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Analysis by UmbraCorvus
Narcian - Wyvern General

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
158
HP 42
ATK 29
SPD 29
DEF 32
RES 26

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
4★
3★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 17 6 6 7 6
Middle 18 7 7 8 7
High 19 8 8 9 8

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
4★
3★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 39 25 25 29 23
Middle 42 29 29 32 26
High 45 32 32 35 30

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

Perfection Incarnate (Distant Counter Tank)

Build by UmbraCorvus
Recommended
Runeaxe (+Eff) A Distant Counter
Alternate: Distant Foil
Reposition
Alternate: Rally Up Atk+
B Quick Riposte 3
Bonfire
Alternate: Luna
C Atk Smoke 3
Alternate: Panic Smoke 3
IVs

+RES or +ATK or +DEF / -HP

SIote's Shield
Alternate: Def Feint 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Runeaxe (+Eff)

Assist: Reposition / Rally Skill / Player Preference

Special: Bonfire / Luna

Passive A: Distant Counter / Distant Foil

Passive B: Quick Riposte

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Def Smoke / Panic Smoke

Sacred Seal: Iote’s Shield / Def Feint / Atk Feint / Chill Def

  •  The Distant Counter build is often praised as being one of the mightiest and versatile builds for any duelist, being able to take on both melee units and ranged units alike. Now it is time for the Wyvern General who tops all to take centre stage and show them all how it’s done! He accomplishes this… Reasonably well?
  • Distant Counter is taken on this build to reinforce its identity, though Distant Foil is definitely an option that can be worth considering. Narcian’s base Resistance is at that point where it can be boosted and become reasonably high, but it is not very high either. As a result, if the user is concerned more about fully committing to Narcian’s physical bulk, Distant Foil can be used instead which gives Narcian more Attack and Defense to work with at the cost of not being able to counter attack magical damage ranged units.
  • Narcian does not have the Speed to reliably secure his own follow-up attacks in most cases, with that in mind Quick Riposte is used in the B Passive to give him a means to secure follow-up attacks in the Enemy Phase. Runeaxe’s ability to heal Narcian with each strike can even help to maintain the Quick Riposte HP range.
  • Narcian must play dirty with penalties in order to take full advantage of Runeaxe. Smoke Skills are recommended in the C Passive in order to give Narcian a means of mass debuffing any targets that continue to approach him. Atk Smoke can help to make Narcian more durable, Def Smoke can help him dish out more counterattack damage, and Panic Smoke not only triggers Runeaxe, but can also reverse any displayed bonuses that Narcian’s opponents may possess.
  • The Iote’s Shield Sacred Seal is necessary so that Narcian does not get shot down by archers while utilizing this build. If one is just as confident as Narcian is in their ability to survive archers, the Def Feint or Atk Feint Sacred Seals can be paired alongside Narcian utilizing a Rally Assist Skill so that he himself has a controllable means of applying a penalty to his opponents.
  • A Chill Sacred Seal such as Chill Def can also provide an opportunity to debuff an opponent, though it is less controllable than a Feint as a result of debuff targeting the opponent with the highest stat number.

Unparalleled Glory (Melee Tank)

Build by UmbraCorvus
Runeaxe (+Eff) A Sturdy Stance 3
Alternate: Steady Stance 4
Reposition
Alternate: Rally Up Atk+
B Quick Riposte 3
Alternate: Mystic Boost 3
Bonfire
Alternate: Luna
C Atk Smoke 3
Alternate: Panic Smoke 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD or +DEF / -RES or -HP

SClose Def 3
Alternate: Def Feint 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Runeaxe (+Eff)

Assist: Reposition / Rally Skill / Player Preference

Special: Bonfire / Luna

Passive A: Sturdy Stance 3 / Steady Stance 4 / Sturdy Stance 2 / Steady Stance 3

Passive B: Quick Riposte / Mystic Boost

Passive C: Atk Smoke / Def Smoke / Panic Smoke

Sacred Seal: Close Def / Def Feint / Atk Feint / Quick Riposte / Chill Def

  •  No Distant Counter? Pssh, no problem. Counter attacking ranged units is too much work for the mighty Narcian. This build focuses purely around Narcian tanking other melee units, then punishing them for even remotely thinking of rushing at him head on.
  • If possible, Sturdy Stance 3 and Steady Stance 4 are amazing A Passive options for Narcian as they not only boost his important stats, but also grant him a Guard effect that can protect him from Special activations. If these upgraded Skills are unavailable, their lesser counterparts can work in their stead albeit at the cost of not having the precious Guard effect.
  • Quick Riposte is important, either for Narcian’s B Passive or his Sacred Seal due to his awkwardness to work with his Speed stat. If Quick Riposte is being used in the Sacred Seal, Mystic Boost becomes an amusing B Passive option that gives Narcian healing after combat. This allows him to heal not only within combat thanks to Runeaxe, but also after combat is done thanks to Mystic Boost.
  • In his C Passive, Smoke Skills are recommended to give Narcian a means of spreading out more penalties to take advantage of his Runeaxe.
  • The Close Def Sacred Seal boosts Narcian’s Defense and Resistance when he is attacked at close range, which is what this build focuses on. If wishing to give Narcian a controlled means of debuffing for himself to take advantage of, Narcian can run the Def Feint or Atk Feint Sacred Seals along with a Rally Assist Skill. A Chill Sacred Seal is less controllable than a Feint Sacred Seal, but the automatic targeting of a Chill does ensure that at least some kind of debuff is in play on the target.

Strengths

Workable Bulk

Narcian’s defensive stats are able to protect both himself and his massive ego, with 32 defense and 26 Resistance he proves to have decent mixed defenses for a first generation unit. 

Runeaxe

The Runeaxe’s base effect breathes some new life into Narcian, giving him the ability to heal 7 HP whenever he strikes his opponent in combat. Even if he dishes out 0 damage to his opponent, he will still heal 7 HP. Upon being effect refined, Runeaxe grants Narcian +4 to his Attack/Speed/Defense/Resistance if his opponent is suffering some form of penalty to their stats or suffers a negative status effect such as Gravity. This refined weapon gives Narcian the strategy of actively playing dirty and striking opponents that are already suffering penalties to their stats so that he can not only give himself a boost through the spectrum bonus provided by Runeaxe, but also take advantage of the debuffs so that he has an edge on the lowly worms that dare mess with him.

Weaknesses

Runeaxe Effect Refine can be Situational or Team Reliant

While there are no complaints to be had with the healing provided by Runeaxe, the fact that Narcian’s opponents must suffer some form of penalty in order for Narcian to receive the boost makes Narcian somewhat inflexible compared to a unit such as Arthur whose weapon has two different checks to the spectrum bonus, either Arthur suffers a penalty or he is not at full HP. Narcian does not have two different checks to his weapon, so he must always ensure that his opponents are debuffed in order for him to be at peak performance. This can be made up for by the right teammates that are able to efficiently spread out penalties. Notable examples of such partners can be Aversa, Iago, or a Temari carrier.

Narcian Himself

As much as Narcian loves to praise himself and believes wholeheartedly that he has no weaknesses, the fact of the matter is that Narcian just doesn’t have stats. While his stats are rounded, none of them are considered high values by today’s standards, even his Defense being 32 is not impressive at all compared to physically durable units of today. While Runeaxe is a potent weapon, it does not address Narcian’s issues of having atrociously low stats to work with by default. The conditional boost to all his stats further adds to his lack of identity within his statline, rather than focusing on improving one or two areas it tries to save everything and ultimately falls apart. This is one Narcissist that definitely does NOT have the capabilities to back it up without enough help to actively force him into advantageous states as best as possible.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Iron Axe
Learns by default at 2 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
50 1 6
Steel Axe
Learns by default at 3 ★
Unlocks at 2 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
100 1 8
Emerald Axe

Gives Atk+20% if weapon-triangle advantage, Atk-20% if disadvantage.

Learns by default at 4 ★
Unlocks at 3 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
200 1 8
Emerald Axe+

Gives Atk+20% if weapon-triangle advantage, Atk-20% if disadvantage.

Unlocks at 5 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
300 1 12
Runeaxe

When unit deals damage to foe during combat, restores 7 HP to unit. (Triggers even if 0 damage is dealt.)

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

Special Skills

Special Skills SP Turns
Retribution

Boosts damage dealt to foe by 30% of damage dealt to unit.

Unlocks at 3 ★
Non-inheritable by Staff-wielding units.
100 3
Vengeance

Boosts damage dealt to foe by 50% of damage dealt to unit.

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

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Lancebreaker 1

If unit's HP > 90% in combat against a lance user, unit makes a follow-up attack and foe cannot.

Non-Inheritable by red units.
Unlocks at 2 ★
50
B
Lancebreaker 2

If unit's HP > 70% in combat against a lance user, unit makes a follow-up attack and foe cannot.

Non-Inheritable by red units.
Unlocks at 3 ★
100
B
Lancebreaker 3

If unit's HP > 50% in combat against a lance user, unit makes a follow-up attack and foe cannot.

Non-Inheritable by red units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
200
B
Savage Blow 1

If unit initiates combat, deals 3 damage to foes within 2 spaces of target after combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 3 ★
50
C
Savage Blow 2

If unit initiates combat, deals 5 damage to foes within 2 spaces of target after combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
100
C
Savage Blow 3

If unit initiates combat, deals 7 damage to foes within 2 spaces of target after combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
200
C

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade

Banners Featured In

None

Official Hero Artwork