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Grand Hero Battle - Narcian

Event History

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Map

  • Normal
  • Infernal
Narcian
Narcian

Narcian: Wyvern General

Oh Narcian, we sure have come a long way, haven’t we? As the first GHB we ever received, Narcian’s map was one of the primary factors in the popularization of Nino due to her role in striker + dancer + draw back combo. Given the extremely high level difficulty that later GHBs have provided, Narcian’s GHB is much simpler in comparison. This is especially true given Narcian himself carries an Emerald Axe, making him easy to overcome with pretty much any powerful red ally.

Thankfully, even Infernal difficulty hasn’t added many unexpected complications. None of the archers possess Cancel Affinity, meaning that they can be easily KO’d with a Triangle Adept Raven mage carrying Bowbreaker. The Green mage cavalier totes Gronnraven, but also only has 19 Defense and 28 Speed, meaning he can easily be doubled by Bow users and quadded by Brave Bow users utilizing buffs. The closest thing to a surprise on this map is the Red infantry sword with Zanbato, which is effective against Cavalry units. Given, however, that you’ll likely be dealing heavy damage to him first -- if not KOing him outright -- he shouldn't prove to be much of an issue.

Before you begin teambuilding, it’s completely possible you already possess everything you need to beat this map. Created by Gamepress staff member RedFerrari1998, the video guide below uses only F2P units and seals -- see the description for more details. If it doesn’t work for you, though, then read on!

Who To Choose

As is generally true of GHBs, the individual units you will use is very important as they will primarily inform your strategy. There are a few routes you can take depending on what units you have available to you, and, of course, adjustment based on the units you possess is always a possibility.

Strikers

Since the easiest ways of starting this map require a striker, Brave Bows prove useful in this GHB due to their quadding potential, especially when combined with SPD buffs / spurs / drives or a breaker skill. Speedy bow users are an additional option although their damage output may be less depending on their currently active buffs. Brave Lyn, Bridal Cordelia, Klein, and Setsuna are potential strikers you may want to use.

Alternatively, Brave and Blade tome users can also serve to be just as useful if your team composition provides them with the appropriate buffs. S!Corrin, S!Camilla, Cecilia, Reinhardt, Nino, Tharja, and Tailtiu are all options here. Melee Brave Fliers can enact an alternate method of attack over the mountains while utilizing Hit and Run or Drag Back and a dancer to retreat, making them useful as well. Cordelia, Cherche, Elincia, and Hinoka may serve you well here.

Also of note are strong mages like Linde, Delthea, Celica, Sanaki, Julia, and Deirdre, who are able to independently check two (or more) units on this map on their own, especially if they're using a breaker skill. Triangle Adept Raven Mages are also useful, given their ability to not only win matchups against the color they are strong against but also handle the archers in this GHB as well.

Baiters

Although it’s much more effective to use a striker on this map, if you don’t have one, you may attempt to bait at the beginning of the danger zone directly above starting space (1) instead.

A Blue Distant Counter unit is a must here -- if you use a Red unit, then the Blue Mage Cavalier will KO them. Unless you just so happen to have a fully built Distant Counter Blue to use (or a really bulky Close Counter Blue mage, but what’s the probability of that) then your best option is Nowi, especially if she’s toting the Distant Defense seal.

Alternatively, you may choose to bait the Archer (and/or the Blue Mage Cavalry) over the mountains. In that case, you’ll want to use Triangle Adept Raven S!Camilla, Iote’s Shield S!Camilla, Iote’s Shield Michalis, Iote’s Shield Cherche, or Iote’s Shield Minerva.

Once the map gets started, though, it’s completely possible (and even suggestible) that you’ll have to use tanks in order to block to chokepoint of this map. Bulky units with Distant Counter capabilities like Hector, LA!Hector, Black Knight, and Xander can prove useful here, especially if you use careful positioning to ensure that they aren’t put in the range of enemies that they have a direct disadvantage against.

Dancers

Dancers help support units with high firepower, may even have a decent offensive presence themselves, and can usually tank a hit or two, if need be.  OliviaPA!AzuraPA!InigoPA!OliviaAzuraNY!Azura, and Ninian all provide the support that high-firepower units need while also possessing the ability to net a few KOs themselves.

Strategy

Strategizing for this GHB is made much simpler by the fact that there are no reinforcements. While it’s difficult to exactly predict what will happen due to IV / Merge variance, here’s some general tips to get you started.

Starting Strong

As is customary for most GHBs, the enemies on Narcian’s map will not start to move unless they are baited, damaged, or KO’d. Since this map layout allows for a strike and retreat strategy and a baiting strategy, you’ll have to choose between an offensive or defensive opening turn.

As was mentioned in the baiters section above, you really only have three viable options for baiting -- a) the space in the start of the danger zone above starting space (1), b) the space on the mountains directly above starting space (3), and c) the space on the mountains two spaces right and one space above starting space (3). Space c has the advantage of only requiring you to withstand the attack of one foe, the infantry archer, due to the trees blocking the cavalry units from targeting that space. Space b has a similar effect if you bait with a flier that cannot counterattack. Otherwise, you’ll have to tank two units (at least).

The preferable strategy (and the one that originally broke this GHB wide open), however, is to use a ranged unit to attack the infantry Sword, dance your unit, and then Draw Back or Reposition your dancer out of the enemy’s range. The advantages of this method are clear and numerous -- since this foe only has 25 RES, it’s likely that you’ll get an easy KO here, especially if you have a fast Blade mage at your disposal, have the weapons triangle on your side, use a breaker skill, or have an inclination towards just using Reinhardt. Brave bow users or particularly speedy archers are also an option, although they’ll hit this enemy in his stronger DEF. Swordbreaker is also suggested here along with a low cooldown special like Moonbow or Luna if you’re using a Brave Archer, as when you attack an appropriate unit, you’ll be able to quad.

It’s also worth noting that melee fliers with Hit and Run or Drag Back can attack the archer, KO him, and instantly retreat with the help of a dancer, or, if not fully built, can be used in later turns to kite the archers around the map. This will make it much easier for you to pick off the enemy and prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed.

Preferably, you’ll want to net at least one KO this turn, although that may not be possible depending on the units you have available to you. If your bait is missing out on finishing off the red sword or the ranged enemies, try the Quick Riposte seal or inherit the 2nd level of the skill onto your chosen baiter (which can be found on a 4 star Subaki). Vantage may also work here as a method of hitting the Archer or Blue Cavalry Mage hard once the Red Sword has been baited. If your striker is having a similar issue, the Attack+3 Seal and a Hone Attack buff can work wonders. A healer may also be useful if you’re baiting, especially if they tote Physic+ -- they’ll be able to heal at-range or provide an assist with a Wrathful and / or Dazzling attack, if need be.

Generalizing the General

If you’re worried about handling Narcian himself, you really shouldn’t be. Unlike most of the “bosses” on GHB maps, Narcian’s base kit makes him a rather big pushover. Furthermore, his status as a flier in the hands of the enemy AI somewhat hinders him instead of helping him -- his habit of making a beeline for the mountain range in order to target your Blue units makes him incredibly easy to bait, and splitting him up from his forces means that once he’s KO’d, you’ll have one less enemy to deal with.

To deal with Narcian, all you need is any decent melee Red unit (seriously, even a 4 star Olivia can fill this role), a Red unit who can reach 37 SPD or more when initiating, or a speedy / Brave Bow Archer. KOing him is really that simple, due to the built-in Triangle Adept effect on his weapon and the effective damage Archers will deal to him. Be warned, though -- due to this. if one of your Blue units is unfortunate enough to get in his way, they’ll pretty much be vaporized instantaneously.

Use Dancers

As always, dancers serve a valuable role refreshing your units and allowing them to get some KOs they cannot net outright. Some dancers can even provide valuable buffs that can help a unit either deal greater damage or survive a round of combat they would be KO’d by otherwise.

It’s Over, I Have The High Ground!

Part of the reason this map is one of the easier ones is definitely because of the layout, but the funnel effect this map has may prove challenging to you if you’ve never encountered it before. Combined with the plethora of enemies possessing an extended range due to their tomes, bows, and cavalry movement, it’s possible you may struggle with this GHB at first.

The solution to this problem is to build a balanced team (plus a dancer) who can handle more than one enemy on this map. In this GHB, it’s worthwhile to not put all your eggs in one basket -- if you're having issues, try to bring with you both strikers and tanks so as to be able to use the chokepoint to your advantage. Don’t forget that if your strikers have a color advantage and are able to counterattack, they should be able to bait, with Reinhardt being the sole exception due to his exceptionally low SPD. Buffs (especially class-specific buffs) may also provide your units with the extra boost of damage they need to net a tricky KO, or may raise their defenses to the point that they survive a hit they would not whether otherwise.

If At First You Don’t Succeed

As is true of all high difficulty content, the potential variance in unit builds that Skill Inheritance brought along with the random nature of summoning has resulted in pretty much every single player having different “building blocks” to work with. This, when combined with the high difficulty level of Infernal, may prove frustrating while someone is trying to find the right combination of units and moves. The key thing to keep in mind is that it may take multiple tries of the map and a few stamina potions for you to find a strategy that works for you. Every single turn you complete gets you one step closer to completing the puzzle. Reading about or watching videos of successful strategies may also help you break through a particularly difficult turn that you can’t complete, or may give you ideas of a new unit to use.

Map Enemies

  • Normal
  • Hard
  • Infernal
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
36 26 18 20 17
Weapon Emerald Axe A Death Blow 2
Support B
Special Reprisal C Savage Blow 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
32 27 19 19 14
Weapon Steel Sword A
Support B Axebreaker 2
Special Escutcheon C Threaten Res 2
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
25 28 16 10 21
Weapon Elwind A Death Blow 2
Support B
Special Reprisal C
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
25 28 16 10 21
Weapon Elthunder A Triangle Adept 2
Support Ardent Sacrifice B Swordbreaker 2
Special C
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
31 26 18 18 9
Weapon Steel Bow A Death Blow 2
Support B
Special Reprisal C Savage Blow 2
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
48 37 24 28 22
Weapon Emerald Axe+ A
Support B Lancebreaker 3
Special Vengeance C Savage Blow 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
42 38 26 26 18
Weapon Silver Sword A
Support B Axebreaker 2
Special Escutcheon C Threaten Res 2
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
31 38 21 14 30
Weapon Gronnraven A Death Blow 2
Support B
Special Reprisal C
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
31 40 21 14 30
Weapon Thoron A Triangle Adept 2
Support Ardent Sacrifice B Swordbreaker 3
Special C
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
41 32 20 24 13
Weapon Brave Bow A Death Blow 2
Support B
Special Reprisal C Savage Blow 2
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
67 44 32 35 29
Weapon Emerald Axe A Earth Boost 3
Support Rally Atk/Spd B Lancebreaker 3
Special Vengeance C Savage Blow 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
61 48 34 33 25
Weapon Zanbato+ A Darting Blow 3
Support B Axebreaker 3
Special Escutcheon C Threaten Res 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
46 50 28 19 38
Weapon Gronnraven+ A Death Blow 3
Support B Axebreaker 3
Special Reprisal C Panic Ploy 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
55 54 28 30 29
Weapon Slaying Bow+ A Fury 3
Support B Bowbreaker 3
Special Moonbow C Atk Ploy 3
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
46 52 28 19 38
Weapon Thoron+ A Triangle Adept 3
Support B Swordbreaker 3
Special C Drive Def 2
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
59 50 35 35 21
Weapon Slaying Bow+ A Fury 3
Support B G Tomebreaker 3
Special Reprisal C Panic Ploy 3

User Submitted Teams

The Absolute Unit (Abyssal)
10-09
Submitted by kazusunes
Show Explanation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzBGHW1dgyc

Hector is quite disgusting. Only requires his base kit, Ignis, Swap, and Distant Def 3 seal. Reinhardt needs Swordbreaker to deal with the only real issue on the map (Red Infantry) and Olivia can deal with Narcian easily with Chill Spd 3. Veronica is not required; any healer can be used as long as Hector can get healed.

Required skills:
Legendary Hector: Ignis, Swap, Distant Def 3 seal + base kit
Reinhardt: Swordbreaker 3
YT!Olivia: Chill Spd 3

The Infernal Army w/ Video
09-17
Submitted by TriP
Show Explanation

https://youtu.be/urEnwfIlfII

For Infernal Armored Quest

Legendary Hector
Level 40
+ATK/- HP
Base Kit + Hone Atk 2 (C) + Heavy Blade 2 (Seal)

Winter Robin
Level 40
+ATK/- HP
Base Kit

Effie
Since there's always other units in range and she never fights, the only skill that matters is Fortify Def 2. She's easily replaceable.

Black Knight
Level 40+2 (could be done with less)
Neutral IVs
Base Kit + Ward Armor + Attack +3 Seal

Dream Team
08-22
Submitted by Galaad
Show Explanation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjJ82s_ydEw

Sothe as debuffer/buffer and second source of damage; Legendary Robin (F) as main tank and damage dealer; Marth mainly as buffer and best healer boi; New Year Azura as buffer and dancer.

Sakura gives her Best! (Infernal)
04-09
Submitted by Blackwing916
Show Explanation

Normal Gunnthrá with Threaten Attack Seal
Masked Marth:
Awakening Refine, Resposition, MoonBow, Death Blow 3, Desperation 3 HP+5 seal
Ninian:
Light Breath+ (defense or res)
Sakura +Atk -Def
Wrathful Fear+, Physic+, Imbue, Swordbreaker 3,Savage Blow 3, Distant Def 3 seal

This isn't so difficult to pull off but you must be really careful about this. You to start making Sakura(front), Marth(Middle), and Gunnthrá(back) be in a parrel line toward the sword unit. Placed you Ninian into the trees and end your turn when you get all this (takes 2 turns only) After that, you Sakura to attack the sword unit then reposition her twice starting with Marth then Gunnthrá( must dance for Gunnthrá to move back Marth). This makes Narcian to be in the mountians to tackle Ninian, move her one step back to let Marth get the kill while moving back Gunnthrá. Once done the others will come starting with the sword unit, bow cavalier, and blue cavalier while the bow unit and green cavalier in back across from them. attack sword unit with Sakura, dance for her and Reposition Ninian with Marth, next move Sakura downward then Reposition again. Bow rider comes to attack Marth as others followed. Let Marth and Gunnthrá kill the bow rider and blue rider. heal Marth then dance healer and put her next to Gunnthrá behind Marth. Move back one and let Sakura up front to take a hit from the green rider. Kill it with marth and dance her further to tackle the bow unit move Sakura away. Bow unit will then attack Ninian and then you can wipe him out with MoonBow.

Good lord they actually did it... (Flier Infernal)
03-26
Submitted by SJMistery
Show Explanation

Hinoka:
Hinoka's Lance (unrefined for now)
Draw Back
Blazing Wind
Darting Blow 1
Renewal 1
Hone Fliers (I know, I know, it's redundant, I have had a no luck pulling Palla lately)
Iote's Shield SS

NY! Azura
Hagoira+(+res)
Sing
Moonbow
Iote's Shield
Wings of Mercy 3
Hone Fliers

Caeda:
Wing Sword(effect)
Rally Speed (temporary and unnecessary)
Luna
Darting Blow 3
G. Tomebreaker 2 (still trying to beat Xander...)
Fortify Fliers

Cordelia
Brave Lance+
---
Galeforce
Triangle adept 3
Swordbreaker 1
---
Quickened Pulse SS

(unknown IVs)

I can't believe it but they actually made it with all those temporary sets even before I finished building them properly.
Simply having Hinoka draw the archer (I can't believe I am saying this) allowed me to break the entire formation, and from then Caeda just killed Narcian, allowing me to constantly jump from side to side of the mountains to slowly take out the enemy units one by one.

I won't challenge myself to retry this thing to provide the most budget-friendly team because it sort of already is that, and the seasonal-exclusive NY!Azura is required anyways to get Cordelia out of range of the archers after the takes out someone. His +res Hagoita was a fluke from me trying to get as many Divine Dew as I could to refine Marth's Falchion and forgetting to swap it back to the speed refinement, but it actually became crucial to survive the attack from the green mage.