Maddening Difficulty Guide: Differences and Tips

Fire Emblem Engage's Maddening difficulty is the hardest mode available and suited for players who seek a challenge. Learn about maddening mode differences and tips for maddening difficulty.

Maddening Difficulty Differences

Maddening Difficulty Features

Certain tutorials are skipped. You cannot save progress during battle anymore. Number of enemies increases from Hard. Enemy stats increase from Hard. Some enemies receive skills.

Unit Stat Growth is Fixed

Unlike the other difficulty modes, units in Maddening difficulty have fixed stat growths. This means that each character and class has predetermined stats every level. Note that saving and resetting will reroll stats on level up.

▶︎ Growth Rates Explained for Character Stats

More Enemies with Better Stats and Skills

Differences Between Hard and Maddening Difficulty
Empty tile	New enemy!
Hard difficulty enemy stats	Increased stats!
Hard difficulty enemy skills	More skills!

▶︎ Difficulty Level Differences

Draconic Time Crystal Usage is Limited

In Maddening difficulty, the Draconic Time Crystal only has 10 charges. This is the same as Hard difficulty, but each rewind is more crucial on Maddening. Try to use it wisely and save it to revert crucial mistakes that could end your run.

▶︎ How to Rewind

Enemy Unit AI is Better

As expected, the behavior of enemies change as well because of the improved AI. An example of this is if an enemy will deal either 0 Hit or 0 Damage to your unit, it will not attack but instead approach you to prevent a counterattack.

Maddening Difficulty Tips

Get as much EXP as possible. Adopt a more defensive playstyle. Use terrain effects to your advantage. Carefully maneuver your frontline and backline units. Keep your units in top condition.

Get as Much EXP as Possible

The strength of your units is directly tied to their levels. Try to earn as much EXP as you can by defeating all enemies and not skipping optional battles. Take note that healing units also reward EXP. If you have a unit that can wield a Staff, do not be afraid to spam healing skills.

▶︎ How to Farm EXP

Adopt a More Defensive Playstyle

Enemies in Maddening difficulty have higher stats so it is unwise to recklessly send out your units into enemy territory. Try to pick fights that you are sure to win and to ensure victory, make use of the surrounding terrain.

Use Terrain Effects to Your Advantage

Some enemies will be able to one-shot your units or at least deal heavy damage. Try to fight in terrain where your units will receive bonuses to defenses. When attacking, always try to go for Breaks to avoid counterattacks.

▶︎ Terrains and Terrain Resistance Explained

Carefully Maneuver Your Frontline and Backline Units

It is important to have your units play their roles properly in Maddening difficulty. Always position your frontline units so they will be able to protect your backline units. Have your backline units finish enemy units as fast as possible so your frontline do not suffer from too much damage.

▶︎ Best Party Composition

Keep Your Units in Top Condition

Always make sure that your units are as strong as possible. Give them the strongest equipment that you can and do not neglect Support Levels. Do not forgot to eat at Cafe Terrace before battles and use Skill Inheritance to give your units the upper hand in combat.

▶︎ How to Build Characters

Maddening Difficulty Guide and Strategies

Focus Resources on Few Units

With the limited experience on Maddening mode, we want to make sure that our resources are actually going to the right characters. Avoid allowing allies to take experience points if you're planning to bench them and never use them again on the later chapters.

EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast

Plan Out Chosen Units Ahead

With the given experience limitation, you should also take note of which units you can actually get on the later chapters. Make sure to choose your units according to this information so you can immediately pin point which units you want to invest stat growth items to and which units you want to include in your party once you reach later chapters.

Best Units for Maddening Run

Use Engage When You Can

While saving Engage Mode for the boss battle works in other difficulties, it will probably not work Maddening difficulty. Try to use Engage Mode as much as you can to end fights quickly and suffer minimal damage. Of course, it is still a good idea to have it ready when you are about to fight the boss of the stage.

▶︎ Engage Mechanic Explained

Use Healing Tiles to Farm EXP

Some tiles like Forts will heal units standing on it. Station a Bow user and lure enemies close to get some EXP easily as they will not be able to retaliate.

Be Aware of Each Unit's Role and Skills

Always play to the strengths of your units. It is best to be familiar with the skills and capabilities of your units. Take advantage of their unit types, weapon advantages, and skills to quickly dispatch enemies.

▶︎ Unit Types Explained

Use the Qi Adept's Chain Guard

The Qi Adept's Chain Guard ability will come in clutch to reduce the damage taken by your units. Framme is a Qi Adept that you will be able to recruit early in the game. Try to fit one in your party when you can!

Qi Adept Units

Framme

Jean

Seadall

Increase Support Level by Healing

Fighting is not the only way to make your units stronger. In combat, healing units increases their Support Levels which will be useful later in the game.

▶︎ How to Increase Support Level

Maddening Chapter Walkthroughs

Prologue: The Emblems

▶︎ Prologue: The Emblems Walkthrough

Chapter 1: Awake at Last

First Phase

Second Phase

▶︎ Chapter 1: Awake at Last Walkthrough

Chapter 2: Queen Lumera

First Phase

Second Phase

Defeat all other enemies before luring out Lumera

When luring out Lumera, use Framme's Chain Guard to reduce damage.

▶︎ Chapter 2: Queen Lumera Walkthrough

Chapter 3: Hostilities

Be careful when luring the flying units on the rear, right side

Be careful when moving forward because when you enter the attack range of the flying units on the right side near the boss, all other units will move in to attack. Clear all other units before moving to defeat the flying units.

▶︎ Chapter 3: Hostilities Walkthrough

Fire Emblem Engage Related Guides

▶︎ Beginner's Guide to Fire Emblem Engage

All Tips and Tricks