Imperial Knights Ellis
Route 3's mine rescue: fire and earth magic, sewing craft, and the board's best long-term hire.
Ellis (エリス) is the signature Route 3 companion. She is found stuck in a wall inside the Puremite mines, freed after you solve the navigation puzzle, and later available as a permanent guild hire from Hertzots’ northwest manor — where you pair her with a partner from the workshop. Her kit is fire and earth magic plus a sewing craft that produces utility items. If you are playing Route 3, she is the character the map hands you that you actually want to keep.
This page covers her join conditions, her full kit, how sewing works, and why she outlasts every Route 1 story woman on the board.
Profile
- Japanese name: エリス
- Voice actress: 苑田彩希 (Sonoda Ayaki)
- Role: Fire/earth mage, sewing craft, flex damage
- Join timing: Puremite mines (Route 3 only)
- Leave timing: Never permanent — stays on the mercenary board after departure
- Route availability: Route 3 (quest flags reference her on Routes 1 and 2 NG+ files)
How to recruit Ellis on Route 3
- Reach the Puremite mines on the Route 3 spine (Machant → mines).
- Navigate to the lower-left section where Ellis is trapped in a wall.
- Solve the navigation puzzle (follow the path that spirals inward).
- Free Ellis and equip her before the next fight.
- She stays for the duration of the mine section.
After the mine exit, Ellis departs. To bring her back permanently:
- Reach Hertzots’ northwest manor on the Route 3 spine.
- Talk to the workshop NPC to pair Ellis with a partner.
- Ellis becomes available as a guild mercenary for the rest of the file.
Skills
Meteor Storm (メテオストーム)
Ellis’s signature spell. Costs 40 MP. Deals heavy fire-attribute magic damage to all enemies. This is one of the most powerful AoE spells in Route 3 and the primary reason she stays in the party through Fortress Eraser.
Earth-type magic
Secondary element. Covers earth-attribute single-target and AoE spells. Pairs with fire for flexible elemental coverage.
Sewing craft
Ellis can craft items using the sewing craft system:
- Stat-boost accessories
- Utility items
- Some crafted items are unique and cannot be purchased
Crafting materials are gathered from:
- Enemy drops in Route 3 dungeons
- Purchase from Hertzots shops
- Dungeon treasure chests
Equipment recommendations
When Ellis joins in the mines:
- Robes — Prioritize magic attack and MP pool
- Accessories — MP regeneration and fire/earth boost
- Cards — The card tier list notes Ellis cards as mid-tier for general use; prioritize MP cards early
Key items to keep stocked:
- MP potions — Meteor Storm is expensive at 40 MP
- Fire-element cards for dungeon bosses weak to fire
Why Ellis is worth the NG+ investment
Route 3 is balanced around having two magic users (Ellis + a flex hire). The casino, the golem, and Fortress Eraser all reward magical firepower. Ellis provides:
- Consistent AoE for trash packs in mines and elf forest
- Sewing craft for unique accessories unavailable elsewhere
- Mercenary availability after the mine section, making her the board’s strongest long-term hire
She is the reason Route 3 feels like a magic campaign compared to Route 1’s physical thrust-sword progression.
Comparison with other Route 3 allies
| Character | Join | Role | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis | Mines | Fire/earth mage, sewing | Best long-term hire |
| Ariel | Elf forest | Spirit pact, support | Quest-specific, temporary |
| Diana | Always | Physical attacker | Always present |
| Lysithea | NG+ hire | Healer | Required for endgame |
Ellis in the gallery and recollection system
Ellis has specific scene triggers tied to Route 3 completion. Her gallery flags include:
- Rescuing her in the mines (automatic)
- Hiring her from Hertzots’ manor
- Taking specific guild requests with Ellis in the party
The gallery guide explains how scene collection works. Ellis-specific flags are tracked on the checklist.
Ellis and the Ver1.10 Butts interaction
Ver1.10 (27 August 2026) enabled Butts to use a special skill when HP drops below one-third or when the party member is in armor-break state. This matters for Route 3 players who challenge Butts in the mines: Ellis’s lower HP pool makes her vulnerable to this trigger. Keep her healed and consider a male mercenary tank for that fight.
Quick reference
- Join: Puremite mines (Route 3)
- Permanent hire: Hertzots’ northwest manor workshop
- Key skill: Meteor Storm (40 MP, fire AoE)
- Crafting: Sewing — unique accessories
- NG+ value: Highest — she makes Routes 2 and 3 significantly easier
- Ver1.10 note: Vulnerable to Butts armor-break trigger
Related pages
- Route 3 guide — full Route 3 map spine
- Party overview — party composition by route
- Guild quests — Ellis-specific quest flags
- Walkthrough — mine navigation puzzle
- New Game+ — why Routes 2 and 3 expect NG+ stats
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions Imperial Knights players ask first.
How do I recruit Ellis in Imperial Knights?
Ellis is found stuck in a wall inside the Puremite mines on Route 3. Navigate to the lower-left section and free her. She later becomes a permanent mercenary hire from Hertzots' northwest manor.
What is Ellis's main skill?
Meteor Storm (メテオストーム) — a 40 MP fire-attribute magic AoE. It is one of the strongest spells in Route 3.
Does Ellis leave the party permanently?
She departs after the mine section but registers as a guild mercenary. Hire her back from Hertzots' manor for the rest of the file.
What does Ellis's sewing craft produce?
Sewing craft creates unique accessories unavailable from shops: stat-boost items and utility gear. Materials come from enemy drops and dungeon chests.
Why is Ellis the best hire on the mercenary board?
She provides consistent fire/earth AoE magic across all Route 3 content — mines, elf forest, volcano, and Fortress Eraser. Her sewing craft also yields items no shop sells.