History Mode

History Mode (ヒストリーモード, Hisutorī Mōdo) covers the tales of the heroes of the past Fire Emblem games that are represented in Fire Emblem Warriors, retold by using characters in the game to make up for the missing Units that are tied to that point of history.

More History Mode maps are unlocked as the player progresses through Story Mode, as well as purchasing DLC. Upon completing a Map, harder battles appear on the map, called Distortion Battles. Winning these battles will gain the player more weapons, more Materials for crafting Crests, and Items for Heroes to use. More importantly, there are more Master Seals present, allowing to promote more Hero Units. There are 3 in any given map, with the sole exception of Hero Challenge. In addition to Master Seals, there are more of Anna's Mementos to collect. Collecting 20 Mementos of any given Illustration to complete said Illustration unlocks a new Battle in that History Mode map that will allow the player to recruit Anna herself. Also, Distortion Battles can offer Scrolls, which are essential for creating Mastery Crests.

Some battles, especially those of later maps, will bar the player from engaging them until they meet certain criteria, which typically is clearing a certain chapter in Story Mode. Other limitations include clearing all of the normal battles with an S-Rank or clearing specifically the boss battle of that map with an S-Rank.

Overview
Upon completing a map, players are given a rank based on three criteria: Completion time, total number of enemies KOed by deployed heroes, and total percentage of damage taken by deployed heroes. Each individual criteria is given a grade of B, A, or S for each. Players are rewarded with weapons and materials when achieving specific ranks for a map. In order to gain an S-Rank for a map, all three categories must be S-Rank.


 * Completion Time for most maps require the player to complete it in a specific time. Completing a map with an S-Rank requires a map to be completed in 15 minutes. A Rank is for completing the map in under 20 minutes while any time after gives a B-Rank. Arena battles and some timed missions are exempt from this criteria.
 * Total Enemy KO requires that the player and their deployed heroes collectively KO a certain number of enemies. Completing a map with an S-Rank requires at least 2000 collective enemies be KOed when completing the map. A rank requires 1000-1999 enemies while B-Rank is 999 or less. As before, Arena battles and some timed missions are exempt from this criteria.
 * Percentage of Damage taken requires that the player take as little damage as possible during a battle. Damage taken is based on the total Health of the leading deployed hero's maximum health. Healing through Staves, Vulneraries, Leveling Up, and Sol do not reduce the score. Completing a map while taking less than 80% of total health rewards an S-Rank, taking 81%-120% damage rewards an A-Rank and any more than 120% is a B-Rank.

History Mode Battle Variants
Certain History Mode battles will have different rules to not become tedious or boring that can additionally come with various restrictions and unit deployment limitations to add to the challenge of completing it. Much of the restrictions will go away once a player has achieve a S-rank clear on that stage, allowing a player more freedom.

Battle Types

 * Ally Rescue: The objective here is to rush to stranded NPC ally units swarmed by enemy units, then beat all of their aggressors. Morale increases with each successful save.
 * Arena: The objective here is to fight and defeat waves of a set amount of enemies in a closed in space. If the battles are too much, a player can bow out by fleeing through the open gate at the start of a new wave.
 * Completion time is ignored, while Enemy Units defeated is scaled for the amount of enemies that Arena battle will allow.
 * Escape: The objective here is to find your allied commanders, locked behind closed doors in enemy forts and free them by beating their Gatekeeper jailors. However, if the player opens a fort that doesn't have the allied commander, they would be welcomed by a highly motivated Shadow. Once freed, the allied commanders will move to a escape point, but will run afoul of Guards you need to beat. If one falls, the mission is a failure. The enemy commander will reveal themselves when all the escapees leave the map.
 * Escort the Villagers: The objective here is to keep up to three Villagers on the map alive for as long as the alloted time will allow. If one falls, the mission is a failure.
 * Completion time here is ignored due to the limited time.
 * Fort Defense: The objective here is to defend three of your forts from Ruffians that sabotage forts that will instantly take a fort if not defeated within a minute.
 * Fort Siege: The objective is to capture all the forts. Occasionally, certain enemy forts will send motivated units to the Allied Base. Taking these forts will stop them.
 * Gold Rush: The objective here is to get a lot of Gold and KOs within the time allotted.
 * Completion time here is ignored due to the limited time.
 * Pincer Escape: The objective here is to fight two enemy factions at once. Putting too much energy against a particular faction will bolster the other faction with boosted morale units.
 * Recruitment Battle: The objective here is to either let the recruiter reach three neutral field captains to recruit them to your side, or fight and KO them. If all are successfully recruited, the boss will only open their base's doors after the ambush units are KOed.
 * Rendezvous Disruption: The objective here is to defeat the three promoted forward captains before they can retreat to their assigned forts. If they succeed in arriving, they and their assigned leader will have their morale boosted and will zero in on the Allied Base. If the forward captain is KOed before reaching the fort, the assigned leader will have their morale temporarily decreased. If not defeated before the decreased morale expires, the leaders will regain their senses and attack the Allied Base with Shadows.
 * Shadow Elimination: The objective here is to eliminate enough of the Shadows of the boss of the battle to reveal the Mages that keep respawning the defeated Shadows. Defeat the Mages, and the summoning stops, as well as weakens the Shadows. Once all Shadows are eliminated, the way to the real boss is revealed.
 * Shadow Rush: The objective here is to get a set amount of KOs while fighting Shadows. Periodically, Cover Soldiers can escort enemy forces aside from Shadows out of battle.
 * KO count here is ignored due to the set KO limit.
 * Timed Onslaught: The objective here is to get a lot of KOs within the time allotted.
 * Completion time here is ignored due to the limited time.
 * Villager Rescue: The objective here is to save the Villagers from aggressors and Headhunter Bosses. Once saved, they will promote into a combat-capable class. Fail to save them turns them into Recruiters for the enemy side.

Unit Deploy Limits & Restrictions

 * Regular Restrictions
 * Experience Check: All units gain more EXP in battle, but in turn take more damage.
 * Damage taken here is ignored due to the limited time.
 * Male: The player is forced to use male Hero Units.
 * Magic Advantage: All units who use magic have an advantage.
 * Mounted: The player is forced to use Hero Units that ride on a steed.
 * Mounted Advantage: All units on mounts have an advantage.
 * Neutralized Effectiveness: All Slayer weapon attributes are negated.
 * Physical Advantage: All units who use Strength have an advantage.
 * Reduced Healing: No unit can use staves or potions.
 * Test of Skill: Sealed weapon attributes are easier to unlock, but in turn the battle is 10:00, and the Battle Results are stricter.
 * Time Constrained: Time is reduced to 15:00
 * Completion time here is ignored due to the limited time.
 * Triangle Amplification: The Weapon Triangle's effects are increased.


 * Deploy Limits
 * Altean Heroes: The player is forced to use Hero Units from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon.
 * Awakening Heroes: The player is forced to use Hero Units from Fire Emblem Awakening.
 * Axes: The player is forced to user Hero Units that uses Axes.
 * Bows: The player is forced to use Hero Units that use Bows.
 * Fates Heroes: The player is forced to use Hero Units from Fire Emblem Fates.
 * Female: The player is forced to use female Hero Units.
 * Hoshidan Heroes: The player is forced to use the Hoshidan Units.
 * Nohrian Heroes: The player is forced to use the Nohrian Units.
 * Spears: The player is forced to use Hero Units that use Lances.
 * Swords: The player is forced to use Hero Units that use Swords.
 * Tomes/Stones: The player is forced to use Hero Units that use Tomes, as well as Tiki.


 * Anna Battle Restrictions
 * Warriors against Fate: Only for the titular Anna battle in Invisible Ties, this Unit Restriction forces the player to using only units that came from Fire Emblem Awakening.
 * The Path Is Yours: Only for the titular Anna battle in The Path Is Yours, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use only Rowan, Lianna, Corrin, and Anna.
 * Fight of the Hero-King: Only for the titular Anna battle in The Dark Pontifex, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use Rowan, Lianna, Anna, Robin, Leo, and all Units from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
 * Distant Light: Only for the titular Anna battle in Noble Lady of Caelin, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use Rowan, Lianna, Anna, Chrom, and Robin.
 * Within the Heart: Only for the titular Anna battle in Together to the End, this Unit Restriction only forbids the player from using Celica.
 * A Burdened Heart: Only for the titular Anna battle in Grief, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use Rowan, Lianna, Anna, and all units from Fire Emblem Fates.
 * Warriors of Conviction: Only for the titular Anna battle in A Brush in the Teeth, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use Rowan, Lianna, Anna, Tiki, Celica, and Lyn.
 * Love's Many Forms: Only for the titular Anna battle in Scion of Legend, this Unit Restriction forces the player to use Rowan, Lianna, Chrom, Lucina, Frederick, Cordelia, Anna, Celica, and Lyn.

Trivia

 * Clearing the History Mode maps will award the player a Badge, even the DLC History Mode Maps, with the only exception being Hero Challenge.
 * Clearing all the Battles in the five standard History Mode maps, including the Anna Battles the player unlocks from collecting Anna's Mementos, will award players a Badge, with another one being if you get S-Rank Clears on all of them.