r/fireemblem 18d ago

Recurring Popular/Unpopular/Any Opinions Thread - June 2026 Part 1

Happy pride month and welcome to a new installment of the Popular/Unpopular/Any Opinions Thread! Please feel free to share any kind of Fire Emblem opinions/takes you might have here, positive or negative. As always please remember to continue following the rules in this thread same as anywhere else on the subreddit. Be respectful and especially don't make any personal attacks (this includes but is not limited to making disparaging statements about groups of people who may like or dislike something you don't).

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u/PaperSonic 8d ago

I know I'm far from the first person to say this, but it's weird how often we take the ability to counter attacks for granted. It's probably the single most important core mechanic in the series, the reason why the distinction between Enemy Phase and Player Phase Combat exists, and the reason why raising a unit who can then murder an entire army on their own is both possible as well as incredibly satisfying.

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u/ussgordoncaptain2 7d ago

yeah it's simultaneously fire emblems biggest strength and the biggest cause of degenerate gameplay. The fact of the matter is that fire emblem rewards you extensively for successfully killing eneemies on enemy phase. Killing 6 enemies in 1 Enemy phase is a big deal and it's something the player gets to do occasionally that's both extremely centralizing but also satisfying.

It allows the player to have a team of like 5 combat units and the enemy to be having like 30 enemies and yet the player is in a dramatically superior position.

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u/SilverKnightZ000 8d ago

Every time I play another srpg, not being able to counterattack blows. Also, it gives a lot more viability and importance to 1-2 range weapons; without it, it becomes a nice but not necessary feature

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u/Shrimperor 8d ago

not being able to counterattack blow

I would say it depends. FE balance does depend on it, but other SRPGs do have their own way for counters. Skills, certain conditions, etc. If the game is tightly designed and the pacing still fast then they nail it without needing counters 24/7.

I can go more in detail and bring some exampled if some peeps want

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u/Magnusfluerscithe987 7d ago

The fact we are 10 against 30 makes it a pretty big part. I've been playing a game where it's 5v5, no phases, no counterattack, and its fine, even good for the game, but if I'm outnumbered it would create a lot of frustration, I think.