# 16 - Hardin (FE 1)

                  In accordance with the rules I've set up for this list I have to pick the strongest version of a character if multiple versions exist (multiple versions could mean an appearance in multiple games, it could talk about the best class for a character in a game where reclassing exists, etc.)

                 So here we have Hardin, the original turban rocking cavalier with a mustache (screw you Alec, Hardin's actually really good in his game AND he's important to the plot. You're not even a good father Alec so you don't even have THAT going for you. #GetrektAlec).

                Don't get me wrong. Hardin is still one of your best units in Shadow Dragon, but he's even better in FE 1. There are several reasons for this: Caeda and Barst aren't anywhere near as powerful in FE 1 as they are in Shadow Dragon so he doesn't have as much competition. The enemies are also significantly weaker as well since FE 1 doesn't have a challenging hard mode like Shadow Dragon does so it's easier for Hardin to look awesome. Once Hardin promotes in FE 1 he gets another nifty perk that he doesn't have in Shadow Dragon: Paladins aren't weak to horse slaying weapons. They're still weak to rapiers, but the only unit who can wield those is in your army (Marth).

             Hardin's availability in FE 1 is the same as it is in Shadow Dragon so he joins early and is capable of wielding Jeigan's Silver Lance when he joins (whether that actually happens or not is a different story but at least he's capable of using it and that has to count for something). His growth rates are decent in FE 1 so he'll be making good use of his level-ups in Shadow Dragon. He also comes with solid base stats when he joins too so he'll be wrecking scrubs for forever.

            The only downside I can think of regarding FE 1 Hardin is that the weapon triangle doesn't exist in FE 1 so being able to wield both swords and lances doesn't seem to be as cool here as it is in Shadow Dragon. I guess you can say that the trade-off is that Fire Emblem 1 has a better avoid formula than Shadow Dragon so he gets to dodge things in exchange for the weapon triangle. To quote Jeff Mohr from the Fire Emblem Facebook group: "The avoid formulas from the DS games are an abomination."
                
So to recap all of the good things about Hardin:

• Solid base stats
• Great availability
• Loses his weakness to horse slaying weapons upon promotion
• Good growths for his game