Chapter 15 The Black Pillar

Your guide to Chapter 15, The Black Pillar in Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. Learn how to use the Dragon Vein to replicate units and maximize your experience gain.

Alright, welcome to Chapter 15, "The Black Pillar"! This map has a neat trick up its sleeve with the Dragon Vein, so let's break down how to handle it. You've got 20 turns to either defeat the boss or get everyone to the escape points, which are conveniently located on the upper half of the map.

New Allies

Before we even deploy, you'll automatically recruit Gunter as a Great Knight. He's a solid addition right from the start!

Preparation

It's a good idea to equip Azura and Corrin with two sets of Vulneraries each before you start. Better safe than sorry, especially with the map's unique mechanic.

Walkthrough

So, the map is split into two halves, and you'll start on the top. The key to this chapter is the Dragon Vein. When you activate it, it will “Split each allied unit into two bodies”. This means you'll get copies of Corrin, Gunter, and Azura down on the lower level. This is your chance to rack up some serious experience and snag some nice item drops, even though the main objective (escaping) is on the top half.

Here's the catch with replicating units:

• Damage taken affects both copies of your unit.
• Healing also affects both copies.
• Stat debuffs will apply to both.
• Experience is shared, meaning both copies get it, leading to more level-ups.
• BUT, and this is a big BUT: If your unit's replica is defeated, your real unit is also defeated! So, tread carefully.

Strategy for the Map:

• Pairing Gunter with Corrin (the Avatar) can give them a significant boost in defense and strength, making them great for pushing forward with the Yato.
• Azura can sing to support your main team, but her replica won't be able to sing.
• Don't feel rushed! Twenty turns is quite generous, so you can afford to take your time farming experience on the lower map.
• Once you reach the escape points on the top map, position your units right next to them. If the lower map gets too dangerous, you can use the Escape command to get out.
• You can even use your top units' Vulneraries to heal your replicas on the lower map, since healing is shared. This lets your replicas keep fighting and gaining experience while staying healthy.

Honestly, this map is pretty forgiving. With the ability to replicate and the generous turn count, you're in a good position to gain a lot of levels and loot.

After the Battle

Back at your castle, you'll find that either Felicia (Maid) or Jakob (Butler) – whichever one you didn't start with – has joined your team. They're great healers, and while they might be a bit redundant if you're tight on resources, you can never really have too many healers!