Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Trial Maps Unlock Guide
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Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Trial Maps Unlock Guide

by Scott White on 11 January, 2026

If you consider yourself a master at Fire Emblem and tactical RPGs, then Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance's Trial Maps will be right up your alley. The ability to attempt these maps is unlocked by completing the game for the first time and accessed by loading up an Epilogue completed save, but each map has different criteria for unlocking. Whatever levels your units were when you beat the game from that save will be what you have access to when tackling the maps. This guide explains what you need to do to unlock each one!
 

Trial Maps

Map 1: Hillside Battle

Requirement: Finish the game on any difficulty.

This map will see you struggle to route and defeat more than 80 enemies.

 

Map 2: Lonely Isle

Requirement: Finish the game on Normal OR Difficult mode.

Outnumbered and surrounded, you will need to stay alive and defend a point on a small island for 8 turns on this map.

 

Map 3: Strange Turn

Requirement: Finish the game on Difficult mode.

This map sees you even MORE outnumbered and surrounded, in a very small arena, AND you only have access to six characters.

 

Map 4: Desperation

GameCube Requirement: Connect a copy of either Fire Emblem (GBA) or Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones to your GameCube using the GameBoy Advance Cable Adapter

NSO: Will be unlocked by default upon unlocking Trial Mode.

Taking place on the same map as Chapter 18 in the main game, this time around, you will have to fight your way south, reaching the goal within 15 turns.

 

Map 5: Escape

GameCube Requirement: Connect a copy of Fire Emblem (GBA) to your GameCube using the GameBoy Advance Cable Adapter

NSO: Will be unlocked by default upon unlocking Trial Mode.

A more challenging version of Chapter 10, this map requires you to rescue your team from cells and make it to the escape point, with fresh reinforcements arriving everytime you open a new jail cell.

 

Map 6: Trapped

GameCube Requirement: Connect a copy of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones to your GameCube using the GameBoy Advance Cable Adapter

NSO: Will be unlocked by default upon unlocking Trial Mode.

Scattered and separated, your goal on this map, which brings back the three boats from Chapter 13, tasks you with protecting Ike for 10 turns.

 

Trial Map exclusive characters

To further sweeten the deal and have some extra fun with Trail Mode, there are also some characters from the main game's story that you never get to control but are unlockable here in this post-game mode. Doing so will require you to play through the main story many, many times, in order to unlock them all. They include:

  • Oliver - Beat the story mode 3 times
  • Shiharam - Beat the story mode 5 times
  • Petrine - Beat the story mode 7 times
  • Bryce - Beat the story mode 10 times
  • Ashnard - Beat the story mode 15 times

Be sure to check out our full recruitment guide for the main game too!