Reinforcements areunits that appear on the map after a chapter or battle has begun. Reinforcements are typically enemy units, though they may be allied or even playable units instead.

Reinforcements can have a variety of triggers, though the most common one is at a certainturn. They can also be triggered by reaching certain areas of the map, defeating a certain number of initial enemies, and various other means. In many cases, reinforcements will spawn fromforts or stairs, and can be avoided if the player places a unit on the same spot that a reinforcement comes from. Sometimes, an enemy unit may block further enemy reinforcements, though these cases are rather rare. This tactic is not always possible, however; inPath of Radiance,Radiant Dawn,Fates,Three Houses, andHeroes, they can simply appear spawn from a space adjacent to their normal spawn point if it is blocked.

In most games, reinforcements will not act on the turn they appear, though there are some where this is not the case. These are often called "same-turn reinforcements" or occasionally "ambush reinforcements" or "ambush spawns" by fans, and can be some of the most dangerous kinds of reinforcements, and can be much tougher to plan on without knowing when they appear ahead of time. Regardless of this, reinforcements will typically act as soon as they are able, even without being provoked by another unit.

Timing

Depending on the game, reinforcements will appear at different points during a turn. These timings may also change withdifficulty. Certain reinforcements with non-turn-based triggers may appear at different points in a turn from what is shown below; these are noted on each chapter's reinforcement section.

• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem Gaiden: During enemy phase, when an enemy uses a summon command such asConjure
• Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War: During enemy phase, when later armies are deployed; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem: Thracia 776: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear, with one exception:
  • Chapter 7: On turn 10, reinforcements arrive on other phase, and do not act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade: At the start of a turn, before player phase. In a few chapters (noted below), some / all reinforcements spawn at the start of enemy phase and can act on the turn they appear
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 13 (Hector mode only)
  • Chapter 14 (Hector mode only)
  • Chapter 16xE/17xH
  • Chapter 17E/18H
  • Chapter 18xE/19xH
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones: At the start of a turn, before player phase
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance: At the start of a turn, before player phase
• Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn: At the start of a turn, before player phase
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
  • Normal: At the start of a turn, before player phase
  • Hard modes: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem
  • Normal: At the start of a turn, before player phase
  • Hard and up: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem Awakening
  • Normal: At the start of a turn, before player phase
  • Hard and up: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem Fates: At the end of enemy phase
• Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia: During enemy phase, when an enemy usesConjure
  • Act 6 and several DLC maps feature reinforcements that appear on certain turns; these appear at the end of enemy phase.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses
  • Normal/Hard: At the end of enemy phase
  • Maddening: At the start of enemy phase; can act on the turn they appear
• Fire Emblem Engage: At the start of a turn, before player phase

Etymology and other languages

References