The Frozen River (Japanese:凍てつく河Frozen River) is Chapter 18 of theIlia route ofFire Emblem: The Binding Blade.

Plot

Main article:The Frozen River/Script

After Arcado's defeat, the Etrurian Army continues its march deeper intoIlia. They arrive in a forest under the control of the bishopMartel. Before the battle,Roy confrontsGuinivere about the rumors sayingZephiel murdered his ownfather. Guinivere cannot answer, and asks for more time.

Once she leaves,Merlinus gives Roy the report that Martel has recruited a powerful dark mage namedNiime. She shows off her abilities by turning all the rivers in the forest to ice during the fight against Martel. Despite the changing weather, the Etrurian Army defeats Martel and rescues Niime from his control.

Niime reveals that she joined withBern to studydragons, which draws Roy's attention. Because of her research, Niime concludes that Bern resurrected theDemon Dragon, the leader of the dragons defeated by the heroHartmut. Additionally, this dragon has the ability to create more dragons, explaining the many manaketes the Etrurian Army fought until this point.

Finally, Niime joins the Etrurian Army, and they continue toward Edessa together.

Chapter data

NormalHard

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the castle gate	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Roy dies	1–15	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	32+26	{{{third}}}
InitialTurn 7 {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
Map dimensions: 23 columns by 32 rows

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the castle gate	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Roy dies	1–15	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	32+54	{{{third}}}
InitialTurn 7 {{{content3}}} {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}}
Map dimensions: 23 columns by 32 rows

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On the enemy phase of turn 7, the river freezes and becomes traversable to units who otherwise cannot cross rivers. This will not happen if Martel is already dead.

Character data

Characters
New units
None
Forcibly deployed characters
Available characters

Item data

Items

Name Obtainment Method Secret Book Visit southeasternvillage Guiding Ring Visit northeasternvillage Goddess Icon Visit northwesternvillage

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 Martel Bishop 10 1 45 19 11 11 12 12 17 7 6 Purge •Divine Does not move; stands on agate, the chapter's seize point. Ilia Falcoknight 6 2 31~37 11~15 12~16 12~16 5~9 6~9 7~11 6 8 Silver Lance • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 3 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Axereaver • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern two move to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 2 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Killer Lance • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 1 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 1 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Steel Lance Begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Pegasus Knight 16 1 22~25 8~10 10~12 10~12 4~6 4~6 5~7 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 31~35 13~16 7~10 9~11 3~5 11~13 1~2 10 7 Horseslayer -- Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 31~35 13~16 7~10 9~11 3~5 11~13 1~2 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 16 1 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 3~5 11~13 1~2 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin -- Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 31~35 13~16 7~10 9~11 3~5 11~13 1~2 10 7 Steel Lance -- Ilia Mercenary 17 1 29~33 9~12 13~16 12~14 4~6 6~8 2~3 9 5 Armorslayer -- Ilia Mercenary 16 3 28~32 9~11 13~15 12~14 3~6 6~8 1~3 9 5 Steel Sword -- Ilia Mercenary 17 1 29~33 9~12 13~16 12~14 4~6 6~8 2~3 9 5 Light Brand Begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Mercenary 17 2 29~33 9~12 13~16 12~14 4~6 6~8 2~3 9 5 Steel Sword Begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Priest 15 2 24~26 4~6 5~7 5~8 5~8 1~3 11~13 5 5 Physic -- Ilia Priest 15 1 24~26 4~6 5~7 5~8 5~8 1~3 11~13 5 5 Mend •Silence -- Ilia Priest 15 1 24~26 4~6 5~7 5~8 5~8 1~3 11~13 5 5 Mend •Berserk -- Ilia Archer 18 2 28~32 9~11 8~11 7~10 5~7 5~6 1~2 7 5 Iron Bow Moves to attack units in range; operates aBallista. Ilia Shaman 18 1 23~26 9~12 5~8 6~8 2~4 3~4 9~12 5 5 Nosferatu Moves to attack units in range. Ilia Shaman 18 3 23~26 9~12 5~8 6~8 2~4 3~4 9~12 5 5 Flux • The norther one moves to attack units in range. • The southern two begin moving unprovoked when they 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 Brigand Brigand 18 5 32~36 12~15 5~7 7~9 2~3 4~5 1~2 12 5 Steel Axe Moves to raidvillages, then moves to attack units unprovoked. Brigand Brigand 18 5 32~36 12~15 5~7 7~9 2~3 4~5 1~2 12 5 Hand Axe Moves to raidvillages, then moves to attack units unprovoked. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 8 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Steel Lance -- Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 8 23~26 8~11 10~13 10~13 4~7 4~6 5~7 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin --

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Martel Bishop 10 1 49~52 22~24 13~15 13~14 16~18 12~14 21~23 7 6 Purge •Divine Does not move; stands on agate, the chapter's seize point. Ilia Falcoknight 6 2 37~46 14~20 15~21 15~21 8~14 7~11 9~14 6 8 Silver Lance • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 3 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Axereaver • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern two move to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 2 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Killer Lance • The northern one begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. • The eastern one moves to attack units in range. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 1 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 1 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Steel Lance Begins moving unprovoked when she can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Pegasus Knight 16 1 28~34 11~15 14~18 14~18 7~11 5~8 7~11 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 39~46 17~20 10~15 12~16 5~9 13~17 2~4 10 7 Horseslayer -- Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 39~46 17~20 10~15 12~16 5~9 13~17 2~4 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin Moves to attack units in range. Bern Wyvern Rider 16 1 38~45 16~20 10~14 11~16 5~9 13~17 2~4 10 7 Steel Lance •Javelin -- Bern Wyvern Rider 17 1 39~46 17~20 10~15 12~16 5~9 13~17 2~4 10 7 Steel Lance -- Ilia Mercenary 17 1 37~44 13~18 17~20 15~19 7~11 7~11 3~6 9 5 Armorslayer -- Ilia Mercenary 16 3 36~43 13~17 17~20 15~19 6~11 7~11 2~6 9 5 Steel Sword -- Ilia Mercenary 17 1 37~44 13~18 17~20 15~19 7~11 7~11 3~6 9 5 Light Brand Begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Mercenary 17 2 37~44 13~18 17~20 15~19 7~11 7~11 3~6 9 5 Steel Sword Begins moving unprovoked when he can attack a unit within two turns. Ilia Priest 15 2 29~33 7~11 8~12 8~13 9~15 1~5 16~20 5 5 Physic -- Ilia Priest 15 1 29~33 7~11 8~12 8~13 9~15 1~5 16~20 5 5 Mend •Silence -- Ilia Priest 15 1 29~33 7~11 8~12 8~13 9~15 1~5 16~20 5 5 Mend •Berserk -- Ilia Archer 18 2 35~42 12~16 12~17 10~15 8~12 6~9 2~4 7 5 Iron Bow Moves to attack units in range; operates aBallista. Ilia Shaman 18 1 28~33 14~19 8~13 9~13 4~7 4~6 12~17 5 5 Nosferatu Moves to attack units in range. Ilia Shaman 18 3 28~33 14~19 8~13 9~13 4~7 4~6 12~17 5 5 Flux • The norther one moves to attack units in range. • The southern two begin moving unprovoked when they 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 Brigand Brigand 18 5 40~48 17~20 8~12 9~12 3~6 5~7 2~4 12 5 Steel Axe Moves to raidvillages, then moves to attack units unprovoked. Brigand Brigand 18 5 40~48 17~20 8~12 9~12 3~6 5~7 2~4 12 5 Hand Axe Moves to raidvillages, then moves to attack units unprovoked. Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 22 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Steel Lance -- Ilia Pegasus Knight 17 22 29~35 11~16 14~19 14~19 7~12 5~8 7~11 5 7 Steel Lance •Javelin --

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Reinforcements

All hard mode-exclusive reinforcements are halted whenMartel is defeated.

• Enemy phase of turns 5–9
  • 1Brigand with aSteel Axe from the north edge of the map
  • 1Brigand with aHand Axe from the east edge of the map
• Enemy phase of even turns 10–16; on Hard Mode, enemy phase of odd turns 11–15, and turns 17–20
  • 2Pegasus Knights—one without aJavelin—from the north edge of the map
• Enemy phase of odd turns 11–17; on Hard Mode, enemy phase of even turns 12–16, and turns 18–20
  • 2Pegasus Knights—one without aJavelin—from the east edge of the map

Boss data

Main article:Martel

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]

NormalHard

Bishop Level 10

Stats Max HP 45 Luck 12 Magic 19 Defense 12 Skill 11 Resistance 17 Speed 11 Constitution 7 Movement 6 Aid 6

Inventory Purge Divine Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓

Bishop Level 10

Stats Max HP 49~52 Luck 16~18 Magic 22~24 Defense 12~14 Skill 13~15 Resistance 21~23 Speed 13~14 Constitution 7 Movement 6 Aid 6

Inventory Purge Divine Weapon Levels ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓

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Strategy

For this map, bring foot soldiers, flying units, andNomads. Avoid usingKnights,Cavaliers, or armored units, as the dense forests will slow them down. Be wary of theBallistae. Ensure you eliminate theArchers operating them before moving your flying units forward. Utilize the forests to enhance your units' evasion.

On turn 3, expect an assault from theWyvern Riders. Positioning a competentbow-user at the edge of their attack range, ensuring no other units are close by, will be your best strategy. The Wyvern Riders will attempt long-range attacks, and your bow-user will counter and defeat them.

A note of caution: one of thePriests wields aBerserk staff. Either eliminate him quickly or carryRestore staves on multiple units for safety.

Two groups ofPegasus Knights are present on the map. The one near the Ballista guarded by twoMercenaries will remain stationary until you approach closely. Have your bow-users prepared. The other group will not move until you enter their attack range.

On turn 7, all the rivers freeze over, allowing any unit to cross. But be cautious: since this happens at the start of the enemy's turn, an enemy can cross a previously impassable river to strike any of your units positioned close by.

There are threevillages to visit. The northeast village will be razed by turn 9 and the southeast one by turn 11. While the southeast and northwest villages are easily accessible—especially the northwest town for flying units—the northeast one poses a challenge. Either dispatch your strongest units to clear the enemies or employ a baiting strategy to draw them out.

Lastly, the boss wields a potentPurge spell. Avoid positioning fragile units within its 10-square range. Clear out the nearest threats first. Then, if you have a high-level Pegasus Knight, send her in for the kill. Otherwise, deploy a unit with robust strength, HP, and speed to handle the boss.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

• 
  Map of the chapter

References