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Dark Mage

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Dark Mage

FEMN Dark Mage.png
Artwork of the Dark Mage from the Trading Card Game.


The Dark Mage shatters enemies with high physical defense using dark magic.

Unit type(s)

Infantry

Weapon(s)
Skill(s)

The Dark Mage (Japanese: ダークマージ Dark Mage) is a magic-wielding class which debuted in Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. Throughout its appearances in the Fire Emblem series, it can be roughly divided into two incarnations; both share in common the ability to wield dark magic and similar tomes.

Its first incarnation is as an advanced class in Mystery of the Emblem, Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776. In these three games, the Dark Mage is primarily enemy-only, near-exclusively the domain of sinister enemy factions—Gharnef and his heretic bishop followers in Mystery of the Emblem, and the Loptr Church in the latter two. Between these three games it is playable exactly once, as the promoted class of Salem in Thracia 776. In addition to dark magic, in these games it can also wield staves and, in Thracia 776, the three types of anima magic.

The second version of the class is as a basic class, appearing in this capacity in Shadow Dragon and all subsequent games, acting as the successor of the role previously filled by the Shaman. Compared to their Mage counterparts, Dark Mages are slower, bulkier and more defensively oriented, though still possessing formidable offensive magical power; this difference is more pronounced in Shadow Dragon and New Mystery of the Emblem, where the absence of distinct dark magic gives them little clear distinction from Mages. In Awakening, however, dark magic returns as a subcategory of tomes which are exclusive to the use of Dark Mages and Sorcerers.

In Mystery of the Emblem and Genealogy of the Holy War, the Dark Mage is enemy only and thus is not associated with class changes in either direction, although in the latter it does have a stronger cousin class, the Dark Bishop, also enemy-exclusive. In Thracia 776, the Dark Mage is an advanced class, as the promoted form of the Loptr Mage. From Shadow Dragon onwards, Dark Mages promote to Sorcerer; in addition, Awakening and Fates give them an alternative promotion option, the Dark Knight, which loses the ability to wield dark tomes in exchange for mobility and swords.

In Shadow Dragon and New Mystery of the Emblem, no standard playable character joins as a Dark Mage, and the player's sole access to the class is through reclassing compatible units. Additionally, replacement units may initially be Dark Mages when they join.

Stats

Base stats

Game HP Strength Magic Skill Speed Luck Defense Resistance Movement Constitution Weapon level
Mystery of the Emblem 26 5 -- 1 3 0 8 8 6 -- Tome/Staff: 6
Genealogy of the Holy War 40 0 10 8 8 0 7 10 5 -- Staves B Dark magic B
Thracia 776 24 0 5 4 3 0 4 -- 6 6 Staves C Fire magic E Thunder magic E
FE5RankWind.png E Dark magic C
Shadow Dragon 16 0 2 1 3 0 4 3 6 -- Tomes E
New Mystery of the Emblem 16 0 2 1 3 0 4 3 6 -- Tomes E
Awakening 18 1 3 2 3 0 4 4 5 -- Tomes E
Fates 16 0 6 3 3 1 3 5 5 -- Tomes/Scrolls E
Three Houses 25 4 10 7 6 8 3 5 4 -- --
Warriors
(Tharja)
62 3 9 4 7 4 6 10 5 -- Tomes E

Max stats

Game HP Strength Magic Skill Speed Luck Defense Resistance Movement Constitution Weapon level
Mystery of the Emblem 52 20 -- 20 20 20 20 20 20 -- Tome/Staff: 20
Genealogy of the Holy War 80 15 25 23 23 30 22 25 5 -- Staves B Dark magic B
Thracia 776 80 20 20 20 20 20 20 -- 20 20 Staves A Fire magic A Thunder magic A
FE5RankWind.png A Dark magic A
Shadow Dragon 60 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 32 -- Tomes A
New Mystery of the Emblem 60 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 8 -- Tomes A
Awakening 60 20 27 25 25 30 25 27 7 -- Tomes A
Fates 35 19 24 16 19 18 19 22 ?? -- Tomes/Scrolls B
Warriors
(Tharja)
999 53 160 79 126 64 107 151 5 -- Tomes S

Miscellaneous stats

Game Experience CRP Gold Weight mod. Capacity Vision Size
Mystery of the Emblem 40 -- -- -- -- -- --
Genealogy of the Holy War -- -- 3,000 -- -- -- --
Thracia 776 -- 3 -- -- -- -- --

Class growth rates

Game HP Strength Magic Skill Speed Luck Defense Resistance Charm Constitution* Movement* Weapon level
Mystery of the Emblem 40% 20% -- 30% 10% 0% 20% 40% -- -- -- --
Genealogy of the Holy War 100% 10% 30% 30% 30% 0% 10% 30% -- -- -- --
Thracia 776 30% 3% 20% 10% 10% 10% 5% -- -- -- -- --
Shadow Dragon 20/40% −15/0% 20/30% 20/30% 20/30% 0% −15/20% 20% -- -- -- --
New Mystery of the Emblem 20/40% −15/0% 20/30% 20/30% 20/30% 0% −15/20% 20% -- -- -- --
Awakening 50/80% 5/0% 15/25% 15/20% 15/20% 0/20% 10/25% 10/25% -- -- -- --
Fates 0/60% 10/0% 20/65% 0/30% 10/35% 0/15% 5/45% 10/45% -- -- -- --
Three Houses 5/10% -5% 10% 5/0% 0% 0% −5/−10% 5/35% 0% -- -- Reason +2 Faith +1
Warriors: Three Hopes 10% 0% 30% 15% 0% 0% 0% 20% 0% -- -- --
See class growth rate for more details on the mechanics of class growths in each game.

Class modifiers

Game HP Strength Magic Skill Speed Luck Defense Resistance Charm Movement
Three Houses 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
Warriors: Three Hopes 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 5 0 2

Class skills

Game Skill Learning conditions
Awakening Hex Learned at Level 1.
Awakening Anathema Learned at Level 10.
Fates
Three Houses
Heartseeker Fates: Learned from Level 1 and up.
Three Houses: Innate.
Fates Malefic Aura Learned from Level 10 and up.
Three Houses
Warriors: Three Hopes
Miasma Δ Innate.
Three Houses Poison Strike Class mastery. (100 class Exp required)
Warriors: Three Hopes Dark Magic Mastery Innate.
Warriors: Three Hopes Cavalry Buster Lv 3 Innate.

Class change

Mystery of the Emblem

Base class
Bs fe03 enemy dark mage magic.png
Dark Mage

Genealogy of the Holy War

The class a unit changes into in Genealogy of the Holy War is determined by the unit and not the class; however, no units change into or out of the Dark Mage class.

Base class
Bs fe04 enemy dark mage magic.png
Dark Mage

Thracia 776

The class a unit changes into in Thracia 776 is determined by the unit and not the class; however, all units that change into the Dark Mage class have the following class change option:

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Bs fe05 salem loptr mage magic.png
Loptr Mage
Using a Knight Proof after reaching Level 10. Bs fe05 salem dark mage magic.png
Dark Mage

Shadow Dragon

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Bs fe11 playable dark mage tome.png
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after reaching Level 10. Bs fe11 playable sorcerer tome.png
Sorcerer

New Mystery of the Emblem

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Bs fe11 playable dark mage tome.png
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after reaching Level 10. Bs fe11 playable sorcerer tome.png
Sorcerer

Awakening

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Ma 3ds01 dark mage playable.gif
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after reaching Level 10. Ma 3ds01 sorcerer playable.gif
Sorcerer
or
Ma 3ds01 dark knight playable.gif
Dark Knight
Promotion choice criteria: The player may freely choose.

Fates

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Ma 3ds02 dark mage playable.gif
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after reaching Level 10. Ma 3ds02 sorcerer playable.gif
Sorcerer
or
Ma 3ds02 dark knight playable.gif
Dark Knight
Promotion choice criteria: The player may freely choose.

Three Houses

Base class Certification requirements Intermediate class
Any class Level 10
Dark Seal
Reason C
Ma ns01 dark mage playable.gif
Dark Mage
This class is only available for male units.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Portrait tharja 01 tmsfe.png
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal while talking to Tiki. Portrait tharja 03 tmsfe.png
Sage
or
Portrait tharja 02 tmsfe.png
Sorcerer
Promotion choice criteria: The player can freely choose.

Warriors

Base class Promotion method Advanced class
Ma fewa dark mage tharja playable.gif
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after reaching Level 15. Ma fewa dark mage tharja playable.gif
Sorcerer

Warriors: Three Hopes

Beginner class Method Intermediate class Method Advanced class Method Master class
Ma fewa2 monk playable.gif
Monk
Using an Intermediate Seal after mastering Monk. Ma fewa2 mage playable.gif
Mage
Using an Advanced Seal after mastering Mage.
(Male units only)
Ma ns01 dark mage playable.gif
Dark Mage
Using a Master Seal after mastering Bishop, Warlock, or Dark Mage.
(Male units only)
Ma ns01 dark bishop playable.gif
Dark Bishop

Playable Dark Mages

Playable Characters
Name Game
Tharja Awakening, Warriors
Henry Awakening
Deirdre Awakening
Salem Awakening
Micaiah Awakening (DLC version only)
Odin Fates: Conquest, Revelation
Nyx Fates: Conquest, Revelation
Ophelia Fates: Conquest, Revelation
Kiria Kurono Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE
Playable Dark Mage units in the Fire Emblem series.

Notable enemy Dark Mages

Enemy Units
Name Game
Gharnef Mystery of the Emblem Book 2
Sandima Genealogy of the Holy War
Chalard Awakening
Zola Fates: Birthright, Revelation
Hubert Three Houses Black Eagles, if Byleth sides with the ChurchBlue LionsGolden Deer
Enemy Dark Mage units in the Fire Emblem series.

Flavor text

Game Text
(English)
Text
(Japanese)
Shadow Dragon
Wicked conjurers who wield dark tomes.
A threat to those with high defense.
魔道書を用いて戦う闇の魔道使い。
守備力の高い敵に対し力を発揮する。
New Mystery of the Emblem
Sinister conjurers who wield dark tomes.
Powerful against those with high defense.*
魔道書を用いて戦う闇の魔道使い。
守備力の高い敵に対し力を発揮する。
Awakening
A mage able to use dark tomes.
High in Def and tough to kill.
闇魔法を操る異端の魔道使い。
守備が高く、打たれ強い。
Fates
Nohrian. A wizard who practices the
forbidden techniques of dark magic.
暗夜の兵種。暗夜の術を学んだ邪術師。
魔道で敵を攻撃する。
Three Houses
The Dark Mage shatters enemies with high
physical defense using dark magic.
闇魔法を使って戦う者。
守備の高い敵に対して強い。
魔法が使える兵種。
Warriors: Three Hopes
The Dark Mage shatters the defenses of their
foes by employing dark magic.
闇魔法を駆使して戦う者。
魔法が使える兵種。

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology, and notes
English

Dark Mage

--

Japanese

ダークマージ
やみしさい
暗黒魔道士
ダークメイジ

• Officially romanized as Dark Mage. This name is used in all appearances except Three Houses.
• Dark bishop; used in the battle UI of Mystery of the Emblem.
• Dark Mage; used in ending titles in Thracia 776.
• Dark Mage; used only in Three Houses.

Spanish

Mago oscuro

Dark mage

French

Mage noir

Black mage

German

Dunkelmagier

Dark mage

Italian

• Mago nero
• Mago oscuro

• Black mage. Used in every game except Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
• Dark Mage. Used in Three Houses.

Korean

다크 메이지

Dark mage

Simplified Chinese

暗术师

Dark arts user

Traditional Chinese

暗術師

Dark arts user

Gallery

References

See also

Project Classes.png This article is part of Project Classes, a project focused in writing articles for every class present in the Fire Emblem series.
Classes in Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
Base classes ArcherArmored KnightCavalierClericHunterMageMercenaryPegasus Knight
Advanced classes BishopDracoknightGeneralHeroHorsemanPaladinSniper
Dragon classes Divine DragonEarth DragonFire DragonIce DragonMage DragonShadow DragonWyvern
Other classes BallisticianBarbarianBerserkerBrigandDancerDark MageEmperorFighterFreelancerKnightLordManaketePirateSoldierThief
Unused classes Dark KnightGuardianSea Dragon
Classes in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Base classes Arch KnightAxe ArmorAxe FighterAxe KnightBardBow ArmorBow FighterCavalierFire MageFree KnightJunior LordKnightLance KnightLight PriestessMagePegasus KnightPriestPrincePrincessSword ArmorSword FighterTroubadourThiefThunder MageWind MageWyvern Knight
Advanced classes Bow KnightDuke KnightForrestGeneralGreat KnightHigh PriestKnight LordMage KnightMage FighterMaster KnightPaladinRangerSageSniperSwordmasterThief FighterWarriorWyvern Lord
Other classes BallistaBarbarianBaronBishopBrigandCivilianDancerDark BishopDark MageDark PrinceDragon RiderEmperorHunterIron BallistaKiller BallistaPirateQueen
Unused classes ArcherAxe SoldierGreat BallistaPegasus RiderSoldierSpear SoldierSword Soldier
Classes in Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Base classes ArcherArch KnightAxe ArmorAxe FighterAxe KnightBallistaBardBow ArmorBow FighterBrigandCavalierCivilianClericDancerDragon RiderFree KnightHunterIron BallistaLance ArmorLance KnightLoptr MageLordMagePegasus RiderPiratePoison BallistaPriestPrinceSoldierSword ArmorSword FighterThiefTroubadour
Advanced classes BaronBerserkerBishopBow KnightDark BishopDark MageDuke KnightGeneralGreat KnightHigh PriestMage KnightMercenaryPegasus KnightSageSniperRangerSwordmasterThief FighterWarriorWyvern Knight
Unused/cutscene classes Dark PrinceEmperorFalcon KnightForrestJunior LordKiller BallistaKnight LordMaster KnightWyvern Lord
Classes in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
Base classes ArcherCavalierClericCurateDark MageFighterHunterKnightMageMercenaryMyrmidonPegasus KnightPirate
Advanced classes BerserkerBishopDracoknightGeneralHeroHorsemanPaladinSniperSorcererSwordmasterWarrior
Other classes BallisticianEarth DragonFreelancerLordManaketeSoldierThief
Classes in Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem
Base classes ArcherBarbarianCavalierClericCurateDark MageFighterHunterKnightMageMercenaryMyrmidonPegasus KnightPirate
Advanced classes BerserkerBishopDracoknightGeneralHeroHorsemanPaladinSniperSorcererSwordmasterWarrior
Dragon classes Divine DragonEarth DragonFire DragonIce DragonMage DragonShadow DragonWyvern
Other classes BallisticianDancerEmperorFreelancerLordManaketeSoldierThief
Classes in Fire Emblem Awakening
Base classes ArcherBarbarianCavalierClericDark MageFighterKnightLordMageMercenaryMyrmidonPegasus KnightPriestTacticianThiefTroubadourWyvern Rider
Advanced classes AssassinBerserkerBow KnightDark FlierDark KnightFalcon KnightGeneralGrandmasterGreat KnightGreat LordGriffon RiderHeroPaladinSageSniperSorcererSwordmasterTricksterValkyrieWar ClericWar MonkWarriorWyvern Lord
Other classes BrideConquerorDancerDread FighterEntombedGrimaLodestarManaketeMerchantMirageOutrealm ClassRevenantSoldierTaguelVillager
Classes in Fire Emblem Fates
Base classes ApothecaryArcherCavalierDark MageDivinerFighterKitsuneKnightMercenaryMonkNinjaNohr PrinceNohr PrincessOni SavageOutlawSamuraiShrine MaidenSky KnightSpear FighterTroubadourVillagerWolfskinWyvern Rider
Advanced classes AdventurerBerserkerBasaraBlacksmithBow KnightButlerDark KnightFalcon KnightGeneralGreat KnightGreat MasterHeroHoshido NobleKinshi KnightMaidMalig KnightMaster NinjaMaster of ArmsMechanistMerchantNine-TailsNohr NobleOni ChieftainOnmyojiPaladinPriestessSniperSorcererSpear MasterStrategistSwordmasterWolfssegnerWyvern Lord
Non-human classes Astral DragonAutomatonFacelessFeral DragonStoneborn
Other classes BallisticianBlight DragonClericDark FalconDread FighterEmpty VesselGrandmasterGreat LordLancerLodestarLordMyrmidonNohrian KingOutrealm ClassPegasus KnightSilent DragonSongstressVanguardWitch
Classes in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Unique classes Armored LordBarbarossaCommonerDancerDeath KnightEmperorEnlightened OneGreat LordHigh LordNobleWyvern Master
Beginner classes FighterMonkMyrmidonSoldier
Intermediate classes ArcherArmored KnightBrawlerBrigandCavalierDark MageLordMageMercenaryPegasus KnightPriestThief
Advanced classes AssassinBishopDark BishopFortress KnightGrapplerHeroPaladinSniperSwordmasterWarlockWarriorWyvern Rider
Special classes Dark FlierTricksterValkyrieWar ClericWar Monk
Master classes Bow KnightDark KnightFalcon KnightGreat KnightGremoryHoly KnightMortal SavantWar MasterWyvern Lord
Monster classes Altered Demonic BeastAltered GolemBlack BeastDemonic BeastExperimental Demonic BeastFlying Demonic BeastGiant BirdGiant CrawlerGiant Demonic BeastGiant WolfGolemGuardian GolemHegemon HuskThe Immaculate OneLord of the DesertLord of the LakeTitanusUmbral BeastWandering BeastWhite BeastWild Demonic Beast
Other classes AgastyaArchbishopFlame EmperorKing of LiberationRuffianSaintVerrat
Classes in Fire Emblem Warriors
Playable base classes ArcherClericDancerDark KnightDark MageGreat KnightLordMageMalig KnightManaketeMercenaryMyrmidonNohr PrinceNohr PrincessOutlawPaladinPegasus KnightPriestessShrine MaidenSky KnightSongstressSpear FighterSwordmasterTacticianTricksterTroubadourWyvern Rider
Playable advanced classes AdventurerBlade LordCrown PrinceDark CrusaderDivaDivine DragonFalcon KnightGrandmasterGreat LordGuardian KnightHeroHigh PriestessHigh PrinceHoshido NobleLodestarMalig MasterMaster MerchantNohr NoblePrimaPrincessSageSniperSorcererSpear MasterStrategistSwordmasterWar ClericWyvern Lord
Enemy base classes Myrmidon (SamuraiMercenary) • Thief (NinjaOutlaw) • Cavalier (Expert Rider) • Soldier (Spear Fighter) • Pegasus Knight (Sky Knight) • Knight (Armored Knight) • Fighter (Oni SavageAxe Fighter) • Wyvern Rider (Wyvern Warrior) • Great Knight (Steel Knight) • ArcherMage (DivinerDark Mage) • Manakete (Ryujin)
Enemy advanced classes Swordmaster (Hero) • Assassin (Master NinjaAdventurer) • Paladin (Master Rider) • Halberdier (Spear Master) • Falcon KnightGeneral (Shield Master) • Warrior (Oni ChieftainBerserker) • Wyvern Lord (Wyvern Ace) • Guardian Knight (Sturdy Knight) • SniperSage (OnmyojiSorcerer) • Fafnir (Great Ryujin)
Other enemy/NPC classes Outrealm FiendVelezarkVillager
Classes in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Base classes FighterMonkMyrmidonSoldier
Intermediate classes ArcherArmored KnightBrawlerBrigandCavalierMageMercenaryPegasus KnightPriestThief
Unique Intermediate classes Armored LordFluegelHigh LordSilverheartWyvern Master
Advanced classes AssassinBishopDark MageFortress KnightGrapplerPaladinSniperSwordmasterWarlockWarriorWyvern Rider
Master classes Bow KnightDancerDark BishopDark KnightFalcon KnightGreat KnightGremoryHoly KnightMortal SavantTricksterWar MasterWyvern Lord
Unique Master classes AsuraBarbarossaDeath KnightEnlightened OneEmperorGreat LordSaint
Monster Classes Altered Demon BeastAltered GolemDemonic BeastExperimental Demon BeastGiant CrawlerGiant WolfGolemThe Immaculate OneTitanusWild Demon Beast
Other enemy/NPC classes AgastyaAvestaCommonerGurganLordNoblewomanPrionsa