Pair Up

For the skill from Engage, see Pair Up (skill).

“	Are you suggesting we pair up? That's an interesting thought... I admit, I'd resemble a pincushion right now if it weren't for Sumia and her mount.	”	— Chrom

Pair Up (Japanese: ダブル Double) and Dual (Japanese: デュアル Dual) are a pair of closely-related gameplay systems introduced in Fire Emblem Awakening. As related extensions of the support system, these systems award the player's units statistical bonuses and the chance for their allies to assist them in battle. In Fates, the Pair Up and Dual systems got an overhaul.

Overview

Awakening

Dual

Dual Strike and Dual Support redirect here. For the skills from Engage, see Dual Strike (skill) and Dual Support (skill).

The Dual system is the basic layer of these two systems. Whenever a unit in the player's army (the "lead" unit) enters a battle standing next to any ally, the ally will accompany them in the battle sequence and provide the lead unit with three major benefits:

• Dual Support, the standard form of support bonuses which boost the lead unit's combat stats and calculations
• The chance to perform a Dual Strike, in which the supporting unit also attacks the enemy once the lead unit has attacked
• The chance to perform a Dual Guard, in which the supporting unit blocks an attack from the enemy, ensuring the lead unit takes no damage. All hits from Astra and Aether count as a single attack for the purposes of Dual Guarding; a successful Dual Guard blocks every hit while a fail will block none.

Any unit (including bonus units) can provide Dual bonuses to any other unit, regardless of whether they can form a support relationship with them, although units with active support relationships will award higher Dual Support bonuses than those without. Additionally, while only one supporting unit will enter battle with the lead unit, the lead unit will gain cumulative Dual Support bonuses from all allied units situated next to them; the unit who enters battle will be the one with the highest support relationship with the lead unit, if applicable.

Pair Up

Pair Up serves as an extension of Dual which takes the concept to its logical conclusion and has two units "combine" on the battlefield, in a manner reminiscent of the rescue functionality of earlier games. When paired up, two units act as a single unit on the battlefield, with the lead unit taking the lead while the supporting unit remains safely behind them; the lead unit is granted statistical bonuses based on the supporting unit's current stats and class, in addition to all the other usual effects of Dual. While paired up, the units can also change places between lead and support using the "Switch" option, allowing the player to choose which of the two units to attack with and take attacks that turn. A pair of units will be unable to use any remaining movement after using the "Switch" command, however.

Fates

In Fates, the Pair Up/Dual system was changed to make it less powerful, and enemies are now capable of using these.

Tag Team

Tag Team (Japanese: 攻陣 Attack Formation) is an analogue to Awakening's Dual System. When two units are adjacent to one another, if one of those units attacks, the adjacent unit is guaranteed to make a Dual Strike; Dual Guards no longer can take place between adjacent units. Dual Strikes deal half of the damage a regular attack from the unit normally would, and now only activate after the attacking unit's first strike. Dual Strikes will not trigger any self-debuffing effects from a unit's equipped weapon, such as a Silver Sword's debuff to strength and skill, or Ginnungagap's effect of halving the unit's magic. They will also strike twice if the Dual Striking unit has a brave weapon equipped.

Pair Up

Pair Up (Japanese: 防陣 Defensive Formation) now cannot give Dual Strikes. Instead of working with a percent chance, Dual Guards now use a meter. This meter fills by 2 points whenever the lead unit makes an attack or faces a non-Dual Strike attack. When the meter is filled to its maximum 10 points, a Dual Guard will be guaranteed against the next non-Dual Strike attack. Additionally, being in a Pair Up will protect the lead unit from all enemy Dual Strikes. Each individual attack from Astra and Aether counts as a separate attack, unlike Awakening; a Dual Guard can only block one of those hits, but each of them will charge the Dual Guard meter for both combatants.

The skill Shelter of the cavalier class allows a unit to use the "Shelter" command to take another unit as their support unit, making it similar to the Rescue command of Thracia 776 through Radiant Dawn.

Calculations

Awakening

Dual Support bonuses

The Dual Support bonuses are governed by a series of "Dual Support levels" (not to be confused with the actual support levels). The lead unit's current Dual Support level is calculated by adding up on their current support relationships with their paired-up supporting unit and all adjacent allied units. Units with Dual Support+ contribute 4 extra levels in addition to what their support rank would provide.

Support levels translate to Dual Support levels as follows:

• No support: 1 level
• C support: 2 levels
• B support: 3 levels
• A support: 4 levels
• S support: 5 levels

The maximum possible Dual Support level a unit can have is 12.

Stat	Dual Support bonus level
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Hit rate	+10	+10	+10	+10	+15	+15	+15	+15	+20	+20	+20	+20
Avoid	--	+10	+10	+10	+10	+15	+15	+15	+15	+20	+20	+20
Crit	--	--	--	+10	+10	+10	+10	+15	+15	+15	+15	+20
Dodge	--	--	+10	+10	+10	+10	+15	+15	+15	+15	+20	+20

For example: Cherche has an S support with Libra and a B support with Miriel; additionally, Sully (with whom she cannot support) is also on the field. Cherche is paired up with Libra while both Sully and Miriel are positioned next to her. This awards her a Dual Support bonus level of (5 + 3 + 1) = 9, which in battle awards her +20 hit, +15 avoid, +15 crit and +15 dodge.

Dual Strike

A supporting unit has a chance of executing a Dual Strike after every hit the lead unit makes, and if they are wielding a brave weapon, the supporting unit will strike twice if they get a Dual Strike. The rate of activating a Dual Strike, which is displayed on the combat summary window before beginning a battle, is calculated based on the skill stat of both the lead and supporting unit, and is boosted significantly by support relationships. The supporting unit performing a Dual Strike does not share hit rate with the lead unit.

Support level	Dual Strike rate calculation
None	([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +20
C	([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +30
B	([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +40
A	([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +50
S	([Lead's Skill] + [Supporter's Skill] / 4) +60

Dual Guard

A supporting unit has a chance of executing a Dual Guard against any attacks the enemy makes toward the lead unit, which negates all damage the enemy would deal. The rate of activating a Dual Guard, which is displayed on the combat summary window before beginning a battle, is calculated based on the relevant defensive stat to the weapon type the enemy uses (defense for enemies with physical weapons, resistance for enemies with magical weapons), using both the lead and supporting unit's Def/Res.

Support level	Dual Guard rate calculation
None	([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4)
C	([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +2
B	([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +5
A	([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +7
S	([Lead's Def/Res] + [Supporter's Def/Res] / 4) +10

Pair Up bonuses

When paired up, the lead unit is awarded three cumulative sets of stat bonuses.

Stat-based bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit bonuses to all of their stats, except HP and movement, depending on their own current stats:

• +1 for each stat which = 10–19
• +2 for each stat which = 20–29
• +3 for each stat which = 30+

Class bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit a set bonus when paired up which depends on their own current class.

Class bonuses

Class Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Mov Lord +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Great Lord +0 +0 +0 +4 +4 +0 +0 +0 Tactician +1 +1 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Grandmaster +2 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Cavalier +2 +0 +1 +1 +0 +2 +0 +0 Paladin +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 Great Knight +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1 Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 General +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +0 Barbarian +4 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Berserker +5 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Warrior +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Fighter +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 Hero +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 Mercenary +0 +0 +2 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0 Bow Knight +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 Archer +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 Sniper +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 Myrmidon +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 Swordmaster +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0 Assassin +2 +0 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 Thief +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +1 Trickster +0 +2 +1 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 Pegasus Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +0 Falcon Knight +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +4 +0 Dark Flier +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0 Wyvern Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Wyvern Lord +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 Griffon Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 +2 +0 +1 Troubadour +0 +2 +0 +1 +0 +0 +3 +0 Valkyrie +0 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 +3 +0 Priest/Cleric +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 War Monk/War Cleric +2 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 Mage +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 Sage +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 Dark Knight +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +3 +1 +1 Dark Mage +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Sorcerer +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +2 +3 +0 Manakete +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 Taguel +3 +0 +2 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Villager +0 +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 Dancer +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Lodestar +2 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Conqueror +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +1 Dread Fighter +3 +1 +0 +1 +0 +0 +3 +0 Bride +0 +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0

Support level bonuses

The support level bonuses give further boosts only to those stats given the class bonuses depending on how strong the support relationship between the lead and supporting units is.

• +1 if they have a C or B support with each other
• +2 if they have an A or S support with each other

This will not award any further bonuses to movement.

Fates

Dual Support bonuses

Dual Support bonuses are dependent on whether two units are in Tag Team or in Pair Up. When two units are in Tag Team, the supporting unit gives bonuses to the lead unit's hit rate, avoid, critical rate, and dodge based on the pair's support level. These support bonuses are cumulative; if the pair has achieved an A support, the leading unit will receive all bonuses up to and including the A support bonus. Each unit has their own set of support-based bonuses. When in Pair Up, the lead unit is instead granted a consistent +5 dodge, regardless of support level or the supporting unit.

If there are multiple adjacent allied units, the lead unit's support bonuses will be equal to the sum of all supporting units' relevant support units, divided by 2.5.

The support bonuses given by child units are based on those given by the child's parents, as follows:^[1]

• No support: +10 hit rate
• C support: Mother's C support bonus
• B support: Father's B support bonus
• A support: Mother's A support bonus
• S support: Father's S support bonus

Dual Strike

Dual Strikes will always occur when two units are standing next to each other, rather than being random like in Awakening. They will only occur, however, if the leading unit is not paired up with anyone. If the attacking unit's partner is paired up with a third unit however, they will still dual strike when the leading unit attacks. Dual Strikes will inflict half the damage of a normal attack, and their hit rates are shown separate from the lead attacker's.

If the opponent is in Pair Up, their partner will always block incoming Dual Strikes.

Dual Guard

Instead of being random, a meter consisting of ten shields is present when two units are paired up. Each time an attack is made, the meter fills up by two. When the meter is full, a Dual Guard will occur on the next enemy attack. The meter slowly decreases each turn should the pair not engage in any combat.

Pair Up bonuses

When paired up, the lead unit is awarded two cumulative sets of stat bonuses.

Class bonuses

The supporting unit gives the lead unit a set bonus when paired up which depends on their own current class.^[2][3][4]

Class bonuses

Class Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Def Res Mov Nohr Prince/Nohr Princess +2 +0 +1 +1 +2 +0 +0 +0 Nohr Noble +2 +2 +1 +1 +0 +0 +2 +0 Hoshido Noble +2 +0 +1 +1 +2 +2 +0 +0 Samurai +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 Swordmaster +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0 Master of Arms +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 Oni Savage +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 Oni Chieftain +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 Blacksmith +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Spear Fighter +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Spear Master +3 +0 +3 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Basara +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +3 +0 Diviner +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Onmyoji +0 +4 +0 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 Monk/Shrine Maiden +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 Great Master/Priestess +0 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0 +3 +0 Sky Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +0 Falcon Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +1 Kinshi Knight +0 +0 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +1 Archer +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Sniper +2 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Ninja +0 +0 +1 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 Master Ninja +0 +0 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0 +1 Mechanist +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 Apothecary +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +1 +0 Merchant +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +2 +0 Kitsune +0 +0 +0 +4 +2 +0 +0 +0 Nine-Tails +0 +0 +0 +5 +3 +0 +0 +0 Songstress +0 +0 +2 +2 +4 +0 +0 +0 Villager +0 +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 Cavalier +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 Paladin +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +1 Great Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +1 Knight +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 General +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +5 +0 +0 Fighter +4 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Berserker +5 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Mercenary +0 +0 +2 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0 Hero +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +2 +0 +0 Bow Knight +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 Outlaw +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +1 Adventurer +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +2 +1 Wyvern Rider +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Wyvern Lord +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1 Malig Knight +0 +2 +0 +0 +0 +2 +2 +1 Dark Mage +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 Sorcerer +0 +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 Dark Knight +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +1 Troubadour +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 Strategist +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +1 Maid/Butler +0 +2 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Wolfskin +3 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Wolfssegner +4 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 Lancer +3 +0 +1 +1 +0 +3 +0 +0 Lord +0 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Cleric +0 +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 Faceless +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 Stoneborn +4 +0 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +0 Automaton +0 +0 +2 +2 +0 +2 +2 +0 Feral Dragon +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +2 +0 +0 Dread Fighter +2 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0 +4 +0 Dark Falcon +0 +3 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +1 Ballistician +3 +0 +1 +0 +2 +1 +1 +0 Witch +0 +5 +0 +3 +0 +0 +0 +0 Lodestar +2 +0 +0 +3 +3 +0 +0 +0 Vanguard +5 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 Great Lord +0 +0 +0 +4 +4 +0 +0 +0 Grandmaster +2 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 Pegasus Knight +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +3 +1

Support level bonuses

The supporting unit gives additional bonuses based on their support level with the lead unit. Each unit has their own set of support-based pair up bonuses.

• C through A supports each grant +1 to a certain stat. The stat boosted by the support level can vary.
• S support grants either +1 to two different stats, or +2 to a single stat.

Support bonuses are cumulative; if the pair has achieved an A support, the leading unit will receive all bonuses up to and including the A support bonus.

The support bonuses given by child units are based on those given by the child's parents, as follows:^[5]

• C support: Father's C support bonus
• B support: Mother's B support bonus
• A support: Father's A support bonus
• S support: Mother's S support bonus

Skills affecting the Pair Up, Dual, and Tag Team systems

Skills affecting the Pair Up, Dual, and Tag Team systems
	Skill	Effect	Games
	Dual Strike+	+10% to Dual Strike rate.	Awakening
	Dual Guard+	+10% to Dual Guard rate.	Awakening
	Dual Support+	+4 to Dual Support bonus level.	Awakening
	Defender	+1 strength, magic, skill, speed, luck, defense and resistance when Pair Up is in effect.	Awakening, Fates
	Deliverer	+2 movement when Pair Up is in effect.	Awakening
	Dual Striker	+3 damage dealt if user is the support unit in a Tag Team.	Fates
	Dual Guardsman	+1 shield gauge gain while the user is the support unit in Pair Up.	Fates
	Bold Stance	Support unit in a Tag Team can activate Dual Strikes, but cannot passively negate them.	Fates

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. series

This article or section is a short summary of Pair Up. SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

Pair Up is Robin's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When activated, Robin summons Chrom and the two join forces to rapidly attack their enemy, finishing by both smiting them with a downward blow at the same time.

As with all Final Smashes, Pair Up is depicted on a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Pair Up
	Like the Pair Up feature in Fire Emblem Awakening that lets two characters attack a foe at once, Robin's Final Smash calls Chrom, the Prince of Ylisse, to the battlefield. First, Chrom dashes forward, and if he lands a hit, Robin joins him for a flawless combination of attacks. It can even catch multiple opponents at once!	All-Star Mode (Wii U only)

Trivia

• In early English promotional materials for Fire Emblem Awakening, Dual Guard was labeled "Support Block" and Dual Support was known as "Support Boost".

Etymology and other languages

Awakening

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Pair Up	--
Japanese	ダブル	Double
German	Kombi	Combo

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Dual	--
Japanese	デュアル	Dual
German	Doppel-	Double

Fates

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Tag Team	--
Japanese	攻陣	Attack Formation

Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology, and notes
English	Pair Up	--
Japanese	防陣	Defensive Formation
German	Kombi	Combo

Gallery

References

See also

• Rescue (command)
• Support

Game mechanics

Out-of-battle management Base (Barracks • Base Camp • Base conversation • Everyone's Conditions • Expedition • Garreg Mach Monastery (Abyss) • My Castle • Somniel) • Bonus experience • Calendar • Dungeons • Gameplay modes (Difficulty • Creature Campaign • New Game +) • Gold • Lessons • Mila Shrines • Peddler • Preparations • Renown • Shopping (Armory • Bargains • Forge • Item shop • Merchant • Online shop • Secret shop) • Supply convoy • World map Battles and chapters Arena • Battle save • Boss • Castle • Chapter (Alternate route • Paralogue • Side quest) • Chest • Combat forecast • Event tiles • Hidden treasure • Objectives • Reinforcement • Skirmish • Terrain (Hazards) • Trial Map • Turn (Turn rewind) • Weather (Fog of war) • Village Stats Units Action • Affinity • Authority • Biorhythm • Charm • Class (Class mastery • Class relative power • Unit type) • Constitution (Aid) • Defense • Experience • Follow-up critical multiplier • Growth rate • Hit point • Holy Blood • Inventory • Level • Luck • Magic • Morale • Movement • Proficiency • Resistance • Skill • Speed • Strength • Weapon level • Weight Weapons Brave weapon • Critical rate • Durability • Hit • Kill bonus • Might • Personal weapons • Range • Weapon experience • Weapon level • Weight • Worth Unit mechanics and commands Adjutant • Attack (Counterattack) • Auto-Battle • Battalion (Gambit) • Canto • Chain attack • Chain Guard • Class change (Reclass) • Combat art • Crests • Dance (Galdrar • Play • Sing) • Death (Decoy) • Dismount • Dragon Vein • Emblem Rings • Fatigue • Inventory • Laguz transformation • Love (Jealousy • Inheritance) • Pair Up • Rally • Recruitment • Rescue (Capture) • Skills (Offensive skill) • Smash • Staggering Blow • Status effects • Support • Talk • Trade • Unit (Avatar • Bond units • Bonus unit • Einherjar • Loan unit • Prisoner • Replacement unit) • Visit Calculations Attack • Attack speed • Avoid • Bonus damage • Critical hit (Combination bonus • Dodge • Triangle Attack) • Hit rate (True hit) • Random number generator • Weapon triangle (Trinity of magic) Connectivity amiibo • Data transfer • Double Duel • Downloadable content • Link Arena • Multiplayer battle • Online shop • SpotPass • StreetPass Other Barrier • Birthday • Class roll • Glitches • Movie • Multiple endings • Rankings • Sound Room • Tactician bonus