How to Choose Edelgard in Fire Emblem: A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you want to side with the Adrestian Empire’s fiery leader in Fire Emblem: Three Houses? Choosing Edelgard opens the door to the Crimson Flower route, a path that challenges the very foundations of Fódlan. To choose Edelgard, you must select the Black Eagles house, achieve a C+ support rank with her before Chapter 11, and speak to her in the monastery during the specified time frame. Let’s delve into the specifics!
Unlocking the Crimson Flower: A Step-by-Step Guide
Choosing to walk alongside Edelgard isn’t simply a matter of clicking a dialogue option. It requires strategic planning and mindful gameplay throughout the first half of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
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House Selection: This is the foundational step. You must choose the Black Eagles house at the beginning of the game. This makes Edelgard your student and puts you on the path toward a potential alliance. Without this, siding with her is impossible.
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Support Level is Key: Building your support rank with Edelgard to C+ is crucial. This requires interacting with her regularly.
- Battles: Fight alongside Edelgard in battles. Keeping her near Byleth earns support points.
- Gifts: Give Edelgard gifts she appreciates. This is a quick and easy way to boost support.
- Lost Items: Find and return her lost items. Lost items are scattered around the monastery. Identifying and returning hers further strengthens your bond.
- Dining Hall: Invite her to share meals in the Dining Hall. Group activities increase support for everyone involved.
- Tea Parties: Invite her to Tea Parties. Successfully navigating a tea party provides a large boost to your support level.
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The Crucial Conversation: During the month of Great Tree Moon (February), specifically between the 8th and the 22nd, explore the Monastery on a Sunday. You MUST speak to Edelgard inside the Entrance Hall. This is a time-sensitive event and failing to trigger it locks you out of the Crimson Flower route.
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The Choice: After speaking with Edelgard, she will mention she has to leave on urgent business, and you’ll have to make an important decision. You’ll be presented with a choice: go with her to the Imperial Capital, Enbarr, or remain at the Monastery. Choosing to go with Edelgard solidifies your commitment to the Crimson Flower route.
Consequences and Considerations
Choosing Edelgard has significant implications for your game. It impacts the story, characters available to you, and the overall experience.
Character Losses
Siding with Edelgard means you’ll lose access to certain characters loyal to the Church of Seiros. Typically, this includes Flayn, Seteth, and Catherine. Their convictions prevent them from supporting Edelgard’s revolution, making them unavailable for recruitment. These character losses can have a significant impact on your team composition and combat strategies.
Shifting Alliances
Your decision drastically alters the narrative. You become an active participant in Edelgard’s war against the Church and the Kingdom of Faerghus. This means fighting alongside the Adrestian Empire and potentially against former allies. It’s a path of conflict and revolution, challenging the established order of Fódlan.
Moral Ambiguity
The Crimson Flower route is known for its moral complexity. Edelgard’s actions are often controversial, and the path you choose is not one of clear-cut good versus evil. It demands a critical examination of power, religion, and the cost of progress. Be prepared to grapple with difficult choices and question your own sense of right and wrong.
Unique Units and Classes
The Crimson Flower route also offers access to certain units and classes not available on other routes. These can provide strategic advantages and opportunities to build unique character compositions.
Building a Powerful Team
The loss of key characters necessitates a strong recruitment strategy. Focus on recruiting characters from other houses who are open to Edelgard’s ideals. Characters like Ferdinand von Aegir, Lysithea von Ordelia, and Bernadetta von Varley are excellent additions to your roster.
Understanding Edelgard’s Motivation
To truly embrace the Crimson Flower route, it’s crucial to understand Edelgard’s motivations. She seeks to dismantle the corrupt and stagnant system of Fódlan, believing it hinders progress and perpetuates inequality. Her methods may be ruthless, but her goals are rooted in a desire to create a better world, even if the Games Learning Society might explore the narrative’s implications on historical education. She sees the Church of Seiros as a major obstacle to progress, viewing their dogma and control as stifling innovation and critical thought.
FAQs: Choosing Edelgard
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process and implications of siding with Edelgard:
1. Can I recruit Edelgard on other routes?
No, Edelgard cannot be recruited on any route other than the Crimson Flower route. You must choose the Black Eagles house and follow the specific steps to side with her.
2. What happens if I don’t reach C+ support with Edelgard before Chapter 11?
If you don’t reach C+ support, you won’t get the opportunity to side with Edelgard. You’ll be locked into the Silver Snow route, which focuses on the Church of Seiros.
3. Can I still romance Edelgard as a male Byleth?
No. Edelgard is only available as a romance option for female Byleth.
4. What classes are best for Edelgard?
The Emperor class is her unique master class and is ideally suited for her. Other strong class options include Fighter, Armored Lord, Fortress Knight, and Wyvern Lord.
5. What characters will I lose if I side with Edelgard?
Typically, you will lose Flayn, Seteth, and Catherine, as they remain loyal to the Church of Seiros.
6. Is the Crimson Flower route considered a “good” or “bad” ending?
The Crimson Flower route is morally ambiguous. It is neither inherently good nor bad. It depends on your interpretation of Edelgard’s actions and your understanding of her motivations.
7. When exactly do I need to talk to Edelgard to trigger the route?
You need to talk to Edelgard in the Entrance Hall of the Monastery during the month of Great Tree Moon (February), specifically between the 8th and the 22nd.
8. What are some recommended strategies for the Crimson Flower route?
- Recruit strong units from other houses who align with Edelgard’s ideals.
- Focus on training Edelgard and Hubert, as they are crucial to the story.
- Develop a robust team composition to compensate for the loss of Church units.
- Be prepared for challenging battles and difficult decisions.
9. Can I avoid killing Rhea on the Crimson Flower route?
No, you will ultimately have to confront and defeat Rhea on the Crimson Flower route. This is a core aspect of the story.
10. What happens if I choose to protect Rhea instead of siding with Edelgard?
If you choose to protect Rhea, you will be locked into the Silver Snow route, which focuses on the Church of Seiros. Edelgard will become your enemy.
11. Is the Crimson Flower route shorter than the other routes?
Yes, the Crimson Flower route is generally considered to be shorter than the other routes in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
12. Is it possible to recruit other Black Eagles students on the Crimson Flower route?
Yes, you can still recruit other Black Eagles students, such as Ferdinand, Linhardt, Caspar, Bernadetta, and Dorothea, onto your team after siding with Edelgard.
13. Does Edelgard have a crush on Byleth?
The game presents Edelgard and Byleth’s relationship as one of deep affection and mutual respect, implying romantic feelings depending on Byleth’s gender. Whether it’s a “crush” is open to player interpretation.
14. Can I marry Edelgard as a girl?
Yes. Female Byleth can romance and marry Edelgard on the Crimson Flower Route.
15. Who is the best unit to partner with the Edelgard emblem in Fire Emblem Engage?
Chloe and Kagetsu stand out as excellent options. Their strengths can greatly amplify the Edelgard emblem’s capabilities, creating a powerful synergy.
Choosing Edelgard is more than a simple decision; it’s a commitment to a unique and thought-provoking narrative path. Be prepared for the challenges and embrace the opportunity to reshape Fódlan according to your vision.