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Weapon triangle

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
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.
Ss fe11 weapon triangle diagram.gif

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 level of 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[1] Hit rate ±20%
Thracia 776[2] Hit rate ±5%
The Binding Blade[3] Hit rate ±10%, Weapon might ±1
The Blazing Blade[4] Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
The Sacred Stones[5] Hit rate ±15%, Weapon might ±1
Path of Radiance[6] Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Radiant Dawn[7] Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Shadow Dragon[8] Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
New Mystery of the Emblem[9] Hit rate ±5% Hit rate ±10% Hit rate ±10%, Attack ±1
Awakening[10] 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
Is gba lancereaver.png Lancereaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba axereaver.png Axereaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba swordreaver.png Swordreaver Inverts the weapon triangle. The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Warriors
Is gba swordslayer.png Swordslayer Inverts the weapon triangle. The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
Is 3ds02 katana.png Dual Katana Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 naginata.png Dual Naginata Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 club.png Dual Club Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 shuriken.png Dual Shuriken Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 yumi.png Dual Yumi Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is 3ds02 scroll.png Calamity Gate Inverts the weapon triangle and doubles its effects. Fates
Is feh ruby sword.png Ruby Sword Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh whitewing blade.png Whitewing Blade Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh silverbrand.png Silverbrand Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh fólkvangr.png Fólkvangr (refined, +effect) Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh panther sword.png Panther Sword Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh rauðrraven closed.png Rauðrraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh naglfar closed.png Naglfar Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh eternal tome closed.png Eternal Tome Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh sapphire lance.png Sapphire Lance Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh bull spear.png Bull Spear Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh blárraven closed.png Blárraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh tactical bolt closed.png Tactical Bolt Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh emerald axe.png Emerald Axe Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh draconic poleax.png Draconic Poleax Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh gronnraven closed.png Gronnraven Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh tactical gale closed.png Tactical Gale Grants weapon triangle advantage against colorless foes. Heroes
Is feh trilemma.png Trilemma Inflicts a status effect on enemies that doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to the enemies's attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh triangle adept 1.pngIs feh triangle adept 2.pngIs feh triangle adept 3.png Triangle Adept Doubles the weapon triangle's effects (±40% to attack instead of ±20%). Heroes
Is feh cancel affinity 1.pngIs feh cancel affinity 2.pngIs feh cancel affinity 3.png 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

References

  1. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  2. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  3. Combat Calculations - The Binding Blade - Fire Emblem (FE6), triangleattack.com, Retrieved: February 28, 2021
  4. Combat Calculations - The Blazing Blade - Fire Emblem (FE7), triangleattack.com, Retrieved: February 28, 2021
  5. Combat Calculations - The Sacred Stones - Fire Emblem (FE8), triangleattack.com, Retrieved: February 28, 2021
  6. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  7. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  8. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  9. Calculations, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
  10. Calculations, SErenes Forest, Retrieved: July 18, 2018
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