[REVIEW] Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Expansion Pass Wave 1 (Relics of the Past Bring Power of the Present!)

Welcome to EXPlay (Explain & Play) — the review series where we don’t care for scores. Instead, we tell it how it is with every game we get our hands on, while including lengthy gameplay so you, the reader, can form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.

In this explanatory review, we’re covering Part 1 of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s WeaveExpansion Pass by developer Intelligent Systems:

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Expansion Pass Wave 1 (Nintendo Switch 2)

When it comes to the Fire Emblem series, paid Expansion Passes are no surprise. They’ve become part of the series’ modern cycle, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is no exception. Announced on October 14, 2026 and released on the same day. Wave 1 of the Expansion Pass became available alongside the free Ver. 1.1.0 update.

That update simply added support for the Expansion Pass and placed a convenient “DLC” link on the title screen that takes you straight to the eShop. Everything else about the base game remains unchanged, so this review is focused solely on Wave 1 of the Expansion Pass with later waves (Holiday 2026 and 2027), to be covered separately when they arrive.

Wave 1 is, by any measure, extremely limited. It consists of four prototype weapons modelled after the Heroes’ Relics from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, with each of the four Flame Lords receiving one:

Cai receives Prototype VII, a spear clearly based on Dimitri’s Areadbhar.

Dietrich receives Prototype I, a sword modelled on the Sword of the Creator.

Theodora receives Prototype XI, a bow inspired by Claude’s Failnaught.

Leda receives Prototype V, an axe based on Edelgard’s Aymr.

These weapons can be obtained in two ways. During Part 1 of each lord’s path, a unique quest appears on the information board in Dagsion from Chapter 4 onwards. Completing that short quest hands over the relevant prototype. Alternatively, once you reach Part 3, the weapons corresponding to any completed Part 1 paths are given automatically during free time in Dagsion.

Any character can equip them, not just the associated Flame Lord, and they only require an E-rank in the relevant weapon skill. They do, however, come with noticeably low durability, so regular trips to the blacksmith are required if you intend to rely on them. They can also be upgraded (at least as far as +2), which improves both power and durability and that is the entirety of Wave 1.

There are no new maps, no new story chapters, no new recruitable units, no new classes, and no meaningful systems added. Wave 1 is simply four new weapons with strong visual and thematic ties to Three Houses. For players who are deep into the base game and already hunting for every possible edge in combat, the prototypes are a welcome addition once upgraded. For everyone else, the content is so light that it feels more like a placeholder than a proper first wave of DLC.

The Expansion Pass itself is priced at $34.99 (£29.99) and covers all three waves. Wave 2 (Holiday 2026) is set to add three new allies — the gods Aurora, Smyrnos and Jurah — along with new wearable outfits, whereas Wave 3 (2027) promises the real meat: new stories featuring Bertrand, Talimun, Orchel and Anatolia, plus additional allies, classes and more. On paper that final wave is the one that should justify the price of admission, but we will find out for ourselves when the time comes.

Until then, Wave 1 is a very small serving, a starter, if you well. It does what it sets out to do without any technical issues, and the weapons themselves look and feel appropriately special, but the quantity of content is so limited that it is hard to recommend the Expansion Pass purely on the strength of what is available today. If you already own and love the base game and plan to continue playing into the later waves, then there is no reason not to pick it up. If you were hoping for a substantial immediate injection of new story or systems, this first wave will leave you wanting.

We’ll return properly when Wave 2 and Wave 3 arrive. Until then, the four prototype weapons are a neat little nod to Three Houses and a modest power boost for those who want them — nothing more, nothing less.

Game Specifications:

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Digital)
Genre: RPG
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: October 14, 2026
Price: $34.99
Nintendo.com Listing