Not to be confused with Replacement characters, a mechanic seen in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon.
Substitute characters are a set of playable characters who appear exclusively in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. They are referred to as substitutes for their role in taking the place of child characters that are not born due to the fates of their potential mothers in the first-generation storyline.
Overview[]
Substitute characters are assigned to specific potential mothers, and will enter the game should that potential mother either not marry or die before the conclusion of the first-generation storyline. In general, they bear appearances notably different from the units for whom they substitute for, but they fulfill the same role in the story, with similar if not identical dialogue and events. However, some substitutes have special hidden events, such as Laylea obtaining the Barrier Sword from Anna.
Because substitute character traits are not informed by the first generation cast, they join the player's force with fixed base stats, growth rates, equipment, and skills. As a result, they are not as customizable as their child character counterparts and generally lack Holy Blood, which places them at a disadvantage because it limits their weapon selection. Their disadvantages are actually acknowledged in the story by some of them such as Muirne, Deimne, and Asaello; all of them feel inadequate and out of place due to their lack of Holy Blood, and need reassurance about their roles. Daisy also expresses this in her own way, as she is a huge fan of Shannan to the point where she starts to slightly annoy him in her excitement to meet him.
Gameplay[]
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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.
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The stats of substitute characters are generally inferior to the child characters whom they take the place of. However, some substitute characters do have gameplay traits that make them stand out. Linda can use the powerful Thoron tome prior to her promotion to Mage Fighter and possesses the Elite skill, unlike Tine. Charlot can obtain the Berserk Staff and has Elite as well, unlike Coirpre. Hawk also has excellent base stats and a decent weapon/staff selection, and while he is generally outclassed by Ced, it's mostly because of Ced's inheritance (especially Forseti).
List of Substitute Characters[]
| Mother | Children | Substitutes |
|---|---|---|
Deirdre Shaman |
Seliph and Julia  Junior Lord and Shaman |
N/A. Sigurd and Deirdre always fall in love during Chapter 1. Julia is considered a static character in gameplay. |
Ethlyn Troubadour |
Altena and Leif  Wyvern Rider and Prince |
N/A. Quan and Ethlyn are lovers by default, thus no substitute children will exist. |
Edain Priest |
Lester and Lana  Arch Knight and Priest |
Deimne and Muirne  Arch Knight and Priest |
Ayra Myrmidon |
Scáthach and Larcei  Myrmidon and Myrmidon |
Dalvin and Creidne  Myrmidon and Myrmidon |
Lachesis Princess |
Diarmuid and Nanna  Free Knight and Troubadour |
Tristan and Jeanne  Free Knight and Troubadour |
Silvia Dancer |
Lene and Coirpre  Dancer and Priest |
Laylea and Charlot  Dancer and Priest |
Erinys Pegasus Knight |
Ced and Fee  Sage and Pegasus Knight |
Hawk and Hermina  Sage and Pegasus Knight |
Tailtiu Thunder Mage |
Arthur and Tine  Mage and Mage |
Amid and Linda  Wind Mage and Thunder Mage |
Brigid Sniper |
Febail and Patty  Bow Fighter and Thief |
Asaello and Daisy  Bow Fighter and Thief |