A thought about weapon effectiveness

[Kick@55_3000]

In Fire Emblem games, there are weapons that offer bonus damage when used against certain enemies. For examples, bows against winged units, Armorslayer against Knights, Horseslayer against mounted units, etc.

I know that the main reason for this is to spice up gameplay, but thinking realistically, how would they be effective against the said enemies? How does a bow and arrow hurt birds more than it hurts anything else?

This topic has been made just out of curiosity about how certain weapons are effective. Discuss.

Interesting fact: In FE9 (not sure in FE10), the knife Stiletto is effective against armoured units. In real-life, this makes sense somewhat because Stilettoes are thin knievs that can stab through small openings in armours and chainmails, although the FE9 Stiletto looks like a jagged knife.

[FE3_Player]

Arrows are effective against flying units because it will disrupt their flying or even their wings being shot, causing not only them to be pierced, but them also falling to the ground and being killed by what is known as gravity.

Rapier is effective against Armored Units for the same reason you mentioned Stilettos, by poking through openings.

Halberds are effective against Horseback units, because they're halberds.  They're designed for such a purpose.  Armor Slayer looks weighted at the edge, likely suited for putting dents in armor and weakening it.  Horse Slayer is likely also a differently shaped lance designed for thrusting downward towards the horse instead of at the rider.

[Kick@55_3000]

Arrows are effective against flying units because it will disrupt their flying or even their wings being shot, causing not only them to be pierced, but them also falling to the ground and being killed by what is known as gravity.

Rapier is effective against Armored Units for the same reason you mentioned Stilettos, by poking through openings.

Halberds are effective against Horseback units, because they're halberds.  They're designed for such a purpose.  Armor Slayer looks weighted at the edge, likely suited for putting dents in armor and weakening it.  Horse Slayer is likely also a differently shaped lance designed for thrusting downward towards the horse instead of at the rider.

Interesting, but or the Horse Slayer, can't you just do that with any other lances (just a thought)? Also, what about Thunder magic against Dragons (and Wyverns in FE10)? Dragons weren't weak against lightning in Pokemon.

What about Swordslayers? Thani?

[Cold Popcorn]

The Horseslayer lacks a blade on the tip like most other Lances. Not that other Lances can't technically do the same thing, mind you, that's just how it's fundamentally different. Thunder magic is kinda irrelevant in this context.

[Lord Glenn]

Thunder magic is kinda irrelevant in this context.

Not really. If bows being effective against Pegasi and other fliers is relevant to the topic, then I don't see why Thunder's effectiveness against Dragons and Wyverns should be excluded.

As for the Swordslayer, I can only guess that the shape of the axe and its head makes it particularly more of a potent option against the affected units. Though, I'd be willing to bet that this one has more of a gameplay reason for it than a logical reason.

[VincentASM is too important to have a messed up name]

Back when the Swordslayer was a sword, The Complete mentioned something about its jagged edges catching onto the enemy's sword. However the axe version doesn't have anything remotely similar, I think.

As for Thunder magic's effectiveness, maybe Dragon scales contain traces of metals or something? : P

[Fëanen]

...Actually, that theory would explain how tough dragons are rather well. Although it does raise a can of worms when it comes to armored units.

[Kick@55_3000]

Just a thought: is wind magic super effective against bird laguz because the spells involve creating blades of air (or so it seems) that damages enemies, especially fliers for the same reason as arrows? I find it strange how wyverns are not vulnerable to wind magic in FE10 though.

I'm not too sure how fire magic does extra damage to beast Laguz. Maybe it's because their fur gets burnt?  I don't know.

As for the dragon effectiveness, maybe it's because it's to balance the anima magic triangle by having every element be effective against a certain type of laguz.

And I think Rapiers are effective against mounted units because horses are afraid of running into sharp objects (at least that's what I learned when I was told about the use of bayonettes in real life, although I'm not 100% sure). Just another thought.

[Cold Popcorn]

Ground based animals tend to have an instinctive fear of fire, so that's surprisingly accurate for FE. Stiletto knives were infamous for actually being able to pierce most chainmail, as well as easily fit between cracks in plate armour (which is what the majority of FE characters use). The FE design is really an amalgamation of multiple types, not a specific design.

Arrows/Wind magic are effective against flying units because they can attack in the air easily, compared to, say, a sword. Technically Fire and Thunder can strike above ground level too can too, but this is Wind magic we're talking about now, right?

I meant both thunder magic and dragons are mythical, and since most people have been using historical examples it doesn't have much of a base for explanation. They probably lumped Dragon Knights with them for better magic type balance. That and less weapon effectiveness pointers in the code. Metal skin is a neat idea though. Note to self: Need new Meta-Ridley sig

[Mizekel]

I still don't see the Arrow comparison, really. An arrow through the wing is going to do the same damage an a lance through the wing.

A flyer being hit with Wind magic... Again, I don't see how it would directly to more damage. But a change in wind currents (or stopping them all together) could cause a rather nasty crash.

Also, how do you think the Heavy Lance would work? I can see the Hammer working. Where most weapons are designed to pierce the skin, and heavy armor is designed to stop a blade or point, a weapon such as a hammer would take advantage of the large surface area and transmit the force of the blow through the armor.

Of course, I may just have a complete lack of grasp of physics.

[Wander]

The Heavy Spears probably works the same way the Hammer does. In saying that, I mean it is rather heavy and would cause a large amount shock damage to the enemy. I think the Armorslayer's rugged and heavy edges are supposed to be designed to hurt armor units especially. As for Wind Magic, since it's wind, I suspect this would upset flight patterns causing some potentially high damage. Arrows, I think, are supposed to be able to hit high-flying units easier than, say, a sword, whhere it would be hard to approach such a large enemy.

The Longsword, Halberd and Horseslayer are all pretty self explanatory, although the Longsword would have to be rather long in order for it to work properly.

[FE3_Player]

I still don't see the Arrow comparison, really. An arrow through the wing is going to do the same damage an a lance through the wing.

Gravity.  Stop a Pegasus' flight: It falls and takes even more damage.  An Arrow has much longer distance than a lance, and thus can disable their flight in the sky.  Same for Wind Magic.

[SlippyToasterTrooper_UK]

Arrows also travel faster...though saying it like that makes it sound like they should get a hit bonus though that is already accounted for.

Now I wonder if anyone can explain the Lady Sword effectiveness (effective vs. Bandits)...I have a strange feeling that once again Fire Emblem the Complete is the keeper of such secrets.

[Swordsalmon]

Now I wonder if anyone can explain the Lady Sword effectiveness (effective vs. Bandits)...I have a strange feeling that once again Fire Emblem the Complete is the keeper of such secrets.

Bandits tend to be very manly, so perhaps the Lady Sword is a living weapon powered by estrogen? That would be deadly to such bandits.

Halberds are effective against Horseback units, because they're halberds.  They're designed for such a purpose.

However, the Halberd's axe head was used primarily for cleaving heavy armour. The spear point was used to ward cavarly, and the pick could knock down riders. Wouldn't the Halberd also be effective against Armour type units?

[FE3_Player]

However, the Halberd's axe head was used primarily for cleaving heavy armour. The spear point was used to ward cavarly, and the pick could knock down riders. Wouldn't the Halberd also be effective against Armour type units?

Hmm...  The same argument is used in saying that other weapons would serve the same purpose (such as Lance vs. Heavy Lance), so they likely kept it simple and not tried to overcomplicate things in FE.

[Mr. Sirius]

Axereaver is simple: It's a freaking pick-axe.  Perfect for Parrying the Axes that normal lances can't.  Of course, Sword beats Pick-Axe.

Swordreaver is also simple: there are grooves in the axe that allow it to break Swords, but because of that its effectiveness against breaking Lances is severely reduced.

Lancereaver I just don't get.  Graphically, is it a thicker sword, and where is it thicker?

Stilleto and Rapier, as previously mentioned, work in the way of easily reaching in grooves in the armour.  Rapiers being effective against horses was probably because of accuracy of aim (i.e. aim for the body, aim for the eyes, etc.).

Arrows being stronger than, say, Lances, is because Arrows are lighter and would most likely go completely through a Pegasus rather than hit, cut, then fall off due to its weight.

Hammer is understandable.

Ack...too many weapon, not enough time

[Black Knight]

I assumed Arrows were strong against Pegasus knights because it was the only thing that actually *hit* them. I can't remember where, but there's some line of dialogue in FE7 (I think...) where the idea is brought up that swords and lances do "less" damage because the Pegasus knight flies in the air and is hard to get anything but a glancing blow on. Now of course in reality they take equal damamge from lances and swords, but to accentuate the idea that arrows are actually hitting them, they make them super effective.
At least that's what I always thought.

As for the Lancereaver, personally I never understood why axes would be strong against lances anyways, but I guess the lancereaver does all it can do become an axe-like sword, so it's strong against lances for the same inexplicable reason that a regular axe is strong against lances. Of course there's inconsistencies in the fact that the lancereaver would have to just be neutral-effectiveness against axes, because it's the same thing.
Then again, FE has never been creative when it comes to swords (Hence for ranged weapons: Hand Axe, Javelin and... Magic Sword?)

Somehow I always saw the heavy spear as being barbed, so that once it punched through the armour it didn't come out. The hammer obviously just dents the armour and crushes the guy inside, and the armourslayer is ... really really sharp? Again, not so creative with the swords here.

[Brighton]

The weight behind an axe or lancereaver (big, heavy sword) allows it to cut the shaft of a long spear or pike. Regular swords require some serious leverage.
Theoretically, this means the Blades would be able to cut them too, but they needed to draw the gameplay line somewhere.

Armorslayer has the weight of an axe and ease of use of a sword, allowing it to shear not through armor plates themselves, but between the plates into the man inside. No idea what the grooves are for. They'd just snag pieces of armor or organs.

Heavy Spear is just a heavy spear that can penetrate strong armor. This is one of the reasons huge spears remained a staple in worldwide militaries until the long gun.

Lances are longer than regular spears and so would have a distinct range advantage in a spear vs spear fight.

[Publicity Expert of Incredibly Mild Disorder]

I was just thinking about the background about why Thunder Magic affecting Dragons.  They say thunder and lightning is wielded by the gods, and dragons are generally seemed as being antagonists to some of the good gods.  So, it would make sense that thunder stops dragons since gods want to kill dragons.

About why it would make sense in game, I'm going to go with the low skin resistance.  They're also bigger targets so lightning is more likely to hit the giant towering dragons over the smaller soldiers on the battlefield.

[Celice]

I always just thought of it as having to do with the scales, if any would exist, or something like that