Site News
Warning: This wiki contains spoilers. Read at your own risk!

Social media: If you would like, please join our Discord server, and/or follow us on Twitter (X) or Tumblr!

Mercenaries

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
This article is about the chapter from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. For the class, see Mercenary.
Mercenaries

Cm fe09 P.png

Location

Forest Clearing

New units

Ike

Boss(es)

Boyd, Greil

Next chapter(s)

The Battle Begins

I'm not giving up until I can get one good hit in on Father.
— Ike

Mercenaries (Japanese: 傭兵 Mercenary) is the Prologue chapter of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. This chapter serves as an easy introduction to new players, while also setting up the circumstances of the main character, Ike. Training to become a professional mercenary, Ike faces off with his friend, Boyd, then his father, Greil. During this chapter, the player will be offered their first tutorials, narrated by Anna, to explain the basic gameplay of the Fire Emblem series.

Plot

Main article: Mercenaries/Script

The chapter begins with Ike and Greil sparring in the woods. Mist runs in, and Ike tries to take the opportunity to strike a distracted Greil. Instead, he lunges too far and gets hit square in the back with a training sword, falling to the ground unconscious. While knocked out, Ike has a vision of his mother Elena lying by his bedside smiling at him. He awakes to hear a flower-picking Mist humming the song their mother used as a lullaby and smiling at him the same way their mother did.

Ike stands up, greeted by his sister, who assumedly doctored his battle wounds. Ike challenges Greil to another sparring match, eager to win this time, but Mist doesn’t like the idea. Boyd appears, looking for Mist, who tells him that he just missed the wonderful opportunity to see Ike out cold. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Greil suggests that Ike spar with Boyd before challenging him again.

After defeating Boyd, Ike receives a Vulnerary from Mist and proceeds to fight his father once more. After defeating his father, Ike asks if he was holding back. Admitting the truth, Greil adds that if Ike could tell the difference, then his skills are improving. Boyd tries to interject, saying that he too was holding back, but Mist shuts him up, calling him a liar. Greil promises Ike that tomorrow will be his first day as a full-fledged mercenary.

Chapter data

Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Defeat Greil Player Partner Other Enemy
Defeat: Ike is defeated 1 {{{partner}}} {{{other}}} 1+1

Easy/Normal Difficult/Maniac

Cm fe09 P.png
Map dimensions:
10 columns by 8 rows

Character data

Characters
New units
Ike
Medium portrait ike ranger 01 fe09.png
Ranger
HP
19
Inventory
Trainer
Level
1
Automatically from turn 1
Available characters
None

Item data

Items
Name Obtainment Method
Is gcn vulnerary.png Vulnerary Automatically after defeating Boyd

Enemy data

Easy/Normal Difficult Maniac

Enemy Units
Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Small portrait boyd fe09.png Boyd Fighter 2 1 18 6 0 5 5 3 3 0 6 Practice Axe
Discipline
Does not act.
Reinforcements
Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Small portrait greil fe09.png Greil Hero 10 1 22 5 4 4 6 2 2 2 7 Trainer
Discipline
Begins moving one turn after appearing.

Reinforcements

  • Upon defeating Boyd
    • Greil from the western border of the map

Boss data

Main article: Boyd
Medium portrait boyd fe09.png
Fighter
Level 2
Attribute Is gcn fireaffin.png
Build 10
Stats
Max HP 18 Speed 5
Strength 6 Luck 3
Magic 0 Defense 3
Skill 5 Resistance 0
Movement 6 Weight 10
Inventory Skills
Practice Axe Discipline
Weapon Levels
Swords -- Lances -- Axes D Bows --
Fire magic -- Thunder magic -- Wind magic -- Staves --
Main article: Greil

Easy/Normal/Difficult Maniac

Medium portrait greil fe09.png
Hero
Level 10
Attribute Is gcn heavenaffin.png
Build 12
Stats
Max HP 22 Speed 6
Strength 5 Luck 2
Magic 4 Defense 2
Skill 4 Resistance 2
Movement 7 Weight 13
Inventory Skills
Trainer Discipline
Weapon Levels
Swords A Lances -- Axes S Bows --
Fire magic -- Thunder magic -- Wind magic -- Staves --

Strategy

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

Clearing this chapter is fairly simple. On the Normal and Hard difficulties, Boyd will not move to attack Ike, although Greil will move on the Normal and Hard difficulties. Ike must move toward Boyd, and can, on the second turn, make the first move. Boyd himself can be easily taken down in two hits, and Mist will give Ike a Vulnerary to heal his wounds after his defeat. Ike can then move to attack Greil, who will most likely defeat Ike if he has not healed using the Vulnerary, but can be taken down with three good hits.

Trivia

  • If Ike waits on the map instead of attacking Boyd, or if he shoves Boyd, special dialogue between him and Ike will play.
  • Additionally, special dialogue from Mist will play if Ike moves to the bottom left corner of the map instead of approaching Boyd.
  • These special dialogues cannot be triggered in Maniac mode.

Etymology and other languages

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

Mercenaries

--

Japanese

傭兵

Mercenary

Spanish

Mercenarios

Mercenaries

French

Mercenaires

Mercenaries

German

Söldner

Mercenary

Italian

Mercenari

Mercenaries

Gallery

Mercenaries • The Battle Begins →
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Playable characters AstridBastianBoydBromCalillDevdanElinciaEnaGatrieGiffcaGeoffreyHaarIkeIlyanaJanaffJillKieranLargoLetheLuciaMakalovMarciaMiaMistMordecaiMuarimNaesalaNasirNepheneeOscarRanulfReysonRhysRolfShinonSorenSotheStefanTanithTauroneoTibarnTitaniaTormodUlkiVolkeZihark
Trial Map characters AshnardBryceOliverPetrineShiharam
Non-playable characters AimeeCaineghisDanielDeghinseaGarethGreilHetzelIzukaJorgeKurthnagaLeanneLekainLotzMustonNealuchiRajaionSanakiSephiranSigrunZelgius
Bosses AshnardBalmerBertramBlack KnightBoydBryceDakovaDanomillEmilEnaGashilamaGreilGromellHafeddHavettiHeddwynHomasaIkanauKamuraKasataiKayacheyKimaarsiKotaffMackoyaMaijinMuarimNaesalaNedataNorrisOliverPetrineRikardSchaefferSeekerShiharamTomenamiZawana
Background characters AltinaAsheraElenaLilliaLoraziehRamonRenning
Regalia and personal weapons AlonditeAmitiAshera StaffDouble BowGurgurantRagnellRegal SwordRexauraRexboltRexcaliburRexflameRolf's BowUrvanVague KattiWishblade
Chapters P: Mercenaries • 1: The Battle Begins • 2: Rescue • 3: Pirates Aground • 4: Roadside Battle • 5: Flight! • 6: A Brief Diversion • 7: Shades of Evil • 8: Despair and Hope • 9: Gallia • 10: Prisoner Release • 11: Blood Runs Red • 12: A Strange Land • 13: A Guiding Wind • 14: Training • 15: The Feral Frontier • 16: The Atonement • 17: Day Breaks (stage 1stage 2stage 3stage 4) • 18: Crimea Marches • 19: Entrusted • 20: Defending Talrega • 21: Without a King • 22: Solo • 23: The Great Bridge • 24: Battle Reunion • 25: Strange Lands • 26: Clash! • 27: Moment of Fate (stage 1stage 2) • 28: Twisted TowerE: Repatriation
Trial Maps Hillside BattleLonely IsleStrange TurnDesperationEscapeTrapped
Locations TelliusBegnion (SienneTower of Guidance) • CrimeaDaein (NevassaTalrega) • GalliaGoldoaGrann DesertGritnea TowerKilvasPhoenicisSerenes Forest
Groups, objects and events Ancient languageGreat FloodGreil MercenariesLehran's MedallionMad King's War • Races (BeorcBrandedLaguz) • Serenes MassacreWarp Powder
Lists Base conversationsChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSkillsSupportsWeapons
Related topics Data transferList of version differences (Name chart) • Other games (Radiant Dawn) • Pre-release information (Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline