Ares

Default
Attack
Special
Injured

Red Sword

Analysis by Naz

Ares - Black Knight
3-4 Obtainable as a 3 - 4 only

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40

157

HP 40

ATK 36

SPD 30

DEF 33

RES 18

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation

Weapon

5★

4★

3★

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	17 17 19 19	7 23 9 25	7 7 9 9	6 6 8 8	4 4 6 6
Middle	18 18 20 20	8 24 10 26	8 8 10 10	7 7 9 9	5 5 7 7
High	19 19 21 21	9 25 11 27	9 9 11 11	8 8 10 10	6 6 8 8

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	16 16 18 18	7 17 9 19	7 7 9 9	5 5 7 7	3 3 5 5
Middle	17 17 19 19	8 18 10 12	8 8 10 2	6 6 8 8	4 4 6 6
High	18 18 20 20	9 19 11 21	9 9 11 11	7 7 9 9	5 5 7 7

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	16 16 18 18	6 6 8 8	6 6 8 8	5 5 7 7	3 3 5 5
Middle	17 17 19 19	7 7 9 9	7 7 9 9	6 6 8 8	4 4 6 6
High	18 18 20 20	8 8 10 10	8 8 10 10	7 7 9 9	5 5 7 7

Level 40 Stat Variations

Weapon

5★

4★

3★

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	36 36 38 38	33 49 35 51	26 26 28 28	30 30 32 32	14 14 16 16
Middle	40 40 42 42	36 52 38 54	30 30 32 32	33 33 35 35	18 18 20 20
High	43 43 45 45	39 55 41 57	33 33 35 35	36 36 38 38	21 21 23 23

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	34 34 36 36	31 41 33 43	25 25 27 27	27 27 29 29	13 13 15 15
Middle	37 37 39 39	34 44 36 46	28 28 30 30	30 30 32 32	16 16 18 18
High	40 40 42 42	37 47 39 49	31 31 33 33	33 33 35 35	19 19 21 21

	HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Low	33 33 35 35	29 29 31 31	23 23 25 25	26 26 28 28	12 12 14 14
Middle	36 36 38 38	32 32 34 34	26 26 28 28	29 29 31 31	15 15 17 17
High	39 39 41 41	35 35 37 37	29 29 31 31	32 32 34 34	18 18 20 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.

HP	ATK	SPD	DEF	RES
Average	Best	Average	Average	Average

Boons

+ATK: Attack is consistently the best boon that Ares can have regardless of the skill-set he is running, as it will increase his raw damage output in both Player and Enemy phase.
+SPD: Although somewhat middling at a base value of 30, a boon in Speed allows Ares to avoid crucial follow-up attacks from mid-high tier Speed units, greatly reducing the amount of damage he takes.

Neutral

DEF: While raising it is not a priority, Ares prefers to keep his Defense neutral in order to keep his solid physical bulk of 73 intact.
HP: Similarly, Ares would rather avoid his superbane in HP (-4 reduction rather than the standard -3), as it can be detrimental to his overall survivability.

Banes

-RES: Resistance is Ares’ weakest stat and the best bane that he can receive, as dropping it further will hardly affect his overall performance.

Skill Sets

Bloody Stream (Enemy Phase Melee)

Build by Naz

Recommended

	Dark Mystletainn (+Eff)	A	Atk/Def Unity Alternate: Atk/Def Solo (3 or 4)
	Positional Assist	B	Lull Atk/Def 3 Alternate: Mystic Boost 3
	Draconic Aura Alternate: Dragon Fang	C	Atk Smoke 3 Alternate: Pulse Smoke 3
IVs	+SPD or +ATK or +DEF	S	Mystic Boost 3 Alternate: Atk/Def Solo 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Preferred IV: +SPD or +ATK or +DEF

This build aims to have Ares perform as a general melee combatant with the assumption that there will be a Far Save unit supporting him against ranged foes. As such, there is more variety in the types of assets that Ares can use for this role.

Weapon: Dark Missiletainn (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Draconic Aura / Bonfire / Dragon Fang / Ignis / Aether

In addition to the aforementioned, Ares can make effective use of Specials such as Dragon Fang or Ignis which trade a longer cooldown for more power. You could even use a 5cd Special such as Aether given the proper support.

Passive A: Atk/Def Unity / Atk/Def Solo / Sturdy Stance

This build favors combat against melee-range opponents, particularly those that deal physical damage.
In addition to the simple +5 boost to the key stats, any debuffs and/or Panic effect inflicted on those stats will be reversed to become an in-combat buff with Atk/Def Unity.
- Keep in mind that this does not neutralize penalties or change your visible stats so AOE Specials will deal complete damage and weapons that are activated based on opponent’s penalties such as Void Tome or Broadleaf Fan will still retain their effects.
Both Stance skills and Solo skills that boost Ares’ key stats have their advantages as you prefer.

Passive B: Lull Atk/Def / Mystic Boost

Lull Atk/Def further supplements Ares’ key stats by nullifying the visible buffs of his opponent as well as reducing their Atk/Def.
Mystic Boost grants Ares some sustainability through its healing after combat.

Passive C: Smoke Skills / Flexible

This time, Pulse Smoke is particularly effective in reducing the damage of opponents around the target after combat by slowing down the activation of their Special.

Sacred Seal: Mystic Boost / Atk/Def Solo

If not already being used in the B slot, Mystic Boost can also be used effectively in the Sacred Seal slot.

The Dark Knight Rises (DC/Vantage)

Build by Naz

	Dark Mystletainn (+Eff)	A	Distant Counter
	Reposition Test	B	Vantage 3
	Draconic Aura Alternate: Bonfire	C	Def Smoke 3 Alternate: Fatal Smoke 3
IVs	+ATK	S	Quickened Pulse Alternate: Atk/Def Solo 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Preferred IV: +ATK

An asset in Attack is ideal for ensuring that Ares is able to OHKO his opponent.

Weapon: Dark Mystletainn (+Eff)

The natural choice for this playstyle, as it favors the quick charging of Specials and hitting as hard as possible on their activation.

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Draconic Aura / Bonfire

Offensive Specials that have a cooldown of 3 allow for an instant recharge following the initial activation.

Passive A: Distant Counter

Passive B: Vantage

The crux of this build is pairing Distant Counter with Vantage to have an instant Special-charged retaliation against any opponent upon having less than 75% HP.

Passive C: Smoke Skills / Flexible

Smoke skills such as Fatal Smoke or Def Smoke are very effective when taking on multiple opponents.
The C skill can otherwise be replaced as needed to suit the team.

Sacred Seal: Atk/Def Solo / Quickened Pulse

Any Sacred Seal that further boosts Ares’ key stats makes for a suitable choice
Quickened Pulse can make for an easier initial Special activation.

Strengths

Dark Missiletainn

Dark Missiletainn is an exceptional Enemy Phase weapon that allows Ares to chain activate his Specials at a constant rate, as well as boosting the power of those Specials when the opponent initiates combat.

Cavalry

In addition to his superior mobility, Ares has access to class-exclusive skills.

Weaknesses

Terrible Magical Bulk

Ares’ low magical bulk of 58 makes him susceptible to getting completely blown away by powerful magic attacks.

Cavalry

Although being a cavalry unit has its advantages, it can also be a detriment. On top of forests and trenches making it harder to navigate maps, Ares has an innate weakness to cavalry effective weapons.

Weapon Skills

Weapons	SP	Rng.	Mt.
Iron Sword Only Inheritable by Sword Units.	50	1	6
Steel Sword Only Inheritable by Sword Units.	100	1	8
Slaying Edge Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). Learns by default at 4 ★ Only Inheritable by Sword Units.	200	1	10
Dark Mystletainn Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat. Learns by default at 5 ★ Unlocks at 5 ★ Non-Inheritable skill.	400	1	16

Available Rearmed Weapons
Arcane Éljúðnir

Weapon Evolution

Weapon Upgrades

Weapons	HP	SP	Rng.	Mt.
Dark Mystletainn (+Eff) Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat. If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP ≥ 75% at start of combat, grants Atk/Def+5 to unit during combat and deals +7 damage when Special triggers during combat. If foe's HP ≥ 75%, deals +7 damage when Special triggers before combat.	+3	400	1	16
Dark Mystletainn (+Atk) Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat.	+5	400	1	18
Dark Mystletainn (+Spd) +3Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat.	+5	400	1	16
Dark Mystletainn (+Def) +4 Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat.	+5	400	1	16
Dark Mystletainn (+Res) +4 Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If Special triggers before or during combat, grants Special cooldown count-2 after combat.	+5	400	1	16

Special Skills

Special Skills	SP	Turns
Dragon Gaze Boosts damage by 30% of unit's Atk. Learns by default at 4 ★ Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.	100	4
Draconic Aura Boosts damage by 30% of unit's Atk. Unlocks at 4 ★ Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.	200	3

Passive Skills

Passive Skills	SP	Slot
Brazen Atk/Def 1 If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Def+3 during combat. Inheritable by all units.	60	A
Brazen Atk/Def 2 If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Def+5 during combat. Inheritable by all units.	120	A
Brazen Atk/Def 3 If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Def+7 during combat. Inheritable by all units. Unlocks at 4 ★	240	A
Seal Def 1 After combat, foe suffers Def -3 through its next action. Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.	40	B
Seal Def/Res 1 Inflicts Def/Res-3 on foe through its next action after combat. Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units. Unlocks at 4 ★	100	B
Seal Def/Res 2 Inflicts Def/Res-5 on foe through its next action after combat. Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units. Unlocks at 5 ★	200	B