Master Chapter 8 'The Grimleal' in Fire Emblem: Awakening! Learn strategies for the desert map, recruit Gregor & Nowi, and secure vital items like the Master Seal.
Alright, let's tackle Chapter 8, also known as 'The Grimleal.' This chapter throws us onto a desert map, which means we need to be smart about who we bring. Remember how mounted units and regular ground troops get bogged down in sand? Keep that in mind when picking your team. Magic users and fliers are your best bet here, and thieves will also do just fine.
You'll want to pair up units that fit these descriptions to maximize their movement. The main challenge here is that you need to get to three villages pretty quickly because they're in danger. Don't worry too much about getting everyone there at top speed, though. On Hard mode, the villages with the Master Seal and Second Seal aren't usually the ones that get targeted first, so you might have a little breathing room.
Speaking of those villages, the Master Seal is in the west, the Second Seal is in the southeast, and a Rescue staff is in the northeast. The Master Seal and Second Seal are super important for promoting your units, so they're definitely high priority. The Rescue staff is also great, but if you have to choose, grab the Seals first.
Here's a good approach: send one or two units ahead to quickly deal with the three enemies threatening the northeastern village and snag that Rescue staff. Meanwhile, your main force should head straight down the middle. Your new allies, Gregor and Nowi, will be waiting for you there. It's a good idea to have them pair up and then move north to link up with the rest of your army. They're both pretty solid units, especially Gregor as a Mercenary.
A crucial tip for this map: always, always check the enemy movement range. The sand affects them too, and sometimes the non-sandy patches can be tricky to spot. Keep an eye on it constantly! Other than the movement penalties, this map is pretty straightforward. And for those of you who've played past Fire Emblem games, good news – there are no hidden items buried in the sand this time around!
Boss: Chalard (Dark Mage, Level 12) with Nosferatu and an Energy Drop.
New Units: Gregor (Mercenary, Level 10) and Nowi (Manakete, Level 3) join automatically.
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