There are 33 playable characters in the main storyline. After beating the game, 10 secret characters that cannot normally be played become unlockable.
Main Storyline Characters
Note: This list is incomplete.
Eirika
Class: Lord -> Great Lord
Recruit: Automatic (Chapter 1) as a Level 1 Lord
Weapons: Swords
Affinity: Light
Supports: Ephraim, Tana, Innes, Forde, Seth, L'Arachel, Saleh
Seth
Class: Paladin
Recruit: Chapter 1 as a Level 1 Paladin
Weapons: Swords and Lances
Affinity: Anima
Supports: Eirika, Cormag, Franz, Garcia, Natasha
Ross
Class: Journeyman -> Fighter -> Warrior or Hero OR Journeyman -> Pirate -> Warrior or Berserker
Recruit: Chapter 2 as a Level 1 Journeyman
Weapons: Axes
Affinity: Fire
Supports: Garcia, Ewan, Amelia, Gerik, Lute
Garcia
Class: Fighter -> Warrior or Hero
Recruit: Chapter 2 as a Level 4 Fighter
Weapons: Axes
Affinity: Fire
Supports: Dozla, Ross, Gilliam, Neimi, Seth
Colm
Class: Thief -> Assassin or Rogue
Recruit: Chapter 3 as a Level 2 Thief
Weapons: Swords. Also equips Lockpicks
Affinity: Light
Supports: Kyle, Marisa, Neimi, Rennac, Moulder
Ephraim
Class: Lord -> Great Lord
Recruit: Chapter 5x, Chapter 8 as a Level 4 Lord
Weapons: Lances
Affinity: Fire
Supports: Eirika, Forde, Kyle, Duessel, Myrrh, Tana, L'Arachel
Duessel
Class: Great Knight
Recruit: Chapter 10 (Ephraim's Path) or Chapter 15 (Eirika's Path) as a Level 8 Great Knight
Weapons: Swords, Axes, and Lances
Affinity: Anima
Supports: Amelia, Cormag, Knoll, Ephraim