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Analysis by Wecondo12
Black Knight - Sinister General

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
169
HP 48
ATK 34
SPD 34
DEF 35
RES 18

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
4★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 21 9 7 8 4
Middle 22 10 8 9 5
High 23 11 9 10 6

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
4★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 45 31 31 32 14
Middle 48 34 34 35 18
High 51 37 37 38 21

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

One Strike, One Kill. (Save Defensive)

Build by Wecondo12
Recommended
Alondite (+Eff) A Atk/Def Unity
Alternate: Atk/Def Bond 4
Positional Assist B Special Fighter 3
Black Luna C A/D Near Save 3
Alternate: A/R Far Save 3
IVs

+ATK or +DEF / -RES

SMystic Boost 3
Alternate: Mirror Stance 2

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Alondite(+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Black Luna

Passive A: Atk/Def Unity / Atk/Def Bond 3 or 4 / Atk/Res Unity / Atk/Res Bond 3 or 4 

Passive B: Special Fighter

Passive C: A/D Near Save / A/R Far Save

Sacred Seal: Mystic Boost / Mirror Stance / Atk/Def Bond

  • With the addition of Slaying to Alondite, the Black Knight now has access to a 2cd Black Luna which allows him to trigger it instantly when he’s attacked as long as he has a means of increasing his special charge on enemy phase(Options include Special Fighter, Steady Breath, and support from Brave Lucina), and as long as the foe lacks Guard. This makes him an extremely dangerous user of Save skills, since Black Knight can cover for his allies and KO many foes in a single blow with Black Luna, although he should be wary of taking on dragons with Near Save due to his low Resistance.
  • Atk/Def Unity and Atk/Def Bond 4 both give Black Knight some added resistance to the ever present visible debuffs, as well as a large boost to Attack and Defense. Their Atk/Res counterparts can be used if one opts for Far Save instead, although Black Knight has much more trouble countering mages without heavy investment due to his poor base Resistance.
  • Black Luna is what sets the Black Knight(and Zelgius) apart from other sword armors. Very few units can survive an Attack that cuts 80% of their Defense without damage reduction, and it allows him to make short work of many foes in spite of their high Defense stats.
  • Special Fighter grants the Black Knight +1 Special cooldown while inflicting -1 Special cooldown against the foe as long as his HP is above 50%, protecting him from enemy specials while allowing him to trigger Black Luna in a single hit coupled with his refined Alondite’s Slaying effect.
  • The Mystic Boost sacred seal gives the Black Knight some much needed recovery after combat, although stat seals such as Bracing Stance and Atk/Def Bond are also a great choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9P6mvhjnAw (General Defensive)

Build by Wecondo12
Recommended
Alondite (+Eff) A Warding Breath
Alternate: Atk/Res Unity
Positional Assist B Slick Fighter 3
Alternate: Special Fighter 3
Black Luna C Joint Drive Atk
IVs

+ATK or +DEF / -RES

SMystic Boost 3
Alternate: Mirror Stance 2

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Alondite(+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Black Luna

Passive A: Warding Breath / Steady Breath / Atk/Res Unity

Passive B: Slick Fighter / Special Fighter

Passive C: Joint Drive Atk / Preference

Sacred Seal: Mystic Boost / Mirror Stance

  • The Black Knight is a great superunit for AR Offense purposes thanks to his inbuilt Distant Counter weapon, which grants him a free A slot instead of being forced to run Distant Counter. 
  • Breath skills give the Black Knight +1 Special cooldown during enemy phase, allowing him to have a fully charged Black Luna ready after being attacked. Atk/Res Unity is also a decent option, although it necessitates running Special Fighter to retain increased special cooldown during Enemy Phase, making a Breath skill in conjunction with Slick Fighter a superior option(as the Black Knight can then ward off some Impact users as well as debuffs thanks to the guaranteed follow-up attack it grants and it’s penalty nullification respectively). 
  • Joint Drive Atk further boosts the Black Knights Attack as long as he has an ally within 2 spaces, although this can be replaced according to player preference.
  • Finally, Mystic Boost and stat boosting sacred seals such as Mirror Stance are the Black Knight’s best sacred seal options, giving him after combat healing and more stats duing enemy phase respectively.

Strengths

Black Luna

The Black Knight’s exclusive special is one of the main things that make him unique among sword armors, letting him cut off 80% of the foe’s Defense when it triggers.. This makes the Black Knight’s special triggers deadly should the foe lack damage reduction such as Spurn.

Refined Alondite

The Black Knight’s long awaited refine is finally here, and it drastically improves him thanks to the simple addition of the Slaying effect, with a stat boost as the cherry on top. Thanks to Alondite’s newfound Slaying, Black Luna is reduced to a base 2 cooldown, and with the addition of Special Fighter or a Breath Skill, can instantly trigger it in retaliation to an attack if the foe lacks Guard, making the Black Knight dangerous to initiate against.

Weaknesses

Terrible Resistance

The Black Knight’s poor Resistance is his greatest weakness, making him easy prey for Player Phase mages such as Lysithea in addition to dragons that can take a hit from Black Luna such as Fallen Male Corrin and Seiros.

Effective Damage

While the Black Knight benefits greatly from being an Armored unit, he also gains vulnerability to effective weaponry such as the Slaying Spear and Micaiah’s Thani, which can damage him heavily even if they fail to KO him.

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
Learns by default at 4 ★
Only Inheritable by Sword Units.
200 1 11
Alondite

Enables counterattack regardless of distance if this unit is attacked.

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

Special Skills

Special Skills SP Turns
New Moon

Treats foe's Def/Res as if reduced by 30% during combat.

Learns by default at 4 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
100 3
Luna

Treats foe's Def/Res as if reduced by 50% during combat.

Unlocks at 4 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
200 3
Black Luna

Treats foe's Def/Res as if reduced by 80% during combat. (Skill cannot be inherited.)

Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
500 3

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Steady Stance 1

If foe initiates combat, grants Def+2 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
50
A
Steady Stance 2

If foe initiates combat, grants Def+4 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
100
A
Steady Stance 3

If foe initiates combat, grants Def+6 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
200
A
Wings of Mercy 1

If an ally's HP ≤ 30%, unit can move to a space adjacent to that ally.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
60
B
Wings of Mercy 2

If an ally's HP ≤ 40%, unit can move to a space adjacent to that ally.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
120
B
Wings of Mercy 3

If an ally's HP ≤ 50%, unit can move to a space adjacent to that ally.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
240
B

Other Info

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

Banners Featured In

None

Official Hero Artwork