This week in Fire Emblem Heroes was like any other. A new summoning event started, this time introducing heroes from the fan-favourite Genealogy of the Holy War–and fans were generally excited to see what was coming next.
Ayra from the story mode.
Today this excitement was mercilessly dashed for many, ironically by a very surprising and unprecedented move. A new Tempest Trials based on Holy War was teased, which was expected. The kicker: the summoning event released alongside it included a brand new and sought-after hero, Ayra: Astra’s Wielder.
Almost immediately, the Heroes community was flooded with disappointed and angry players. Previously, many of these same players openly praised the developers for making Heroes an enjoyable experience that’s friendly to non-spenders, a sentiment I share as well. So how did things end up this way and why the extreme reactions?
First of all, Ayra is a hugely popular character in some circles, being a strong and likable character from a well-liked game. She is essentially the progenitor of the badass and powerful swordswoman character found in later games. That said, although her popularity undeniably had an influence, worryingly, it is the least of the concerns.