Should you skip the War Arc (Act 2) in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave?

You can skip the War Arc in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, but while it's not necessarily the best choice, it's not a terrible one either. Whether it's the right one for you depends on where you're at in the game and what you're hoping to get from this part of it. You have the option to do this when you interact with the Strife Obelisk, which appears after you complete Act 1 as any of the Flame Lords. You can also ignore the obelisk and go to the door, though if you do that, you won't bring any of your other units to the final campaign.

Below, we explain whether you should skip the War Arc in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave.

Should you skip the War Arc (Act 2) in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave?

Image: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo via Polygon

If this is your first time playing through Fortune's Weave, then no, you absolutely should not skip the War Arc at the obelisk. It's an essential bridge connecting the end of the Flame Lords' first acts to Act 3. It's important even if you aren't interested in the story, too, since it gets you ready to face the much steeper challenges Act 3 throws at you. The battles become bigger and more demanding from here on out.

After that, it depends on what you're doing. The maps and story in Act 2 are the same for every character, except for a unique scene at the start and very end. You aren't missing anything there if you skip.

When you skip, the game automatically increases the level of every character to 45, so you're at the minimum recommended threshold for starting the final act. If you're trying to get multiple armies ready for Act 3 quickly, skipping the War Arc is an acceptable option. It's also a good idea if you've gone back to replay Act 1 chapters and make changes to certain characters to improve them for Act 3 or recruit new characters. You can skip at any point during Act 2 and come back to pick up where you left off. It's not a one-and-done situation.

However speedy and convenient skipping the War Arc might be, it does come with a few drawbacks. You can get your main characters to level 50 or so just by dealing with all the enemies and reinforcements in Act 2, which puts you on better footing and gives your characters more chances to grow. Playing it manually also lets you swap classes and run drills to improve your army's skill ranks, giving you more control over how they develop and reducing the amount of management you have to do at the start of the third act. Skipping doesn't give you those options.

So, if you're in a hurry or just want to push through some tweaks you made in Act 1, go ahead and skip the War Arc. If you want more control over how your army grows, though, it's best to play through it.

If you're new to Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, we can help you navigate the complex paths of causality. We have put together explainers on which character you should pick first, how to change heroes, and if you should play in casual or classic mode, so you can set up the campaign according to your preferences.

Fortune's Weave is a massive game, that's why we explain how long it will take for you to finish it. As you progress through the initial Heroic Games matches, you should focus on recruiting more characters, unlocking Boons of Salvation, and spending free time in the best way possible. Just don't forget to visit the Perch and have a quick Bird Time session.