Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Reclassing and Master Seals
Distinguish changing a role from promoting an eligible unit.
Edition covered
Nintendo DS remake released in Japan and Europe in 2008 and North America in 2009. Uses Shadow Dragon reclassing, weapon ranks and permanent unit loss. Caeda is called Shiida in the European text.
Reclass in battle preparations
Reclassing changes a unit's role within its permitted class set. It does not require a Second Seal and does not reset the unit's level as in some later games; this is Shadow Dragon's own system.
| Action | Changes | Does not imply |
|---|---|---|
| Reclass | Class within an allowed set | Any class is available to anyone |
| Master Seal | Eligible unit's promotion tier | A level reset through free reclassing |
| Weapon training | Usable weapon rank | Every new weapon begins highly trained |
| Preparation check | Available class slots | Unlimited copies of a class |
| Need | Useful class feature | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| More map reach | Mounted movement | Terrain and weapon rank |
| Front-line durability | Higher defense class | Speed and magic vulnerability |
| Magic damage | Tome access | Magic stat and tome rank |
| Healing support | Staff access | Staff rank and safe positioning |
| Anti-air offense | Bow access | Whether the map needs another archer |
Respect class limits and exceptions
Only a limited number of units can occupy each class, and not every character can reclass. Marth and special classes have restrictions, so inspect the preparation menu instead of expecting every unit to become any class.
Check weapon ranks after changing
A unit may enter a class that uses a weapon it has barely trained. The new role can offer better movement or defense but still lack the rank required for your favorite weapon.
Use Master Seals for promotion
Eligible unpromoted classes can use a Master Seal from level 10. Promotion improves the class tier; delaying it offers more unpromoted levels, while early promotion can solve an immediate combat problem.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Nintendo instruction manual | csassets.nintendo.com |
| Shadow Dragon mechanics | serenesforest.net |
| Reclassing rules and class sets | serenesforest.net |