The Troubadour (トルバトール Torubadōru) is a horse-mounted support magical class that recurrently appears across the Fire Emblem Series, beginning from Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. Troubadours are primarily armed with staves that they utilize for healing and other support purposes. Originally granted the ability to brandish Swords for self-defense, beginning from Fire Emblem: Binding Blade, they are no longer able to do so. They are akin to a mounted version of the Priest and Cleric classes, and are therefore treated as cavalry units.
History in the Series
In their original inception in Genealogy of the Holy War and Thracia 776, Troubadours are armed with both Swords and Staves. They promote into Paladins in these two iterations.
In TearRing Saga: Utna Heroes Saga, the Troubadour class is unable to promote, and the only playable member of this class is Mel.
Beginning from Binding Blade, Troubadours lose the ability to arm Swords and instead wield Staves exclusively for support purposes. This title is credited for instituting the Valkyrie class as the primary promoted form of the Troubadour class.
In The Sacred Stones, Troubadours are further given the option to promote into Mage Knights alongside Valkyries.
Absent from Path of Radiance to Shin Monshō no Nazo, Troubadours formally return to the series in Awakening, where they are further given the option to promote into War Clerics alongside Valkyries.
In Fates, the Troubadour class is known as Rod Knight (ロッドナイト Roddo naito) in the Japanese version and is unisex for the first time in the series. It is treated as a Nohrian class, and is given the new option to promote into the Maid and Butler (depending on gender) classes.
Overview
Combat
Due to the fact that Troubadours have high Movement, they are thus able to reach injured allies and replenish their HP before quickly retreating from the front-lines with ease. In this regard, they are thus often perceived to be the superior version of the standard Priests and Clerics. Their usefulness is further amplified by their adequacy in Magic, Speed and Luck, all of which are instrumental to ensuring the effectiveness of their healing magic and their ability to dodge hostile enemy attacks while aiding their allies. Troubadours are, however, weak in the HP and Defense departments, and it is therefore prudent to ensure that they are accompanied by able bodyguards at all times.
Uniform
Throughout the series, playable Troubadours have all been depicted as some sort of nobility or royalty. Because of this, they are often wearing clothes that their station can afford, usually being fancy and elegant in appearance but not necessarily wearing anything "battle-ready" like regular uniforms. For the first five games Troubadours appear in this comes in the form of a knee-length dress, high-heel boots and a small or normal size cloak. In Genealogy of the Holy War, the battle sprites also wield a shield and a small breastplate and a pair pauldons with a more elegant look than that of regular soldiers. Also in this game and Rekka no Ken generic units and playable Troubadours Nanna and Priscilla wear a headband with wings, similar to the ones Cordelia and Caeldori wear in their respective games.
Like with a lot of other classes that reappeared in Awakening, the Troubadour's costume received a massive overhaul with the arrival of Yusuke Kozaki. When he was hired to illustrate and design Awakening and Fates he refurbished most of the game's design and thus, the Troubadours costume. While still keeping an elegant look about them, Troubadours now wore clothes that are more capable of being worn into battle and not suffering to much wear-and-tear all at once, as they now wear a woman's frilled shirt, a corset matching the uniform's colour (blue for generic, but pink for Maribelle), and brown leather high-heel boots. This also applies to Fates, albeit focusing on a more battle-ready look than a fancy one which is especially the case with male versions of the uniform. Elise's unique model depicts her wearing a royal dress, gloves and boots meant for a child. When she promotes to the Strategist class, she gains a more battle-ready look, as she gains small pieces of gold armour to wear in order to protect herself (which is ironic considering her poor Defense).
In-Game
Base Stats
HP | Str | Mag | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Mov | Con | Wt | Wlv | Cha | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FE4 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | - | - | B C | |
FE5 | 16 | 2/1 | 2 | 2 | 3/2 | 0 | 2/1 | - | 8/5 | 4 | - | E E | |
TS | 18 | 2/1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2/1 | - | 7/4 | - | - | 3 | |
FE6 | 15 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | - | D | |
FE7 | 15 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | - | D | |
FE8 | 15 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | - | D | |
FE13 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | - | - | E | |
FE14 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | - | - | E |
Maximum Stats
HP | Str | Mag | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Mov | Con | Wt | Wlv | Cha | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FE4 | 80 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 8 | - | - | B C | |
FE5 | 80 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | - | 20 | 20 | - | A A | |
TS | 60 | 17/16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 30 | 17/16 | - | 7/4 | - | - | 18 | |
FE6 | 60 | - | 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 | - | A | |
FE7 | 60 | - | 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 | - | A | |
FE8 | 60 | - | 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 | - | A | |
FE13 | 60 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 30 | 20 | 28 | 7 | - | - | A | |
FE14 | 35 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 16 | 21 | 7 | - | - | B |
Growth Rates
HP | Str | Mag | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res | Mov | Con | Wt | Wlv | Cha | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FE4 | 100% | 10% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 0% | 10% | 30% | - | - | - | - | |
FE5 | 50% | 20% | 3% | 15% | 10% | 10% | 15% | - | 15% | - | - | - | |
FE6 | 50% | - | 25% | 35% | 55% | 45% | 12% | 30% | - | - | - | - | |
FE7 | 50% | - | 25% | 35% | 55% | 45% | 12% | 40% | - | - | - | - | |
FE8 | 50% | - | 25% | 35% | 55% | 45% | 12% | 40% | - | - | - | - | |
FE13 | 35% | 0% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 0% | 5% | 15% | - | - | - | - | |
FE14 | 0% | 0% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 15% | 0% | 15% | - | - | - | - |
Class Skills
Skill | Requirements | |
---|---|---|
FE4 | Re-Move | Hidden base skill of all mounted and flying units. |
FE13 | Resistance +2 Demoiselle | Learnt at Level 1. Learnt at Level 10. |
FE14 | Resistance +2 Demoiselle Gentilhomme | Learnt at Level 1 and above. Learnt at Level 10 and above. (Females) Learnt at Level 10 and above. (Males) |
Promotions
Base Class | Promotion Method | Promoted Class | |
---|---|---|---|
FE4 | Troubadour | Choose the "Class Change" option in the Home Castle when the relevant unit reaches Level 20. | Paladin |
FE5 | Troubadour | Use a Knight Proof on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Paladin |
FE6 | Troubadour | Use a Guiding Ring on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Valkyrie |
FE7 | Troubadour | Use a Guiding Ring on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Valkyrie |
FE8 | Troubadour | Use a Guiding Ring on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Valkyrie Mage Knight |
FE13 | Troubadour | Use a Master Seal on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Valkyrie War Cleric |
FE14 (Males) | Troubadour | Use a Master Seal on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Strategist Butler |
FE14 (Females) | Troubadour | Use a Master Seal on a Level 10+ Troubadour. | Strategist Maid |
Notable Troubadours
Genealogy of the Holy War/Thracia 776
- Ethlyn - Sigurd's sister and Quan's wife, the mother of Leif and Altena.
- Nanna - The princess of Nordion, daughter of Raquesis, and sister of Delmud.
- Janne - A girl from Agustria and Finn's adopted daughter, Nanna's replacement if Raquesis dies child-less.
TearRing Saga: Utna Heroes Saga
Binding Blade
- Clarine - A young girl who was captured by Marquess Laus, Lord Erik. She is the daughter of Pent and Louise and younger sister of Klein.
Rekka no Ken
The Sacred Stones
Awakening
- Maribelle - Lissa's best friend, member of Chrom's Shepherds force and the daughter of an influential noble family in Ylisse.
Fates
- Elise - Princess of Nohr and the Avatar's younger adoptive sister.
- Forrest - Son of Leo and a prince of Nohr.
- Dwyer - Son of Jakob.
Trivia
In medieval times, troubadours were poet-musicians who recited ancient tales. However, the term "troubadour" was specifically used to refer to males, while female poet-musicians were called trobairitz.