Zelkov (Japanese:ゼルコバZelkova) is a playable character inFire Emblem Engage. He is a royal knight ofElusia, and one ofIvy's retainers.

Biography

Zelkov is a palace soldier ofElusia and a retainer ofIvy.^[2]

Fire Emblem Engage

Role

Zelkov is first seen as an enemy unit inChapter 8 andChapter 9. He joins the player's army inChapter 11, automatically after the player reaches row 24 on the map.

Starting stats and growth rates

Playable - Main story

Thief Level 17 Movement 5 SP 1000

Recruitment:Chapter 11, automatically after reaching row 24 on the map, or automatically at the end of the chapter ifAlear escaped the same turn row 24 was reached. StatsGrowth RatesCap Modifiers Max HP 35 Defense 14 Strength 15 Resistance 5 Magic 3 Luck 7 Dexterity 19 Build 9 Speed 19 Max HP 70% Defense 50% Strength 45% Resistance 20% Magic 15% Luck 40% Dexterity 60% Build 10% Speed 50% Defense ±0 Strength ±0 Resistance −1 Magic −1 Luck +1 Dexterity +2 Speed ±0 {{{content4}}} {{{content5}}} {{{content6}}} {{{content7}}} {{{content8}}} {{{content9}}} {{{content10}}} {{{content11}}} {{{content12}}} {{{content13}}} {{{content14}}} {{{content15}}} Inventory Skills Stiletto Steel Dagger Vulnerary Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Playable - Fell Xenologue

Fell Xenologue 1Fell Xenologue 2Fell Xenologue 3Fell Xenologue 4Fell Xenologue 5Fell Xenologue 6

Thief Level 15 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 34 Defense 13 Strength 14 Resistance 5 Magic 3 Luck 7 Dexterity 19 Build 8 Speed 18 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Kard Vulnerary Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 18 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 36 Defense 14 Strength 15 Resistance 6 Magic 4 Luck 7 Dexterity 20 Build 9 Speed 19 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Kard Vulnerary Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 21 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 38 Defense 15 Strength 16 Resistance 6 Magic 4 Luck 8 Dexterity 21 Build 9 Speed 20 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Kard Elixir Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 23 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 39 Defense 16 Strength 17 Resistance 6 Magic 4 Luck 9 Dexterity 22 Build 9 Speed 21 Inventory Skills Silver Dagger Kard Elixir Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 25 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 41 Defense 16 Strength 17 Resistance 7 Magic 5 Luck 9 Dexterity 23 Build 9 Speed 21 Inventory Skills Silver Dagger Kard Elixir Not *Quite* Pass Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 28 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 43 Defense 17 Strength 18 Resistance 7 Magic 5 Luck 10 Dexterity 24 Build 10 Speed 22 Inventory Skills Silver Dagger Kard Elixir Not *Quite* Pass Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

{{{content7}}}

{{{content8}}}

{{{content9}}}

{{{content10}}}

{{{content11}}}

{{{content12}}}

{{{content13}}}

{{{content14}}}

{{{content15}}}

Enemy - Chapter 8

See also:The Kingdom of Might

NormalHardMaddening

Thief Level 11 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 30 Defense 5 Strength 6 Resistance 8 Magic 2 Luck 2 Dexterity 10 Build 6 Speed 15 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 11 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 30 Defense 6 Strength 9 Resistance 8 Magic 2 Luck 2 Dexterity 10 Build 6 Speed 16 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 11 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 32 Defense 10 Strength 12 Resistance 14 Magic 2 Luck 5 Dexterity 21 Build 6 Speed 17 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Veteran+ Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

{{{content4}}}

{{{content5}}}

{{{content6}}}

{{{content7}}}

{{{content8}}}

{{{content9}}}

{{{content10}}}

{{{content11}}}

{{{content12}}}

{{{content13}}}

{{{content14}}}

{{{content15}}}

Enemy - Chapter 9

See also:A Clash of Forces

NormalHardMaddening

Thief Level 12 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 29 Defense 8 Strength 8 Resistance 6 Magic 1 Luck 5 Dexterity 18 Build 7 Speed 18 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 12 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 29 Defense 10 Strength 10 Resistance 8 Magic 3 Luck 5 Dexterity 18 Build 7 Speed 18 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

Thief Level 12 Movement 5

Stats Max HP 34 Defense 10 Strength 14 Resistance 14 Magic 4 Luck 8 Dexterity 25 Build 6 Speed 20 Inventory Skills Steel Dagger Not *Quite* Veteran+ Weapon Levels -- -- -- -- S -- -- -- --

{{{content4}}}

{{{content5}}}

{{{content6}}}

{{{content7}}}

{{{content8}}}

{{{content9}}}

{{{content10}}}

{{{content11}}}

{{{content12}}}

{{{content13}}}

{{{content14}}}

{{{content15}}}

Growth rates when reclassed

Analysis

Zelkov is the second playableThief to join the player's army. Due to being a covert unit he will gain double bonuses from terrain, which combined with his high base speed and his personal skill,Not *Quite*, gives him excellent avoid that will give him a strong enemy phase. Zelkov also sports a suprisingly high personal defense of 8, combined with decent base HP and a decent growths in said areas, giving him a decent amount of physical durability. However, his resistance is quite low, meaning that Zelkov is weak to enemy magic users, especially since mystical units inEngage ignore terrain bonuses. Zelkov also joins with the highest personal build in the game, along with high strength and dexterity.

Despite his high base level, Zelkov will not reach level 25 to attain thePass skill for a long time and along with this, enemies onMaddening difficulty mode won't attack him if they have 0 accuracy, meaning that enemies might ignore Zelkov on enemy phase. This can be avoided with a bit of intentional sabotage on the player's part and still reaping the benefits as Zelkov's personal skill is only factored after a foe initiates combat. Zelkov is still vulnerable to enemychain attacks as they have a fixed hit rate of 80%, which can wear down Zelkov's decent HP, and as such he requires the Pair Up skill to function as a dodge tank in the lategame ofEngage, but said skill is costly and requires a bond level of 13 with the Ring of the Crux of Fate.

Due to the Thief class being somewhat mediocre and not fully utilising Zelkov's combat potential, he benefits immensely from reclassing. His only issue is that in order to reap the benefits from reclassing, he needs to attain 4 levels while still in the Thief class, meaning that he will need to spend some time in the Thief class before reclassing. Upon reaching level 21, Zelkov has a wide array of options. TheWarrior class is a natural fit for Zelkov's high base build as it gives him access to axes and bows, alongside theMerciless skill.Halberdier is another option due to giving him access to lances and thePincer Attack skill.Hero is a servicable option for Zelkov as theBrave Assist skill synergises well with Zelkov's high avoid, while still having decent combat potential. TheWolf Knight class gives Zelkov additional mobility, while simultaneously still allowing him to make use of his proficiency in daggers. Finally, theWyvern Knight class is probably his best reclassing option due to giving Zelkov additional mobility, flight and theAir Raid skill.

On the topic ofEmblem Rings, Zelkov can make use of theRing of the Princess Exalt as theDual Strike skill synergizes well withdaggers and their ability to inflict thePoison status effect, but the Ring is generally more useful on units with higher mobility as they make better use ofBonded Shield. TheRing of the Lady of the Plains is a good option for a reclassed Zelkov as it allows him to reach doubling threshold in slower classes withSpeedtaker, but said ring is in high demand among the playable cast. TheRing of the Azure Twins andRing of the Young Lion are also strong options for a reclassed Zelkov as they significantly improve his combat. Finally, theRing of the Crux of Fate is a strong option for Zelkov if he was kept in his default class as he can abuse his Covert bonus withDragon Vein's generation of fog tiles.

Overall, Zelkov joins as a very strong unit stuck in a subpar class who needs to aSecond Seal to become a truly notable combat unit. However, he needs to spend a significant amount of time in his default class and by the time he reclasses, other units will likely be able to mimick his combat contributions.

Ally Notebook entries

DefaultC LevelB LevelA Level Level

	Zelkov
	Initial Class: Thief
	Birthday: August 2nd
	Basic Info: Retainer to Ivy,
	princess of Elusia, along with
	Kagetsu. Initially an enemy of
	the Divine Dragon's army but
	later joined them in the
	Shadowy Moor.

	Zelkov
	Likes: crafting, reading,
	staying busy, cooking,
	graveyards, sewing, precise
	work, protecting children
	Dislikes: strong odors,
	parties, idleness, fairy tales,
	boredom, despair

	Zelkov
	Hobbies: everything
	Talents: medicine, mystery
	Background: From a wealthy
	family in a forest town of
	Elusia. Parents and younger
	brother were murdered by
	bandits. Avenged them by
	becoming an assassin.

	Zelkov
	Height: 6'1"
	Ring Size: 7.5 | P
	Personality: Meticulous and
	multitalented. Speaks in a
	*mysterious* way. Pursues
	activities passionately. Strong
	nurturing instinct. Sleeps the
	least of any other ally.

	Zelkov
	Life with Zelkov: Devotes
	most of his attention to the
	Divine Dragon, with whom he
	now speaks plainly. Keeps
	the Pact Ring in a locked
	box, the key to which is kept
	inside another locked box
	just to be thorough.

{{{content6}}}

{{{content7}}}

{{{content8}}}

{{{content9}}}

{{{content10}}}

{{{content11}}}

{{{content12}}}

{{{content13}}}

{{{content14}}}

{{{content15}}}

Fire Emblem Heroes

Main article:Zelkov/Heroes

There is one variation of Zelkov available inHeroes.

Personality

Zelkov is quiet and has many interests.^[2]

Supports

Main articles:Zelkov/Supports andZelkov/Bond conversations

Endings

Mystery Man Zelkov
After completing his work as Princess Ivy's retainer, Zelkov's next pursuit was to create a shelter for the children in Elusia who were orphaned by the war.
He and his new family were very happy. It is said that the children all learned to speak in quite a profound and *meaningful* way.

Divine Dragon Alear & Mystery Man Zelkov
Alear became the new Divine Dragon Monarch. His/Her bonds with the rulers of each nation resulted in lasting peace.
Zelkov helped the new monarch from the shadows. While he is absent from historical records, it is said that they embarked on many new *pursuits* together.

Quotes

This section has been marked as astub. Please help improve the page by adding information.

Battle quotes

Critical quotes

Defeat quotes

Flavor text

Choose Your Legends placement history

Round	Placement	Character	Votes

CYL 8 (2024)

117

Zelkov Engage

632

CYL 9 (2025)

118 (+1)

Zelkov Engage

508 (−124)

CYL 10 (2026)

260 (+142)

Zelkov Engage

137 (−371)

Total results		This character has 3 entries across all Choose Your Legends polls.	1,277

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

Sprite Gallery
Thief Knife

CG images

Ally notebook images

• 
  Zelkov's initial ally notebook image inEngage.
• 
  Zelkov's C Support ally notebook image inEngage.
• 
  Zelkov's B Support ally notebook image inEngage.
• 
  Zelkov's A Support ally notebook image inEngage.
• 
  Zelkov's Ring Support ally notebook image inEngage.

Other images

• 
  Zelkov's Pact Ring support illustration inEngage.
• 
  Artwork ofIvy and her retainers fromEngage's credits.

Portraits

• 
  Portrait render of Zelkov fromEngage.

Concept artwork

• 
  Concept artwork of Zelkov fromEngage.
• 
  Concept artwork of Zelkov fromEngage.

Heroes artwork

Character artwork

• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.
• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.
• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.
• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.

Meet some of the Heroes artwork

• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.
• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.
• 
  Artwork of Zelkov: Winter Shadow.

References

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