Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Playing the Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story

Guide on How to Play Fire Emblem: Three Houses' Wave 4 DLC Cindered Shadows Side Story. This includes a summary of its current storyline features.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Playing the Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story

Guide on How to Play the Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story

In order to play the Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story, one must purchase Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ expansion pass and update the game.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Cindered Shadows Access

Once the game is updated, you need to choose the “Side Story” option on the main menu. This option is placed between the “Nintendo eShop” and the “Copy” menu option.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Playing the Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story

Same with starting an actual game, you need to pick the form of the protagonist character, set the difficulty between Normal or Hard, and set the mode which is either Classic or Casual.

Game Modes and Style of Play Overview

Save File Differences

The save file system of Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ main story and the Cindered Shadows DLC side story are separate. In order to switch, push either the ZL or ZR button.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Main Game Save File Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Cindered Shadows Save File

Unlike the main story, the DLC Side Story is only limited to three save files.

DLC Side Story Features

Here is a breakdown of features of the Cindered Shadows storyline:

  • The story takes place in the Abyss, a town located in the underbelly of Garreg Mach Monastery.
  • The residents of the Abyss are called Abyssians.
  • A new fourth house called Ashen Wolves. The house is led by Aelfric
  • Aelfric is also the head of Abyss.
  • Four new students under the fourth house are Yuri, Balthus, Constance, and Hapi. Yuri is the Lord student of the class.
  • A new class category called Special Class is added. It includes five new classes which are Trickster, Dark Flier, War Monk, War Cleric, and Valkyrie.
  • Abyss Exam Pass is required to certify a character for Special Class in the main game.
  • Fixed returning characters from the main game namely Byleth, Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, Linhardt, Ashe, and Hilda.
  • Each playable character has a set of interchangeable preset classes. The player is limited to those classes throughout the Cindered Shadow storyline.
  • Divine Pulse usage is limited to ten for normal. Five for hard.
  • The storyline takes place pre-time skip. Most likely after Chapter 4 since Byleth already acquired his hero’s relic, the Sword of Creator. Also, other students already reached their Advanced tier classes.
  • The Sword of Creator’s durability is renewed at the beginning of each Cindered Shadow chapter.
  • Hero’s relics of other playable characters are not accessible in the side story.
  • Balthus owns a hero’s relic weapon but the durability renewal mechanic does not apply to it.
  • Yuri also owns a hero’s relic but its an accessory.
  • Marketplace facilities available are the Item Shop, Armory, Battalion Guild, and Blacksmith. High tier of weapons and items already accessed
  • Winning battles and selling items or bullions are the only means of getting money. Spend wisely and efficiently.
  • Battalions are fixed throughout the story but their endurance can still be replenished.
  • No new battalions can be hired.
  • Smithing ores can be obtained by winning battles. Special ores are obtained by armor breaking enemy monsters, golems, and demonic beasts.
  • You can only store up to 99 pieces of ores per variant. Exceed ores are disposed of automatically so refine/repair weapons from time to time.
  • Byleth cannot interact with the animals in Abyss while playing the Cindered Shadow storyline. (Main story animal interaction to be confirmed.)
  • The player can custom the attire of his units by visiting his/her personal quarters in Abyss.
  • New facilities and areas include the Pagan Altar, Mysterious Teacher, Wayseer, and Scrap Heap. Scrap Heap is accessible in the Side Story. While the Pagan Altar, Mysterious Teach, and the Wayseer can only function in the main game.
  • Finishing at least the first chapter of Cindered Shadows will make the player access the Abyss in the main game. This includes interacting with new characters and visiting new areas.
  • If you finish chapter one only of DLC Side Story, you can recruit the Ashen Wolves based on their required stat and skill level. (To be confirmed.)
  • ONCE you finish the DLC Side Story, you will be able to recruit the Ashen Wolves without any restrictions pre-time skip. They also have their Abyss Exam Pass in their inventory.
  • All Ashen Wolf characters can undergo free day activities such as dining, tea parties, and choir practices.
  • Ashe Wolves also has support with other characters not added in the Cindered Shadows DLC side story.
  • The Ashen Wolf characters also have their own post-time skip versions.
  • *Rhea’s Tea Party Event is now available.

Side Story DLC Team Members

Here are the characters that will become playable in the upcoming side story:

Name of Character Description Character Guides
BylethByleth The player character. A newly-appointed professor at the academy. Has visions of a girl named Sothis who grants him a mysterious power. Character Information
Fire Emblem: Three Houses - AlphardAelfric The head of the Abyss which is beneath the Garreg Mach Monastery. He sought to rebuild the hidden town despite the animosity of the Abbyssians towards the Church of Seiros. Character Information
EdelgardEdelgard Head of the Black Eagles house and a bearer of the minor Crest of Seiros. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

DimitriDimitri Prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus and head of the Blue Lions house. Embraces the knightly virtues, though seemingly troubled by “inner darkness”. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

ClaudeClaude Head of the Golden Deer house from the noble line that reigns over the Leicester Alliance. Outwardly carefree but a keen individual. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

Fire Emblem Three Houses - YuriYuri Leader of the Ashen Wolves and bearer of the Major Crest of Aubin. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

LinhardtLinhardt The son of Count Hevring who has an extreme fascination with crests. Tends to forgo sleep due to being immersed in research. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

AsheAshe Adopted son of Lord Lonato, the landlord of the Caspard territory in the Holy Kingdom. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

HildaHilda The duke’s daughter who is obsessed with fashion and luxury. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

Fire Emblem Three Houses - ConstanceConstance Daughter from the house of Nuvelle descended from Noa. Talented in magic and swordsmanship. Character Information

Tea Party Guide

Fire Emblem Three Houses - BalthusBalthus A noble with a strong physique who calls himself “The Almighty King of Grappling.” Character Information

Tea Party Guide

Fire Emblem Three Houses - HapiHapi A noble proficient in dark magic. She affectionately refers to Constance as “Coco.” Character Information

Tea Party Guide

Cindered Shadows DLC Side Story Coverage

Cindered Shadows DLC Storyline Walkthroughs

Cindered Shadows Story Walkthroughs
Chapter 1: The Fourth House Chapter 2: What Lies Beneath
Chapter 3: The Rite of Rising Chapter 4: Danger in the Dark
Chapter 5: Betrayal Chapter 6: Return to Me
Chapter 7: Wolf Pack

All Storyline Walkthroughs

News and Updates

▼Cindered Shadows News and Updates
Information about Abyss In-Game Information on Preset Classes
Revealed Preset Classes Per Unit Speculated New Classes in the DLC
Marketplace Facilities Confirmed New Classes Confirmed
Trainee Classes of Ashen Wolves Game Length and Other Plans
Information on Trickster class Information on Dark Flier class
Information War Monk and War Cleric classes Information on Valkyrie class

All News and Features

Beginner Guides

▼Cindered Shadows Beginner Guides
Cindered Shadows DLC Information Playing the Cindered Shadows DLC
Unlocking Abyss in the Main Game Main Game and DLC Differences
Key Gameplay Mechanics List of Preset Classes
How to Get Abyss Exam Pass Abyss Map and Facilities
Abyss Facilities and Service Scrap Heap
Pagan Altar Wayseer
Mysterious Teacher Influencer

All Beginner Guides

Strategy Guides

▼Cindered Shadows Strategy Guides
Recommended Equipped Abilities Recommended Combat Arts
 Recommended Battalions Recommended Starting Weapons

All Strategy Guides

New Classes

▼Cindered Shadows New Classes
Trickster War Monk War Cleric
Dark Flier Valkyrie

All Playable Classes

New Tea Party Events

▼Cindered Shadows New Tea Parties
Archibishop Rhea Yuri Leclerc Constance von Nuvelle
Balthus von Albrecht  Hapi

All Tea Party Guides

Other Beginner Guides

Getting Started
 Game Modes Game Menu Game Controls
Online Features Permanent Events What to Do First
Which House to Choose - -
Gameplay
Tutoring  Free Day Activities Professor Levels
Skill System Support System Motivation System
Budding Talents Class Change and Exams Group Tasks
Battle System Battalions Divine Pulse
 Saint Statues Amiibo Gazebo Personal Abilities
Free Day Activities
Dining Cooking Together Tea Party
Fishing Gardening Locating Lost Items
Choir Practice Advice Box Giving Gifts
Tournaments Seminars -

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Recommended Article List

▼Top Page Articles
Walkthroughs Characters Classes
Beginner Guides Strategy Guides Game Database
Best Characters Best Classes Professor Levels
Dialogue Choices Lecture Room Advice Box
Tea Party Topics Favorite Gifts Lost Items
▼Popular Guides
Recommended Classes Tea Party Topics Lysithea Tea Party Guide
Ingrid Tea Party Guide Marianne Tea Party Guide Dorothea Tea Party Guide
Claude Tea Party Guide Hilda Tea Party Guide Petra Tea Party Guide
 Shamir Tea Party Guide Dancer Class List of Characters
▼Popular Tea Party Guides
Lysithea von Ordelia Ingrid Brandol Galatea Marianne von Edmund
Dorothea Arnault Claude von Riegan Hilda Valentine Goneril
Petra Macneary Shamir Nevrand Flayn
Felix Fraldarius Bernadetta von Varley Leonie Pinelli

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5 Comments

    • The setting of the DLC side story happens after the main story’s Chapter 4. You might not be able to understand some main story references between the playable characters coming from the main game.

      However, if you aim to unlock the Ashen Wolves so that you can play FE3H completely, you can play the DLC side story first.