Ike
A mercenary leader who wields Ragnell to repel invasion and avenge his father.
Ike (Japanese: アイク，Aiku) stands as the central protagonist and Lord-class character of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, the ninth entry in the Fire Emblem series. Unlike many protagonists raised as royalty, Ike was born into Knightly lineage but raised as a mercenary, only becoming entangled in royal politics during his story's events. He also serves as one of two main protagonists in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. A fan favorite, his popularity surged following his inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. fighting game series, where he has appeared multiple times as a core fighter.
- Role
- Protagonist / Commander
- Weapon Proficiency
- Swords
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Ike's character design was created by Senri Kita for Path of Radiance. His personality and blue hair were explicitly derived from Hector, the protagonist of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Development teams sought a protagonist everyone could empathize with, leading to the highly requested trait of him being a mercenary rather than a royal. In Radiant Dawn, his character movements in cutscenes utilized motion capture, requiring between 100 and 150 animations per character. Dialogue was also adjusted to be slightly rougher based on feedback from the previous game.
In Their Own Story
The plot of Path of Radiance centers on Ike's efforts to repel an invasion by Daein and avenge the murder of his father, Greil. In Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, he battles the forces of a corrupt goddess. His journey extends beyond these titles; he appears as a bonus playable character in Fire Emblem Fates and Code Name S.T.E.A.M. when linked via Amiibo, and exists in five variations within Fire Emblem Heroes. Later, he reappears in Fire Emblem Engage specifically as an Emblem.
Reader's Guide
Outside the main series, Ike is a staple of the Super Smash Bros. fighting games. He debuted in the core cast of Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008), wielding Ragnell, a two-handed sword he uses with one hand. His unique special move, "Aether," is a skill exclusive to him in Path of Radiance. For Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014), his design was updated to match his Radiant Dawn appearance, coinciding with the release of an Ike amiibo figure. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), players can choose between his Path of Radiance or Radiant Dawn appearances. Critics noted he plays similarly to other sword fighters like Marth, leading to debates about his necessity in the roster.
Did You Know?
- Ike's status as a mercenary was a highly requested character trait specifically by male staff members during development.
- Between 100 and 150 animations were implemented per character for cutscenes in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn using motion capture.
- In Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes polls, Ike was voted the most popular male character and received the most overall votes split between his incarnations.
- Ike wields Ragnell, a two-handed sword that he is unique enough to use with only one hand.
- Series producer Toru Narihiro stated that Ike's popularity grew beyond staff expectations following his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Elsewhere in the Fire Emblem universe
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