Classes and unlock requirements in Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave
Overview & Key Takeaways
Our Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave class guide lists secret classes and unlock requirements, along with the mastery skill for each
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave classes work a bit differently than you might be used to if you played Three Houses. They come in several tiers, similar to Three Houses, but some of the intermediate classes only unlock if you meet certain conditions. Master-rank classes are locked behind completing certain quests in Act 3, and the final class tier is hidden away in shrines you can only access very late in the game.
Below, we list Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's classes and how to unlock them. This is an in-progress guide, as we're still missing a few master-tier and divine-tier classes. However, those are unavailable until Act 3, so you won't have to do anything to get them until then.
[Ed. note: If you're viewing this guide on a mobile device, you may have to swipe left and right to see all the information on the tables below.]
Changing classes in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Image: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo via Polygon
Every character starts in a beginner class, either commoner or noble, and gets a helpful little class mastery skill. After that, it's time to change to something more specialized. A new tier of classes unlocks when you reach certain renown thresholds, and you'll need to purchase certifications to take that class' exam. The game autosaves before you see the exam result, so there's no chance of cheesing it and retaking the exam until you pass.
The better option is to just hold off taking an exam until your character has at least a 75% chance of passing or higher. Skill rank matters here, but level matters even more. If you need to be level 35, for example, but you take the exam at level 32 with the right skill ranks, you'll still end up with a low chance of passing.
Is there a best class for each character?
Probably, but it depends on a lot of factors. You'll see characters you haven't recruited change classes as the story progresses, and it gives you a solid idea of what Intelligent Systems thinks is best for them. Consider it a guide more than a hard optimization requirement, though. For example, Esmeralda ends up as an armored knight for much of the game if you don't recruit her. However, we made her a wing soldier, and the more well-rounded set of stats that class offers suited her perfectly.
The only time you want to avoid experimenting is if you've got a character who clearly doesn't excel in a specific role. Take Majide as an example. You might want to make him a myrmidon to help with his tragic dexterity stat growth, but you absolutely wouldn't want to make him a shaman. He's just not built for magic.
Should you master a class before changing?
It depends on what you're using that class for. If you think the mastery skill is useful for the build you want, definitely wait to change classes until you master that one. But if a new class has a better set of abilities or stat growth potential, don't worry about swapping to take advantage of it. You can always come back to the other class at any time and max it out.
Alternatively, it's fine to stay in a class you've mastered if no others have stat or skill benefits you want.
Beginner classes in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Image: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo via Polygon
Beginner classes unlock automatically as you progress each Flame Lord's story, though you'll still need certification licenses to take their respective exams.
| Class | Skill rank | Mastery skill |
|---|---|---|
| Gladiator | Gauntlets: D Axes: D Swords: D | Attack basics (strength +1) |
| Hunter | Bows: D Swords: D | Hunting basics (dex/speed +1) |
| Soldier | Axes: D Spears: D | Soldier (defense +1) |
| Ornius Rider | Riding: E+ Axes: D Spears: D | Offense basics (strength/magic +1) |
| Diviner | White magic: D Black magic: D | Magic basics (magic/resistance +1) |
Specialty classes in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Image: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo via Polygon
This tier unlocks once you reach renown level four, and the ideal level for each is 20. There are no secret classes in this tier, so you don't have to worry about missing anything.
| Class | Skill rank | Mastery skill |
|---|---|---|
| Myrmidon | Swords: C | Ravaging arts (Deal +6 damage with critical hits) |
| Brigand | Axes: C Swords: C | Regroup (Grant avoid +20 to unit when foe avoids an attack) |
| Pugilist | Gauntlets: C | Attack, get back (Grant avoid +10 when using a combat art) |
| Archer | Bows: C | Crescendo (Grant hit +3 after defeating a foe for the rest of the battle. Max 30) |
| Rogue | Bows: C Swords: C | In shadow (Grants avoid +10 after defeating a foe until the next combat instance) |
| Armored Knight | Armor: E+ Axes: C Spears: C | Great counter (Grants attack +3 to unit for combat if foe attacks first) |
| Light Cavalry | Riding: D Spears: C Swords: C | Bolster health (Grants max HP+3) |
| Charioteer | Riding: D Bows: C | Charger (When using charge, grants protect +10 until next phase) |
| Armored Ornius Rider | Riding: D Axes: C Spears: C | Sense threat (Grants avoid +20 during combat if foe is effective against this unit) |
| Wing Soldier (women only) | Flying: D Spears: C Swords: C | Protecting wings (Grants resistance +3) |
| Shaman | Black magic: C | Bind dexterity (Inflicts -3 dexterity on target) |
| Priest | White magic: C | Piety (Grants luck +3) |
Advanced classes in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Image: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo via Polygon
Advanced classes unlock at renown level eight and have an ideal level of 35. This is where things get a bit trickier. Each route has several classes you can unlock by completing specific requirements, including one unique to that route. Unlocking it makes it available in all other routes, too.
| Class | Unlock requirement | Skill rank | Mastery skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shido | Automatic | Swords: B | Ever vigilant (Restores HP to unit after defeating a foe with a critical hit) |
| Dancer | Complete the "Great Dancer's Successor" request as Leda (unlocks in Chapter 9) | Bows: B Swords: B | Special dance (Grants target ally speed and dexterity +3 after using dance) |
| Warrior | Automatic | Gauntlets: B Axes: B Swords: B | Practiced art (Grants hit +10 when attacking with a combat art) |
| Blacksmith | Reach level one with Smyrnos and reach renown level eight (Dietrich only) | Black magic: D Axes: C | Makeshift (10% chance to reduce durability cost to 0 when using a combat art) |
| Sniper | Automatic | Bows: B | Marksmanship (Grant hit +15 when equipped with a bow) |
| Forest Knight | Automatic | Riding: D Bows: B | Hunter's eye (Grants attack +3 when making a follow-up attack with a bow) |
| Ranger | Complete the "Elegant Drink Recipes" request (Leda only) | Bows: B Swords: B | Countershot (50% chance for unit to counter adjacent foes when equipped with a bow) |
| Guardian | Complete the Il-Lara headhunting contract as Dietrich or the "Send supplies: Roca" and "Send supplies: Kotha Gar" requests in Theodora's Chapter 9 | Spears: B (can also use healing magic, but only if the unit has learned it by raising their white magic skill) | Brace (Grants protect +3 until the unit's next phase after defeating a foe) |
| Cataphract | Complete "Send Supplies: Landon Loach" and "Send Supplies: Steel Fish" (Theodora only, Chapter 9) | Armor: E+ Riding: D Axes: B Spears: B | Pavise (20% chance to take half damage from physical attacks) |
| Dreadnought | Automatic | Armor: D Axes: B Spears: B | Focused counter (Grants hit +10 during combat if foe attacks first) |
| Bardinger | Automatic | Riding: C Spears: B Swords: B | Aegis (20% chance for unit to take half damage when attacked with magic) |
| Caldarius | Complete Castor's mentoring (Cai's route only) | Riding: D Black magic: B | Overtake (Grants movement +1 through end of next turn after defeating a foe. Max +3) |
| Dragoon | Complete Aurora's mentoring as Cai or the "Send supplies: Lir Fish" and "Send supplies: Sea-Star Stone" quests in Theodora's Chapter 11 | Flying: C Axes: B Spears: B | Besieger (Grants hit +20 to unit if foe is on favorable terrain) |
| Ovate | Automatic | Black magic: B | Bind speed (Inflict -3 speed on target) |
| Bishop | Automatic | White magic: B | Barrier (Grants resistance +3 to adjacent allies) |
| Troubadour | Complete Bertrand's mentoring as Cai or the "Elegant Drink Recipes" request as Leda | Riding: D Black magic: B White magic: B | Song of courage (Grants dexterity and speed +3 to allies in range until unit's next phase) |
We're still working on unlocking a handful of master- and divine-tier classes and will update with those when we have them. They're impossible to obtain until you reach Act 3, though, so you don't have to worry about missing them until then.
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.
