This year, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems celebrated 30 years of Fire Emblem's history. Originally debuting on the Nintendo Famicom, in 1990, the Strategy/RPG series has seen hundreds of noteworthy characters appear in a span of three decades. Among this vast roster, there are a select group of female characters considered to be the strongest and most able women of Fire Emblem.
Those who fought valiantly to the bitter end, those who defended what they loved most, and even those who made dire sacrifices will be honored here. While several of these characters appeared in Nintendo's Smash Bros. series, we want to also recognize the heroines (and villainesses) that defined the stories of Fire Emblem.
Please mind the spoilers for each character below.
10 Edelgard Von Hresvelg
Coming one year after the release of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it only makes sense to bring up the Adrestian Emperor as a strong woman in the franchise. A decisive plot twist in the first arc sets the foundation for her campaign: to conquer all of Fodlan.
Betraying her allies to further her own goals, Edelgard appears as the major antagonist in three of the four routes, Crimson Flower being the sole exception. Furthermore, perhaps most noteworthy about Edelgard is, as a character, she single-handedly divided the Fire Emblem community due to her motives.
9 Lyn
The leading lady of Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade introduced the west to the series. The girl from the Sacaen Plains learned she was a noble and traveled across Elibe to meet her living relative and embrace her destiny.
Lyn would later join the two male protagonists, Eliwood and Hector, in a quest to liberate their continent from the villainous group, the Black Fang . If your units in Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade weren't pulling their weight, Lyn could help with the right preparation.
8 Lucina
The daughter of Fire Emblem: Awakening's protagonist, Lucina traveled from the future in order to save the present timeline from the Fell Dragon, Grima. Originally taking the identity of Marth, her distant ancestor, Lucina fought alongside Chrom and their tactician, Robin, even turning her blade on him at one point in order to avoid a chaotic future.
In Awakening, Lucina is quite strong and definitely useful for the game's harder maps. Lucina garnered her own leading role in the Awakening DLC arc, Future Past. In this plotline, she would avenge her family and strike down Grima once and for all.
7 Byleth
The protagonist of Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the daughter of the legendary mercenary, the Blade Breaker, Jeralt. She's employed at Garreg Mach Monastery as a professor for young nobles, royalty, and commoners. Initially appearing emotionless, the secret living in her - the goddess Sothis - eventually fuses her being with the mercenary, changing her physically and emotionally.
Byleth, despite being a mute protagonist, is written as one who cares greatly about her students. However, she must pick a cause to fight for. In doing so, she will be forced to kill her former students in combat.
6 Camilla
The adopted sister of Fire Emblem Fates protagonist, Corrin, Camilla is introduced as a princess of the country, Nohr. Battling atop a Wyvern, wielding axe and tome in hand, Camilla's battle prowess matches her beautiful looks and seductive personality. Camilla's strength of heart comes from protecting her beloved sibling, threatening violence against any and all who dare harm Corrin. At the end of Birthright, she abdicates her succession to the Nohr throne to her younger brother, Leo. However, in Fire Emblem Heroes, a version of Camilla appears as the Queen of Nohr.
5 Rhea
The polar opposite of Edelgard, the archbishop of Garreg Mach Monastery spreads the word of the goddess across the Fodlan continent. While she also conceals her own motives and past, unlike Edelgard, she only becomes the major antagonist of one route: Crimson Flower.
Rhea liberated Fodlan from the villain, Nemesis, 1000 years ago, and shaped the continent in her image. Despite people questioning the methods of the church, Rhea proves to be a loving, caring, and compassionate motherly figure in three of the game's routes. Remember this when choosing your house in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. She also proves to be an exceptional and deadly fighter.
4 Tiki
The young Divine Dragon was introduced in the original title, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. With nothing but love for her friend, Marth, she traveled with him to help liberate Archanea. Tiki fears being lonely and sealed away due to her amazing, yet dangerous power.
However, Fire Emblem: Awakening reintroduces her, several thousand years later, now grown into a beautiful woman. Once again, she aids the protagonists in liberating the continent. Much like with Lucina, Tiki's role is greatly expanded upon in the Future Past DLC. It is through her power that Lucina gains the strength necessary to fell Grima once and for all.
3 Eir
The main female character of Fire Emblem Heroes Book III, Eir initially starts off as an enemy unit. Sent by her mother, the death goddess Hel, she's supposed to join the ranks of the Heroes, only to later betray them. Whereas this happened in an alternate timeline, Eir eventually grew close to the heroes and learned of her own past. Her heart and memories have been destroyed by her mother countless times. Once she gained confidence that the Heroes could win, she took a stand and turned against her all-powerful mother.
2 Elincia
The Princess of Crimea appeared in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. After the death of her father, she fled her country to enlist mercenaries and help reclaim her throne from the Mad King of Daein, Ashnard. Elincia fought alongside Ike during the second half of Path of Radiance, riding atop a Pegasus, armed with a sword and a staff. Her growth becomes fully realized at the end of the game when she questions her own abilities as a queen. Ike reminds her that no one taught her to hire mercenaries and that she came of her own strength through her own resolve. Elincia presses forward to lead Crimea, continuing her role as queen through the game's sequel, Radiant Dawn.
1 Micaiah
One of the key protagonists of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Micaiah lives in the Daein country after the army's loss to the Crimean Army. When the country of Begnion lays siege to Daein, Micaiah forms a small army to stand up to their tyrannical oppression. Eventually, the silver-haired maiden travels across the Tellius continent to fight Begnion and, at one point, even engages the Radiant Hero, Ike, in battle. However, their paths align once the goddess, Ashera, threatens to destroy everyone on the continent. In the game's final battles, Micaiah assumes the role of the Goddess Yune's vessel and stands alongside Ike, to defeat the goddess Ashera, in order to save all of Tellius.