Etzel (Japanese:エッツェルEtzel) is asorcerer appearing inFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon andFire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem. He is one of the severalnew characters introduced in the remakes and does not appear in the originalFire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light orFire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. He joinsMarth'sArchanean League after being swayed by the prince's desire to end the war.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Role

Etzel is captured byDactyl, the leader of a Grustian platoon stationed at Helena Castle. He strips him of his possessions – anElfire tome and a ring belonging to his deceased wife Ursula, who was killed during the initial betrayal ofAltea byGra. Dactyl agrees to return the ring to Etzel if he joins Dactyl and helps kill the incoming PrinceMarth. Should Etzel survive the battle, he reclaims his ring from Dactyl and joins Marth with the intent of helping him end theWar of Shadows.

Starting stats and growth rates

Sorcerer Level 6 Movement 6

Recruitment:Chapter 17x, automatically at the end of the chapter if he survived StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 30 Speed 9 Strength 2 Luck 7 Magic 11 Defense 7 Skill 14 Resistance 12 Max HP 40% Speed 40% Strength 0% Luck 20% Magic 30% Defense 0% Skill 40% Resistance 30% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Elfire Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- B D

Growth rates when reclassed

Analysis

Etzel joins in Chapter 17x ofShadow Dragon as a level 6 pre-promotedSorcerer. His base stats are decent for his join time, although not spectacular; he also has high HP and decent defenses, allowing him to take a hit even in higher difficulties. His high magic base stands out; it is the highest magic base inShadow Dragon, tied withGotoh who joins much later, allowing Etzel to deal significant damage with tomes. His base B rank in tomes allows him to use excellent tomes likeExcalibur. Combined, and assuming the player gives him every Spirit Dust acquired from that point forward, his base abilities are sufficient to one-shot flying enemies all the way throughChapter 24 with Excalibur, survive a round of combat with Gharnef with the aid of either the Barrier staff, both Talismans, or one Talisman and an HP or Resistance level up, and two-shot Gharnef in return with Starlight – this is very impressive. With two more points of damage, either from his magic growth or hitting A rank in tomes, he can guarantee one-shotting Dracoknights even in the endgame. His D rank in staves is not so impressive, and he must use staves 23 times to reach C rank, and with it,Warp andPhysic.

Wendell joins with the same weapon ranks and a higher speed base much earlier in the game than Etzel,Boah joins with a superior staff rank, andMerric may have become aSage by the time Etzel joined. Etzel's reclassing options do not allow him to use his tome or staff levels, forcing him to stay a Sorcerer to be useful. However, he comes pre-promoted and with decent growths for a pre-promote, so he does not need aMaster Seal and can be useful even without investment in his staff rank.

The chapter Etzel can be recruited in is unlocked only if the player has 15 or fewer units alive by the end ofChapter 17; for that reason, unless the player has lost many units throughout the game, they will have to sacrifice most of their army to recruit Etzel.

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

Role

Etzel appears inChapter 9; he has willingly taken up the defense ofKhadein after hearing thatMarth has begun an invasion ofArchanea. Upon speaking to Marth of the matter on the battlefield, he realizes that the information he has been given was incorrect. He thus join's Marth's forces yet again to restore peace.

DuringDownloadable episode 1, Etzel accompaniesMerric's party in clearing out Gharnef's underlings near Khadein.

Starting stats and growth rates

Main storyDownloadable chapter

Sorcerer Level 6 Movement 6

Recruitment:Chapter 9, talk to withMarth StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 30 Speed 12 Strength 2 Luck 8 Magic 11 Defense 10 Skill 14 Resistance 12 Max HP 80% Speed 50% Strength 0% Luck 40% Magic 40% Defense 30% Skill 60% Resistance 40% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Blizzard Heal Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- B D

Sorcerer Level 6 Movement 6

Recruitment:Downloadable episode 1, automatically on Turn 1 StatsGrowth Rates Max HP 30 Speed 12 Strength 2 Luck 8 Magic 11 Defense 10 Skill 14 Resistance 12 Max HP 80% Speed 50% Strength 0% Luck 40% Magic 40% Defense 30% Skill 60% Resistance 40% {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Blizzard Heal Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- B D

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Growth rates when reclassed

Original set

Second set

These classes are only available after beating Hard Mode.

Analysis

Etzel is a pre-promoted Sorcerer that joins in chapter 9. He comes with somewhat unimpressive bases and growths, though still serviceable, but with a very impressive B rank in tomes and a decent D rank in staves. Because of his B rank in tomes he can wield the Excalibur tome with 0 investment and every other relevant tome as well. He might have some trouble getting to C rank staves in faster playthroughs, but he still has access to useful staves such as the Thief staff at base. Getting him to C rank staves is not very difficult to begin with, it just requires some level of investment. Having C rank staves in this game is very useful, because it gives a unit access toPhysic andWarp, two potent staves that are always helpful to have.

While he does get one rounded fairly easily on Lunatic and Lunatic Reverse, the same could be said for the majority of the cast and Etzel can make for a decent tank against enemy mages, as well as avoid enemy counterattacks, unless they're equipped with 1-2 range. Etzel also has access to promoted classes, the most notable of these is the swordmaster class which gives Etzel a significant speed boost and access to levin swords, because enemy resistance is fairly low he can do great damage with it, even if Katarina and Linde make better use of said strategy. Overall, thanks to his decent bases, high weapon levels, decent availability and access to promoted classes for 0 investment, Etzel is an extremely useful unit on any difficulty. He can be of use with absolutely no investment, and if you give him enough investment to increase his staff rank to C, he can effectively use Warp and Physic.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Role

Etzel appears as an ally unit in theDLC chapterLost Bloodlines 1, and as an enemy unit in the DLC chaptersLost Bloodlines 2 and3. A version of Etzel is playable viaSpotPass as part of theNew Mystery of the Emblem character set.

Starting stats and growth rates

Sorcerer Level 11 Movement 6

Recruitment:SpotPass, hire him for 12,900G or defeat him in askirmish StatsGrowth RatesCap Modifiers Max HP 53 Speed 19 Strength 7 Luck 18 Magic 27 Defense 25 Skill 22 Resistance 19 Max HP 85% Speed 50% Strength 35% Luck 50% Magic 50% Defense 55% Skill 50% Resistance 35% Speed 0 Strength −1 Luck −1 Magic −1 Defense +4 Skill 0 Resistance +2 {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Skills Waste* Hex Anathema Vengeance Luna Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- B --

Reclassing options

Etzel Base classes:* Dark Mage Dark Knight Sorcerer Reclass options: This unit can reclass to any male class available through reclassing.

Growth rates when reclassed

Promotion stat gains

ArcherBarbarianCavalierDark MageWyvern RiderFighterKnightMageMercenaryMyrmidonPriestTacticianThief

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
Berserker	+8	+5	+0	+2	+3	+0	+2	+1	+1	--
Warrior	+6	+4	+0	+5	+1	+0	+4	+3	+1	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
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
Warrior	+8	+4	+0	+3	+2	+0	+3	+3	+1	E
Hero	+2	+0	+1	+6	+5	+0	+4	+3	+1	E

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
War Monk	+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
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

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Skill set

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

Personality

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Supports

Shadow Dragon

Etzel Sorcerer Mutual supports: None. [[{{{supportm1}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm1}}} B: {{{bm1}}} A: {{{am1}}} [[{{{supportm2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm2}}} B: {{{bm2}}} A: {{{am2}}} [[{{{supportm3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm3}}} B: {{{bm3}}} A: {{{am3}}} [[{{{supportm4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm4}}} B: {{{bm4}}} A: {{{am4}}} [[{{{supportm5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm5}}} B: {{{bm5}}} A: {{{am5}}} Supported by:* Marth Lord C: 3 B: 7 A: 35 [[{{{supporto2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co2}}} B: {{{bo2}}} A: {{{ao2}}} [[{{{supporto3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co3}}} B: {{{bo3}}} A: {{{ao3}}} [[{{{supporto4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co4}}} B: {{{bo4}}} A: {{{ao4}}} [[{{{supporto5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co5}}} B: {{{bo5}}} A: {{{ao5}}}

New Mystery of the Emblem

Etzel Sorcerer Mutual supports: Arlen Mage C: 5 B: 10 A:- [[{{{supportm2}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm2}}} B: {{{bm2}}} A: {{{am2}}} [[{{{supportm3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm3}}} B: {{{bm3}}} A: {{{am3}}} [[{{{supportm4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm4}}} B: {{{bm4}}} A: {{{am4}}} [[{{{supportm5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{cm5}}} B: {{{bm5}}} A: {{{am5}}} Supported by:* Kris Myrmidon C: 4 B: 9 A:- Marth Lord C: 4 B: 9 A: 15 [[{{{supporto3}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co3}}} B: {{{bo3}}} A: {{{ao3}}} [[{{{supporto4}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co4}}} B: {{{bo4}}} A: {{{ao4}}} [[{{{supporto5}}}]] Bishop C: {{{co5}}} B: {{{bo5}}} A: {{{ao5}}}

Base conversations

Main article:Etzel/Conversations

Endings

Shadow Dragon

Etzel, Spell Slinger
The spell slinger Etzel vanished after the war as quickly as he came. His wanderings took him around the world for years to come.

New Mystery of the Emblem

Etzel, Spell Slinger
After the war, Etzel resumed his travels, as if looking for something he had lost.

Quotes

Battle quotes

Death quotes

Everyone's Conditions quotes

Other appearances

Fire Emblem Cipher

Etzel is featured on two cards inFire Emblem Cipher.

Fire Emblem Cipher data for Etzel
	For a World Without Conflict, Etzel
		"I've no taste for war, but I do have a fierce hunger for ending it. Let's usher in a new era, you and I."
		Attack: 60	Support: 20	Range: 1-2	Deploy Cost: 4
		Class: Sorcerer		Tier:Advanced	Class Change Cost: 3
		Era-Changing Desire:[Activate][Once per turn] [Discard 1 card from your hand] Until the end of the turn, this unit gains +20 attack. Requiescat Sorcery:[Trigger] [] When this unit attacks your opponent's Main Character, if you pay the cost, your opponent discards 1 card from their hand.
	Card #B13-079HN • Artist:Tomohide Takaya
	Wandering Dark Mage, Etzel
		"Will there be no end to this bloodshed?"
		Attack: 30	Support: 20	Range: 1-2	Deploy Cost: 1
		Class: Dark Mage		Tier:Base	Class Change Cost: --
		Dark Mage's Flames:[Always] If your opponent has 4 or fewer cards in their hand, this unit gains +10 attack. Darkness Emblem:[Support] If your opponent has 5 or more cards in their hand, your opponent chooses 1 card from their hand and discards it.
	Card #B13-080N • Artist:Tomohide Takaya
Some card information translation provided by Serenes Forest. For more detailed strategic information on these cards, seetheir TCG wiki article on Etzel .

Flavor text

Choose Your Legends placement history

Round	Placement	Character	Votes

CYL 1 (2017)	372	Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon	452
	515	Etzel Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem	214

CYL 2 (2018)	446 (+74)	Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon	318 (−134)
	586 (+71)	Etzel Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem	143 (−71)

CYL 3 (2019)

389 (+14)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

434 (−27)

CYL 4 (2020)

405 (−10)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

297 (−137)

CYL 5 (2021)

342 (−63)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

245 (−52)

CYL 6 (2022)

339 (−5)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

261 (+16)

CYL 7 (2023)

280 (−59)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

216 (−45)

CYL 8 (2024)

339 (+59)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

175 (−41)

CYL 9 (2025)

249 (−90)

Etzel Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light /Shadow Dragon Mystery of the Emblem /New Mystery of the Emblem

214 (+39)

Total results		This character has 11 entries across all Choose Your Legends polls.	2,969

Trivia

• Etzel is the only recruitable character of the Sorcerer class in the Archanea series, excluding reclassed characters.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Shadow Dragon GeneralHeroWarriorHorsemanBerserkerSorcerer General Lance Bow Hero Sword Axe Warrior Axe Bow Horseman Bow Sword Berserker Axe Sorcerer Tome,Staff {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
New Mystery of the Emblem PaladinDracoknightSniperSwordmasterSageBishopGeneralHeroWarriorHorsemanBerserkerSorcerer Paladin Sword Lance Dracoknight Lance Axe Sniper Bow Swordmaster Sword Sage Tome,Staff Bishop Tome,Staff General Lance Bow Hero Sword Axe Warrior Axe Bow Horseman Bow Sword Berserker Axe Sorcerer Tome,Staff {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}

Official artwork

• 

  Artwork of Etzel fromShadow Dragon.

Cipher artwork

• 

  Artwork of Etzel.

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  Artwork of Etzel.

References

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