Awakening early-game guide | Support, Pair Up, Chapters 2–3 recruitment, and Donnel's requirement

Early on, check who will be targeted after an attack before you defeat an enemy. Based on Normal in the Japanese 3DS version, this article offers steps to reduce common mistakes in Chapters 2 and 3 and Paralogue 1. It uses no additional maps or distributed equipment, and recommends rereading the combat forecast as your units' stats grow.

Adjacent allies provide support bonuses such as Hit and Avoid. Pair Up instead puts two units on one square and raises the lead unit's stats. Use it when you want to strengthen the lead unit taking enemy attacks, and check that unit's HP after combat. Pairing everyone up reduces the number of independently movable units, so consider whether you still have enough actions to defeat enemies and let Lissa heal.

The extra attack from Dual Strike and protection from Dual Guard activate by chance. As a rule, do not base an ordinary plan on “this will trigger so I can kill” or “this will trigger so I survive.” When a support conversation becomes available, select it from the menu to raise the support level. Simply fighting side by side does not reach the same stage as having the conversation. Some pairs cannot build support.

Use Switch to change the lead unit and Separate to place a partner on an adjacent square. If you need to split a pair, first choose somewhere the separated ally will not be targeted. Even a rear unit protected by a strong lead becomes an individual target once placed on another square. Do not assume that being safe while paired means being safe after separating.

Vaike joins at the start of Chapter 2 without a weapon. Check his inventory before letting him take enemy attacks, and trade him the Iron Axe from Miriel when she joins on turn 2. Stahl also joins at the start of the chapter. As your army grows, assigning front-line units and the attackers and healers behind them makes the order of actions easier to plan.

Even when leaving a finishing blow for someone you want to train, keep another ally available to handle a miss. Avoid moving all your attackers first and staking everything on the final hit. After moving Lissa to heal, check again whether enemies can reach her from their possible destinations.

Sumia joins at the start of the chapter. Kellam does not become an ally simply by being on the map; have Chrom talk to him. Clear Chrom's path for the conversation and decide whom to put in front after recruitment. Do not rely only on Kellam's high Defense: inspect enemy equipment before choosing who takes their attacks.

Be particularly careful of enemies carrying Hammers. Do not keep assigning them to Kellam or Frederick; if the combat forecast shows heavy damage, use someone else to take the attack or defeat the enemy during your own phase. Before opening a door, check the enemies beyond it and your healer's position. Magic or Chrom's Rapier are options against Raimi, but check critical hits and counterattacks too, and avoid leaving a weak ally exposed if you cannot finish her.

Paralogue 1 becomes available after clearing Chapter 3. To keep Donnel as a companion, you must level him up at least once during this map. Weaken enemies with allies first and create safe opportunities for Donnel to gain experience. Before defeating the enemy commander, check that Donnel has leveled up and is alive. Check recruitment requirements separately from the map's victory condition.

Check support conversations, remaining weapon uses, healing options, and recruitment, then save. Even in Casual mode, letting allies fall unnecessarily leaves you with fewer actions in that battle. In Classic, losses carry into the next chapter, so decide whether to continue before overwriting a save with post-chapter data while a needed ally is lost.