I did play Fates: Conquest while on hoiliday (so no internet for tips) and did have to dial it from hard down to normal (guess the chapter) and my feeling of normal was "phoenix mode is great, they don't have to hold back on casual or classic anymore".yep that defence map
As for chapter 26. In my case due to reclassing a lot the units I was to great knight for skills (not great with a load of hammers and beast killer equipped enemies) it meant I had to do an absurd strategy of opening the bottom room then running my army round the entire map for a few laps separate out the enemy units and defeat them one by one. The trick is not to get too far ahead of the enemy or else the furthest behind ones will come at you from the other way. I just wanted to share that funny strategy
Amazing. Lol.
I was lucky and reclassed Xander to hero so he did have access to his sword and hammers himself. He basically solo'd the entire bottom room with the occasional help from Benny.
The room with the Sorcerers was also beat by one person, Leo, with seal magic and nosferatu.