SD) Claude von Riegan (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

"Being noble has nothing to do with who you are

as a person or how hard your life is."

Introduced in 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Claude is the leader of the Golden Deer class which hails from the Leicester Alliance. Unlike the other houses the player can choose between the Golden Deer has a greater focus on commoners over nobility, and while Claude himself is set to lead the Alliance some day, he remains far more approachable, bordering on aloof. While he hides behind a mask of indifference and sarcasm, his tactical knowledge and flair for subterfuge are second to none.

While siding with the other two available houses leads to conflict with one another, siding with the Golden Deer mostly sidesteps the growing dispute, instead focusing on an altogether larger threat, Those Who Slither in the Dark. Also unlike the other two houses, Claude dreams of opening Fodlan up to the rest of the world. While Edelgard and Dmitri are defined by the event of the past, Claude seems to want to distance himself from it and focus on the future.

In combat, Claude primarily focuses on his speed, dexterity, and luck, making him an effective archer with a high chance of dodging incoming attacks and dealing critical hits. His nimbleness helps to offset his rather squishy nature, while his high charisma makes him effective in using battalions. Depending on what classes the player decides to focus him on, he can become a decidedly deadly unit at mid to long range.

Outside of combat, Claude is a natural charmer and master of misdirection. Though he goes by Claude, it is revealed that isn't his real name, instead being born as Prince Khalid, making him half Almyran. This helps to explain his desire to open Fodlan up to the outside world. Though he often seems laid back, Claude is usually the most proactive of the three house leaders, going above and beyond in his research into the goings on at the monastery.

In Shattered Destinies, Claude will serve a similar role as in his own game. While he'll initially seem care free, he'll secretly be working to figure out the true nature of what has transpired. This will likely come to a head as some of the more suspicious members of the group make note of his odd behavior, forcing a confrontation on whether or not he can be trusted. There may even be a point where it seems as though Claude has been a double agent all along, seemingly turning on the group at a critical juncture. Still, he is a good person with noble intentions at heart, and would reveal himself to have been playing the part in order to learn more of the enemy. This would lead to a tense standoff between some of the members of the group before Claude, true to form, is able to disarm the situation with his trademark charm.