How to Deplete the Stun Gauge and Trigger Critical Rushes

Learn how to deplete the Stun Gauge and trigger powerful Critical Rushes in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Master combat advantages and abilities to exploit enemy weaknesses.

In Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, while standard musou combat with button combos and Warrior Specials is effective, exploiting enemy weaknesses through the Stun Gauge and Critical Rushes offers a more optimal approach. Understanding weapon and class advantages is key to breaking an enemy's guard, exposing their Stun Gauge. Once exposed, further attacks deplete the gauge, leaving the enemy vulnerable to a Critical Rush by pressing the A button. The greater your advantage, the faster the Stun Gauge depletes. Certain Class Abilities can further enhance this process by making the Stun Gauge appear more readily, last longer, or deplete faster.

An enemy's Stun Gauge is also visible when they are performing a Combat Art or Magic attack, though attacking them during this window carries risk. Using your own Combat Arts or Magic is a reliable way to expose the Stun Gauge. Combining these with character-specific attack combos, like Shez's Firesweep Combat Art with their aerial combos, can lead to extended enemy vulnerability and opportunities for Critical Rushes.

Abilities and Combat Arts that Affect the Stun Gauge and Critical Rushes:

• Fists of Justice (Caspar Support Ability): Increases damage dealt to enemy Stun Gauges at Lv 1 (Slightly), Lv 2 (Moderately), and Lv 3 (Greatly).
• King’s Might (Dimitri Support Ability): Increases damage to enemy HP and Stun Gauges when sending them flying at Lv 1 (Slightly), Lv 2 (Moderately), and Lv 3 (Greatly).
• Natural Warrior (Holst Support Ability): When HP is at 50% or below, increases damage to enemy Stun Gauges at Lv 1 (Increases), Lv 2 (Greatly increases), and Lv 3 (Massively increases).
• Perceptive Gaze (Hubert Support Ability): Affects the duration the Stun Gauge remains visible: Lv 1 (Slightly longer), Lv 2 (A while longer), Lv 3 (Much longer).
• Brawler’s Wisdom (Brawler Class Ability): Increases damage to enemy Stun Gauges when using Brawler, Grappler, and War Master class actions.
• Dual Devastators (Brawler Combat Art): A fist-based attack that deals damage to enemy Stun Gauges.
• Death Blow (Brigand Class Ability): Keeps the Stun Gauge visible for longer.
• Warrior’s Wisdom (Brigand Class Ability): Gives Brigand and Warrior class actions a chance to produce the Stun Gauge, with a better chance when the Class Gauge is fuller.
• Mortal Struggle (Swordmaster Combat Art): Sacrifices defense to make the Stun Gauge display with all attacks.