Fire Emblem: Three Houses opens with a tremendous choice. This time around, you'll have to decide which house to teach - and that dictates the bulk of your starting allies. It's a big deal.

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If you're here, we're presuming you either chose the Black Eagles, or you're thinking about doing so. We'll talk about their inherent strengths, but focus the bulk of our guide on how to cover their weaknesses through recruits from other houses.

Updated on March 25, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: We've tweaked this guide to offer additional insight into recruitment techniques. Buff up your Black Eagles with these great adds!

Introducing The Black Eagles

The Black Eagles have the game's best offensive magic output. They're also keen with axes in particular. They lack in other aspects, however, and can benefit from the abilities other house members can offer. For example, they can surely do with additional tank-like units. Physical might isn't the Eagles' strongest suit.

This is why the game offers you the possibility of recruiting outside your chosen house - to balance the roles or bring interesting combinations to the table. Because this game has many possible recruits, knowing which ones are Fire Emblem: Three Houses' best characters is a little tricky. We'll be covering the standouts - the ones who, in our view, do the best job shoring up the Black Eagles' weaknesses and providing strengths they initially lack.

In the recruitment sections of each portion of this guide, we'll initially list the default requirements for successfully snagging the new unit. We also include a table that illustrates how those requirements go down if and when you increase your Support Level with the character.

Lysithea - The Glass Cannon

Despite everything we just said, we're starting off by recommending another mage-type character, even for a house that has so many. She is, in truth, just that good.

Lysithea, from the Golden Deer, numbers among Three Houses' finest units, and is a worthy addition to any team. Lysithea is a powerhouse with growth rates up to 60 in two stats: Magic and Dexterity. When she goes to the battlefield, she can nuke enemies left and right and perform a double attack.

She also has access to the Mastermind ability that allows her to have double level-ups in her Skills per combat. Her biggest weakness is physical defense. Again, this just compounds the Black Eagles' natural problems, we know. But it's Lysithea, so... that's OK.

Recruitment

To recruit Lysithea, you'll need at least 15 Magic stat as well as a B in the Faith skill. You can, however, lower those requirements by having a higher Support Rank with her. It is possible to recruit her with Edelgard present after defeating her in Chapter 14, but you should aim to do so far earlier than that if at all possible.

Leonie - The Tank Archer

Leonie is another student in the Golden Deer House. She is an excellent choice for a tank - a big blind side for the Black Eagles. She has good growth rates in Strength (40), Dexterity (55), and Speed (60) and also has the Rivalry ability, which allows her to deal two extra damage (and take two fewer points of damage!) whenever she's beside a male ally. Moreover, she is the ideal character to be a Bow Knight Class.

Recruitment

To recruit her you'll have to have a minimum Strength Stat of 15 and at least C Rank in the Lance Skill. Unless you meet any of the following parameters, of course!

Felix - The Lone Wolf

Another character that should not be missed when recruiting for the Black Eagles is Felix, originally from the Blue Lions House. Felix is a character with great potential with growth rates of 50 in Strength, 45 in Dexterity, and 55 in Speed. He also has his Lone Wolf ability that causes +5 damage to the enemy when the battalion's endurance is zero or the unit is alone.

Recruitment

Felix is a challenging character to recruit, as he requires a B+ Rank in the Sword Skill and a 15 or higher in the Speed Stat, so if you want him, you should work on getting a Level C Support or higher with him. Here's how his requirements change depending on your Support level:

Felix loves Smoked Meat and Ceremonial Swords. Pumping up his Support level with these gifts should ease your burden significantly.

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Ingrid - The Melee/Flying Unit

Initially from the Blue Lions, Ingrid provides the Black Eagles with a perfect Flying/Melee Unit as she is good with the sword, flying, and riding. Ingrid is destined to perform as a Pegasus Knight Class if recruited into the Black Eagles. Plus, this allows the player to use Petra in other areas rather than relying on her for Pegasus.

Recruitment

Ingrid requires between 15 and 20 in Dexterity and a D Rank in Flying Skill. If you want to reach Level C Support with her to lower the requirements in her stat and skill of preference, give her Smoked Meat or Riding Boots.

Raphael - The Buff Tank

From the Golden Deer House, Raphael is the Heavy Armor/Tank Unit that the Black Eagles need. Along with Edelgard, he adds a lot to the defensive power of the House, plus he is skilled with Axes. He is also the perfect Brawler to pair with Caspar or Bernadetta.

Another good thing about Raphael is that you can recruit him for free, that is, without reaching his preferred Status and Skill requirements, if you get a B Rank in Support with him.

Recruitment

Raphael requires at least a 20 in Strength Stat and a C Rank in Heavy Armour Skill. Like with all the other characters, you can increase your Support Rank with him to lower these requirements.

Sylvain - Synergy With Leonie

Finally, Sylvain from the Blue Lions makes a very good couple with Leonie (due to her Rivalry ability) and their shared predilection toward horseback classes, so it is convenient to recruit both of them. This character is also very easy to recruit; female Byleth only has to ask him, and he will accept without further resistance, or even better, he himself will ask to join.

Recruitment

Free Recruit for Female Byleth as early as Chapter Two. For Male Byleth, you'll need 25 in Charm Stat and C Rank in Reason Skill. He likes women and board games, and you can gift him one.

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