Intelligent Systems has unveiled a significant and unexpected addition to Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave: firearms. The revelation, made during a recent showcase, introduces what appears to be the first instance of gun-based weaponry in the franchise's history.
The game will allow players to simultaneously experience the narratives of four heroes, with Eshmel serving as the true protagonist, amidst a story filled with time-travel elements. However, the introduction of contemporary firearms has quickly captured the attention of the game's community. One character, Anatolia, has been prominently shown wielding a firearm, leading fans to affectionately nickname her "nun with a gun." The weapon type shown is referred to as a 'salamander,' and speculation suggests there may be further variations of firearms in the game.
Adding to the surprise, these firearms are categorized within the game as gauntlets. In Fire Emblem games, gauntlets are typically a melee weapon type that can offer evasion advantages. The classification of guns as gauntlets suggests they might retain some of these evasion properties, potentially allowing for ranged evasion. The traditional Fire Emblem weapon hierarchy, which establishes strengths and weaknesses between weapon types like swords, axes, and spears, will now need to accommodate these new ranged yet gauntlet-classified weapons. How they will interact with flying enemies or other weapon types remains to be seen.
The game is scheduled for release on September 12th for the Nintendo Switch 2.