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Analysis by raelet
Ferdinand - Noblest of Nobles

3-4

Obtainable as a 3 - 4 only

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
162
HP 41
ATK 32
SPD 35
DEF 30
RES 24

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 18 7 8 5 4
Middle 19 8 9 6 5
High 20 9 10 7 6

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 37 29 32 27 21
Middle 41 32 35 30 24
High 44 35 38 33 28

IV Sets

Key stats worth increasing through nature if possible.
Complementary stats that matter, but not to the point of picking them over key stats for nature increase.
Relatively worthless stat that can safely be decreased through nature.
HPATKSPDDEFRES

Skill Sets

I AM... (Ferdinand Von Aegir)

Build by raelet
Recommended
Vanguard+ (+Res)
Alternate: Guard Lance+ (+Res)
A Distant Counter
Alternate: Fort. Def/Res 3
Reposition B Lull Atk/Def 3
Alternate: Quick Riposte 3
Bonfire
Alternate: Ignis
C Atk Smoke 3
Alternate: Def Smoke 3
IVs

+RES or +ATK / -HP

SBrazen Atk/Def 3
Alternate: Fierce Stance 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Vanguard (+RES) / Guard Lance (+RES)

Assist: Reposition

Special: Bonfire / Ignis

Passive A: Distant Counter / Fort. Def/Res / Fury

Passive B: Lull Atk/Def / Quick Riposte

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Def Smoke

Sacred Seal: Brazen Atk/Def / Fierce Stance / Brazen Atk/Res

  • This build capitalizes on Ferdinand's balanced stats as well as his superboon in Resistance, which allows him to play as more of a bulky defensive cavalier.
  • With a Vanguard(+RES) and a Resistance boon, Ferdinand hits a bulk of 37 Defense and 32 Resistance. You can then either utilize him to counter enemies at range (Distant Counter), or you can further improve his defenses with Fort. Def/Res which further increases his bulk to 43/38.
  • Lull Atk/Def is crucial as well, since it allows Ferdinand to further debuff his opponent's Attack, which directly improves his defenses. Running Atk Smoke in his seal slot can further debuff his opponent's Attack in a wide area, making him even harder to take out.
  • With the Guard Lance, Ferdinand loses some of his defensive bulk but assures that his opponents cannot charge their Specials on him, which gives him a lot more viability in longer fights.
  • The Sacred Seal option is more of a tossup: Ferdinand can run Fierce Stance which helps to make up for his lower Attack, or he can run a Brazen skill which will not be active until after he takes a little bit of damage.
  • Due to not investing in his base 35 Speed, it's likely that Ferdinand may need some help to double in the form of Quick Riposte, which can be put in his B slot if you lack a Lull skill, or in his Seal slot.
  • For the budget-focused Summoner, you can consider using Fury in his A slot to stack further on his decent stat spread. However, Fury can quickly knock Ferdinand below the HP threshold for Quick Riposte, so be careful if using those two skills together.

Swift Strikes (Player Phase Galeforce)

Build by raelet
Recommended
Lofty Blossoms+ (+Spd)
Alternate: Slaying Lance+ (+Spd)
A Swift Sparrow (2 or 3)
Alternate: Atk/Spd Solo 3
Reposition B Lull Atk/Spd 3
Alternate: Desperation 3
Galeforce
Alternate: Luna
C Def Smoke 3
Alternate: Atk Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD / -HP

SHeavy Blade 3
Alternate: Swift Sparrow 2

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Lofty Blossoms (+SPD) / Slaying Lance (+SPD)

Assist: Reposition

Special: Galeforce / Luna

Passive A: Swift Sparrow / Atk/Spd Solo

Passive B: Lull Atk/Spd / Desperation

Passive C: Def Smoke / Atk Smoke

Sacred Seal: Heavy Blade / Swift Sparrow

  • This build emulates Ferdinand's Swift Strikes combat art by focusing on his Attack and Speed to either make a Galeforce build, or to hit as hard as possible with Swift Sparrow in multiple slots.
  • With this build, Ferdinand initiates combat with 56 Attack without any merges or an Attack boon against an enemy whose attack he is debuffing by 3 and negating all buffs to Attack and Speed. Lull Atk/Spd is the lynchpin of this build, enabling both Heavy Blade and helping Ferdinand to reach the Speed threshold to double his opponent with his 52 Speed on initiation (with boon).
  • Def Smoke will help him to KO his opponents after activating Galeforce, while Atk Smoke makes it more likely for him to activate Heavy Blade in his seal slot.
  • However, this build relies on doubling his opponent as well as being retaliated upon for Ferdinand to activate Galeforce. Due to the unreliability of that chance, he can also run Slaying Lance instead with Luna in order to have a hard-hitting Special on a short cooldown.
  • Note that Lofty Blossoms with Moonbow is still a better option than Slaying Lance/Luna if Ferdinand is typically initiating combat.

Strengths

High Stat Total

Ferdinand has a higher Base Stat Total than any other lance cavalry unit at the time of his release. Statwise, he is almost a direct upgrade from units like Oscar, Roderick, and Sully.

His increase in stats and well-balanced statline offers him a good range of flexibility in builds when combined with the available inheritable lances in the game.

Easy Access

Ferdinand is the third unit to be released as a 5 star and 4 star on his banner, with demotion to 3-4 star rarity after the banner ends. This makes it very easy to accumulate copies of him for merging and getting an ideal IV.

Due to this easy access and his higher BST, Ferdinand is a good option for a mobile f2p statball.

Weaknesses

No Prf Weapon

Unfortunately, Ferdinand's lack of prf weapon hurts him a lot. Almost all of his competition in lance cavalry have accumulated prf weapons from the weapon refinery, leaving him without a lot of competitive options when it comes to build comparisons.

Luckily, lances are a fairly strong inheritable weapon type and Ferdinand can mitigate his weaknesses somewhat by inheriting a powerful lance like Lofty Blossoms. 

No Standout Stats

Ferdinand is not the fastest lance cavalier. He doesn't have the highest Attack, or the highest Defense, or the highest Resistance. While all of his stats are decent, none of them are best-in-class, leaving him poor at fulfilling any particular niche.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Iron Lance
Learns by default at 1 ★
Unlocks at 1 ★
Lance Users Only
50 1 6
Steel Lance
Learns by default at 3 ★
Unlocks at 2 ★
Lance Users Only
100 1 8
Vanguard

If foe initiates combat, grants Def+7 during combat.

Learns by default at 4 ★
Unlocks at 3 ★
Lance Users Only
200 1 10
Vanguard+

If foe initiates combat, grants Def+7 during combat.

Learns by default at 5 ★
Unlocks at 5 ★
Lance Users Only
300 1 14
Weapon Evolution
Weapon Upgrades
Weapon Upgrades

Support Skills

Support Skills Rng. SP
Reposition

Target ally moves to opposite side of unit.

Learns by default at 4 ★
1 150

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Fortress Def 1

Grants Def+3. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 1 ★
40
A
Fortress Def 2

Grants Def+4. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 2 ★
80
A
Fortress Def 3

Grants Def+5. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
160
A
Rouse Spd/Def 1

At start of turn, if unit is not adjacent to an ally, grants Spd/Def+2 to unit for 1 turn.

Excludes Armor and Flying units.
Unlocks at 3 ★
60
C
Rouse Spd/Def 2

At start of turn, if unit is not adjacent to an ally, grants Spd/Def+4 to unit for 1 turn.

Excludes Armor and Flying units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
120
C
Rouse Spd/Def 3

At start of turn, if unit is not adjacent to an ally, grants Spd/Def+6 to unit for 1 turn.

Excludes Armor and Flying units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
240
C

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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