- Fortune's Weave classes follow a seven-tier system: Base, Beginner, Specialty, Advanced, Master, and Divine.
- Certification exams require class licenses plus weapon or magic skill ranks.
- Special unlocks: Caladrius, Cataphract, and Dancer come from quests and supply missions.
- Divine classes sit at the top of the pyramid as endgame specializations.
- Plan skill ranks early — late certifications demand B-rank proficiencies.
Class System Overview
Fortune's Weave uses a certification-based class system where every unit starts with a Base Class and climbs through increasingly demanding tiers. Each promotion requires a license item, a minimum skill rank in relevant proficiencies, and — for the rarer classes — completion of specific story chapters, mentoring sessions, or side quests. The tier ladder matters because each step raises stat caps and unlocks stronger mastery abilities.
The full tier structure looks like this:
| Tier | Class Group | Certification Level | License Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Base (Commoner, Noble) | None | None |
| 2 | Beginner (Diviner, Gladiator) | 5+ | Beginner License |
| 3 | Specialty (Archer, Armored Knight, etc.) | 20+ | Specialty License + Renown lv4 |
| 4 | Advanced (Bardinger, Bishop, etc.) | 35+ | Advanced License + Renown lv8 |
| 5 | Master (Battlemaster, Bau Lord, Wiseman) | 45+ | Master License |
| 6 | Divine (The Apsara, The Blade, etc.) | Endgame | Special conditions |
The "ideal" certification levels (5, 20, 35, 45) are recommendations, not hard gates. You can attempt an exam earlier, but success chances drop sharply below the ideal level. Always carry the correct license before attempting certification.
Base and Beginner Classes
Every character begins as either a Commoner or a Noble. These Base Classes have no certification requirements and no notable abilities — they exist purely as starting points.
Beginner Classes arrive quickly and set a unit's early direction:
| Class | Certification Requirement | Mastery Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Commoner | None | None |
| Noble | None | None |
| Diviner | Black Magic and White Magic at D or higher | Magic Basis |
| Gladiator | Gauntlets, Axe, and Sword at D or higher | Attack Basis |
Diviner doubles as your magic entry point, requiring both Black and White Magic at D rank. Gladiator covers the physical route across three weapon types. Choose based on the unit's growths, not just their starting kit.
Specialty and Advanced Classes
Specialty Classes unlock at Renown level 4 with an ideal certification level of 20, while Advanced Classes need Renown level 8 and an ideal level of 35. This is where the class tree genuinely widens.
Specialty Classes
| Class | Certification Requirement | Abilities | Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer | Bow at C or higher | Combat Arts +1; Bow Hit +5 | Crescendo |
| Armored Knight | Heavy Armor E+; Axe and Spear at C | Combat Arts +1; Strike-Last Def +3 | Great Counter |
Advanced Classes
| Class | Certification Requirement | Abilities | Mastery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bardinger | Riding C; Spear and Sword at C | Mount/Dismount; Combat Arts +2 | Aegis |
| Bishop | White Magic at B or higher | White-Magic Seeker; Magic Heal +10 | Barrier |
| Dreadnought | Heavy Armor D; Axe and Spear at B | Combat Arts +2; Strike-Last Def +5 | Focused Counter |
| Forest Knight | Riding D; Bow at B | Mount/Dismount; Combat Arts +1; Bow Hit +5 | Hunter's Eye |
| Caladrius | Riding D; Black Magic at B | Mount/Dismount; Black-Magic Seeker; Combat Arts +2 | Overtake |
Three Advanced Classes cannot be obtained through standard certification alone: Caladrius requires completing Castor's final Mentoring in Cai's path, Cataphract requires both "Send Supplies" quests in Theodora's path chapter 9, and Dancer requires the "Great Dancer's Successor" request in Leda's Path chapter 9. Miss these on a route and the class is unavailable for that playthrough.
Bardinger, Caladrius, and Forest Knight all demand Riding proficiency. If you want mounted flexibility at the Advanced tier, train Riding on your physical units from the earliest chapters.
Master, Divine, and Enemy-Only Classes
The endgame tiers separate strong armies from great ones.
Master Classes
Ideal certification level is 45 with a Master License required. Confirmed Master Classes include Battlemaster, Bau Lord, and Wiseman, each representing the peak of physical, lord-type, and magical progression respectively.
Divine Classes
Divine Classes are the rarest tier, themed around gods and legendary figures:
| Divine Class | Theme |
|---|---|
| The Apsara | Celestial dancer archetype |
| The Avatar | Divine incarnation |
| The Blade | Sword-focused divinity |
| The Calamity | Destruction archetype |
| The Cavalier | Mounted divine warrior |
| The Eternal | Time or immortality theme |
| The Godhand | Martial mastery |
| The Trident | Sea or triple-spear theme |
Enemy-only classes round out the list: Sea Beast and The Brandisher, the latter exclusive to the deity Mars.
Battlemaster
- Physical apex of the Master tier
- Capstone for axe and lance specialists
- Late-game certification at level 45+
Bau Lord
- Lord-class pinnacle
- Suits protagonist-track units
- Highest leadership stat caps
Wiseman
- Magical Master specialization
- Rewards B+ rank magic training
- Strong staff and tome synergy
Because several unlocks tie to specific paths (Cai's, Dietrich's, Leda's, Theodora's), no single playthrough collects every class. Cross-reference your chosen route before committing skill-training plans.
Step-by-Step Class Progression
Follow this sequence to move a unit efficiently from Base Class to the upper tiers:
Start at Base
Leave your Commoner or Noble untouched for the first few chapters while you identify each unit's best growth profile and weapon affinity.
Take a Beginner Exam
Raise the relevant skill to D rank, obtain a Beginner License, and certify into Diviner (magic) or Gladiator (physical) around level 5.
Grind Renown to Level 4
Specialty Classes need Renown lv4. Push skills to C rank — Bow for Archer, Heavy Armor plus Axe and Spear for Armored Knight — and certify near level 20.
Reach Renown Level 8
Advanced Classes demand B-rank skills in most cases. Train Riding alongside weapons for mounted classes, and complete any route-specific quests for Caladrius, Cataphract, or Dancer before chapter 9 ends.
Master and Divine Certification
At level 45+, take Master License exams, then pursue Divine Class conditions in Part III: Salvation for your endgame specializations.
The Elephant Rider class unlocks only when Part III begins and additionally requires an Elephant License — one of the few mounts gated behind story progress rather than pure skill ranks.
FAQ
Q: What are the main class tiers in Fortune's Weave?
There are six playable tiers: Base, Beginner, Specialty, Advanced, Master, and Divine, plus enemy-only classes such as Sea Beast and The Brandisher. Each tier requires progressively higher certification levels and licenses.
Q: How do I unlock the Dancer class?
Complete the 'Great Dancer's Successor' request during Leda's Path chapter 9. It cannot be obtained through normal certification exams on that route if the request is missed.
Q: What skills do I need for Advanced Classes?
Most Advanced Classes require B-rank proficiency in their core skill, such as White Magic B for Bishop or Black Magic B for Caladrius. Riding at C or D is also needed for mounted classes like Bardinger and Forest Knight.
Q: Can I get every class in one playthrough?
No. Caladrius, Cataphract, and Dancer are tied to specific route chapters, so collecting all Fortune's Weave classes requires multiple playthroughs across different story paths.
Class Mastery Checklist:
- Certify every unit out of Base Class by chapter 4
- Reach Renown level 4 before the mid-game chapters
- Complete route-specific class quests before chapter 9 ends
- Train one unit to B-rank Riding for mounted Advanced Classes
- Attempt Master certification at level 45 or higher
For the full class database with icons and up-to-date entries, refer to the official class list on the Fire Emblem Wiki.