AuraGuardianR

I've been running Xander, Nino, Ephraim and Nowi for... decent results. I have had two "deathless runs" (Eph and Nowi die to Veronica and Xander/Nino kill her) but it's been quite inconsistent. I have a backup team of Hector and ATiki (TA2/GTB3) with whoever else I need to clear Veronica's map. Currently on about 10k, after 1 stamina potion, so I should be able to get there (I hope). Nowi is there to tank reds with TA3, but is mostly there with Renewal 1 and Reciprocal Aid to act as a makeshift healer, because TA3 Eph doesn't take much damage from reds anyway.

I've had Linde and Tharja as the ranged infantry as well.

I'm having a tough time deciding what set to run on my Bridelia, because as powerful as the LaD set is, the -Spd really hinders her effectiveness compared to the Death Blow set. Both sets lose to -raven TA units, so I'm not really looking at those, but these calcs all have the Fury 3 override. I'm leaning towards the Death Blow set because it means all I have to do is pull a Klein and I can get Brave Bow+ and Death Blow 3, as opposed to 5*ing my Gordin and Effie separately. Both of these are with the offensive buffs from my Ephraim (+3Atk/+4Spd), who will pretty much always be on my team anyway, so I'm not worried about that. The LaD set is assuming Desperation is active (26HP), though looking now it doesn't seem to change her matchups much, losing a win against Xander, and the loss with RobinM becomes a draw (Though this is without TA3, so it would still be a loss against standard RobinM anyway). I seem to have actually convinced myself that the DB3 set is better while writing this, but second opinions are still appreciated. (I don't have any of the fodder required for these builds yet anyway other than Luna which she's already learned, so it's not like there's a rush.)

What should I do with a +Atk/-Spd B. Cordelia? Feel like Brave Bow set won't work as well, though Klein still manages to pull it off with -4Atk/+1Spd as a player phase nuke. Can't go for a Quad build anyway, though I'm going to try for another one to see if I can get a better nature.

Mages specifically I guess? Tharja/Celica/Sanaki/Julia all hurt my team badly, and I've been facing 2 per team or one paired with 1/2 dancers, with them both being merged to like +6. These maps also haven't been very friendly to my team, I can't move my team around very effectively (though that is 100% my fault).I kinda feel like I need a higher Res unit that can carry R Tomebreaker but I don't really know who would work if it even would.

Would I be able to get some help with my arena team? I've had no trouble getting deathless runs up until now in tier 16. My team is Hector, Xander, Ephraim and Nino. Xander: Siegfried, Fury 3, QR 3, Swap, Bonfire Hector: Armads, Distant Counter, Vantage 3, Spur Def 2, Swap, Bonfire Ephraim: Siegmund, TA3, Lancebreaker 3, Hone Spd 3, Rally Def, Moonbow, Fortify Res 1 Nino: Gronnblade+, LaD 3, Desperation 3, Hone Atk 3, Ardent Sacrifice, Draconic Aura I keep running into teams of units who are +6 merged despite having no merges myself (I guess this is because I have more expensive skills?). and I can't really compete with them... The list of available units I have is here. Any help would be appreciated!

What's a good build for Xander? I'm looking to use him in the arena next season as I didn't pull a Celica unfortunately... I was thinking: A Skill- Fury 3, B Skill- Vantage 3, R/G Tomebreaker 3 or Quick Riposte 3 and then C either Fortify or Hone Cav (though I don't have a Cav team built yet). Speaking of, in a team of Cecilia, Xander, Camus, (Insert blue tome cav here), who should get Hone/Fortify? I assume I want two of each?

Does anyone know what that really expensive counter kill odin set is? I'm curious to see how expensive it actually is other than close counter. Otherwise, Is it worth promoting Xander for next season? I'll be trying for a Celica anyway, or should I wait till I get the right IVs for either my ATiki or Nowi?

I want Orbs!

Am I right in assuming +HP -Spd Alm is pretty much a more balanced Chrom? What build should I give him? I haven't used any of his SP so he has like 1000, so that shouldn't require much grinding.

Pulled only reds hoping for Ike, got 2 3* Henrys, a 4* Eirika and the wrong 5*, +HP -Spd Alm. No idea what to do with him, though I finally have a Falchion user I guess.

Beat it first try with a team of 5* Nino,5* Hector,5* Ephraim and 4* Nowi, Nowi took care of the mages and then Hector swapped her out of there, and Nino and Hector whittled Zephiel into kill range for Nowi. Really enjoying using Zephiel now, is there any point in getting him any of his skills other than Wary Fighter? Reprisal seems like it might be good but idk what else suits him.

I currently have my arena team as Cordelia, Y Tiki, Ephraim and Hector, though I swap Cordelia for Nino when doing offense. I have Nowi trained up and she has TA 3, but I need to get 19,000 feathers to upgrade her... Also need someone to give her Swordbreaker, though I could give her Quick Riposte from Klein too. I do also need Lancebreaker from Arthur for Ephraim, but that'll take forever with the rate you get feathers at... So no-one really appreciates Axebreaker? I was thinking Michalis could use it to deal with Hector and win vs Minerva etc if he had Moonbow.

Thank you both! I kinda thought it would be easier to train my 3* if he had the skills I had already learned, but I guess it would be better to get the merge level instead.