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Pair Up

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
For the skill from Engage, see Pair Up (skill).
Maribelle enters battle as a supporting unit for Lissa, granting her Dual Support bonuses.
Are you suggesting we pair up? That's an interesting thought... I admit, I'd resemble a pincushion right now if it weren't for Sumia and her mount.
— Chrom

Pair Up (Japanese: ダブル Double) and Dual (Japanese: デュアル Dual) are a pair of closely-related gameplay systems introduced in Fire Emblem Awakening. As related extensions of the support system, these systems award the player's units statistical bonuses and the chance for their allies to assist them in battle. In Fates, the Pair Up and Dual systems got an overhaul.

Overview

Awakening

Basilio pairs up with Flavia, acting as her support unit and giving her stat boosts.

Dual

Dual Strike and Dual Support redirect here. For the skills from Engage, see Dual Strike (skill) and Dual Support (skill).

The Dual system is the basic layer of these two systems. Whenever a unit in the player's army (the "lead" unit) enters a battle standing next to any ally, the ally will accompany them in the battle sequence and provide the lead unit with three major benefits:

  • Dual Support, the standard form of support bonuses which boost the lead unit's combat stats and calculations
  • The chance to perform a Dual Strike, in which the supporting unit also attacks the enemy once the lead unit has attacked
  • The chance to perform a Dual Guard, in which the supporting unit blocks an attack from the enemy, ensuring the lead unit takes no damage

Any unit (including bonus units) can provide Dual bonuses to any other unit, regardless of whether they can form a support relationship with them, although units with active support relationships will award higher Dual Support bonuses than those without. Additionally, while only one supporting unit will enter battle with the lead unit, the lead unit will gain cumulative Dual Support bonuses from all allied units situated next to them; the unit who enters battle will be the one with the highest support relationship with the lead unit, if applicable.

Pair Up

Pair Up serves as an extension of Dual which takes the concept to its logical conclusion and has two units "combine" on the battlefield, in a manner reminiscent of the rescue functionality of earlier games. When paired up, two units act as a single unit on the battlefield, with the lead unit taking the lead while the supporting unit remains safely behind them; the lead unit is granted statistical bonuses based on the supporting unit's current stats and class, in addition to all the other usual effects of Dual. While paired up, the units can also change places between lead and support using the "Switch" option, allowing the player to choose which of the two units to attack with and take attacks that turn. A pair of units will be unable to use any remaining movement after using the "Switch" command, however.

Fates

In Fates, the Pair Up/Dual system was changed to make it less powerful, and enemies are now capable of using these.

Tag Team

Tag Team (Japanese: 攻陣 Attack Formation) is an analogue to Awakening's Dual System. When two units are adjacent to one another, if one of those units attacks, the adjacent unit is guaranteed to make a Dual Strike; Dual Guards no longer can take place between adjacent units. Dual Strikes deal half of the damage a regular attack from the unit normally would, and now only activate after the attacking unit's first strike. Dual Strikes will not trigger any self-debuffing effects from a unit's equipped weapon, such as a Silver Sword's debuff to strength and skill, or Ginnungagap's effect of halving the unit's magic. They will also strike twice if the Dual Striking unit has a brave weapon equipped.

Pair Up

Pair Up (Japanese: 防陣 Defensive Formation) now cannot give Dual Strikes. Instead of working with a percent chance, Dual Guards now use a meter. This meter fills by 2 points whenever the lead unit makes an attack or faces an non-Dual Strike attack. When the meter is filled to its maximum 10 points, a Dual Guard will be guaranteed against the next non-Dual Strike attack. Additionally, being in a Pair Up will protect the lead unit from all enemy Dual Strikes.

The skill Shelter of the cavalier class allows a unit to use the "Shelter" command to take another unit as their support unit, making it similar to the Rescue command of Thracia 776 through Radiant Dawn.

Calculations

Awakening

Dual Support bonuses

The Dual Support bonuses are governed by a series of "Dual Support levels" (not to be confused with the actual support levels). The lead unit's current Dual Support level is calculated by adding up on their current support relationships with their paired-up supporting unit and all adjacent allied units.

Support levels translate to Dual Support levels as follows:

  • No support: 1 level
  • C support: 2 levels
  • B support: 3 levels
  • A support: 4 levels
  • S support: 5 levels

The maximum possible Dual Support level a unit can have is 12.

Stat Dual Support bonus level
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Hit rate +10 +10 +10 +10 +15 +15 +15 +15 +20 +20 +20 +20
Avoid -- +10 +10 +10 +10 +15 +15 +15 +15 +20 +20 +20
Crit -- -- -- +10 +10 +10 +10 +15 +15 +15 +15 +20
Dodge -- -- +10 +10 +10 +10 +15 +15 +15 +15 +20 +20
For example: Cherche has an S support with Libra and a B support with Miriel; additionally, Sully (with whom she cannot support) is also on the field. Cherche is paired up with Libra while both Sully and Miriel are positioned next to her. This awards her a Dual Support bonus level of (5 + 3 + 1) = 9, which in battle awards her +20 hit, +15 avoid, +15 crit and +15 dodge.

Dual Strike

Marth, as Roy's supporting unit, activates a Dual Strike.

A supporting unit has a chance of executing a Dual Strike after every hit the lead unit makes, and if they are wielding a brave weapon, the supporting unit will strike twice if they get a Dual Strike. The rate of activating a Dual Strike, which is displayed on the combat summary window before beginning a battle, is calculated based on the skill stat of both the lead and supporting unit, and is boosted significantly by support relationships. The supporting unit performing a Dual Strike does not share hit rate with the lead unit.

Support level Dual Strike rate calculation
None ([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +20
C ([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +30
B ([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +40
A ([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +50
S ([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +60

Dual Guard

Flavia, as Lucina's supporting unit, protects Lucina from damage with a successful Dual Guard.

A supporting unit has a chance of executing a Dual Guard against any attacks the enemy makes toward the lead unit, which negates all damage the enemy would deal. The rate of activating a Dual Guard, which is displayed on the combat summary window before beginning a battle, is calculated based on the relevant defensive stat to the weapon type the enemy uses (defense for enemies with physical weapons, resistance for enemies with magical weapons), using both the lead and supporting unit's Def/Res.

Support level Dual Guard rate calculation
None ([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4)
C ([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +2
B ([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +5
A ([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +7
S ([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +10

Pair Up bonuses

When paired up, the lead unit is awarded three cumulative sets of stat bonuses.

Stat-based bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit bonuses to all of their stats, except HP and movement, depending on their own current stats:

  • +1 for each stat which = 10–19
  • +2 for each stat which = 20–29
  • +3 for each stat which = 30+
Class bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit a set bonus when paired up which depends on their own current class.

Class bonuses
Class Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Mov
Lord +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Great Lord +0 +0 +0 +4 +4 +0 +0 +0
Tactician +1 +1 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Grandmaster +2 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Cavalier +2 +0 +1 +1 +0 +2 +0 +0
Paladin +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0
Great Knight +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1
Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0
General +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +0
Barbarian +4 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Berserker +5 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Warrior +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Fighter +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0
Hero +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0
Mercenary +0 +0 +2 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0
Bow Knight +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1
Archer +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0
Sniper +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0
Myrmidon +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0
Swordmaster +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0
Assassin +2 +0 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0
Thief +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +1
Trickster +0 +2 +1 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1
Pegasus Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +0
Falcon Knight +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +4 +0
Dark Flier +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0
Wyvern Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Wyvern Lord +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0
Griffon Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 +2 +0 +1
Troubadour +0 +2 +0 +1 +0 +0 +3 +0
Valkyrie +0 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 +3 +0
Priest/Cleric +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0
War Monk/War Cleric +2 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0
Mage +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0
Sage +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0
Dark Knight +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +3 +1 +1
Dark Mage +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Sorcerer +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +2 +3 +0
Manakete +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0
Taguel +3 +0 +2 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Villager +0 +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0
Dancer +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Lodestar +2 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Conqueror +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +1
Dread Fighter +3 +1 +0 +1 +0 +0 +3 +0
Bride +0 +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0
Support level bonuses

The support level bonuses give further boosts only to those stats given the class bonuses depending on how strong the support relationship between the lead and supporting units is.

  • +1 if they have a C or B support with each other
  • +2 if they have an A or S support with each other

This will not award any further bonuses to movement.

Fates

Dual Support bonuses


This section has been marked as a stub. Please help improve the page by adding information.


Dual Strike

Dual Strikes will always occur when two units are standing next to each other, rather than being random like in Awakening. They will only occur, however, if the leading unit is not paired up with anyone. If the attacking unit's partner is paired up with a third unit however, they will still dual strike when the leading unit attacks. Dual Strikes will inflict half the damage of a normal attack, and their hit rates are shown separate from the lead attacker's.

If the opponent is in Pair Up, their partner will always block incoming Dual Strikes.

Dual Guard

Instead of being random, a meter consisting of ten shields is present when two units are paired up. Each time an attack is made, the meter fills up by two. When the meter is full, a Dual Guard will occur on the next enemy attack. The meter slowly decreases each turn should the pair not engage in any combat.

Pair Up bonuses

When paired up, the lead unit is awarded two cumulative sets of stat bonuses.

Class bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit a set bonus when paired up which depends on their own current class.[1][2][3]

Class bonuses
Class Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Mov
Nohr Prince/Nohr Princess +2 +0 +1 +1 +2 +0 +0 +0
Nohr Noble +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 +2 +0
Hoshido Noble +2 +0 +1 +1 +2 +2 +0 +0
Samurai +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0
Swordmaster +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0
Master of Arms +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0
Oni Savage +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0
Oni Chieftain +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0
Blacksmith +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Spear Fighter +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Spear Master +3 +0 +3 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Basara +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +3 +0
Diviner +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Onmyoji +0 +4 +0 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0
Monk/Shrine Maiden +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0
Great Master/Priestess +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0 +3 +0
Sky Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +0
Falcon Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +1
Kinshi Knight +0 +0 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +1
Archer +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Sniper +2 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Ninja +0 +0 +1 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1
Master Ninja +0 +0 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0 +1
Mechanist +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0
Apothecary +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +1 +0
Merchant +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +2 +0
Kitsune +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0
Nine-Tails +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0
Songstress +0 +0 +2 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0
Villager +0 +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0
Cavalier +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0
Paladin +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +1
Great Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +1
Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0
General +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +0
Fighter +4 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Berserker +5 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Mercenary +0 +0 +2 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0
Hero +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0
Bow Knight +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1
Outlaw +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +1
Adventurer +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +2 +1
Wyvern Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Wyvern Lord +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1
Malig Knight +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +1
Dark Mage +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0
Sorcerer +0 +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0
Dark Knight +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1
Troubadour +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0
Strategist +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +1
Maid/Butler +0 +2 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Wolfskin +3 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Wolfssegner +4 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0
Lancer +3 +0 +1 +1 +0 +3 +0 +0
Lord +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Cleric +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0
Faceless +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0
Stoneborn +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0
Automaton +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +2 +0
Feral Dragon +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0
Dread Fighter +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +4 +0
Dark Falcon +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1
Ballistician +3 +0 +1 +0 +2 +1 +1 +0
Witch +0 +5 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0
Lodestar +2 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0
Vanguard +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0
Great Lord +0 +0 +0 +4 +4 +0 +0 +0
Grandmaster +2 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0
Pegasus Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +1
Support level bonuses

The supporting unit gives additional bonuses based on their support level with the lead unit. Each unit has their own set of support-based pair up bonuses.

  • C through A supports each grant +1 to a certain stat. The stat boosted by the support level can vary.
  • S support grants either +1 to two different stats, or +2 to a single stat.

Support bonuses are cumulative; if the pair has achieved an A support, the leading unit will receive all bonuses up to and including the A support bonus.

The support bonuses given by child units are based on those given by the child's parents, as follows:[4]

  • C support: Father's C support bonus
  • B support: Mother's B support bonus
  • A support: Father's A support bonus
  • S support: Mother's S support bonus

Skills affecting the Pair Up, Dual, and Tag Team systems

Skills affecting the Pair Up, Dual, and Tag Team systems
Skill Effect Games
Is 3ds01 dual strike+.png Dual Strike+ +10% to Dual Strike rate. Awakening
Is 3ds01 dual guard+.png Dual Guard+ +10% to Dual Guard rate. Awakening
Is 3ds01 dual support+.png Dual Support+ +4 to Dual Support bonus level. Awakening
Is 3ds01 defender.png Defender +1 strength, magic, skill, speed, luck, defense and resistance when Pair Up is in effect. Awakening, Fates
Is 3ds01 deliverer.png Deliverer +2 movement when Pair Up is in effect. Awakening
Is 3ds02 dual striker.png Dual Striker +3 damage dealt if user is the support unit in a Tag Team. Fates
Is 3ds02 dual guardsman.png Dual Guardsman +1 shield gauge gain while the user is the support unit in Pair Up. Fates
Is 3ds02 bold stance.png Bold Stance Support unit in a Tag Team can activate Dual Strikes, but cannot passively negate them. Fates

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

Robin and Chrom perform Pair Up in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
SSB.png This article or section is a short summary of Pair Up.
SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

Pair Up is Robin's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When activated, Robin summons Chrom and the two join forces to rapidly attack their enemy, finishing by both smiting them with a downward blow at the same time.

As with all Final Smashes, Pair Up is depicted on a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Pair Up
SSBWU Trophy Pair Up.png Like the Pair Up feature in Fire Emblem Awakening that lets two characters attack a foe at once, Robin's Final Smash calls Chrom, the Prince of Ylisse, to the battlefield. First, Chrom dashes forward, and if he lands a hit, Robin joins him for a flawless combination of attacks. It can even catch multiple opponents at once! All-Star Mode
(Wii U only)

Trivia

  • In early English promotional materials for Fire Emblem Awakening, Dual Guard was labeled "Support Block" and Dual Support was known as "Support Boost".

Etymology and other languages

Awakening

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

Pair Up

--

Japanese

ダブル

Double

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

Dual

--

Japanese

デュアル

Dual

Fates

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

Tag Team

--

Japanese

攻陣

Attack Formation

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

Pair Up

--

Japanese

防陣

Defensive Formation

Gallery

References

  1. Hoshidan Classes: Pair Up Stats, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: June 18, 2018
  2. Nohrian Classes: Pair Up Stats, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: June 18, 2018
  3. Other Classes: Pair Up Stats, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: June 18, 2018
  4. Nohrian Characters: Pair Up Stats, Serenes Forest, Retrieved: June 18, 2018

See also

Game mechanics
Out-of-battle management Base (BarracksBase CampBase conversationEveryone's ConditionsExpeditionGarreg Mach Monastery (Abyss) • My CastleSomniel) • Bonus experienceDungeonsGameplay modes (DifficultyCreature CampaignNew Game +) • GoldLessonsMila ShrinesPeddlerPreparationsRenownShopping (ArmoryBargainsForgeItem shopMerchantOnline shopSecret shop) • Supply convoyWorld map
Battles and chapters ArenaBattle saveBossCastleChapter (Alternate routeParalogueSide quest) • ChestCombat forecastEvent tilesHidden treasureObjectivesReinforcementSkirmishTerrain (Hazards) • Turn (Turn rewind) • Weather (Fog of war) • Village
Stats Units ActionAffinityAuthorityBiorhythmCharmClass (Class masteryClass relative powerUnit type) • Constitution (Aid) • DefenseExperienceFollow-up critical multiplierGrowth rateHit pointHoly BloodInventoryLevelLuckMagicMovementProficiencyResistanceSkillSpeedStrengthWeapon levelWeight
Weapons Brave weaponCritical rateDurabilityHitKill bonusMightPersonal weaponsRangeWeapon experienceWeapon levelWeightWorth
Unit mechanics and commands AdjutantAttack (Counterattack) • Auto-BattleBattalion (Gambit) • CantoChain attackChain GuardClass change (Reclass) • Combat artCrestsDance (GaldrarPlaySing) • Death (Decoy) • DismountDragon VeinEmblem RingsFatigueInventoryLaguz transformationLove (JealousyInheritance) • Pair UpRallyRecruitmentRescue (Capture) • Skills (Offensive skill) • SmashStaggering BlowStatus effectsSupportTalkTradeUnit (AvatarBond unitsBonus unitEinherjarLoan unitPrisonerReplacement unitSubstitute character) • Visit
Calculations AttackAttack speedAvoidBonus damageCritical hit (Combination bonusDodgeTriangle Attack) • Hit rate (True hit) • Random number generatorWeapon triangle (Trinity of magic)
Connectivity amiiboData transferDouble DuelDownloadable contentLink ArenaMultiplayer battleOnline shopSpotPassStreetPass
Other BarrierBirthdayClass rollGlitchesMultiple endingsRankingsSound RoomTactician bonus