This page answers the question of whether you should buy the Iron Sword or a Training Sword in Fire Emblem Three Houses (FE3H). Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of both iron weapons and training weapons!

Should You Buy Training Weapons?

Yes for Low Strength Units

Training Swords offer little weight. This makes it easy to use and will not encumber your unit's speed. This is especially true for fast units like Petra and Bernadetta who have low Str stats.

No for Slow Units and High Str Units

For units that have high strength, check the weight of the weapon available for that unit and equip that unit a weapon that will offer little to no burden. To know how heavy a unit's weapon must be in accordance with that unit's strength stat, see our guide about weight.
What Does Weight Do?

Extremely useful for Combat Arts!

Enlarge

Marianne, a priest unit, dealing 35 damage with a training sword.

There are several combat arts in the game that get their damage output from your character's stats rather than the weapon and character's Atk stat. Combat Arts consume high amounts of weapon durability, but since training weapons are cheap, it will not be too much of an issue if they break down from this tactic.

Should You Buy Iron Weapons?

Yes After Levelling Units

Enlarge Steel Sword

Enlarge Iron Sword

Iron Weapons are lighter than steel weapons, and also offers decent damage together with it's lighter weight. This will allow most of your fast characters to be able to land 2 attacks in one turn if you build their strength stat enough.

Which Should You Buy?

Iron Swords For Normal and Hard Mode

Iron Weapons are lighter, but also offer decent damage as opposed to their counterpart Steel Weapons. Enemies during these modes are also burdened with heavy equipment and low stats. Equipping iron weapons in this difficulty will still allow you to double hit them despite equipping a heavy weapon.

To know more about attack speed calculation, see our guide about the attack speed formula.
The Attack Speed Formula

Training Weapons for Maddening

Training weapons are a must for Maddening. Enemies possess high stats and burdening your characters with heavy equipment will most likely allow them to double hit your characters every time. Equipping training weapons will prevent this and will boost the survivability of your units.

Fire Emblem Three Houses Related Links

Beginner Guides

Stats and Game Mechanics
What Does Luck Do?	What Does Dexterity Do?
What Does Weight Do?	What Does Charm Do?
What Does Authority Do?	What Does Speed Do?
The Attack Speed Formula	How To Learn and Equip Abilities
Character Guides
Recruitment Guide	Lecture Guide | How to Instruct
Classes That Can Use Magic	List of Unique Classes
Best Classes for Each Character	What Happens When Someone Dies?
How to Change Outfits	-
Battle Guides
How to Beat Demonic Beasts	How to Beat the Death Knight
Gambit Guide	Training Weapons or Iron Weapons?
How Do Linked Attacks Work?	How to Use Divine Pulse
How to Use Auto Battle	List of Terrains
How to Open Doors and Chests	-
Building your Army
Best Characters to Recruit	What Are Adjutants?
How to Repair Weapons	Are Rusted Weapons Worth Forging?
Where to Get Umbral Steel	What is Renown?
Where to Get Advanced Seals	-
Maddening Guides
Maddening Tips and Guide	Best Characters for Maddening
FAQS
What Carries Over To New Game Plus?	How Long Does It Take To Beat FE3H?
Difficulty Levels and Differences	Is There a Weapon Triangle?
Which House Should You Pick?	-