There are four different routes in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. These routes drastically alter the story, especially after the five-year time skip. Byleth is the main reason for these changes, as their teachings make the students grow, they are experienced in battle, and they can effectively command troops in an all-important war.
Having help from the goddess Sothis also makes a huge difference. Other house leaders and their retainers are the only characters who cannot be recruited once Byleth selects a house, so Byleth has significantly less influence on them, depending on the chosen route. Byleth's presence has a huge impact on the story, as their presence alone is enough to decide who lives and who dies.
10 If Byleth's Army Defeats Dedue Before He Changes, Dimitri Dies Peacefully
During Byleth and Edelgard's battle against Dimitri and Seiros, Dedue and some other soldiers carry Crest Stones, which allow them to transform into Demonic Beasts. If the player's units get close enough to Dedue, he transforms into a very formidable creature. After Dimitri's defeat, he bitterly curses Edelgard before he is executed. If Dedue is defeated before he has a chance to transform, Dedue survives and Dimitri dies a peaceful death.
9 Byleth Serves As Edelgard's Confidant
Preparing for the continental war, Edelgard acts behind the scenes as the Flame Emperor. She prods Byleth with various questions in order to get their opinion on the events, hoping that her professor will see past the surface and realize there is something deeper going on. If Byleth grows close enough to Edelgard, they can actually stand witness as she ascends to the Adrestian throne. It's difficult for her to open up to others, but Edelgard becomes so fond of Byleth that she takes it the hardest when they are gone for five years.
8 Byleth Can Convince The House Leaders To Become Dancers
Byleth can choose a single student from their house to become the dancer class by asking them to participate in the White Heron Cup. Edelgard is the only house leader who is eager to participate and even looks disappointed if Byleth chooses to ask someone else to do it. When Claude is asked to do it, he finds the request unreasonable to essentially "make a miracle happen." Yuri isn't thrilled to participate either but gives in to his fate. Dimitri, however, has the most hilarious reaction of all. He begs the professor not to make him participate and claims that choosing him has doomed them all. It's also hilarious to see his angry and brooding future self dancing for his allies.
7 Byleth Gives Orders On The Battlefield
Thanks to the fact that the students are used to Byleth acting as the strategist and that Byleth has proven to be trustworthy, Byleth is usually the one giving the orders during battles. This is especially significant for someone like Edelgard, who doesn't trust people easily due to her troubled past. Byleth is the most effective leader any house could have, considering the fact that they have the ability to rewind time.
6 Byleth's Mysterious Existence Encourages Claude To Actively Search For Answers
Byleth gets clear answers about the past thanks to Claude. Claude, being the nosiest of the house leaders, searches for answers by questioning people, digging through texts, and even examining Jeralt's diary for Byleth.
It is only when Byleth and Claude confront Rhea that she finally explains what happened in the past, which led to the creation of weapons, crests, and the church itself. Claude's persistence in finding the answers is very effective in Verdant Wind.
5 All Of The House Leaders Deeply Respect Byleth
Regardless of which house Byleth chooses, each of the house leaders have respect for them. Even after Byleth chooses a house, the other house leaders mention on numerous occasions that they wish that Byleth had chosen their house instead. During the war, they even express regret that they have to fight their professor. Given the fact that Byleth has proven to be a capable fighter, tactician, and teacher, it only makes sense that the house leaders look up to them.
4 Claude Leaves Fodlan Early Unless Byleth Leads The Golden Deer
If Byleth doesn't choose to lead the Golden Deer, Claude leaves Fodlan during the war. He trusts that Edelgard or Dimitri are capable of making a significant change in Fódlan, and he retreats to Almyra in the hopes that he can make it a better place as well.
Alternatively, in Crimson Flower, Byleth has the option to kill Claude. It is a much more tragic end for the house leader, and one that Claude doesn't really deserve, considering that his actions were never as extreme as those of the other house leaders.
3 Edelgard Transforms Into A Monster In Azure Moon Where Byleth Chooses Dimitri Over Her
Edelgard was desperate to win the war. Knowing she stood little chance against Byleth and Dimitri's forces, she willingly transformed herself into a grotesque beast so that she could more effectively use both of her crests. Regardless, she loses. Despite Dimitri's attempt to spare her, she dies after attacking him. After leaving, Dimitri tries to look back at Edelgard, but Byleth stops him, knowing that Dimitri already had enough ghosts haunting him.
2 Byleth Acts As A Matchmaker
Byleth is able to pair students and even church staff together, facilitating multiple romances. By having characters battle and participate in various church activities together, they develop a closer bond over time. House leaders are no exception, and their futures can change drastically depending on who they end up with. Alternatively, Byleth can pursue a romance with any of the house leaders, which also leads to some of the sweetest endings in the game.
1 Byleth Can Recruit Students From Other Houses To Aid Their House Leader & Steal From The Others' Armies
After choosing a house, Byleth can actually recruit students from the other houses. Before the time skip, this appears to be an innocent act of trying to get to know the students better. In reality, Byleth is snatching away the friends and comrades of the other house leaders. When the war begins, all recruited students, with the exception of Flayn, will always side with Byleth. Despite the rather dark implications of stealing these units, players often care more about saving whatever characters they can.
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