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In Fire Emblem Fates, the traits of Boon and Bane play a crucial role in shaping your character’s abilities. Boon is the first stat-modifying feature, determining which of your stats will become the highest base stat and which ones can grow the most as you level up.
The counterpart to Boon is Bane. True to its name, Bane specifies which stat will be the lowest base stat and which stat will have the least chance of improvement during level-ups.
Complete List of Boon and Bane Traits in FE Fates
Below you’ll find a table outlining all Boon and Bane traits:
| Trait | Boon Word | Bane Word | HP | Str | Mag | Skl | Spd | Lck | Def | Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP | Robust | Sickly | +15/-10 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Strength | Strong | Weak | +/-5 | +15/-10 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Magic | Clever | Dull | +/-5 | +/-5 | +20/-15 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Skill | Sturdy | Fragile | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +25/-20 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Speed | Calm | Excitable | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +25/-20 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Luck | Deft | Clumsy | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +15/-10 | +/-5 | +/-5 |
| Defence | Lucky | Unlucky | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +10/-10 | +/-5 |
| Resistance | Quick | Slow | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +/-5 | +10/-10 |
Here’s a brief guide on optimal Boon and Bane choices for each scenario if you plan to undertake all three Fates stories:
Optimal Boon Choices
I believe Speed is the superior choice for Boon in FE Fates. While HP can be a solid alternative due to its significant loss across the board in Fates.
Considering that the Dragonstone and both Nobles’ secondary weapons rely heavily on magic stats, I strongly recommend pursuing magic as a Boon. Early on, choosing defense can also provide a solid strategy. Here are the three best Boon options:
- For Master Ninja, select +Skill to enhance Lethality.
- Opt for +Mag if you’re going with the Dark Knight.
- As a Malig Knight, I found +Res to be quite effective.
While these Boons can generally yield great results in FE Fates, your final choice should depend on your character’s specific needs.
Optimal Bane Choices
A higher HP allows for improved overall stats, diminishing the impact of your Bane. Typically, I prefer + HP with – Strength/Magic, depending on whether I’m focusing on physical or magical units. Here are the top three Bane picks in FE Fates:
- For Master Ninja, go with -Str since Lethality compensates for that.
- Choose -Def for the Dark Knight because cavalry units generally have strong defense ratings.
- With the Malig Knight, I leaned towards a skill build, though I struggled to find the perfect loadout.
Beginner’s Guide to Boon and Bane in Fire Emblem Fates
For newer players, I recommend combining Calm and Dull. This strategy helps you optimize the Avatar’s base class while enhancing your survivability against magic damage, which is a prominent challenge in this game.
Since magic damage can pose a major threat in Fates, and low HP is less than ideal, I advise steering clear of the Sickly or Excitable traits if possible. However, these traits can be intriguing options if you’re looking to create a glass-cannon character or if you wish to increase the game’s difficulty.