Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – What Do Dark Seals Do?

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you use different kinds of seals–beginner, intermediate, advanced, and master–to upgrade your units to a variety of combat classes. Later on in the game, you might pick up another kind of seal–the Dark Seal–after defeating a particular enemy who likes skulls (or if you’re really good, you can get it quite early on in the game). But what do these Dark Seals do?

Answer: You guessed it, you use it to become certified in two particular classes: The Dark Mage and the Dark Bishop, which are more powerful versions of the standard mages and warlocks which specialize in Reason magic. These are male-only classes, unfortunately, but each of the three houses has at least one unit who can take advantage of Dark Seals. These classes are extra broody, take a look:

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For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – Class Requirement List

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is all about taking a group of students, and as their professor, turning into absolute killing machines. That’s a problematic setup, but the real question is: What kind of killing machines should they be? Before you start each Sunday, you’ll be given the chance to certify your students in a new unit class, provided they’ve met the requirements.

You’ll need Seals to do so, which can be found in battle or purchased from the item shop. You’ll have a greater chance of passing a certification exam if your student has reached all the recommended skill thresholds listed. You can definitely still pass on lower percentages too, but it’s worth noting that each unit can only take on exam per week.

It’s also worth noting that there’s value in sticking with a more basic class for a little while: Maxing out the experience of a certain class will earn you a class-specific ability which you can retain, even if you change to a different one.

In a similar vein, you’ll later find that some students will develop a personal, unique Combat Art when they master an Advanced class–one that will be available on top of the three Combat Art slots for each character–which is a pretty good reason not to push them any further into a Master Class just for the sake of it.

To make sure you’re working towards the right goals for each of your units, here are the thresholds and requirements for your convenience:

Beginner – Level 5 Requirement

  • Myrmidon (Sword: D)
  • Soldier (Lance: D)
  • Fighter (Axe: D, Bow: D, Brawl: D)
  • Monk (Reason: D, Faith: D)

Intermediate – Level 10 Requirement

  • Mercenary (Sword: C)
  • Thief (Sword: C)
  • Armored Knight (Axe: C, Hvy Armor: D)
  • Cavalier (Lance: C, Riding: D)
  • Brigand (Axe: C)
  • Archer (Bow: C)
  • Brawler (Brawl: C) [Male Only]
  • Mage (Reason: C)
  • Dark Mage (Reason: C) [Male Only]
  • Priest (Faith: C)
  • Pegasus Knight (Lance: C, Flying: D) [Female Only]

Advanced – Level 20 Requirement

  • Hero (Sword: B, Axe: C) [Male Only]
  • Swordmaster (Sword: A)
  • Assassin (Sword: B, Bow: C)
  • Fortress Knight (Axe: B, Hvy Armor: B)
  • Paladin (Lance: B, Riding: B)
  • Wyvern Rider (Axe: B, Flying: C)
  • Warrior (Axe: A)
  • Sniper (Bow: A)
  • Grappler (Brawl: A) [Male Only]
  • Warlock (Reason: A)
  • Dark Bishop (Reason: A) [Male Only]
  • Bishop (Faith: A)

Master – Level 30 Requirement

  • Falcon Knight (Sword: C, Lance: A, Flying: B+) [Female Only]
  • Wyvern Lord (Lance: C, Axe: A, Flying: A)
  • Mortal Savant (Sword: A, Reason: B+)
  • Great Knight (Axe: B+, Hvy Armor: A, Riding: B+)
  • Bow Knight (Lance: C, Bow: A, Riding: A)
  • Dark Knight (Lance: C, Reason: B+, Riding: A)
  • Holy Knight (Lance: C, Faith: B+, Riding: A)
  • War Master (Axe: A, Brawl: A) [Male Only]
  • Gremory (Reason: A, Faith: A) [Female Only]

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – What Do Amiibo Do?

If you’re playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you might have noticed that in the middle of Garreg Mach Monastery, there is something called an “Amiibo Gazeebo”, which is frankly, a fantastic name. There, you can scan Amiibo, and even if you scan even just one, then the area surrounding the gazeebo will populate with a selection random items–mostly tea, food, and fish–every time you come back to visit on a free day.

If you have an Amiibo of a Fire Emblem character, scanning it will give you new music tracks from the character’s respective game. You can listen to these during the game’s optional auxiliary battles by choosing them in the “General” tab of the options menu.

Here is a list of the tracks each Fire Emblem amiibo will give you:

  • Marth – The Time to Act
  • Ike – Eternal Bond
  • Robin – Id (Purpose)
  • Lucina – Conquest (Ablaze)
  • Roy – Beneath a New Light (Roy’s Courage)
  • Alm – March to Deliverance
  • Celica – With Mila’s Divine Protection
  • Corrin (Male) – Alight (Storm)
  • Corrin (Female) – A Dark Fall (Fire)
  • Chrom – Destiny (Ablaze)
  • Tiki – The World Tree

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – Everything You Need To Know About Gardening

There are two nice side-distractions you can partake in when exploring the monastery in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Fishing is a nice distraction that comes with a few perks. Gardening, on the other hand, is a much more valuable activity, and you should be making the greenhouse your first destination every time you decide to explore the monastery on your free day. You’ll increase your Professor Level by doing so, as well as getting a bunch of nice items: food to eat and cook with, flowers to gift to your students, and later on, you’ll even get some stat-boosting items.

Here’s everything you need to remember about gardening:

  • As your Professor Level grows, so will your ability to plant more seeds and use more lucrative methods of cultivation. Growing that level by any means possible (teaching, fishing, etc) should be a priority.

  • Your yield will be better if you plant seeds of the same type in one batch, eg. flower seeds, herb seeds, vegetable seeds, etc.

  • Always cultivate. There are ratings of effectiveness for each of the methods, but just go for the best available to you. Your yield will be better, and you’ll only get those valuable stat-boosting items at the top end.

ABG: Always. Be. Gardening.

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – Everything You Need To Know About Fishing

Fishing in Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a great way to increase your Professor Level without spending any activity points, with the bonus of being able to stockpile ingredients to have for meals. Sometimes, there will be events on Sundays where rare fish become available to catch, which you can sell for cold, hard, cash. But it’s important to fish smart, meaning you shouldn’t necessarily reel in the first fish that bites!

When a fish catches on, there’ll be an icon that shows what kind of rarity the fish will be. When you’re using expensive bait to catch rare fish (like during a special event day, for example), you’ll want to wait for the Purple, Gold, or Rainbow fish icon to show up to make sure you’re making the most of it.

However, there is a risk of losing your bait after the third snag, sometimes fourth if you’re lucky. So try and get out while you’re ahead.

Here’s how the rarity scales: Blue -> Red -> Gold/Rainbow/Purple (Special Fish Event Only)

And remember: the better your timing is on the minigame, the better the fish will be! Or so the game says, anyway. Excellent! Perfect!

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – How To Make The Most Of Sharing Meals

Sharing meals in Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a pretty straightforward concept: Pick two students to eat with, bonus points if they favor the dish, have a great time. Here are some good things to always keep in mind in order to make sure you’re making the most out of every meal.

  • Think twice before sharing a meal with a class member who has full motivation. Could you be making this meal have a bigger impact by sharing it with someone else who doesn’t have any motivation? You don’t want to let any activity points go to waste when classes start back up for the week.

  • Do the two characters you’re sharing a meal with have the potential for social bonds with each other? If they don’t, look for a different pairing. This is especially important when you’re incorporating students from other houses–not every character can have a social relationship with every other character. (Pro tip: You can hit the X button when choosing your meal companions to view their social ranks between everyone else at the table, if any)

  • And later on in the game: Do the two characters you’re sharing a meal with already have a maxed-out social bond? You might have your favorite characters, but if they’re not going to get any benefits out of the meal, it might be worth checking the support menu and see who might stand to gain a bit more.

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – How To Effectively Kill Monsters

Fire Emblem: Three Houses will painstakingly explain the mechanics of how to take out monsters when you first encounter them. But let’s be honest–with all the stuff going on in this game, you’ll probably forget about it by the time another one rolls around and just spam Gambit abilities at it, which is not the best way to do things.

Here’s what to remember when you take on monsters:

  • Each monster has a number of different segments available for attack. These are all initially shielded, as indicated by the golden squares underneath it.

  • You need to take down these shields by attacking them. You won’t do as much damage, but it’s a necessity–think about using your weaker units to help out with this.

  • The gold squares that indicate shields will eventually crack, and then shatter. Once they’re gone, that particular square will be susceptible to full damage.

  • Gambits will do damage to multiple segments, as well as stun the monster, which means it won’t be able to counterattack until it is hit again.

As you can imagine, the fastest way to take down a monster is to have units prepared to make targeted strikes one after the other. If you don’t think you can take it down in one phase, try and make your last attack a Gambit attack so the monster will be stunned during their phase.

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – List Of Faculty Training Options

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you’re the one teaching students. But what about your own self-development? Weapons skills are easy to practice in battle, but you can’t level up things like reason, faith, riding, or flying skills unless you’re already certified for the associated classes–and you need Faculty Training in order to do that.

Early on, it’s a better use of your activity points to invest in those skills so you can, say, become certified as a Pegasus Knight and continue practicing your flying from there. Here’s who can teach you the aforementioned skills:

  • Flying: Manuela, Seteth
  • Riding: Jeralt, Hanneman, Gilbert
  • Faith: Rhea, Manuela
  • Reason: Hanneman, Rhea

And here’s a list of what all the teachers at Garreg Mach Monastery can teach you:

  • Rhea: Sword, Brawl, Reason, Faith
  • Seteth: Sword, Lance, Axe, Authority, Flying
  • Manuela: Sword, Faith, Flying
  • Hanneman: Bow, Reason, Riding
  • Catherine: Sword, Brawl
  • Jeralt: Lance, Authority, Riding
  • Alois: Axe, Brawl, Heavy Armor
  • Shamir: Lance, Bow
  • Gilbert: Lance, Axe, Heavy Armor, Riding

Later on in the story, you’ll open up more avenues to teach your protagonist skills, but we’ll keep that a mystery for anyone just starting out.

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – Gender-Specific Classes

In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, as was the case in previous Fire Emblem games, each gender has its own variety of classes that are unique to them. Most of them will be common, but for whatever reason, only dudes can punch things and be a hero, and only girls can ride the flying horsies. Here is a list of all the gender-specific classes in the game, so you don’t waste time training anybody to be certified in a class they’re locked out of.

Male Only:

Intermediate:

  • Brawler (Brawl)
  • Dark Mage (Reason)

Advanced:

  • Hero (Sword, Axe)
  • Grappler (Brawl)
  • Dark Bishop (Reason)

Master:

  • War Master (Axe, Brawl)

Female Only:

Intermediate:

  • Pegasus Knight (Lance, Flying)

Advanced:

Master:

  • Falcon Knight (Sword, Lance, Flying)
  • Gremory (Reason, Faith)

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Guide – Best Skills To Focus On

Fire Emblem: Three Houses certainly gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of how you can develop your protagonist’s abilities, as well as those of your students. While you’re free to pursue any combat skill with any character you wish, the game definitely nudges you in a few different directions when it comes to certain characters and certain classes.

When it comes to picking a goal, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:

  • Your gender: Three Houses unfortunately still has gender-specific classes, so it’s important to look ahead and see what options you have available in the long-term before you start to pursue a class discipline. I was in the process of making my female protagonist the best hand-to-hand fighter possible until I learned that the later brawler classes, the Brawler, Grappler, and Warmaster, were exclusive to males. You can find a list of the gender-specific classes here.

  • Innate learning advantages: Every character has specific skills they’re particularly good at learning, indicated by a blue arrow next to it on their character sheet. This means they’ll get more skill points when training in this ability.

  • Innate learning disadvantages: Some characters have skills that they are poor at learning, meaning they’ll earn fewer points when training in this ability. It’s usually not a fantastic idea to keep pushing a character in a direction they hate unless they have a…

  • Hidden potential: Some characters have hidden potentials next to certain skills indicated by three stars next to it on the character sheet. This is usually in a skill that doesn’t seem like a natural part of their initial class designation and means that with enough consistent learning in that skill, that character will be able to unlock a unique or advanced ability. Sometimes, this hidden potential will also come with an innate learning disadvantage, but if you work at it hard enough, then you can flip it into an advantage instead.

  • The Story: Without spoiling anything, the plot of Three Houses will eventually push your protagonist and house leaders quite hard towards a particular skillset, typically the ones they start with. That’s a sword for the protagonist, axe for Edelgard, lance for Dimitri, and bow for Claude. So, if you really want to excel in one type of weapon for these characters, stick with what they have.

For more in-game know-how, check our complete collection of essential advice and tips for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It’s a huge game, and after our multiple playthroughs, we have plenty of guidance we’re dying to give you.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the game, read our interview with the directors of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where they talk about the series’ increasing popularity in the West, the dramatic changes they made to the combat system, and the refreshing new character designs.

In our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review, Kallie Plagge concluded: “When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough… whether you’re managing inventories or battlefields, it’s the kind of game that’s hard to put down, even when it’s over.”