Fire Emblem: Three Houses fans are a diverse bunch. Some love its deep battle system and various job classes. Others reserve their strongest praise for the game's divergent storytelling, or the fun times to be had playing the role of professor to an eclectic bunch of students swept up by a whirlpool of political strife and romcom slice-of-life.
Wherever one happens to fall on the Fire Emblem fan graph, one thing is for certain: when it comes to the enormous cast of characters who inhabit the halls of Garreg Mach Monastery, everyone has their favorites. That's what makes tea parties so entertainingly tense. Three Houses puts players on the spot, trusting them to impress each character with demonstrable insight into their likes, dislikes, daydreams, ambitions, and more.
Few prospective gazebo guests come across quite so enigmatically at tea parties as Ingrid does. Perhaps it's because her personality is rather well-rounded, whereas many other denizens of the church tend to veer noticeably in one archetypal direction or another. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to impress Ingrid in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. And we'll prove it to you.
How To Unlock Tea Ceremonies
Before you can even think about inviting Ingrid for a few sips and chatter, you will need to have unlocked the ability to host tea ceremonies. As with many things in Three Houses, this is done by way of completing a small optional quest at a specific point of the game.
That point is very early, which is nice as it gives fans practically the entire game to master the fine art of the brew. At any point in Chapter Two (or onward if you've accidentally skipped it), speak with Ferdinand by the stables.
Ferdinand wants Byleth to find someone who will appreciate an Elegant Tea Set. While there are really only a few obvious candidates, the sheer size of Three Houses' cast can make this task more daunting than it needs to be. The answer is Lorenz, whom you'll find lurking by the fishing pond during the second chapter.
With Lorenz's uncommon gratitude obtained, tea ceremonies can commence in earnest.
How To Impress Ingrid
In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, tea ceremonies are something of a lightning round of tests proving players have a firm understanding of who they're spending their time with. In a nutshell, the best way to prepare for Ingrid's tea time - or anyone else's, for that matter - is to engage in conversations with them. It's like any good hosting experience; you don't set the table with a total stranger and simply pray they respond amicably to whatever words you blurt out next.
But the plethora of conversation options, not to mention the ambiguous fashion in which they are presented, can muddle matters. Especially with a lady like Ingrid. In order for us to ensure your success, we'll list every conversation option that can have a beneficial effect. Sometimes two out of the three choices per round will manifest on screen. Very rarely, all three of your choices will be safe. No matter what, you'll always have at least one positive option.
The following list contains every possible pick that will impress Ingrid rather than bore or distress her.
Every Correct Conversation Choice
- A dinner invitation…
- A new gambit...
- A strong battalion...
- A word of advice…
- Books you’ve read recently…
- Cats…
- Classes you might enjoy…
- Cooking mishaps…
- Dreamy knights…
- Equipment upkeep…
- Evaluating allies…
- Exploring the monastery…
- Favorite sweets…
- First crushes…
- Fodlan's future…
- Food for life…
- Food in the dining hall…
- Gifts you’d like to receive…
- I’m counting on you…
- Mighty weapons…
- Monastery rules…
- Monastery security…
- Our first meeting…
- Overcoming weaknesses…
- Past laughs…
- Perfect recipes…
- Plans for the future…
- Potential training partners…
- Reliable allies…
- School days…
- Shareable snacks…
- Someone you look up to…
- Strange fish in the pond
- Tell me about yourself…
- Thanks for everything…
- The existence of Crests...
- The ideal professor…
- The last battle…
- The library’s collection…
- The view from the bridge…
- Things you find romantic…
- Working hours for guards…
- Working together…
- You seem well…
- You’re doing great work…
- Your ambitions…
Steer clear of anything else and you'll be good to go.
The Best Bonus Conversation Answers
In addition to the several traditional rounds of back-and-forth in tea ceremonies, fans can solidify a strong impression (and thus, a highly productive ceremony) by choosing the correct responses during the potential bonus conversation round. This feature only pops up if you've performed well, and it boosts your support-rank increase beyond what you would have already earned.
The whole thing plays out a bit oddly, but then, Fire Emblem: Three Houses does revel in its oddness. In essence, Ingrid (or whoever you're having the ceremony with) says something, and players must select between a few ways in which Byleth broadly responds. Blushing, admonishing, praising, laughing - just another vague nonverbal day in Byleth's vague and nonverbal life, really.
|
Ingrid's Statement |
Best Response(s) |
|---|---|
|
"I'm already thinking of my next meal..." |
Blush |
|
"As a child, my father and brother used to yell at me for spending so much time with my horse." |
Admonish or Laugh |
|
"It's warm around the monastery and the soil is rich... Honestly, I'm envious." |
Chat or Praise |
|
"Being here calms my nerves... Oh! But I'll leave if I'm in your way." |
Blush or Disagree |
|
"I wonder what your favorite food is. Meat? Veggies? Fish, perhaps? Oh, or maybe sweets..." |
Chat or Laugh |
|
"When I'm here, I feel like I can forget about fighting, even if just for a moment." |
Laugh or Praise |
|
"When did you start sword training? I was five when I began..." |
Chat |
|
"Would you like to have a meal with me? Though... it wasn't long ago that I ate." - |
Admonish or Laugh |
|
"Speaking with you helps me realize that I can't hesitate in life!" |
Blush or Disagree |
Ingrid's Favorite Teas
One last thing. Every tea ceremony candidate in Three Houses prefers certain blends over others. In Ingrid's case, her two true brews are Chamomile and Mint Leaves. Like other flavors, both of these can be obtained through merchants, as quest rewards, and even as treasures strewn throughout Garreg Mach.
You shouldn't have any great difficulty acquiring these, but if push comes to shove, don't worry too much about it. Using chamomile or mint leaves will give you a nice starting bonus, but maintaining Ingrid's attention over the course of the ceremony is what matters most here.