Best Party Members in Xenoblade Chronicles X

Choosing the best party members in *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel daunting due to the vast array of characters and overlapping classes. Our guide will help you navigate this by highlighting the five most effective allies to include in your team, detailing what makes each of them stand out.

Elma

Elma, one of the first characters you can recruit, is far from the weakest. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is among the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI maximizes its potential in various scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which generates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which enhances party evasion, should be prioritized for leveling up. Although her position-based attacks may lead to brief downtime as she repositions, Full Metal Jaguar excels as a versatile tank, support, and offensive unit. With numerous self-buffs that boost her critical hit rate and a quick way to gain 1,000 TP for powerful abilities, Elma is an invaluable asset, especially since she's required for most story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter, outshining even other support-focused heroes like Hope. She not only heals the party and removes debuffs but also boosts evasion, complementing Elma’s Ghost Factory. Irina's Energy Source and Last Stand skills provide a steady stream of TP to the party at the expense of her own. While she won't be defeating Tyrants single-handedly, Irina is crucial for quick and efficient combat, especially when paired with strong attackers to prevent prolonged battles.

Nagi

For those not interested in playing as a Duelist, Nagi is an essential addition to your team. As one of the few Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he excels in dealing damage and can handle himself well in combat. Duelists are versatile, capable of fighting at close and long range, and have access to area-of-effect abilities. Nagi's Blossom Dance is particularly potent, ignoring enemy resistances and capable of taking down formidable foes quickly. To maximize his effectiveness, pair him with a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies.

Mia

Despite being a Psycorruptor, Mia embodies the versatility of a Drifter. She can debuff enemies, reduce their debuff resistance, and deal significant damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which can cause blackout. Her abilities are enhanced when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, so it's crucial to include a party member who can cover these roles.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when you need enhanced defense. As a Shield Trooper+, he surpasses Lin in every aspect, offering superior defense and more. H.B. is adept at drawing enemy attention, which is particularly beneficial if you're playing an aggressive class or have members like Elma or Nagi in your party. He can generate TP with his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, inflict debuffs, and create a robust shield. If you're struggling to survive outside the main storyline, completing H.B.'s affinity mission to recruit him is highly recommended.