FE8 - No Mounts Low Turn Counts Run: Chapter 9 - Distant Blade

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MoogleBoss

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Published on October 8, 2013 7:32:20 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlQmtLRk1B0

Game:

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)

Duration: 14:04

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13

Chapter 9 is completed in 6 turns (57 total). A little unusual for me to complete this map quicker (in turn count, not time) than the previous one; I was quite surprised.

Skip to 00:58 for the beginning of the chapter. I thought it was a good idea to show the two promotions that occurred prior to the chapter before moving on to the real thing. Firstly, I promoted Artur as he needed to be capable of using staves and have better movement plus durability that would enable him to survive the last enemy phase down south. Sage's defensive bonuses on promotion are very nice for a unit who just doesn't like growing defence (and I gave the bastard my first Dracoshield!). I opted against Bishop because the higher magic cap is important, and anima access is nice too. I also promote Gilliam so that he's not lagging behind the party anymore. He has enough speed to not be doubled by almost any foe (I think the Myrmidon is the only exception) and to double Soldiers on his own, which makes him the best candidate for leading the way all the way across the map. General has really good promotion bonuses.

The strategy is direct to a point - since we don't have a flier to reach the southern coast ASAP, Ross is our only way to circumvent it. As a Pirate who's been levelling fast thanks to handling multiple enemies on EP and bosskilling recently, Ross has become a reliable combat unit and is also close to promotion, which is also very important, as he's getting the Ocean Seal while crossing the sea. He should use it immediately after dropping Artur.

How I chose Artur as Ross's baggage out of all units available: 1) I need somebody capable of surviving an enemy phase (Artur takes an Angelic Robe and can therefore redirect all the fire on the already injured, bulkier and more evasive Ross), 2) I need somebody capable of countering enemies at 2-range (so Joshua and Eirika are out), 3) obviously, it should be somebody who is light enough for Ross to carry (so no Garcia or Gilliam). The fourth reason, as I mentioned early, is the ability to heal Ross.

While these two cross the sea and Lute hangs back to bait just one single enemy who might otherwise interfere with the speed of the rout, the remainder of our party go around the old-fashioned way. Gilliam can weaken most enemies for others to kill and has a good enough durability to keep going - something units like Eirika cannot boast. He's only losing to Colm in movement out of our group, and I've given up on training Colm for this run pretty run (and for a good reason I now see as I wouldn't have emerged with Ross and Artur of their current quality with a different exp distribution).

On turn 5, things get real. Ross promoted to Berserker as a L11 Pirate for the immediate stat, crit and move bonuses, gets healed, and on the last turn he and Artur travel in opposite direction and completely remove all enemies from the map. Meanwhile, my less capable units who didn't cross the sea kill the last enemies in the other corners.

This 6-turn no-mount clear comes at a price however - there's no chance to obtain the Dracoshield from saving the western village (needs a 6-move unit with 2-range or a mounted unit, and Artur is busy elsewhere) and this also leads to not receiving an Angelic Robe once the chapter is over. Not the most negligible stat boosters at all, to be sure, yet I'm sure we can make do without them. There's no time to obtain the Rapier either, but Eirika still has a half of her uses and it's not like we have much cavalry left to kill (it's still the strongest weapon that doesn't weigh her down for a while).

Perhaps the biggest loss is the necessity to kill Amelia. As a unit she's pretty poor for this run, but she could bring a Speedwings to the party and that one surely wouldn't have gone without use (both Artur and Ross wouldn't mind one). I'm happier about having 6-turned this map in this challenge, regardless.

Challenge playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbSv8zSDR9c26lYu02EA8IaBJcmStZg47

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