Guns Revolutionize the Storytelling in Fire Emblem

Guns deliver some of the most memorable and hilarious moments in *Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave*, making their debut just an hour into the game.

It didn’t take long for me to find my favorite character in *Fortune’s Weave*, and surprisingly, it’s not one of the four main protagonists. Meet Troy. She’s an older woman, which instantly elevates her to the top of my “characters I’m obsessed with” list, especially since video games often overlook older female characters. Plus, she’s one of the first characters you encounter who wields a gun.

Guns are a fresh weapon type introduced in *Fortune’s Weave*. They function as gauntlet weapons, enhancing a character’s evasion when equipped, making them tougher to hit. It’s tough to gauge their overall power compared to other weapon types since I haven’t unlocked them in the main game yet; I’ve only seen them in the brief prologue.

What really makes guns stand out is how they shape the narrative around their use. Here’s a fun fact: Troy, much like the legendary nun with a gun, is a priest. Healers, especially in *Fire Emblem*, aren’t typically associated with firearms. The notion that guns are the go-to weapon for the healer class in this sword-and-shield fantasy world is downright hilarious. We’ve got armored knights, dagger-wielding rogues, and… is that Mercy from *Overwatch*? Troy perfectly embodies the “I’m a healer but” meme.

Surprisingly, guns aren’t just a one-off tool that gets a quick tutorial before fading into the background; the narrative emphasizes their significance in what might be the most epic cutscene in *Fire Emblem* history. After your party takes down the evil lieutenant of the death god Balor, he launches a surprise attack, catching everyone off guard and collapsing a building on them. Fortuna, the goddess of Fate, steps in and rewinds time, allowing you to dodge the ambush. Confused by the sudden disappearance of his foes, the lieutenant looks around, only for Troy to unleash a barrage of bullets into his skull at point-blank range, quipping, “That’s the force it takes to get anything into the skull of a man like that.” I’m eager to see what other gun-related antics this game has in store.