Fire Emblem Engage is full of new characters, classes, and combat mechanics for veterans of the series and newcomers alike to sink their teeth into. Out of all the new classes introduced in the game, one of the most interesting is the Martial Monk, represented by the early-game unit, Framme. While she represents the typical healer archetype in Fire Emblem Engage, Framme's Martial Monk class also comes with the ability Chain Guard, an oddly tanky ability for such a low-health unit.
Framme is one of the Stewards of the Dragon, the small group of followers dedicated to the Divine Dragon who oversees their protection in the Holy Land of Lythos. Along with her twin brother, Clanne, Framme makes up the 33rd generation of stewards and is one of the first characters players meet when they awaken as the Divine Dragon in the Somniel. While her initial class is the Martial Monk, Fire Emblem Engage players can change class for her, promoting her to a Martial Master or High Priest, although she loses access to Chain Guard if promoted to the latter.
A Healing Unit is a Poor Choice for Chain Guard
As a Martial Master, Framme has the Qi Adept Battle Style which is what grants her access to the Chain Guard mechanic. Battle Styles are a new mechanic introduced in Fire Emblem Engage that allows different classes to share common abilities based on the role that class fulfills. For example, classes on horseback fall into the Cavalry Battle Style which gives them higher movement than other units and foot soldiers using swords, axes, or lances get the Backup Battle Style which allows them to engage in Chain Attacks if they are next to a unit that initiates battle with an enemy.
Chain Guard is an interesting choice of an ability to give to a weaker, healer class like Martial Master because it allows that unit to redirect an incoming attack from a nearby ally onto themselves with reduced damage. However, this skill only works if the unit using Chain Guard has full health, meaning it won't always be an option for protecting frail units. What makes this such an odd ability for a healer is that it requires that unit to be on the front lines of battle, so they can intercept incoming enemy attacks, which runs counterintuitive to the typical strategy of protecting the frail healer class archetype in video games standing behind a stout front line.
Players are introduced to this ability in Chapter 2 of Fire Emblem Engage, the first chapter where Framme is usable as a unit. This chapter isn't too tough given the low stakes of the battle and serves as more of an extended tutorial on new mechanics like Battle Styles and Engage Attacks than anything. This makes it easy to show off Framme's Chain Guard ability since she likely won't take enough damage to put her in any danger. However, this ability becomes far less useful later in the game when more powerful enemies can threaten Framme more so than other units whom Chain Guard could protect.
The more sensible types of units to have access to Chain Guard would be armored ones like Louis, of the Lance Armor class. Armored classes currently have the Armored Battle Style, which grants them immunity to Break, another new mechanic that temporarily immobilizes a unit and prevents them from counterattacking if hit by the weapon type they're weak to in Fire Emblem Engage's weapon triangle. However, Chain Guard would make a fitting ability as well given that these units tend to be the tanks of the squad, making them perfect for protecting more frail allies with Chain Guard.
Fire Emblem Engage is available now for Nintendo Switch.
