FE ENGAGE Tools

Unit Tier List

Maddening Efficiency Analysis

Last Updated: January 2026

S
7 Characters
Alear Tier List

Alear

Ultimate Support & Dodge Tank
Rec. Emblem Corrin
Why Top Tier

Unique Dragon-type flexibility, S-Tier utility with Dragon Veins, top-tier evasion.

Weakness

Lackluster late-game Strength (STR); struggles to deal meaningful damage.

Tactical Note

"Early-game carry with Marth. Transition to a pure support role post-Chapter 11. Pair with Corrin to manipulate terrain via Dragon Veins. Focus on 'Draconic Curse' and 'Pair Up' to debuff enemies while maintaining 140+ Avoidance."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Alcryst Tier List

Alcryst

Physical Nuke / Boss Killer
Rec. Emblem Lyn
Why Top Tier

Unique skill 'Luna' allows him to pierce high-defense targets; incredible Skill stat.

Weakness

Relies on RNG (Luna procs) for maximum damage output.

Tactical Note

"The premier bow user. Pair with Lyn for 'Astra Storm' and high Speed. With a high Skill stat (~45+), he triggers Luna consistently, allowing him to shred even the toughest bosses."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Anna Tier List

Anna

Ultimate Magic Carry / Economy Engine
Rec. Emblem Celica / Byleth
Why Top Tier

Best Magic growth in the game (after reclassing); passive generates extra Gold.

Weakness

Starts in the wrong class (Axe Fighter); requires extreme babysitting early on.

Tactical Note

"Immediate reclass to Mage Knight is mandatory. She leverages her high Speed and Luck to become a top-tier nuke. Use Byleth’s ring to farm Gold on reinforcement-heavy maps."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Kagetsu Tier List

Kagetsu

Physical Stat God
Rec. Emblem Any Physical Ring
Why Top Tier

Absurd base stats; elite growths in every physical category.

Weakness

None. He is arguably the best physical unit in the game.

Tactical Note

"Immediately usable. Whether as a Swordmaster, Wyvern Knight, or Paladin, he will dominate. A must-use for high-difficulty runs."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Panette Tier List

Panette

One-Shot Crit Master
Rec. Emblem Ike / Three House Lords
Why Top Tier

Highest Strength in the game; passive provides massive Crit bonus when damaged.

Weakness

Low defenses; requires careful HP management.

Tactical Note

"The 'Vantage/Wrath' queen. Pair with Ike for 100% Crit rates. She can delete almost any enemy in a single counter-attack."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Hortensia Tier List

Hortensia

Divine Staff Support
Rec. Emblem Micaiah
Why Top Tier

Unmatched staff range and conservation; incredible flight utility.

Weakness

Zero offensive presence; extremely frail.

Tactical Note

"The best healer in the game. Her ability to use staves without consuming charges (proc-based) is game-breaking. Keep her out of combat at all costs."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Seadall Tier List

Seadall

The Only Dancer
Rec. Emblem Any (Sigurd/Lucina recommended)
Why Top Tier

Provides an extra turn to your best units; essential for all strategies.

Weakness

Cannot fight; requires protection.

Tactical Note

"Dance every turn. His value is unmatched because he effectively clones your strongest unit's action."

Maddening Ready Full Build
A+
9 Characters
Céline Tier List

Céline

Versatile Hybrid / Magic Tank
Rec. Emblem Mixed (Eirika / Celica)
Why Top Tier

High Luck and decent mixed offensive stats; high Resistance allows her to bait mages.

Weakness

Magic growth is lower than expected (25%); needs 'Ignis' procs to stay competitive in damage.

Tactical Note

"Can be built as a physical/magical hybrid. Late-game she excels with a Levin Sword or as a high-defense/magic-resist tank. Her high Skill allows for frequent passive procs."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Louis Tier List

Louis

Physical Fortress / Early-game Carry
Rec. Emblem Ike / Sigurd
Why Top Tier

Monstrous Defense and Strength; can solo entire physical squads in the early-to-mid game.

Weakness

Zero Resistance; dies instantly to any magic threat; mobility issues.

Tactical Note

"The MVP of early Maddening runs. Give him Ike's ring to maximize his tanking potential. Watch out for long-range magic in the final chapters."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Chloé Tier List

Chloé

Dodge-Based Griffin Knight
Rec. Emblem Eirika
Why Top Tier

Incredible Speed; great mobility; high magical potential.

Weakness

Low base Strength makes her struggle to kill early on.

Tactical Note

"Needs a few kills to get moving. Use Eirika's ring to patch up her physical damage. A Levin Sword on a Griffin Knight Chloé is one of the most versatile units in the game."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Jean Tier List

Jean

Customizable Growth Monster
Rec. Emblem Class Dependent
Why Top Tier

Passive doubles class growth rates; can become the best unit in any category.

Weakness

Very weak start; competing with Anna for early-game experience/babysitting.

Tactical Note

"Best utilized as a Sniper or Martial Master. His high internal growth ensures he will outpace almost everyone by the endgame if given enough EXP."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Yunaka Tier List

Yunaka

Crit-Based Evasion Assassin
Rec. Emblem Corrin / Lucina
Why Top Tier

God-tier early game; unmatched evasion in terrain (thickets/pillars).

Weakness

Offensive power drops off late-game; heavily dependent on terrain to survive.

Tactical Note

"A Chapter 11 MVP. Late-game, pair her with Corrin's Fog Vein to create her own evasion tiles. Invest in STR drops if you want her to remain a primary killer."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Ivy Tier List

Ivy

Flying Magic Artillery
Rec. Emblem Sigurd / Byleth
Why Top Tier

Access to Flying Magic and S-rank Tomes; great mobility.

Weakness

Shaky accuracy; very poor base growth rates.

Tactical Note

"Her personal class is her biggest strength. Use Sigurd for 'Override' and repositioning, or Byleth for accuracy patches. One of the best staff/tome hybrids in the game."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Veyle Tier List

Veyle

Dragon-Type Utility Support
Rec. Emblem Byleth
Why Top Tier

Dragon-type bonuses for Rallying/Instructing; free chip damage with Obscurité.

Weakness

Joins very late; mediocre combat stats.

Tactical Note

"Primarily a support unit. Her Dragon-type status makes Byleth’s 'Instruct' give +3 to all stats, which is incredible for the final map push."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Timerra Tier List

Timerra

Dex-Based Defense Tank
Rec. Emblem Ike / Tiki (DLC)
Why Top Tier

Unique skill 'Sandstorm' scales damage based on 150% of her Defense; exceptional Dexterity growth.

Weakness

Average growth rates in other areas; requires high investment in Dex to trigger Sandstorm consistently.

Tactical Note

"Maximize her Dexterity and Defense. With a Dex stat over 40, she triggers Sandstorm frequently, allowing her to deal massive damage while acting as a front-line tank."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Rosado Tier List

Rosado

Late-Game Wyvern Powerhouse
Rec. Emblem Three Houses Lords (DLC) / Eirika
Why Top Tier

Exceptional growths in Strength, Dexterity, and Speed.

Weakness

Joins relatively late with mediocre base stats; requires initial babysitting.

Tactical Note

"Invest time to catch him up in levels, and he will transform into one of your strongest physical flyers. He excels as a Wyvern Knight or Warrior."

Maddening Ready Full Build
A
7 Characters
Alfred Tier List

Alfred

Early-game Vanguard / Tanky Cavalry
Rec. Emblem Sigurd
Why Top Tier

High initial Strength and Defense; excellent mobility when paired with Sigurd.

Weakness

Falls off heavily mid-game; low Speed leads to being doubled by enemies; exclusive class is underwhelming.

Tactical Note

"Dominates the early chapters with Sigurd. However, consider dropping him post-Chapter 11 as his Speed growth can't keep up with the enemy scaling."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Merrin Tier List

Merrin

Wolf Knight Evasion Specialist
Rec. Emblem Lucina / Eirika
Why Top Tier

Excellent base stats upon joining; high mobility and evasion as a Wolf Knight.

Weakness

Personal Strength growth (25%) is slightly lower than Yunaka's (35%), leading to late-game damage drop-off.

Tactical Note

"A reliable high-speed unit who can immediately replace under-leveled thieves. Use Eirika's ring to boost her physical damage output or Lucina for 'Dual Assist' utility."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Fogado Tier List

Fogado

Hybrid Mounted Archer
Rec. Emblem Lyn
Why Top Tier

High base stats and immediate combat readiness; unique Cupido class.

Weakness

Cupido's personal skill 'Back at You' is underwhelming for a ranged unit.

Tactical Note

"Consider reclassing him to Swordmaster or maintaining him as a mobile bow user. While his personal class skill is weak, his solid base stats make him a valuable asset in the mid-to-late game."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Pandreo Tier List

Pandreo

High-Speed Magic Utility
Rec. Emblem Celica
Why Top Tier

Excellent Speed and Magic growth; great base stats for a late-joining healer.

Weakness

Generally outclassed as a pure magic nuke by Anna.

Tactical Note

"Can be built as a high-speed Sage or Mage Knight. If your team is set on damage, he functions perfectly as a reliable backup healer with high survival potential."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Bunet Tier List

Bunet

Mid-Game Physical Wall
Rec. Emblem Ike
Why Top Tier

Solid growth rates for a tank; immediate replacement for under-leveled early tanks.

Weakness

Underwhelming personal skill; mediocre base stats compared to late-game scaling.

Tactical Note

"Good as a filler tank if your primary physical walls are behind in levels. He functions well as a Great Knight or General to soak up physical hits."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Mauvier Tier List

Mauvier

Late-Game Royal Knight Hybrid
Rec. Emblem Varies
Why Top Tier

Incredible total growth rates; versatile hybrid stats.

Weakness

Joins extremely late; base stats are somewhat underwhelming compared to his potential.

Tactical Note

"Despite his late arrival, his high growths make him a viable unit for the 14-man endgame deployment. Use him as a tanky healer or magic bruiser."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Madeline Tier List

Madeline

Physical Fortress (DLC)
Rec. Emblem Ike / Hector
Why Top Tier

Insane Defense and Strength bases; essentially a female version of Louis.

Weakness

Non-existent Resistance; extremely slow.

Tactical Note

"The ultimate physical wall. Keep her away from mages at all costs, and she will solo entire physical battalions."

Maddening Ready Full Build
B+
7 Characters
Clanne Tier List

Clanne

Physical Sniper / Hybrid Attacker
Rec. Emblem Lyn
Why Top Tier

Exceptional Skill and Speed growth; higher raw potential than some royal archers.

Weakness

Stuck in a Mage class at Level 1 despite having a physical-leaning growth spread.

Tactical Note

"Requires an immediate Second Seal at Level 1 to switch to a physical class like Archer or Myrmidon. If left as a Mage, he will fall behind significantly due to poor Magic growth."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Framme Tier List

Framme

Utility Healer / Evasion Support
Rec. Emblem Micaiah
Why Top Tier

High Speed growth; provides crucial +10 Avoidance support to Alear early on.

Weakness

Fragile; Speed growth is wasted on a pure healer role; easily outclassed by late-game staff users.

Tactical Note

"Essential early-game healer. Position her behind Alear to utilize her support passive. Transition her to a backup healer role as more specialized units join."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Lapis Tier List

Lapis

High-Speed Avoidance Duelist
Rec. Emblem Roy
Why Top Tier

Highest Speed growth in the game (55%); great evasion potential.

Weakness

Terrible Strength growth (25%); deals minimal damage without high-tier weapons.

Tactical Note

"Essentially a 'budget Kagetsu.' Requires Roy's Strength boost to stay relevant. High investment is needed to make her a viable damage dealer."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Diamant Tier List

Diamant

Sol-Tank / Bruiser
Rec. Emblem Roy
Why Top Tier

Unique 'Sol' skill for sustain; solid bulk and Strength.

Weakness

Low Skill cap (23) limits Sol's proc rate; Speed is insufficient to double late-game enemies.

Tactical Note

"His potential is limited by his low Skill cap. While designed to be an immortal tank with Sol and Roy’s 'Hold Out', he often struggles to hit or double enemies in the endgame."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Amber Tier List

Amber

Raw Strength Warrior
Rec. Emblem Edelgard (DLC) / Three House Lords
Why Top Tier

Massive 45% Strength growth.

Weakness

Poor Skill and Accuracy; lacks the crit-passive that makes Panette superior.

Tactical Note

"A budget version of Panette. While his STR is high, his shaky accuracy makes him less reliable in Maddening mode."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Jade Tier List

Jade

Anti-Mage Armor (Experimental)
Rec. Emblem Ike
Why Top Tier

Higher Resistance compared to Louis.

Weakness

Mage speed scaling makes her 'extra Res' irrelevant as she gets doubled and killed regardless.

Tactical Note

"Use her if you prefer a female armor unit, but Louis generally performs better as a dedicated physical wall."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Goldmary Tier List

Goldmary

Defensive Hero / Off-Tank
Rec. Emblem Roy
Why Top Tier

High natural Defense growth; excels at holding front lines with Roy's 'Hold Out'.

Weakness

Lacks offensive presence outside of her Defense stat.

Tactical Note

"Use her high Defense to bait physical enemies. While not a primary damage dealer, she is a sturdy unit who can survive dangerous situations."

Maddening Ready Full Build
B
4 Characters
Etie Tier List

Etie

Early-game Glass Cannon Archer
Rec. Emblem Lyn
Why Top Tier

High base Strength for an early-game archer.

Weakness

One of the lowest total growth rates in the game; frail and lacks Speed.

Tactical Note

"Use her to handle fliers until Alcryst joins. Unless she is a personal favorite, she is strictly a placeholder for better bow users."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Boucheron Tier List

Boucheron

Chain Attack Bot / Backup Utility
Rec. Emblem Lucina
Why Top Tier

Great HP, Skill, and Speed growth; reliable for setting up Chain Attacks.

Weakness

Pathetic base Strength; deals minimal damage; very high investment required for low payoff.

Tactical Note

"Use him primarily for 'Dual Assist' and chipping away at Boss health via Chain Attacks. Safe to bench after Chapter 7."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Citrinne Tier List

Citrinne

Early-to-Mid Magic Placeholder
Rec. Emblem Celica
Why Top Tier

High base Magic; immediate magic damage boost when joined.

Weakness

Stat growth is comparable to Vander (poor long-term scaling).

Tactical Note

"A solid magic filler for the mid-game. However, she lacks the explosive growth potential of units like Anna or Ivy."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Lindon Tier List

Lindon

Filler Magic Support
Rec. Emblem None (Utility focused)
Why Top Tier

Decent base stats for a late-joining Sage.

Weakness

Joins too late to compete with established magic carries.

Tactical Note

"Useful as a staff-bot or for minor chip damage if your team is short on magic users in the final chapters."

Maddening Ready Full Build
C
2 Characters
Vander Tier List

Vander

Early-game Meatshield / Logistics
Rec. Emblem None (Economy focus)
Why Top Tier

Decent base stats for the first few chapters.

Weakness

Abysmal growth rates; takes experience away from better units; terrible long-term scaling.

Tactical Note

"Bench him as soon as possible. Useful for managing base activities at Somniel, but a liability on the battlefield in late-game Maddening mode."

Maddening Ready Full Build
Saphir Tier List

Saphir

Late-Game Filler
Rec. Emblem None
Why Top Tier

High base HP and Strength.

Weakness

Joins at a point where most players have a full, superior roster; low growth potential.

Tactical Note

"Only useful if you have lost multiple units or need an immediate level-capped filler for the final maps."

Maddening Ready Full Build