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Victory or Death

From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Victory or Death

Cm fe07 30.png

Location

Dread Isle

New units

Renault

Boss(es)

Limstella

Previous chapter(s)
Next chapter(s)
Side quest conditions

Chapter is completed within 20 turns

Victory or Death (Japanese: 背水の戦い Last-ditch battle) is the thirtieth chapter of Eliwood's tale and thirty-second of Hector's tale in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade.

Plot

Main articles: Victory or Death/Script (Eliwood) and Victory or Death/Script (Hector)

Fargus delivers Eliwood and company to the Dread Isle. Fargus agrees to look after Nils while they are away; before they depart, Eliwood talks to Nils, asserting that he intends to fulfill Ninian's wish for peace and defeat of Nergal. After the group departs, Fargus gives Nils an Earth Seal to give to the lords, and Nils departs to follow them. Nergal senses the approach of the lords and commands Limstella to defeat them. As the lords approach the Dragon's Gate, Nils yells a warning for Eliwood to move; Eliwood dodges a thunderbolt from Limstella. Nils tells Eliwood that he will take over Ninian's duties, then demands Limstella reveal herself. Limstella complies with his demand, then reveals an army of morphs and warps to the entrance of the Dragon's Gate.

Nergal stealing Ninian's and Nils's dragonstones and quintessence.

The lords eventually manage to defeat Limstella and the morphs, and arrive at the Dragon's Gate. Eliwood asks Nils how he and Ninian arrived in Elibe. Nils describes the dragons' travels through the Dragon's Gate to a new home. However, Ninian and Nils one day heard what seemed like a friend's voice from the gate, and they chose to pass through it alone. Once on the other side, Nergal stole some of their quintessence and their dragonstones; Ninian and Nils fled Nergal, and had disguised themselves as travelling performers when they met Lyn. After parting with Lyn, they were captured by the Black Fang and taken back to the Dread Isle, where they met Elbert. Elbert eased their fears by telling stories of his family and his homeland; Ninian and Nils felt that Elbert's son would one day save them. The lords affirm their resolve to protect Elibe from Nergal, and proceed towards the Dragon's Gate.

Chapter data

Eliwood Normal Eliwood Hard Hector Normal Hector Hard

Chapter Data
Conditions
Unit Data
Victory: Seize the gate Player Partner Other Enemy
Defeat: Eliwood, Hector, or Lyn dies 2–16+1 {{{partner}}} {{{other}}} 25+139

Map Secret Shop

Cm fe07 E-30.png

Character data

Eliwood's tale Hector's tale

Characters
New units
Renault
Portrait renault fe07.png
Bishop
HP
43
Inventory
Divine
Fortify
Light Rune
Level
16
Visit northwestern ruins before turn 12
Required characters
Eliwood ​Nils ​
Available characters
Marcus ​Lowen ​Rebecca ​Dorcas ​Bartre ​Hector ​Oswin ​Matthew ​Serra ​Guy ​Merlinus ​Erk ​Priscilla ​Lyn ​Florina ​Wil ​Kent ​Sain ​Raven ​Lucius ​Canas ​Dart ​Fiora ​Legault ​Isadora ​Rath ​Heath ​Hawkeye ​Wallace ​Geitz ​Pent ​Louise ​Karel ​Harken ​Nino ​Jaffar ​Vaida ​

Item data

Items
Name Obtainment Method
Is gba earth seal.png Earth Seal Automatically at the start
Is gba fimbulvetr.png Fimbulvetr Dropped by Limstella (drops last item; mutually exclusive with Bolting)
Is gba bolting.png Bolting Dropped by Limstella (Hard Mode and Hector Normal Mode; drops last item; mutually exclusive with Fimbulvetr)
Is gba nosferatu.png Nosferatu Dropped by enemy Druid (drops last item; mutually exclusive with Eclipse or Fenrir)
Is gba eclipse.png Eclipse Dropped by enemy Druid (Normal Mode and Eliwood Hard Mode; drops last item; mutually exclusive with Nosferatu)
Is gba fenrir.png Fenrir Dropped by enemy Druid (Hector Hard Mode only; drops last item; mutually exclusive with Nosferatu)
Is gba talisman.png Talisman Visit south eastern ruins
Is gba set's litany.png Set's Litany Visit central ruins

Shop data

Armories and vendors

Swords Lances Axes Bows Anima Light Dark Staves Items Secret

None

The secret shop is located in the top-right of the map, in the single plains tile between the forest and thicket tiles.

Enemy data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.

Eliwood Normal Eliwood Hard Hector Normal Hector Hard

Enemy Units
Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Ma gba sage female enemy.gif Limstella Sage 20 1 68 24 20 17 0 24 27 7 6 FimbulvetrThis item is dropped upon this unit's defeat.
Does not move; stands on a gate, the chapter's seize point.
Ma gba druid enemy.gif Morph Druid 8 1 24~28 13~17 6~10 6~9 0 4~7 10~13 8 6 Eclipse NosferatuThis item is dropped upon this unit's defeat.
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba wyvern rider enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Rider 16 1 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 0 11~13 1~3 10 7 Javelin
Moves towards the central peak.
Ma gba wyvern rider enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Rider 16 1 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 0 11~13 1~3 10 7 Killer Lance
Moves towards the central peak.
Ma gba wyvern rider enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Rider 16 1 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 0 11~13 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance
Moves towards the central peak.
Ma gba wyvern rider enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Rider 16 1 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 0 11~13 1~3 10 7 Slim Lance
Moves towards the central peak.
Ma gba warrior enemy.gif Morph Warrior 8 1 38~44 13~17 7~10 8~11 0 6~9 2~4 13 6 Silver Axe
--
Ma gba warrior enemy.gif Morph Warrior 8 1 38~44 13~17 7~10 8~11 0 6~9 2~4 13 6 Devil Axe Killer Bow
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba brigand enemy.gif Morph Brigand 16 1 30~34 11~14 4~7 7~9 0 4~5 1~3 12 5 Steel Axe
Moves to raid ruins, then moves to attack units unprovoked.
Ma gba swordmaster enemy.gif Morph Swordmaster 8 1 29~34 8~11 14~18 13~17 0 6~9 4~7 9 6 Wo Dao
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba hero enemy.gif Morph Hero 16 1 36~43 11~16 14~19 13~17 0 11~15 5~9 10 6 Light Brand
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba hero enemy.gif Morph Hero 16 1 36~43 11~16 14~19 13~17 0 11~15 5~9 10 6 Silver Sword
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba sage enemy.gif Morph Sage 10 1 26~30 11~15 8~12 6~10 0 5~9 11~15 7 6 Bolting Fimbulvetr
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba bishop enemy.gif Morph Bishop 8 1 26~30 8~11 6~9 6~9 0 3~5 13~17 7 6 Aura Purge
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba bishop enemy.gif Morph Bishop 8 1 26~30 8~11 6~9 6~9 0 3~5 13~17 7 6 Aura Fortify
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba knight enemy.gif Morph Knight 16 2 27~31 10~12 5~8 1~3 0 12~14 2~4 13 4 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba general enemy.gif Morph General 8 1 30~35 11~15 6~9 3~6 0 15~18 5~8 15 5 Silver Lance
--
Ma gba cavalier enemy.gif Morph Cavalier 16 2 29~33 9~11 7~9 8~10 0 7~9 1~3 9 7 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba sniper enemy.gif Morph Sniper 8 3 29~34 10~14 9~13 7~10 0 6~9 4~7 8 6 Silver Bow
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba sniper enemy.gif Morph Sniper 3 1 27~30 9~12 8~11 6~9 0 6~8 3~6 8 6 Steel Bow
Moves to attack units in range.
Ma gba sniper enemy.gif Morph Sniper 8 1 29~34 10~14 9~13 7~10 0 6~9 4~7 8 6 Steel Bow
Moves to attack units in range.
Reinforcements
Name Class Lv # HP Str/Mag Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills
Ma gba brigand enemy.gif Morph Brigand 16 6 30~34 11~14 4~7 7~9 0 4~5 1~3 12 5 Steel Axe
The northern and eastern ones move to raid ruins, then move to attack units unprovoked.
Ma gba falcoknight enemy.gif Morph Falcoknight 10 26 28~34 10~14 11~15 11~15 0 5~9 8~12 6 8 Steel Lance
The ones that appear from turn 25 move towards Eliwood.
Ma gba nomadic trooper enemy.gif Morph Nomadic Trooper 8 28 28~33 9~12 9~13 11~14 0 7~10 4~7 8 8 Steel Bow Steel Sword
--
Ma gba wyvern lord enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Lord 8 2 34~39 14~18 8~12 9~12 0 12~15 3~5 11 8 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba wyvern rider enemy.gif Morph Wyvern Rider 16 26 30~34 12~15 7~9 8~11 0 11~13 1~3 10 7 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba paladin enemy.gif Morph Paladin 8 2 32~37 9~12 7~11 9~11 0 8~11 5~8 11 8 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba cavalier enemy.gif Morph Cavalier 16 32 29~33 9~11 7~9 8~10 0 7~9 1~3 9 7 Steel Lance
The ones that appear from turn 25 move towards Eliwood.
Ma gba general enemy.gif Morph General 8 3 30~35 11~15 6~9 3~6 0 15~18 5~8 15 5 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba knight enemy.gif Morph Knight 16 12 27~31 10~12 5~8 1~3 0 12~14 2~4 13 4 Steel Lance
--
Ma gba paladin enemy.gif Morph Paladin 8 1 32~37 9~12 7~11 9~11 0 8~11 5~8 11 8 Steel Sword
--
Ma gba warrior enemy.gif Morph Warrior 8 1 38~44 13~17 7~10 8~11 0 6~9 2~4 13 6 Devil Axe
--

Reinforcements

Eliwood's tale
  • Turns 5 (Hard Mode), 6, and 7
  • Turns 7 (Hard Mode), 8, and 9
  • Turns 8 (Hard Mode), 9, and 10
  • Turns 10 (Hard Mode), 11, and 12
  • Turns 12–14 (Hard Mode only)
  • Turns 14 (Hard Mode), 15, and 16
    • 2 Cavaliers from the forts south of the middle ruin
  • Turns 15 and 16
  • Turns 20 (Hard Mode)/25 (Normal Mode) – 35
  • Upon entering the northeast portion of the map (columns 14–28, rows 1–14)
  • Upon entering the central portion of the map (columns 6–14, rows 15–22)
  • Upon entering the southwest portion of the map (columns 15–28, rows 17–30)
    • 2 (Normal Mode)/4 (Hard Mode) Nomadic Troopers from the southeast corner of the map
  • Upon entering the west portion of the map (columns 1–8, rows 7–19)
    • 1 Warrior and 2 (Normal Mode)/4 (Hard Mode) Brigands from above the western bridge
Hector's tale
  • Turns 2 (Hard Mode)/3 (Normal Mode) – 5
  • Turns 4 (Hard Mode)/5 (Normal Mode) – 7
    • 1 Brigand from the north edge of the map
  • Turns 7, 8, and 14–16 (Hard Mode only)
  • Turns 7–10 (Hard Mode only)
  • Turns 8–10 (Normal Mode)/12–14 (Hard Mode)
  • Turn 8 (Normal Mode), 11 (Hard Mode) and 12
  • Turns 9 (Hard Mode)/10 (Normal Mode) – 12
  • Turns 9 (Hard Mode), 10, 15 (Normal Mode), and 16 (Normal Mode)
  • Turns 13 (Hard Mode), 15 (Normal Mode), and 16 (Normal Mode)
  • Turns 20 (Hard Mode)/25 (Normal Mode) – 35
  • Upon entering the northeast portion of the map (columns 14–28, rows 1–14)
  • Upon entering the central portion of the map (columns 6–14, rows 15–22)
  • Upon entering the southwest portion of the map (columns 15–28, rows 17–30)
    • 1 Warrior and 4 Brigands from the southeast corner of the map (Normal Mode only)
    • 4 Mages and 1 Sage from the southeast corner of the map (Hard Mode only)
  • Upon entering the west portion of the map (columns 1–8, rows 7–19)
    • 5 Nomadic Troopers—one at level 8, four at level 6—from above the western bridge

Boss data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.
Main article: Limstella

Normal Eliwood Hard Hector Hard

Portrait limstella fe07.png
Ma gba sage female enemy.gif Sage
Level 20
Affinity --
Stats
Max HP 68 Luck 0
Magic 24 Defense 24
Skill 20 Resistance 27
Speed 17 Constitution 7
Movement 6 Aid 6
Inventory
Bolting*
FimbulvetrThis item is dropped upon this unit's defeat.
Weapon Levels
Swords -- Lances -- Axes -- Bows --
Anima magic S Light magic -- Dark magic -- Staves S
In Normal Mode, Limstella uses a custom variant of the Sage class with increased Defense and Resistance stat caps; in Hard Mode, they use the standard female one.

Strategy


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


Trivia

  • Nergal's map sprite in the opening scene where he is talking to Limstella is erroneously portrayed as a Druid rather than a Dark Druid.
  • Sophia makes a cameo appearance when visiting the south eastern ruins.
  • Renault wields one of the only two obtainable Fortify staves in Hector's tale, and the only one in Eliwood's tale.
  • This chapter is often wrongly attributed to be the chapter where the player first regains access to Nils in Eliwood's and Hector's tales; this actually happens two chapters earlier.
  • Nils has a unique line for visiting the middle set of ruins and obtaining Set's Litany that implies Nils has been there some time in the past.[1] Given this ruin's proximity to the Dragon's Gate, this may be where he was hiding prior to the events of Chapter 19E/20H.[2] Another possibility is that this is the ruin where A Glimpse in Time takes place, where Nergal left Nils and Ninian in the flashback.
  • A modified version of this chapter's map was used as a test map in the Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade prototypes.

Etymology and other languages

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

Victory or Death

Victory or death is a common motto or battle cry.

Japanese

背水の戦い

A Japanese idiom that literally means "A battle with one's back to the water." The idiom refers to the battle of Jingxing and the strategy employed by General Han Xin to have his army fight with their full might against the army of Zhao with their backs to the Tao River, denying them the opportunity to retreat should they lose.

German

Sieg oder Tod

Victory or Death

Gallery

Prototype

Images from the Fire Emblem 0206 and 0219 prototypes.

References

  1. "This place... Have I been here before? I feel as if...I'm forgetting something important. But I can't remember... Hm? What's this?" — Nils, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
  2. "For a time, I hid in the ruins by myself. Then... I sensed something really dangerous. When I raced to the Dragon’s Gate, I... I saw everything." — Nils, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
← Sands of Time •
← Battle Preparations •
Victory or Death • Light →
• The Value of Life →
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
Playable characters AthosBartreCanasDartDorcasEliwoodErkFarinaFioraFlorinaGeitzGuyHarkenHawkeyeHeathHectorIsadoraJaffarKarelKarlaKentLegaultLouiseLowenLuciusLynMarcusMatthewMerlinusNilsNinianNinoOswinPentPriscillaRathRavenRebeccaRenaultSainSerraVaidaWallaceWil
Non-playable characters BramimondDesmondElbertEleanoraEphidelFaeFargusGuinivereHannahHausenHelleneHelmanIgorJahnJakeJanKishunaLeilaLilinaMarkMurdockNatalieReissmannRoySophiaUtherZephiel
Bosses AionBattaBaukerBernardBeyardBoiesBoolBrendanBugCameronCarjigaDamianDarinDenningDragonEaglerErikEubansFargusGeorgGlassGroznyiHeintzJasmineJermeKaimKennethKishunaLimstellaLinusLloydLundgrenMaximeMigalNergalOlegPascalPaulPuzonSealenSoniaTeodorUhaiUrsulaVaidaWireYogiZaganZoldamZugu
Background characters AenirAeshaAthosBariganBramimondDurbanElimineHanonHartmutHassarKellesMadelynRoland
Regalia and personal weapons ArmadsAureolaBasilikosDurandalEreshkigalExcaliburForblazeGespenstLuceMani KattiRapierRegal BladeRex HastaRienflecheSol KattiWolf Beil
Chapters Lyn's Tale P: A Girl from the Plains • 1: Footsteps of Fate • 2: Sword of Spirits • 3: Band of Mercenaries • 4: In Occupation's Shadow • 5: Beyond the Borders • 6: Blood of Pride • 7: Siblings Abroad • 7x: The Black Shadow • 8: Vortex of Strategy • 9: A Grim Reunion • 10: The Distant Plains
Eliwood's Tale 11: Taking Leave • 12: Birds of a Feather • 13: In Search of Truth • 13x: The Peddler Merlinus • 14: False Friends • 15: Noble Lady of Caelin • 16: Whereabouts Unknown • 16x: The Port of Badon • 17: Pirate Ship • 18: The Dread Isle • 18x: Imprisoner of Magic • 19: Dragon's Gate • 20: New Resolve • 21: Kinship's Bond • 22: Living Legend • 22x: Genesis • 23: Four-Fanged Offense (Lloyd, Linus) • 24: Unfulfilled Heart • 25: Pale Flower of Darkness (Kenneth, Jerme) • 26: Battle before Dawn • 26x: Night of Farewells • 27: Cog of Destiny • 28: Valorous Roland • 29: Sands of Time • 29x: Battle Preparations • 30: Victory or DeathF: Light (part 1part 2)
Hector's Tale 11: Another Journey • 12: Birds of a Feather • 13: In Search of Truth • 13x: The Peddler Merlinus • 14: False Friends • 15: Talons Alight • 16: Noble Lady of Caelin • 17: Whereabouts Unknown • 17x: The Port of Badon • 18: Pirate Ship • 19: The Dread Isle • 19x: Imprisoner of Magic • 19x pt 2: A Glimpse in Time • 20: Dragon's Gate • 21: New Resolve • 22: Kinship's Bond • 23: Living Legend • 23x: Genesis • 24: Four-Fanged Offense (Lloyd, Linus) • 25: Crazed Beast • 26: Unfulfilled Heart • 27: Pale Flower of Darkness (Kenneth, Jerme) • 28: Battle before Dawn • 28x: Night of Farewells • 29: Cog of Destiny • 30: The Berserker • 31: Sands of Time • 31x: Battle Preparations • 32: Victory or Death • 32x: The Value of LifeF: Light (part 1part 2)
Locations ElibeBern (Shrine of Seals) • EtruriaIliaLycia (AraphenCaelinCornwellKhatheletLausOstiaPheraeSantaruz) • Nabata Desert (Arcadia) • Sacae (Bulgar) • Valor (Dragon's Gate) • Western Isles
Groups, objects and concepts Black Fang (Four Fangs) • Fire EmblemGenerals of EtruriaMorphsQuintessenceThe Scouring
Lists ChaptersCharactersClasses (Class change) • Hidden treasureItemsScriptsSupportsWeapons
Related topics List of version differencesMario Kart: Double Dash!! bonus discName chart • Other games (The Binding Blade) • Pre-release information (Pre-release build 0206Pre-release build 0219Unused content) • Sound RoomTimeline