Classes
An overview of classes in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Classes in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses introduces a whole bunch of new classes, along with many recurring ones from previous games. As a professor at the officer's academy, you get the chance to personally teach your students the skills that they need to promote into different classes. You can set goals for specific skills, for example telling a unit to focus on sword training with the goal of becoming a Swordmaster.
Training Skills
Each week, Byleth can instruct the students in their class during lectures to improve their skills. Skills can start as low as Rank E, and be improved all the way up to Rank S+. Different students will excel and struggle in different skills, and some students may discover a new-found love for a skill after putting in some work (budding talent). As skills rank up, the unit will learn new abilities and master new combat arts.
Changing Classes
Once a unit has obtained the necessary ranks in their skills, they will be eligible to write class certification exams. In order to write a certification exam, each character must first obtain the necessary seal item (advanced seals are required to write certifications for advanced classes, and so on). Similar to the more recent games, once a unit becomes certified for a class they are free to switch in and out of the class without losing any experience or stats. All classes have minimum stat requirements, for example a Sniper cannot have less than 17 Str, so if a unit with less than 17 Str promotes into that class, they will receive a free stat bonus up to the minimum.
The percentage chance of passing a certification exam is calculated using the following formula. You cannot attempt an exam unless your chance of passing is at least 30%. If the unit's Luck is an odd number, then the value is rounded up.
\(P = 100 - a * b + \frac{Luck}{2}\)The \(a\) variable is calculated based on the class change requirements.
- For beginner/intermediate classes, as well as advanced classes that only have one skill requirement, \(a = 40\)
- For advanced classes that have two skill requirements, as well as Abyssian classes, \(a = 32\)
- For For master classes, \(a = 20\)
The \(b\) variable is equal to the total number of skill ranks missing from the requirements.
For example, suppose a unit with D+ rank Lances, A rank Axes, B+ rank Flying, and 15 Luck attempts to take the Wyvern Lord (master class) exam. Their chances of passing the exam would be calculated as follows.
\(a = 20, b = 2\)\(P = 100 - (20) * (2) + (8)\)\(P = 68\%\)Class Experience and Mastery
As units battle in their current class, they will slowly earn class experience. Upon maxing out class experience, the unit will master a new ability and/or combat art depending on the class. These abilities are often extremely powerful, and it is well worth switching between various classes to gain the mastery ability. For instance, all physical-based units should consider mastering the Brigand class to gain access to the powerful Death Blow ability, especially since the class only requires Axe level C to pass the certification exam.
Tiers
Classes are broken down into tiers. Byleth and all students start out as either a Commoner or a Noble, and can start changing classes as early as level 5. Depending on a unit's level, different tiers of classes will be available to them.
- Beginner classes are available to units level 5 or higher
- Intermediate classes are available to units level 10 or higher
- Advanced classes are available to units level 20 or higher
- Master classes are available to units level 30 or higher
Furthermore, there are certain classes that are only available to the three house leaders (Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude); these Lord classes are unlocked throughout the story and do not require a seal or taking certification exam.
Finally, there are special classes that were introduced in the Cindered Shadows DLC. These Abyssian classes are only available in the main story after the side story is completed, and require a special Abyssian exam pass to write the certification exam.
Restrictions
Not all classes are equal. There are restrictions on which units can certify for a class, as well as what the classes can do.
The following classes are gender-locked.
- Pegasus Knight (Female)
- Falcon Knight (Female)
- Gremory (Female)
- Dark Mage (Male)
- Dark Bishop (Male)
- Brawler (Male)
- Grappler (Male)
- War Master (Male)
- Hero (Male)
Most of the classes that can use magic cannot use gauntlets. The following classes have access to both magic and gauntlets.
- Noble/Commoner
- Enlightened One
- Mortal Savant
- War Monk/Cleric
- Trickster
Only certain classes can use magic, and some will only have half the regular uses rounded up. This information is listed in the table below.
Beginner Classes
Game Data
These classes all require a Beginner Seal to write the certification exam. They all need 60 class experience to master.
Intermediate Classes
Game Data
These classes all require an Intermediate Seal to write the certification exam, with the exception of Dark Mage requiring a Dark Seal. They all need 100 class experience to master.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archer | +1 +2 | Bow C. | ||
| Armored Knight | +1 +2 +2 | — | Axe C, Heavy Armor D. | |
| Brawler | +1 +2 | Brawl C. Male only. | ||
| Brigand | +2 +1 | — | Axe C. | |
| Cavalier | +1 +2 +2 | Lance C, Riding D. | ||
| Dark Mage | +2 +1 | Reason C, Dark Seal. Can use magic. Male only. | ||
| Mage | +2 +1 | Reason C. Can use magic. | ||
| Mercenary | +2 +1 | — | Sword C. | |
| Pegasus Knight | +1 +2 +2 | Lance C, Flying D. Female only. | ||
| Priest | +1 +2 | Faith C. Can use magic. | ||
| Thief | +2 +1 | Sword C. |
Advanced Classes
Game Data
These classes all require an Advanced Seal to write the certification exam, with the exception of Dark Bishop requiring a Dark Seal. They all need 150 class experience to master.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assassin | +3 +2 | Sword B, Bow C. | ||
| Bishop | +2 +3 | Faith A. Can use magic. | ||
| Dark Bishop | +3 +2 | Reason A, Dark Seal. Can use magic. Male only. | ||
| Fortress Knight | +2 +3 +3 | Axe B, Heavy Armor B. | ||
| Grappler | +3 | Brawl A. Male only. | ||
| Hero | +3 +2 | Sword B, Axe C. Male only. | ||
| Paladin | +2 +3 +3 | Lance B, Riding B. | ||
| Sniper | +3 | Bow A. | ||
| Swordmaster | +3 | Sword A. | ||
| Warlock | +3 +2 | Reason A. Can use magic. | ||
| Warrior | +3 | Axe A. | ||
| Wyvern Rider | +2 +3 +3 | Axe B, Flying C. |
Master Classes
Game Data
These classes all require a Master Seal to write the certification exam. They all need 200 class experience to master.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bow Knight | +3 +3 +3 | Lance C, Bow A, Riding A. | ||
| Dark Knight | +3 +3 +3 | Lance C, Reason B+, Riding A. Can use magic. | ||
| Falcon Knight | +3 +3 +3 | Sword C, Lance A, Flying B+. Female only. | ||
| Great Knight | +3 +3 +3 | Axe B+, Heavy Armor A, Riding B+. | ||
| Gremory | +3 +3 | Reason A, Faith A. Female only. Can use magic. | ||
| Holy Knight | +3 +3 +3 | Lance C, Faith B+, Riding A. Can use magic. | ||
| Mortal Savant | +3 +3 | Sword A, Reason B+. Can use magic. | ||
| War Master | +3 +3 | Axe A, Brawl A. Male only. | ||
| Wyvern Lord | +3 +3 +3 | Lance C, Axe A, Flying A. |
Lord Classes
Game Data
These classes are only available the house leaders, and are unlocked automatically when progressing through the story.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Lord | +3 +3 +3 | Start of Chapter 13. Edelgard only. | ||
| Barbarossa | +3 +3 +3 | Start of Chapter 17. Claude only. | ||
| Emperor | +3 +3 +3 | Start of Chapter 16. Edelgard only. | ||
| Great Lord | +3 +3 +3 | Start of chapter 16. Dimitri only. | ||
| High Lord | +3 +3 +3 | Start of chapter 13. Dimitri only. | ||
| Lord | +2 +1 +2 | Sword D+, Authority C. House leaders only. | ||
| Wyvern Master | +3 +3 +3 | Start of chapter 13. Claude only. |
Unique Classes
Game Data
These classes do not require a certification exam. Commoner and Noble need 20 class experience to master, Dancer needs 150, Death Knight needs 200, and Enlightened One needs 100.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commoner | — | — | Can use magic at half uses. | |
| Noble | — | — | Can use magic at half uses. | |
| Dancer | +2 +2 | Win the White Heron Cup. Can use magic. | ||
| Enlightened One | +3 +2 +3 +3 | Start of chapter 11. Byleth only. Can use magic. | ||
| Archbishop | +3 +3 +3 | Rhea only. Can use magic. | ||
| Death Knight | +3 +3 +3 | None. Exclusive class to the Death Knight. Can use magic. |
DLC Classes
Game Data
These classes were introduced in the Cindered Shadows DLC, and all require an Abyssian Exam Pass to write the certification exam.
Class | Proficiency | Abilities | Mastery Abilities | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Flier | +2 +3 +3 | Reason B+, Flying C. Can use magic. Female only. | ||
| Trickster | +3 +1 +2 | Sword B, Faith B, Thief certification. Can use magic at half uses. | ||
| Valkyrie | +3 +1 +3 | Reason B, Riding B. Can use magic. Female only. | ||
| War Cleric | +1 +3 +1 | Brawl B+, Faith C+. Can use magic at half uses. Female only. | ||
| War Monk | +1 +3 +1 | Brawl B+, Faith C+. Can use magic at half uses. Male only. |
