Weapon triangle

“	Weapons possess a unique hierarchy: Swords best axes. Axes best lances. Lances best swords. This is called the weapon triangle.	”	— Weapon triangle guide in Shadow Dragon.

The weapon triangle (Japanese: 武器の相性 weapon compatibility or 武器の３すくみ weapon 3 deadlock) is a "rock-paper-scissors"-type mechanic introduced in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War wherein certain categories of weapon are more effective against one category and less so against another. The most common form of the weapon triangle is thus: swords are more effective against axes but less effective against lances, lances are more effective against swords but less effective against axes, and axes are more effective against lances but less effective against swords. The weapon triangle remained mostly unchanged until Fates, its last appearance in the main series.

While the weapon triangle affects most physical weapons, magical weapons are affected by the trinity of magic (Japanese: 魔法の３すくみ magic 3 deadlock). The trinity of magic first appeared alongside the weapon triangle in Genealogy of the Holy War, and made its last appearance in Radiant Dawn—the last game in the main series to sub-divide tomes into separate categories. The nature of the trinity of magic changes with the nature of tomes from game to game.

The weapon triangle was reorganized in Fire Emblem Fates to encompass almost all available weapon types. Every weapon has been given a color, with red weapons being effective against green weapons, green weapons against blue, and blue against red. Fire Emblem Heroes uses a similar system; every weapon is given a color, but introduces colorless weapons, which are completely unaffected by the weapon triangle.

The weapon triangle and the trinity of magic provide a bonus to the hit rate of the unit with advantage and a penalty to the unit with disadvantage; in some games, the weapon triangle can also increase or decrease units' weapon might or attack.

Overview

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War introduced both the weapon triangle and the trinity of magic. With the weapon triangle, swords are strong against axes, axes are strong against lances, and lances are strong against swords. Under the trinity of magic, fire magic is strong against wind magic, wind magic is strong against thunder magic, and thunder magic is strong against fire magic; light and dark magic are both strong against fire, thunder, and wind and neutral against each other. In both triangles, advantage would grant a bonus to accuracy, while disadvantage would grant a penalty.

In The Binding Blade, fire, thunder, and wind magic were merged into one weapon type: anima magic. In all of the Game Boy Advance games—The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, and The Sacred Stones—anima magic is strong against light magic, light against dark magic, and dark against anima. The weapon triangle was not changed in The Binding Blade, but the effects of both triangles were; in addition to accuracy, advantage or disadvantage would boost or penalize units' damage.

In Path of Radiance, anima magic was split back into three weapon types and dark magic was removed. The individual anima magics retain their effectiveness against each other from Genealogy of the Holy War, but are neutral to light magic. Radiant Dawn re-introduced dark magic and retained the anima magic split; in Radiant Dawn, the individual anima magics have the same effectiveness as they did in Path of Radiance, but light, dark, and anima have the same effectiveness as in the GBA games, creating a layered system of effectiveness. Radiant Dawn was the last game to feature the trinity of magic.

Shadow Dragon features only tomes and not different forms of magic, and does not feature the trinity of magic. The weapon triangle was not altered between games but its effects were; the magnitude of the bonus or penalty for advantage or disadvantage was made to depend on the weapon level of the unit with advantage, with higher levels granting higher bonuses for that unit and higher penalties for their opponent. Additionally, weapon level bonuses—which were introduced in Shadow Dragon—are canceled out by weapon triangle disadvantage. The system present in Shadow Dragon was retained in New Mystery of the Emblem and Awakening.

Fates retains the effects of weapon triangle advantage and disadvantage from Shadow Dragon; however, the triangle itself was changed. Most weapon types were given a color: swords and tomes are red, lances and daggers are blue, and axes and bows are green; red weapons are effective against green weapons, green against blue, and blue against red.

Heroes uses a similar color system to Fates. Swords, lances, and axes have the same colors and colors the same effectiveness as in Fates; however, tomes, bows, daggers, breaths, and beast weapons can have a color as well, and neutral weapons are specifically deemed to be colorless. Red, blue, green, and colorless tomes are distinct weapon types; the color of a bow, dagger, breath, or beast weapon is determined by the unit using it; and all staves are colorless. As Heroes does not feature accuracy, the weapon triangle no longer affect's a units chance to hit; instead, it solely increases or decreases a unit's damage.

The weapon triangle was absent from Shadows of Valentia—a remake of Gaiden which lacked the weapon triangle, having been made before the triangle was first introduced. The weapon triangle did not return in Three Houses, though it did retain the numerous "breaker" skills which increase the user's hit and avoid when they have a weapon equipped that is deemed to be advantageous over their opponent's.

The weapon triangle is additionally present in Fire Emblem Warriors; it only affects swords, lances, and axes, and in the traditional pattern. When a player unit has weapon triangle advantage against an enemy, they deal increased damage, can cause the stun gauge to appear with regular attacks, and deal increased damage to the stun gauge; when they have weapon triangle disadvantage, they receive increased damage, cannot force the stun gauge to appear with strong attacks, and the opponent has an increased chance to block attacks.

Weapon triangle bonuses

A unit with weapon triangle advantage has one the following sets of values added to their respective stats, while one with weapon triangle disadvantage has one of the sets subtracted from their respective stats instead. Additionally, if a unit suffers weapon triangle disadvantage, their weapon level bonuses are negated during the battle.

In The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, and The Sacred Stones, the attack bonus/penalty applied by the weapon triangle affects weapon might, which is factored into bonus damage, rather than the final attack stat, which is not.

From Shadow Dragon onward, the bonuses gained or penalties inflicted by the weapon triangle are dependent on the weapon levelof the unit with weapon triangle advantage.

Weapon triangle bonuses/penalties by game
Game	Weapon level of unit with triangle advantage
	E	D	C	B	A	S
Genealogy of the Holy War	✗		Hit rate ±20%			✗
Thracia 776	Hit rate ±5%					✗
The Binding Blade	Hit rate ±10%, Weapon might ±1
The Blazing Blade	Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
The Sacred Stones	Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
Path of Radiance	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Radiant Dawn	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Shadow Dragon	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%		Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	✗
New Mystery of the Emblem	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%		Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	✗
Awakening	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1	✗
Fates	Hit rate ±5%		Hit rate ±10%	Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±15%, Attack ±1	Hit rate ±20%, Attack ±2

In Heroes, the weapon triangle boosts the attack of the unit with advantage by 20%, while reducing the attack of the unit with disadvantage by 20% as well.

Items and skills affecting the weapon triangle

This list may be incomplete.

Weapons and skills affecting the weapon triangle
	Item	Effect	Games
	Lancereaver	Inverts the weapon triangle.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
	Axereaver	Inverts the weapon triangle.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
	Swordreaver	Inverts the weapon triangle.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
	Swordslayer	Inverts the weapon triangle.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Dual Katana	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Naginata	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Club	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Shuriken	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Dual Yumi	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Calamity Gate	Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects.	Fates
	Ruby Sword	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Whitewing Blade	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Silverbrand	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Fólkvangr (refined, +effect)	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Panther Sword	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Rauðrraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Naglfar	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Eternal Tome	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Sapphire Lance	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Bull Spear	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Blárraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Tactical Bolt	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Emerald Axe	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Draconic Poleax	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Gronnraven	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Tactical Gale	Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes.	Heroes
	Trilemma	Inflicts a status effect on enemies that doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to the enemies's attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Triangle Adept	Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%).	Heroes
	Cancel Affinity	Negates weapon triangle affinity effects of user's skills, negates/reverses weapon triangle affinity effects of foe's skills.	Heroes

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Weapon triangle	--
Spanish	Triángulo de las armes	Triangle of the weapons
French	Triangle des armes	Triangle of the weapons
German	Waffen-Dreieck	Weapon triangle
Italian	Triangolo delle armi	Triangle of the weapons

See also

• Trinity of magic