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Analysis by lordhelpme
Eldigan - Lionheart

5 Legacy

Obtainable as a 5 during certain summoning events only.

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
154
HP 45
ATK 32
SPD 24
DEF 34
RES 19

Stat Variations

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

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 42 29 21 31 15
Middle 45 32 24 34 19
High 48 35 28 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

Skill Sets

Lionheart’s Roar (Vantage Nuke)

Build by lordhelpme
Recommended
Dark Mystletainn (+Eff) A Distant Counter
Positional Assist B Vantage 3
Bonfire
Alternate: Luna
C Def Smoke 3
Alternate: Pulse Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK / -SPD or -RES

SAtk/Def Solo 3
Alternate: Quickened Pulse

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Dark Mystletainn (+EFF)

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Bonfire / Luna

Passive A: Distant Counter 

Passive B: Vantage 

Passive C: Def Smoke / Pulse Smoke / Savage Blow / Joint Drive Atk / Cavalry Buffs / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Atk/Def Solo / Quickened Pulse / Fierce Stance 

  • Eldigan shines with a standard Vantage nuke set thanks to his solid base Attack and access to Dark Mystletainn, granting him strong OHKO potential through strong base damage on top of instant Special activations on each counterattack. Since the primary goal of this set is to cleave opponents with one hit, a +ATK IV is crucial here. 
  • Dark Mystletainn’s combination of a Slaying effect, Special Spiral, bonus Attack and Defense, and an additional +7 damage on Special activations makes his nukes very potent, and those with three-turn cooldowns are particularly exceptional as they will always be available after their initial activation. Of those available, Bonfire is generally best as it takes advantage of the entirety of Dark Mystletainn's effects, but Luna may still be considered for stronger burst against bulkier foes.
  • Beyond his Special choice, the power of this set lies in Eldigan’s choice of A and B skill: Distant Counter and Vantage. When utilized in tandem with Dark Mystletainn, Eldigan serves as a strong check to melee and ranged foes alike and hit them with the full brunt of his Special before they can even land their first attack.
  • Eldigan has a few different options for his C slot, most notable of which are Smoke skills; through the AoE debuffs they apply on enemy foes, they naturally complement a defensive playstyle such as this one. Def Smoke is ideal from a damage perspective—or potentially Savage Blow if unavailable—though if using him within the context of Aether Raids Offense, Pulse Smoke is highly recommended to shut down Infantry Pulse setups. Joint Drive Atk is another potential candidate for dual buffing utility, or cavalry buffs when running him alongside other mounted allies. 
  • His Sacred Seal slot should be occupied by something that enhances his key stats—namely Attack, but also Defense if using Bonfire as his Special—or Quickened Pulse to ensure his Special chain activates immediately in his first round of combat.

Demonic Waltz (AoE Special Nuke)

Build by lordhelpme
Dark Mystletainn (+Eff) A Life and Death (3 or 4)
Alternate: Fury (3 or 4)
Positional Assist B Lull Atk/Def 3
Alternate: Chill Def 3
Blazing Wind
Alternate: Blazing Light
C Def Smoke 3
Alternate: Savage Blow 3
IVs

+ATK / -RES

SLife and Death 3
Alternate: Hardy Bearing 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Dark Mystletainn

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Blazing Wind / Blazing Light / AoE Specials

Passive A: Life and Death / Fury 

Passive B: Lull Atk/Def / Chill Def 

Passive C: Def Smoke / Savage Blow / Cavalry Buffs / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Life and Death / Hardy Bearing / Quickened Pulse 

  • Refined Dark Mystletainn pairs quite well with AoE Specials as well; the interaction between the weapon's effects and these Specials lets Eldigan consistently fire them off without delay following their initial activation, and Mystletainn's refinement allows Eldigan to potentially tack on +7 damage to their damage as well. Increasing Eldigan’s base Attack with an Asset is once again recommended to maximize his damage potential. 
  • His choice of AoE Special is entirely dependent on personal preference, but Blazing AoE Specials are generally preferred given their higher damage modifier with Blazing Wind and Blazing Light having the most generally useful ranges among those. 
  • It’s crucial to keep in mind that the damage calculation for AoE Specials involves visible stats only and does not account for any in-combat boosts that may be in play. This makes any sources of visible Attack quite useful, thus rendering Life and Death the prime A skill to use here for its massive boost. Alternatively, his base Fury helps Eldigan retain his strong Defense in exchange for being weaker. 
  • Eldigan’s B slot is flexible, but anything that can aid his damage will work well. Lull Atk/Def is a high-investment option that helps him push past enemy buffs against an opponent already weakened — but not outright KO’d — by his Special. Chill Def is another choice if sources of visible Defense debuffs are not available, though it does come with the detriment of not being targetable. 
  • Def Smoke and Savage Blow help supplement Eldigan’s OHKO potential, with the former being quite valuable when refresher support is available. Otherwise, feel free to plug anything into his C slot that synergizes with his team. His Sacred Seal options are split between further boosts to his visible Attack, Hardy Bearing to work around Vantage units, and Quickened Pulse to let him access his initial activation faster. 

Fate of a Knight’s Honor (Physical Tank)

Build by lordhelpme
Dark Mystletainn (+Eff) A Sturdy Stance (2 or 3)
Alternate: Atk/Def Solo 3
Positional Assist B Lull Atk/Def 3
Aether
Alternate: Sol
C Atk Smoke 3
Alternate: Hone Cavalry
IVs

+ATK or +DEF / -RES

SQuick Riposte 3
Alternate: Mystic Boost 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Dark Mystletainn

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Aether / Sol / Bonfire

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

Passive B: Lull Atk/Def / Quick Riposte 

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Cavalry Buffs / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Quick Riposte / Mystic Boost / Atk/Def Solo / Sturdy Stance / Close Def

  • This build once again highlights the Enemy Phase applications of Eldigan’s Dark Mystletainn, but shifts focus more towards his ability to tank hits from incoming physical threats. Besides increasing his Attack, taking a +DEF IV may be a worthwhile consideration to further reduce the amount of damage he may take. 
  • Eldigan can make surprisingly great use of Aether for its simultaneous sustain and damage output increase, effectively reducing its base cooldown to two through Dark Mystletainn after its initial activation. This allows him to activate it in every round of combat through Quick Riposte —and if Brave Lucina, Summer Hilda, or New Year Velouria support is available, he can activate it on every counterattack. Other options include Sol to avoid needing too much setup (and is still not too much of a cost to his damage since Dark Mystletainn provides a +7 bonus upon any Special activation), or Bonfire if a healing Special is deemed unnecessary. 
  • Any A skill that enhances either Eldigan’s Attack or Defense — or both — will work well here, with some standouts being Stance skills for their Guard effects or Solo skills for the pure amount of stats they provide. For his B slot, he benefits notably from Lull Atk/Def to obtain a greater stat advantage or Quick Riposte to ensure his follow-up. 
  • Smoke skills are excellent choices for Eldigan’s C slot to supplement this build’s defensive playstyle, with Atk Smoke generally being the most effective at strengthening his survivability when tanking multiple opponents; however, as always, this is flexible.
  • The Quick Riposte Sacred Seal works excellently if it’s not already in his B slot, though it may be unnecessary either way if using a more OHKO-oriented set with Aether and Brave Lucina, Summer Hilda, or New Year Velouria. Mystic Boost also works well to give Eldigan another source of healing and potentially eliminate the need for a healing Special altogether. If nothing else, anything that augments his key stats is solid filler.

Final Stand (Player Phase Offensive / Low HP Sweeper)

Build by lordhelpme
Mystletainn (+Eff) A Fury (3 or 4)
Alternate: Death Blow (3 or 4)
Positional Assist B Lull Atk/Def 3
Alternate: Wings of Mercy 3
Glimmer
Alternate: Moonbow
C Def Smoke 3
Alternate: Rouse Atk/Def 3
IVs

+ATK / -HP

SBrazen Atk/Def 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Mystletainn (+Eff) 

Assist: Positional Assist / Flexible

Special: Glimmer / Bonfire / Moonbow 

Passive A: Fury / Death Blow / Sturdy Blow / Brazen Skills

Passive B: Lull Atk/Def / Wings of Mercy / Vantage / Chill Skills

Passive C: Def Smoke / Rouse Atk/Def / Wave Skills / Smoke Skills / Flexible

Sacred Seal: Brazen Skills 

  • This build centers around the use of Eldigan’s original refined Mystletainn — specifically, the self-inflicted damage it applies via its innate Fury effect. This allows him to safely reach lower levels of HP with each passing round of combat, which he can utilize to his advantage with specific skills like Brazens alongside his PRF’s additional stats for enhanced combat potential. That being said, the focus is once again on his damage so a +ATK IV is preferred over all else. 
  • Pairing refined Mystletainn with Fury in Eldigan’s A slot provides him a substantial boost to his visible stats across the board, while making it faster for him to activate low health-dependent skills given his surprisingly high HP pool. Alternatively, one can invest fully on front loading Eldigan’s damage through skills such as Death Blow and Sturdy Blow.
  • Lull Atk/Def is a great generalist B skill that pushes the Lionheart’s damage cap and survivability further while helping him push past any visible buffs the enemy may have, while Vantage helps grant him some Enemy Phase functionality. If using him in a team composition centered around low HP units, Wings of Mercy may be worthwhile to expand his mobility. If nothing else, one can always use Chills to support both Eldigan’s and his allies’ performance. 
  • Def Smoke shines when Eldigan is provided with refresher support to enhance his damage considerably against nearby foes, but self-buffing skills that affect his Attack such as Odd Atk Wave and Rouse Atk/Def also work to make him less dependent on team support. For his Sacred Seal, an Attack-increasing Brazen skill will work wonders to build upon his performance at low health.

Strengths

Mystletainn & Dark Mystletainn

One of the few fortunate souls able to wield two different PRF weapons, Eldigan’s performance benefits massively from his access to his son’s exclusive Dark Mystletainn, which combines the effects of a Slaying Edge and Special Spiral into a single weapon — and upon refinement, it grants even greater burst damage upon Special activations and easily accessible bonus stats. While relatively simple, this combination remains extremely strong; the power of rapid and consistent Special activations lends itself well to both offensive and defensive playstyles, and the flexibility in maintaining its activation requirements helps boost Eldigan's versatility further. 

While not quite as significant, Eldigan’s original Mystletainn is pretty decent as well and switches out Dark Mystletainn’s built-in Special Spiral for his signature Fury, though it still retains a consistent -1 Special cooldown. This has its own uses of elevating his visible stats notably — particularly when combined with his Resplendent if available — and can also be put to use for certain sets thanks to its self-inflicted chip damage. Overall, having access to both offers him unprecedented freedom in terms of both his build and playstyle. 

Decent Attack & Good Physical Bulk

Eldigan’s solid base Attack stat of 32 provides a good foundation for his raw damage output and enables him to utilize his unique weapons pretty well. His statline also skews rather heavily towards his physical bulk with respectable values in both HP and Defense, allowing him to take on physical punishment confidently. This also enhances the strength of Defense-scaling Specials.

Cavalry

The Lionheart’s cavalry status provides impressive range and mobility, which is useful for Player Phase and Enemy Phase strategies for better positioning. He also benefits from access to class-exclusive buffs and lets him fit right at home in teams filled with other equestrian allies.

Weaknesses

Low Speed & Resistance

Eldigan’s low Speed is easily exploitable by his foes, being far too low to reliably avoid enemy follow-up attacks by most metrics, and thus can cause him to take considerable amounts of damage—especially as this allows his opponent to quickly access their Special. Combined with his abysmal Resistance, the Lionheart is extremely susceptible to incoming magical threats and faces risk when equipped with Distant Counter sets if the proper precaution is not used. 

Cavalry Drawbacks

Being a cavalry unit comes with its own set of impediments, most notably his lack of good skill availability beyond Lulls which hinders his combat prowess compared to if he were infantry; however, having Dark Mystletainn does mitigate this to an extent as Special Spiral is not something cavalry units normally have access to. Additionally, Eldigan must also deal with the pesky inability to cross certain terrain as well as cavalry-effective damage

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
Killing Edge

Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1).

Only Inheritable by Sword Units.
200 1 7
Mystletainn

Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count -1)

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

Special Skills

Special Skills SP Turns
Rising Light

Before combat this unit initiates, foes in an area near target take damage equal to (unit's Atk minus foe's Def or Res).

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
150 4
Growing Light

Before combat this unit initiates, foes in a wide area around target take damage equal to (unit's Atk minus foe's Def or Res).

Learns by default at 5 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
300 4

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Fury 1

Grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+1. Unit takes 2 damage after combat.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
50
A
Fury 2

Grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+2. Unit takes 4 damage after combat.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
100
A
Fury 3

Grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+3. Unit takes 6 damage after combat.

Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
200
A
Lunge

If unit initiates attack, after combat, unit and targeted foe swap places.

Restricted to melee units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
150
B

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

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Official Hero Artwork