This dashing redheaded hero was many Western players’ initial Fire Emblem crush, since his game was the first released outside of Japan. He actually debuted in The Binding Blade as Roy’s aged father, but this prequel shows him in his prime as a dragon-slaying badass. He even journeys to the center of the Earth to find a sword that can defeat the druid who kidnapped his father – now that’s dedication!

Eliwood is a strong champion of justice and a steadfast friend to Hector and Lyn. He also gets lines like “Wretched cur!” and “Your treachery ends here!” whenever he needs to prove that he means business. He may be a bit plain compared to others on this list, but Eliwood is honorable, strong, and a great husbando in his own right.

Arvis may be a villain, but he’s a fascinating man with a more complex personality than you might expect. He serves as the main antagonist of the first generation story in Genealogy of the Holy War, betraying Sigurd by stealing his wife Deirdre and then burning him to death with fire magic. And also killing his entire army with a meteor shower spell. That’s pretty harsh, but to be fair, a bigger villain was controlling him at the time.

This powerful emperor has long red hair and perfectly tailored black robes. The old-school shoujo art style of Genealogy of the Holy War gives him a commanding presence and fine features, which he retains even in his Heroes redesign. Surprisingly, Arvis also cares very deeply for his family. His childhood was filled with death and despair, so he wants to use his newfound power to provide a better life for Deirdre and their children. He’s a bad guy, but by no means a complete monster.

Who doesn’t love a classy royal atop a white horse? Nobody, that’s who. Sigurd is a sophisticated knight clad in a white, blue, and gold outfit that sports an impressive combination of both a cape and an ascot. He’s the first protagonist of Genealogy of the Holy War, as well as being Deirdre’s loving husband and the father of the second protagonist, Seliph.

Sigurd is one of the oldest Fire Emblem main characters, starting the game as a mature adult with plenty of combat experience and leadership skills. He presses onward even in the face of tragedy and never holds grudges against anyone, even if they betray him. This kindness leads to his death at the hands of Arvis, who he can’t bear to hate even after the emperor steals Deirdre from him. He’s a bit too trusting for his own good, but Sigurd is nothing if not a man who sticks to his principles.

Next up is Xander, the elegant and fearsome crown prince of Nohr. He wields the fabled blade Siegfried, which he uses to defend his few remaining family members. He has the classic look of a Greco-Roman hero, with a stalwart square jaw and perfectly coiffed blonde hair. His heavy black armor, trimmed with gold and purple regalia, emphasizes his station as a conflicted man who’s forced to commit horrific acts under orders from his power-hungry father, while still trying to reform Nohr from the inside.

As one of the main characters, Xander has his fair share of fanservice in DLC chapters. He can be seen in tight-fitting swim trunks, a pirate captain outfit, and even in a bunny prince costume (complete with carrot sword) in Fire Emblem Heroes. The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is because he’s a pretty overbearing father to his son Siegbert. Giving your child a name that’s one syllable off from your sword isn’t the best parenting move, Xander...

Joshua may be a prince, but he certainly doesn’t act like it. In order to better understand his people and make himself worthy of the crown, he left his royal station and took up the life of a traveling, fortune-seeking mercenary. He’s a carefree soul with flowing red hair, a love of gambling, and a weakness for pretty girls – the perfect rogue for those of us who love bad boys.

Despite his affinity for gambling, Joshua has pathetically bad luck. He makes up for this by mastering the art of cheating, which nets him a pile of gold every time. However, he’s more interested in the thrill of the game than the prize, so he’ll return the gold if he respects his opponent enough. He also joins Eirika’s army less out of dedication to her cause and more because he wants to win a bet against another person in her service. He’s flighty and mercurial, but if you want a man who can’t be tied down, Joshua is the one for you.

Let’s hear it for the first male bisexual character in Fire Emblem! The player character can romance Niles whether they’re male or female, although the same sex option locks them out from having children (which, considering the medieval time frame of these games, makes enough sense). Niles is a cunning former thief who serves as a retainer for Nohrian prince Leo. His upbringing was more than a bit unsavory, evidenced by his eyepatch that covers an empty socket, so he’s slow to open his heart to others in case they betray him.

Despite this, he flirts with nearly everyone he meets. Even his in-battle quotes are suggestive, and he only gets bolder if the player marries him, but he’s genuinely sweet and would do anything to protect Leo or his other comrades. Fans have fallen in love with this dark-skinned casanova, so there’s plenty of fantastic fanart online for whenever you need more Niles in your life.

All rise for the most important and influential character in the entire series – Marth! Not only is he revered as the fabled “hero king” in Awakening, but he’s also responsible for getting Fire Emblem released outside of Japan. His and Roy’s appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee piqued Westerners’ interest in the strategy RPG series, which finally convinced Nintendo to release the next installment worldwide. If not for Marth, we wouldn’t have all these pretty anime boys to fawn over!

As for the man himself, Marth is a blue-haired prince who protects his kingdom with the legendary Falchion sword. He advocates for peace over meaningless violence and always sees the good in people. Because of this, his friends and army follow him with unwavering loyalty, no matter how dire the situation. He’s humble, kind, and strong–just as a prince should be.

Ike is one of the most dynamic characters in Fire Emblem, starting off as a naïve young man in Path of Radiance and maturing into a confident leader by the end of Radiant Dawn. Having grown up on the battlefield, he despises politics and much prefers to judge people based on personal experience. This allows him to see past the prejudice against the Laguz race and accept them as equals. He even goes so far as to forgive the black knight Zelgius for killing his father, since his many clashes with Zelgius strengthened his combat ability enough to master the Aether technique.

Ike’s trademark headband and cape are tattered and his leather armor is unadorned, reflecting his status as the only Fire Emblem protagonist to not be of noble or royal birth. He’s also one of the most muscular main characters in the entire series, so fans of rough and tumble manly men are in for a treat. For a humble and kind man with a very big sword, look no further than the “radiant hero” himself.

He’s a blue-haired prince who protects his kingdom with the legendary Falchion sword–wait, didn’t we already talk about Marth? Actually, Chrom is Marth’s distant descendant and serves as one of the protagonists of Fire Emblem: Awakening. He’s more headstrong than Marth, but still possesses the same trusting nature that holds his diverse army together. When he finds the player character hungry and confused in the middle of the road, he immediately rushes to help instead of assuming that they have ulterior motives.

Chrom’s muscles and deep voice make him popular with fans, so he’s been given plenty of love both in fanart and DLC chapters. Like Xander, there’s official art depicting him in a swimsuit as well as a bunny prince costume (this time with a carrot-themed axe). And since he’s used to royal affairs and tense battles, he gets adorably flustered when he has to be Mr. Fanservice.

He’s loud, theatrical, and possibly out of touch with reality. His sword hand twitches with desire to wield the legendary Mystletainn sword, which he has yet to find. He is Owain, the number 1 best male character in all of Fire Emblem! Owain, also known by his alias “Odin” in Fire Emblem Fates, thinks that he’s “the chosen hero” who will banish evil from the world... but unfortunately for him, he’s in a much less campy world than he thinks he is.

Owain’s charm comes from the genuine, unbridled enthusiasm that he pours into everything he does. It’s a welcome relief from the more tense and tragic story moments both Awakening and Fates have. Despite this, he’s serious when he needs to be and provides strength for his mother Lissa at a critical moment. Owain is a breath of fresh air with beautiful blue eyes and irresistible energy, which makes him our top pick for this list.