Weapon experience (commonly abbreviatedWEx orWEXP) is a form ofexperience specific to a unit'sweapon level, accrued through the continued use of weapons, magic or staves. Once a unit reaches a certain threshold of weapon experience in a weapon type, the matching weapon level increases and allows them to use a wider and more powerful selection of weapons. Weapon experience was first implemented inFire Emblem: Thracia 776 and is present in all subsequent titles exceptEchoes: Shadows of Valentia andEngage. InThree Houses, it is known asskill experience.

Overview

In almost all uses of the system, WEx is gained through the use of weapons, with the unit's weapon level increasing by one after their weapon experience reaches a certain threshold. In the games fromThe Blazing Blade toRadiant Dawn, the amount of WEx gained varies depending on the weapon or staff used, while the WEx gained is constant regardless of the weapon or staff used in all other games.Thracia 776 has one exception to this, being staves; while all other weapons give a constant 1 WEx per hit, staves instead give a varying amount depending on the staff's weapon level: 1 for E-level, 2 for D-level, 3 for C-level, 4 for B-level, 5 for A-level, and 10 for ★-level. FromShadow Dragon throughAwakening, 2 WEx is gained from all weapons and staves. InFates, 1 WEx is gained from all weapons and staves. InThree Houses, 2 skill experience is gained from all weapons and spells, while also giving an additional +1 for units with a strength in the relevant skill level, or -1 for units with a weakness.

In games up to and includingRadiant Dawn, WEx is gained on a per-hit basis; for example, a 2 WEx weapon will grant a total of four WEx to the matching weapon level if the wielder performs afollow-up attack. FromShadow Dragon onward, WEx is gained on a per-round of combat basis.

In theGame Boy Advance trilogy of games, akill bonus is in effect in which the amount of WEx gained for a single blow is doubled if the unit successfully kills the enemy with said blow. For example, if a unit with a 2 WEx weapon attacks twice and kills an enemy, the unit actually gains 6 WEx in total: 2 from the first hit, and 4 from the second, fatal hit. InThe Blazing Blade andThe Sacred Stones, weapons and staves do not give any WEx if they break after use. For weapons, this means that even if the unit attacked multiple times during combat, no WEx is gained if the weapon breaks.

Weapon experience requirements by game

Upon gaining certain thresholds of weapon experience, a unit's weapon level in the matching weapon type will increase.

Three Houses adds additional "+" skill levels that are not featured in previous games. The skill level progression forThree Houses is as follows:

Items and skills affecting weapon experience

Items and skills affecting weapon experience
	Item	Effect	Games
	Arms Scroll	Boosts all*/the current equipped weapon's level(s) by 1.	Path of Radiance,Radiant Dawn,Shadow Dragon,New Mystery of the Emblem,Awakening,Fates
	Discipline	Doubles the user's WEx gain when equipped.	Radiant Dawn,Awakening
	Mastermind	User gains +100% skill experience in combat when equipped.	Three Houses
	Knowledge Gem	User gains +100% skill experience in combat when equipped.	Three Houses

See also

• Weapon level