Is Fire Emblem Heroes a mainline game?
Yes. A few pieces of media should confirm this
https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/02/06/nintendo-details-fire-emblem-heroes-post-launch-plans
`Maeda said that the main Fire Emblem team at Intelligent Systems started thinking about the possibility of a turn-based FE game on smart devices during the making of Fates. "We conducted continual research into it, and that was when Nintendo started talking about it with us," he said. "The goal of Fire Emblem Heroes during development was to have the main team behind Awakening and Fates create a brand-new game in the main Fire Emblem series."`
The new Legacy of Archanea book that comes with the FE1 special edition, pages 54-55 show Heroes as a mainline title
https://i.redd.it/vz9hn3qb2o361.jpg
The Fire Emblem Museum site from Nintendo lists Heroes as the 2017 release
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/fe/history/index.html
It’s additionally listed alongside other installments in the opening movies section on the same site
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/fe/movie/index.html
Although mileage may vary on if you want to use this since he has no say on canonicity, Sakurai’s B I N A R Y C O U N T I N G acknowledges Heroes as a main title
https://youtu.be/2aqVlLlKkcg?t=451
Do Heroes come from their own worlds?
Yes. That was basically the plot of book 1 lol
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/%22I_summon_thee!%22#Ending
- `We believe that Heroes should live free. Our enemies, however, enslave them—the fiends. This realm has gateways to the worlds where Heroes come from. Have you heard of the World of Awakening? How about the World of Birthright? Or the World of Conquest? There are so many more! The Emblian Empire invades those worlds and binds their Heroes to service. We fight for their freedom!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Prince_with_Golden_Wings#Story
- `I'm sorry to ask this of you so soon after we've met, but I have need of your help. Our order is devoted to fighting the Emblian Empire, which invades worlds where Heroes are from. One of these is the World of Mystery. I have dire news. The empire has newly taken over that world. We need to make our way to the`World of Mystery to free it!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Prince_with_Golden_Wings#Ending
- `You! Tell us—are you a soldier in the Emblian Empire? If so, then you stand on the side of evil. The empire shouldn't be entering the worlds of Heroes—let alone conquering them!`
(...)
- `Those gateways he mentioned, [Summoner]... They connect our world to all those where Heroes live. The royalty of the Askran Kingdom, like Alfonse, have the ability to open these gateways.`
Characters still remember their past lives
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Seaside_Someday#Stage_Clear
- Yes! Hope that such fantastic places as this remain out in the world…Hope that, someday, you'll find yourself in just such a place.I know we're in the midst of a war.Bur when there's peace again, I hope we can all visit the beach together.
- Not a bad idea. I'll have to talk to the summoner and make a few arrangements… Maybe we can get all the Blue Lions to come along next time.
- What about everyone in the other houses?
- Well, I guess the summoner'll have to summon the whole academy!
- Now you're talking. Even if it's not for years to come, I hope we can all visit this place together someday.
Heroes can also come from different times and alternate worlds (which is fine cosmology wise cause lol infinite multiverse), hence why we can have past and future versions of the same characters
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/One_Close_to_the_Heart#Opening
- `It could also be a you from your future, you know! We summon Heroes from many different worlds and many different times, after all. So, it's possible.`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Departure#Story
- Yes! Askr's ability to summon beings from other worlds is a terrible threat! It had to be addressed.
(...)
- Your friend there is the summoner. Summon new brothers from one of the infinite other worlds. Done! They may be slightly different from the brothers you knew, but... They will at least look the part!
https://fire-emblem-heroes.com/en/manga/part/index.html#part210428
Multiple of the same person existing goes as far as the main Heroes characters, such as in this paralogue and Lif/Thrasir’s entire existence since they’re just alt versions of Alfonse and Veronica
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hare_Pair#Story
- `How exciting! It's you from another world, and me from another world!`
Other Avatar genders (I.E Robin, Corrin) are simply versions from other worlds
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/A_Ninja%27s_Mystique#Stage_Clear_2
- I didn't expect to meet a version of me from another world...let alone one that's a man.
Eitri in the Book V end movie talks about how the summoner calls people from other worlds
https://youtu.be/wPNOLtPgaJY?t=102
Lastly, Alfonse says his best theory on what happens after Heroes leave Askr is that they simply go back to their world and time.
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Enduring_Legacy#Enduring_Legacy_-_B
- `When the Heroes have finished the fight in Askr... In what condition will they return home?`
- `A difficult question. One to which I lack a precise or detailed answer. I have read, however, that the main theory is they will be returned to the time and place they came from.`
While of course only a theory in universe, it’s by far the most likely answer we’re given, and considering that deleting Heroes in the game is referred to as “Sending them home” by the game itself, this is likely an accurate theory
https://youtu.be/2mVwWrD-j0M?t=117
A tie in manga they release on official sites also depicts this mechanic as a gate that resembles other similar interdimensional travel gates seen in the series
https://fire-emblem-heroes.com/en/manga/part/index.html#part220525
On top of this, a few tempest trials/paralogues also confirm this further.
Alm implies he’ll go back to go fighting Rigel after breaking his contract (essentially forced service to whichever bad guy is in charge at the time)
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Alm%27s_Heroic_Stand#Stage_Clear
- `What? You broke the contract for good—just by proving that you're stronger than us? Thank you. Now we can return to our fight to free Zofia from our own invaders. If you ever cross paths with us again, or with my friend Celica, I hope you will join us.`
Ike is said to return to his world when Greil is beaten in a Tempest Trial map
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Greil%27s_Request#Story
- `I'm sorry, Ike, but the cause of all this chaos...is me. You cannot return to your world without first defeating me.`
Now even aside from that, we know travel and communication between other worlds are a common occurrence
All of the Anna’s do acknowledge and talk with each other in many instances
https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Ylissean_Summer/Script#After_Battle_3
- `Frederick: About that... The Anna from our world bade me deliver this letter to you.`
- `Anna: Huh? One of my "sisters" from your world wrote me a letter? Let's see here... "To whom it may concern: If the likeness of Heroes from my world are captured for any reason... A contract fee must be paid... As detailed in the attached document"?! This number... There are...so many zeros! There's no way I can afford this! Grr... I should have suspected this…`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Nohr_on_the_Shore#Story
- `Don't you think the Anna from that world will send you another outrageous bill?`
- `That "other" Anna and I have already come to an agreement. I am an expert negotiator, after all. So I stayed up all night working on this new-and-improved tome! This one doesn't just capture still images... It captures moving pictures! It's OK to be impressed. It'll be perfect for catching everyone having fun in the sun...in their swimsuits! Hehehe!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/A_Vacation_in_Ruins#Stage_Clear
- `Oh, that reminds me... I have a letter for you, Anna. It's from Anna.`
- `Ahh, probably just checking up on her new business partner. Let's see what we have here… "To whom it may concern: If you wish to use moving pictures rather than still images… You must pay a contract fee as itemized in the included report?!"`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/A_Fighting_Family#Story
- `You're going to end up owing the Anna from the other realm an incredible sum of money, aren't you?`
- `You'd think that! But she didn't want quite so much for audio. I negotiated a few zeroes off her initial offer… And now that we've come to an agreement, there's no turning back! Gather your belongings. We're headed to the beach! For the future of the Order of Heroes...or its finances, at any rate.`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Shrouded_by_Steam#Story
- `There's a how-to guide published by one of the other Annas... You just dig right down till you hit water! Starting tomorrow, we'll explore the castle grounds for the right spot and then dig, dig, dig!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Swimwear_Warfare#Story
- `Grrrr... Curse you, other Anna! You beat me to the punch—again!`
- `Wait... An Anna from another world? It can't be the same one as before, can it?!`
- `Hmm... Well, I do have quite a few sisters. They make great allies—but they're also my fiercest rivals. This time, another Anna had the same idea I did and managed to cash in on it before I could… Was it a merchant Anna from another world? Or maybe a thief Anna? Argh! It could be ANY kind of Anna!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Anna:_Secret_Seller/Quotes
- `This world's Anna is in COMMAND? Huh... Knowing us Annas, these folks must've been through the wringer. Yeah, I've heard about my sisters in other worlds—women with the same name and face as mine… Oh, you want to know how it works? Well...that information doesn't come free, y'know!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Study_in_Crimson#Study_in_Crimson_-_A
- `The other Annas and I may operate in different worlds, but we're all working toward the same goal. Our mission is to aid the Heroes and to bring peace and prosperity to all!`
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Study_in_Crimson#Study_in_Crimson_-_C
- `There's more. According to Matthew, the girl I saw is part of a merchant guild called Anna & Company. And this guild is somehow capable of doing business in many worlds, apart from our own. The idea of other worlds was absurd to us at the time, obviously. We had not yet learned of the Dragon's Gate. But if this merchant guild really can move between worlds, then it is an organization worth tracking.`
Word of God also says the Heroes Anna is the same as the Annas of the other games
- Q: Anna, from previous titles, appears as one of the “Order of Heroes,” it seems!
- Maeda: This time she serves as the player’s superior in this special group. She had appeared all across the previous games, so it was only fitting she be the player’s direct instructor this time.
We also do know even in some of the main games there is some level of cross world travel, such as here in 3H and in many Awakening/Fates DLCs
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/534572277560508426/840733642463379476/image0.jpg
Now aside from all of that, there are some missions that occur in their home worlds, not Askr. This mission for example takes place in the Awakening world before the Order of Heroes arrives
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Defending_Ylisse#Special_conversations
- `Like the enemies who march this way, we come from... Well, we're from another world. It's a long story.`
Some of the 3 Houses students have been fighting other enemies from other worlds even before Order of Heroes arrives in this mission (It’s a bit long so no copy/paste, you can read it yourself)
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Changing_Winds#Changing_Winds
They also muse how they’ll return to Garreg Mach after the fight later
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Changing_Winds#Changing_Winds_-_B
- `Touching. Now, can we stop basking in our victory and return to the Monastery?`
As well as acknowledging the Order of Hero's prior prior visit
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Changing_Winds#Changing_Winds_-_A
- `Yes. This time, however, we are the visitors in your world. Who would have guessed?`
Tempest Trial Lucina and other characters
Tempest Trial Lucina is greatly suggested to be Lucina after the events of Awakening, as she references many of the events in the game
Makes mention to the Valm invasion, which comprised most of Awakening (Chapters 12-20.For reference, there are 26 Story Chapters)
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Reunited_at_Last#Ending
- Thanks aren't necessary. Your world holds special meaning for me, too. It must be protected. I visited here myself...some time ago. Though I suppose it would be more accurate to say that it was far in the future...
Also mentioning when she attempted to kill Robin to stop Grima’s resurrection, an event that happened at the end of Chapter 21
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Invisible_Ties#Ending
- I'm aware of the situation. I once tried to kill her, myself…
It’s also not stated anywhere that she’s summoned, under the contract of some villain of the week, an einharjar or similar clone, etc. Now, let’s ignore how none of those examples are ever mentioned to change a person’s physical traits anywhere.
All of this is important for a simple reason:
This means Lucina would have no excuse to not scale to FEH feats off of nothing but her own strength
On such a topic there are a few paralogues were you fight characters who are also not summoned/bound by contract. Here are just a few examples
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Creatures_of_the_Night
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Devoted_Youth#Story
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Here_Comes_the_Groom#Beginning_of_the_battle
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Hawk_and_Dove#Story
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Sprightly_Siblings#Story
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Stealing_Glances#Story
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Hiding_Away#Story
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/For_Our_Eldest_Sister#Story
While sure, you could maybe say “Oh some of these a festival or similar not serious event”, it still supports that there wouldn’t be some sort of massive power gap
Cipher connections
Yeah this actually has some bearing on other franchise scaling so it’s important enough to warrant a section. For those not in the know, Cipher was a card game that lasted for a couple years, and was essentially the big franchise crossover before Heroes existed.
“But Nota”, I hear you ask, “what does this have to do with scaling?”. Well reader, with the small lore tidbits we get, there are references to something called “Boundless Chaos” (Infinite Chaos is also apparently a valid translation from what I’ve read, though boundless is what it got localized to).
https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem_0_(Cipher):_Raging_Deluge/Card_List#B12-050
- “ I am Niamh... I hail from a world overflowing with the power that you call the Boundless Chaos...”
https://fireemblem.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem_0_(Cipher):_The_Heroes%27_Paean/Card_List#B22-114
- “ This world has not been consumed by the Boundless Chaos… Does it owe this to its heroes… or some other force? Further research is necessary…”
So why is this Boundless Chaos stuff relevant? Simple:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/907084293904416828/908115440578994246/unknown.png
(Note that at the time of writing, I haven’t been able to procure a direct scan of this instruction manual in spite of my best efforts)
Mentioned in here also is “Cipher Frontier” which is just a news section on the Cipher website, it’s just a news section with the Cipher characters about the game
It’s the reason why all the Heroes are being summoned and crossing over into the Cipher world. By the way, yes, many Heroes characters have their own Cipher cards.
So counting Cipher, Heroes, and the handful of people who appeared in Warriors (The Warriors OCs showing up as Cipher Cards, btw), this makes 3 different crossovers for the franchise that all involve travelling between Outrealms or other universes. Now you may be asking yourself “But why is a card game usable for game scaling? Have they even appeared in the main games?”
Yep lol these DLCs exists for Shadows of Valentia, and even further, Boundless Chaos is mentioned directly in one of Randal’s conversations
https://mobile.twitter.com/theprinceofiris/status/1179378670806487041
Some other important stuff idk what to categorize this as
Remember this statement from earlier?
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Departure#Story
- Your friend there is the summoner. Summon new brothers from one of the infinite other worlds. Done! They may be slightly different from the brothers you knew, but... They will at least look the part!
So we know that those summoned are the same person, but more importantly there are implications that people who are summoned are still of similar strength compared to their Heroes counterparts
Loki from another world implies that she’d be equally matched with her main game counterpart
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Dueling_Desires#Loki:_The_Trickster_-_A
- `I'd love to find the other Loki in this world...and fight her. I've always wanted to see what it would be like to fight myself... Hee- Hee-hee. When you train, you're pitted against yourself. That's the cliché, anyway. But it's hardly a life-or-death situation, is it? But here...here I can enjoy a battle against myself. Truly. Evenly matched, we can fight to the death. Doesn't that sound thrilling?`
Nemesis implies he’s actually weaker than he once was in some level up quotes. This Nemesis is after his fight with Seiros, aka Rhea (evidenced by the quotes “I was slain long ago...by a woman named Seiros.” and “I have had a thousand years of sleep. Nights offer me no rest…”, which is about the timeframe between his defeat at Rhea’s hands and the events of Three Houses)
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Nemesis:_King_of_Liberation/Quotes
- `Far from what I once was…`
- `A shadow of my former glory.`
Japanese text of the first quote (少シハ、チカラヲ取リ戻セタカ。) apparently translates to something like “I've got my strength back.”
Nemesis weakening in Askr would potentially apply to Byleth as well due to possessing the same power as him, even though they would scale to Nemesis’ strength regardless
https://youtu.be/G_wRCmHBlH0?t=99
Mila says she’s limited in powers she can bestow as a result of being in Askr
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Forces_of_Will#Edelgard:_Hegemon_Husk_-_A
- People create their own histories. I believe the same applies to me. In this world, I am limited in the power I can bestow on Heroes. Those Heroes give all they have and still struggle to realize their desires… During such struggle, I believe it is my responsibility to grant them what miracles I can.
This also seems to be the case for Heroes OC Nifl as well, as she is said to lose half of her divinity upon being summoned
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Nifl:_God_of_Ice/Quotes
- Lady of one realm of nine, I am Nifl, called the god of ice. I now walk this world, having shed half of my divinity.
There is some evidence of people weakening outside of their home worlds outside of Heroes as well
Grima in Awakening says that he loses power outside of his world as a result of his time travelling
https://youtu.be/jwL0Itj8HA4?t=1942
Future Past Grima is also shocked that the main game crew is as powerful as they are outside of their world, implying further that interworld travel weakening at least the dragon characters is a common occurrence
https://youtu.be/QPYcsw9s44c?t=803
Anankos also says that Lilith and himself will lose much of their power upon leaving Valla (Only Lilith is in Heroes at the time of writing, but this doesn’t change the statement)
https://youtu.be/5xTXC0rF6BI?t=2576
So essentially, many instances that some characters are weaker in Askr than they are in their own world
Another thing worth mentioning, I tried looking for any instance of anybody getting amped at all. There was only one such instance, and the way Thorr describes it is more drawing out the Altean kid’s potential early than an actual amp. By DB rules, this would mean their maximum potential is scaling to FEH feats
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/An_Altean_Youth#Ending
- `Am I to assume this was your doing, then? It was you who gave these children such immense power? How like you to favor the small and weak.`
(...)
- `They are destined for legend. No doubt their power will grow when their time comes, but...there is no harm in drawing out their potential. ...And you? Why are you here? Up to your usual tricks?`
IN SUMMARY
-Many WOG statements that the game is part of the mainline franchise. I’ve also been unable to find anything that says the game is a non-canon entry
-Scores of statements of being from their own worlds, villains invading Fire Emblem worlds directly, and cross world travel already being very common in universe without the need
-No mention whatsoever that there is a massive increase in stats when summoning, with only one exception that has context behind it. Many statements even imply the opposite with some characters being in fact weaker in the Heroes world than they are in their main games
-The Cipher card game has canonical precedence, has crossed over with the entire franchise, Heroes included, and Cipher mascots have made appearances in Shadows of Valentia DLC
Some Semantics stuff that I’m waiting on that aren’t really needed but would be nice to have
Lastly, here’s some semantics that I’m currently waiting on getting sorted out and this will have destroyed any last doubts to be had. Basically:
-Confirm the existence of Askr in any of the other games, be it a namedrop, reference or similar easter egg. This will make Heroes scaling more direct and not require Cipher only
-Have lore that characters lose memories or similar upon leaving the world, and that’ll explain why the above point is never addressed, which iirc is what happens with Dissidia. Albeit I don’t think this’ll happen since this happens one time and it’s not mentioned to be the norm
https://feheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Enduring_Friendship#Stage_Clear
- ...I will step in here. It is time to bring this trial to its close. Your memories of this day will be lost, children, and you will be returned to your lives. However, the connection that lives in the depths of your hearts will remain and bring you strength. This alone I will refrain from erasing. May you carry it with you and draw from it in future battles. Be you allies or, as it may happen, mortal enemies, wield the strength you have sown here today.
-Intelligent systems gets bored and throws some Cipher OCs in Heroes for more consistency
Any of these three happen and we’re golden. There’s basically no counterargument at that point for canonicity
What does this mean feat wise
Refer to this document for Heroes feats and scaling