Myrmidon

"A swift specialist in the blade who makes for a tricky target."

- In-game description from Awakening.

The Myrmidon (ソードファイター Sōdo faitā, lit. Sword Fighter in the Japanese versions) is a classic combat physical class that recurrently appears across the Fire Emblem Series. Wielding Swords as its sole weapon of choice, the Myrmidon class is, despite being distinguished from the Mercenary class, closely linked to it in earlier titles in terms of their promotion paths.

Nabarl is credited for creating the archetype of Myrmidons, with the class's basic appearance and statistic traits derived from him. Originally a Mercenary in the original game and Mystery of the Emblem, his elegant brand of sword combat, strikingly dissimilar to the coarser type employed by Mercenaries, later sees the Myrmidon class being introduced to the series with the advent of Genealogy of the Holy War. Nabarl is eventually befittingly made a Myrmidon in the remakes of the original two titles. Ayra from Genealogy of the Holy War is also credited with defining much of the class and its look, particularly the promoted version, the Swordmaster.

History in the Series
The Sword Fighter/Myrmidon is introduced to the series on Genealogy of the Holy War, where it replaces the Mercenary as the primary Sword wielding foot unit. The class is able to promote into two different classes depending on the character; Ayra and Larcei promote into Swordmaster, while Holyn, Ulster, Radney and Roddlevan promote into Forrest, the equivalent to the Mercenary's traditional Hero promotion.

In Thracia 776, the Sword Fighter class functions in much the same way as its predecessor, where some characters promote into Swordmaster and others promote into Mercenary, another Hero equivalent.

Serendipitously, in both TearRing Saga: Utna Heroes Saga and Fire Emblem: Binding Blade, the class is formally separated from the Mercenary class and the Swordmaster class is instituted as the sole promoted form of the Myrmidon class.

In The Sacred Stones, Myrmidons are given the further option to promote into Assassins alongside Swordmasters.

The Myrmidon class is simply known as Blade (剣士 ブレイド Bureido) in the Japanese version of Radiant Dawn. Like its predecessors, the class promotes directly into the Swordmaster class in all versions.

In Shadow Dragon and Shin Monshō no Nazo, remakes of the Akaneia Series, some characters who were originally Mercenaries are reinstated as Myrmidons, including the likes of Nabarl and Radd.

In Awakening, the class is again given the further option to promote into the Assassin class alongside the Swordmaster class.

The class has been renamed Samurai (侍) in Fates and is treated as a Hoshidan class. The Samurai has the option to promote into the Master of Arms alongside the traditional Swordmaster. The Samurai class is regarded as the counterpart to the Nohrian Mercenary.

Combat


The Myrmidon's superior Speed and Skill over other similar classes make them very formidable foot soldiers, but their comparatively lower HP, Strength and Defense make them difficult to protect against quick and accurate opponents.

While Myrmidons can easily deal with magic users and thieves with a single round of combat on the player phase, the same prowess may not necessarily be replicated on the enemy phase; when overwhelmed by too many of such enemies, they could potentially lose their superior edge and be felled. When facing heavier enemies, especially fighter-type units, the high Speed boasted by Myrmidons makes them proficient at evading clumsy blows. This is, however, offset by their typically mediocre Strength, especially when they are commanded to do battle with heavily armored units (exacerbated further if said armored units are immune to their damage).

Should a Myrmidon be attacked by slower units, especially a Fighter or Brigand, they are often able to kill or heavily damage their enemy in a single counterattack due to the consistency that they display in inflicting critical attacks.

Uniform
Most female Myrmidons are depicted donning a tunic with an over-top that barely covers their waist and long, high boots with no leggings. Males, conversely, are depicted in a tunic and leggings with a belt and sheath (sometimes on their back) for their sword.

Genealogy of the Holy War

 * Ayra - The princess of the Kingdom of Isaach, daughter of King Mananan and younger half-sister of Prince Mariccle. Aunt of Shanan and mother of Larcei and Ulster.
 * Holyn - The son of the Lord of Sophara Castle in Isaach and a distant relative of Ayra.
 * Larcei - The daughter of Ayra and the twin sister of Ulster.
 * Ulster - The son of Ayra and the twin brother of Larcei.

Thracia 776

 * Machyua - A member of the Magi Squad.
 * Shiva - A mercenary hired by the Lifis Pirates.
 * Mareeta - The daughter of Prince Galzus of Rivough and the adopted daughter of Eyvel.
 * Trewd - A member of the Dandelion Gang.

TearRing Saga: Utna Heroes Saga

 * Julia - The daughter of Yoda and the foster sister of Shigen.
 * Vega - A mysterious man who is known as Dhullam's Angel of Death.
 * Shigen - The son of Karla and the nephew of Zeek who was adopted by Yoda.
 * Krisheenu - A thief and a sword fighter who is searching for legendary orb in order to bring back her lover, Algo.

Binding Blade

 * Rutger - A half Sacaen from Bulgar who seeks revenge against Bern.
 * Fir - The daughter of Bartre and Karla and the niece of Karel.

Rekka no Ken

 * Guy - A swordsman from Sacae's Kutolah tribe.

The Sacred Stones

 * Joshua - The prince of Jehanna and the son of Queen Ismaire who has a fervor for gambling.
 * Marisa - A member of Gerik's Mercenaries who is known as the "Crimson Flash".

Path of Radiance

 * Mia - A member of the Greil Mercenaries.
 * Zihark - A Daein mercenary who does not harbour hatred for the Laguz.

Radiant Dawn

 * Edward - A member of the Dawn Brigade.
 * Isaiya - A swordsman hired by the Begnion Occupational Army to capture the Dawn Brigade.

Shadow Dragon

 * Nabarl - A stoic mercenary who is also known by the alias "Crimson Fencer".
 * Radd - A citizen of Port Warren who joins the Akaneian League with Caesar.
 * Athena - A swordswoman of mysterious origins.

Shin Monshō no Nazo

 * Samto - Impersonator of Nabarl.
 * Malice - Daughter of Dice and is constantly in pursuit of gaining riches.

Awakening

 * Lon'qu - A swordsman from Chon'sin who suffers from gynophobia.
 * Owain - Lissa's son from the future.
 * Morgan (Only if the Avatar married to Lon'qu, Say'ri, Owain or Yen'fay).
 * Eirika (SpotPass)

Fates

 * Hana - Princess Sakura's childhood friend and loyal subordinate.
 * Hinata - A swordsman who serves Prince Takumi.
 * Hisame - The son of Hinata.

Etymology
The Myrmidons were a tribe that followed Achilles, descended from Myrmidon, one of Zeus's countless sons. In modern times, a Myrmidon is someone who follows a cause without question. Many members of the class (Such as Guy, Lon'qu and Mia) could be called Myrmidons in this respect in relation to their devotion to swordplay.

Trivia

 * In some games, the manner by which Myrmidons handle the blade can be seen as a style of swordplay from a specific region on the continent.
 * In Jugdral, Myrmidons hail from Isaach.
 * In Elibe, Myrmidons hail from Sacae.
 * In Magvel, Myrmidons hail from Jehanna.
 * In Awakening, with the exception of Owain, all the Myrmidons/Swordmasters that join the Shepherds are from Chon'sin.
 * In Fates, Samurai hail from Hoshido.