Fire Emblem: Three Houses will be coming out on July 26 and Famitsu has published a preview of the game. The preview contains information on game’s story, characters, and systems.

The preview is as followed:

• The Story of Three Countries, Three Houses, and You

The troops filling the plains, a fierce clash, an end to the battle, and a mysterious girl appears right after that. This is a strange dream that the protagonist whose father led the mercenary army, has every night. One day, the protagonist having the same dream so many times, come across a group of youths attacked by bandits. The moment when the protagonist threw himself out to protect them from the bandits’ blade, time comes to a stop, and the girl from the dream appears before him. The protagonist  was saved by the mysterious girl’s power to rewind time. After telling the protagonist that she will lend him her powers , she again disappears. The protagonist finds out that the youth that were attacked are students of the Garrreg Mach Monastery Officer’s Academy, and also the future leaders of the three major powers of Fodlan. Having recognized for their strength in saving the youths, the protagonist is invited to the Academy as a teacher… That encounter was the catalyst of the protagonist’s involvement in an ill-omened fate.

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• The Three Countries of Fodlan and the Garreg Mach Monastery 

There are three nations in the land of Fodlan, where the story of  Fire Emblem: Three Houses take place. With a history spanning over a millennium years, the Adrestian Empire rules the southern half of Fodlan. In the north, the cold lands of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is governed by a king and his knights. And the Lecester Alliance is a cooperative body ruled by powerful nobles that governs the east. Although a violent war broke out among the three countries before, they now maintain a balance of power. At the center of the three countries is the Garreg Mach Monastery, which worships the goddess that looks over Fodlan. The Monastery has an academy where the youths who will forge the future of Fodlan by studying and training every day.

• The Fate that awaits you as a Mentor

The player, recognized for their skills in protecting the youths, will be mentoring the students of the Officer’s Academy’s Three Houses as a professor. The class representatives of each house hail from the three countries of Fodlan, who know that they are fated to lead their country in the future. The guidance of the protagonist will not only influence the students’ fate, but perhaps also the fate of Fodlan…

The Protagonist

Originally working as a Mercenary, the protagonist becomes a professor after their talents were recognized. Their mother passed away and they led a life with only their father, who was the leader of the Seiros Knights. At the start of the game, you can choose between the appearances of a male and a female. There are no differences in ability based on the appearance you choose.

Jeralt (voiced by Akio Ootsuka)

The living legend who holds the title of the strongest knight in history. Invited to the Monastery alongside the protagonist and has himself enlisted into the ranks.

Mysterious Girl With The Power to Rewind Time

A mysterious girl who saved the protagonist on the fateful night. Her name is Sothis. Since she does not shows herself and speaks directly in the head of the protagonist, no one knew of her existence except for the protagonist. Also, Sothis has lost memories of herself.

• The Young Future Leaders to lead the Future of Fodlan

The students of the Officer’s Academy are divided into three houses based on their home country. At the beginning of the game, the player can choose the students from one of the three houses to raise and lead.

Black Eagles (Adrestian Empire)

Among the 3 countries, the house in which those from the Adrestian Empire has the longest history are enrolled. Many from the Adrestian Empire are better at fighting with magic than weapons. Its class representative is Adrestian Empire princess and future emperor Edelgard von Hraesvelgr.

—Edelgard von Hraesvelgr (voiced by Ai Kakuma)

The Imperial princess who will one day lead the Adrestian Empire as its future emperor. She is a talented woman with a dignified and noble atmosphere.

Blue Lions (Faerghus)

The house in which those from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus are enrolled. Its class representative is Faerghus prince and Dimitri Alexandre Bladud who is the next in line for the throne. Perhaps because Faerghus is a country of knights, this house has many that are particularly good at handling spears.

—Dimitri Alexandre Bladud (voiced by Kaito Ishikawa)

A refreshingly friendly young man embodied by politeness and chivalry, but is also somewhat shadowy.

Golden Deer (Lecester Alliance)

The house in which those from the new noble collective that is the Lecester Alliance are enrolled. Many students from the Lecester Alliance are skilled particularly in the use of bows and arrows. Its class representative is Claude von Regan, the son of the Lecester Alliance’s lead family. Golden Deer seems to have more commoner students than other houses.

—Claude von Regan (voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga)

A young man with a friendly face. He seems like the type that does not think too deeply about things, but he is actually a person of keen discernment.

• Weave the Students’ Futures through Battle and Training

In addition to role-playing simulation-style battle parts, there are also Officer’s Academy parts where you train and interact with the students. Fire Emblem: Three Houses will have more training elements than previous entries in the series.

• Battle Parts: One Move Could Determine Victory or Defeat

Fire Emblem: Three Houses uses a turn-based battle system identical to previous games in the series. Each unit moves one at a time, and the turn changes to the enemy side once all units have taken action. Since there is a time-rewinding system introduced, even beginners will find it easier to play in this series.

Battles Against Numerous Enemies

In the previous Fire Emblem titles, depiction of a scenario where countless soldier on the battlefield will always be developed into a one-versus-one matches . In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, it is possible to witness an intense battle scene where mass number of soldiers will clash swords on the battlefield. In addition, a new system will be introduced into the series. While the details are still unknown, it will coming out in the future updates.

Terrain Effects

During battles, there will be various terrains on the map, and the units positioned in that particular terrain will receive the effect it grants. Since terrains include forests and fortresses that provides evasion and defenses, it is important to learn the terrains effect and utilize it at proper times.

Heaven-Time Pulse

It is a very helpful system that allows one to redo a turn by turning back the clock if  allies are defeated or made a wrong turn. By using it, one can instantly go back one move and choose a different command. There is without the need to start over from the beginning because the battle come with a save and load.

Modes and Difficulty 

At the start of the game, there will be an option for difficulty and mode. The difficulty includes normal and hard and only the enemies’ strength is affected. Modes include casual, which allows fallen allies to be revived, and classics, which does not allow you to do that.

Class Change

Unlike the class change system in the  past titles, the level in this series does not return to level 1 after changing classes, and the type of weapons available to you does not change either. You can change classes an unlimited number of times once you pass the class’ test and this is also one of the feature in the game.

• Officer’s Academy Parts

Being a part of the Officer’s Academy is to interact with students and help develop their abilites. Moving your character around in a 3D graphics is a feature that has not appeared in the previous Fire Emblem titles. Explore every corner of the Monastery, connect with students, and learn alongside them. The bond between the professor and students is the most important element of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Teaching and Interaction

Being the professor at the Officer’s Academy, you can improve your students skills by training them. It is also possible to deepen your bonds with the students of the house that you picked earlier on. Although the details are still unknown, it appears that the having a deeper bond will have a beneficial effect in battle. Through teaching and interaction, bring your student up to excellence.

—Giving advice to troubled students is one of the jobs of a professor. At times you will even be able to choose a response.

Proficiency Level

In order to use various weapons and skills and change to a different class, it is necessary to increase the Proficiency Level that corresponds to that class. By increasing your Proficiency Level, you can acquire powerful skills and wield powerful wepons. Each student has their own strengths and weaknesses.
Main Abilities

• Swordsmanship – Proficiency for wielding a sword.
• Spearmanship – Proficiency for wielding a spear.
• Axemanship – Proficiency for wielding an axe.
• Archery – Proficiency for wielding a bow.
• Science – Proficiency for using black and dark magic.
• Faith – Proficiency for using white magic.
• Flying – Proficiency required for Flier classes.
• Heavy Armor – Proficiency required for Armored classes.
• Horsemanship – Proficiency required for Cavalry classes.

Main Learnable Skills

• Swordsmanship Lv. 1 – Hit Rate +5, Avoid +7, and Critical Avoid +5 when using a sword.
• Swordbreaker – Hit Rate and Avoid +20 when using a spear and defeat an enemy wielding a sword.
• Axemanship Lv. 1 – Hit Rate +7, Avoid +5, and Critical Avoid +5 when using an axe.
• Close Counter – Counterattack when attacked from a square away.
• Science Lv. 1 – Hit Rate +7, Avoid +5, and Critical Avoid + 5 when using black or dark magic.
• Faith Lv. 1 – Hit +5, Evade +7, and Hissatsu Evade +5 when using white magic.

—Lead Edelgard and her Axemanship Proficiency Level will increase. Learn new skills and increase your strength with an axe in battle.

Qualification Exams

As students’ increases their level, they will be able to take exams and change classes. To take the exam, you must use the Exam Pass according to your rank. The higher your Proficiency Level required for the class, the more likely the chances of passing.

—Once you pass an exam, you can change to that class at any time. These exams can also be taken by the protagonist.

Class Introduction 

Just like the previous Fire Emblem titles, you can advance to various classes. The protagonist and the students from start from a Commoner or Noble class depending on their origin, and can change to other classes by leveling up. Here are the First Tier Classes that appear in the beginning of the game (Myrmidon, Soldier, Fighter, and Monk). By reaching level 5 and using an First Tier Exam Pass, you can take their Qualification Exam.

Commoner and Nobles classes can use magic to a certain degree, but have no standout traits.

The Myrmidon is a class that specializes in swordmanship. They are agile and have a high evasion rate.

The Soldier specializes in spear-based attacks with very high dex and can easily land an attack.

The Fighter is a type of class that has a bonus on power. They can use axes besides a bow.

The Monk can use magic and the magic is categorized into white, black, and dark.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is to be out on Nintendo Switch this July 26.

Sources: Famitsu, Gematsu