent's attacking unit cannot perform a Critical Hit.
	Card #B15-083N • Artist:Uroko Naruse
Some card information translation provided by Serenes Forest. For more detailed strategic information on these cards, seetheir TCG wiki article on Ethlyn .

Flavor text

Trivia

• According to Ethlyn's profile in the (non-canon) art book for theŌsawa manga adaptation:^[8]
  • She was 16 years old during late September, Grann 757.
  • Her height is 158 cm.
  • She was born between February 1st and February 19th.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Troubadour Paladin Sword (Iron orSteel Sword, orIron orSteel Blade) Staff (Iron orSteel Sword, orIron orSteel Blade) Lance (Iron Lance) Staff

Official artwork

• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn fromGenealogy of the Holy War.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn fromTreasure.
• 
  Artwork ofQuan and Ethlyn fromThracia 776 Illustrated Works.
• 
  Artwork of Quan, Ethlyn,Leif, andAltena fromThracia 776 Illustrated Works.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn during theAed Massacre fromThracia 776 Illustrated Works.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn from theTrading Card Game.

Portraits

• 
  Portrait of Ethlyn inAwakening.

Concept artwork

• 
  Concept artwork of Ethlyn fromGenealogy of the Holy War.

Heroes artwork

Character artwork

• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.

Meet some of the Heroes artwork

• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Spirited Princess.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn: Glimmering Lady.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofQuan: Luminous Lancer.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofQuan: Lightfoot Prince.

Other artwork

• 
  Artwork featuring Ethlyn released on the fourth day ofA Hero Rises 2025.

Cipher artwork

• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn withAltena.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn.
• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofSigurd.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofQuan.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofLeif.
• 
  Ethlyn in artwork ofLewyn.
• 
  Celebratory artwork featuring Ethlyn for the release ofSeries 15.
• 
  Celebratory artwork featuring Ethlyn forCipher's 4th anniversary.

Other appearances

• 
  Artwork of Ethlyn fromOne Hundred Songs of Heroes.

References

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