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Bow Knight is a horse-mounted combat physical class that recurrently appears across the Fire Emblem Series, beginning from Fire Emblem Gaiden.

Depending on the title that the Bow Knight class appears in, it acts as a first, second or third-tier class. Primarily armed with Bows as its weapon of choice, the Bow Knight class is, in later installments, given the additional ability to wield Swords, Lances, or Axes as its secondary weapon.

History in the Series[]

In Gaiden and its remake Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the Bow Knight class is the third-tier promotion of the Archer class family, possessing an attack range of 1~5. They are renowned for being especially useful for attacking most enemies without retaliation or when a unit requires protection due to their ability to hit enemy units from a considerable distance. In the DLC for Echoes, the Bow Knight can further promote into their Overclass, the Oliphantier.

In the Jugdral Series, the Bow Knight class is the promoted form of the Arch Knight class. There are no recruitable pre-promoted units of this class in either title.

In TearRing Saga: Utna Heroes Saga, the Bow Knight class is known as the Bow Rider, translated Ranger in the fan translation) and is an enemy-exclusive mounted class which can equip bows only.

In the Tellius Series, Bow Knights are a first-tier class that promotes into either Paladins in Path of Radiance or Bow Paladins in Radiant Dawn. In Radiant Dawn, the Bow Knight class can further promote into the Silver Knight class after promoting into the Bow Paladin class.

In Awakening, the Bow Knight class is one of the possible promoted forms of both the Archer and Mercenary classes. This incarnation of the class is able to wield Swords alongside Bows, drawing inspiration from the Nomadic Trooper from The Binding Blade and The Blazing Blade, alongside the Ranger class from The Sacred Stones.

In Fates, the Bow Knight class is treated as a Nohrian class, acting as one of the promoted forms of both the Mercenary and Outlaw classes.

In Three Houses, the Bow Knight is a class included in the Master Class curriculum, with the Bow Knight Certification exam requiring a unit to be Level 30 and to possess a C in Lances, and As in both Riding and Bows to pass. As such, it can be considered once more the promoted form of Snipers. Bow Knights have a +3 Skill Experience class bonus to a unit's Bows, Lances and Riding subjects.

In Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, the Bow Knight is the final class in the Fighter class trees's Archer line, and is available to any unit that has mastered the Bow Knight's predecessor, the Sniper class. Ingrid, Mercedes, and Yuri can learn their Innate Skill Sharpshooter when they master Bow Knight.

In Vestaria Saga I, the Bow Knight is known as the Tarkhan and is the promotion of the Ranger. The class wields Swords and Bows. Promotion into this class causes the Ranger to lose it's ability to traverse cliffs.

Overview[]

Combat[]

Awakening[]

In Awakening, the Bow Knight class's mounted status improves their Movement for almost all skirmishes. Their increased Speed is handy for double attacking enemies and Rally Skill is a fairly good skill for increasing the activation chance of their allies' skills. Their added ability to wield Swords also affords them an advantage when engaging in close-ranged combat. Bowbreaker, conversely, is good for dealing with bow-wielding units such as Snipers, as they often carry the omnipresent threat of being armed with Killer Bows during Wi-Fi battles. Bow Knights also have decent Skill, allowing them to perform critical attacks more frequently than many other classes.

Fates[]

The Bow Knight class's stats in Fates are slightly altered as compared to the ones in Awakening; they have a slightly higher Resistance than Defense, effectively making them decent magic killers. Rather than having Bowbreaker (which is now learned by Sorcerers), Bow Knights learn Shurikenbreaker instead, allowing them to both hit and dodge shuriken/dagger wielders with ease.

Three Houses[]

In Three Houses, the Bow Knight has the unique distinction of having Bowrange +2 over the Bowrange +1 of other bow-using classes, allowing Bow Knights to attack at 4-range when wielding a bow. Combined with their high mobility (and Canto) when mounted, they can prove to be threatening zoning units, especially against mounted flier units. In principle, this makes them extremely valuable over the Sniper class which Bow Knights generally would promote from.

However, the advantages of the Bow Knight are met with some drawbacks when compared to the Sniper. Chiefly among them, the Bow Knight cannot use the Hunter's Volley combat art that is locked to Sniper, meaning that to strike twice consecutively they must use a brave weapon such as the Brave Bow, or learn a combat art allowing it (i.e. Point-Blank Volley). Secondly, utilising its ability to attack at 4-range is risky, since it incurs a penalty of -20 hit over attacking at 3-range (and -40/-50 hit over attacking at 2-range), which without hit-boosting abilities or battalions makes such attacks more likely to miss. Thirdly, the growth rates of the Bow Knight are extremely poor compared to Sniper or almost any other class, making long-term growth in the class less viable. Thus, the Bow Knight is often viewed as map-dependent.

In-Game[]

Base Stats[]

HPStrMagSklSpdLckDefResMovConWtWlvCha
FE24016-8801068--Bow-
FE440100880839--FE4 Bow A-
FE5 (Mounted)24/205/4166/705-97/5-FE5 Bow Icon D-
FE5 (Dismounted)24/204/3154/504-67/5-FE5 Bow Icon D-
TS22503302-7--TS Bow 2-
FE920/185025/606/50/1810/733/29FE9 Bow D-
FE1018606608281033FE10 Bow D-
FE13248010100628--SwordIconFE13 E BowIconFE13 E-
FE141860893568--FE14 Sword E FE14 Bow E-
FE154016-8801068--Echoes bow weapon type icon-
FE1632171014161214108--FE16 lance icon C FE16 bow icon A FE16 riding icon A0
FE17227210833365-FE17 Sword ? FE17 Lance ? FE17 Axe ? FE17 Bow ?-

Maximum Stats[]

HPStrMagSklSpdLckDefResMovConWtWlvCha
FE25240-40404040408--Bow-
FE480251523233023189--FE4 Bow A-
FE580202020202020-2020-FE5 Bow Icon A-
TS60201518183017-12--TS Bow 17-
FE94020152020402020810/733/29FE9 Bow A-
FE10402010202030201081033FE10 Bow A-
FE1380403043414535308--SwordIconFE13 A BowIconFE13 A-
FE1455292532333027328--FE14 Sword B FE14 Bow A-
FE176838234537302329814-FE17 Sword C^ FE17 Lance C^ FE17 Axe C^ FE17 Bow A-

Growth Rates[]

HPStrMagSklSpdLckDefResMovConWtWlvCha
FE970/65%45/35%15/20%40/40%50/55%30/30%45/45%40/50%-----
FE1075%50%15%40%45%25%40%30%-----
FE1350%20%0%25%20%0%5%5%-----
FE1410%10%0%15%15%10%0%10%-----
FE15120%50%-50%30%0%30%0%-----
FE1610/40%0/15%0%0/10%-5%0%0/25%0/5%---FE16 lance icon +3 FE16 bow icon +3 FE16 riding icon +35%
FE1710%10%0%20%20%15%0%15%-0%---
FEW3H20%20%0%35%0%0%10%0%----10%

Class Modifiers[]

HPStrMagSklSpdLckDefResMovConWtWlvCha
FE1621031/31104/2---0
FEW3H3002052/52207/0---2

Class Skills[]

SkillRequirements
FE4RemoveRe-MoveHidden innate skill of all mounted and flying units.
FE10CantoCantoBase skill of all mounted and flying units.
FE13SkillCryFE13IconRally Skill
BowslayerBowbreaker
Learnt at Level 5.
Learnt at Level 15.
FE14Rally Skill (FE14)Rally Skill
Kunaibreaker (Skill)Shurikenbreaker
Learnt at Level 5 and above.
Learnt at Level 15 and above.
FE15Echoes Class Skill iconBowrange +2Class skill of the Bow Knight and Sniper classes.
FE16Bowrange+2 FE16Bowrange +2
Bowfaire FE16Bowfaire
Canto FE16Canto
Defiant Spd FE16Defiant Speed
Class ability of the Bow Knight class.
Class ability of the Bow Knight class.
Class ability of all mounted and flying units.
Mastery ability of Bow Knights.
FE17FE17 Careful Aim IconCareful Aim
FE17 Seal Strength IconSeal Strength
Class Skill of Bow Knights.
Maddening mode skill.
FEW3HBowfaire FE16 Bowfaire
Gauntlet Buster Lv 4 Gauntlet Buster Lv 4
Gauntletbreaker Gauntletbreaker
Icon Combat Art FE16 Bow Waning Shot
Icon Combat Art FE16 Bow Ward Arrow
Bow Prowess Bow Prowess
Icon Combat Art FE16 Bow Deadeye
Icon Combat Art FE16 Bow Precision Volley
Unsought Power Battle Instincts
Defiant Spd FE16 Defiant Spd
Mortal Coil Dexterity Catalyst
FEW3H Sharpshooter Sharpshooter
Class ability.
Class ability.
1-star Class Mastery for Bernadetta, Ashe, Ignatz and Shamir.
1-star Class Mastery for certain units.
1-star Class Mastery for certain units.
2-star Class Mastery for all units.
2-star Class Mastery for certain units.
2-star Class Mastery for certain units.
3-star Class Mastery for certain units.
3-star Class Mastery for certain units.
3-star Class Mastery for certain units.
Innate Ability for certain units.

Promotions[]

Base ClassPromotion MethodPromoted Class
FE2FE2 Sniper Map IconSniperVisit Shrine after reaching Level 10.FE2 Bow Knight Map IconBow Knight
FE4FE4 Arch Knight SpriteArch KnightChoose the "Class Change" option in the Home Castle when the relevant unit reaches Level 20.FE4 Bow Knight SpriteBow Knight
FE5FE5 Arch knightArch KnightUse a Knight Proof (FE5)Knight Proof on a Level 10+ Arch Knight.FE5 Bow knightBow Knight
FE9FE9 Astrid Bow Knight Sprite
Bow Knight
Use a FE9mastersealMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Bow Knight.FE9 Astrid Paladin Sprite
Paladin
FE10Bow KnightUse a FE10mastersealMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Bow Knight or train a Bow Knight to Level 21.FE10 Astrid Bow Paladin Sprite
Bow Paladin
FE13FE13 Generic Mercenary (M) Map SpriteMercenaryUse a Master Seal FE13 IconMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Mercenary.FE13 Generic Bow Knight Map SpriteBow Knight
FE13 FE13 Generic Archer (M) Map SpriteArcherUse a Master Seal FE13 IconMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Archer.FE13 Generic Bow Knight Map SpriteBow Knight
FE14FE14 Generic Mercenary (M) Map Sprite Mercenary Use a Master Seal FE13 IconMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Mercenary. FE14 Generic Bow Knight Map SpriteBow Knight
FE14 FE14 Generic Outlaw (M) Map SpriteOutlawUse a Master Seal FE13 IconMaster Seal on a Level 10+ Outlaw.FE14 Generic Bow Knight Map SpriteBow Knight
FE15SniperVisit Shrine after reaching Level 10.Bow Knight
FE15 Bow KnightVisit the Altar of the Marksman when the relevant unit reaches Level 20.Elephant map spriteOliphantier
FE16Any classUse a FE16 Seal IconMaster Seal on a Level 30+ unit and pass the Bow Knight Certification Exam.FE16 Bow Knight IconBow Knight
FE17EtieFE17SpriteArcherUse a FE17MasterSealSpriteMaster Seal on Level 10+ Archer with FE17 SwordSword, FE17 LanceLance, or FE17 AxeAxe Proficiency.FE17BowKnightSpriteBow Knight
FEW3HFE16 Sniper Icon SniperUse a FE16 Seal Icon Master Seal on a unit that has mastered the Sniper class.FE16 Bow Knight Icon Bow Knight

Notable Bow Knights[]

Gaiden[]

* - If one of the villagers can promote into the Archer class in Fire Emblem Gaiden.
** - If one of the Mercenaries/Myrmidons can promote into the Dread Fighter class can promote back to Villager if able to promote into the Archer class.

Genealogy of the Holy War[]

Thracia 776[]

Path of Radiance[]

Awakening[]

Fates[]

Three Houses[]

  • Riegan: One of the Ten Elites, original bearer of the Crest of Riegan, and founder of House Riegan.

Engage[]

  • Possible promotion for: Etie.

Three Hopes[]

Vestaria Saga I[]

  • Gyskahl - The brother of Solis's late khar. Seeks to put his nephew, Cyltan, on the throne.
  • Promotion for: Cyltan.
  • Possible promotion for: Hoelun.

Vestaria Saga: The Holy Sword of Silvanister[]

  • Amlute - A knight in the service of Count Lorec and Raffine's fiance. Has a past he doesn't want to discuss.

Trivia[]

  • In the opening cutscene in Fates, Bow Knights can be seen but only as unmounted units while in-game they are mounted units.
  • Although Nomadic Troopers became Rangers from The Blazing Blade to The Sacred Stones, losing their Sacaen/Nomadic looks, Myrmidons and Swordmasters, who were also Sacaen, stayed the exact same.

Gallery[]

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