When do you promote your units?

[Valkama]

I usually instant promote the second I get a promotion item. Depends on the unit though.

[NoMommaGarchomp]

Depends on the game.

On easy games where EXP is abundant (FE1 and 3 being prime examples, with 8 and 9 in the mix too), I promote at Lvl 20.

On games where promoting at 20 has no advantages (Gaiden...), I promote as soon as possible.

On harder games, where promotion bonuses are a much needed asset, like Thracia, where Asvel's bonuses are way too important, I promote whenever I feel the unit is ready.

Notable exceptions include:

People who are really helpful for carrying a weak team when promoted, like Marshall Tauroneo in RD who carries the DB in P-3.
People who can take the effects of insta-promotion, like Gerik and Cormag.

[Sasori]

I usually wait to level 20, but there are some instances where I promote a bit earlier. Healers for example get promoted earlier just so they can get a tome in their hands and I might promote at level 15 when i'm feeling impatient.

I get the arguement for promoting early. Promo gains make characters perform much better and they have time to train up a new weapon type. I don't recall ever needing promo gains to come in early so I usually  just wait and level up my unpromoted characters some more. Sure promoting early can be optimal, but i'm not trying to play optimally most of the time.

[X-Naut]

I'm hesitant to promote early and like to drag it out as far as I can, but if the unit needs its boosts now I'll go for it. Usually around Level 15.

[henrymidfields]

Lv 20, always. No ifs, ands, or buts. Actually, I forgot about some special cases where the cap level is less than 20. But my reaching the cap levels for the purpose of this exercise still applies.

Yes, I always cap my units' levels before promotion. Always was since my first FE experience in Binding Blade, always is in my current Fates Conquest, and - I swear to everyone - it always will be the case for Echoes and other games I will get to in the future. I haven't found any reason why I shouldn't milk all the levels, and I strongly believe that my belief will stay that way.

Edited April 25, 2017 by henrymidfields