Chapter 1: Princess of Ice

Book II: The Rite of Frost

Chapter 1: Princess of Ice

Welcome, Summoner, to the frigid lands of Nifl and the scorching dominion of Múspell! Book II of Fire Emblem Heroes thrusts us into a new saga, introducing the ice princess Fjorm and the terrifying Flame King, Surtr. This guide will navigate you through the opening chapter, ensuring you emerge victorious and well-prepared for the trials ahead.

Overview: Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the primary antagonists and allies of Book II. You'll face a mix of Múspell's fiery forces and Nifl's icy warriors, learning the mechanics of their unique abilities and the tactical challenges they present. Expect maps with varied terrain, including defensive tiles and potentially environmental hazards.

Mission 1-1: A Frozen Land

Location: Nifl's Frozen Plains

Objective: Rout the enemy.

Enemies:

• Lance Fighter (Blue): Standard lance unit. Vulnerable to Red units.
• Axe Fighter (Green): Standard axe unit. Vulnerable to Red units.
• Red Mage (Red): Magic user. Vulnerable to Blue units.
• Fjorm (Lance, Blue): Your ally for this mission. She will join your team after completion.

Walkthrough:

1. Upon starting, you'll find your initial team deployed. Fjorm, Princess of Nifl, will appear as an allied unit, controlled by the AI. She possesses the legendary lance, Leiptr, and the special skill Ice Mirror, which reduces damage from ranged attacks and reflects a portion back.
2. The map features several defensive tiles (marked with a shield icon). Moving your units onto these tiles will reduce incoming damage by 30%. Prioritize placing your more vulnerable units on these tiles, especially if they are targeted by multiple enemies.
3. The enemy composition is straightforward: a mix of physical and magical attackers. Use the weapon triangle to your advantage. Send your Red units against the Lance and Axe Fighters, and your Blue units against the Red Mage.
4. Fjorm will generally engage the closest enemies. Support her with your own units, focusing fire on enemies she targets to ensure quick eliminations.
5. There are no immediate threats or complex mechanics in this mission. Focus on understanding the basic movement and attack phases, and how to utilize defensive terrain.

Strategy Tips:

• Weapon Triangle: Always prioritize attacking enemies with units that have a weapon triangle advantage. This is fundamental in Fire Emblem Heroes.
• Defensive Tiles: Don't underestimate the 30% damage reduction. It can be the difference between surviving an attack and being defeated.
• Fjorm's Role: Observe how Fjorm's Ice Mirror activates. This skill will become a staple for her, and understanding its timing is crucial.

Rewards:

• 1 Orb
• 100 Hero Feathers
• New Hero: Fjorm, Princess of Ice (5-star, Lance Infantry)

Mission 1-2: The Flame King

Location: Múspell's Volcanic Peaks

Objective: Rout the enemy.

Enemies:

• Axe Fighter (Green): Standard axe unit.
• Sword Fighter (Red): Standard sword unit.
• Surtr (Axe, Green): The terrifying Flame King.

Walkthrough:

1. This mission immediately introduces Surtr, the primary antagonist of Book II. He is a formidable armored axe unit with exceptionally high Defense and Resistance, and a unique weapon, Sinmara, which inflicts 20 damage on foes within 2 spaces at the start of each turn.
2. Your primary goal is to defeat Surtr. However, he is surrounded by supporting units. It's often best to eliminate his allies first to prevent them from overwhelming your team.
3. Surtr's Sinmara damage can quickly chip away at your units' HP. Try to engage him quickly or use units with high HP/Def to tank the initial damage. Ranged units can attack him without taking the Sinmara damage on the following turn.
4. When engaging Surtr, a strong Red unit is absolutely essential. Sword units, in particular, will have a weapon triangle advantage.
5. Consider bringing a unit with "Armor Smasher" or "Armorslayer" type weapons (e.g., Hana, Effie with a refined Slaying Lance+ (Armor Smasher refine)). These weapons deal effective damage against armored units, significantly boosting your damage output against Surtr.
6. If you don't have an Armor Smasher, focus on overwhelming him with multiple strong Red units. Special skills that ignore defense (like Luna or Ignis) can also be highly effective.
7. Be wary of his "Surtr's Menace" skill, which inflicts Attack/Defense -5 on foes within 2 spaces at the start of turn. This further reduces your damage output and increases his survivability.

Strategy Tips:

• Countering Surtr:
  • Red Units: Prioritize strong Red units, especially Sword users.
  • Armor Effectiveness: Weapons like Armorslayer, Armor Smasher, or their refined versions are invaluable.
  • Special Skills: Skills like Luna, Ignis, or Draconic Aura can help punch through his high defenses.
  • Ranged Attacks: While not ideal for raw damage against his high stats, ranged units can chip away at him without taking Sinmara damage.
  • Debuffs: Units that can inflict Attack or Defense debuffs on Surtr can make the fight easier.
• Positioning: Avoid grouping your units too closely around Surtr at the start of the turn to minimize Sinmara damage.
• Healers: A healer can be very useful to mitigate the passive damage from Sinmara and keep your frontline units healthy.

Common Pitfalls:

• Underestimating Surtr: His stats and unique skills make him a significant threat. Don't rush in without a plan.
• Ignoring Sinmara: The passive damage adds up quickly. Keep an eye on your units' HP.
• Lack of Red Units: Going into this fight without strong Red units will make it significantly harder, if not impossible, for newer players.

Rewards:

• 1 Orb
• 100 Hero Feathers

Congratulations, Summoner! You've faced the might of the Flame King and survived. This initial encounter sets the stage for the epic conflict to come in Book II. Prepare your heroes, for the journey through Nifl and Múspell has only just begun!