Fire Emblem: Three Houses presents you with a dilemma. Unlike its predecessor, Fire Emblem Fates, you get access to multiple factions with unique maps, stories, and characters — free of additional charge. Once you beat the prologue mission, you’re locked into this decision. You cannot go back and choose a different team in Three Houses. The obvious question, then, is this: What house should you pick in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
The answer isn’t very simple. It will come down almost entirely to taste and preference. Each faction plays very differently, at least at first, and you’re looking at dozens of hours of commitment before you can start swaying some off-team characters to your side. You can eventually bring a lot of soldiers to whichever house you want, though, so don’t worry too much about that!
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Below you’ll find an overview of each of the three houses. The major differences between them are starting stats and units, as well as leaders, flavor, and storyline. So we’ve laid those out as best we could without spoiling too much. In addition, you will also get different missions depending on where you hang your hat. But a lot of folks agree that the game isn’t too punishing on normal difficulty — partially thanks to a new rewind function — no matter which allegiance you select.
Golden Deer – Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
Leader: Claude
The Golden Deer are shaping up to be the fan favorite group in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. This is partially thanks to their leader, Claude. He’s a smarmy, flirty hunk and immediately gives off the horniest energy of the three houses. So he’s exactly what a lot of Fire Emblem players are looking for…
The Golden Deer also represent the Leicester Alliance in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Everyone’s motives shift and change throughout the game, no matter who you play, but Leicester at least seems like the most down-to-earth of the trio at first. The country is run by a council, rather than just a single monarch. Sadly it’s a council of nobles — so still a bunch of rich jerks. But sometimes you have to take what you can get where Fire Emblem is concerned.
Signature Weapon: Bows
Overall, the Golden Deer like to hang back and pepper foes from afar. This means less health and fewer defenses than, say, nothing but big honkin’ knights. If you like to attack from a distance and outmaneuver your opponent, this is the group to play.
Picking on alliance over another won’t lock you out of certain unit type, however! The Golden Deer, Black Eagles, and Blue Lions all have access to pretty much everything in the game. You can also switch various characters to other unit types. Many Three Houses characters don’t even start out as their very best class! You should experiment.
Golden Deer Characters – Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
The following characters are available almost immediately if you align yourself with the Golden Deer in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That doesn’t mean you can’t play as all of them otherwise, though! You can recruit, field, and romance units from the other houses — eventually
- Claude: The easygoing leader of the Golden Deer. But like everyone else in this game, he has some secrets…
- Hilda: A fashionista and an only child, Hilda is… basically the spoiled rich girl type.
- Ignatz: A quiet and artsy boy. Despite his own interests, his parents sent him off to train for knighthood.
- Leonie: She’s a frugal wannabe mercenary that only made it to the academy thanks to a student loan. She wants to pay off her debt as quickly as possible.
- Lorenz: A very loyal friend, if he thinks highly of you. He’s otherwise kind of a pompous jerk who’s looking for a noblewoman to marry.
- Lysithea: The youngest member of the academy where the game takes place. She doesn’t like it when you point that out, though. She’s also a prodigy when it comes to magic.
- Marianne: Kind and pious, but so quiet that some suspect she has never actually spoken to her classmates.
- Raphael: A very musclebound soldier with a sort of rural demeanor.
Black Eagles – Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
Leader: Edelgard
If Fire Emblem were Harry Potter, then the Black Eagles would be Slytherin. Except for the magical racist part. They are magic, though. Members of this house tend to excel in that particular area. They’re also led by Edelgard — future empress of Adrestria. Dark emperors and empresses in Fire Emblem are usually pretty one-note, but Edelgard is actually pretty nice (if determined). It’s the rest of her crew that go full goth, but in a lovable dweeby kinda way.
Signature Weapon: Magic
As previously mentioned, the Black Eagles come with a lot of magic users. That comes with everything you’d expect: high versatility but incredibly low health. These kids need to get out in the sun more… Unlike previous Fire Emblem games, though, magic is basically split into two categories. Reason is dark and combative magic; Faith is for healing and buffing. Despite their moody looks, the Black Eagles’ skill with magic also makes them prime healers.
Picking on alliance over another won’t lock you out of certain unit type, however! The Golden Deer, Black Eagles, and Blue Lions all have access to pretty much everything in the game. You can also switch various characters to other unit types. Many Three Houses characters don’t even start out as their very best class! Not to mention you can recruit units from the other houses — eventually. You should experiment.
Black Eagles Characters Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
The following characters are available almost immediately if you align yourself with the Black Eagles in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That doesn’t mean you can’t play as all of them otherwise, though! You can recruit, field, and romance units from the other houses — eventually
- Bernadetta: A borderline comically meek and bookish member of the Black Eagles. She really does stay indoors too much…
- Caspar: A young and overeager member of the team that throws himself headlong into battle.
- Dorothea: An opera singer, and the only member of the Black Eagles not descended from nobles.
- Edelgard: The calm and dignified leader of the Black Eagles, and heir to her country’s throne.
- Ferdinand: An ultra-competitive jock who is more arrogant than he realizes. He still cares about other people a great deal, though.
- Hubert: The somewhat ruthless “brains” behind the Black Eagles. He is fiercely loyal to Edelgard.
- Linhardt: Equal parts smart and lazy.
- Petra: A studious character who was sent to the academy where the game takes place as a show of supplication to the Adrestrian Empire.
Blue Lions – Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
Leader: Dimitri
In keeping with the Harry Potter comparison, the Blue Lions are a lot like Gryfindor. That is to say, they’re brave, reliable, and holier-than-thou as all get-out. Their leader is Dimitri, who much like Edelgard is next in line to the throne of his homeland. Said homeland is the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Although, despite the very prim and proper look, Fire Emblem: Three Houses heavily hints at a darker side to this faction.
Signature Weapon: Lance
The Blue Lions signify risk and reward. They are up-close lance users that do tremendous damage. Naturally, they also have to close the distance a lot more than the Black Eagles or Golden Deer. Speed, positioning, and going for the kill whenever possible will make your life a lot easier as a Blue Lion. This is also why some folks say they’re the hardest faction in the game, but that’s pretty debatable.
Picking on alliance over another won’t lock you out of certain unit type, however! The Golden Deer, Black Eagles, and Blue Lions all have access to pretty much everything in the game. You can also switch various characters to other unit types. Many Three Houses characters don’t even start out as their very best class! Not to mention you can recruit units from the other houses — eventually. You should experiment.
Blue Lions Characters Fire Emblem: Three Houses Overview
The following characters are available almost immediately if you align yourself with the Blue Lions in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That doesn’t mean you can’t play as all of them otherwise, though! You can recruit, field, and romance units from the other houses — eventually
- Annette: A magic-user that graduated from the School of Sorcery with top grades. She loves food, but has pretty bad luck.
- Ashe: An earnest and enthusiastic character who many think used to be a commoner. You’ll have to find out for yourself!
- Dedue: A kind, quiet, and very strong companion to Dimitri. He’s followed the heir for four years and is actually one of the few commoners in the game.
- Dimitri: The knightly leader of the Blue Lions. He’s a prince, but supposedly knows tragedy.
- Felix: Felix repeatedly gets himself into trouble by talking too much without thinking.
- Ingrid: A childhood friend of Dimitri whom he strongly admires. Her family has fallen on hard times, though.
- Mercedes: A gentle and pious girl descended from a noble family. Despite this, she actually lives life as a commoner — unlike some of her companions.
- Sylvain: A self-proclaimed and unsuccessful ladies man. He’s your typical “best bud” anime archetype.
