The Ultimate Guide to Joan of Arc: Fate War’s New Meta Hero

The arrival of Joan of Arc (the Blessed Maiden) has sent waves through the Fate War community. As a hero released for February, she is quickly establishing herself as a top-tier “S-tier” commander. Known for her striking blue, white, and golden appearance similar to Arthur, Joan is far more than just a visual masterpiece; she is a powerhouse of versatility and raw damage.

Why Joan is a Must-Have Hero

Joan is unique because she does not have a specific troop type restriction in her skills. She belongs to the Stela of Guardians, which provides significant defensive attributes like increased protection and shield absorption. Her versatility allows any player, whether they main Archers, Cavalry, or Berserkers, to utilize her effectively.

Skills Overview

Joan’s kit is designed to maximize attack and troop capacity, making her a devastating force in the open field and mass battles.

• Banner of Justice (Active Skill): Plants a banner on the enemy, dealing 14,000 damage factor (up to 15,000 when awakened) to up to 3 enemies in a circular area. It also buffs up to 3 nearby friendly troops with a 10% damage increase and 10% damage reduction for 4 seconds.
• Saint’s Resolve (Passive): This skill defines Joan’s pairings. When she is in the same troop as a male hero, that male hero’s burst damage is increased by a massive 35%.
• Fearless Charge (Passive): When receiving basic attacks, there is a 25% chance to stack attack (+7%) and basic attack damage (+5%) up to 5 times. At full stacks, this equals a 35% attack boost and 25% normal attack damage increase.
• Leader’s Presence (Passive): Increases troop attack by 30% and increases troop capacity (soldier limit) by 12%. This 12% increase is a game-changer, allowing you to field significantly more troops than your opponent.
• Awakening - Righteous Judgment: In addition to boosting her active skill damage, it grants your troop debuff immunity for 4 seconds. This makes her a direct counter to heroes like Freya and Hela, as she becomes immune to their healing reduction effects.

The Best Pairings for Joan

Because Joan lacks self-healing, she is best paired with heroes who can provide sustain or exploit her massive burst damage buffs.

Cavalry Pairings

• Asuka (Primary Recommendation): Many experts consider this the best synergy in the game. Asuka is a male hero (triggering Joan’s 35% buff), deals massive damage, blocks healing, and provides the healing that Joan lacks.

Berserker Pairings

• Arthur: Pairing Joan with Arthur creates a highly balanced and tanky march. Arthur’s high burst damage is amplified by Joan, and he provides the necessary shields and healing to keep the march alive.
• Carl: A strong offensive choice. Carl deals AoE damage to three targets, which stacks well with Joan’s own AoE active skill.

Archer Pairings

• Farhad: While Farhad was previously considered underwhelming by some, Joan makes him highly usable. Their combined AoE damage and Joan’s attack buffs significantly increase the damage of Farhad’s bleed effects.
• Caltus: Since Caltus deals high normal attack damage, he benefits greatly from Joan’s Skill 3 stacking buffs.

Talent Tree Strategy

Joan features a unique combination of Balanced, Versatile, and Skill talent trees.

• The Skill Tree is highly recommended to maximize her 15,000 damage factor active skill.
• The Guardian/Balanced Tree provides necessary survivability, making her “tankier” than traditional skill-based heroes.

Final Verdict

Joan of Arc is an overpowered (OP) addition to Fate War. Her ability to grant debuff immunity, increase troop capacity, and amplify male hero damage makes her a cornerstone for any competitive player. Whether you are a “whale” or a free-to-play player, Joan is a hero worth maximizing immediately.

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Note: This guide is based on current game mechanics and community analysis. As the meta evolves, testing in the Vale of Spirits will further refine these strategies.