Shields & Defensive Items
While the provided source material for Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation does not explicitly list specific shield items or their defensive statistics, the core gameplay mechanics of the Fire Emblem series imply their potential importance. The FAQ/Walkthroughs, such as the one by rennyjesus (version 0.1.4, April 27, 2016) and Krystal109 (version 0.2, March 11, 2016), offer general guidance on strategy and gameplay. Within the context of Fire Emblem, shields typically provide a significant boost to a unit's Defense or Resistance stats, or they may offer unique defensive abilities such as increased evasion or damage reduction against specific attack types. For instance, a shield might reduce incoming physical damage by a certain percentage or grant a bonus to a unit's Avoid stat, making them harder to hit. In Revelation, where players face formidable foes like the Faceless or powerful enemy commanders, any item that enhances a unit's ability to survive direct attacks is invaluable.
The Class Promotion Chart from ucilkampar (September 29, 2017) illustrates the progression of units through different classes. Many of these promoted classes have inherent defensive capabilities or access to specific skills that complement defensive equipment. For example, a Paladin class might gain access to skills that improve their defensive presence on the battlefield, and equipping a shield could further amplify these benefits. be on the lookout for any items that can be equipped in a secondary slot to provide defensive bonuses, even if they are not explicitly named "shields." These could be amulets, talismans, or other trinkets that offer passive defensive buffs. The Fire Emblem Fates Avatar Support Transcript by Misha Marches (March 21, 2016) highlights the unique personalities and roles of characters, suggesting that certain characters might be better suited to wielding defensive items due to their class or innate abilities. For example, a character like Silas, known for his defensive prowess, would likely benefit more from a shield than a more offensively oriented unit.
When considering defensive items, always evaluate their impact on a unit's overall combat effectiveness. While a shield might significantly increase a unit's survivability, it could also occupy an equipment slot that could otherwise be used for an item that boosts offensive capabilities. The optimal choice will depend on the specific chapter's challenges, the enemy composition, and the player's overall strategy. For example, in a chapter with numerous powerful archers, an accessory that grants bonus resistance to ranged attacks would be highly advantageous. Conversely, in a map swarming with heavily armored infantry, an item that increases damage against armored units might be a more effective use of an equipment slot, even if it means sacrificing some direct defensive bonus. The key is to balance offensive pressure with the ability to withstand enemy counterattacks, and defensive items play a crucial role in achieving this balance.