Critical hit

Lon'qu inflicts a critical hit upon an enemy Knight. Myrmidons like Lon'qu frequently deal critical hits due to their high skill.

A critical hit (Japanese: 必殺の一撃 critical hit), often abbreviated as critical or crit, is an uncommon and powerful type of attack inflicted at random, which deals more damage to a foe than usual. The ability to and chance of inflicting a critical hit is dictated by both a unit's stats and those of the weapons they wield, and in turn a unit's luck stat helps lower their risk of falling victim to critical hits themselves.

Overview

The concept of critical hits is widespread in role-playing games in general, both computer and tabletop, and is generally intended to simulate the random chance of a warrior's attack hitting a vital weak point on their enemy such as an organ. The Fire Emblem series use of critical hits is very much in line with this practice. Each unit has a critical rate which is calculated based on both their own skill stat and the crit value on the weapon they presently wield, in addition to other game-dependent factors such as skills or support bonuses. In battles, this is subtracted from the opposing unit's dodge calculation, based on their luck, in order to generate a percentage chance of successfully activating and dealing a critical hit.

Most games in the series feature a collection of classes and items which are intrinsically possessed of far higher critical hit chances than usual. Some classes, most prominently the Myrmidon class family, possess an in-built class bonus which awards a set increase to their critical hit rate at all times. While the crit stat on weapons is typically relatively low, some weapons feature a distinctly high crit stat and are specifically touted as giving their wielder a significant critical rate increase; the most prominent of these is the recurring "killer weapons" line, including the Killing Edge, Killer Lance, Killer Axe and Killer Bow, all of which typically offer a high crit stat ranging between 20 and 30. Conversely, the player is occasionally offered ways to protect units from critical hits without relying on luck stats. Certain items and skills, such as the Hoplon Guard and Fortune, completely block opposing units from ever executing critical hits.

From Genealogy of the Holy War onward, critical hits are typically associated with distinct animations, actions and flourishes performed by each class to clearly demonstrate that the hit they are about to inflict is a critical hit; this effect previously existed solely for Marth and Alm in Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and Gaiden. For units wielding physical weapons these typically involve spinning one's weapon (or, for bow users, their arrows) around at high speed, while magical units typically wave their hands more than usual or summon additional magical runes surrounding them as they cast the spell. Additionally, in Radiant Dawn and, from New Mystery of the Emblem onwards, impending critical hits will be announced with a bright flash and distinct noise. Depending on the game or class, there can be multiple animations for critical hits depending on whether they are lethal or when they are performed relative to other attacks.

Calculations

Damage inflicted

• All games except Genealogy and Thracia: Critical hits multiply the damage dealt by ×3.
  • Some weapons in Fates, such as Great Club and Odin's Grimoire, multiply damage dealt by ×4 instead.
• Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776: Critical hits multiply the attack power before defense reduction by ×2.

Critical rate

Main article: Critical rate

These calculations are for the raw pre-battle critical rate of units, as typically expressed on a unit's status profile. In battle, the foe's dodge calculation is subtracted from the raw critical rate to produce their actual practical critical rate percentage. If an attack misses it cannot be a critical hit; this is because the game will not determine whether or not an attack is a critical hit unless it has already determined that the attack will hit.

Game	Formula	Notes
Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light	[(Skill + Luck) / 2 + (Weapon Crit)] / 2	--
Gaiden	[(Skill + Luck) / 2 + (Weapon Crit)] / 2	All enemy units, excluding Gargoyles and the Mercenary line, will always have 0% critical rate. Units using Nosferatu will always have 0% critical rate, except against Gargoyles and the Mercenary line or when holding a Luna. A unit with a Prayer Ring has their critical rate set to 100% when their HP ≤ 50%.
Mystery of the Emblem and Archanea Saga	(Skill) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Genealogy of the Holy War	Without Critical skill: (Combination bonus) With Critical skill: (Skill) + max(Weapon's kills − 50, 0) + (Combination bonus)	If a unit or their weapon lacks the Critical skill, they are incapable of performing critical hits outside of combination bonuses, effective damage or Wrath. +20% critical hit rate when the combination bonus is in effect. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0. A unit with Wrath has their critical rate set to 100% when their HP ≤ (Max HP/2)+1. A unit dealing effective damage has their critical hit rate set to 100%.
Thracia 776	(Skill) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus)	In battle, a unit's critical rate on follow-up attacks is affected by their follow-up critical multiplier. Furthermore, the critical rate on the first attack is capped at 25. This does not affect the calculations for the critical rate of the follow-up attack. Additional hits from Brave Weapons or Adept inherit their properties from the previous hit. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0. A unit with Wrath has their critical rate set to 100% for their non-follow-up attacks when the foe attacks first.
The Binding Blade	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus)	The class bonus is +30 if the unit is a Swordmaster or Berserker. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0. When using a Light Brand at indirect range, the critical rate is locked at 0.
The Blazing Blade	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (S-Level bonus)	The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster or Berserker. The S-Level bonus is +5 if the unit has an S level in their currently equipped weapon. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0. When using a Light Brand or Wind Sword at indirect range or a Runesword, the critical rate is locked at 0.
The Sacred Stones	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (S-Level bonus)	The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster, Berserker, Journeyman (3) or Recruit (3). The S-Level bonus is +5 if the unit has an S level in their currently equipped weapon. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0. When using a Light Brand or Wind Sword at indirect range or a Runesword, the critical rate is locked at 0.
Path of Radiance	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) + (Any bonuses from skills)	The class bonus is +15 if the unit is a Swordmaster, Sniper, or Berserker. However, the class bonus does not exist in the Japanese version. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Radiant Dawn	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Bond support bonus) + (Any bonuses from skills)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Shadow Dragon	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus)	The class bonus is +5 if the unit is a Sniper, +10 if a Berserker. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
New Mystery of the Emblem	If unit's skill < 20: (Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus) If unit's skill ≥ 20: (Skill − 10) + (Weapon Crit) + (Support bonus) + (Class bonus)	The class bonus is +5 if the unit is a Sniper, +10 if a Berserker. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Awakening	(Skill / 2) + (Weapon Crit) + (Dual and Pair Up bonus) + (Skill bonus)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Fates	(Weapon Crit) + [(Skill − 4) / 2] + (Dual and Pair Up bonus) + (Skill bonus) + (Class bonus)	The class bonus is +5 if the unit is a Master Ninja, Nine-Tails, Lodestar, or Pegasus Knight; +10 if a Sniper, Sorcerer, Spear Master, Swordmaster, or Witch; and +20 if a Berserker. If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Shadows of Valentia	(Weapon Crit) + [(Skill + Luck) / 2] + (Support bonus)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Three Houses	(Weapon Crit) + [(Dexterity + Luck) / 2] + (Ability bonus) + (Equipment bonus) + (Battalion bonus)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.
Engage	(Weapon Crit) + (Dexterity / 2) + (Skill bonus)	If any bonus is not relevant, the bonus in question is taken to be 0.

Items and skills affecting critical hit

Weapons, items, and skills increasing critical hit rate
	Item	Effect	Games
	Wrath	Increases user's critical hit rate when HP is low.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Awakening, Three Houses, Engage
	Critical +	Grants a bonus to the user's critical rate.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Three Houses
	Thor's Ire	Grants Critical status to an adjacent ally for 1 turn, granting them +10 critical rate while active.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones (unused)
	Petrify	+30 critical rate to foe.	The Sacred Stones
	Gamble	Doubles critical hit rate and halves hit rate for the user for one round of attack on command.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Increases critical rate and reduces hit rate.	Awakening, Fates
	Zeal	+5 critical rate.	Awakening
	Focus	+10  critical rate if no allies are within 3 tiles of the user.	Awakening
	Solidarity	+10  critical rate to all adjacent allies.	Awakening
	Competitive	+10 critical rate when user is the lead unit and has an equal to or lower level than the support unit.	Fates
	Bibliophile	+10 critical rate when user has 3 or more tomes and scrolls in inventory.	Fates
	In Extremis	+30 critical rate if user's HP ≤ 25% at the start of combat.	Fates
	Aching Blood	+10 critical rate if equipped weapon is forged and has a name including at least 12 characters (international) or 8 kanji (Japan).	Fates
	Bushido	+10 critical rate when user is the lead unit and has an equal to or higher level than the support unit.	Fates
	+10 critical rate when user's level exceeds or equals the foe's level.	Engage
	Death Blow	+20 critical rate if the user initiates combat.	Fates, Engage
	Awakening	+30 critical rate if user's HP ≤ 50% at the start of combat.	Fates
	Hunter's Boon	+20 critical rate if foe's HP ≤ 50% at the start of combat.	Three Houses
	Axe Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user has an axe equipped.	Three Houses
	Black Magic Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user has black magic equipped.	Three Houses
	Bow Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user has a bow equipped.	Three Houses
	Brawl Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user is brawling.	Three Houses
	Lance Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user has a lance equipped.	Three Houses
	Sword Critical +10	+10 critical rate if user has a sword equipped.	Three Houses
	Defiant Critical	+50 critical rate if user's HP ≤ 25% at the start of combat.	Three Houses
	Battalion Wrath	+50 critical rate if a battalion is equipped, its endurance ≤ 33% at the start of combat, and foe initiates combat.	Three Houses
	Alabaster Duty	+5 critical rate for user and Alear, if user is adjacent to Alear.	Engage
	Trained to Kill	+15 critical rate if unit is standing on a tile that grants an avoid bonus.	Engage
	Share Spoils	+10 hit and avoid and −10 critical rate if user is adjacent to an ally.	Engage
	Party Animal	+(3 × number of allies and foes within 2 spaces of user) critical rate and avoid to user.	Engage
	Blood Fury	+10 critical rate when user is not at full health at the start of combat.	Engage
	Weapon Insight	+20 critical rate if user's weapon level is lower than the opponents weapon level.	Engage
	Protective	+10 critical rate if foe initiated battle against Nil this turn.	Engage
	Rivalry, Wounded Pride	+10 critical rate to user if ally within 2 spaces defeats a foe.	Engage
	No Distractions	+10 critical rate if foe cannot counter.	Engage
	Adaptable	Unit counters with best weapon. +10 critical rate when active (backup units only).	Engage
	Storm's Eye	User is immune to break, guarantees the user a follow-up attack, and prevents foes from making follow-up attacks against the user for one turn. Critical rate +20 (backup units only).	Engage
	Boon of Elyos	+(2 × number of allies who have already acted this turn) critical rate, if user initiates combat.	Engage
	Deadly Blade	+10 critical rate if user initiates combat with a sword.	Engage
	Battlewise	+1 critical rate for each enemy user defeats in combat, with a maximum of +10.	Engage
	Cornered Beast	+30 critical rate if user's HP ≤ 50% at the start of combat.	Engage

Weapons, items, and skills decreasing critical hit rate
	Item	Effect	Games
	Daunt	−5 critical rate to all enemy units within 3 spaces of the user.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Charmer	−10 critical rate on foe if foe was also the users most recent opponent.	Engage
	Racket of Solm	−5 critical rate for enemies within 3 spaces	Engage
	Sword Agility	−10 critical rate and + agility depending on the skill level if user wields a sword.	Engage
	Lance Agility	−10 critical rate and increases avoid based on ability's level if user wields a lance.	Engage
	Bow Agility	−10 critical rate and increases avoid based on ability's level if user wields a bow.	Engage
	Lightsphere	Critical rate/2 on foe if user initiates combat.	Engage
	Sigil Protection	−50 critical rate on foe.	Engage

Weapons, items, and skills guaranteeing critical hits
	Item	Effect	Games
	Triangle Attack	Guarantees a critical hit to its user when in formation.	Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, Gaiden, Mystery of the Emblem, Genealogy of the Holy War, The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn, Shadow Dragon, New Mystery of the Emblem
	Prayer Ring	If HP ≤ (Max HP/2)+1, user always inflicts critical hits.	Gaiden
	Steal	User always inflicts critical hits if foe has Wrath active.	Genealogy of the Holy War
	Wrath	If HP ≤ (Max HP/2)+1, user always inflicts critical hits, and if the foe has Steal, the foe also always inflicts critical hits.	Genealogy of the Holy War
	If foe attacks first in combat, user's non-follow-up attacks always inflict critical hits.	Thracia 776
	Fierce Rival	Successful attacks yield critical hits without fail, unless user's weapon cannot inflict critical hits, when supporting another unit in Tag Team and the lead unit landed a critical hit during this combat.	Fates

Weapons, items, and skills preventing critical hits
	Item	Effect	Games
	Nosferatu	Prevents user from inflicting critical hits, unless the foe is a Gargoyle, Mercenary, Myrmidon or Dread Fighter, or the user is holding a Luna.	Gaiden
	Nihil	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user.	Genealogy of the Holy War
	All Crusader Scrolls	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user, except through the effect of Wrath, when in the user's inventory.	Thracia 776
	Light Brand	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hit when attacking from 2-range.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Eclipse	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	The Binding Blade, The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Iron Rune	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits, except through a triangle attack, against the user.	The Blazing Blade
	Runesword	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits, except through a triangle attack.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Wind Sword	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits when attacking at 2 range.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones
	Hoplon Guard	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits, except through a triangle attack, against the user.	The Sacred Stones
	Stone	Cannot inflict critical hits.	The Sacred Stones
	Trainer	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	Path of Radiance
	Practice Axe	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	Path of Radiance
	Ragnell, Alondite, Gurgurant, Claw (Lion; Giffca), Beak (Hawk; Tibarn), Beak (Raven; Naesala)	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user, except through a Triangle Attack, or fixes their critical hit rate to 50 if the foe has Wrath active.	Path of Radiance
	All damage-dealing Mastery skills	Cannot inflict a critical hit if activated.	Radiant Dawn
	Onager	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn
	Cannot inflict critical hits on secondary targets.	Three Houses
	Fortune	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits, except through a triangle attack, against the user.	Radiant Dawn
	All bronze weapons	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits, except through a triangle attack.	Radiant Dawn
Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	Fates
	All brass weapons, Kodachi, Javelin, Xander's Lance, Hand Axe, Throwing Club, Nosferatu	Prevent the user from inflicting critical hits.	Fates
	All magical weapons other than Dragonstone, Dragonstone+, Felicia's Plate and Leo's Iceblade	Prevents the user from inflicting critical hits.	Fates
	Evade Critical	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user.	Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
	Vital Defense	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user.	Three Houses
	All offensive Gambits	Prevent the user from inflicting critical hits.	Three Houses
	All Staggering Blows	Prevent the user from inflicting critical hits.	Three Houses
	Meteor	Cannot inflict critical hits on secondary targets.	Three Houses
	Ochain Shield	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user.	Three Houses
	Rafail Gem	Negates the foe's ability to inflict critical hits against the user.	Three Houses
	Storm's Eye	User is immune to break, guarantees the user a follow-up attack, and prevents foes from making follow-up attacks against the user for one turn. Prevents critical hits against unit (dragon units only)	Engage

Other weapons, items, and skills affecting or affected by critical hits
	Item	Effect	Games
	Critical (skill)	Allows the user to perform critical hits.	Genealogy of the Holy War
	Lethality	When inflicting a critical hit, has a chance to instantly defeat the foe. Certain bosses are immune.	The Blazing Blade, The Sacred Stones, Engage
	Critical hit does not deal additional damage when activated.	Awakening, Fates, Three Houses
	Killing Edge, Killer Lance, Killer Axe, Great Club, Killer Bow, Mjölnir, Barb Shuriken, Odin's Grimoire	Critical hits deal ×4 damage instead of ×3.	Fates
	Dragonskin	Reduces damage taken from critical hits by 50%.	Fates
	Medusa	Does not deal additional damage on a critical hit.	Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
	Assassinate	Critical hit does not deal additional damage if instant-KO effect is triggered.	Three Houses
	Impregnable Wall	Critical hits by or against units affected by this gambit do not deal additional damage.	Three Houses
	Brute Force	Critical hits deal ×4 damage instead of ×3.	Engage

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

Marth performing Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

This article or section is a short summary of Critical hit. SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

The Super Smash Bros. series uses the critical hit concept to form the move Critical Hit, Marth's Final Smash from Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward, as well as Roy's and Lucina's in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, activated through use of a Smash Ball. Marth and Lucina share the same basic version of the move, while Roy's is radically different:

• After thrusting their Falchion skyward, Marth/Lucina darts forward at high speed and, if they encounter any opponents, deals a powerful blow to them accompanied with a Fire Emblem-style HP box rapidly depleting. In Brawl, Critical Hit is considered to possess more raw power than any other Final Smash, as its attack deals significant damage and immense knockback and is under most circumstances guaranteed to knock out the opponent should it connect, but conversely is predictable and relatively easy to dodge. The animation loosely imitates Marth's critical hit animation in his debut appearance in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.
• Roy moves the Binding Blade in a circle, then sharply whips it down behind him and unleashes a single, powerful overhead swing which deals immense damage to the foe if it hits, accompanied by a rapidly depleting Fire Emblem-style HP bar. Roy's variant directly imitates his critical hit animation when using the Binding Blade in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade.

As with all Final Smashes, Critical Hit is depicted on trophies in Brawl and for Wii U, awarded for completing All-Star Mode with the respective character.

The HP bar in Brawl is based on that of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, and the one in 3DS/Wii U and Ultimate is based on that of Awakening.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Critical Hit
	Marth's Final Smash. He thrusts his sword skyward, then rushes to meet his targeted enemy with furious speed. The blow he strikes is so powerful that his foe is instantly launched off the screen. As in Fire Emblem, a window appears that shows the character's hit points dropping rapidly to zero—but this is just for effect. Smash Bros. does not use a hit-point system. • Super Smash Bros. Brawl	All-Star Mode

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophies

Critical Hit (Marth)
	NA: Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky and then rushes forward to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KO'ing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When it's used in the air, he'll fly forward a certain distance. On the ground, however, he'll only dash to the edge of the platform he's standing on. PAL: Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky, then rushes forwards to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KOing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When used in the air, he'll fly forwards a set distance, but on the ground, he'll only dash up to the edge of the platform he's standing on.	All-Star Mode (Wii U)
Critical Hit (Lucina)
	NA: In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high before dashing swiftly forward to deliver a deadly blow to whomever she makes contact with first. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take out foes in a single hit. Just make sure you don't dash off the stage when you use it in midair! PAL: In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high, then dashes swiftly forwards to deliver a deadly blow to whoever stands in her way. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take them out in a single hit. Just be careful not to dash off the stage if you use it in mid-air!	All-Star Mode (Wii U)
Critical Hit (Roy)
	For Roy's Final Smash, he traps enemies in a circular swing of the blade, brings it up behind him, and then, in a blast of fire, brings the blade down for a powerful finisher! The downward attack is powerful on its own but doesn't have much range, so make sure you're close enough to hit your enemies with the full combo and really seal their fate!	All-Star Mode (Wii U)

Trivia

• In the Family Computer Fire Emblem titles, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and Fire Emblem Gaiden, the critical hit animation can play and miss. This does not occur in other games in the series, and is somewhat hard to notice in the Famicom titles, as only Marth and Alm actually have critical hit animations.
• In Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, critical hits on bosses that retreat rather than dying when defeated will play the non-lethal critical hit animation instead of the lethal animation when defeated by a critical hit.
• According to the director of Path of Radiance, Masayuki Horikawa, the class critical rate bonus was not included in the Japanese version of Path of Radiance because the classes which had such a bonus in previous games were already easy to use and strong.

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Critical hit	--
Japanese	必殺の一撃	Literally "deadly hit", though whenever English text appears in the Japanese games referring to critical hits, rate, etc. it is "Critical" or an abbreviation of such. Note that the Killing Edge is referred to as a 必殺の剣 deadly sword in dialogue, connecting the names of the Killer high critical rate weapons with critical hits.
Spanish	Golpe crítico	Critical hit
French	Coup critique	Critical hit
German	Kritischer Treffer	Critical hit
Italian	Colpo triplo	Triple hit

Gallery

GBA titles

• 
  Joshua from Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones performing a critical hit as an Assassin. The animation is noticeably longer than his normal attack.

Other appearances

• 
  Marth performing Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
• 
  Marth performing Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
• 
  Roy performing Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.