Just like its predecessor, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes includes accessories that players can equip to their units. There are regular accessories that can be equipped by any unit, and then there are Heroes' Relics, which can only be wielded by specific characters. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their army will help players decide which accessories are worth keeping and discarding.
It's not possible to buy accessories at the item shopkeeper in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. The accessories with better perks are, to no one's surprise, locked behind main quests and side quests. Some Heroes' Relics can only be obtained on one route. Fortunately, once an accessory has been added to the convoy, it will carry over into New Game Plus.
Prayer & Goddess Ring
While players will gain better equipment as they make way through Three Hopes' campaign, the Prayer and Goddess Ring are good "beginner" accessories.
When equipped, they give units the "Renewal" ability, which heals them in intervals. The reason why the Goddess Ring is preferred over the Prayer Ring is because of the additional +5 Luck it grants to its bearer.
The only other way to get the Renewal effect is to master the healer classes in the Monk Class Tree (i.e: Priest, Bishop). The Goddess Ring is good for units that have weak defense or if players choose not to send a healer into battle.
How to get: The Prayer and Goddess Ring can be obtained by surveying the War Map. Sometimes an NPC will offer a Goddess/Prayer Ring and another accessory. Note that players can only choose one. However, these rings can be obtained by completing main quests. Upgrade the Supply Facility to increase the number of goods after a battle.
Critical & Evasion Ring
As its name states, the Critical and Evasion Ring will give a boost in critical hit rate and evasion, respectively. These are ideal for fast-attacking units or units that excel in the Thief Class-line.
Characters with high Dexterity are good to equip with the Critical Ring. This is because the amount of damage dealt during Critical Rushes is influenced by Dexterity.
An Evasion Ring is ideal for units that need to rely on dodging (ex: Pegasus Knight). They grant the Alert Stance ability to the wielder, which increases the invincibility time after executing a Perfect Dodge.
How to get: Players can choose to get an Evasion or Critical Ring by surveying the War Map.
Aurora, Kadmos, & Lampos Shield
These three shields are ideal for units that can't learn the Nullify Flying, Cavalry, or Armored Weakness abilities from the Wyvern Lord, Holy Knight, and Great Knight Classes, respectively.
Aurora Shields will get rid of a Pegasus Knight/Wyvern Rider's weakness to bows. Meanwhile, a Kadmos Shield will prevent an Armored Class (ex: Fortress Knight) from taking extra damage from weapons like Armorslayers.
Finally, a Lampos Shield will protect cavalry units (ex: Paladin) from Horseslayers and dark magic cast from Dark Bishops.
The best part about these shields is they can be equipped by commoners and nobles alike. Characters that excel in a flying or mounted Class should equip one of these shields if they can't use a Heroes' Relic.
How to get: Like the rings, shields can be obtained by surveying the War Map. Sometimes they will serve as a reward for getting an S Rank in battle.
Thyrsus (Magic Staff)
Thyrsus is a Heroes' Relic that is aligned with the Crest of Gloucester. It not only extends the range of magic attacks but it has a chance of nullifying any damage the unit may sustain.
Unfortunately, only units with the Crest of Gloucester can equip Thyrsus and make use of its effects. This means Thyrsus can only be used to its full potential if it's wielded by Lysithea or Lorenz.
The Far-Reaching Magic Ability is the main ability for Magic Staff items, which can be equipped by anyone. However, it lacks Thyrsus' "nullify damage" bonus.
How to get: Payers will need to recruit Lorenz (Scarlet Blaze) or play the Golden Wildfire route. To unlock Thyrsus' Far-Reaching Magic ability, it needs to have its Effect Unleashed at the Blacksmith.
Caduceus Staff (Healing Staff)
The Caduceus Staff will extend the range of magic attacks (like Thyrsus), but it will also heal its wielder periodically. This functions exactly like a stronger version of the Renewal Ability. The Caduceus Staff is good for units that are made for healing, such as Linhardt and Flayn.
Because it's a Heroes' Relic, Caduceus is compatible with units that have the Crest of Cethleann. The alternative to the Caduceus Staff are Healing Staffs. These will grant the same effect as the Caduceus Staff without the Far-Reaching Magic ability. Healing Staffs are good for units that do not have the Crest of Cethleann, but work well as healers (ex: Mercedes).
How to get: Play Azure Gleam, and Flayn will join Dimitri's army. She'll be equipped with the Caduceus Staff the minute she's recruited. Like Thyrsus, players can unlock the Caduceus Staff's abilities by selecting "Unleash Effects" at the Blacksmith.
Ochain Shield
The Ochain Shield is linked to the Crest of Cichol. This will make its wielder immune to all status effects while granting them the Renewal Ability. Status effects include burning and dark magic.
Units that have a minor or major Crest of Cichol (i.e: Ferdinand and Seteth, respectively) can use the Ochain's Shield to its full potential. However, like the Caduceus Staff, the Ochain Shield is locked to Azure Gleam. To get the Ochain Shield in Scarlet Blaze or Golden Wildfire, players will need to be on New Game Plus after clearing Dimitri's route.
How to get: Play Azure Gleam and complete "The Saints' Forge" paralogue with Seteth and Flayn. Take the Ochain Shield to the Blacksmith to unlock its Effects. Be sure to keep building on the Blacksmith Facility to use this feature.
Rafail Gem
The Rafail Gem is a very useful accessory that can be worn by those who bear the Crest of Lamine. This will nullify all effects (i.e., flying, cavalry, armored) and also grants its user immunity to status effects.
Only Mercedes and Jeritza can unlock Rafail Gem's potential once its effects have been unleashed. Between the two of them, the Rafail Gem may be better suited for Jeritza, who excels in a cavalry class (Death Knight).
However, it's useful for Mercedes if players have her as a mounted/flying Class. The difference is players will want to equip Mercedes with a weapon that will calculate her damage output by her magic stat, not strength. There are some weapons that will invert attack/magic.
How to get: The Rafail Gem can be obtained in chapter 4 of Scarlet Blaze. However, players can get this accessory if they recruit the Death Knight/Jeritza in Azure Gleam. Recruiting Jeritza requires Mercedes, so make sure she's deployed.
Merc Whistle Accessories
Once players have reached a certain point in Three Hopes, they'll unlock the Merc Whistle feature. This is a special item that can be traded to another character to unlock their Unique Ability.
However, it can only be given to units that have an A Support with Shez. If a character is applicable for the Merc Whistle, then the option "Merc Whistle" will appear when speaking to that particular character. By giving the Merc Whistle to a unit, Shez will receive a special item in return. For example, Dimitri's special item is an Azure Dagger, which grants its bearer the Azure Lightning unique Ability. If Shez still has the Merc Whistle by Chapter 14, they will remind the player to give it to someone.
While each character's Unique Ability is worth "getting," there are some that have better Abilities than others. Byleth's Tactics Primer is useful because it unlocks the Divine Pulse skill. Felix's item will increase a unit's movement speed after initiating a dodge.
Since there's only one Merc Whistle per playthrough, players will need to complete multiple playthroughs if they want every last one of them.
Equipping these items will "erase" its wielder's Personal Ability. For example: Having Shez hold Tactics Primer will get rid of their Shadowflash in place for Divine Pulse. Remove the Tactics Primer to set Shadowflash as Shez's unique skill.
How to get: Reach Part 2 of any route. Make sure Shez has an A Support with the unit of the player's choice, and give them the Merc Whistle. A Rank Supports are usually locked until post-Chapter 10 (Scarlet Blaze/Golden Wildfire) or Chapter 12 (Azure Gleam).
More specifically, Shez won't be able to complete most Supports with characters like the house leaders until they've recruited (or not) Byleth and Jeralt. Giving away the Merc Whistle also unlocks a special scene (or dialogue) in the post-credits.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is available now on Nintendo Switch.