Compared to the last few Fire Emblem installments, Three Houses is rather subdued with its romance features. Awakening and Fates allowed most units to be married off and have children, and while many of the students in Garreg Mach aren't shy about flirting with each other, only Byleth can actually reach S-Support with anyone.
If anything, this puts a lot of pressure on Byleth's support conversations to be interesting and satisfying for the player. Let's take a look at which female Byleth romances fall short, and give some love to the pairings that are some of the most charming and well written in the entire Fire Emblem franchise. Spoilers lie ahead for post-timeskip plot and S-Support conversations.
24 Cyril
Cyril is a dedicated and hard-working kid, but there lies the problem - pre-timeskip, he really is just a kid, though he's 20 years old by the time Byleth is able to romance him. Unfortunately, his age at the start of the game and his obsession with Lady Rhea makes for a rather unappealing and uninteresting partner.
23 Hanneman
Professor Hanneman is certainly a friendly face amongst the otherwise intimidating monastery faculty, but the player might get the feeling that crests are more important to him than their relationship. He speaks about his studies on crests in every single support conversation, not to mention his view of Byleth as a research subject is more than a little unsettling.
22 Rhea
Rhea's character design is absolutely beautiful, and depending on the route taken, some players may come to like her a lot more than others. However, after learning the truth about her motivations and how she has manipulated Byleth since birth, it's difficult to view a relationship with Rhea in a positive light.
21 Hubert
Hubert has a certain mysterious air about him, which many players may be drawn to. It's easy to develop a soft spot for him throughout his support conversations, especially as the player learns how staunchly honorable he is. Hubert's main shortcoming is unavoidable, though - his unwavering devotion to Edelgard means Byleth will never be his top priority.
20 Jeritza
Jeritza was added as a romanceable unit as part of a free update, and his support conversations are particularly... unique. His love of sweets is very endearing, but his obsession with violence and death might be off-putting to some players.
Jeritza's romance with Byleth culminates with a joyous declaration that they will one day kill each other, bringing new meaning to "till death do us part."
19 Sothis
Sothis and Byleth are bonded from the very start of the game, so in a way it makes sense for them to end up together. Equally, it seems like this pairing wastes the player's opportunity to connect with another character in the vast Three Houses cast, seeing as how Byleth and Sothis practically already share a soul. If she weren't so demanding at times, perhaps she'd rank higher on this list.
18 Lorenz
Before the timeskip, you could be forgiven for finding Lorenz insufferable. His dogged pursuit of noblewomen makes him seem snobbish and creepy, but with Byleth's help he comes to see the error of his ways. If what Byleth needs is a fixer-upper and a hopeless romantic, then she need look no further than Lorenz.
17 Caspar
Sporting some glorious side-swept locks, Caspar undoubtedly has one of the best glow-ups after the timeskip. Aside from this, though, there's nothing particularly exciting about him as a partner for Byleth. His support conversations add a bit of depth as he deals with feelings of guilt, but ultimately Caspar isn't much more than a light-hearted knucklehead.
16 Raphael
He might look intimidating, but Raphael is by far one of the most wholesome units in the game. Despite the tragedy of his family's death, he maintains a positive outlook and is kind to others above all else. If you can look past the fact that he often acts like a Jock villager from Animal Crossing, you could do a lot worse than Raphael.
15 Ignatz
Ignatz is the type of character to be overlooked by many players. His design and demeanor aren't the most striking amongst his peers, but his supports with Byleth and the other students reveal him to be incredibly caring and selfless.
Reaching S-Support with Ignatz allows him to fulfill his dreams of becoming a painter, a wonderful bonus to helping him come out of his shell.
14 Seteth
Seteth isn't Byleth's biggest fan when she arrives at Garreg Mach. He's suspicious of her, constantly questioning her origins and motives, but this makes winning him over all the more satisfying. At first his trust depends on Rhea's judgment, but as their bond deepens it becomes clear that Seteth unconditionally cares for Byleth.
13 Ferdinand
Ferdinand may seem as pompous as Lorenz, but his support conversations reveal that he takes criticism of his attitude seriously, and is always striving to improve. His obliviousness and flair for the dramatic makes his dynamic with Byleth adorable, and his magnificent mane of hair post-timeskip is the perfect cherry on top.
12 Yuri
Yuri is one of the new support options added in the Ashen Wolves DLC. He's quite cold to Byleth at first, likely due to his traumatic past, though he's certainly not the only Fire Emblem character to have a tragic backstory. During his supports with Byleth it can sometimes be hard to tell whether he's flirting with or mocking her, but his desire to help the downtrodden is what shines through and draws many players to him.
11 Linhardt
Linhardt's laziness might seem a tad gimmicky at first, but his wit and sarcasm overshadow this to make his support conversations some of the most interesting in the game. He and Byleth grapple with the ethics of war together, and there seems to be a chemistry between them that just isn't as present with other characters. Of course, he also has probably the best looking S-Support art in the entire game.
10 Dedue
Don't let his scars fool you, Dedue is an absolute teddy bear. Despite the disdain he faces from others, his support conversations show how truly soft-spoken and gentle he is.
Whereas Hubert remains obsessed with Edelgard, Dedue will resign from his position as Dimitri's retainer so that he can fully commit himself to Byleth, and journey with her to see the flowers of his homeland.
9 Balthus
Balthus arrived with the Ashen Wolves alongside Yuri, but he's decidedly more friendly than his house leader. He does have his vices, finding himself in debt over gambling and drinking, but his upbeat personality and insightfulness during a time of war is something Byleth desperately needs. Balthus gets flustered during his proposal to Byleth, and considering his extreme buffness, it's really quite cute.
8 Mercedes
Mercedes is the mom-friend amongst the students of Garreg Mach, always ready to offer a helping hand or some baked sweets. During her conversations with Byleth she grapples with whether to be married off according to her father's will, or fulfill her dreams of helping those in need. Byleth helps Mercedes gain a sense of agency, and their romance is beautiful in its simplicity.
7 Felix
Felix is a bit of a tortured soul. As a child, he swore he would one day best his elder brother at swordplay, but his brother died before he got the chance. Felix constantly strives to improve his skills as though he is competing with the ghost of his brother, but his love for Byleth allows him to find something better, and certainly more healthy, to strive for.
6 Dorothea
Dorothea flirts with Byleth from their very first encounter, making it difficult to not see her as S-Support potential. Her empathy for common people caught up in the war only adds to her appeal, and her constant teasing of Byleth adds a lot of momentum to their relationship. Their chemistry is charming and their conversations easy, making Byleth's eventual proposal feel natural compared to many other pairings.
5 Ashe
Ashe seems like many of the other noblemen on this list - enthusiastic and goal-driven, he'll do whatever it takes to fulfill his dream of becoming a knight. What sets him apart is his more complex view of morality.
Byleth learns that Ashe resorted to theft when his parents died, leaving him to care for his younger siblings, and as a result is more understanding of others who must stoop to immoral acts to survive. Despite his troubled past, Byleth helps him remain humble and enthusiastic about the future.
4 Sylvain
Sylvain's interest in Byleth is obvious from the very start - he'll join your house regardless of your skill levels if you play as female Byleth. Their relationship isn't perfect, as he's a notorious skirt-chaser and is at times envious of Byleth's crest. What makes this pairing worth it is Sylvain's character arc, as Byleth helps him realize he wants to live a life not determined by his crest, and marry a girl he truly loves.
3 Dimitri
As the main figures in the conflict of Three Houses, it makes sense that the house leaders have more fleshed out relationships with Byleth. Dimitri has a lot of darkness he needs to deal with, as is par for the course when you're fighting a war. But alongside Byleth, he's able to have hope for the future, and they can work together to make the world a better place.
2 Claude
As if being one of the strongest units in the game wasn't enough, Claude is among the best choices for Byleth's partner. He abhors killing and strives to only incapacitate his enemies, and his laidback attitude is a welcome respite from the severe and often violent approaches of his counterparts. He seems like the kind of person the player would readily befriend in real life, and ending the game with Byleth by his side just feels right.
1 Edelgard
Among the house leaders, Edelgard is the most difficult to S-Support with, as siding with her at all requires a number of conditions to be met. Her character arc is complex, and following her means Byleth must make a lot of difficult decisions. Edelgard and Byleth have both lead lives shaped by the schemes and cruelty of others, but this romance allows them to take fate into their own hands together, reshaping the empire into a kinder, fairer place for all.
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