Fire Emblem Warriors
A crossover blending Dynasty Warriors combat with Fire Emblem elements.
Fire Emblem Warriors is a hack and slash action role-playing game released in 2017. It was co-developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, with Koei Tecmo handling publishing in Japan and Nintendo managing international release. The game launched on the Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS. It merges Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series with Intelligent Systems' Fire Emblem franchise. The story follows the twin heirs of Aytolis as they defend their kingdom after the king of neighboring Gristonne begins summoning an evil dragon. Gameplay blends the arena-based action of Dynasty Warriors with relationship and weapon mechanics from Fire Emblem. Downloadable content released during 2017 and 2018 added extra playable characters.
Production started in 2015, during work on an expanded version of Hyrule Warriors (2014). Director Hiroya Usuda and producer Yosuke Hayashi, both veterans of Hyrule Warriors, collaborated with Intelligent Systems staff to create a Warriors-style game that honored and integrated distinctive Fire Emblem elements. Upon release, journalists praised the blend of Warriors and Fire Emblem mechanics. Criticism targeted the story, the limited character roster, and technical performance on the Switch version. The game sold over one million copies worldwide. Koei Tecmo later collaborated on the Fire Emblem series twice more: as a co-developer on the mainline title Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019), and on the Warriors-style sequel Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2022).
**Gameplay**
Fire Emblem Warriors is a hack and slash action role-playing game where players control characters from across the Fire Emblem series, plus two original leads, in large arena-style battles. The game has several modes: "Story Mode" features a main campaign with preset playable characters; "Free Mode" lets players complete missions with any character; "Arena Mode" offers waves of enemies for rewards; and "History Mode" unlocks new items and abilities through challenges. Two difficulty modes exist: "Casual" and "Classic." In Classic mode, fallen units must be revived using gold and special items instead of reviving automatically.
Combat and mission structure follow the Dynasty Warriors series. Players control up to four characters as army commanders, completing objectives like defeating enemy groups, killing powerful bosses, and capturing or holding control points. Uncontr
- Release Year
- 2017
- Developer
- Omega Force, Team Ninja
- Publisher
- Koei Tecmo (Japan), Nintendo (internationally)
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo 3DS
- Genre
- Hack and slash action role-playing
- Sales
- Over one million copies worldwide
Lore & Background
The story follows Rowan and Lianna, twin heirs to the throne of Aytolis, who defend their realm when the king of neighboring Gristonne starts summoning an evil dragon. Gameplay combines arena-based action combat from Dynasty Warriors with relationship and weapon systems from Fire Emblem, including the Weapon Triangle where swords are strong against axes, axes against lances, and lances against swords. Characters can activate Awakening Mode for increased damage while negating the Weapon Triangle, and grow through leveling, strengthening weapons, creating badges, and changing class via Master Seal items.
Reader's Guide
Fire Emblem Warriors is significant as the second Warriors-style crossover title following Hyrule Warriors, and the first to blend Fire Emblem's tactical RPG elements with the hack and slash combat of Dynasty Warriors. Production began in 2015 during work on an expanded version of Hyrule Warriors, with director Hiroya Usuda and producer Yosuke Hayashi returning from that project. The game was praised for its blending of the two franchises but criticized for its story, limited character roster, and the Switch version's technical performance. Its success led to Koei Tecmo collaborating on the mainline Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) and the subsequent Warriors-style title Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2022). The inclusion of both Casual and Classic difficulty modes, the latter featuring permadeath requiring revival with gold and items, catered to different player preferences. The game sold over one million copies worldwide, establishing a template for future crossovers between the two series.
Did You Know?
- The game was co-developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, with Koei Tecmo handling publishing in Japan and Nintendo managing international release.
- Characters from Fire Emblem: Gaiden do not appear in the base game or DLC; the only characters from the Archanea series come from Shadow Dragon and New Mystery of the Emblem, not Gaiden.
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