Okay, let's be real here. When I first started playing Fire Emblem: Engage back in 2026, I thought I was just going to be another tactical genius leading an army to victory. Little did I know, I was about to become Elyos's most indecisive matchmaker! The game throws this shiny Pact Ring at you and says, "Choose wisely!" Meanwhile, I'm over here trying to figure out if I should give it to the tea-obsessed princess or the guy who talks to alpacas. The pressure is real, folks.

Building Those Bonds (Or, How I Became a Social Butterfly)

To even get to the ring-giving part, you've got to put in the work. And by work, I mean I spent an embarrassing amount of time in the Somniel just... hanging out. Building an S-Support isn't about grand gestures; it's about the little things. Like, did you know sharing a meal with Louis while he's subtly people-watching counts as a bonding experience? Or that letting Yunaka pick your pockets (just kidding... maybe) builds rapport? The game is wonderfully open now—no limits on who you can get close to. Age? Gender? Species? (Looking at you, dragon allies). If they're in your army, you can theoretically take them to max friendship. My strategy involved a lot of:

• Battlefield Bonding: Standing next to each other in combat. "Hey, Boucheron, cover my flank!" is basically my version of "Netflix and chill."

• Somniel Shenanigans: Working out, fishing, or just admiring the view. I once spent 20 minutes just following Fogado around because his cheerful energy is contagious.

• Gift-Giving Galore: I became a walking gift shop. "Oh, this fancy tea set made me think of you, Celine!" Pro tip: some characters are pickier than others. Don't give Etie a cake unless you want a lecture on nutrition.

It's a slow burn from C to B to A rank. Each level unlocks a cute little conversation that reveals more about the character. By the time I got to A-rank with Alear, I felt like I'd been through therapy with half the cast. The emotional vulnerability! The backstories!

The Great Pact Ring Hunt (A.K.A. Chapter 22 Panic)

Here's the kicker: you can't even think about S-Supports until you've cleared Chapter 22. I was romancing left and right, building A-ranks like a socialite collecting business cards, only to be told the ultimate commitment token was locked behind a major story beat. Talk about delayed gratification! Once you finish that chapter, you unlock Alear's paralogue, The Connector. Compared to some of the brutal emblem paralogues, this one's a walk in the park. Your reward? The one, the only, the Pact Ring. Don't freak out when you don't see it in your convoy. It's not lost! You have to go to your bedroom in the Somniel and retrieve it from the Mementos Drawer. Very dramatic, very fitting for a Divine Dragon.

The Moment of Truth: Who Gets the Bling?

This is where I had my existential crisis. The game gives you ONE ring. ONE. And you have a whole army of lovable weirdos. Do you go for the reliable retainer (Vander), the shy archer prince (Alcryst), the goth princess with a heart of gold (Ivy), or the merchant child genius (Anna)? The choice is paralyzing. To actually give the ring, you need to find someone you have an A-support with and talk to them. A new "Give Pact Ring" option magically appears in the gift menu. If you can't find your intended target, use the Somniel map or just take a nap in your bed to reset the NPC positions.

What Do You Actually Get? (Spoiler: It's Not Just Kisses)

So you've made your choice. The S-Support conversation plays—always sweet, sometimes hilarious. But beyond the warm fuzzies and the special paired ending for Alear and their partner in the credits, there are tangible benefits! The biggest one is the "Boon of Elyos" skill. This isn't just a fluffy romance perk; it's a combat monster. It grants extra Critical and Dodge based on how many other units have already moved that turn. Suddenly, your power couple is tearing through the final chapters like a pair of soulmate-shaped wrecking balls. It's the ultimate relationship goal: growing stronger together.

In return for the ring, Alear gets a Memento—a personal item from their chosen partner. These have no gameplay use, but they are adorable character insights. You can display them in your Mementos Drawer and look at them whenever you want to feel things.

The Real Treasure: Those Paired Endings & Mementos

The endings and mementos are where the real personality shines. Let me tell you about a few of my favorites that had me laughing or going "aww":

• Alfred: Gives you Heirloom Embroidery. His ending says he tries to keep his health up to spend more time with you. This man is literally fighting his own fate for love. 😭

• Bunet: His memento is Bunet's Jabot. The description casually mentions he once tasted the ring's gem. Of course he did.

• Yunaka: She gives you a Gold Star and keeps the ring in a gold box, "treasuring it more than life." For someone with her past, this level of trust and affection is huge.

• Kagetsu: He wears the ring everywhere and nearly loses it constantly. This is the most in-character thing ever for our exuberant swordsman.

• Anna: She gives a Sweethearts Day Pendant and you celebrate your business partnership anniversary yearly. Never change, Anna.

Here's a quick table of a few more gems that show how unique each bond is:

Wait, What About Everyone Else?

Here's a cool twist for 2026 players: There are no paired endings between other characters anymore. So all that time I spent getting Alfred and Celine to A-support? Purely for the in-battle dual support bonuses and my own amusement watching them interact. It takes the pressure off being a total puppet master for everyone's love lives. You can just focus on your own chaotic romance.

In the end, my first playthrough, I gave the ring to Ivy. The goth princess won me over. But you better believe I've started new saves just to see everyone else's S-support scenes and collect all those wonderful, weird mementos. From Vander's solemn care to Timerra's golden thread pouch, each one tells a story. Fire Emblem: Engage turned me from a commander into a collector of digital hearts, and honestly? I have no regrets. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go on a picnic with Zelkov. I heard he brought a multi-locked lunchbox. ❤️