Top Party Members for Xenoblade Chronicles X Revealed

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel like a daunting task. With a roster of over a dozen unlockable characters, many of whom share seemingly similar classes, it's easy to get lost in the complexity of it all. Fortunately, this guide will help you navigate through the options and highlight the five best allies to include in your party, along with what makes them stand out.

Elma

Elma, one of the earliest party members you can recruit, is far from being the weakest. As a master of the Full Metal Jaguar class, one of the top classes in *Xenoblade X*, Elma's AI excels in almost every combat scenario. Her essential skills include Ghostwalker, which deploys a decoy to distract enemies, and Ghost Factory, which significantly boosts the party's evasion. Prioritizing these skills for upgrades is key. Moreover, Elma's arsenal includes potent position-based attacks. While these attacks might lead to brief periods of downtime as she repositions, remember that Full Metal Jaguar is designed as a versatile class, blending tanking, support, and offense. With a variety of self-buffs, including those that enhance her critical hit rate, and the ability to instantly gain 1,000 TP for her powerful moves, Elma is an invaluable asset to your team, especially in story missions where her presence is mandatory.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter. Even when compared to other support specialists like Hope, Irina's abilities are unmatched. She can heal the entire party, remove debuffs, and enhance everyone's evasion, providing crucial support if Elma's Ghost Factory is unavailable. Irina also serves as a constant TP generator for the team, albeit at the expense of her own TP, through skills like Energy Source and Last Stand. While Irina won't be the one to take down enemies single-handedly, her role is pivotal in keeping the team fighting effectively. To maximize her potential, pair her with at least one, if not two, strong attackers to prevent battles from dragging on.

Nagi

If you're not planning to take up the Duelist class yourself, Nagi is an excellent addition to your team. As one of the few Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he brings substantial damage output and self-sufficiency to the table. Duelists excel at close and ranged combat and have access to area-of-effect abilities. Nagi's signature move, Blossom Dance, is not only powerful but also bypasses enemy resistances, capable of defeating even the toughest foes in a few hits. To get the most out of Nagi, ensure he's supported by someone who can debuff enemies, like Irina or a Mastermind, to enhance his effectiveness in battle.

Mia

Mia, classified as a Psycorruptor, actually operates with the versatility of a Drifter. She's a jack-of-all-trades who excels at many roles. Mia can apply debuffs and reduce enemies' debuff resistance. Her attacks, such as Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, deal significant damage, with the latter potentially causing blackout. Her abilities are further amplified when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, making it essential to include a party member who can cover these areas.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an enhanced version of Lin, offering superior defensive capabilities. With his Shield Trooper+ class, H.B. not only fulfills Lin's role but does so more effectively. He's adept at drawing enemy aggression, a critical asset if your playstyle is aggressive or if you have high-damage dealers like Elma or Nagi in your party. Additionally, H.B. can generate TP through his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, apply debuffs, and create a strong shield. If you're finding survival challenging outside the main storyline, make sure to recruit H.B. after completing his affinity mission. He's one of the game's best defenders, providing the backbone your team needs to stay in the fight.