Fire Emblem

Tactical warriors from a strategic RPG world clash in the Smash arena.

Fire Emblem is a tactical role-playing game series developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. The series first appeared in the Super Smash Bros. franchise with the inclusion of Marth and Roy in the 2001 crossover fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee. Their inclusion is cited as one of the reasons Nintendo started localizing the series for international distribution. In Super Smash Bros., Fire Emblem characters are known for their sword-based combat, with unique mechanics such as Marth's tipper and Roy's hilt-based damage scaling.

Quick Facts

Original developer: Intelligent Systems
Primary weapon type: Sword

Lore & Background

Roy, the lead character of Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee alongside fellow Fire Emblem character Marth. Despite being the protagonist of The Binding Blade, Roy's Smash debut preceded his home game's release, as The Binding Blade was developed and released after Roy was added to Melee. When developing Melee, Masahiro Sakurai wanted to include more sword-fighting characters and campaigned for Roy's inclusion. Sakurai initially viewed Roy as an energetic and internally strong character compared to Marth, designing Roy's sword to do more damage at the hilt. However, after playing The Binding Blade, Sakurai discovered that Roy was nothing like that impression. Roy was later reintroduced as downloadable content for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U after being absent from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. He also appears as part of the base roster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Reader's Guide

The Fire Emblem franchise first entered the Super Smash Bros. arena with Marth and Roy in Melee, establishing a legacy of precise swordplay and edge-guarding tactics. Their debut introduced players to the unique mechanics of damage-based power scaling, where hitting opponents increased their own strength significantly. Ike arrived later in Brawl, bringing heavier attacks and a different aesthetic focused on brute force alongside his signature lunge. This era solidified the presence of tactical RPG warriors within the crossover roster. The fourth installment expanded representation dramatically with Chrom, Lucina, and Robin, offering gender-selectable options and summoning mechanics that mirrored their support-based gameplay origins. In Ultimate, Corrin and Byleth joined the fray, representing newer generations of the series. Corrin utilized dragon transformations while Byleth commanded a tome alongside swordplay. Throughout these appearances, Spirit Battles have allowed fans to fight against iconic enemies from various timelines, deepening the connection between the strategic RPG world and the chaotic Smash battlefield without requiring direct narrative integration into the main lore.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fire Emblem?

It is a tactical role-playing game series created by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. The gameplay focuses on strategic grid-based battles where character units can be permanently lost during combat.

When did they join Smash Bros.?

Marth and Roy were the first representatives to appear in Super Smash Bros. Melee back in 2001. Their inclusion is frequently cited as a major factor that convinced Nintendo to localize the franchise for Western audiences.