The Version 2.3 Update is now available for Fire Emblem Heroes! This update brings a whole host of new features to the game. You may need to manually update the game via your phone’s app program to access the update. As of the time of writing, it is not yet live for iOS users, but is available for Android users.

The most exciting and noteworthy additions in this update are two new game modes: Rival Domains and Blessed Gardens. Read out further below for a deeper look at these new modes.

We also get a host of smaller updates, including Weapon Refinery enhancements for three heroes’ weapons: Eirika’s Sieglinde, Leo’s Brynhildr, and Soren‘s new tome Wind’s Brand. All three weapons can now learn a special, unique skill upon refinement.

Other small changes include:

• The ability to see the player’s name when looking their hero’s detailed stats screen, such as in the arena or friend’s list.
• All players will be able to re-battle immediately in the next Voting Gauntlet if they lose their match.
• You can now choose whether or not Merges count as levels when using the “Sort by Level” function in the Allies menu. The new option can be toggled on oor off in the settings menu.
• A Colorless Dragon is hinted to be added to the game in the future.
• Squad Assault 8 is now available.

Rival Domains

One new addition to the game is the new gameplay mode Rival Domains. You can check out the current Rival Domain within the Special Maps screen. New Rival Domains will be added weekly. Each update will contain a total of four maps: Normal, Hard, Lunatic, and Infernal. Best of all, these maps cost no stamina to complete!

Selecting a Domain for the first time will give you a button to “Edit Brigade“, so make sure to check out this option before starting! Your Brigade contains 20 units. You can use your own units as well as the lead units from your Friends on your Friend’s List. Friend units in your Brigade will show a small green heart.

Rival Domain maps are much larger than other Heroes maps! They’re eight squares wide and 10 squares tall. When the game begins, you start off with your first eight units. If any of your units die, they will be replaced by the remaining twelve units in order.

These maps also contain a number of terrain additions: Forts and Camps, which are defensive tiles with special additions. Your units can teleport between Forts and Camps that you control, and they also restore HP.

But beware, your enemies have their own Forts and Camps under their control! You can destroy them by attacking them, denying your enemy valuable resources.

Maps end after you have successfully defended for 10 turns, or after you have destroyed your opponent’s main Fort. One the map is over, you receive a score based on your performance. You must hit a target score goal in order to receive your rewards. Most notably, the reward for beating the Infernal version of a Rival Domain is 10 Divine Dew.

New Rival Domains will arrive with the daily reset every Monday.

Blessed Gardens

The second new gameplay addition introduced with this update is Blessed Gardens. Blessed Gardens can be found in the previously-unused section in the upper left part of the Battle screen.

There are four different Gardens, one for each Blessing type: Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire. Each Garden contains four maps, and each map takes 5 Stamina to play. The maps are based on story and prologue chapters.

The unique aspect of the Gardens is that only characters with a Blessing can fight in the associated maps. Additionally, you must have a complete team of four units, and all of those units must survive. So, think carefully before handing out your Blessings to make a well rounded team!

Completing the maps gives many rewards, including Blessings. All players get four Water Blessings when they open the screen for the first time, and each completed map gives out even more blessings of the other elements. So, all players should have plenty of Blessings to hand out to their units. Other rewards include Orbs, Feathers, and more Divine Dew.

You can play the first map for all four Gardens now. After today, new Gardens will be added weekly on a rotating schedule each Saturday at the daily reset.