Desperation is a Skill that debuted in TearRing Saga: Berwick Saga. It debuted in the Fire Emblem Series in Fire Emblem Heroes.
Overview
In Berwick Saga, it is a command skill that initiates combat with the user's defense reduced to 0 and the opponent's hit rate set to 100. However, the user's hit rate is increased by 22%. Furthermore, both units are able to counterattack if they take damage, and the faster unit can even make a follow-up attack like in other Fire Emblem games. This makes the skill high-risk, high-reward; however, if a unit is equipped with a shield, they can still activate it and get its durability boost, which helps mitigate risk. Weapons that attack consecutively such as the Tabarzin can also greatly reduce risk, as a strong enough unit may kill the enemy at greater reliability before even being hit. It can only be used against opponents capable of counterattacking.
In Fire Emblem Heroes, it allows the unit to perform a followup attack immediately after the first, provided they're under a certain HP threshold and that they were already going to perform a followup attack after their opponent's attack. Desperation does not grant a followup to a unit who would not otherwise have made one.
It can be learned without inheriting by: Ayra, Eirika (Sacred Memories), Karel, Mae, Navarre, Roy (Brave) and Shanna.
In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it is a skill characters can gain upon mastering the Cavalier class. Certain characters can learn a variation of this Ability by raising their Authority, called Battalion Desperation, which instead requires the user's Battalion to be at 1/3rd endurance.
Stats
TearRing Saga: Berwick Saga
| Name | Activation | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Desperation | Command | - |
| Effects | Attacks an enemy able to counterattack with accuracy +22%. Increases enemy accuracy to 100% and reduces own Defense (except shields) to 0. Allows both fighters to counterattack even if they take damage. | |
| Users | Base skill of Dean and Arthur | |
| Notes | - | |
Fire Emblem Heroes
| Name | Activation | SP |
|---|---|---|
 Desperation 1 |
When in combat with less than 25% HP left. | 50 |
| Effects | If unit initiates combat with HP ≤ 25%, follow-up attacks occur immediately after unit's attack. | |
| Users | Ayra, Eirika (Sacred Memories), Karel, Mae, Navarre, Roy (Brave) and Shanna | |
| Notes | Minimum Rarity: ✯✯ | |
| Name | Activation | SP |
|---|---|---|
 Desperation 2 |
When in combat with less than 50% HP left. | 100 |
| Effects | If unit initiates combat with HP ≤ 50%, follow-up attacks occur immediately after unit's attack. | |
| Users | Ayra, Eirika (Sacred Memories), Karel, Mae, Navarre, Roy (Brave) and Shanna | |
| Notes | Minimum Rarity: ✯✯✯ | |
| Name | Activation | SP |
|---|---|---|
 Desperation 3 |
When in combat with less than 75% HP left. | 200 |
| Effects | If unit initiates combat with HP ≤ 75%, follow-up attacks occur immediately after unit's attack. | |
| Users | Ayra, Eirika (Sacred Memories), Karel, Mae, Navarre, Roy (Brave) and Shanna. | |
| Notes | Minimum Rarity: ✯✯✯✯ | |
Fire Emblem Three Houses
| Name | Activation | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
 Desperation |
Unit's HP ≤ 50% | - |
| Effects | If unit initiates combat with HP ≤ 50%, unit’s follow-up attack (if possible) occurs before foe’s counterattack. | |
| Users | Learned by mastering the Cavalier class. | |
| Notes | - | |
