Assassin
From Fire Emblem Wiki
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Assassins first appeared in Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken, as promoted versions of thieves (the previous game of the series, Fire Emblem: Fūin no Tsurugi, thieves could not promote). The first assassin players saw in a battle scene was Jaffar, Jaffar was also the first assassin that players got to control in a battle. Thieves, either Matthew and Legault could be promoted into a assassin using the game's sole fell contract. Assassins returned in Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, being an optional promotion to myrmidons as well as thieves - Colm, Joshua and Marisa could be promoted into assassins. In both Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, the assassin class was exclusive to the character Volke and an assassin attacks using a knife as opposed to a sword.
The Assassin is seen as a useful class to have on the field, but also one to be fear should you face one. When they promote from a thief, they lose their ability to steal, but they keep their ability to open locks (with a lockpick), as well as their weapon proficiency in only swords. Despite a character losing the ability to steal when they promote from a thief, they gain the ability to be a formidable combat class. On occasion, the Assassin will perform a special critical hit, in which they will defeat an enemy in a single attack, regardless of health and defense. This skill is known as Lethality, an assassin's critical hit has a 50% chance of being a lethality critical hit. This can even be used on the most powerful of enemies. Also when an assassin activates silence the experience they gain from killing the enemy is double the experience they would of earned if they had killed the enemy through other methods.
[edit] Combat
It's important to keep in mind that Assassin and the Thief are different classes in combat. The fragile Thief loses much of its weakness once promoted. Although their defense and health is moderate at best, it's rare for an assassin to fail to evade an attack (unless the difference in level/weapon triangle takes too great of an effect). Capping their stats out at a disappointingly low strength, it's not unheard of to strike for zero damage on the more heavily armored foes. Be aware of the accurate attacks of Mages, as they'll be able to take advantage of your high speed, yet moderate resistance. However, a well trained assassin can be an extremely effective killing machine and can take out an entire army with a killing edge.
[edit] Promotions
Being the promoted version of the Thief or Myrmidon classes, the Assassin can not be promoted any further.
In Radiant Dawn, the Assassin is considered to be a third tier promotion class, though the game is unclear how to obtain an assassin, because Volke is the only assassin in the game and he is already fully promoted when recruited.
