Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn/Characters

There are a variety of characters throughout the game, each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. However, if one dies, you cannot play as that character for the rest of the game, and if that character is the main one, you lose the game.

Part one
The Dawn brigade is the group you control in Part One. Their mission is to free Daein from Begnion's control. To do this, they act as rebelious clan of liberators, who then begin a search for Prince Pellaes, the son of the mad king Ashnard. Their group consists of Sothe, Micaiah, Nolan, Edward and Leonardo. Eventually they become the Daein liberation army. They carried hope with them everywhere in Daein.

Micaiah

 * Class: Light mage --> Light sage --> Light priestess
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: Micaiah is the only light mage, She has good magic and speed and is the best healer to use in her chapters during Part 3.
 * Weaknesses: She, like the rest of the Dawn Brigade, has very low defense. Her being a beginning mage also contributes.
 * Summary: A good, strong unit whom you are forced to use, making it vital you train her up so that your other units won't have to get the burden of protecting her. She automatically promotes just before the Endgame of Part 4 and just after the Endgame of Part 1.

Edward

 * Class: Myrmidon --> SwordMaster --> True Blade
 * Starting level: 4
 * Strengths: Edward has the best growth of any of the swordmaster's available. He will easily cap strength, skill and speed, and will eventually get better defense and luck than the others.
 * Weaknesses: Edward is ridiculously under leveled, and will die with the slightest breeze in the early stages of the game. A lot of protection is needed for him.
 * Summary: Edward will be the best true blade stat wise hands down. As to whether you're willing to put the time in for him is up to you, but he will not disappoint if you do.

Leonardo

 * Class: Archer --> Sniper --> Marksman
 * Starting Level: 4
 * Strengths: Leonardo isn't too bad when it comes to Strength or Skill, but his best stat lies in his Resistance. Unlike both Edward and Nolan, Leonardo easily caps Resistance making him effective against mages. He never gets the Resistance of a mage, but he's better in that aspect than non-magic users.
 * Weaknesses: Leonardo is very fragile, with HP and Defence close to Micaiah's and to add insult to injury. Archers do have a high Defence growth rate, so given time, he will have decent Defence. He can't counterattack melee enemies, leaving him with a small, or non-existant, enemy phase.
 * Summary: One of the worst units in the game if not leveled properly, but still necessary to help Micaiah in part 3. After this, he becomes severely outclassed by all the other beorc units.

Nolan

 * Class: Fighter --> Warrior --> Reaver
 * Starting level: 9
 * Strengths: One of the best in the Dawn Brigade. Decent defence and HP - something all the others lack. He can easily hold his own in a fight and can deal quite a bit of damage to the enemy at the same time.
 * Weaknesses: Although his defence is good, it's still below the level you'd want it to be. He will need to be healed from time to time, just not as much as the others.
 * Summary: Vital if you want to survive Micaiah's Chapters in Part 3 and does become a good character to use in Part 4 if he's leveled up enough.

Laura

 * Class: Priest --> Bishop --> Saint
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: Because she's the only healer in part one, you will use her. She'll level up and become quite a decent priest, healing enough to allow your units to survive. She also has some of the greatest offensive stats available to a mage.
 * Weaknesses: She is extremely frail at the beginning, and doesn't become much better as the game progresses. Also, despite her amazing offensive prowess, she is hindered by her class having very low caps. Finally, Elincia makes a much better healer, supporting Amiti, and canto.
 * Summary: Despite her nice growths, she won't be seen much outside chapter 1 due to better options available, and her frailty.

Sothe

 * Class: Rogue --> Whisper
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: He easily maxes strength and because he's a rogue, he has very good speed and skill. He's already promoted, making him have good defence and HP.
 * Weaknesses: He is over-levelled for the time you get him, and under-levelled when you get him back. Also, the Whisper class has a terrible strength cap, at 28, so he will be doing pitiful damage in the endgame.
 * Summary: Like Micaiah, your hand is kind of forced with Sothe. He must come along for the final chapters, so you might as well level him up. He's not terrible stat wise through out the game, but you wish you could replace him.

Ilyana

 * Class: Thunder Mage --> Thunder Sage --> Arch Sage (Thunder)
 * Starting level: 12
 * Strengths: Attacks res instead of def and can double some enemies early on.
 * Weaknesses: Comes with only 3 defence which stays consistently low throughout the game.
 * Summary: Her stats are somewhat average, but she is blessed by being the only mage able to get an SS in lightning. This helps in the dreaded dragon level, as she will be doing more damage than the rest of your team will there. She'll be hard to use, but has her uses.

Aran

 * Class: Soldier --> Halberdier --> Sentinel
 * Starting level: 7
 * Strengths: Another useful unit to defend the weaker units like Leonardo and Micaiah, Good strength as well.
 * Weaknesses: Very low resistance throughout the game, his speed and skill stats also provide problems.
 * Summary: He forms a good contrast to Nephenee. He gets more strength and defense, she gets more speed and resistance. He tends to get more speed than she does strength however.

Meg

 * Class: Armor Sword --> Sword General --> Marshall (Sword)
 * Starting level: 3
 * Strengths: Very good growths and decent luck and resistance stats.
 * Weaknesses: Extremely under-leveled when you get her, starts with low speed, defense and skill, she uses swords too.
 * Summary: Easily defeated when get her on and using bonus experience in order to catch up with the group in the beginning is a good idea. A Good Marshall with nice stat boosts, though you will need to help her out in the beginning.

Volug

 * Class: Wolf
 * Starting level: 15
 * Strengths: Comes in very powerful and can protect the weaker units of Micaiah's chapter. Very high luck skill throughout the game.
 * Weaknesses: Slow growth and unlikely to get to level 30 to be able to use savage.
 * Summary: One of the best units in the game. He is almost vital in part 1 and the Dawn Brigade's part 3 chapters and isn't bad afterwards.

Tauroneo

 * Class: Lance General --> Marshall (Lance)
 * Starting Level: 14
 * Strengths: Starts off very powerful, able to kill every enemy.
 * Weaknesses: He isn't available for many of the later part one chapters to help out.
 * Summary: Fantastic in 1-6 but disappears seconds later, limiting his usefulness.

Jill

 * Class: Dragonknight --> Dragonmaster --> Dragonlord
 * Starting Level: 14
 * Stregnths: Unaffected by terrain and has the Canto skill. Very durable wit and earth support and can deal good damage when she doubles.
 * Weaknesses: Re-joins under-levelled in part 4.
 * Summary: Great to use in parts one and three to help defend the weaker units, after that she becomes inferior to the rest of your team unless you level her up.

Zihark

 * Class: Swordmaster --> Trueblade
 * Starting level: 3
 * Strengths: High resistance, speed and skill and comes with good strength. High critical hit percentages all game long.
 * Weaknesses: Starts slightly over-levelled, low def compared to other beorc.
 * Summary: The best trueblade in the game. Very useful in parts 1 and 3 and can put up a good fight in part 4 if he's at a good level.

Fiona

 * Class: Lance Knight --> Lance Paladin --> Silver Knight (Lance)
 * Starting level: 9
 * Strengths: Good speed, defence and resistance.
 * Weaknesses: Under-levelled when she joins so she's inferior to your group.
 * Summary: Sadly she comes in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus she has so many Paladins to compete with, she just doesn't cut it. Her stats are fine but you'll want to save your exp for the rest of Micaiah's team.

Muarim

 * Class: Tiger
 * Starting level: 19
 * Strengths: High defence and high offence.
 * Weaknesses: Over-levelled and doesn't come back until part 4.
 * Summary: He would be better if he returned to your party earlier than he does. Only good to help defend some of Micaiah's team when he's around in part 1.

Tormod

 * Class: Fire Sage -> Arch Sage (Fire)
 * Starting level: 5
 * Strengths: Good stats in Micaiah's chapters.
 * Weaknesses: Leaves at the end of part one and doesn't return until part 4. Low speed, magic and resistance levels compared to other mages upon returning.
 * Summary: Becomes virtually useless after part one.

Vika

 * Class: Raven
 * Starting level: 13
 * Strengths: Great growths, great speed, skill and resistance throughout the game. Starts off with decent strength and HP too.
 * Weaknesses: She leaves with Tormod and Muarim and joins with them in part 4. Low defence throughout and her strength becomes obselete later on.
 * Summary: Great in part 1, but becomes terrible in part 4 when she rejoins.

Nailah

 * Class: Wolf (Nailah)
 * Sarting level: 33
 * Strengths: Formshift allows her to stay transformed. Great fangs deal massive damage and her stats are all high throughout the game.
 * Weaknesses: Low strength compared to the other Laguz royalty.
 * Summary: The third unit who can defend against any attack (Tauroneo and Muarim being the first two.), unlike the previous two, however, she remains consistently good throughout the game.

Rafiel

 * Class: Heron (Rafiel)
 * Starting level: 12
 * Strengths: High magic so his blessing skill comes in handy, good resistance and luck.
 * Weaknessses: Another unit that needs to be defended all the time.
 * Summary: The ability to refresh always comes in handy, but Micaiah's team doesn't have the man power to keep defending weak units like Rafiel. Worst heron in the game.

The Black Knight

 * Class: Black Knight
 * Starting level: 20
 * Strengths: Useful to defend weaker units and for diverting enemy units his way by unequipping his weapon. Can beat chapters single-handedly.
 * Weaknesses: Can steal exp away from other members in your party.
 * Summary: Can prove useful in levelling Micaiah's units up. It's a shame he comes in so late as his use is limited in part 3.

Part two
In part two you play as Crimea on the brink of Civil war. You control the Royal Knights and even the Queen of Crimea herself - Queen Elincia.

Elincia

 * Class: Queen
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: High speed and skill, can heal and move afterwards.
 * Weaknesses: Slightly weak and has low defence. Vulnerable to archers and crossbows.
 * Summary: Comes in as third tier, capable of double attacking nearly everything throughout the game, and with her sword Amiti her low strength and defence doesn't matter.

Marcia

 * Class: Falcon Knight --> Seraph Knight
 * Starting level: 5
 * Strengths: High resistance, hit-and-run capabilities and large movement range. Good doubling potential for endgame.
 * Weaknesses: Low strength and defence, not a lot of time to level up.
 * Summary: Pretty fragile for most of the game, but you don't even see her for most of it.

Leanne

 * Class: Heron (Leanne)
 * Starting level: 5
 * Strengths: Comes with the refresh and blessing abilities. Good magic for the blessing ability. Canto ability.
 * Weaknesses: Vulnerable and can only refresh two units at a time.
 * Summary: Although she can't refresh four units even when transformed, Leanne has the Canto ability which reduces the pain Rafiel makes from having to have units protecting him all the time.

Nealuchi

 * Class: Raven
 * Starting level: 22
 * Strengths: Fast and can dodge most attacks.
 * Weaknesses: Has a weakness to bows, low defense if hit and doesn't deal much damage in part 4 either.
 * Summary: Very useful in part 2, but barely usable come part 4.

Haar

 * Class: Dragonmaster --> Dragonlord
 * Starting level: 11
 * Strengths: High defence, strength, skill, HP and has the Canto ability.
 * Weaknesses: Low resistance and speed.
 * Summary: One of the best beorc units in the game, he's useful in every chapter you can use him in because of his mobility and high stats.

Brom

 * Class: Axe General --> Marshall (Axe)
 * Starting level: 2
 * Strengths: Very good luck and defence.
 * Weaknesses: Won't double-attack most enemies throughout the game, low resistance as well.
 * Summary: Not quite as good as Gatrie but still a pretty good unit to use, especially during part 2 endgame.

Nephenee

 * Class: Halberdier --> Sentinel
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: Good speed.
 * Weaknesses: Generally outclassed by other units until part 4.
 * Summary: A very balanced unit with good speed, but does not shine compared to other characters until part 4.

Heather

 * Class: Rogue --> Whisper
 * Starting level: 7
 * Strengths: High res, luck and speed.
 * Weaknesses: Low strength and defence.
 * Summary: Good to steal items and pick locks during part 2, 3 and chapter 4 in part 4 but for endgame you're forced to use Sothe and taking more than one Whisper is disadvanteous. Especially because Heather has such low strength.

Lucia

 * Class: Swordmaster --> Trueblade
 * Starting level: 14
 * Strengths: High speed and strength for the majority of the game.
 * Weaknesses: Low def, strength and HP. Comes in to part 4 slightly under-levelled.
 * Summary: Great against every enemy when she joins, but when part 4 comes around, she will struggle to deal good damage.

Lethe

 * Class: Cat
 * Starting level: 21
 * Strengths: Fast enougth to double enemies throughout the game. Very good HP and good resistance.
 * Weaknesses: Low strength and defence. Can't counter-attack at range.
 * Summary: Inferior to the Laguz Royals and struggles to kill and to avoid being killed. Only use in part 2 unless you are looking for a challenge.

Mordecai

 * Class: Tiger
 * Starting level: 16
 * Strengths: Very good strength, defence and HP.
 * Weaknesses: Low speed, skill and resistance.
 * Summary: Inferior to Laguz Royals endgame but can be used effectively against part 2 enemies and with the skill resolve, can be one of the best part 3 units.

Geoffrey

 * Class: Lance paladin --> Silver Knight (Lance)
 * Starting level: 15
 * Strengths: When he joins has very good stats.
 * Weaknesses: Late game, his stats become inferior to other characters.
 * Summary: Usable, but joins under-levelled in part 4.

Kieran

 * Class: Axe Paladin --> Gold Knight (Axe)
 * Starting level: 11
 * Strengths: Good defence, strength and HP all game round. Good speed in part 2.
 * Weaknesses: Speed is low during parts 3 and 4. Low resistance.
 * Summary: Better than Geoffrey, but not by much.

Makalov

 * Class: Sword Paladin --> Gold Knight (Sword)
 * Starting level: 7
 * Strengths: Great speed, good HP, strength and defence.
 * Weaknesses: Low resistance and low levelled in part 3.
 * Summary: One of the best Paladins, but that's not saying much.

Astrid

 * Class: Bow Paladin --> Silver Knight (Bow)
 * Starting level: 2
 * Strengths: Good luck and res.
 * Weaknesses: Everything else is low.
 * Summary: The second worst Paladin in the game. Astrid requires too much attention to level up and just isn't worth it.

Devdan

 * Class: Halberdier --> Sentinel
 * Starting level: 9
 * Strengths: Very fast early on and has good strength, skill and HP all game round.
 * Weaknesses: Under-levelled.
 * Summary: Quite under-rated by most fans, but isn't the best character in the game by far.

Calill

 * Class: Fire Sage --> Arch Sage
 * Starting level: 6
 * Strengths: Second fastest Sage in the game. Comes with Meteor, a long ranged spell, good skill.
 * Weaknesses: Low HP and defence and her offence is lacking compared to other Sages.
 * Summary: Third best magic user in the game, and the fastest until Lehran.

Part three
In part 3 you play as the Greil mercenaries from Path of Radiance, but in some chapters you play as the Dawn Brigade and the Royal Knights.

Ike

 * Class: Hero --> Vanguard
 * Starting level: 11.
 * Strengths: High strength, defence, speed, skill and HP.
 * Weaknesses: Low resistance.
 * Summary: One of the best characters in the game with his very good stats and weapons.

Titania

 * Class: Axe Paladin --> Gold Knight (Axe)
 * Starting level: 17
 * Strengths: Canto, 9 Movement range, good speed and good skill.
 * Weaknesses: Low defence and HP, mounted restrictions and bad resistance.
 * Summary: Best paladin and quick to promote. Speed problems at start, but soon erases them.

Soren

 * Class: Wind Sage --> Arch Sage (Wind)
 * Starting level: 5
 * Strengths: High magic and resistance.
 * Weaknesses: Struggles to double until part 4, comes in under-levelled, low defence.
 * Summary: Better than Calill in all chapters except endgame.

Shinon

 * Class: Sniper --> Marksman.
 * Starting level: 13
 * Strengths: Great speed, skill, HP, strength and defence.
 * Weaknesses: Can't counter attack to melee weapons without a crossbow, which have low MT.
 * Summary: One of the best members of the Greil mercenaries. Doubles nearly everything throughout the game, hits them the majority of the time and deals great damage. One of the best endgame units, too.

Gatrie
ガトリー (Gatorii), also spelled Gatorie in some versions
 * Class: Lance General --> Marshall (Lance)
 * Starting level: 10
 * Strengths: Very good HP, strength, defence and skill.
 * Weaknesses: Doubling problems early part 3. Low resistance.
 * Summary: The second best Greil mercenary (behind Ike), capable of dealing good hits with one attack whilst taking nearly nothing in return. Needs a master crown to start doubling consistently.

Oscar

 * Class: Lance Paladin --> Silver Knight (Lance)
 * Starting level: 12
 * Strengths: Good speed until endgame. Earth affinity makes him have very good durability.
 * Weaknesses: Low atk at the start and hasn't the greatest durability until he activates his support.
 * Summary: Great mobility, good speed and brilliant affinity makes him a good choice for your team.

Boyd

 * Class: Warrior --> Reaver
 * Starting level: 8
 * Strengths: High HP and, later on, good defence to match it. Good strength for endgame.
 * Weaknesses: Low defence at the start and may have some doubling issues too.
 * Summary: Potentially one of the best endgame units.

Rolf

 * Class: Sniper --> Marksmen
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: Great strength growth and good speed. Lot's of time for these decent growths to improve him as well.
 * Weaknesses: He has bad durability, a bad affinity and bad base stats in both strength and speed.
 * Summary: Like Boyd and Shinon, Rofl is potentially one of the best endgame units, but he has to go through a lot more to get there.

Rhys

 * Class: Bishop --> Saint
 * Starting level: 3
 * Strengths: Good mag and res and can heal.
 * Weaknesses: Light magic's low MT and his very low base speed makes his offence unspectacular. Very bad durability.
 * Summary: Good for healing, but not much else.

Mist

 * Class: Cleric --> Valkyrie
 * Starting level: 1
 * Strengths: Good affinity and can double lategame.
 * Weaknesses: Lacks great mag in early part 1 and has very low atk and horrendous durability throughout the game.
 * Summary: Can heal, which is good in itself, but the only thing that stands her out from Rhys is the mount she gets after she promotes and her affinity.

Mia

 * Class: Swordmaster --> Trueblade
 * Starting level: 7
 * Strengths: Great speed and skill, and can dodge quite reliably after a support.
 * Weaknesses: Needs a forge and support to help her fix her low atk and bad durability.
 * Summary: With a little input, Mia can become a very useful unit.