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Analysis by Wecondo12
Linus - Mad Dog

Related Heroes

Hero Stats

Max Avg Total Stats at Lvl 40
163
HP 42
ATK 37
SPD 33
DEF 32
RES 19

Stat Variations

Level 1 Stat Variation
5★
4★
3★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 17 8 8 7 3
Middle 18 9 9 8 4
High 19 10 10 9 5

Level 40 Stat Variations
5★
4★
3★
HP ATK SPD DEF RES
Low 39 34 30 29 16
Middle 42 37 33 32 19
High 45 40 36 35 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

This unit requires use of Trait Fruits to get access to IVs

Skill Sets

The Sigma Linus Grindset (Enemy Phase)

Build by Wecondo12
Recommended
Fanged Basilikos (+Eff) A Distant Counter
Alternate: Distant Stance
Positional Assist B Spurn 3
Alternate: Null Follow-Up 3
Noontime
Alternate: Bonfire
C Joint Drive Atk
IVs

+ATK or +SPD or +DEF / -RES

SSteady Breath
Alternate: Mystic Boost 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Fanged Basilikos (+Eff) / Plegian Axe(+Spd)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Noontime / Bonfire

Passive A: Distant Counter / Distant Stance

Passive B: Spurn / Null Follow-Up

Passive C: Joint Drive Atk / Preference

Sacred Seal: Steady Breath / Atk/Spd Solo / Mystic Boost

  • Linus gets yet another lease on life with a new weapon: the Fanged Basilikos, which gives him a flat boost to his Attack and Speed in addition to inflicting a Speed and Defense penalty against foes which scales based on their buffs on those stats, similarly to Azelle’s Sparking Tome. However due to the lack of buff usage on Aether Raids Defense teams it will be difficult for this weapon to be very useful there, as against a foe without buffs the Fanged Basilikos’s is essentially a Slaying weapon with some unconditional stat boosts tagged on. In this instance, the Plegian Axe can be a good alternative, but for other modes Fanged Basilikos will function perfectly fine.
  • For typical Infantry superunit duties, a means of counterattacking ranged foes is necessary: Be it Distant Counter or the more expensive Distant Stance.
  • Spurn gives Linus some extra tankiness via it’s damage reduction, but even with the Fanged Basilikos’s help he’ll need quite a bit of Speed investment due to his middling base Speed. Null Follow-Up is another good B slot choice, giving him insurance against both follow-up denial and guaranteed follow-up attacks.
  • For Linus’s seal, the choice is between more stats(Atk/Spd Solo and the host of other stat boosting sacred seals), special charge on Enemy Phase(Steady Breath), or after combat healing so a damage special can be run in the place of Noontime(Mystic Boost).

Sky Should Be High (Offense)

Build by Wecondo12
Fanged Basilikos (+Eff) A Heavy Blade 4
Alternate: Atk/Spd Boosting A Slot
Positional Assist B Null Follow-Up 3
Galeforce C Odd Tempest 3
IVs

+ATK or +SPD / -RES

SAtk/Spd Solo 3
Alternate: Heavy Blade 3

Show Explanation/Analysis

Weapon: Fanged Basilikos (+Eff)

Assist: Positional Assist

Special: Galeforce

Passive A: Heavy Blade 4 / Atk/Spd Boosting A Slot

Passive B: Null Follow-Up

Passive C: Odd Tempest / Preference

Sacred Seal: Atk/Spd Solo / Heavy Blade / Blade Session

  • Linus can perform decently as an offensive Galeforce unit thanks to the Fanged Basilikos’s stat boosts and Slaying Effect.
  • Galeforce gives Linus an extra turn upon triggering, letting him take down another foe or retreat to safety after combat.
  • Heavy Blade in either his A slot or seal is ideal so Linus can trigger Galeforce in 2 Attacks, provided the foe lacks Guard. In the slot without Heavy Blade, Linus’s goal should be to stack as muck Attack and Speed as possible. A slot options for this include Atk/Spd Ideal and Swift Sparrow, while seal options include Atk/Spd Solo and Blade Session.
  • Null Follow-Up ensures Linus can perform follow-up attacks even against foes with follow-up denying skills, while giving him some insurance against foes with guaranteed follow-up attacks.
  • Odd Tempest synergizes well with Galeforce as it gives Linus the movement range of a Cavalier every two turns, giving him more opportunities to initiate.

Strengths

Fanged Basilikos

Linus’s Fanged Basilikos is quite potent, giving Linus a flat +5 boost to his Attack and Speed as long as his HP is above 25%(Read: Free stats), in addition to inflicting a Speed and Defense penalty against foes with 75% or higher HP that scales based on their buffs, giving Linus a decent niche in gamemodes where buffs are commonplace such as Arena.

Infantry

As an Infantry unit, Linus has access to a wide array of skills that other class types lack access to, such as Spurn and Null Follow-Up.

Weaknesses

Inconsistency

Linus’s Fanged Basilikos only activates it’s full effects against foes with Speed and Defense buffs: Otherwise it’s a Slaying Axe with some extra stats on top. With Visible buffs seeing less usage in Aether Raids and most non Arena modes, this can leave Linus feeling a bit underwhelming until he runs into a buffed enemy.
 

Terrible Resistance

Linus’s base 19 Resistance makes him struggle to take many hits from hard hitting magic users, even with the aid of damage reduction such as Spurn.

Weapon Skills

Weapons SP Rng. Mt.
Iron Axe
Inheritable by Axe users only.
50 1 6
Steel Axe
Inheritable by Axe users only.
100 1 8
Silver Axe
Learns by default at 4 ★
Inheritable by Axe users only.
200 1 11
Basilikos

Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1).

Learns by default at 5 ★
Unlocks at 5 ★
Non-Inheritable skill.
400 1 16
Fanged Basilikos

Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grants Atk/Spd+5 to unit during combat.

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 3 ★
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

Passive Skills

Passive Skills SP Slot
Brazen Atk/Spd 1

If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Spd+3 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
60
A
Brazen Atk/Spd 2

If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Spd+5 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
120
A
Brazen Atk/Spd 3

If unit's HP ≤ 80% at the start of combat, grants Atk/Spd+7 during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 5 ★
240
A
Spur Def 1

Grants Def+2 to adjacent allies during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
50
C
Drive Def 1

Grants Def+2 to allies within 2 spaces during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
120
C
Drive Def 2

Grants Def+3 to allies within 2 spaces during combat.

Inheritable by all units.
Unlocks at 4 ★
240
C

Other Info

Origin
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

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