The upcomingmusou-style fighting game andFire Emblemspinoff,Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes,recently released a free playable demo via the Nintendo Switch eShop. The demo, which allows players to experience the first four chapters of all three routes ofFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes,surprised fans not only with its length but also by introducing several new playable characters. These include both returning characters fromFire Emblem: Three Housesand others appearing for the first time.
Previously, a series of four trailers confirmed that all students in the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, andAshen Wolveshouses would be playable inThree Hopes.However, the demo confirmed that other characters, including teachers at Garreg Mach Officer’s Academy and members of the Knights of Seiros, will be playable as well. Three new playable characters appear on the Scarlet Blaze route, while the Azure Gleam and Golden Wildfire routes feature one new character each.
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Monica von Ochs (Scarlet Blaze)
The mysteriousMonicais finally confirmed to be playable as of the demo ofFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes,following several trailers that hinted at her inclusion. Monica is a member of the minor noble Ochs family from the Adrestian Empire and a previous member of the Black Eagle House at the Officer’s Academy. She was kidnapped by an antagonist named Kronya, who killed and replaced her inFire Emblem: Three Houses. Three Hopeschanges her story by having the students rescue Monica in Chapter 2 of the game’s story. She then becomes a playable character on the Scarlet Blaze route starting in Chapter 3. Monica has a Minor Crest of Macuil and specializes in wind magic, with her starting class being Monk.
Manuela Casagranda (Scarlet Blaze)
Manuela is a former opera star, skilled healer and instructor at Garreg Mach Officer’s Academy. In the Scarlet Blaze route, she joins Edelgard’s army to run the infirmary for theAdrestian Empire’s army and is playable from Chapter 4 onward. Manuela previously appeared as a playable character in all four routes ofFire Emblem: Three Houses.Like in the previous title, Manuela is primarily focused on healing magic, able to restore the health of her enemies in battle. Manuel’s starting class is Priest, making her one of the game’s few characters to begin in an Intermediate rather than Beginner class.
Jeritza von Hrym (Scarlet Blaze)
Masked weapons instructor Jeritza von Hrym, true name Emile von Bartels, originated as a purely antagonistic figure inThree Houses -the deadlyDeath Knight, a terrifyingly over-leveled enemies players had to face if they hoped to acquire rare Dark Seal items. In a later DLC update, Jeritza was made playable on the Crimson Flower route of the game. InFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, he appears on the battlefield as an NPC in Chapter 2 of all routes and becomes playable from Chapter 4 of the Scarlet Blaze route. He starts the game in possession of the Sacred Weapon Rafail Gem, but is classed as a Cavalier rather than his unique Death Knight class from the original game.
Rodrigue Fraldarius (Azure Gleam)
The father of Blue Lion house memberFelix, Rodrigue Fradalrius was previously theorized to be dead or absent inThree Hopesdue to Felix’s new outfit resembling his. Instead, Rodrigue is very much alive, and appears as a playable character beginning in Chapter 4 of the Azure Gleam route. Rodrigue surrenders his former position as Duke Fraldarius to his son Felix so that he can better focus on supporting Dimitri as a member of his army. In battle, Rodrigue is a mounted Cavalier and has a tricky but satisfying special attack that deals extra damage if the player is able to perform a series of accurately-timed attacks.
Shamir Nevrand (Golden Wildfire)
An archer originally allied with the Church of Seiros, inFire Emblem: Three HousesShamir was one of the few characters who was playable on all four routes. She is a stoic character with mercenary tendencies and little loyalty toward any faction, though she did mentor the young orphanCyril. InFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes,Shamir begins the game as a Knight of Seiros, but later ends her contract with the Church to fight with Claude’s army and support the Leicester Alliance. She is playable beginning in Chapter 4 of the Golden Wildfire route, and once again shows off her significant archery skills when deployed in battle.
WithFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesonly a few weeks away from release, fans are eager to see what otherThree Housescharacters might be returning, as well as if any brand-new fighters will appear. Unconfirmed returning characters fromThree Housesinclude several members of theChurch of Seiros- Catherine, Seteth, Flayn, Gilbert, Alois, and Cyril - as well as Manuela’s fellow professor Hanneman. Some of these characters appear in the demo in NPC roles, while others are absent entirely. Hopefully, the full game will reveal more information regarding their role in this new story.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopeswill release on June 24 for the Nintendo Switch.
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