Samurai & Swordmaster/Master of Arms
The Samurai class in Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is a swift and deadly melee combatant, specializing in the use of swords. These units boast high Speed and Skill stats, allowing them to double-attack frequently and land critical hits with reliability. Their personal skill, "True Strike", grants them +20 Hit when initiating combat, ensuring their attacks connect even against evasive foes. Samurai are excellent for quickly dispatching enemy units and can often avoid taking damage due to their high Speed and evasion.
Upon promotion, Samurai can become either a Swordmaster or a Master of Arms. The Swordmaster path further refines their sword-fighting prowess. They gain access to the skill "Vantage", which allows them to attack first when an enemy initiates combat and they are below half HP. This can be a life-saving skill, turning a potentially fatal blow into an opportunity for retaliation. Swordmasters also gain the skill "Aether", a powerful offensive skill that triggers upon activation, dealing damage equal to half the enemy's HP and healing the user for the same amount. The Master of Arms class offers a more balanced approach, allowing the unit to wield swords, axes, and lances. They gain the skill "Rally Skill", which grants adjacent allies +4 Skill for one turn, improving their hit rates and skill activations. Masters of Arms also gain access to the skill "Shove", a utility skill that pushes an adjacent unit one space away, useful for repositioning allies or creating escape routes. This versatility makes them valuable in maps with varied enemy types and terrain, such as the complex layouts of Chapter 20, "The Great Chasm."
Units that can reclass into Samurai include Kaze, who starts as a Ninja but can use a Heart Seal to become a Samurai. Other units can gain access to this class through marriage or Second Seals. For example, a female unit marrying Kaze can gain access to the Ninja class, and subsequently reclass into Samurai. When building a team, Samurai are excellent for dealing with fast-moving enemies or units with high evasion. Their ability to crit frequently can also be a significant advantage, especially when facing tougher enemies like the Berserkers found in Chapter 18, "The Silent Temple." However, their lower Defense means they can be vulnerable to heavy physical attackers, so careful positioning and support from defensive units are recommended.