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Analysis by raelet
Gerome - Masked Rider

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
161
HP 45
ATK 38
SPD 25
DEF 34
RES 19

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
4★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 18 9 5 7 3
Middle 19 10 6 8 4
High 20 11 7 9 5

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
4★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 42 35 22 31 16
Middle 45 38 25 34 19
High 48 41 29 37 22

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

This unit requires use of Trait Fruits to get access to IVs

Skill Sets

Under The Hood (Anti Cavalry)

Build by raelet
Recommended
Masking Axe (+Eff)
Alternate: Brave Axe+
A Sturdy Impact
Alternate: Death Blow (3 or 4)
Positional Assist B A/D Near Trace 3
Alternate: Guard Bearing 3
Bonfire
Alternate: Glimmer
C Atk/Def Rein 3
Alternate: Atk Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK -SPD

SAtk/Def Solo 3
Alternate: Death Blow 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Masking Axe (+EFF) / Brave Axe

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Bonfire / Glimmer

Passive A: Sturdy Impact / Mirror Impact / Death Blow

Passive B: A/D Far Trace / Guard Bearing

Passive C:  Atk/Def Rein / Atk Smoke

Sacred Seal: Atk/Def Solo / Atk/Res Solo / Death Blow / Heavy Blade

  • This set can be run with Gerome's native Masking Axe or a Brave Axe, and focuses on upfront damage by pumping Gerome's Attack as high as possible for a hopeful oneshot.
  • Sturdy Impact and Mirror Impact both serve to protect him from his foe's retaliation if he fails to KO them - however, if you want just a little bit more Attack, then Death Blow 4 is always an option to squeeze out every last point of Attack you can get.
  • A/D Far Trace is a new skill that gives units like Gerome new life, updating his old Hit and Run with Canto and a stat debuff, which further optimizes Gerome's chances of getting that oneshot.
  • The same goes for Atk/Def Rein, which is another high-value inherit. Coupled with Atk/Def Solo in his Seal slot, this build with Sturdy Impact functionally gives Gerome 89 Attack for his first initiation - enough to kill most cavalry in the game, including headache-inducing cavs like Duessel and Legendary Sigurd (if Gerome has an +Atk boon).

The Killing Joke (Defensive)

Build by raelet
Masking Axe (+Eff) A Def/Res Solo 4
Alternate: Bracing Stance (2 or 3)
Positional Assist B Quick Riposte 3
Alternate: A/D Near Trace 3
Noontime C Atk/Def Rein 3
IVs

+DEF / -SPD

SDef/Res Solo 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Masking Axe (+EFF)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Noontime / Glimmer

Passive A: Def/Res Solo / Bracing Stance / Mirror Impact / Distant Counter

Passive B: Quick Riposte / A/D Near Trace

Passive C:  Atk/Def Rein

Sacred Seal: Def/Res Solo / Atk/Res Solo

  • Because Masking Axe buffs Gerome's Defense so significantly, one can turn him into a fairly effective tank by subsequently buffing his Resistance. This can be done through Solo skills like Def/Res Solo or Atk/Res Solo, or through phase-specific skills like Bracing Stance or Mirror Impact.
  • This grants Gerome significantly more survivability, particularly when it comes to baiting cav mages or attacking into dragons.
  • Debuffing his foe's Attack is another crucial survival skill - with his Masking Axe, Atk/Def Rein, and A/D Near Trace, Gerome debuffs his opponent's Attack by 12, which allows him to survive quite a lot.
  • You can choose to equip Gerome with an A slot like Distant Counter or Distant Ward to handle ranged threats, particularly ranged cavaliers. Alternatively, if he partners up with a unit who has Far Save, he can shine as a melee specialist and tank hard for your team while also dishing out plenty of damage.

Strengths

Accessibility

Gerome was a free unit during the first year of the game and is accessible to every player with the grails for him.

Prf Refine Weapon

Gerome's Masking Axe gives him essentially +16 Attack and raises his Defense significantly and helps to patch up his lower Resistance. This, coupled with his already-high 38 base Attack, makes him a good option for oneshotting enemy cavaliers. Even if not facing cavaliers Gerome can pack a punch, although he lacks the Speed to follow-up, making him very reliant on getting that oneshot.

Weaknesses

Unit Competition

While axe fliers are not the most saturated unit pool in the game, Gerome is still relatively outclassed when it comes to deciding to invest in another axe flier unit. Surprisingly, he still has one of the highest Attack stats for Axe fliers (tying with his mother, Cherche), but that's just about all anyone can say for him. His Speed and Resistance are near the bottom of the bunch, with Defense that is good, but not amazing.

His niche seems to be oneshotting foes, particularly cav units, but if he can't pull off the oneshot then he's essentially a sitting duck and vs non-cavs, he's still reliant on his outdated statline.

That isn't to say that his refine is bad - it places Gerome solidly above units like Haar - but... well, being better than Haar isn't much of a compliment.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Iron Axe
Learns by default at 1 ★
Unlocks at 1 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
50 1 6
Steel Axe
Learns by default at 3 ★
Unlocks at 2 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
100 1 8
Poleaxe

Effective against cavalry foes.

Learns by default at 4 ★
Unlocks at 3 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
200 1 10
Poleaxe+

Effective against cavalry foes.

Learns by default at 5 ★
Unlocks at 5 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
300 1 14
Masking Axe

Effective against cavalry foes. If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP ≥ 75% at start of combat, grants Atk/Def+5 to unit during combat.

Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
400 1 16
Weapon Evolution
Weapon Upgrades
Weapon Upgrades

Support Skills

Support Skills Rng. SP
Rally Defense

Grants Def+4 to an adjacent ally until the end of the turn.

Learns by default at 4 ★
1 150
Rally Atk/Def

Grants Atk/Def+3 to an adjacent ally until the end of the turn.

1 300

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Fortress Def 1

Grants Def+3. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
40
A
Fortress Def 2

Grants Def+4. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
80
A
Fortress Def 3

Grants Def+5. Inflicts Atk-3.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
160
A
Hit and Run

If unit initiates combat, unit moves 1 space away after combat.

Restricted to melee units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
150
B

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: Awakening

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