The innovations Fortune’s Weave brings to the Fire Emblem formula are a prime example of one step forward, two steps back. Fortune’s Weave is the first game in the franchise to make character growth rates visible to the player, a long-requested feature that gives the player vital information they would otherwise have to consult outside sources like the perennial Fire Emblem fan site Serenes Forest to find. This change is massive, as you can see how different classes will impact character growths and plan out future builds and progression paths for each character to shore up weaknesses and lean into their individual strengths.

A less successful change is the weapon system. Fire Emblem‘s weapon triangle is a foundational series mechanic, one that was refined expertly in Fire Emblem Engage with the Break system, where attacks with a weapon advantage dealt extra damage and prevented counterattacks. Much like Three Houses before it, Fortune’s Weave once again abandons the weapon triangle system, in favor of granting unique properties to each weapon type outside of the rock-paper-scissors framework.