With thrilling PvPvE action, Fire Emblem Shadows brings a new proposal for fans of this acclaimed franchise developed by Intelligent Systems. And since the game allows players to fight on the side of the Light or help the forces of Shadow to dominate the realms, some might wonder whether to pick one side or the other.
This guide will help players decide if they should choose Light or Shadow in Fire Emblem Shadows, with a complete overview of each side, their playstyles, rewards, main path differences, and what happens with the story if players pick one of the sides.
Should You Play for the Light or Shadow in Fire Emblem Shadows?
Fire Emblem Shadows has a pretty interesting mechanic that allows players to play in groups of three, where one of them is a traitor fighting for the Shadow. But players can also choose the Light side and follow a path of righteousness. This particular mechanic makes it quite difficult to determine if it's better to play for the Shadow team or the Light team. So, here's an overview of both sides, and their playstyle:
- Fight for the Light: Players who choose the Light side will enter combat during the Sun Room Phase, and try to defeat every foe, while figuring out who is the traitor among them. They need to pay attention to which player endangers the team the most to determine which one is the traitor, but those playing for the Shadows also have their own tricks to hide their misdoings, so be careful. At the end of the Sun Room, there's a vote, and players need to choose carefully which of the three is the Traitor, to gain a revive token for the next phase, which will determine the side winning the Battle.
- Fight for the Shadows: Players who choose the Shadow side will enter the Sun Room Phase and try to hurt or disturb the Light Side players as they move into the Moon Room Phase, and reveal their true shape. In the middle of the two phases, there will be a vote, and if they play their cards right, they will be able to trick other players into voting for the wrong one. By doing so, they will empower themselves and gain an advantage in the next combat phases, which is PvP. Destroying the Light Side players before this phase ends will mean a victory for the Shadow Side.
Both sides are quite balanced, since the Light Side has the advantage of numbers, but the Dark Side has the element of surprise in its favor. In terms of difficulty, the Dark Side is at a disadvantage, since players can combine tactics to destroy the Traitor easily, while the Traitor only has a few AI minions to help them during battle. The combat can go either way, and neither Shadow nor Light side has a guaranteed victory.
In terms of Story Progression, Light Side is better, since it gets through the Main Story faster. That's why the game recommends players to start with the Light side first, then the Shadow Side.
In terms of Character Progression, Shadow Side earns better rewards by completing challenges during Battles. This way, both sides have their strong points, and players can try either side the way they like.
