Fire Emblem: Three Houses - How to Recruit Characters from Other Houses

A guide on recruiting students from different houses in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, including the advantages of doing so.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Recruitment Guide

Character Recruitment Guide

At the beginning of the game, you will need to choose which of the three student houses you would like to handle. Upon choosing one, your life as a professor will focus on teaching those from the chosen house. It is possible, however, to recruit students from other houses.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - How to Recruit Characters from Other Houses

To do this, you must have reached adequate levels in their skills of interest. Mercedes of the Blue Lions, for example, will only join your house if you have high enough magic and bow levels.

Guide on How to Increase Byleth’s Stats and Skill Levels

Members of the faculty can also be recruited as allies. Many of them are extremely powerful which can help you take on tougher battles as you progress through the story. Expect the conditions to recruit them to be more challenging than students’, however.

Why Do This?

There are a few important benefits of recruiting characters from a different house. For one, you can expand strategic options in battle by recruiting characters with very useful personal abilities.

Another thing to consider is that the game will progress five years in the story. This means that, as the three major territories start to wage war against each other, you will be pitted against former students you did not recruit. Some of them will grow into very powerful and troublesome foes. Getting them on your side prevents this and grants you their assistance instead. You will also be denying rival armies the utility offered by these characters.

It is still possible to recruit students after the game progresses five years, though you will have to defeat them in battle.

Note that house leaders cannot be persuaded to change colors. You are sure to meet two of them in battle later in the story.

Recommended Characters to Recruit

Use Mission Assistance

A temporary option in adding students from other houses is called Mission Assistance. Students can be borrowed for one month to aid you in combat. This is helpful because you will be able to test how the chosen student’s battle capability and skills mesh with your house’s units prior to recruitment.

Support Level

The stats and skills required to recruit a character will vary depending on your support level. When you reach higher support levels, the character that you want to recruit may lower their criteria. If you don’t have a support level yet, the criteria to recruit the character will remain unchanged. At support level C, most of the values required will slightly drop. However, at support level A, you can recruit anyone without restrictions.

Support Level and Skill

Your Support Level Skill Required
A
B+ E+ E+ D D+
B E+ D+ D+ C
C+ D D+ C C+
C D C C+ B
No support D C B B+

Support Level and Stat

Your Support Level Stat Required
A
B+ 2 3 4 5 6
B 4 6 8 10 12
C+ 6 9 12 15 18
C 8 12 16 20 24
No support 10 15 20 25 30

List of Recruitable Characters

Below is a list of recruitable characters organized per faction.

Black Eagles House

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Black Eagles students.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
EdelgardEdelgard N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable

Black Eagles: Will leave your party if you choose the Silver Snow route.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Hubert IconHubert N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable

Black Eagles: Will leave your party if you choose the Silver Snow route.

Ferdinand Dexterity: 10 or higher Heavy Armor: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Dorothea Charm: 25 or higher Authority: B or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
PetraPetra Dexterity: 10 or higher Riding:C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
CasparCaspar Strength: 10 or higher Brawl:C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Bernadetta Strength: 20 or higher Bow: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Linhardt Magic: 10 or higher Reason: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Information on Black Eagles Characters

Blue Lions

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Blue Lions students.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
DimitriDimitri N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable
DedueDedue N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable
Felix Speed: 15 or higher Sword: B+ or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Ashe Charm: 15 or higher Lance: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately (Chapter 2 onwards)

Black Eagles – Silver Snow / Blue Lions / Golden Deer: Leaves your party at the start of the post-time skip. Can be recruited again by defeating him in Chapter 15.

MercedesMercedes Magic: 15 or higher Bow: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
AnnetteAnnette Magic: 10 or higher Faith: B or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Sylvain Charm: 25 or higher Reason: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately (Chapter 2 onwards)

Female Byleth: Recruitable Immediately (Chapter 2 onwards)

Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Ingrid IconIngrid Dexterity: 15 or higher Flying: D or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Information on Blue Lions Characters

Golden Deer

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Golden Deer students.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
ClaudeClaude N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable
HildaHilda Charm: 30 or higher Axe: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Black Eagles – Silver Snow: Cannot be recruited until Chapter 12 (Month of Lone Moon / 3rd Month)

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Cannot be recruited.

LorenzLorenz Charm: 20 or higher Reason: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Black Eagles – Silver Snow / Blue Lions: Leaves your party at the start of the post-time skip. Can be recruited again by defeating him in Chapter 16.

LysitheaLysithea Magic: 15 or higher Faith: B or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Leaves your party at the start of the post-time skip. Can be recruited again by defeating her in Chapter 14.

RaphaelRaphael Strength: 20 or higher Heavy Armor: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
Ignatz Dexterity: 10 or higher Authority: B or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
MarianneMarianne Magic: 10 or higher Riding: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
LeonieLeonie Strength: 15 or higher Lance: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately

Information on Golden Deer Characters

Ashen Wolves

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Ashen Wolves students. The stat and skill requirements are to be confirmed.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
Fire Emblem Three Houses - YuriYuri Dexterity: 15 or higher Faith: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
(if Cindered Shadows side story is finished)
Fire Emblem Three Houses - ConstanceConstance Magic:15 or higher Flying: D or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
(if Cindered Shadows side story is finished)
Fire Emblem Three Houses - BalthusBalthus Strength: 15 or higher Brawl: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
(if Cindered Shadows side story is finished)
Fire Emblem Three Houses - HapiHapi Resistance: 10 or higher Riding: C or higher Chapter 2 onwards Recruitable Immediately
(if Cindered Shadows side story is finished)

Information on Ashen Wolves Characters

Garreg Mach Monastery – Church of Seiros

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Church of Seiros characters.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
RheaRhea N/A N/A N/A Not Recruitable
Seteth N/A N/A Chapter 12 onwards Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Will not join the party in Chapter 11.

Black Eagles – Silver Snow / Blue Lions / Golden Deer: Will join your party automatically

ManuelaManuela N/A N/A Chapter 8 onwards Level: 15 or higher
HannemanHanneman N/A N/A Chapter 8 onwards Level: 15 or higher
Jeritza N/A N/A Chapter 13 onwards Not Recruitable

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Will join the party automatically in Chapter 13.

Flayn N/A N/A Chapter 7 onwards Joins automatically

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Will leave your party in Chapter 11.

Cyril N/A N/A Chapter 5 onwards Level: 10 or higher

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Not Recruitable

Black Eagles – Silver Snow: Will join the party automatically in Chapter 13.

Information on Church of Seiros Characters

Garreg Mach Monastery – Knights of Seiros

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Knights of Seiros characters.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
Alois N/A N/A Chapter 11 onwards Level: 15 or higher
Catherine N/A N/A Chapter 4 onwards Level: 15 or higher

Black Eagles – Crimson Flower: Not Recruitable

Black Eagles – Silver Snow: Will join the party automatically in Chapter 13.

Shamir N/A N/A Chapter 6 onwards Level: 15 or higher
Gilbert N/A N/A Chapter 13 onwards Blue Lions: Will join the party automatically in Chapter 13.

Black Eagles / Golden Deer: Not Recruitable

Information on Knights of Seiros Characters

Non-Faction Characters

Here are the conditions needed in order to recruit the Non-Faction characters.

Character Stat Requirement Skill Requirement Availability Other Notes
Fire Emblem: Three Houses - AnnaAnna* N/A N/A Chapter 3 onwards Recruitable Immediately
(joins automatically by talking to her)

*Expansion Pass only

Information on Non-Faction Characters

Other Strategy Guides

Useful Guides
How to Get Certification Exam Seals How to Get Dark Seals How to Recruit Other Characters
Recommended Classes Recommended Characters to Recruit Holidays and Special Events
Character Initial Stats Character Strengths and Weaknesses Character Interests/Likes/Dislikes
Lecture Room Advice Guide Advice Box Guide Close Allies List
Lost Item Guide Gift Guide Dining Hall Menu
Hero’s Relics and Sacred Weapons Forging Guide Messenger Owl’s Feathers
How to Defeat Demonic Beasts Training Grounds Tournaments How to Unlock Harder Difficulties

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

Leave a Reply



15 Comments

  1. Although I find your guide much useful, I notice a mistake. You’re telling people I leave in the Golden Deer route? Preposterous! I cannot believe you would make such an error. Please fix this immediately.

  2. I’m on Black Eagle route, level 15 & on chapter 6. According to this guide, I should be able to Recruit Cyril, but it’s not happening no matter how many gifts i give or what I try.

    • You can recruit catherine, manuela, and hanneman.

      Catherine: Professor levels at least of B, while your sword level is C+ or B
      Manuela: Faith level need to be B, and/or professor level C+
      Hanneman: Professor level to be B

      I mean this is what i heard from, but as soon as i see the recruit for them. they actually join my class

  3. then who has to defeat a char from other house for my to recruit then when am playin post time skip ? my char byleth or the main house char ( edelgard , dimitri, claude )? thanks

  4. If your support level is around B, an event that a student asks to join your house will randomly trigger. I think it is possible to recruit the recruitables at first gameplay.

  5. You can recruit more than 3 characters from other houses. I’m on NG+, first playthrough was on Red Eagle house (Monastery ending) and recruited Mercedes, Lysithea and Hilda. The NG+ is Golden Deer house, recruited Bernadetta, Dorothea, Petra, Mercedes, Ingrid and Felix. I’ll test more soon.

      • Same playthrough, though I have all characters including all faculty, knights and Cyril but do not have Edelguard, Hubert, Dimitri, Dedue, Rhea and Seteth, and there is no “Recruit” option. So I don’t think there is a limit to how many characters you can recruit, only if you meet the conditions.