One problem I’ve been having lately is the IVs. While most complain about getting bad IVs, I’m over here struggling due to getting perfect or near perfect IVs when I pulled them for fodder purpose only. Examples: pulled for Hardin to get bold fighter on Hjakob yet got atk+res-. Pulled for Karla and got her but not after a spd+res- legault. Woulda loved swift strike3 fodder or even cleaner fodder for test builds. Just praying he gets demoted cos don’t wanna fodder of great IVs. (Secretly hoping nino demotes cos I didn’t get her but 0.0001%chance). If u were a F2P and got perfect IV unit u don’t have, would u still fodder off for another unit? Or try to build the unit without finishing the other units?
I feel you sometimes. I don't have this happen too often, but once I got a perfect +Atk -Spd Fallen Robin (M) while trying to get one for Vengeful Fighter fodder. So it ended up being a mixed blessing, because while my Sheena didn't get Vengeful Fighter, my Zelgius and my Fallen Robin are great together and work incredibly well. So I'm pretty happy without it ended up nonetheless.
I think something to take note of is if you would use that character at all. After all leaving some 5 star hero in your barracks if you're not gonna use him or use him very little is not worth it. I don't think Legualt is worth using, so I'd eat him for cleaner/attack tactic if I had someone would could make very good use of it (e.g. Eirika with Sieglinde effect, +6 to attack is pretty good)
However, Hardin is just too good to fodder of. I have a neutral Hardin and he's bonkers good, yours should be insane in comparison: I'd even go as far to say he's the best lance in the game,so don't kill him; use him. Halloween Jakob can still be good with wary fighter and CC.
I generally don't fodder perfect or close-to-perfect IVs even if it's a 3*, and I doubt I would be different even if I weren't f2p. Even whales can't necessarily get the IVs they want.
Plus, a lot of previously 5* exclusive skills have been introduced into the 4* pool, especially recently. Sothe gave us L&D. L'Arachel and Chrom give res tactic and aether respectively at the cost of 20k feathers (but they can be pulled as 4*). More recently, Nanna gives drive def; Ares gives brazen atk/def; Kaze gives atk smoke; Linus gives brazen atk/spd (except I find him a hard sacrifice; this is actually a really good unit). Valter gives panic ploy for 20k feathers. Many expect Legault to get demoted, so atk tactic is coming (maybe for 20k feathers like L'Arachel). I wouldn't be surprised if guard ceased to cost 20k feathers within three months or if spd tactic was introduced into the 4* pool in 5+ months.
Even as non-F2P, I generally keep good or perfect IV units for arena bonus units and for a deeper bench.
I think the biggest thing for F2P players is to focus on the most readily available units to help minimize the IV issue. That's obviously not fun advice if you're a big fan of a given character, but it's the best avenue to having a really strong core team.
Pokemon GO
Fire Emblem Heroes
Fate Grand Order
Dragonball Legends
Dragalia Lost
IV Calc
Heroes