Ilenia returns as a post-game Valkyria, a unique, shielded swordfighter that shreds both fliers and armored foes while fortifying her squad at the start of battle. She’s a premier front-row carry-tank: durable, accurate into evasive targets (via Truestrike windows), and capable of powering long fights with PP-positive attacks.
How to Recruit Ilenia
Finish the story, then clear the post-game quest “Dying Breath of an Empire Fallen.” After that, you can recruit Ilenia (alongside a few other late characters).
Class Overview: Valkyria (Unique / Infantry)
Identity: Front-row bruiser with targeted counters to two problem archetypes: flying and armored.
Loadout: Can equip a sword and two shields plus an item, letting her stack guard rate/DEF without sacrificing offense.
Leader Effect: Resist Ranged Assist (reduces incoming chip from enemy assist attacks).
Valor Options: Dual Shield (shut off assists/first strikes) and Blade Wave (AoE nuke; extra vs assist leaders).
Stats and Growth
Ilenia’s spread supports carry-tank play, high offense and physical bulk with stellar guard scaling.
- AP / PP: 2 / 2 – flexible rotations; fuels both actives and key passives.
- HP: A – strong pool for front-row anchoring.
- Physical ATK / DEF: A / A – hits hard and soaks physical pressure.
- Mag ATK / DEF: E / C – minimal magic damage; watch high-MAG casters.
- Accuracy / Evasion: C / E – average hit rate; low dodge (she guards, not dodges).
- Crit / Guard Rate: D / S – ordinary crits, top-tier guard once buffed.
- Initiative: D – acts mid-late; front-load protections via passives.
- Growth Type: Defensive / Hardy – trends sturdier over time.
Skills and Abilities
Actives
- Vertical Edge (1 AP): Single-target; vs flying becomes Truestrike, +50 potency, and ignores 50% DEF, your anti-flier delete.
- Iron Crusher (1 AP): Single-target; vs armored gains +50 potency and ignores 50% DEF, answer to Hoplites/Knights.
- Brandish (2 AP): 3-hit single; ignores 50% DEF and refunds +1 PP on hit, excellent finisher and PP engine.
Passives
- Maiden’s Hammer (1 PP): Counter after an enemy active; potency increases as HP drops (up to +100). Pairs with her tanking.
- Iron Veil (1 PP, Limited): At battle start give +50% Guard Rate and +30% Phys DEF to all allies, enormous lane stability.
- Undying Will (1 PP): Before attacking, increase potency based on HP lost (up to +100) and survive one lethal blow, turns low HP into burst.
Valor (Field)
- Dual Shield: Allies in range ignore assists/first strikes for the battle, great for breaching assist nests.
- Blade Wave: AoE damage; 1.5× vs leaders who can use assists, map-cleaner for clustered squads.
Best Equipment and Accessories
Sword: Prioritize flat Phys ATK and hit consistency; on-hit utility (e.g., armor-down) is a plus since her kit already pierces DEF.
Two Shields: Stack Guard Rate/Phys DEF to supercharge Iron Veil and her frontline uptime.
Armor: Lean Phys DEF by default; swap to Mag-resist on caster-heavy maps.
Accessories:
- Carnelian Pendant (+1 AP): Enables Brandish lines without sacrificing coverage.
- Lapis Pendant (+1 PP): Keeps Iron Veil + Maiden’s Hammer online every fight.
- Accuracy/Truestrike trinket (flex): Ensures finishing hits on evasive fliers when Vertical Edge isn’t proccing.
(Loadout logic derives from Valkyria’s unique ability to run two shields, lean into it.)
Ideal Unit Placement & Team Synergy
Front row anchor in mixed units where allies rely on assist protection and safe set-ups. Iron Veil makes squishy backliners sturdier from the first frame.
Pair with ranged DPS (Elven Archer/Sniper lines) or casters who capitalize on the breathing room Iron Veil creates.
Add a magical off-tank or healer (e.g., Paladin/Josef, Priestess) to shore up her weaker MAG defense lanes.
Tips and Strategy
Suggested tactic order (example):
- Iron Veil (PP) → Limited, At Start of Battle (global guard/DEF; always enable as her unit’s Limited).
- Vertical Edge (1 AP) → Condition: “Target is Flying / priority flier” (guaranteed connect via Truestrike + DEF pierce).
- Iron Crusher (1 AP) → Condition: “Target is Armored / Hoplite/Knight” (unguardable pierce to pop tanks).
- Brandish (2 AP) → Condition: “Secure kill / after DEF debuffs” (PP refund keeps future passives fueled).
- Maiden’s Hammer (PP) → On (free counter damage as she takes hits).
- Undying Will (PP) → Condition: “Self HP ≤ 50% & about to attack” (burst + one-fatal-blow safety).
Play notes
Lead vs fliers/armored. Route Ilenia into Gryphon/Wyvern and Hoplite/Knight lanes, her kit hard-counters both.
Make the first volley safe. Use Dual Shield on field to null assists/first strikes before a decisive clash.
Snowball PP. Brandish on cleanup lets her end fights with more PP than she started, sustain Iron Veil usage across battles.
Final Thoughts
If you want a post-game frontliner who opens fights protected, answers meta threats, and converts damage taken into lethal returns, Ilenia delivers. Build for guard rate and PP economy, point her at fliers or armor stacks, and let Iron Veil stabilize the lane while Vertical Edge / Iron Crusher and Brandish close the deal.
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Featured image is from RPG Fan and used under Fair Use.