Balthus

Balthus
Names and Aliases
Name (Localized)	Balthus
Full Name (Localized)	Balthus von Albrecht
Aliases (Localized)	King of Grappling Baltie B
Biological Information
Gender	Male
Race	Human
Birthday	July 9th
Fódlan Birthday	9th of the Blue Sea Moon, Imperial Year 1153
Age	26-27 (Pre-Timeskip)~27 (Cindered Shadows) 32 (Post-Timeskip)
Relatives	May contain spoilers Unnamed Father Unnamed Mother Lord Albrecht (Younger Half-Brother) Unnamed Step-Mother
Affiliations
Nationality	Leicester Alliance
Hometown	Kupala
Residence	Garreg Mach Monastery Abyss
Faction(s)	Ashen Wolves Golden Deer (Formerly)
Occupation(s)	Student at the Officers Academy (Formerly) Head of House Albrecht (Formerly)
Game Data
Game	Fire Emblem: Three Houses
First Seen	Chapter 2: Familiar Scenery (White Clouds) Chapter 1: The Fourth House (Cindered Shadows)
First Joined	Chapter 2: Familiar Scenery (White Clouds) Chapter 2: What Lies Beneath (Cindered Shadows)
First Fought	Chapter 1: The Fourth House (Cindered Shadows)
Starting Class	Noble (White Clouds) War Monk (Cindered Shadows)
Voice Actors
Japanese	Subaru Kimura
English	Aaron Hedrick
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“We're the secret fourth house in Abyss. The surface world turned its back on us, and we did the same in return.”

Balthus is a character from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. He is an inhabitant of Abyss, and a member of the Ashen Wolves. Currently he's the only known bearer of the Crest of Chevalier. In the Cindered Shadows side story, Balthus is a main protagonist, alongside the other members of the Ashen Wolves.

Profile

The self-proclaimed "King of Grappling," Balthus of the Ashen Wolves has a rough-and-tumble personality. Running from his woes (and his debts), he's gone underground—literally—in Abyss. Despite his motivations, he's big-hearted and protects those he cares for.

He is also the best friend of Holst, Hilda's older brother. Hilda had known him from childhood, refers to him as "Baltie" and tends to treat him as if he were another brother.

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

Balthus' mother is a commoner woman from Kupala, a very secluded region within Leicester. His father is the leader of the Albrecht clan, a minor noble family from the east of the Alliance. She left Kupala to see the world, he rescued her from danger; the two fell in love, married and had Balthus, but the lady was loathed by her husband's clansmates due to her lowborn origins so they constantly harassed her. The couple were forced to split ways: Balthus' mother returned to Kupala, and Balthus remained with his paternal family as the heir apparent, even when he did not consider himself cut to be the heir.

Some time after the departure of Balthus' mother, Lord Albrecht was forced to marry a local noblewoman who also bore him a son, albeit one with no Crest. Balthus and his younger half-brother were pretty close, but the boy's mother loathed her stepson and was also obsessed with her child becoming the heir of the family. All of this was followed by Balthus' own unruly behavior and the discovery of his Crest of Chevalier when he entered the Officer's Academy; his Crest was not supposed to have been passed on anyone after the failure of the Rite of Rising, so Balthus and Lord Albrecht had lots of problems to keep the secret from the clan. Some time after Balthus' graduation he decided to run away since not only he was harassed by debt collectors and other enemies, he greatly feared that his cruel stepmother would either harm his mother and the Kupalans as revenge against him, take her frustrations on his father, or pit him against his brother.

As he ran off from everyone in Leicester, after a bad encounter with bounty hunters near the Bridge of Myrdidd he reached the territory of Lysithea's parents in Ordelia. By these days House Ordelia was already dominated by the Empire and could not give him shelter, but they still fed and helped him escape from his pursuers despite the danger they were in. He has never forgotten the kindness of the Ordelias and hopes to repay them someday, as he explains to Lysithea herself in their supports.

Eventually, Balthus made his way to Abyss, managing to lay low until it was safe to come out again.

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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Cindered Shadows

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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Academy Phase

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"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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War Phase

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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Personality

Despite his hearty and careless personality, Balthus can be quite insightful, as he's the only person who can not only keep up with Claude's defensiveness over his past and his prodding, but he even turns it back on him, leaving Claude genuinely indignant and hypocritically getting upset at Balthus for trying to get a read into his past.

Balthus is on good terms with Holst and his younger sister Hilda, despite not being in contact with them for years. He tries his best to take care of Hilda, even well after post-timeskip where he upholds the promise made to Holst years ago before hiding in Abyss. He also respects Holst's combat capabilities, stating that he wouldn't have a chance if he had to fight him.

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

His friendship with the two is so great that in the Crimson Flower route, if he is sent to fight Hilda, he will attempt to have her stand down, to no avail. When Hilda points out that Holst would hold him responsible for her death, Balthus does not deny this, stating that if he did kill her, he would repay it by offering his life to him and ensuring her body would be returned home.

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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He enjoys gambling and drinking, one of the primary reasons of him being in debt. Despite having numerous debts to repay, with some of these loaners demanding his death, Balthus' strong sense of honor leads to him refusing to rely on others to pay off their debts as he intends to do so himself. And if someone offers him aid and he cannot repay them immediately, he vows to repay such a favor someday no matter the cost.

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

This mentality ties, among other things, into Balthus' deals with Lysithea and her family. Since the Ordelia clan gave him aid even when they were in a desperate situation as well, he considers himself in debt with them and is determined to pay it off no matter what. This can lead to him being able to open the path for Lysithea's recruitment in the Black Eagles path.

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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In-Game

Base Stats

• White Clouds
• Cindered Shadows

Starting Class						Crest
Noble
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
3	29	12	6	5	8	3	8	5	5
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
-		Fading Blow Smash		King of Grappling Sword Prowess Lv 1 Axe Prowess Lv 2 Brawling Prowess Lv 2 Authority Lv 1		Iron Gauntlets Vulnerary Abyssian Exam Pass

Skill
Level	E+	E	D+	E	D+	E	E	E+	E	E	E
Start

Starting Class						Crest
War Monk
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
20	50	26	11	11	13	10	19	14	11+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
Heal*		Fading Blow Rushing Blow Draining Blow Pneuma Gale* Eviscerate*		King of Grappling Fistfaire Unarmed Combat Heal Brawling Prowess Lv 3 Authority Lv 2 Brawl Avo +20 Rally Strength Weight -3		Vajra-Mushti Steel Gauntlets Iron Gauntlets Concoction Unarmed*

Skill
Level	E+	E	C	E	B	E	E	C	C	E	E
Start

As a Mission Assistant

Black Market Scheme

• Normal
• Hard
• Maddening

Starting Class						Crest
Brawler
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
15	40	20	8	11	16	8	15	6	9+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
-		-		King of Grappling Unarmed Combat		Steel Gauntlets Vulnerary Unarmed*

Starting Class						Crest
Brawler
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
16	41	21	8	11	17	8	15	6	9+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
-		-		King of Grappling Unarmed Combat		Steel Gauntlets Vulnerary Unarmed*

Starting Class						Crest
Brawler
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
22	49	28	12	17	23	10	20	10	15+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
-		-		King of Grappling Unarmed Combat		Steel Gauntlets Vulnerary Unarmed*

Skill
Level	E	E	E	E	C	E	E	E	-	-	-
Start

As an Enemy

A Skirmish in Abyss

• Normal
• Hard

Starting Class						Crest
War Monk
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
24	51+5	25	10	11	10	10	21	12	9+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
Heal*		Eviscerate*		King of Grappling Fistfaire Unarmed Combat Heal Brawling Prowess Lv 3 Tomebreaker Faith Lv 3 HP +5		Vajra-Mushti Vulnerary Unarmed*

Starting Class						Crest
War Monk
Level	HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
27	57+5	31	13	12	15	10	24	17	13+1
Magic		Combat Arts		Abilities		Starting Items
Heal*		Eviscerate*		King of Grappling Fistfaire Unarmed Combat Heal Brawling Prowess Lv 3 Tomebreaker Faith Lv 3 HP +5		Vajra-Mushti Vulnerary Unarmed*

Skill
Level	E	E	E	E	B+	E	C+	E	-	-	-
Start

Growth Rates

HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
50%	50%	30%	25%	30%	20%	45%	30%	30%

Maximum Stats

HP	Str	Mag	Dex	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Cha
100	71	48	39	46	35	69	43	46

Learnt Magic

Skill Level	Reason	Faith
D	Fire	Heal
D+	-	Nosferatu
C	Bolganone	-
C+	-	Seraphim
B	-	-
B+	-	Restore
A	Ragnarok	–
A+	-	-

Recruitment

Balthus can be recruited in the main story after completing Chapter 4 of Cindered Shadows.

Overall

Subjective: The following part of this article is based upon the editor's personal experiences and opinions, and therefore may not be applicable for all readers.

Balthus is the self styled King of Grappling, and as such it should come as no surprise that the brawling skill lines are his strengths, complemented by his aptitude in Axes, Swords, and Heavy Armor. This means he should have ready access to most non-mounted physical classes. His personal skill King of Grappling grants him +6 to both Strength and Defense when he is below half HP, giving him natural synergy with the Vantage and Wrath skills. It is highly recommended that he masters both the Mercenary and Warrior classes. As for any physical class, Death Blow should be acquired to strengthen Balthus's attack during the player phase. He is predisposed to end his class career in the War Master class, where he will enjoy excellent boosts to his growths as well as increased damage and critical rate due to its passive skills. Classing him as a Hero can also work wonders since it gives him Vantage for free, allowing him to take other abilities as a result.

In terms of his stat growths, Balthus is similar to Raphael, Caspar and Hilda, having high Health, Strength, and Defense growths, but his Luck, Dexterity and Speed are all unimpressive (though he's thankfully not as slow as Raphael). His poor Dexterity is probably his biggest worry; it has the worst growth and base in the game, so even if he can dish out loads of damage, that does him no good if he can't hit anything. His weakness in Bows may also exacerbate this, making it hard to acquire Hit +20 to offset his accuracy issues. As such, it is advised to give him a battalion that can compensate for his inaccuracy.

Balthus has a budding talent in reason and a strength in Faith, which is supposed to encourage the player to make him spend time in the War Monk class. However, his magic growths are shoddy and his spell list is subpar, so there is little reason for him to pursue this class, as Grappler and Warrior will provide much more for him.

Overall, Balthus joins the likes of Raphael and Caspar as a potent bruiser, but has more versatility than either of them due to his strengths in magic (even if his Magic stat is below-par). This comes at a bit of a cost to his accuracy and luck, but he makes up for it with power and stamina.

Supports

See also: Balthus/Supports

• Byleth (S-Support with female Byleth)
• Claude
• Lysithea
• Hilda
• Yuri
• Constance
• Hapi

Quotes

Three Houses

Balthus/Quotes

Possible Endings

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

Balthus - King Of Grappling

"Balthus disappeared shortly after the war, but rumors of his exploits swirled for a long time thereafter. Some say he returned to Kupala, where he became a protector of the mountain folk. Others say he remained right under Garreg Mach's nose as a prominent underworld figure. Whatever the truth, the tale of his domination in the first- ever All-Fódlan Tournament Brawl is likely too persistent to be a fabrication."

Balthus – King Of Grappling (Crimson Flower)

"After the war for Fódlan, Balthus whole-heartedly joined the battle against those who slither in the dark. The devastation he wrought in the Battle of Shambhala was immortalized in a tapestry, entitled "Avatar of War," and passed down through the generations. Afterward, it is said he returned to Kupala and became a protector of the mountain folk."

Balthus and Byleth (Crimson Flower)

"Almost as soon as Byleth and Balthus finished their lively wedding celebration, the battle with those who slither in the dark began in earnest. Leading from the front lines, the couple drove the enemy back again and again, causing such carnage on the battlefield that even their Imperial allies and subordinates were intimidated. After hostilities came to an end, their names faded from official historical records but persisted in folk tales. Of the stories that spread to every corner of Fódlan and survive to this day, the most prominent one features criminals who threaten to abduct a traveler's wife. The traveler laughs and wishes them the best of luck."

Balthus and Byleth (Azure Moon)

"After taking her place as the new archbishop of the Church of Seiros, Byleth announced her marriage to Balthus. The people were reluctant to accept this union at first, considering his reputation, but his natural charisma in speeches and his ability to exceed expectations eventually won their blessing. Though mostly noted for his strength and dedication as a bodyguard, Balthus also provided counsel. It is said that many civil and diplomatic reforms owe their origins to his advice."

Balthus and Byleth (Verdant Wind/Silver Snow)

"After ascending to the throne as the first leader of the United Kingdom of Fódlan, Byleth announced her marriage to Balthus. The people were reluctant to accept this union at first, considering his reputation, but his natural charisma in speeches and his ability to exceed expectations eventually won their blessing. Though mostly noted for his strength and dedication as a bodyguard, Balthus also provided counsel. It is said that many civil and diplomatic reforms owe their origins to his advice."

Balthus and Claude

"Perhaps unexpectedly, Balthus accompanied Claude upon his return to his homeland of Almyra. While Claude assumed the role of a politically active prince, Balthus spent his days drinking, flirting, and brawling. As soon as Claude inherited the throne, however, all that changed. In the blink of an eye, Balthus became son-in-law to the great commander, Nader, and took up a position of military command in service to Claude's stated goal to improve relations with Fódlan. To foster trust, Claude frequently sent Balthus into Fódlan on missions to help quell revolts begun by Imperial loyalists."

Balthus and Hilda

"Most of Balthus's debts vanished in the chaos after the war, and those few that remained were paid off with what he had earned in the fighting. Free to do as he pleased, he sought out Hilda, and the two of them went on an adventure around the world. Crossing Fódlan's Throat, they journeyed through and beyond Almyra, where they are said to have found a kingdom of gold in the far east. Though the details of their adventure are largely lost, one anecdote firmly remains. To win Holst's blessing to take his sister out of Fódlan, Balthus had to beat him in a duel."

Balthus and Lysithea

"Balthus accompanied Lysithea home to help her parents restore their family land, securing the aid of his younger brother, who happened to be lord of a nearby domain. Years later, when the end to their hard work was finally in sight, Lysithea relinquished House Ordelia's claim to nobility, ceding the territory to a nearby lord. Shortly thereafter, Balthus brought her and her family to Kupala, in Fódlan's Throat. There, they fell in love and lived peaceful, happy lives blending in with the mountain folk."

Balthus and Yuri

"After the war, Yuri returned to the underworld. Some time after assuming control of the illicit markets, he happened upon Balthus, who had become so down on his luck that he had collapsed in an alley. Yuri helped Balthus back to his feet and offered him work as a bodyguard. While Balthus first accepted just to get by, he came to enjoy the lifestyle so much that he remained at Yuri's side for the rest of his days. The underworld kingpin and the Indomitable King of Grappling made such an impression on the world that their names were feared for centuries."

Balthus and Constance (Crimson Flower)

"Constance was the first to receive peerage from Emperor Edelgard, and though Balthus sometimes chafed from being at the mercy of his wife’s whims, the couple worked diligently to solidify the new social order under Imperial rule. House Nuvelle was given no guarantee of continued power on a hereditary basis but nevertheless achieved lasting status as a leader in the magical arts."

Balthus and Constance (Other routes)

"For her service in war, and her innovations in magic, Constance von Nuvelle was among the first to receive peerage in the new Fódlan. The very next day, she and Balthus were wed, and the couple set about the restoration of House Nuvelle. For their domain, they claimed not the land once ruled by that house, but rather an area in the east of Leicester that encompassed Kupala. There, they became known as advocates for the mountain folk, and as nobles who lived moment to moment as outlandishly as they pleased."

Balthus and Hapi

"Shortly after the war, Hapi and Balthus disappeared. Their absence from the world stage was not lasting, however, as before long they emerged as the leaders of an elite band of mercenaries. The group traveled all over Fódlan helping those in need, with a noted specialty in handling monsters. It is said that these mercenaries lived raucously, laughing often, and that not a single sigh of discontent was ever heard. Some years later, when those who slither in the dark returned to threaten Fódlan once again, these mercenaries were instrumental in dealing with them."

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

---

Etymology

Balthazar (also spelled Balthasar, Balthassar, or Baltazar) means "Bel protects the King". It is an alternate form of the Babylonian king Belshazzar. It is the name commonly attributed to one of the Three Wise Men.

Trivia

• After unlocking his budding talent in Reason, Balthus is tied with Claude for having the most skill proficiencies with 6.

Gallery

Official artwork of Balthus and the other Ashen Wolves.

CG artwork of Balthus at S support.

Balthus's portrait in Three Houses.

Balthus' portrait after the time skip.

Balthus' battle model as a Noble.

"Just a minute! The following section contains spoilers. Viewing it will cost a lot. Are you prepared to pay for it?"

Yuri "betraying" the Ashen Wolves.

"End of spoilers. It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

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