There are many game modes within Fire Emblem Heroes mobile game. Arena is one of the oldest game modes that many players consider end game. It’s such a feat. The premise of the game is simple – earn high score by winning 5 games in a row against other player’s defense team. At the end of the season, player’s scores are compared against another. The higher the score, the higher players tier, rank and rewards. That’s it. Pretty simple, right?
The only reason for it being considered as end game is that it’s pretty hard for new players to achieve it. If players achieve the top, players will get 5 orbs + other items, crown for inventory and crown accessory on Feh (the owl) on home screen. Feh will wear the crown for the week players are in the highest tier 21. If players drop from tier 21 to 20, Feh will not wear the crown on home screen.
Arena Scoring
The rule for arena scoring is very badly designed that it requires lot of investments to get higher score. It is designed to push players to gamble every week to either get the latest and greatest heroes and/or skills. Community made a tool to help players calculate their base arena score.
Here’s how the scoring work
- Use the FEH arena calculator to get your base arena score. Make sure to include required bonus hero for the current’s week
- FEH arena matchmaking algorithm will try to find other player’s defense team that score between your base arena score – 2 to your base arena score + 12. So, let’s say your base arena score is 742. On the arena selection screen, you’ll see random score between 740 to 754.
- When playing the arena, make sure your bonus hero of the week defeat at least 1 enemy. If you do that, you’ll get additional 12 score. If any of your heroes are defeated during battle, your score will be decreased.
The scoring was not like this in the past. It used to be that players will only get additional 3 score if your bonus hero defeat 1 enemy. If you defeat all 4 enemies with your bonus hero, then you’ll get 12 score. So, current scoring system made it a lot easier to get the highest bonus score. However, getting high random score on selection screen is not. It’s actually very hard to get the highest score in the bracket. Why is that?
Matchmaking
- FEH will select 1 random defense team from the pool within your base arena score range
- A lot more players have lower scoring defense team
- Fewer players have high scoring defense team
- Defense team score is updated every time players connect to the system
So, let’s say your base arena score is 742. Since there are more defense teams that score between 740-748 than 750-754, you’re more likely getting 740-748 score in arena selection screen. You’ll have to spend more crest to “fish out” the higher scoring defense team. It’s easier to get the score you need if you’re a twitch streamer (like Akariss), who can ask the audience to set up their defense team to be included in the pool. If you don’t have large audience or follower, you are out of luck. Your only options are spend more crests or build higher scoring arena team.
Latest Cut Off Score to Promote to Tier 21
Latest cut off score to promote to tier 21 has increased considerably since IS changed the scoring system. It’s a very bad move on their end. If the person who’s in charge of the arena game mode work in my company, he/she would’ve been fired already. The move has decrease player base by huge number. See it for yourself on the scoring and rank compared with before or FE Heroes Arena Tier 20.5 (Dec 2019 Arena Progress Update).
