Pair Up & Attack Stance Mechanics
The "Pair Up" mechanic in Fire Emblem Fates is a fundamental combat system that allows two units to occupy a single space on the battlefield, offering significant strategic advantages. When two units are paired up, the lead unit acts as the primary combatant, while the secondary unit provides support. The secondary unit contributes to the lead unit's stats, increasing their Strength, Magic, Defense, and Resistance based on their own base stats and support level. For example, pairing up Silas (a strong defensive unit) with Corrin can significantly boost Corrin's survivability against powerful physical attackers. Furthermore, the secondary unit can also grant access to their skills. If Silas has the "Defender" skill, Corrin can utilize it while paired up, increasing their Defense by 4 when attacked. This synergy is crucial for overcoming challenging encounters.
When paired up, the lead unit can choose to either "Attack" or "Guard." Selecting "Attack" initiates a combined assault, where both units contribute to the damage output. The secondary unit's attack will occur after the lead unit's attack, and it has a chance to trigger their personal skills or combat arts. The "Guard" option allows the lead unit to focus on defense, increasing their Avoid and potentially activating defensive skills from both units. The "Break" command, available when an enemy is paired up, allows you to target the secondary unit of an enemy pair. Successfully breaking an enemy pair separates them, making them vulnerable to individual attacks. This is particularly useful against powerful enemy pairs like the Nohrian Knights. The "Attack Stance" is a related mechanic that occurs when units are adjacent but not paired up. In this stance, the secondary unit can still provide support by increasing the lead unit's stats slightly and potentially activating certain skills. However, it does not offer the same level of stat boosts or skill synergy as a full Pair Up. Understanding when to Pair Up, when to use Attack Stance, and when to Break enemy pairs is key to optimizing your combat effectiveness. For instance, using Pair Up to combine a high-damage unit like Azura with a tanky unit like Effie can create a formidable offensive force capable of taking down multiple enemies in a single turn.