Marth Embarks

Marth Embarks

Location Isle of Talys New units Marth, Caeda, Jagen, Cain, Abel, Draug, Gordin, Wrys Boss(es) Gazzak Previous chapter(s) Prologue IV Next chapter(s) The Pirates of Galder

Marth Embarks (Japanese: マルスの旅立ち Marth's Departure) is the first chapter of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, Book I of Mystery of the Emblem, and Shadow Dragon. It is set two years after the prologue of Shadow Dragon.

Plot

Main article: Marth Embarks/Script

Marth, having narrowly survived the downfall of Altea, reaches the island kingdom of Talys, where its king Mostyn allows him to reside in the eastern fortress. Marth spends two years in hiding, training to become strong enough to challenge Medeus. One day, pirates from the town of Galder storm the island and begin pillaging the local villages. Princess Caeda races to the eastern fortress to enlist Marth's aid, and he promptly engages the pirates.

Starting from the east side of the island, Marth leads the army to the western castle, where he defeats Gazzak, the leader of the pirates. He meets King Mostyn, who deems him worthy to battle Dolhr and supplies him with a group of soldiers, most notably Ogma, to help him reclaim Altea. King Mostyn advises Marth to recruit more fighters who can help, whether they are hiding in villages or being forced to fight by the enemy.

Chapter data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat: Marth dies	7+1	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	14	{{{third}}}
Map dimensions: 30 columns by 13 rows

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat: Marth dies	7	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	14	{{{third}}}
Map dimensions: 30 columns by 13 rows

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat: Marth dies	7+1	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	14	{{{third}}}
Map dimensions: 30 columns by 13 rows

Units are arranged based on their position in deployment order after Marth. If every unit is alive and recruited, the deployment order is:

• In Normal mode: Marth, Abel, Frey, Jagen, Cain, Gordin, Draug, Norne, Caeda.
• In Hard mode: Marth, Caeda, Cain, Abel, Draug, Jagen, Gordin.

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Character data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon Normal Mode Shadow Dragon Hard Modes

Characters
New units
Marth Lord HP 18 Inventory Rapier Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Jagen Paladin HP 20 Inventory Iron Sword Silver Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Cain Cavalier HP 18 Inventory Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Abel Cavalier HP 18 Inventory Iron Sword Javelin Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Draug Knight HP 18 Inventory Iron Sword Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Gordin Archer HP 16 Inventory Bowgun Steel Bow Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Caeda Pegasus Knight HP 16 Inventory Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Wrys Curate HP 16 Inventory Heal Level 1 Visit western village
Available characters
None

Characters
New units
Marth Lord HP 18 Inventory Rapier Vulnerary Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Abel Cavalier HP 20 Inventory Javelin Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Cain Cavalier HP 20 Inventory Iron Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Jagen Paladin HP 22 Inventory Silver Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Gordin Archer HP 18 Inventory Iron Bow Steel Bow Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Draug Armored Knight HP 20 Inventory Iron Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Caeda Pegasus Knight HP 16 Inventory Slim Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1
Available characters
None

Characters
New units
Caeda Pegasus Knight HP 16 Inventory Wing Spear Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Wrys Curate HP 16 Inventory Heal Level 1 Visit western village
Required characters
Available characters

Characters
New units
Marth Lord HP 18 Inventory Rapier Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Caeda Pegasus Knight HP 16 Inventory Wing Spear Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Cain Cavalier HP 20 Inventory Iron Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Abel Cavalier HP 20 Inventory Javelin Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Draug Knight HP 20 Inventory Iron Lance Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Jagen Paladin HP 22 Inventory Silver Lance Iron Sword Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Gordin Archer HP 18 Inventory Iron Bow Steel Bow Level 1 Automatically from turn 1 Wrys Curate HP 16 Inventory Heal Level 1 Visit western village
Available characters
None

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Item data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon

Items

Name Obtainment Method 10,000 G Visit the eastern village Vulnerary Dropped by Gazzak

Items

Name Obtainment Method 5,000 G Visit the eastern village Vulnerary Visit the western village

Items

Name Obtainment Method 10,000 G Visit the eastern village Vulnerary Dropped by Gazzak

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Shop data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon

Armories and vendors

Swords Lances Axes Bows Tomes Staves Items Secret

Name	Cost
Iron Sword	320

Name	Cost
Lance	450
Javelin	600

Name	Cost
Axe	360

Name	Cost
Bow	400
Bowgun	950

None

None

None

None

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Armories and vendors

Swords Lances Axes Bows Tomes Staves Items Secret

	Name	Cost
	Iron Sword	420

	Name	Cost
	Iron Lance	380
	Javelin	600

	Name	Cost
	Iron Axe	430

	Name	Cost
	Iron Bow	330

None

None

None

None

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Armories and vendors

Swords Lances Axes Bows Tomes Staves Items Secret

	Name	Cost
	Iron Sword	400

	Name	Cost
	Iron Lance	480
	Javelin	750

	Name	Cost
	Iron Axe	320

	Name	Cost
	Iron Bow	440

None

None

None

None

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Enemy data

Enemy data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 24 7 3 8 0 6 0 6 Steel Axe Drops a Vulnerary upon defeat. Moves onto the gate on turn 1, then does not move. Pirate Pirate 1 11 18 5 1 6 0 4 0 6 Axe • The three surrounding the gate move to attack any player unit in range, and move next to the gate if no one is in range. • The southernmost one moves to to attack any player unit in range, and moves onto the west village if no one is in range. • The easternmost one moves to attack any player unit in range, and moves onto the northern fort if no one is in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 16 3 1 9 0 2 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes raiding villages until the Pirate on the west village is defeated. Pirate Hunter 1 1 18 6 1 5 0 3 0 6 Bow --

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 26 6 0 3 -- 5 0 5 Iron Axe Moves onto the gate on turn 1, then does not move. Galder Pirate 1 10 22 4 0 2 -- 3 0 5 Iron Axe The adjacent pair south of the gate move next to the gate on turn 1, then do not move. Galder Pirate 3 1 24 5 0 2 -- 4 0 5 Iron Axe -- Galder Thief 1 1 16 2 1 7 -- 1 0 7 Iron Sword Ignores combat and moves to raid villages. Galder Hunter 1 1 18 6 4 6 -- 4 0 6 Iron Bow --

Stats with a decimal can vary randomly; the decimal represents the chance for the stat to increase to the nearest integer, or otherwise be truncated.

Normal Hard-1 Hard-2 Hard-3 Hard-4 Hard-5

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 24 7 0 3 8 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 18 5 0 1 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 16 3 0 1 7 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 18 6 0 4 6 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 25.2 8.5 0 3.75 8.45 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 19.5 5.6 0 1.75 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 17.8 3.6 0 2.2 8.5 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 19.8 6.3 0 4.9 6.9 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 26.4 10 0 4.5 8.9 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 21 6.2 0 2.5 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 19.6 4.2 0 3.4 10 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 21.6 6.6 0 5.8 7.8 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 27.6 11.5 0 5.25 9.35 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 22.5 6.8 0 3.25 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 21.4 4.8 0 4.6 11.5 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 23.4 6.9 0 6.7 8.7 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 28.8 13 0 6 9.8 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 24 7.4 0 4 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 23.2 5.4 0 5.8 13 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 25.2 7.2 0 7.6 9.6 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Gazzak Pirate 5 1 30 14.5 0 6.75 10.25 0 6 0 -- Steel Axe • Vulnerary Moves onto the gate on turn 1. Pirate Pirate 1 11 25.5 8 0 4.75 6 0 4 0 6 Iron Axe • The three south of the Hunter, the furthest southeastern one, and the furthest northern two immediately begin moving unprovoked. • The one northwest of Gazzak begins moving if the one just east of Gazzak is provoked. • The one just east of Gazzak, the one just southwest of Gazzak, and other eastern two only move to attack units in range. Pirate Thief 1 1 25 6 0 7 14.5 0 1 0 7 Iron Sword Prioritizes destroying villages. Pirate Hunter 1 1 27 7.5 0 8.5 10.5 0 3 0 6 Iron Bow Begins moving if the left southeastern Pirate is provoked.

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Boss data

Main article: Gazzak

Boss data

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Mystery of the Emblem Shadow Dragon

Pirate Level 5 Movement 6 Experience 38

Stats Max HP 24 Speed 8 Strength 7 Luck 0 Skill 3 Defense 6 W. Level 7 Resistance 0

Inventory Drops Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapons Sword ✗ Lance ✗ Axe ✓ Bow ✗ Tome ✗ Staff ✗ Ballista ✗ Stone ✗

Pirate Level 5 Movement 5 Experience 62

Stats Max HP 26 Luck -- Strength 6 W. Level -- Skill 0 Defense 5 Speed 3 Resistance 0

Weapons Items Iron Axe -- Weapons Sword ✗ Lance ✗ Axe ✓ Bow ✗ Tome ✗ Staff ✗

Stats with a decimal can vary randomly; the decimal represents the chance for the stat to increase to the nearest integer, or otherwise be truncated.

Normal Hard-1 Hard-2 Hard-3 Hard-4 Hard-5

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 24 Speed 8 Strength 7 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 3 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- D -- -- --

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 25.2 Speed 8.45 Strength 8.5 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 3.75 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- C -- -- --

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 26.4 Speed 8.9 Strength 10 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 4.5 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- C -- -- --

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 27.6 Speed 9.35 Strength 11.5 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 5.25 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- B -- -- --

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 28.8 Speed 9.8 Strength 13 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 6 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- B -- -- --

Pirate Level 5 Movement --

Stats Max HP 30 Speed 10.25 Strength 14.5 Luck 0 Magic 0 Defense 6 Skill 6.75 Resistance 0

Inventory Steel Axe Vulnerary Weapon Levels -- -- A -- -- --

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Strategy

This section details unofficial strategies that may help with completion of the chapter. This may not work for everybody.

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

Marth has exclusive access to several extremely powerful swords and enemies will automatically prioritize attacking him if at all possible. Caeda doesn't have much going for her apart from her flight utility; she does get immediate access to Jagen's Silver Lance, but Abel isn't far behind and has much better Strength to deal damage.

Shadow Dragon

1. Prologue Playthrough and Character Training: If you are playing in Normal Mode and have completed the Prologue, the characters you have played with so far should have gained several levels by now. This is an excellent opportunity to level up other characters, as the ones you have been using will not gain much experience here.
2. Norne's Appearance: If you finished Prologue IV with four or fewer characters, Norne will join your team. She is slightly better than Gordin. If you are considering using her, start training now as her starting stats are quite low. However, there are more powerful bow users available later in the game.
3. Enemy Encounter Strategy: Pirates and the Hunter are manageable. Some approach from land and others from the sea. One will be stationed at the castle while three others linger until you get closer. Place your injured characters in forests or forts, especially before getting Wrys for healing. Keep Caeda away from the Hunter as she is vulnerable to arrows.
4. Protect the Villages: Ensure you defeat the Thief before he reaches any villages as they will be destroyed the moment he enters.
5. Equipment Purchases: Once you acquire gold from a village, get some weapons. Buy an Iron Lance and some Javelins for Caeda, so she does not have to rely on her unique weapon. Get a lance for Abel (he only starts with a Javelin) and consider another Javelin for Draug.
6. Boss Strategy: Attacking the boss from a distance is possible, so plan accordingly.

Hard-5

To make your gameplay a tad smoother, aim for Gazzak to have 10 speed through resets.

Your Starting Units:

1. Marth: He is the protagonist but has unimpressive stats. His reliance on swords is a disadvantage since the game has many lance-wielding enemies and lacks effective 2-range sword options.
2. Caeda: A quick but fragile Pegasus Knight. Due to powerful enemies, her impressive speed shines, enabling her to efficiently tackle cavalry and armored foes with her unique Wing Spear.
3. Cain and Abel: These Cavaliers have well-rounded stats. Cain's lower lance rank makes him a bit more of a pain to train, though.
4. Draug: A dependable early-game tank.
5. Jagen: An early-game Paladin that can provide support with his Silver Lance.
6. Gordin: An Archer with overall disappointing stats and growth.

Gameplay Strategies:

1. Send Marth to the village to collect 10,000 gold immediately. Buy Javelins for Draug, Caeda, and Jagen, and Iron Lances for Abel and Caeda.
2. Use Abel's Javelin to weaken the nearby Thief, allowing Marth to finish him by turn 2.
3. Six enemy Pirates will quickly approach at the chapter's start. Position Draug on the eastern fortress for defense and counter-attacks.
4. If things get dicey, use Jagen's Silver Lance. Never end a turn with Gordin having a Steel Bow equipped and always make sure he is outside of the enemies' range, as he can be defeated in one round.
5. After eliminating the initial aggressive pirates, you will gain the upper hand. Use forts for healing and use Draug to strategically attract enemies. Try to level up all units, excluding Jagen, to level 2.
6. If Cain gets +1 speed, he can avoid being doubled by 10-speed Gazzak. If Draug gets +1 HP or defense and +1 luck, he cannot be ORKOed by the pirates in the next chapter under any circumstances. If Marth and Abel get +1 speed, they cannot be doubled by 11-speed Gazzak, and if Abel gets +1 luck, he cannot be critically hit by Gazzak.

Visit the western village to recruit Wrys, a Curate who is really only helpful in Chapter 2. As for Gazzak, weaken him using Javelins and the Iron Bow. Do not let Jagen kill with a critical hit as you need the experience Gazzak offers to be spread among your other units.

Trivia

• Wrys was removed from Mystery of the Emblem Book I and replaced by Gazzak's Vulnerary, which was removed from his inventory and placed in the left village of the chapter. This has been referenced several times in recent years, including in Wrys's primary ability on his first Fire Emblem Cipher card, B01-015N Healing Curate, which allows him to be discarded for a Vulnerary equivalent.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Marth Embarks	--
Japanese	マルスの旅立ち	Marth's Departure
Spanish	El viaje de Marth	Marth's journey
French	La quête de Marth	Marth's quest
German	Marth bricht auf	Lit. "Marth breaks on"
Italian	Marth approda a Talys	Marth arrives at Talys

Gallery

• 

  Screenshot from Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.

• 

  CG image displayed during the introduction text in Shadow Dragon.

References

← Prologue IV •	Marth Embarks	• The Pirates of Galder →