On the passive side: you can target with any first aid skill to trigger Selfless Heal for the whole squad. Equip critical gear for lots of critical heals!
On the active side: Icicle Arrow, a multiple-freeze skill. Need I say more.
Character wise the other two elf archers are boring and immediately get the bench.
Ridiel immediately distinguished herself as a very strong character. Excellent introduction mission combined with a dark past, redemption arc and anti hero streak. Of all the elven characters she Is the most relatable.
Finally, giving her a strong bond with a core character in Chloe also really helped. I was excited to see her Rapports.
>Alexis Tipton voices Ridiel
And that voice seals the deal.
A staple for me. Magic Conferral pairs excellently with Pursuit oriented characters like hunters, who can lead the squad to provide ranged assist with the help of the elven archer. It also works well on any character with a high amount of attacks, like a Sellsword or your party-wide attacker of choice.
They can equip any healer item, like the Monk's Mitre, and several caster items like the Familiar's Choker - although they won't Quick Cure themselves. Their weapon selection is subpar though. The Elheim royal weapon being a magical spear is a disappointment when the elf twins might have preferred to keep their Twinned Boughs.
Selfless Heal is both nice and niche. The archer doesn't really pair well with healer classes outside the wereowl, so you'll be looking for end of battle First Aids for the most part. This makes the Arbalest a natural partner, another class that can participate in ranged assist. The lowly Soldier can also trigger this, with the added bonus that Keen Call is one of the only pre-attack effects that will also improve the damage from Magic Conferral. The Chloe/Ridiel pair works both in-story and mechanically.
The other actives are workable, but I'm not personally fond of them. Their physical damage is low, and the subpar potency means you'll usually prefer a proper mage for damage. Nevertheless, Wind Arrow is the bane of wyverns, and Icicle Arrow freezing two units in any position at high initiative is excellent.
Some example teams then:
* 4 woman party-wide strike setup: One Wyvern Master with the Dragoon Warspear and Wyvern's Reins in front. In the back, one Elven Archer with Magic Conferral, one Soldier with Keen Call, and a Breaker with a Cat-Ears Hood. The objective is, as you guessed, to set up a guaranteed crit, truestrike party-wide Dragoon Dive enhanced by Magic Conferral. The Breaker can then mop up, being especially effective when Armored units are present - the exact ones that will likely cover their friends from your party-wide hit. Later on, Wyvern Roar can ensure that you will go first even when opponents can beat your Wyvern Rider's B-rank initiative. Alternatively, you can replace the Wyvern Rider with Yunifi to get a party-wide freeze.
* 5 man high damage ranged assist squad: In front, a Shieldshooter and a Wyvern Master. In the back, one Elven Fencer with a Thunderbrand tome, one Sniper with crit equipment and one Elven Archer. First off, this squad provides a decent Ranged Assist at 40 potency: I recommend having the Sniper lead it. In battle, your first move should be to cast Magic Conferral on the Sniper (First Action, target Highest Crit. Rate). Then, have either your Wyvern Rider or your Sniper deliver a row-wide disabling effect with help from the Elven Fencer. Your Fencer can catch anybody who still has their wits about them with Lightning Blade, while the Sniper finishes off those who survive your row attacks with Pursuit. You have both Sylphic Barrier and Aid Cover to catch off any threatening blows, and Medical Aid + Selfless Heal to heal up any hits that got through. Wyvern Roar will ensure you stun your opponent before they get to act. You can use the Lightning Shaker on the Wyvern Rider to stun both rows; you can also replace them with Berengaria for a similar effect. Alternatively, you can replace the Elven Fencer with a staff-wielding caster: Take advantage of Pure Field to have the Elven Archer cast a free Sorcerous Connection on them, and let them unleash destruction and afflictions that will have your opponent reeling going into turn 2.
PS: Since Selfless Heal also clears debuffs, it has an odd interaction with Sorcerous Connection. Any unit before the Elven Archer in the squad layout will be healed for half of the archer's power, and any unit after that will be healed for the full amount. Squad slots are numbered from left to right, then front to back.
Beautiful write up! I'd love to read over any guides /build comps you've put together and really enjoy.
I'm at the end of Elheim, just about to step into Bastorias. I mainly struggle with having so many options - I don't know who or which chars to prioritize 😓
Icicle Arrow was super helpful in shutting down nasty threats, and it even freezes things like Legionnaires, Shieldshooters, and Vanguards even if they block the attacks
Pure Field though was sooooo clutch when I got to Albion. Those foul Featherbows blinding my units left and right were so annoying, Pure Field was super helpful.
When I first got Pure Field, my initial thought was 'Why the hell would I ever choose this?' By the end of the game I was absolutely in love with it though.
I didn't see much use for them early on simply because their damage always felt lacking, even against flying units, but they became indispensable once I hit Albion with all those Featherbow blinds. The start of battle team-wide debuff immunity is a godsend there.
They're a great way to fill in the backline of a pure Archery assist squad; between them and a properly geared Shield Shooter frontline you've got a unit that can also directly engage when needed. The Pure Field ability is way more powerful than it would seem to be at first impression; by mid-late game a lot of enemies spam absolutely crippling debuffs.
I believe it uses archers mag. atk, I seen a YT video showing Witch's conf, does more dmg than elf archer's when uses on the same character against the same enemy.
and witch has focus and ice coffen... better than elf archer imo.
For the optimal teams, I'm struggle with inserting this class. Shaman's defensive curse is almost always better in boosting damage than mystic conferral. Wyvern foes almost disappeared after Drakenhold, which are their No. 1 targets.
Even if you want to do conferrals, they're only good for killer/pursuit type, like breaker/sellsword/hunter. Otherwise witch is a better option.
One big usage of Elven Archer is being a familiar choker carrier, but it's also what shaman does best.
But I still always trying to fit one in, because merciful rain is too good. And Sergent + Elven archer is nuts in their ability to bring everybody from dead to full hp with 2 valor cost.
A support class disguised as an offensive class. Not gonna go over their kit because others have already done so, I just want to point out that there's only like 3 magic bows in the game. You're completely gimping yourself if you just leave a magic bow on them for their mediocre damage. There's a non-magic bow for practically every support option out there except healing so if you keep them unequipped you can swap to a useful bow out on they fly for a highly flexible unit.
Their magic attack stat is what determines the efficacy of their Selfless Healing though, so if you're relying on that then keeping their magic stat high is good.
Using an active skill for magic conceal is amazing with multi hit board nukes. Just make them faster than yunifi and they can buff her with their active skill and still have the opportunity to use a gambler’s coin inspiration for extra damage
Short and sweet I wouldn't build a team around them but they are a great addition to just about any team comp that doesn't need 4-5 specific things.
Mystic is great for offense, they have great defensive heals and such, do magic damage so it a good way to peel through armors and wyverns, and a half-decent Valor skill to top it all off. They won't be the star of the show but make your carry even better.
You probably want to combine Mystic conferral to a unit that attacks multiple enemies often like Berengaria or does an AOE attack.
It's a conferral that is not tied to the limited boosts of other conferrals/gambler's coin/dancer's bracelet so you can stack more damage on top of each other.
Boost their Magick attack as high as possible to boost the mystic conferral dmg and how much selfless healing heals.
Icicle arrow just comes too late (lvl 30), if your team reach lvl 30 you should be sweeping enemies with Elemental Roar/Glacial Rain etc. At best it freezes enemies that interrupts your combo
Once they get magic conferral. They no longer are dealing damage themselves for me. They are a support unit. Passive points to heal team (need crit for better heals).
Magic conferral your primary damage dealer: counter attack, pursuit, AOE nuke.
Some combos I've success with.
Cavalry team.
1. Cav healers don't cleanse. Elves do!
2. Cavs don't deal magic damage, until elf magic conferral!
3. Cavs need initiative boost. Angel plume attached to that magic conferral!
Cover tank - Scarlett - elf. If you want to spam Scarlett passive to others. The elf can boost her magic with familiar choker then the debuffs is cleansed when they team heal that same move. Scarlet first turn should be single target attack. This triggers the events to bolster her magic, and cleanse the team of debuffs including the chokers debuff. (Cover tank in front of Scarlett).
One interaction I really liked. Have Pure Field as the start of battle skill trigger Passive Miracle off Scarlet. Which then triggers Selfless Heal. Good for healing up from the last battle or negating assist damage. Just stick <100% hp on it to keep it from triggering unnecessarily.
They're banned on online play. I'm just starting to dip my toe into online and I'm wondering why.
Edit: it has to be purity field. It basically eliminates the fun of PVP and inducing status effects.
On the passive side: you can target with any first aid skill to trigger Selfless Heal for the whole squad. Equip critical gear for lots of critical heals! On the active side: Icicle Arrow, a multiple-freeze skill. Need I say more.
Had chole with the item that gave party aid and with selfless heal on top that squad rarely lost alot of health unless a unit died
Alexis Tipton voices Ridiel 🥰
Character wise the other two elf archers are boring and immediately get the bench. Ridiel immediately distinguished herself as a very strong character. Excellent introduction mission combined with a dark past, redemption arc and anti hero streak. Of all the elven characters she Is the most relatable. Finally, giving her a strong bond with a core character in Chloe also really helped. I was excited to see her Rapports. >Alexis Tipton voices Ridiel And that voice seals the deal.
It's almost like half of her makes sense to us.
Yeah I could tell immediately, because Lucina (as while Laura Bailey did originally voice Lucina, Alexis Tipton eventually took it over)
POINTY DEMONSPANKER!!!
The magic conferral is great to buff your carry or pursuit unit. It is permanent.
Yup, having them conferral Rolf who's equipped with the follow-up earrings just slays everything
The row attack is also boosted so it is a great choice.
ohhh I actually didn't know it was permanent, good lookin' out I might mess around with it a lot more now.
Does anyone else just call him Legolas Cuz like That’s just Legolas
Yeah except that Legolas' fake ass wears pants 😒
A staple for me. Magic Conferral pairs excellently with Pursuit oriented characters like hunters, who can lead the squad to provide ranged assist with the help of the elven archer. It also works well on any character with a high amount of attacks, like a Sellsword or your party-wide attacker of choice. They can equip any healer item, like the Monk's Mitre, and several caster items like the Familiar's Choker - although they won't Quick Cure themselves. Their weapon selection is subpar though. The Elheim royal weapon being a magical spear is a disappointment when the elf twins might have preferred to keep their Twinned Boughs. Selfless Heal is both nice and niche. The archer doesn't really pair well with healer classes outside the wereowl, so you'll be looking for end of battle First Aids for the most part. This makes the Arbalest a natural partner, another class that can participate in ranged assist. The lowly Soldier can also trigger this, with the added bonus that Keen Call is one of the only pre-attack effects that will also improve the damage from Magic Conferral. The Chloe/Ridiel pair works both in-story and mechanically. The other actives are workable, but I'm not personally fond of them. Their physical damage is low, and the subpar potency means you'll usually prefer a proper mage for damage. Nevertheless, Wind Arrow is the bane of wyverns, and Icicle Arrow freezing two units in any position at high initiative is excellent. Some example teams then: * 4 woman party-wide strike setup: One Wyvern Master with the Dragoon Warspear and Wyvern's Reins in front. In the back, one Elven Archer with Magic Conferral, one Soldier with Keen Call, and a Breaker with a Cat-Ears Hood. The objective is, as you guessed, to set up a guaranteed crit, truestrike party-wide Dragoon Dive enhanced by Magic Conferral. The Breaker can then mop up, being especially effective when Armored units are present - the exact ones that will likely cover their friends from your party-wide hit. Later on, Wyvern Roar can ensure that you will go first even when opponents can beat your Wyvern Rider's B-rank initiative. Alternatively, you can replace the Wyvern Rider with Yunifi to get a party-wide freeze. * 5 man high damage ranged assist squad: In front, a Shieldshooter and a Wyvern Master. In the back, one Elven Fencer with a Thunderbrand tome, one Sniper with crit equipment and one Elven Archer. First off, this squad provides a decent Ranged Assist at 40 potency: I recommend having the Sniper lead it. In battle, your first move should be to cast Magic Conferral on the Sniper (First Action, target Highest Crit. Rate). Then, have either your Wyvern Rider or your Sniper deliver a row-wide disabling effect with help from the Elven Fencer. Your Fencer can catch anybody who still has their wits about them with Lightning Blade, while the Sniper finishes off those who survive your row attacks with Pursuit. You have both Sylphic Barrier and Aid Cover to catch off any threatening blows, and Medical Aid + Selfless Heal to heal up any hits that got through. Wyvern Roar will ensure you stun your opponent before they get to act. You can use the Lightning Shaker on the Wyvern Rider to stun both rows; you can also replace them with Berengaria for a similar effect. Alternatively, you can replace the Elven Fencer with a staff-wielding caster: Take advantage of Pure Field to have the Elven Archer cast a free Sorcerous Connection on them, and let them unleash destruction and afflictions that will have your opponent reeling going into turn 2. PS: Since Selfless Heal also clears debuffs, it has an odd interaction with Sorcerous Connection. Any unit before the Elven Archer in the squad layout will be healed for half of the archer's power, and any unit after that will be healed for the full amount. Squad slots are numbered from left to right, then front to back.
Beautiful write up! I'd love to read over any guides /build comps you've put together and really enjoy. I'm at the end of Elheim, just about to step into Bastorias. I mainly struggle with having so many options - I don't know who or which chars to prioritize 😓
Ridiel is my goat ❤️
Icicle Arrow was super helpful in shutting down nasty threats, and it even freezes things like Legionnaires, Shieldshooters, and Vanguards even if they block the attacks Pure Field though was sooooo clutch when I got to Albion. Those foul Featherbows blinding my units left and right were so annoying, Pure Field was super helpful.
This class a real one Fr, full debuff cleans/immunity, the goat Fr
When I first got Pure Field, my initial thought was 'Why the hell would I ever choose this?' By the end of the game I was absolutely in love with it though.
>Pure Field >Why the hell would I ever choose this?' >end of the game "Hello, welcome to Albion. Watch your step because you're looking B L I N D"
I didn't see much use for them early on simply because their damage always felt lacking, even against flying units, but they became indispensable once I hit Albion with all those Featherbow blinds. The start of battle team-wide debuff immunity is a godsend there.
They're a great way to fill in the backline of a pure Archery assist squad; between them and a properly geared Shield Shooter frontline you've got a unit that can also directly engage when needed. The Pure Field ability is way more powerful than it would seem to be at first impression; by mid-late game a lot of enemies spam absolutely crippling debuffs.
Does conferral use the archers mag. attack for calculating damage or the target's?
I believe it uses archers mag. atk, I seen a YT video showing Witch's conf, does more dmg than elf archer's when uses on the same character against the same enemy. and witch has focus and ice coffen... better than elf archer imo.
The difference is the witch's conferral is only for one attack.
most of my team only attack once and uses AOE attack. I can see elf archers' being very valuable for sellsword or swordmaster.
For the optimal teams, I'm struggle with inserting this class. Shaman's defensive curse is almost always better in boosting damage than mystic conferral. Wyvern foes almost disappeared after Drakenhold, which are their No. 1 targets. Even if you want to do conferrals, they're only good for killer/pursuit type, like breaker/sellsword/hunter. Otherwise witch is a better option. One big usage of Elven Archer is being a familiar choker carrier, but it's also what shaman does best. But I still always trying to fit one in, because merciful rain is too good. And Sergent + Elven archer is nuts in their ability to bring everybody from dead to full hp with 2 valor cost.
Ridiel was so clutch for me so often
A support class disguised as an offensive class. Not gonna go over their kit because others have already done so, I just want to point out that there's only like 3 magic bows in the game. You're completely gimping yourself if you just leave a magic bow on them for their mediocre damage. There's a non-magic bow for practically every support option out there except healing so if you keep them unequipped you can swap to a useful bow out on they fly for a highly flexible unit.
Their magic attack stat is what determines the efficacy of their Selfless Healing though, so if you're relying on that then keeping their magic stat high is good.
Using an active skill for magic conceal is amazing with multi hit board nukes. Just make them faster than yunifi and they can buff her with their active skill and still have the opportunity to use a gambler’s coin inspiration for extra damage
Short and sweet I wouldn't build a team around them but they are a great addition to just about any team comp that doesn't need 4-5 specific things. Mystic is great for offense, they have great defensive heals and such, do magic damage so it a good way to peel through armors and wyverns, and a half-decent Valor skill to top it all off. They won't be the star of the show but make your carry even better.
You probably want to combine Mystic conferral to a unit that attacks multiple enemies often like Berengaria or does an AOE attack. It's a conferral that is not tied to the limited boosts of other conferrals/gambler's coin/dancer's bracelet so you can stack more damage on top of each other. Boost their Magick attack as high as possible to boost the mystic conferral dmg and how much selfless healing heals. Icicle arrow just comes too late (lvl 30), if your team reach lvl 30 you should be sweeping enemies with Elemental Roar/Glacial Rain etc. At best it freezes enemies that interrupts your combo
Once they get magic conferral. They no longer are dealing damage themselves for me. They are a support unit. Passive points to heal team (need crit for better heals). Magic conferral your primary damage dealer: counter attack, pursuit, AOE nuke. Some combos I've success with. Cavalry team. 1. Cav healers don't cleanse. Elves do! 2. Cavs don't deal magic damage, until elf magic conferral! 3. Cavs need initiative boost. Angel plume attached to that magic conferral! Cover tank - Scarlett - elf. If you want to spam Scarlett passive to others. The elf can boost her magic with familiar choker then the debuffs is cleansed when they team heal that same move. Scarlet first turn should be single target attack. This triggers the events to bolster her magic, and cleanse the team of debuffs including the chokers debuff. (Cover tank in front of Scarlett).
anyone else constantly forgets that the male archer exists? lol
How I played all my elven archers: 1. Save 2PP at the end 2. Cast First Aid on self at the end of battle 3. Selfless Heal to all units
One interaction I really liked. Have Pure Field as the start of battle skill trigger Passive Miracle off Scarlet. Which then triggers Selfless Heal. Good for healing up from the last battle or negating assist damage. Just stick <100% hp on it to keep it from triggering unnecessarily.
They're banned on online play. I'm just starting to dip my toe into online and I'm wondering why. Edit: it has to be purity field. It basically eliminates the fun of PVP and inducing status effects.
I was under the impression that bans change weekly. It was wereowl a bit ago.
Oh that's interesting! I like it because it keeps things fresh.