| Boon | + Spd | Bane | - Res |
|---|
Skill Set
Hero Build Overview/Explanation
Weapon: Ragnell (+Eff)
Assist: Positional Assist
Special: Radiant Aether II
Passive A: Atk/Def Unity / Mirror Stance 3 / Sturdy Stance 3 / Breath Skill of choice
Passive B: Special Spiral
Passive C: Menace Atk/Def / Joint Drive Atk /
Sacred Seal: Mirror Stance / Kestel Stance
Boon: +Spd/+Atk are preferred. +Spd makes him deceptively fast in combat, while +Atk allows Aether more OHKO potential and therefore more healing. Avoid a bane in either. -Res would be the best bane available, as Ike most likely won't avoid getting one-shot by a dedicated mage like Ophelia, and mages from other colors can be built around even with a -Res nature.
Ragnell (+Eff): With the new forge for Ragnell Ike receives +4 to all stats in combat as long as he is above the generous >25% HP threshold and a slaying effect. This reduces his turn one Radiant Aether II to a 1CD special, and every subsequent usage of it will keep reducing it to a 1CD Special after Special Spiral activates. This removes the need for Ike to use Breath skills unless he's worried about guard skills and focus on different effects while maintaining his playstyle.
Radiant Aether II: Healing and Damage with a permanent 1CD unless hit with Pulse Smoke. This is his default and best special in most cases.
A Slot:
Atk/Def Unity: While rare, Unity skills provide Ike with one of the big selling points his Fallen Version has on him: Debuff reversal. As long as Ike stays in the two tile range this skill and drive skills ask, he gains +5 Atk/Def and converts penalties to those stats to in combat buffs. This solidifies his ability to take all but the most powerful blue melee units and can allow him to soak up Chill debuffs for the team. Unity skills also give him their benefits in both phases, allowing Ike to engage with an enemy immediately instead of positioning himself to take a safe attack next turn.
Mirror Stance 3 and Sturdy Stance 3: Both skills give Ike +6 Atk and +6 Res/Def respectively. They also come with a Guard effect, allowing Ike to deny the enemy special charges or at least slow them down while he retaliates with his own. Mirror Stance is preferred to improve his Res, especially if running Menace Atk/Def, but Sturdy Stance puts him at a stalwart 45 Def at neutral with his weapon refine active.
Breath Skill of Choice: The skills are still great to avoid guard effects, and aren't bad by any stretch. The skills above just give better statistical benefits, and Ike no longer needs the +1 special charge when he has a 1CD special to begin with. Ike's native Warding Breath is still a powerful budget choice
B Slot:
Special Spiral: The other key to the build. Special Spiral will make every subsequent Radiant Aether II activation 1CD from the 3CD base. With both it and the slaying effect from Refined Ragnell, Ike's A-slot is completely free to be whatever the situation calls for, without choosing what flavor Breath skill he might want.
C Slot:
Menace Atk/Def: The newest C skill is a doozy, expanding the threat skill's range to 4 tiles and inflicting -6 Atk/Def while giving the same as buffs to you even if you don't affect an enemy. Joint Drive skills are also useful in this slot, including Ike's native Joint Drive Res, but if you can splurge, Menace is a powerful tool in anyone's bag of tricks.
Seal:
Kestel Stance: Probably the best stance to put here. with just this and Ike's refine, a +Spd Ike has 41 speed in combat, putting him in a comfortable zone of not getting doubled unless its a guaranteed follow-up, or a speedy unit that will likely die on the Aether counter attack. Sturdy or Mirror Stance are good substitutes, either stacking with their A-slot counterpart or alternating to give better defensive coverage while empowering Ike's counterattack.
Atk/Spd Solo: This skill has very specific positioning if using Unity skills, but it does give better stats than its corresponding stance or bond skills, putting a +Spd Ike at 43 Spd in combat on both phases, not just enemy phase. Atk/Def solo and Atk/Res solo are also alternatives, giving defensive coverage if you don't think speed stacking will matter against your opponent.
