Classes are the backbone of every Fire Emblem game, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Classes are shaping up to be one of the most ambitious systems the series has tried yet. With four tiers of units, locked weapon types, and a certification exam system that decides who gets to become what, picking the right class for the right character is going to matter a lot once the game lands on Switch 2 on September 17.
How The Class System Works In Fortune’s Weave?
Unlike Three Houses, where nearly every character could eventually learn nearly every weapon, Fortune’s Weave locks classes to specific weapon types. That single change affects almost everything else on this list, so it is worth understanding upfront.
Here is what we know about how classing works:
- Classes are split into four groups: Unique, Beginner, Specialty, and Advanced.
- To switch a character into a new class, they need to pass a certification exam.
- Passing an exam depends on how far a character has leveled up their weapon proficiency, and pass rates change depending on the character and the class being targeted.
- Weapons are tied to class, so a Sword focused unit will not be able to casually pick up an Axe the way units could in recent entries.
- Mounted classes can dismount mid fight, giving you more flexibility around narrow terrain or choke points.
- Every class has its own Movement stat, which determines how far a unit can travel in a single turn.
Think of certification exams as the gatekeeper of this Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave classes guide. You are not just picking a class because it looks strong on paper. You have to actually train a character’s weapon skill high enough to earn the right to use it.
Unique Classes: Where Every Character Starts
Two classes sit outside the normal tier system entirely, and they exist purely to reflect where a character comes from.
- Noble is the starting class for characters born into nobility or royalty. It is an Infantry class with 4 Movement that can use most weapon types without getting a proficiency bonus, though lances are confirmed as usable.
- Commoner works the same way but for common born characters. It also sits at 4 Movement and can handle a wide spread of weapons, including lances, bows, and magic depending on the character.
Both of these classes basically act as a soft tutorial tier. You will not stay in them for long once certification exams open up, but they set the tone for how flexible each character can eventually become.
All Beginner Classes In Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
Once a character graduates from their starting class, they land in one of five Beginner classes. These form the true foundation of the entire class tree, so knowing what each one specializes in early will save you a lot of trial and error later.
| Class | Type | Weapon Focus | Movement | Notes |
| Gladiator | Infantry | Sword, Axe, Gauntlet | 4 | Replaces the old Myrmidon and Fighter roles |
| Hunter | Infantry | Sword, Bow | 4 | Built around high Speed and Dexterity |
| Soldier | Infantry / Armored | Lance, Axe, Sword | 4 | Tanky early option with solid Defense |
| Ornius Rider | Cavalry | Sword, Lance, Axe | 5 | Can hop over small obstacles despite not flying |
| Diviner | Infantry | Sword, Axe, Gauntlet, Reason, Faith | 4 | The go to early caster and healer hybrid |
If you are trying to figure out where to put your sword or axe focused fighters, Gladiator is your answer. If you want a mage who can also defend themselves in melee, Diviner fills that gap nicely. Ornius Rider is easily the most interesting of the five since it moves like a flyer without technically being one, letting it cross rivers and cliffs that would stop a normal cavalry unit cold.
All Specialty Classes In Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
Specialty classes sit right in the middle of the tree and act as the intermediate step before things get serious. There are more than ten of these confirmed so far, and they cover everything from speedy skirmishers to line clearing chariot fighters.
| Class | Type | Weapon Focus | Movement | Notes |
| Myrmidon | Infantry | Sword, Lance | 5 | Fast and precise, a step up from Gladiator |
| Rogue | Infantry | Sword, Bow | 5 | The successor to the classic Thief role |
| Armored Knight | Infantry / Armored | Lance, Axe, Sword | 4 | Built to soak hits at the front line |
| Light Cavalry | Cavalry | Sword, Lance, Axe | 6 | Great for map control thanks to high movement |
| Brigand | Infantry | Sword, Axe, Gauntlet | 5 | An offense first Axe specialist |
| Archer | Infantry | Bow | 5 | Straightforward ranged damage dealer |
| Shaman | Infantry | Sword, Gauntlet, Reason, Faith | 5 | Doubles its black magic uses |
| Priest | Infantry | Axe, Gauntlet, Reason, Faith | 5 | Doubles its white magic uses for extra healing |
| Armored Ornius Rider | Cavalry | Sword, Lance, Axe | 5 | A heavier, flying capable take on Ornius Rider |
| Wing Soldier | Flying | Lance | 6 | Crosses long distances with ease |
| Charioteer | Cavalry | Bow | 6 | Hits every enemy caught in a straight line |
There is also at least one more Specialty class that has been shown briefly using a Gauntlet, sitting between Brigand and Archer in the official class order, but it has not been officially named yet. Expect Nintendo or Intelligent Systems to confirm it closer to launch.
Tip: Charioteer and the Elephant Rider you will see later both reward you for lining enemies up, so it is worth grouping weaker foes together instead of picking them off one by one if you plan on using either class.
All Advanced Classes In Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
This is where things get exciting. Advanced classes are the true powerhouses of the game, recommended for units around Level 35 with a Renown level of 8. For comparison, Three Houses let you reach its top tier by Level 20, so Fortune’s Weave is clearly asking for a longer commitment before you unlock its strongest units.
| Class | Type | Weapon Focus | Movement | Standout Ability |
| Shido | Infantry | Sword | 5 | Bonus Sword crit and extra Combat Arts |
| Warrior | Infantry | Axe | Unconfirmed | Classic heavy axe damage dealer |
| Sniper | Infantry | Bow | Unconfirmed | Long range precision striker |
| Forest Knight | Cavalry | Bow | Unconfirmed | Mounted archer, previously called Ranger |
| Guardian | Infantry | Lance, Faith | 5 | Mixes physical hits with support magic |
| Dreadnought | Infantry / Armored | Axe, Lance | 4 | Extra Defense when struck first |
| Bardinger | Cavalry | Sword, Lance | 6 | Can mount and dismount freely |
| Ovate | Infantry | Reason | 5 | Boosted magic accuracy for offensive spells |
| Bishop | Infantry | Faith | 5 | Massive bump to magic recovery and healing |
| Cataphract | Cavalry / Armored | Lance | 6 | Combines cavalry speed with armored toughness |
| Elephant Rider | Special | Unconfirmed | Unconfirmed | Occupies a 2×2 space and hits everything in its path |
| Dragoon | Flying | Lance, Axe | Unconfirmed | Wyvern rider with strong aerial presence |
| War Monk | Infantry | Gauntlet, Faith | 5 | Blends martial arts with healing magic |
A few more Advanced classes have been spotted in trailers but not officially confirmed yet, including a cavalry style unit that wields Reason magic and appears to have an animal companion, plus another class that looks a lot like a returning Dancer type support unit. Nintendo has stated the full certification exam list already includes 11 named Advanced classes, with at least 3 more waiting in the wings, so this tier is far from finished being revealed.
It is also worth noting that some names datamined from the game’s files point to even more classes further down the line, including Pugilist, Augur, Dancer, Fortress Knight, High Savant, Orichaldia Sentinel, and Swordmaster. Whether these belong to a hidden Master tier above Advanced, similar to what Three Houses did, has not been confirmed. If the pattern holds, expect an official reveal shortly before or after launch.
Best Class Picks For Different Playstyles
Not every player wants the same thing out of their army, so here is a simple breakdown of where to focus depending on how you like to play.
- For players who love hard hitting frontline units: Lean into Gladiator into Brigand into Warrior. It is a straightforward path that rewards aggressive positioning.
- For players who want speed and evasion: Hunter into Myrmidon into Shido gives you a fast, crit focused build that thrives on striking before the enemy can react.
- For players who prefer magic: Diviner into Shaman or Priest into Ovate or Bishop lets you pick between offense and support without wasting early investment.
- For players who want durability above everything: Soldier into Armored Knight into Dreadnought or Cataphract turns a unit into a wall that barely notices incoming damage.
- For players who enjoy mounted mobility: Ornius Rider into Light Cavalry into Bardinger or Forest Knight keeps your Movement stat high through the entire game.
Because weapons are locked to class in Fortune’s Weave, it genuinely pays off to decide early which path a character is heading toward. Jumping between wildly different weapon types later on will cost you time you could have spent building proficiency in one direction.
Certification Exams: How Class Changes Actually Work
Since this Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave classes guide keeps mentioning certification exams, it is worth explaining them properly. Instead of simply spending an item to reclass like in older games, you now visit an examiner in the game’s hub city of Dagsion and take a formal test tied to the class you want.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Pass rates are not fixed. They shift based on both the character attempting the exam and the specific class they are aiming for.
- Weapon proficiency needs to be leveled up ahead of time, so grinding a character’s Sword or Reason rank before the exam genuinely matters.
- You can train once a week at the Arena Plaza during preparation periods between battles, which is the main way to boost proficiency outside of combat.
- Failing an exam does not appear to lock you out permanently, so you can usually try again once your stats improve.
This system rewards planning ahead rather than reacting on the fly, which fits the more methodical pace Fortune’s Weave seems to be going for compared to some of its faster paced predecessors.
Get Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave From Driffle At The Best Price
Once you have your eye on a Flame Lord and a starting squad in mind, there is no reason to overpay for the game itself. Driffle regularly lists Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave well below standard eShop pricing, with instant digital delivery so you can be exploring Dagsion and recruiting your first heroes the moment the game unlocks. Grab your copy through Driffle before launch day pricing settles in, and put those savings toward eShop credit for DLC or in game extras instead.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. How many classes are in Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave?
A. As of the most recent Direct, more than 30 classes have been confirmed or datamined across all tiers, with several Advanced and possible Master tier classes still unannounced.
Q. Can any character become any class?
A. Mostly yes, similar to Three Houses, but only after passing the right certification exam and building enough weapon proficiency. Some story specific characters may have restrictions tied to their unique Blaze Arts.
Q. Do classes lock characters to one weapon type forever?
A. No, but weapons are tied to whichever class a unit currently holds, so switching weapon types means switching classes first.
Q. Is there a Master class tier above Advanced?
A. It has not been officially confirmed yet, though several class names found in the game’s data suggest one may exist.
Q. When does Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave release?
A. The game launches on September 17 for Nintendo Switch 2.
