Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light Chapters 1–5 guide (Famicom version)

Three checks before deployment or movement

1. Use Marth for villages and the designated speaker for recruitment. Do not defeat the target enemy first.
2. Check front-line weapon uses, healers' staves, and empty inventory slots for purchases.
3. Keep wounded units and Caeda out of bow range and overlapping enemy reach. Change the front line when enemy equipment calls for it.

Chapter 1, Marth Embarks: finish villages and shopping

Your first objectives are the two villages. Finish Marth's visits while opening the road to the castle.

1. Collect 10,000G in the eastern village and recruit Wrys in the western one. Wait to seize until both visits are complete.
2. Meet pirates with front-line units once they reach land. Pull wounded units back to forts, and keep Caeda outside bow range.
3. Buy an Iron Sword for Marth to avoid wearing down his Rapier in everyday fights. Give Javelins to the lance users who need them.
4. After clearing the enemies, organize inventories and have Marth seize the castle.

Chapter 2, The Pirates of Galder: wait without defeating Darros

Ogma, Bord, Cord, and Barst join at the start. Use the bridge and coastal approaches instead of spreading your army too thin against both pirates and cavalry.

1. Do not attack Darros; let him approach Marth to join. This procedure does not assume Marth can initiate the conversation.
2. Have Caeda talk to Castor. He is an enemy archer, so arrange a position from which she can talk that same turn instead of approaching and waiting.
3. Prevent the northern pirates and western cavalry from reaching vulnerable allies at the same time. Put healers behind the front line.
4. Receive 5,000G in the village, and consider Hand Axes and Hammers if you use axe fighters.

Chapter 3, A Brush in the Teeth: reunite Lena and Julian with the army

Lena and Julian start away from the main army. Prioritize bringing them back and recruiting Navarre; do not make the isolated pair keep taking enemy attacks.

1. Withdraw Lena and Julian south toward the main army. Do not force attacks on their pursuers.
2. Recruit Navarre with Caeda. Avoid an approach that repeatedly takes Killing Edge attacks while bringing the speaker over.
3. Collect the Devil Axe from the village. Its damage can rebound on the user, so do not make it a main weapon based only on attack power.
4. Give Navarre an ordinary sword too, saving the Killing Edge in everyday fights. Finish regrouping and visits before heading to seize.

Chapter 4, Battle in the Lea: deploy Lena

Select Lena to recruit Matthis, and handle the village-destroying thief while moving Marth to visit.

1. Deploy Lena and do not defeat Matthis before she talks to him.
2. Have Marth recruit Merric in the northern village and collect 5,000G in the western village. Secure the routes before thieves destroy the villages.
3. Do not use Draug against enemy cavalry carrying an Armorslayer. Boss Bentheon carries a Ridersbane, so reconsider having cavalry take his attacks.
4. The arena is optional, not required grinding. Finish recruitment, visits, and weapon transfers before seizing.

Chapter 5, Champions of Aurelis: unite the two forces at the bridge

Hardin, Wolf, Sedgar, Roshea, and Vyland join as a group. Do not send them charging alone toward the castle; form up near the bridge until Marth's side opens the route.

1. Pull Hardin's wounded units behind the others and avoid letting the small group be surrounded. Reduce enemies from Marth's side to open a joining route.
2. Deploy Merric and have him talk to Wendell. Bring the speaker over before defeating the target.
3. Collect the Firestone from the village and store it until its user arrives.
4. Prepare for reinforcements from the forts: do not leave curates or shoppers nearby. Famicom reinforcements act on the turn they appear, so do not assume you can wait to see them and then flee.
5. Merach is armored. Consider magic or attacks effective against armor, checking counterattacks and allied HP as you approach the castle.

Before seizing: checks to prepare for the next chapter

1. Check planned village visits, recruitment targets, and starting recruits. Review the roster before ending the fighting.
2. Pass weapons to those deploying next. Do not assume the Famicom preparation screen allows shopping and inventory exchanges.
3. Check healer safety and remaining staff uses, along with front-line weapon uses.
4. Finally move Marth to the castle and seize. Coverage ends here; there is no guide for Chapter 6 onward yet.