==================Pre-notes====================
I usually don't do theorycrafting for overused units because generally overused units that shines with her base kit or generic skill sets that everyone first think about any good Atk/Spd unit.
However, today some reasons made me have to do this theorycraft. And as I like creative, insightful theorycraft that rises the unit to its optimal set up... I went for a bit of thinking over "how to make such a specific unit better at what she does best?" .
Because this theorycraft also aims at explaining how I came to my conclusions in order to encourage and help others create their own theorycraft, I will write down all the loccomotive of thinking with it. (Get ready for reading xD )
Spoiler: Delthea is actually simpler than it seems to make optimal, due to her clear purpose in an optimal team : nuke & support.
===================Theorycraft===================
First, her stat-line : although it's already good as it is, Delthea's Def is essentially a dead stat, since she can't tank a hit from any physical DD. So it's safe to bump it to increase her strenght even more : her nuke (atk).
For the A-skill, Fury 3 would enable Delthea to reach the extremely valuable threeshold of 37spd, HOWEVER, for Delthea, it's useless. Because most of the units are physical and will OS her and the part that is magical, won't be require Delthea to have an higher spd (Reinhart will double anyways, and speedy bladetome users like Olwen, Linde, S!Corrin, B!Shida, Nino will double her anyways thanks to their spd-focused build).
BUT this could be fixed with BlueTomebreaker, at the cost of her B-skill. Is it worth ?
The fact is, her biggest weakness remains physical damage, and despite her very high atk, many units can still tank/bait her (in IA control cases). So the best option to counter those physical units is Windsweep 3 , but she still needs spd for an effective use of Windsweep 3.
Still Fury 3 isn't a viable option, HOWEVER what would make Delthea overcome this spd problem is a boon, but an atk boon is more useful to reach the breaking point (56atk) where most unit won't be able to tank/survive it. So here is the solution (rather obvious when you think about the issues) : Life&Death 3 !
Making her Atk reach an overkill threeshold of 58atk unbuffed and her Spd 39. At the cost of her Def, but she already couldn't survive any phys.dd and at the cost of her Res, but the fact is : she has better chances to survive 1 hit with 5 less res, than survive 2 hits with her initial 31 to 34res. L&D3 reduces the chances for her to get doubled so it's still the optimal and best choice (not mentionning again the convenient Atk boost).
Finally, her C-skill ! Delthea's primary role isn't to rampage the ennemy (although she can do it), foes that will survive her are most likely green units or blue units with very high res. So running Res Ploy 3 would not increase her chances for killing them anyways.
However, she can use her C-skill to further improve her main purpose which is supporting the team. Due to Dark Aura's buff, HoneAtk3 isn't optimal, but Drive Atk 3 isn't either, because of its slightly weaker effect and forcing Delthea on some undesired position. So what ? Hone Spd 3 ?
While it's a decent alternative... it's not the best and synergetic one. IN FACT, due to Delthea's skyrocket Atk and optimal use of Windsweep 3 (for her survivability), she unlocks a 3rd C-skill option to support the team altogether (SO MUCH SUSPENS RIGHT?!!!) !
This is Savage Blow 3, the ability to chip 7 damages in a 2x2 radius around the foe, so that all the team benefits from a potential OHKO. Thanks to Delthea high Atk, she might even blow up her target in the process and windsweep will reduce the case where Distant counter (and possibly Vantage) would have prevented that to happen. In fact, with the Phantom Seal, she reachs a 44spd value for Windsweep comparison, so it's a guaranteed proc if the unit isn't dead by then.
IN CONCLUSION :
Delthea, the yandere of evil
IVs : +Atk / -Def
A-skill : Dead or Alive 3 (LnD, read morrons!)
B-skill : Windsweep 3
C-skill : Savage Blow 3
Seal : Phantom Spd
Simple, straight-forward, leverage both Delthea's unique stat-line and unique tome by improving her nuking ability, her survability and her support competencies for the whole team.
Let me know what you think about this theorycrafting.
(i.e "Did you like or not the "thinking loccomotive" part?")
Feel free to suggest more theorycrafts on this thread :
https://fireemblem.gamepress.gg/q-a/theorycrafting-what-units-optimal-build-would-you-next
I hope you found it insightful and entertaining ! If you did, Genny or Boey may be the next to come (as requested) ^^
*Slowly claps hands*
This is the level of meta within the meta
^Disclaimer ik this is the incorrect use of the word meta
Great post as always and I find it rather nice making very good use of phantom seal. The build overall seems more useful and the c skill is and interesting pick^^
I think Swift Sparrow synergizes better with Windsweep although that's 1 less Spd but you keep her Res to better duel mages with sky-high Spd like Linde or Summer Corrin and the way I mainly use her is to oneshot people so personally I keep Death Blow 3 but there could be something better for her.
Oh and you didn't mention her Special and Support Skills. I'm thinking of Glimmer.
Indeed, in general, Swift Sparrow synergizes better with Windsweep, but in Delthea's case, Life&Death3 is much better. First, because Life&Death3 is better on the offensive (1 more atk&spd than ss2). But also, better on the defensive, due to Delthea very limited bulk.
In fact, she has no chances to survive a physical hit but she has good chances of surviving ONE magic hit, weither she has 26res or 31res or even 34. But it's very unlikely for her to tank more than 1 magical hit since no mage in the meta has less than 47~50atk. So her best chances are to avoid getting doubled (Read the whole part about the speed).
Life&Death3 >> Swift Sparrow 2
offensively and defensively, but also in term of SI expenses.
You can trust my builds when I say it's optimal, it means it is.
Although, for the Ast. it's all about the team (more buffs or position skills), she doesn't run any HP threeshold skill, so no particular need for Recip.Aid or Ardent.Sac . run what you like as Ast.
And the special is a free spot as well, moonbow is best if she is your only blue unit in the team, otherwise Iceberg might be better with some infantry pulse. I didn't emphasize the team part, as I did this theorycraft for Dunras mainly and he didn't request it xD
VS +Spd/LnD3 all roster
+Atk/-Def/Fury3/ WS3/SB3/P.Speed= 92/1/59
+Atk/-Def/LnD3/WS3/SB3/P.Speed= 99/7/46
+Atk/-Def/SS2/WS3/SB3/P.Speed= 93/2/57
VS +Spd/Fury3 all roster
Fury3= 44/1/107
LnD3= 61/4/87
SS2= 54/2/96
All calcs unbuffed, while buffed With SS2 and LnD3 she can KO more units, but with Fury3 Only S!Gaius can KO her (if he is +Spd/Fury3 and Hone Spd buff)!
The idea of Savage Blow is actually super nice, but you went more offensive with LnD which I honestly think isnt very "Optimal", With Windsweep Delthea's Role is to get as much cheap damage as she can while not getting hit back or getting KO'd in the process, With LnD3 you get OHKO by more units and lose more HP against units you would soak well (remember. she only has 33 HP) with Fury although you get -6HP you only lose to 1 unit and can soak better, this is where the "She doesnt have a truly Optimal Support Build" comes into place!
LnD3 and Fury3 works almost identical, the only difference is LnD3 gives you more KO's (6-14 more KO's) and Fury3 lets you live a lot more (4-11 less KO's)! I think 'Support Delthea" is role on the team is based on teammates, If she is the main or 2nd most powerful unit on your team, go for the LnD build since it will secure more KO's (just give her some buff so she can nuke) and if you want Delthea to keep supporting the team and spread as much chip damaga as she can, go for the Fury3 build!
On and all, Im glad we did our posts, it gives Delthea a more "diverse" personality, in compare to the same boring Desperation/Blade/blah blah!
To me, optimal, has only one definition. It's the best overall in the most cases, after measuring the pros&cons.
I explained already twice why LnD3 is better... I did the calc too mate. Look, in arena you are not fighter "the rooster" you are fighting the meta. (mentioning heroes like S!Gaius is barely relevant)
Meta analysis 1 : https://www.reddit.com/r/FireEmblemHeroes/comments/6rrquc/feh_arena_metagame_tracking_charts_and_text/
Meta analysis 2 :
https://www.reddit.com/r/FireEmblemHeroes/comments/6p21ua/i_kept_track_of_every_enemy_unit_i_saw_in_arena/
Meta analysis 3 : My personal experience bruh!
With Fury3, Delthea reach 34res, which still isn't enough to soak Bladetomes or regular green nukes. With LnD3, no difference in terms of OHKO cases. So the difference remains in the 2HKO scenarios (even in Mirror situation, where Fury3 generally overtake LnD3, here it doesn't change).
However, more spd means less chances to get doubled but also, better chances to proc windsweep (especially against the other users of Phantom seal).
A last thing for you, about practice and less about theory : In what case are you going to attack with your Delthea ?
-When you can take out an ennemy safely (Extra atk might help and speed too for windsweep) , or when you need Delthea to chip damage on near foes with SB3...
Why would you chip away 6 of your HP for free in the process, while you also decrease your chances of OS the ennemy so getting counter-attacked.
I mean, do what you like, Fury3 is cheaper than LnD3 to inherite as well. But Swift Sparrow 2 is better and Life and Death 3 is even better.
Also remember, what you might consider "Optimal" others dont, everyone has their own opinions and reasons why they would consider another build "Optimal"! Cant go into every post screaming "Im a Master Optimal Builder, You guys know nothing", unless you work for IS you cant really be saying that hehe
No, you guys are right. I didn't mean to be arrogant or offend you but obviously I did. I don't think working for IS would make someone legit if anything.
Unless you think that the game is perfectly balanced as it is, and this time, I won't bother disagree with you, if you just wanna have an argument over the subject.
Of course different builds mean different usage and utility, that's obvious. But wouldn't you agree that one unit may be best at doing one particular thing rather than doing the same as most units. If you are willing to use your Delthea more as a mage-bait and less as a nuke/support , it works too, but other heros can do it better then.
Remember than you need your melee hero to start its turn next to Delthea to benefit the buff, the more positionning pressure you put on her due to her role, the harder she will fulfil the others.
By the way, I like receiving feedback and opinion but it's a bit annoying when you point out something that has already been discussed.
In your 2 spotlights over Delthea you went over a crazy amount of skills and resulted in 4 builds. Is Delthea the best unit for the 4 roles/purposes or what???
Its an opinion dude, not once I've use the word Optimal with out "" because I honestly believe any build can be Optimal with the right teammates... what Im saying is you cant really get super triggered just because somebody said """""OPTIMAL""""" on their post! I do agree you have a talent to create great builds, but what you thinks is """""Optimal"""""" me or someone else might not think it is, I honestly agree with your build, I just said Fury can work too if you want to keep Delthea alive for just a bit longer! In my 2 post I legit said "Full Support" and I even mentioned LnD3 was her best offensive skill, I wanted a build where she wouldnt die as fast as she would if she was a nuker, also, you been taking my post as some sort of "challenge or a call out to prove your superiority", if you want I can stop making Spotlights so you feel less challenged I guess!
Not really. I don't have Delthea, I mostly did this for you and Axur.
I think your point of view is fine, I understand. You don't understand me tho, what I meant is, an unit isn't "optimal depending on the team". For example, if tell me "+Def Sanaki raven TA if better to tank lords and not get OS" , then pick a Sophia.
It's true that Sanaki can do more than one thing, but if she doesn't do what she does best, then there is possibly a better unit to pick. That's what I meant by "optimal" but I didn't mean to argue that much around it.
Whatever really, I aim at helping as I can. If nuking an opponent safely and supporting with chip damage in addition to buffs isn't the best Delthea then I was wrong, I can live with it.
However, I would prefer not to have you frustrated or anything, I apology for the lack of tact I displayed which got you confused and offended.
I don't really like this Delthea build =/ but it's well done !
Imo, your build is good if you need Delthea to kill for example Hector without taking damage but I prefer double them with desperation and kill them before they hit. My Delthea has 59 Atk / 45 Spd so she pretty much nuke everything even Hector.
But your build is interesting and I like the use of Phantom Spd !
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