Recruiting characters in Fire Emblem has always been a challenge. While the game provides you with a handful of them by default, many are hidden within the chapters themselves, and require specific conditions to be met.
With the release of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance as a part of Nintendo Classics on Nintendo Switch 2 (GameCube), we figured now would be the perfect time to share the full character recruitment guide. While the newer Fire Emblem titles are a bit more straight forward with its requirements, Path of Radiance has a few tricky ones, and because of that they can easily be missed.
So here is a quick list of every character that can join the party in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, and how to obtain them.
General Tip Before Beginning:
Players should keep in mind that many characters will begin as enemies or non-playable allies. These characters can die prior to being recruited, so it is important to scan the map ahead of time, and get to them as soon as possible. One thing players will need to watch out for is the fact that enemy characters will still attack, and it is possible for your own units to kill them during their counter attack—avoid this by keeping the other characters away from them.
With that being said, here is the complete list.
Ike (Ranger) - Prologue
Ike is the main protagonist of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and is available right from the start.
Titania (Paladin) - Chapter 1
Titania is one of the first characters to join Ike's party, and will be available from the beginning of Chapter 1.
Boyd (Fighter) - Chapter 1
Boyd is the second character that will be available for use beginning in Chapter 1. He also served as the boss of the Prologue.
Oscar (Lance Knight) - Chapter 1
Similar to Boyd and Titania, Oscar will be one of the starting characters available at the beginning of Chapter 1.
Rhys (Priest) - Chapter 2
Rhys is an unmissable character who joins at the beginning of Chapter 2.
Gatrie (Knight) - Chapter 3
Gatrie will join Ike's party by default upon starting Chapter 3. He will not stay with the party however.
Shinon (Sniper) - Chapter 3
Shinon is yet another unmissable character who will join beginning Chapter 3. He will also the party along with Gatrie.
Speak to Marcia - Chapter 3
Marcia is a Pegasus Knight will will first appear in Chapter 3; however, she will not join the party at this point. Speak to her with Ike, and she'll become available in Chapter 9 as a recruitment option.
Soren (Mage) - Chapter 4
Ike's advisor and mage—Soren is the final character to join near the beginning of the game without requirements. He is unlocked beginning Chapter 4.
Mia (Myrmidon) - Chapter 7
After going a few chapters without any new characters, Mia can be recruited in Chapter 7 by speaking to her with Ike. Ensure she doesn't fall in battle before then.
Ilyana (Mage) - Chapter 8
Ilyana will begin as an enemy, but will change sides by simply talking to her with Ike in Chapter 8.
Rolf (Archer) - Chapter 9
Following a major turn of events, the previously non-playable Rolf will take up arms and officially join the party in Chapter 9.
Mist (Cleric) - Chapter 9
Along with Rolf, Ike's sister Mist will also officially join the party in Chapter 9 as a Cleric.
Marcia (Pegasus Knight) - Chapter 9
Marcia is the character who can be recruited in Chapter 9 by speaking to her with Ike; however, Ike was required to speak to her in Chapter 3 for her to show up. She does appear after quite a few turns passed in battle, so don't worry if she doesn't enter the battlefield right away.
Make Sure Lethe Survives - Chapter 9
Along with watching out for Marcia, the allied character Lethe must survive Chapter 9 to unlock her in Chapter 10.
Make Sure Mordecai Survives - Chapter 9
Fighting with Lethe, Mordecai is another allied character that must survive Chapter 9 to be recruited at the beginning of Chapter 10.
Lethe (Beast Tribe, Cat Type) - Chapter 10
As stated directly above, if Lethe survives Chapter 9 she'll join the party in Chapter 10.
Mordecai (Beast Tribe, Tiger Type) - Chapter 10
Mordecai will also join in Chapter 10 if he survived the battle in Chapter 9.
Volke (Thief) - Chapter 10
Volke is a Thief who was apparently hired by Ike's father. Initially he wants nothing to do with Ike, but is willing to join the group for a small fee. Simply say yes to recruit him.
Unlock all Prison Doors in Chapter 10
By either using Volke or keys dropped by the enemies, all prison doors need to be opened in Chapter 10. There are three characters here (Nephenee, Brom and Kieran), and they also must survive after the doors are opened.
Nephenee (Soldier) - Chapter 11
Nephenee will join Ike's party at the beginning of Chapter 11, assuming the door was unlocked in Chapter 10 and they survived.
Brom (Knight) - Chapter 11
Brom will also join at the start of Chapter 11 if they survived the events of Chapter 10, and the door was opened.
Kieran (Axe Knight) - Chapter 11
As with the previous two, the prison door has to be opened in Chapter 10, and they had to survive for them to join the party at the beginning of Chapter 11.
Zihark (Myrmidon) - Chapter 11
Zihark is the character who can be recruited in Chapter 11, and to do so players must speak to him with one of their Beast Tribe characters—aka—Lethe or Mordecai.
Avoid Jill in Chapter 11
The Wyvern Rider Jill will appear in Chapter 11 as an enemy unit. If she dies, she will not appear later as a recruitable character. Avoid her and complete the chapter without engaging in combat. (This chapter's goal is to escape, so it shouldn't be an issue.)
Sothe (Thief) - Chapter 12
At the beginning of Chapter 12, players can open up the "Info" conversation list and speak to Sothe. He will join the party right then and there.
Jill (Wyvern Rider) - Chapter 12
Within Chapter 12 itself, Jill will appear to help the party, and to recruit her she must speak with Ike. To do this it is recommended to position Ike at the southern part of the boat to allow Jill to fly to and speak to him instead. Since Ike cannot fly, he cannot reach her on his own.
Astrid (Bow Knight) - Chapter 13
Astrid is another character recruited by speaking to him as Ike. Simply look for him in Chapter 13 and make your way towards her as soon as possible.
Gatrie (Knight) - Chapter 13
Gatrie left the party earlier in the game, but can now be recruited by speaking to him in Chapter 13 with Astrid, requiring her to be recruited first. Other characters can interact with him as well, but he will not switch sides without Astrid.
Makalov (Sword Knight) - Chapter 14
An enemy unit in Chapter 14, Makalov can be recruited by speaking to him with Marcia. For those who have been following Marcia's story, this is the moment she's been waiting for.
Stefan (Swordmaster) - Chapter 15
The easiest character to miss in the entire game! Stefan is hidden in an isolated area at the top right of the map away from the main action. To activate him one of the Beast Tribe characters (Lethe or Mordecai) needs to step on a specific tile and trigger the conversation. It is one space away from the north edge of the map, and one space to the East from the mountains. Keep stepping on the spaces, and you'll eventually be able to find it. (Thank you Official Player Guides! What did we do without you back then?)
Tormod (Mage) - Chapter 15
Tormod is one of two characters who will join after completing Chapter 15, making them usable from Chapter 16 onward.
Muarim (Beast Tribe, Tiger Type) - Chapter 15
Muarim is the second character who will join after completing Chapter 15, becoming usable in Chapter 16.
Devdan (Halberdier) - Chapter 16
An enemy unit, Devdan can be spoken to with Soren, but other characters such as Mist, Rolf, Tormod and Sothe have interactions with them as well. Simply bring one of these characters with you, and get them to Devdan as soon as possible.
Ike Promotion (Lord) - Chapter 17
Although Chapter 17 doesn't contain a character to "recruit," this is the chapter where Ike finally gets his upgrade to his new class of Lord—greatly increasing his stats. This happens at the end of the chapter however, making the class usable in Chapter 18 on up.
Tanith (Falcon Knight) - Chapter 18
Tanith will join Ike's party at the beginning of Chapter 18 automatically—no requirements here.
Reyson (Bird Tribe, Heron Type) - Chapter 18
Reyson will have a request at the beginning of Chapter 18, simply accept and the character is all yours.
Ulki (Bird Tribe, Hawk Type) - Chapter 18
Ulki joins the party when accepting Revson's request.
Janaff (Bird Tribe, Hawk Type) - Chapter 18
Janaff also joins automatically after accepting Revson's request.
Shinon (Sniper) - Chapter 18
Shinon finally returns in Chapter 18, but recruiting him involves two steps. First he must be spoken to using Rolf, and then fought and defeated by using Ike. Since Ike is a "softy," he won't finish Shinon off for real. He will then be usable beginning Chapter 19.
Calill (Sage) - Chapter 20
Calill is another character who is recruited by speaking to them via the Info conversations at the start of Chapter 20. As most players will make it a habit to read them all before progressing anyway, they shouldn't be missable. (Especially considering we are now at chapter 20.)
Tauroneo (General) - Chapter 21
An enemy unit, that Ike can convert to our side. Speak to him in Chapter 21, and Tauroneo will join the party.
Ranulf (Beast Tribe, Cat Type) - Chapter 23
Ranulf will finally return and is the free character of this chapter—they will be available from the start of Chapter 23.
Haar (Wyvern Lord) - Chapter 23
Ike isn't the only one who can convince people to join. Speak to Haar in Chapter 23 with Jill and they too will switch to our side.
Don't Let Geoffrey Die - Chapter 24
Geoffrey isn't recruitable in Chapter 24, but players must ensure he survives. If he doesn't, he will not be a playable character beginning in Chapter 25.
Bastain (Sage) - Chapter 24
Bastain will join the fight beginning on Turn 2 of Chapter 24.
Lucia (Swordmaster) - Chapter 24
Joining Bastain, Lucia will also join the fight beginning on Turn 2 of Chapter 24.
Largo (Berserker) - Chapter 25
Largo can be recruited by checking the Info conversations at the beginning of Chapter 25. The only catch is that Calill needed to be recruited in Chapter 20 (and must still be alive).
Geoffrey (Paladin) - Chapter 25
Geoffrey will join Ike's group for Chapter 25 and beyond assuming he survived the events of Chapter 24.
Elincia (Princess Crimea) - Chapter 26
We're in the final stretch now. The princess herself will join in Chapter 26 from the very beginning.
Ena and Nasir (Dragon Tribe) - Chapter 28
Two characters, but only one can be recruited. Ena will join if players failed to defeat the Black Knight, but Nasir will join if they did.
Tibarn, Naesala or Giffca - Final Chapter
During the final chapter players can choose which of the three characters they'd like to help, either Tibarn, Naesala or Giffca.
Trial Characters:
Upon completing Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance a Trial Mode becomes unlocked. This is a challenge mode that doesn't impact the main game, however, clearing the main story is required to unlock additional content. The following five characters are only obtained in Trial Mode and players must complete the game the specified amount of times to obtain them for use.
- Oliver (Bishop) - Beat the game 3 times
- Shiharam (Wyvern Lord) - Beat the game 5 times
- Petrine (Paladin) - Beat the game 7 times)
- Bryce (General) - Beat the game 10 times
- Ashnard (King Daein) - Beat the game 15 times
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