Dietrich arrives on his own path as a sword-first fighter, and nearly every decision you make in the Certification Exam menu should reinforce that. His personal skill, Murderous Intent, grants Crit+5 when he attacks first, so the classes that raise his critical rate and give him more combat arts are the ones that pay off.
Quick answer: Run Gladiator into Myrmidon, then take Shido as his Part 1 endgame class. Keep Sword as the priority and train Bow on the side through Hunter and Rogue.
Dietrich class progression: Gladiator to Shido
Dietrich is proficient in Sword and Infantry skills, which points him straight down the Gladiator line. The full route, including the classes you only reach later in a playthrough, looks like this.
| Tier | Class | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Gladiator | Core Sword track |
| Beginner | Hunter | Bow backup, unlock prep |
| Specialty | Myrmidon | Sword focus, mastery source |
| Specialty | Rogue | Bow training, map utility |
| Advanced | Shido | Part 1 endgame |
| Master | Shadow Seeker | Sword and Bow endgame |
| Divine | The Blade | Preferred final class |
Gladiator and Myrmidon flow naturally into Shido, which is the strongest Sword option in the Advanced tier and the class you want Dietrich sitting in when Part 1 wraps up. Shido carries Sword Crit +5 and Combat Arts +2, both of which stack neatly with his personal skill and his heavy use of combat arts.
Masteries to carry forward on Dietrich
Class masteries stay with Dietrich after he moves on, so the ones you finish matter more than the class he happens to be wearing at any given moment. Three are worth the time.
- Ravaging Arts — the Myrmidon mastery, and the first one to secure.
- Ever Vigilant — Shido’s mastery, tuned for a critical-hit build.
- In Shadow — the transferable reward for mastering Rogue.
- Dropshadow Blade — granted on mastering Shadow Seeker much later.
Rogue also hands over Locktouch and Search, but only while Dietrich is actually in that class. Treat those as a temporary convenience for dungeon runs rather than a reason to linger.
Why Dietrich trains Bow without becoming an archer
Hunter and Rogue are detours, not a second identity. Bows give Dietrich a ranged answer for fliers and for turns where he cannot safely close the gap, and they keep the weapon rank climbing for classes that ask for it.
That investment pays off in Part 3. Shadow Seeker requires Sword A and Bow A, so a Dietrich who never touched a bow will be locked out of one of his two best endgame options. Sword still stays the priority throughout — Bow is the secondary rank you top up whenever the map allows it.
Dietrich’s Path has exclusive access to Blacksmith, whose master ability gives combat arts a chance to use no durability. Guardian and Ranger are also available during Part I on this route.
Shadow Seeker or The Blade: Choosing Dietrich’s endgame class
The Blade is the preferred finish for Dietrich, and it suits his sword focus better than anything else. It is a Divine Class, though, which means only one unit can hold it at a time.
If another character in your army has a stronger claim to The Blade, leave Dietrich in Shadow Seeker permanently. It is a complete Sword-and-Bow endgame class in its own right, not a placeholder you tolerate until the Divine Class opens up.
Combat arts: Learning, teaching and boosting
Because Shido grants Combat Arts +2, the systems unique to Dietrich’s route feed directly into his build. He is the only Part 1 protagonist whose team can upgrade combat arts, and the loop runs through two separate places in Dagsion.
Building the team around Dietrich
Dietrich handles single-target pressure, so the roster around him should cover the roles he cannot. Early recruits on his path fall into clear lanes.
| Character | Class path | Fills |
|---|---|---|
| Fabio | Diviner → Shaman → Ovate | Black magic |
| Esmeralda | Gladiator → Armored Knight → Dreadnought | Front line |
| Mikaela | Gladiator → Brigand → Warrior | Axe damage |
| Tialla | Diviner → Priest → Troubadour | Healing, support range |
| Peter | Hunter → Archer → Forest Knight | Ranged, mobility |
| Ultand | Diviner → Priest → Bishop | Dedicated healer |
Esmeralda’s Brawn reduces her equipment weight to 80 percent, which keeps her mobile while soaking hits, and Mikaela’s Veteran’s Mettle grants Hit+10 against adjacent foes. Both pair well with a Dietrich who wants enemies committed to the front line so he can pick off the ones that matter.
Confirming the build is set up correctly
Open the Certification Exam screen and check that Dietrich’s current class reads Shido by the end of Part 1, with Ravaging Arts already earned behind him. Then open the Abilities screen and confirm the masteries you want are equipped rather than simply unlocked.
If you plan to reach Shadow Seeker, keep an eye on his Bow rank as well, since Sword A and Bow A are both hard requirements. Everything else — the skirmishes, the Dread Warrior Challenges, the temple upgrades — simply makes the sword swing harder.
