Chapter 1… so begins our journey through probably the toughest game in the Fire Emblem universe. Thracia 776 acts as a mid-quel to the previous installment of the series, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of Holy War (Seisen no Keifu).
Leif, the primary Lord, and a band of warriors return to the village they have called home for years to find it taken over by Imperial troops. Two of his female companions were also kidnapped in the commotion.
I am trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible, so vague story summary aside, lets get into it.
Enjoy one of the few easy Chapters in the game.
Goal:
simply defeat the boss and use the “Seize” command on the top-rightmost building.
Items:
- Pugi Axe: visit lone house on the outside of town with Orsin. Southeastern portion of the map
- Vulnerary: visit southwest house
- Iron Sword: visit middle house
- Brave Axe: visit southeastern house inside of town with Halvan
- Life Ring: visit northeastern house
Recruits:
Automatically on Turn 1:
Leif
Finn
Halvan
Orsin (Othin)
Eyvel
Automatically on Turn 3:
Dagda
Marty
Tanya
Review of Units:
Of the recruits in this chapter only a few are absolute top tier characters. Leif, Orsin, and Halvan however are very good, with the latter two being absolute studs.
Many of the other characters are the Jeigan/Jagen series archetypes. This archetype references Marth’s primary vassal Jagen, whose level and base stats make him a the best character in the first few chapters, but his sub-par growths result in an overall mediocre unit rather quickly. Jagens should generally be avoided in most Fire Emblem games with few exceptions.
The Jagens in Thracia are Eyvel and Dagda and waste valuable experience that should be distributed between the units that are viable long-term.
Tanya is a bow user and not a great one at that, so I would suggest avoiding her and Marty is mediocre at best.
Finn is usable long term, but is too strong. Use him and his Brave Lance only to capture, not kill units at this point.
Walkthrough
This is rather straightforward. To start send Orsin right to the southern most house outside the city walls. This will yield the Pugi axe when moving him to the door and selecting Visit. This axe has a high critical rate and can be used from two spaces away, as well as up close. It is absolutely devastating and should be used selectively. Do NOT waste it on easy enemies.
The rest of the party, lead by Finn, Leif and Halvan should proceed into the town walls.
It is best to start with Halvan in range of the nearest attackers. Upon ending the turn the lance-wielders should come and attack him and end up dead or critically wounded.
At the start of the next turn use Leif and Halvan to kill whose left for easy EXP and Finn to capture units with any items you may want.
Much like the Pugi axe, it is wise to conserve Leif’s Light Sword for boss characters or others with very high DEF.
Any left over enemies can be killed by whomever you choose or saved for the next turn for your best characters.
Visit all the houses, but ensure Halvan visits the southeastern-most house inside the town walls. He will be given the Brave Axe which allows Halvan multiple attacks.
Finally attack the boss with one of your stronger characters, Eyvel or Dagda, and finish him off with Leif if you consider the experience worth the use of the Light Sword.
Seize the throne to end the Chapter.