The Binding Blade (Japanese:封印の剣Sword of seals) is the twenty-first chapter ofFire Emblem: The Binding Blade. In order to playthe side quest after, this chapter must be completed within 30 turns, andMelady andZeiss must be recruited and alive.

Plot

Main article:The Binding Blade (chapter)/Script

The Etrurian Army has at last reachedBern.Guinivere leads the group to theShrine of Seals, the resting place of theBinding Blade. However, the shrine is protected by theWyvern GeneralsMurdock andGalle.

Yoder returns to the Etrurian Army because he received Roy's letter detailing what he learned about dragons fromNiime. Like Roy, he has concluded that Bern resurrected theDemon Dragon, who now hides in Bern's army in human form. He suspects that she may be theDark Priestess often seen at KingZephiel's side. Additionally, Yoder brought twolegendary weapon to support the cause. These weapons are theStaff of the Saint, as well as whichever ofMulagir andMaltet Roy did not have the opportunity to acquire for himself.

Though bothZeiss andMelady, Galle's former subordinate and lover respectively, can confront Galle on the battlefield, Galle cannot be swayed from his loyalty to Bern and dies during the conflict. Roy also succeeds in slaying Murdock, thus conquering the Shrine of Seals.

If the shrine is taken sufficiently quickly and both Melady and Zeiss survive until this point,Elffin will discover a secret passage inside the shrine leading to the holding place of an additional legendary weapon besides the Binding Blade.

If the battle drags on for too long, the druidPeres will dispose of the weapon instead and join the fray on Murdock's side. Once beaten, Roy, Elffin andMerlinus proceed to the altar of the Binding Blade. After Merlinus tries and fails to draw the blade, Roy inserts theFire Emblem into the blade's hilt like Guinivere instructed him. Immediately, Roy sees a vision of theDragon Sanctuary with an unveiled Idunn inside, and speculates that this isHartmut's memory contained within the Binding Blade. When the vision fades, the Binding Blade glows. Though Roy doubts that he is fit to wield Hartmut's weapon, Elffin reassures him that the Binding Blade chose him. With renewed confidence, Roy leads the Etrurian Army toward the final clash against Zephiel.

Chapter data

NormalHard

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the throne	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Roy dies	1–18+1	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	35+96	{{{third}}}
MapSecret Shop {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
Map dimensions: 32 columns by 36 rows

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the throne	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Roy dies	1–18+1	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	45+96	{{{third}}}
MapSecret Shop {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
Map dimensions: 32 columns by 36 rows

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Character data

Characters
New units
Yoder Bishop HP 35 Inventory Recover Lightning Mulagir* Maltet* Staff of the Saint Level 20 Automatically from turn 1
Forcibly deployed characters
Available characters

At the end of the chapter, if the requirements to enterChapter 21x were not met,Roy willpromote toGreat Lord automatically.

Item data

Items

Name Obtainment Method Knight Crest Steal fromMurdock Vulnerary Steal from enemyWyvern Rider Vulnerary Steal from enemyWyvern Rider Vulnerary Steal from enemyWyvern Rider Vulnerary Steal from enemyWyvern Rider (reinforcement; up to thirty-eight) Vulnerary Steal from enemyPaladin (reinforcement; up to six) Knight Crest Visitvillage Binding Blade Automatically at the end of the chapter, if the requirements forChapter 21x were not met

Shop data

Armories and vendors

SwordsLancesAxesBowsAnimaLightDarkStavesItemsSecret

	Name	Cost
	Silver Sword	1,500
	Silver Blade	1,800
	Armorslayer	1,260

	Name	Cost
	Silver Lance	1,200
	Ridersbane	1,040

	Name	Cost
	Silver Axe	1,000
	Poleax	810

	Name	Cost
	Silver Bow	1,600

	Name	Cost
	Thunder	500
	Elfire	800

	Name	Cost
	Lightning	540
	Divine	1,250

	Name	Cost
	Flux	780

	Name	Cost
	Heal	600
	Mend	1,000
	Physic	3,750

	Name	Cost
	Pure Water	900
	Door Key	50
	Chest Key	1,500

	Name	Cost
	Knight Crest	10,000
	Hero Crest	10,000
	Orion's Bolt	10,000
	Elysian Whip	10,000
	Guiding Ring	10,000
	Angelic Robe	8,000
	Energy Ring	8,000
	Secret Book	8,000
	Speedwings	8,000
	Goddess Icon	8,000
	Dragonshield	8,000
	Talisman	8,000
	Body Ring	8,000
	Boots	8,000
	Bolting	3,000
	Purge	3,500
	Eclipse	4,000

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The secret shop is located in the central right edge of the map, in the single grass tile in the middle of the mountain range.

Enemy data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.

NormalHard

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Murdock General 20 1 62 27 19 12 12 25 17 20 5 Tomahawk •Knight Crest Does not move; stands on athrone, the chapter's seize point. Bern Wyvern Lord 10 3 42~50 18~23 11~16 11~15 4~8 14~18 2~4 11 8 Silver Lance • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The southwest one moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 3 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Killer Lance •Vulnerary • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The southwest one moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 6 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin • The northeast two begin moving unprovoked when they can attack a unit within two turns. • The one northwest of the middleWyvern Lord and the southwest two move to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 3 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The southwest one moves to attack units in range. Manakete Manakete 10 2 47~56 9~14+10 6~11+10 6~10 5~9 3+20 4~8+5 5 5 Firestone Moves to attack units in range. Bern Bishop 10 3 31~36 11~16 9~13 8~12 9~14 4~6 17~22 6 6 Divine •Physic The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Bern Sage 12 1 31~36 16~21 10~15 10~14 3~6 6~10 11~15 7 6 Elfire •Mend -- Bern Sage 12 1 31~36 16~21 10~15 10~14 3~6 6~10 11~15 7 6 Aircalibur •Mend -- Bern Sage 12 1 31~36 16~21 10~15 10~14 3~6 6~10 11~15 7 6 Bolting •Fire •Physic Does not move, except to heal. Bern Knight 20 3 30~35 11~14 7~10 2~4 4~6 13~15 0~2 13 4 Steel Lance The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Bern Knight 20 2 30~35 11~14 7~10 2~4 4~6 13~15 0~2 13 4 Horseslayer Moves to attack units in range. Bern Archer 19 3 29~33 9~12 9~12 8~10 5~8 5~7 1~3 7 5 Iron Bow The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Bern Archer 20 3 29~33 9~12 9~12 8~10 5~8 5~7 1~3 7 5 Longbow The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns.

Reinforcements

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Galle Wyvern Lord 18 1 49 22 15 13 11 22 14 12 8 Spear Moves towards and only attacksRoy, unless he is not present on the map (i.e. he is rescued). Bern Wyvern Rider 20 1 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Horseslayer Only attacks if Roy is within Galle's range or Galle has been defeated. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 1 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Axereaver Only attacks if Roy is within Galle's range or Galle has been defeated. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 7 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Javelin Only attacks if Roy is within Galle's range or Galle has been defeated. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 14 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance -- Bern Wyvern Rider 20 38 33~38 14~17 8~11 9~12 4~6 12~14 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance •Vulnerary -- Bern Wyvern Lord 13 19 44~53 19~24 12~17 12~15 5~8 15~18 2~4 11 8 Silver Lance -- Bern Paladin 13 3 41~48 13~17 11~16 10~14 6~10 10~13 6~10 11 8 Silver Lance -- Bern Paladin 5 3 36~42 11~15 9~13 9~12 4~8 9~12 5~8 11 8 Javelin -- Bern Paladin 5 6 36~42 11~15 9~13 9~12 4~8 9~12 5~8 11 8 Steel Lance •Vulnerary -- Peres Druid 15 1 36 20 14 11 13 15 20 6 6 Nosferatu Moves to attack units in range. Bern Druid 10 2 29~34 19~24 9~14 9~13 4~8 5~9 12~15 6 6 Fenrir •Physic Moves to attack units in range.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Murdock General 20 1 71~74 27 22~23 13~14 14~16 27~29 18~20 20 5 Tomahawk •Knight Crest Does not move; stands on athrone, the chapter's seize point. Bern Wyvern Lord 10 5 51~62 22~26 14~21 13~19 6~12 16~22 2~6 11 8 Silver Lance • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The westernmost one moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 5 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Killer Lance •Vulnerary • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The westernmost one moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 10 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin • The northeast two begin moving unprovoked when they can attack a unit within two turns. • The one northwest of the middleWyvern Lord and the westernmost two move to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 20 5 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Steel Lance • The northeast one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. • The westernmost one moves to attack units in range. Manakete Manakete 10 2 58~71 13~20+10 9~16+10 8~14 8~13 3+20 5~10+5 5 5 Firestone Moves to attack units in range. Bern Bishop 10 3 36~44 15~22 12~17 10~16 13~21 4~8 21~29 6 6 Divine •Physic The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Bern Sage 12 1 36~44 21~28 13~20 13~18 4~9 7~12 14~19 7 6 Elfire •Mend -- Bern Sage 12 1 36~44 21~28 13~20 13~18 4~9 7~12 14~19 7 6 Aircalibur •Mend -- Bern Sage 12 1 36~44 21~28 13~20 13~18 4~9 7~12 14~19 7 6 Bolting •Fire •Physic Does not move, except to heal. Bern Knight 20 3 39~48 15~20 11~16 3~7 7~10 16~20 0~3 13 4 Steel Lance The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Bern Knight 20 2 39~48 15~20 11~16 3~7 7~10 16~20 0~3 13 4 Horseslayer Moves to attack units in range. Bern Archer 19 3 37~45 13~18 13~19 11~16 9~14 6~10 2~5 7 5 Iron Bow The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Bern Archer 20 3 37~45 13~18 13~19 11~16 9~14 6~10 2~5 7 5 Longbow The eastern one begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns.

Reinforcements

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Galle Wyvern Lord 18 1 58~61 26 18~20 15~17 13~15 24~26 14~16 12 8 Spear Moves towards and only attacksRoy, unless he is not present on the map (i.e. he is rescued). Bern Wyvern Rider 20 1 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Horseslayer -- Bern Wyvern Rider 20 1 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Axereaver -- Bern Wyvern Rider 20 7 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Javelin -- Bern Wyvern Rider 20 14 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Steel Lance -- Bern Wyvern Rider 20 38 42~51 19~20 12~17 12~17 7~10 15~18 2~5 10 7 Steel Lance •Vulnerary -- Bern Wyvern Lord 13 19 53~65 23~26 15~22 14~19 7~12 17~22 2~6 11 8 Silver Lance -- Bern Paladin 13 3 49~60 16~21 14~21 12~17 9~14 11~15 8~13 11 8 Silver Lance -- Bern Paladin 5 3 44~54 14~19 12~18 11~15 7~12 10~14 7~11 11 8 Javelin -- Bern Paladin 5 6 44~54 14~19 12~18 11~15 7~12 10~14 7~11 11 8 Steel Lance •Vulnerary -- Peres Druid 15 1 41~44 26~29 17~19 14~15 15~17 16~17 23~25 6 6 Nosferatu Moves to attack units in range. Bern Druid 10 2 34~42 25~29 12~19 12~17 6~12 6~11 15~20 6 6 Fenrir •Physic Moves to attack units in range.

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Reinforcements

• Enemy phase when any unit ends their turn north of the shrine (columns 13–32, rows 22–25)
  • Galle and 4Wyvern Riders—one with aHorseslayer, one anAxereaver, one aJavelin, and one aSteel Lance—from north of the village
• Enemy phase when any unit ends their turn near the shrine (columns 18–32, rows 22–36); repeatable up to three times.
  • 3Wyvern Riders withSteel Lances (two withVulneraries) and 1Wyvern Lord from the west peaks
  • 1 Wyvern Lord and 3 Wyvern Riders—one with aJavelin, two with Steel Lances and Vulneraries—from the south edge of the map
• Enemy phase when any unit ends their turn southwest of thevillage (columns 1–9, rows 16–19); repeatable up to three times
  • 4Paladins—one with aSilver Lance, one aJavelin, and two withSteel Lances andVulneraries—from north of the southern peaks
  • 1Wyvern Lord and 3Wyvern Riders with Steel Lances (two with Vulneraries) from the southwest corner of the map
• Enemy phase when any unit ends their turn north of the southern peaks (columns 1–13, rows 25–28)
  • 1Wyvern Lord and 3Wyvern Riders withSteel Lances (two withVulneraries) from the southern peaks
• Enemy phase when any unit ends their turn in the northeast corner of the map (columns 22–31, rows 1–7); repeatable up to three times
  • 1Wyvern Lord and 3Wyvern Riders withSteel Lances (two withVulneraries) from the upper of the eastern peaks
  • 1 Wyvern Lord and 3 Wyvern Riders—one with aJavelin, two with Steel Lances and Vulneraries—from the lower of the eastern peaks
  • 1 Wyvern Lord and 3 Wyvern Riders with Steel Lances (two with Vulneraries) from the peaks west of the shrine
• Turn 31
  • Peres and 2Druids from south of the shrine

Boss data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.^[1][2]

Main article:Murdock

NormalHard

General Level 20

Stats Max HP 62 Luck 12 Strength 27 Defense 25 Skill 19 Resistance 17 Speed 12 Constitution 20 Movement 5 Aid 19

Inventory Tomahawk Knight Crest Weapon Levels ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗

General Level 20

Stats Max HP 71~74 Luck 14~16 Strength 27 Defense 27~29 Skill 22~23 Resistance 18~20 Speed 13~14 Constitution 20 Movement 5 Aid 19

Inventory Tomahawk Knight Crest Weapon Levels ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗

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Main article:Peres

NormalHard

Druid Level 15

Stats Max HP 36 Luck 13 Magic 20 Defense 15 Skill 14 Resistance 20 Speed 11 Constitution 6 Movement 6 Aid 5

Inventory Nosferatu Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓

Druid Level 15

Stats Max HP 41~44 Luck 15~17 Magic 26~29 Defense 16~17 Skill 17~19 Resistance 23~25 Speed 14~15 Constitution 6 Movement 6 Aid 5

Inventory Nosferatu Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓

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Strategy

Thesecret shop sells every class-change item, every stat-booster, andsiege tomes; notably, this includesBoots. It is generally advised to sell all unwanted equipment to buy as many Boots as possible. While items can be sold at the battle preparations shop on Normal, the shop is not available in Hard, so accessing the convoy to sell items requires deployingMerlinus.

While previous chapters inThe Binding Blade often featured a fewWyvern Riders and aWyvern Lord, this chapter features 15 on Normal, with more appearing as reinforcements and even more present on Hard. Some relevant stat thresholds for fighting these enemies on Hard are:

Weapons that dealbonus damage to wyvern units will likely be required to reach one- or two-shot thresholds; some such weapons include:

• Aircalibur deals magical damage and has 24 effectivemight.
• AKiller Bow deals physical damage and has 27 effective might; critical hits may allow units that do not meet a threshold to one- or two-shot.
• ASilver Bow deals physical damage and has 39 effective might.
• Durandal deals physical damage and has 51 effective might (and an additional +5 strength).
• Forblaze deals magical damage and has 42 effective might.

Many of the reinforcements only spawn if the player enters certain regions, so they can be avoided rather than fought. The map has three "lanes" that encounter different enemies and may trigger different reinforcement sets.

• The top lane, going to the top right corner of the map and then down, faces only one reinforcement zone before reaching the shrine; however, this zone triggers three squads at once for three turns, two of which appear very close to the trigger zone.
• The middle lane, starting near the Sage and crossing the map south of the Village, triggers the fewest reinforcements. Entering the area near the Sage will trigger a squad of Wyverns and also a squad of Paladins; they approach from the same direction, but the Paladins will be slowed by terrain, potentially causing them to reach the player at the same time as the next wave of Wyverns.
• The bottom lane, going to the very south of the map and approaching along the southern peaks, triggers the same reinforcements as the middle lane in addition to more wyverns closer to the player from the southern peaks as the player deviates from the middle lane.

These reinforcement zones can be circumvented with fliers or mounted units, who have enough movement to pass from one end of a zone to the other without waiting inside it or simply moving around it, potentially carrying another unit.

Approaching the Shrine triggers additional reinforcements:Galle's squad and two other Wyvern squads (one from the western peaks, another from the southern peaks) will spawn; Galle's squad may be triggered earlier by using the bottom lane, and the latter two squads can spawn up to three times, which will almost always trigger all three times as the player needs to go around to the south to enter the Shrine. Alternately, the player mayWarp units directly into the Shrine to quickly defeat the boss and then seize. Galle's squad spawns far from the shrine, and does not pose an immediate threat.

The boss,Murdock, is not easy to defeat quickly. He has capped strength and has aTomahawk for 1–2 range. Murdock has 40 attack, and has much higher skill than many of the priorGeneral bosses (22–23 on Hard); he also has incredible bulk: including bonuses from the throne, he has over 70 HP, 30–32 defense, and 23–25 resistance on Hard. Most of the units that could quickly defeat Murdock are frail, and warping them to Murdock may result in them dying on retaliation or to another nearby enemy; conversely, many of the units with the bulk to withstand Murdock's attacks struggle to deal significant damage to him or are magically frail and susceptible to the nearby Sage.

Trivia

• Both this chapter andChapter 27 in Eliwood's tale ofFire Emblem: The Blazing Blade feature theShrine of Seals, and can be combined near-seamlessly.
• "Shock II" was intended to play partway in the scene where Roy and Yoder meet again, but due to an oversight, it instead plays after it, only to abruptly stop once the Player Phase begins.
• This is one of the only three chapters inThe Binding Blade to have additional enemies on turn 1 in hard mode, the others beingChapter 7 andChapter 22.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

• 
  Map of the chapter

References