GamePress
Analysis by lordhelpme
Ayra - Astra's Wielder

5 Legacy

Obtainable as a 5 during certain summoning events only.

Related Heroes

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
163
HP 41
ATK 33
SPD 37
DEF 31
RES 21

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 18 6 10 6 3
Middle 19 7 11 7 4
High 20 8 12 8 5

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 37 30 34 28 18
Middle 41 33 37 31 21
High 44 36 40 34 24

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

Queen of Blades (Mixed Phase Generalist)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Ayra's Blade (+Eff) A Distant Counter
Positional Assist B Spurn 3
Alternate: Null Follow-Up 3
Regnal Astra C Joint Drive Spd
Alternate: Pulse Smoke 3
IVs

+SPD or +ATK

SAtk/Spd Solo 3
Alternate: Mystic Boost 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Ayra’s Blade (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Regnal Astra

Passive A: Distant Counter

Passive B: Spurn / Null Follow-Up 

Passive C: Joint Drive Skills / Smoke Skills / Time’s Pulse / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Solo / Mystic Boost / Quickened Pulse

  • Ayra’s two exclusive abilities are by far her most defining features, and this set aims to maximize the usage of both to let her excel both on the offensive and defensive. It’s essentially something similar to the set that led to her original notoriety—just updated for current standards. Ayra covets a +SPD IV here over all else, though a +ATK IV is workable if unavailable. 
  • Combining Regnal Astra with Ayra’s Blade and Distant Counter provides the warrior princess immense combat prowess; since her refined PRF stops foes from preventing her Special activation, Ayra can consistently leverage her high damage output ability to function as a versatile counter without necessitating that she initiate combat herself.
  • She has two main B skill choices to consider here, and they both have their merits: Spurn and Null Follow-Up
    • Spurn provides Speed-based damage reduction to grant Ayra much greater survivability (as her inherently high Speed renders it simple to maintain its maximum effect), and also supplements her Regnal Astra damage. This is largely redundant if Flayn support is available, however. 
    • In contrast, Null Follow-Up is a formidable B skill that helps Ayra can engage in combat without fear of either having her offensive capabilities hampered or being potentially shut down by foes with automatic follow-ups; it doesn’t directly enhance her survivability like Spurn, but it does give her much greater applicability. 
      • Null Follow-Up can also be paired with the Mystic Boost Sacred Seal (since using Spurn makes it harder to use something other than a stat booster) if Ayra’s longevity becomes too much of a concern.
  • Joint Drive Spd works excellently in Ayra’s C slot to build upon her Speed for improved performance across the board—you literally cannot have enough Speed with her—and some minor ally support. Smoke skills and Time’s Pulse may also be worthwhile considerations, but ultimately her C skill choice is flexible. 
  • The Atk/Spd Solo Sacred Seal lends itself perfectly to Ayra’s intended playstyle here, granting a fearsome offensive boost in both phases. As previously mentioned, if Null Follow-Up is equipped, Mystic Boost works wonderfully to make up for the loss of Spurn’s supplemental damage reduction through consistent healing. Quickened Pulse is an option as well to immediately let Ayra access Regnal Astra.

I Am Speed (Defensive Tank / Sustain Focus)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Ayra's Blade (+Eff) A Distant Counter
Positional Assist B Null Follow-Up 3
Alternate: Null C-Disrupt 3
Noontime
Alternate: Sol
C Pulse Smoke 3
Alternate: Atk Smoke 3
IVs

+SPD or +ATK or +RES

SSpd/Res Solo 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Ayra’s Blade (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Noontime / Sol

Passive A: Distant Counter

Passive B: Null Follow-Up / Null C-Disrupt / Lull Atk/Spd 

Passive C: Smoke Skills / Joint Drive Skills / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Spd/Res Solo / Atk/Spd Solo / Swift Stance / Kestrel Stance / Quick Riposte

  • This build optimizes Ayra for a more defensive-leaning role reminiscent of standard tanks, though backed by her fantastic versatility. A +SPD IV is ideal once again as Ayra will be primarily dependent on her ability to naturally perform and avoid follow-ups for her longevity, but +ATK and +RES (strictly for Aether Raids Offense) are decent alternatives as well. 
  • Ayra should swap out Regnal Astra for a healing Special given the greater focus on tanking here, as her refined weapon’s damage reduction alone generally won’t be sufficient to cover her fully—especially against foes who can exploit her poor Resistance. Noontime is best for an instant activation on each counterattack, though Sol can be used with accelerated cooldown support (e.g. Brave Lucina’s refined Geirskögul).
  • Distant Counter is once again recommended to maximize Ayra’s matchup spread. Null Follow-Up is undoubtedly her best B skill choice as it negates effects most detrimental to her performance and instead forces her opponents into a regular Speed contest, the likes of which she would win. Other options include Null C-Disrupt and Lull Atk/Spd, but they are not nearly as universally useful. 
  • Ayra isn’t at all attached to a specific C skill and most will generally work provided that they assist her or her team in some way, though Smoke skills and Joint Drives are always solid choices. In the context of Aether Raids Offense, Pulse Smoke is particularly lucrative to reduce the effectiveness of Infantry Pulse compositions. 
  • Any Sacred Seal that builds upon her key stats will likely work here, with Solo skills being highly recommended for their easily fulfilled requirement and strong accompanying boosts. If using something other than Null Follow-Up as her B skill, Ayra can make good use of Quick Riposte to break through follow-up denial effects. 

Airplanes in the Night Sky (Player Phase Offensive)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Ayra's Blade (+Eff) A Swift Sparrow (2 or 3)
Alternate: Atk/Spd Solo (3 or 4)
Positional Assist B Null Follow-Up 3
Alternate: Wings of Mercy 3
Regnal Astra
Alternate: Galeforce
C Time's Pulse 3
Alternate: Def Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD

SAtk/Spd Solo 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Ayra’s Blade (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Regnal Astra / Galeforce 

Passive A: Swift Sparrow / Atk/Spd Solo / Atk/Spd Push / Flashing Blade

Passive B: Null Follow-Up / Wings of Mercy / Lull Spd/Def / Desperation

Passive C: Time’s Pulse / Smoke Skills / Joint Drive Skills / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Solo / Flashing Blade / Quickened Pulse / Swift Sparrow 

  • Ayra also has the option to simply focus entirely on her Player Phase prowess and adopt an overall more aggressive playstyle. Surprising absolutely no one given this set’s focus on her offensive ceiling, improving either one of Ayra’s offensive stats with an Asset is once again ideal. 
  • Her signature Regnal Astra is the obvious choice if maximum damage potential is preferred, though Ayra can potentially replace this Special in favor of Galeforce for a more mobility-based strategy. It does come with a stringent five-turn cooldown, but her PRF’s Slaying effect means that she can easily activate it with Flashing Blade as long as she doubles. 
    • The Guard-nullification aspect of Ayra’s Blade does make her an exceptionally great choice of unit for Galeforce strategies within Aether Raids Offense as well, though using her within this context does make it much more important to reduce its cooldown as much as possible. 
    • For maximum effectiveness, Ayra should ideally be able to activate Galeforce on her first hit rather than the second by reducing its base cooldown. This can be done by making Flashing Blade her A skill and equipping both Time’s Pulse and the Quickened Pulse Seal, or with outside Infantry Pulse support. 
  • Any standard offensive A slot skills that enhance both Attack and Speed (such as her base Swift Sparrow) will work here, solidifying Ayra’s damage output. Specifically if using her within a Galeforce-centric composition for AR-O, she can also utilize Flashing Blade 4 in her A slot to free up space for the Quickened Pulse Sacred Seal.  
  • For her B slot, Null Follow-Up further assists Ayra in ensuring her follow-up attack, negating skills that would otherwise prevent it. Mobility-based options like Wings of Mercy also complement this build’s intended playstyle (especially for Aether Raids), as do more aggressive skills like Lull Spd/Def and Desperation
  • Time's Pulse is an exceptional C skill that allows Ayra to access Regnal Astra twice in a single round of combat, and also has its uses with Galeforce as mentioned previously. Besides this, Smokes skills work great to enhance the quality of Ayra’s subsequent battles, and Joint Drive skills carry useful mutual buffing utility. 
  • Aside from Flashing Blade and Quickened Pulse to accelerate her Special activations, any available Sacred Seal that boosts Ayra’s offensive stats fits well. 

Strengths

Ayra’s Blade

The original queen of blades comes back with a vengeance via the unique refinement upgrade to her aptly named Ayra’s Blade. It immediately draws parallels to the Creator Sword through its cooldown reduction and similar ability to nullify both Guard effects and enemy skills that hasten Special activations (e.g. Heavy Blade, Steady Breath, etc.), making Ayra incredibly consistent and hard to shut down through conventional means.

Although it lacks the Creator Sword’s inbuilt Null Follow-Up, Ayra’s Blade does its best to lessen the gap through a massive helping of stats—an impressive +3/+7/+7/+4/+4 stat swing in her favor to be exact. This allows Ayra to keep up with recent units despite her early release, especially when invested through Dragonflowers and merges. As a bonus, Ayra’s Blade also grants a reasonable 20% damage reduction from her foe’s first attack in both phases which, combined with her high Speed and access to further Speed-based reduction effects, make the warrior princess deceptively bulky. 

Regnal Astra

Her initial claim to fame, Ayra’s access to Regnal Astra provides considerable burst damage potential due to its short cooldown and synergy with her high Speed. Regnal Astra may not necessarily be required for every build (as other Specials simply benefit certain playstyles more), but it’s always a nice option to have. Further, it does open up otherwise inaccessible venues like Aether Raids Defense viability. 

Solid Overall Statline

Despite being one of the earlier sword units released, Ayra’s statline nonetheless is quite solid even by current standards. Although her Attack and physical bulk are respectable and don’t trail too far behind, her high Speed undoubtedly remains her statline’s main focal point and pairs excellently with both of her exclusive abilities to altogether grant Ayra great versatility.

Infantry Benefits

Ayra greatly appreciates her infantry status due to the impressive array of skills it grants accessibility to, including but most certainly not limited to Null Follow-Up, Spurn, and Time’s Pulse. This quality further builds upon her sheer adaptability, as her specific build can easily be polished to best lend itself to one’s desired purpose

Weaknesses

Unimpressive Resistance

Ayra’s most exploitable weakness is her terrible base Resistance stat of 21. Although the impact of this can be offset somewhat by her weapon’s damage reduction and accompanying Resistance boost, she will still struggle notably against sustained magical pressure—especially AoE Special wielders—at lower levels of investment and/or support.

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
Silver Sword
Only Inheritable by Sword Units.
200 1 11
Ayra's Blade

Grants Spd+3. If unit's Spd - foe's Spd ≥ 1, gain Special cooldown charge +1 per attack. (If similar skill also used, only highest value applied.)

Learns by default at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
400 1 16
Weapon Evolution
Weapon Upgrades
Weapon Upgrades

Special Skills

Special Skills SP Turns
Night Sky

Boosts damage dealt by 50%.

Learns by default at 5 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
100 3
Astra

Boosts damage dealt by 150%.

Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
200 4
Regnal Astra

Boosts damage dealt by 40% of unit's Spd.
(Skill cannot be inherited.)

Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
500 2

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Darting Blow 1

If unit initiates combat, grants Spd+2 during combat.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
50
A
Swift Sparrow 1

If unit initiates combat, unit granted Atk/Spd+2 during battle.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
120
A
Swift Sparrow 2

If unit initiates combat, unit granted Atk/Spd+4 during battle.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
240
A
Desperation 1

If unit’s HP ≤ 25% and unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Inheritable by all units.
50
B
Desperation 2

If unit’s HP ≤ 50% and unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Inheritable by all units.
100
B
Desperation 3

If unit’s HP ≤ 75% and unit initiates combat, unit can make a follow-up attack before foe can counterattack.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
200
B

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

Banners Featured In

Official Hero Artwork