Early encounters in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave can create a false sense of security regarding character development. With limited unit caps in dungeon exploration and skirmish battles, and guest characters often filling out rosters in the Heroic Games, players are naturally inclined to focus on a core group of powerful allies. This strategy, however, proves detrimental as the game progresses into its more demanding War Arc.
The initial stages of Fortune's Weave allow players to succeed with a handful of well-trained characters. For example, one playthrough saw the player character Dietrich reach level 40 by the end of Part 1, accompanied by other units in the mid-30s. Other recruited characters, however, were left at significantly lower levels and in their starting classes, with neglected stat growth. This oversight, compounded by mismanaged free time, funds, and gift-giving over several chapters, meant it was too late to rectify the imbalance before the game's difficulty escalated.
The War Arc significantly increases the unit cap to 15, and this is where the consequences of neglecting a larger roster become apparent. Facing dozens of enemies and reinforcements, including formidable units like giant elephants, on challenging maps with an underdeveloped army proves to be an exhausting and difficult endeavor. The subsequent Act 3 battles present even greater challenges.
To succeed in later stages of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, players are advised to develop a broader range of units. While it's not always necessary to field every unit in every battle, ensuring their skills are improved and classes are changed to promote better stat growth is crucial. The game offers features, such as auto-activities during in-game weeks of free time, that allow players to conveniently level up lower-ranked units. Prioritizing this development will significantly improve a player's chances of overcoming the game's escalating challenges.