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Analysis by lordhelpme
Ranulf - Friend of Nations

5

Obtainable as a 5 only

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
157
HP 40
ATK 30
SPD 37
DEF 33
RES 17

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 15 7 10 6 3
Middle 16 8 11 7 4
High 17 9 12 8 5

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 37 26 34 30 13
Middle 40 30 37 33 17
High 43 33 40 36 20

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

the actual mother of Ike’s children (Offensive Generalist)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Covert Cat Fang (+Eff) A Surge Sparrow
Alternate: Atk/Spd Catch 4
Positional Assist B S/D Near Trace 3
Moonbow
Alternate: Bonfire
C Atk/Spd Menace
Alternate: Def Smoke 3
IVs

+SPD or +ATK / -RES

SAtk/Spd Form 3
Alternate: Swift Sparrow 2

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Covert Cat Fang (+EFF)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Moonbow / Bonfire / Luna

Passive A: Surge Sparrow / Atk/Spd Catch / Swift Sparrow / Atk/Spd Push

Passive B: S/D Near Trace / Lull Atk/Spd / Lull Spd/Def / Lull Atk/Def

Passive C: Atk/Spd Menace / Atk/Def Menace / Joint Drives / Smoke Skills / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Form / Swift Sparrow / Blade Session / Flexible

  • Ranulf’s arsenal of strengths meld perfectly with a Player Phase approach, with his transformation’s Impact-esque effect and naturally padded physical bulk helping him maintain reliably healthy against most melee threats. This build focuses on these qualities while also placing an emphasis on his damage; either a +ATK or +SPD IV are recommended.
  • Moonbow is generally Ranulf’s best Special choice for its relatively short cooldown and usefulness against bulkier foes, particularly in instances where he is unable to wield the full extent of Covert Cat Fang’s bonus damage. Alternatively, Bonfire and Luna can be considered if a slightly higher ceiling is preferred, though their trigger rates are more infrequent compared to Moonbow. 
  • Surge Sparrow is a natural complement to Ranulf’s Spd and bulk-focused statline, maximizing his offensive prowess through its +7 Atk/Spd boost while also granting substantial healing upon each Special activation; this makes him even more durable in practice, especially if acceleration support is provided.
    • It is pretty scarce, though, so if unavailable (or you simply wish to keep it for someone else), standard offensive skills like Atk/Spd Catch, Swift Sparrow, and Atk/Spd Push work well — just make sure it enhances both Atk and Spd, since Ranulf is reliant on both for his damage. 
  • S/D Near Trace is by far Ranulf’s best B skill as its 【Canto (Rem. +1)】effect enables full optimization of his already fantastic cavalry movement, most notably allowing him to actually retreat without needing to be rescued if amid a group of further enemies (a la “hit-and-run” tactics). Lull skills may also be considered if pure stat advantages are preferred (and they are generally more accessible), with Lull Spd/Def offering the most damage potential of those available. 
  • Ranulf isn’t particularly attached to any specific C skill here so the slot is flexible, though those that offer anything in the form of damage enhancements (e.g. Atk/Spd Menace, Joint Drive Atk, Def Smoke, etc.) are welcome — he could use all the help he can get. 
  • The same applies for his Sacred Seal selection, making Atk/Spd boosters the prime way to go. Atk/Spd Form is recommended primarily due to the fact that Ranulf already requires relative proximity to his allies for the true damage aspect of his PRF, so the two go hand-in-hand; however, if seeking to make him less reliant on such formations, skills like Swift Sparrow, Blade Session, and Atk/Spd Solo may be the better way to go.

rawr XD (Galeforce)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Covert Cat Fang (+Eff) A Heavy Blade 4
Alternate: Atk/Spd Catch 4
Positional Assist B Wings of Mercy 3
Alternate: S/D Near Trace 2
Galeforce C Joint Drive Atk
Alternate: Def Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD / -RES

SQuickened Pulse

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Covert Cat Fang (+EFF)

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special:  Galeforce

Passive A: Heavy Blade / Atk/Spd Catch / Atk/Spd Push / Swift Sparrow 

Passive B: Wings of Mercy / S/D Near Trace

Passive C: Joint Drive Atk / Atk/Spd Menace / Atk Smoke / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Quickened Pulse / Atk/Spd Form / Swift Sparrow / Heavy Blade

  • This build once again presents an offense-geared approach to Ranulf’s playstyle, but pays attention moreso to the laguz’s usage within Aether Raids Offense as a Galeforce unit. He can perform surprisingly well in this context due to the nature of such sweeps requiring some level of proximity to most of his team (which ensures maximal use of his PRF), and also grants his team a welcome +4 Atk/Def by simply existing near them.
  • Although he does rely on both Atk and Spd to function here as well, a +ATK IV should receive greater priority if using Heavy Blade — otherwise, +SPD takes precedence.
  • First and foremost, it’s worth noting that due to Galeforce’s hefty five-turn cooldown, he needs some form of Special acceleration to actually trigger it fast enough without deterring his team’s capabilities. This means either using him alongside Thórr to benefit from her Worldbreaker ability, or use Heavy Blade (as either his A skill or Sacred Seal). The latter, however, brings with it some further considerations:
    • His Atk, even with ample investment, is far beyond being considered high, which may lead to issues in even activating Heavy Blade to begin with. This holds particularly true if he goes the preferred route using Heavy Blade as an A skill + Quickened Pulse Seal to minimize the amount of initiations required, as he won’t be able to rely on supplemental combat boosts from his skills like normal.
    • This makes it prudent that Ranulf is able to 1) reliably maintain all the effects of Covert Cat Fang and his transformation and 2) reliably receive support without  inhibiting said transformation. 
    • Naturally, this makes it especially advisable that Ranulf is run alongside fellow beast and dragon allies for minimal complication; this imposes rather heavy limitations on his team selection, but it’s generally worth it for those seeking to optimize the laguz’s consistency. 
  • For Galeforce teams that rely on low HP beacons to gain quick access to the enemy team, Ranulf’s ideal B skill accordingly becomes Wings of Mercy for synergy with these strategies; keep in mind he can’t really afford the resources to operate as a beacon himself. However, S/D Near Trace also makes for an especially compelling candidate when using him in a mixed composition, as the【Canto (Rem. +1)】effect makes it easier to position him after participating in the Galeforce chain in a way that doesn’t impede his transformation; it also opens up wiggle room for hit-and-run tactics.

Strengths

Covert Cat Fang

Once outdone even by inheritable weapons like Love Bouquet and Love Candelabra, Ranulf’s exclusive Covert Cat Fang base effect desperately needed an update and thankfully managed to gain sizable ground through its refinement. 

  • For one, it slightly increases the potency and range of the Atk/Def buff he grants allies (+4 Atk/Def to anyone in three spaces vs. +3 Atk/Def on a two-space leash), which isn’t really exceptional but useful all the same.
  • More importantly, though, refined Covert Cat Fang actually reaps solid benefits for Ranulf with minimal upkeep: as long as he stays above 25% HP and within three spaces of an ally or initiates combat, he immediately gains Spectrum +8 and access to the offensive half of Null Follow-Up to secure doubles through natural Spd contests. 
  • Ranulf also gains bonus true damage based on the number of nearby allies (up to a maximum of +15 per attack!), which paired with his other benefits helps raise his damage to reasonable levels.

Cavalry Beast Benefits

Thanks to his cavalry beast status, Ranulf finds himself even more capable while on the offensive due to the miniature Sturdy Impact effect gained upon transforming: his opponent suffers -4 Atk/Def during combat and has their follow-up denied. This grants neat control over the flow of battle coupled with Ranulf’s ability to ensure natural follow-up attacks, and the innate flexible mobility of the cavalry class is a cherry-on-top to further threaten opponents with reach. 

Good Speed & Physical Bulk

Ranulf finds himself in a solid position to exploit his newfound access to partial Null Follow-Up by merit of his respectable base Spd of 37, which can easily be developed through proper investment and the supplemental boosts granted by his weapon. His physical bulk is pretty good at base as well (and only gets better considering he has a surprising number of means to augment it and his overall survivability), lending the cat laguz well to bruiser and generalist roles with his inherent Spd

Weaknesses

Beast Drawbacks 

While there is no denying that the benefits of transforming are very much worthwhile when accessible, the positioning requirements attached — either being entirely alone or adjacent to purely beast and/or dragon allies at the start of the turn — can prove particularly problematic in Ranulf’s case. 

  • This is due to the fact that he relies on maintaining the maximum benefits of his PRF (i.e. his transformation and its maximum +15 bonus damage) to keep pace with modern standards, but those two different effects are at odds with each other as:
    • Sticking close to allies if they are not beasts or dragons can inhibit his transformation, incurring a decent cost to his offensive capacity and longevity…
    • …And choosing to stay away from his allies makes it harder to gain the full true damage Covert Cat Fang has to offer, creating difficulty against bulkier foes.

In Aether Raids Offense where his strengths would otherwise naturally shine as a Galeforcer, this may become even more of an issue given that many enemy layouts involve heavy space pressure, limiting successful maintenance of the Solo condition when using non-beast and dragon units. While the natural solution may be to simply include more of such allies or to use them exclusively alongside Ranulf, this itself is harshly limiting in team flexibility.

Low Resistance 

Ranulf’s pitiful base Resistance stat of 17 makes it nearly impossible for him to effectively take on sustained offensive pressure from opposing magical damage dealers, making it crucial that he be kept out of reach from such foes as he will otherwise suffer heavy amounts of damage.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Whelp (Cavalry)

At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to only beast or dragon allies or if unit is not adjacent to any ally, unit transforms (otherwise, unit reverts). If unit transforms, grants Atk+2, and if unit initiates combat, inflicts Atk/Def-4 on foe during combat and foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Beast (Cavalry Only)
50 1 4
Yearling (Cavalry)

At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to only beast or dragon allies or if unit is not adjacent to any ally, unit transforms (otherwise, unit reverts). If unit transforms, grants Atk+2, and if unit initiates combat, inflicts Atk/Def-4 on foe during combat and foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Beast (Cavalry Only)
100 1 6
Adult (Cavalry)

At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to only beast or dragon allies or if unit is not adjacent to any ally, unit transforms (otherwise, unit reverts). If unit transforms, grants Atk+2, and if unit initiates combat, inflicts Atk/Def-4 on foe during combat and foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Beast (Cavalry Only)
200 1 9
Covert Cat Fang

Grants Def +3. If unit is within 2 spaces of an ally, grants Atk/Def+3 to unit and allies withing 2 spaces of unit during combat.

At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to only beast or dragon allies or unit is not adjacent to any ally, unit transforms (otherwise, unit reverts). If unit transforms, grants Atk+2 and if unit initiates combat, inflicts Atk/Def-4 on foe during combat and foe cannot make a follow-up attack.

Learns by default at 5 ★
Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
400 1 14
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
Rally Atk/Def+

Grants Atk/Def+6 to target ally for 1 turn.

1 400

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Chill Atk 1

At start of turn, inflicts Atk-3 on foe on the enemy team with the highest Atk through its next action.

Inheritable by all units.
60
B
Chill Atk 2

At start of turn, inflicts Atk-5 on foe on the enemy team with the highest Atk through its next action.

Inheritable by all units.
120
B
Chill Atk 3

At start of turn, inflicts Atk-7 on foe on the enemy team with the highest Atk through its next action.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
240
B
Spur Def 1

Grants Def+2 to adjacent allies during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
50
C
Spur Def 2

Grants Def+3 to adjacent allies during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
100
C
Ward Beasts

Grants Def/Res+4 to beast allies within 2 spaces during combat.

Beast Only
Unlocks at 4 ★
200
C

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

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