The various characters you can recruit have always been the heart and soul of Fire Emblem, and that remains true with Fire Emblem Engage. If you’re playing on Classic Mode, permadeath gives you practical excuses to recruit as many characters as possible (the ability to ignore this mechanic via rewinding time and save scumming notwithstanding), but even without this incentive, so much of the lore is tied up in character interactions that everybody has an excuse to fuss over missable characters. This page will cover how to recruit every character in Fire Emblem Engage.

How to Recruit Every Character in Fire Emblem Engage¶

As far as Fire Emblem games go, Fire Emblem Engage is fairly tame with recruitment requirements. Most characters that can join will do so automatically, often shortly after the start of a battle. Of the 36 characters in the game, only five are really missable, and their unlock conditions are typically “talk to specific character(s) (Alear is always a candidate for this task) and/or survive the battle”. All in all, it’s not hard to end up with a full roster in Fire Emblem Engage, but if you want to be sure, check out the table below to make sure you get everybody to join your cause.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 1¶

You’ll start the game out with Alear in the prologue, but you won’t gain proper control over the protagonist until Chapter 1. Much of Chapter 1 is a tutorial, with Vander joining in your attempt to repel some Corrupted. Clanne and Framme are guest characters, but they do not join yet, and remain under AI control the entire chapter. They cannot be killed - this chapter is heavily scripted.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 2¶

Clanne and Framme officially join at the start of this chapter, and along with Alear and Vander participate in some training battles.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 3¶

A few turns into this chapter’s battle you’ll be joined by Alfred, Boucheron and Etie, who immediately join your cause and stay with you the rest of the game.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 4¶

You’ll gain control of Celine, Chloe and Louis at the start of the battle in Chapter 4, and they’ll stay with you the rest of the game. Chloe and Louis are isolated, but they’re not in any great danger.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 6¶

Yunaka joins you automatically at the start of the battle in Chapter 6. You’ll have to escort her through the battle with Alear, but this battle is mostly a tutorial on using torches.

In Chapter 6 (and later) you’ll be able to attempt Paralogue: Tea-Filled Village, where you’ll find Jean. During the fight you’ll need to send Alear adjacent to him and talk to him, after which he’ll switch from being AI-controlled to being player-controlled, a status he’ll maintain the rest of the game.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 7¶

Standard fare, here, Alcryst, Citrine and Lapis all join at the start of the battle in Chapter 7, and they’ll stay with you for the rest of the game.

You can also recruit Anna in Chapter 7 if you go out of your way to complete the Paralogue: Bandit’s Hideout. During this mission Anna will be AI controlled, but she’ll start the battle hidden until some Thieves blow her cover, which will ultimately lead to her being killed if you don’t intervene. If you can kill the Thieves before they can uncover Anna, you’ll be free to release Anna at your leisure, then talk to her with Alear, which will get her to join you. Giving the Sigurd Emblem Ring to a fast unit (Alfred and Chloe are both fine choices) and bringing Celine equipped with the Celica Emblem Ring (Warp Ragnarok can cover quite a bit of ground) will help you chase down the two Thieves and prevent them from uncovering Anna before you’re ready.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 8¶

Diamant and Amber join at the beginning of this chapter’s battle. They will remain part of your roster for the rest of the game.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 9¶

In Chapter 9 you’ll find Jade fending off two armored opponents in the center of the battlefield. She’s more than a match for her initial foes, who will keep her occupied for several turns, but after that she may run afoul of nearby casters. Her armor won’t be much use against them. Fortunately it should only take you a few turns to reach her - just talk to her with Alear or Diamant and she’ll join your forces.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 11¶

Chapters 10 and 11 are story-heavy missions that must be completed back-to-back, without the luxury of retreatin to the Somniel. In Chapter 11 you’ll need to reach a specific spot on the map with Alear to win. As you approach the destination, Ivy and her retainers, Kagetsu and Zelkov, will show up to provide some welcome assistance. They’ll be under your control after appearing during the battle in Chapter 11, and will remain with you for the rest of the game.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 12¶

After making your way to the deserts of Solm, you’ll encounter Fogado, whose attempt to escort you are complicated. Fogado, Bunet and Pandreo will all join you at the start of the story battle in Chapter 12.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 13¶

Your attempts to meet up with Timerra will be complicated by the arrival of bandits. Fortunately, Timerra and her retainers, Merrin and Panette, will join you at the start of Chapter 13’s story battle.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 14¶

Win the story battle in Chapter 14 and Hortensia will join your forces afterwards. She’s not actually playable until Chapter 15.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 15¶

Seadall is as much of a feature of Chapter 15’s story battle as is the miasma hazards, and like many recruitable characters, you’ll find him under attack at the start of the battle. Unlike many other characters, however, Seadall’s competence is somewhat… questionable. You’ll want to get to him quickly (break down walls if you must) after which you can talk to him with Alear to get him on your side.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 16¶

Rosado and Goldmary - two of Hortensia’s retainers - will join you at the start of Chapter 16’s story battle. Just keep them alive throughout the fight (they’ll be under your control, so it’s really on you if either of them dies) and they’ll be at your command going forward.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 18¶

Unlike most recruitable characters, Lindon is actively hostile to you when the fight starts, even manning some artillery on the ship to the east. You’ll have to weather his assaults and bring Ivy or Alear next to him to talk some sense into him, after which he’ll promptly switch allegiance. Keep him alive throughout the fight and he’s yours to keep.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 19¶

Saphir is busy fighting her doomed, one-woman crusade at the start of Chapter 19, on the docks near the ships. Talk to her with Alear before she gets into trouble and she’ll join you.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 21¶

Mauvier will join you at the start of the battle in Chapter 21.

All Recruitable Characters in Chapter 22¶

Veyle will join you at the start of the battle in Chapter 22.