Bonus damage

Louise attacks a Wyvern Rider with a Silver Bow. Most bows are effective against flying units; this is indicated by her bow's blinking white weapon icon.

Across the Fire Emblem series, there are a number of weapons which possess the ability to deal extra damage to certain classes which possess a particular vulnerability to them. This bonus damage, also known as effective damage or effectiveness, is in most games handled by multiplying the might of the attacking weapon by 3 in the damage calculation, but some games vary the method of effectiveness application.

Mechanics

Effectiveness against a class or set of classes is normally either specific to a particular weapon or, as is almost always the case with bows against flying classes, applied to an entire weapon type. Conversely, classes which possess similar physical attributes are often grouped together into a "unit type", sharing vulnerabilities to the same effective weapons. For example, Cavaliers and Troubadours are both classes involving a unit riding on horseback, so they are often collectively considered "mounted" or "cavalry" units and are all vulnerable to the same effective weapons, like the Rapier and Ridersbane. In games prior to Path of Radiance, unit types do not technically exist as an attribute of the class; rather, weapons are assigned a list of classes that they are effective against. Later games assign classes types and define the weapon as being effective against said types.

Depending on the game, some unit types are marked as such by small icons appearing in their profile. This practice started in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, although the three GBA games had a similar feature where a class's mount type (horse, pegasus, or wyvern) was indicated with an icon.

Negating bonus damage

Some items and skills have effects that negate bonus damage. Holding or equipping these items or skills will neutralize some or all—depending on the skill or item—of the bonus damage a unit takes. Items and skills like the Rafail Gem in Three Houses or Nullify in Radiant Dawn nullify all bonus damage the user may take; others such as the Iote's Shield in the DS games or Conquest in Awakening nullify only bonus damage targeting certain unit types, so a unit of multiple types may take bonus damage targeting another type—for instance, a Pegasus Knight in Awakening (beast and flying types) equipped with Conquest (negating beast and armor effectiveness) will not take bonus damage from a Beast Killer as it normally would, but will still take bonus damage from bows or wind tomes.

Effectiveness data by game

Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Knights	Cavalier • Paladin • Knight • General	Rapier
Mounted	Cavalier	Ridersbane
Armored	Knight • General	Rapier • Armorslayer • Hammer
Flying	Pegasus Knight • Wyvern Knight	All bows • Arrowspate
Ballistician	Ballistician	Thunderbolt
Dragons	Wyvern Knight • Manakete*	Wyrmslayer
Manaketes	Manakete*	Divinestone
Medeus	Manaketes equipped with Earthstones	Falchion
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might.

Gaiden

Additionally, when a Falcon Knight attacks a monster unit, they ignore the might of their equipped weapon and attack with triple (3×) strength.

Mystery of the Emblem

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Knights	Cavalier • Paladin • Armored Knight • General	Rapier
Cavaliers	Cavalier • Paladin	Ridersbane
Armored	Armored Knight • General	Armorslayer
Flying	Pegasus Knight • Dracoknight • Wyvern	All bows • Cutting Gale • Excalibur • Arrowspate • Hoistflamme
Mercenaries	Mercenary • Hero • Berserker	Swordslayer
Tribes	Thief • Brigand • Barbarian • Pirate	Ladyblade
Dragons	Dracoknight • Fire Dragon • Ice Dragon • Mage Dragon • Wyvern	Falchion • Fog Breath • Wyrmslayer
Fire Dragons	Fire Dragon	Blizzard • Ice Breath
Ice Dragons	Ice Dragon	Fire • Elfire • Bolganone • Fire Breath
Medeus	Earth Dragon • Shadow Dragon	Falchion • Fog Breath
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might.

The Iote's Shield and the Lightsphere negate all bonus damage targeting their holders.

Genealogy of the Holy War

As Nihil negates critical hits, it also negates bonus damage.

The Binding Blade

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Cavalry/Armored	Cavalier • Paladin • Knight • General	Rapier
Cavalry	Cavalier • Paladin	Ridersbane • Poleax
Armored	Knight • General	Armorslayer • Hammer
Flying	Pegasus Knight • Falcoknight • Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord	All bows except Mulagir • Aircalibur
Dragons (1)	Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord • Manakete (male) • Fire Dragon*	Wyrmslayer • Durandal • Maltet • Armads • Mulagir • Forblaze • Aureola • Apocalypse
Dragons (2)	Manakete (male) • Fire Dragon* • Divine Dragon* • Demon Dragon	Binding Blade • Divinestone
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might.

The Delphi Shield negates bonus damage that targets its holder's flying weakness.

The Blazing Blade

The Delphi Shield negates bonus damage that targets its holder's flying weakness.

The Sacred Stones

The Fili Shield negates bonus damage that targets its holder's flying weakness.

Path of Radiance

Additionally, all axes deal bonus damage when breaking down doors.

The Beorcguard negates bonus damage that targets laguz. The Full Guard negates all bonus damage targeting its holder.

Radiant Dawn

Additionally, all axes deal bonus damage when breaking down doors and walls.

Nullify negates all bonus damage targeting its user.

Shadow Dragon

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Cavalry	Cavalier • Paladin • Horseman	Rapier • Wing Spear • Ridersbane • Poleax
Armored	Knight • General	Rapier • Wing Spear • Armorslayer • Hammer
Flying	Pegasus Knight • Falcoknight • Dracoknight	All bows • Excalibur • Arrowspate
Ballistician	Ballistician	Thunderbolt
Dragons	Manakete	Falchion • Divinestone • Wyrmslayer • Dragonpike
Medeus	Earth Dragon	Falchion • Divinestone
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might.

Iote's Shield negates bonus damage targeting its holder's flying weakness. In multiplayer battles, the Apotrope card negates all bonus damage on both teams.

New Mystery of the Emblem

Iote's Shield negates bonus damage targeting its holder's flying weakness. In multiplayer battles, the Apotrope card negates all bonus damage on both teams.

Awakening

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem Awakening
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Beasts	Cavalier • Paladin • Great Knight • Bow Knight • Dark Knight • Troubadour • Valkyrie • Pegasus Knight • Falcon Knight • Dark Flier • Griffon Rider • Taguel • Conqueror Additionally, Panne and all of her descendants will retain their beast weakness when reclassed.	Rapier • Noble Rapier • Beast Killer • All attacks from a Taguel with Beastbane
Armored	Knight • Great Knight • General • Conqueror	Rapier • Noble Rapier • Armorslayer • Hammer
Flying	Pegasus Knight • Falcon Knight • Dark Flier • Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord • Griffon Rider	Volant Axe • All bows • Wind • Elwind • Arcwind • Rexcalibur • Forseti • Excalibur • Wilderwind • Celica's Gale
Monsters	Revenant • Entombed	Blessed Lance • Blessed Bow
Dragons	Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord • Manakete Additionally, Nowi, Tiki, and all of their descendants will retain their dragon weakness when reclassed.	Falchion • Exalted Falchion • Parallel Falchion • Wyrmslayer • Book of Naga • All attacks from a Manakete with Wyrmsbane
Fell Dragon	Grima	Exalted Falchion • Parallel Falchion
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might.

Conquest negates bonus damage targeting its user's beast or armor weaknesses. Iote's Shield negates bonus damage targeting its user's flying weakness.

Fates

In Fates, effective weapons are weakened when used against units who are not vulnerable to them. A unit wielding a specific effective weapon takes a -4 attack, -10 hit rate penalty when using it against a unit who does not share that weakness. This does not apply to bows or yumi when used on non-flier units, although the Hunter's Bow is affected.

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem Fates
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Beasts	Cavalier • Paladin • Great Knight • Bow Knight • Dark Knight • Troubadour • Strategist • Wolfskin • Wolfssegner • Sky Knight • Falcon Knight • Kinshi Knight • Kitsune • Nine-Tails • Dark Falcon Additionally, Kaden, Keaton, and all of their descendants will retain their beast weakness when reclassed.	Beast Killer • Hunter's Bow • Hunter's Knife • All attacks from a Wolfskin, Wolfssegner, Kitsune, or Nine-Tails with Beastbane
Armored	Knight • General • Great Knight	Armorslayer • Hammer • Sting Shuriken
Flying	Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord • Malig Knight • Sky Knight • Falcon Knight • Kinshi Knight • Dark Falcon	All bows except the Hunter's Bow • All yumi • Excalibur • Ballista
Monsters	Faceless • Stoneborn	Spirit Katana • Blessed Lance • Blessed Bow • Kris Knife
Dragons	Nohr Prince/Princess • Nohr Noble • Hoshido Noble • Wyvern Rider • Wyvern Lord • Malig Knight • Feral Dragon • Astral Dragon Additionally, Corrin and their children retain their dragon weakness when reclassed.	Falchion • Parallel Falchion • Wyrmslayer • Dragon Spirit
Puppets*	Mechanist • Automaton • Stoneborn	All attacks from a unit with Golembane
Sword wielders	Units with a sword equipped	Swordcatcher
Lance wielders	Units with a lance equipped	Pike-Ruin Club
Axe wielders	Units with an axe equipped	Axe Splitter
Tome wielders	Units with a tome equipped	Spellbane Yumi
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might. The exception is the Ballista, which only doubles (2×) the might.

Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

In Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, bonus damage categories have other functions than simply having bonus damage be able to be dealt. Additionally, the game lists a unit's bonus damage categories in their arts list.

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Mounted	Cavalier • Paladin • Gold Knight • Skogul • Bow Knight • Oliphantier	Rapier • Ridersbane Skills: Knightkneeler
Flier	Pegasus Knight • Falcon Knight • Harrier • Gargoyle • Deathgoyle • Mogall • Necrodragon • White Dragon • Mila's Servant • Duma's Apostle • Garuda • Balor	All bows except Rusted Bow and Venin Bow Skills: Grounder
Armored	Knight • Baron • Spartan • Fiend • Guardian	Rapier Skills: Armorcrush • Death Blow
Terror	Revenant • Entombed • Tomb Lord • Bonewalker • Gargoyle • Necrodragon	Blessed Sword • Blessed Lance • Blessed Bow • Falchion • Seraphim Skills: Celestial Bow
Great Terror	Fiend • Lich • Deathgoyle • White Dragon • Mogall • Dracul • Titan • Garuda • Guardian • Fafnir • Balor • Deimos	Blessed Sword • Blessed Lance • Blessed Bow • Falchion • Seraphim Skills: Celestial Bow Unlike regular Terrors, Great Terror units are immune to Expel.
Dragon	Dagon • Fire Dragon	While there is a bonus damage category, no weapons deal bonus damage to dragons.
God (Duma)	Fell God	While there is a bonus damage category, no weapons deal bonus damage to gods. Gods can only be killed by weapons with Deicide.
God (Creation)	Fell Dragon	While there is a bonus damage category, no weapons deal bonus damage to gods.
In this game, for weapons, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might. For combat arts, the bonus is instead to triple (3×) the combat art's additional might.

Three Houses

Monsters may have an indefinite status making them weak to swords, lances, axes, or bows.

Additionally, many classes are of the infantry class type, and the Infantry Effect Null skill negates bonus damage against this type; however, no bonus damage effects target this type, and the Infantry Effect Null skill is unused.

Engage

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem Engage
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type
Cavalry	Noble (Alfred) • Avenir • Sentinel (Fogado) • Cupido • Royal Knight • Bow Knight • Great Knight • Sword Cavalier • Lance Cavalier • Axe Cavalier • Paladin • Wolf Knight • Mage Knight • Royal (Alfred) • Watcher (Fogado) • Emblem (Sigurd)	Rapier • Noble Rapier • Mani Katti • Blutgang • Ridersbane • Poleaxe • Wolf Beil • Thani • Rider Blast • Any engage weapon augmented with Rider Bane
Armored	Sword Armor • Lance Armor • Axe Armor • General • Great Knight • Emblem (Hector) • Mage Cannoneer	Armorslayer • Rapier • Noble Rapier • Mani Katti • Hammer • Wolf Beil • Thani • Armor Blast • Any engage weapon augmented with Armor Bane
Flying	Wing Tamer • Lindwurm • Sleipnir Rider • Melusine • Sword Flier • Lance Flier • Axe Flier • Griffin Knight • Wyvern Knight • Trainer • Phantom Wyvern • Corrupted Wyvern • Emblem (Camilla) •	All bows except the Croissbow and Master Bow • Wind Sword • Hurricane Axe • Wind • Elwind • Excalibur • Rexcalibur • Tornado Blast • Any engage weapon augmented with Flier Bane
Corrupted	Royal • Warden • Trainer • Watcher • Corrupted Wolf • Corrupted Wyrm • Corrupted Wyvern • All Corrupted units	Sieglinde • Oligoludia • Seraphim • Holy Blast • Any engage weapon augmented with Corrupted Bane Skills: Twin Strike
Dragons	Dragon Child • Divine Dragon • Wing Tamer (Ivy) • Lindwurm • Melusine • Wyvern Knight • Trainer (Ivy) • Phantom Wyrm • Phantom Wyvern • Emblem (Corrin • Tiki) Additionally, if Alear or Zelestia is reclassed, they retain their dragon weakness in all other classes	Wyrmslayer • Falchion • Parallel Falchion • Blutgang • Sword of the Creator • Lúin • Aymr • Armads • Mulagir • Failnaught • Fog Breath • Wyrm Blast • Any engage weapon augmented with Dragon Bane
Fell Dragons	Fell Child • Fell Monarch • Great Fell Dragon • Corrupted Wyrm • Corrupted Wyvern Additionally, if a Fell Child is reclassed, they retain their fell dragon weakness in all other classes	All attacks from a unit under the effect of Holy Aura
Shadow Dragon	All units synced with Emblem Shadow Dragon	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Marth
War Father	All units synced with Emblem War Father	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Celica
Dark God	All units synced with Emblem Dark God	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Sigurd
Dark Bishop	All units synced with Emblem Dark Bishop	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Leif
Demon Dragon	All units synced with Emblem Demon Dragon	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Roy
Dark Druid	All units synced with Emblem Dark Druid	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Lyn
Demon King	All units synced with Emblem Demon King	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Eirika
Mad King	All units synced with Emblem Mad King	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Ike
Judgment	All units synced with Emblem Judgment	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Micaiah
Despair	All units synced with Emblem Despair	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Lucina
Mad Dragon	All units synced with Emblem Mad Dragon	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Corrin
Liberation King	All units synced with Emblem Liberation King	All attacks from a unit synced with Emblem Byleth
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to triple (3×) the equipped weapon's might. For bonus damage granted by skills, the bonus is to double (2×) the equipped weapon's might.

All variants of Fell Barrier negate bonus damage targeting its user's Fell Dragon weakness. Stalwart and Veteran reduce the bonus for any bonus damage targeting the user to double (2×) the foe's equipped weapon's might. Unwavering, Veteran+, and Holy Shield negate all of its user's weaknesses.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

In Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, a skill effective against a Mirage is guaranteed to start a session, regardless of the enemy's resistances. Additionally, during the attack itself and the resulting session, all attacks will ignore the Resist, Null, Repel, and Drain resistances.

Enemy mirages can use this effect as well, as Touma and Mamori are considered Mounted and Armored units respectively.

Bonus damage groups in Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE
Unit type	Classes of this unit type	Skills effective against this unit type
Mounted	Cavalier • Paladin • Dark Knight	Horseslayer • Dual Dispatch • Espada
Armored	Knight • General • Berserker	Armorslayer • Dual Dispatch • Diamondsplitter
Dragon	Wyvern Knight • Shadow Dragon	Wyrmslayer • Wyrmicide • Naga • Firm Resolve
In this game, the bonus for bonus damage is to double (2×) the attack and any session skill that follows it.

Heroes

Swift Slice, Swift Ice, and Rapid Slice allow their users to conditionally deal effective damage when facing a unit of any weapon type while in combat.

Additionally, two weapon skills grant a source of bonus damage to their users:

• Loptous makes its user receive bonus damage from weapons that deal bonus damage to breath units.
• Tempest's Claw makes its user receive bonus damage from blue tomes.

Warriors

In Warriors, players can forge up to two different effective attributes onto any of their weapons (including any that are already built into it). However, doing so will also decrease the weapon's might by 20% unless it also has the True Power, Divine Power, or Legendary attributes. Any unremovable attributes built into the weapon, like Wingslayer on bows, are also not subjected to this penalty.

Iote's Shield negates all bonus damage targeting its user.

Shadows

Bonus damage groups in Fire Emblem Shadows
Unit type	Weapons effective against this unit type	Magic skills effective against this unit type
Armored	All non-novice Tomes • All non-novice Staves • Solitary Stone
Cavalry	All non-basic Claws • Sakura Bow • Swift Bow	Pike Thunder • Pike Wind
Flying	All non-bronze Bows	Arrow Wind • Arrow Wind EX • Arrow Thunder • Arrow Fire
Sword-users	Shield Lance
Lance-users	Bull Axe • Lunar Claws
Axe-users	Enclosing Dark • Royal Sword
Staff-users	Mulagir
Dragons	Ancient Stone
2-Range weapon users		Distant Thunder
Monsters	Siegmund • Eminence Sword	Holy Thunder • Holy Thunder EX

Trivia

• Despite Longswords and Armorslayers not actually being items in Radiant Dawn, they are mentioned in the bonus damage tutorial in the English version of the game. In the Japanese version of Radiant Dawn, Horseslayers and Hammers are mentioned instead of Longswords and Armorslayers.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Bonus damage	Known by this name from Path of Radiance onward; The Blazing Blade gives no name. The tutorial for bonus damage is known as "weapon effectiveness" in The Sacred Stones and Three Houses, and as "damage types" in Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.
Japanese	特効	Effectiveness