Top Xenoblade Chronicles X Party Members Revealed

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel like a daunting task. With a vast array of over a dozen unlockable characters and seemingly similar classes, the game doesn't rush to clarify the mechanics. Our guide to the best party members in *Xenoblade Chronicles X* highlights five key allies you'll want in your team and explains their unique strengths.

Elma

Elma, often the first party member you recruit, is far from weak. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is among the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI leverages it effectively in nearly all scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, enhancing the party's evasion, should be your initial focus. Elma also boasts powerful position-based attacks, though she may experience some downtime as she repositions. As a hybrid tank, support, and offensive class, Full Metal Jaguar isn't designed for pure DPS. Yet, with an array of self-buffs, including critical hit boosts and the ability to instantly gain 1,000 TP for powerful skills, Elma significantly enhances your party's performance. This is especially beneficial since she's required for most story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter. Even compared to other support specialists like Hope, she excels in healing, debuff removal, and evasion boosts, the latter being particularly useful when Elma's Ghost Factory is unavailable. Irina also continuously generates TP for the party, albeit at the expense of her own, using skills like Energy Source and Last Stand. While Irina isn't suited for solo combat or taking down Tyrants, her role is crucial. Pair her with one or two strong attackers to prevent prolonged battles.

Nagi

For those not opting for the Duelist class, Nagi is an essential team member. As one of the few Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he's both a potent damage dealer and self-sufficient. Duelists excel in close and ranged combat, with access to area-of-effect abilities. Nagi's standout skill, Blossom Dance, is not only powerful but also bypasses enemy resistances, capable of defeating even the toughest foes quickly. To maximize Nagi's potential, pair him with a supporter or someone who can debuff enemies, such as Irina or a Mastermind.

Mia

Although classified as a Psycorruptor, Mia embodies the versatility of a Drifter. She excels in multiple areas, from inflicting debuffs and reducing debuff resistance to dealing heavy damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter possibly causing blackout. Her attacks gain additional power when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, necessitating her inclusion in a party with members who can cover these weaknesses.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when extra defense is needed, allowing you to swap Lin for another character. As a Shield Trooper+, he surpasses Lin in every aspect, excelling not only in defense but also in attracting enemy attention, making him ideal for parties with aggressive members like Elma or Nagi. H.B. can generate TP with his taunt attack, boost debuff resistance, increase ranged attack power, topple enemies, inflict debuffs, and create a strong shield. If survival outside the main storyline is a challenge, completing H.B.'s affinity mission to recruit him is highly recommended.