Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel daunting with the game's extensive roster of characters and seemingly similar classes. Our guide breaks down the top five party members you should consider for your team, highlighting their unique strengths and how they can enhance your gameplay experience.
Elma
Elma, the first party member you can recruit, is far from the weakest. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is one of the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI excels in utilizing it across various scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which boosts party evasion, are essential to level up first. Elma also boasts a range of strong, position-based attacks. While she may have downtime as she repositions, her hybrid role as a tank, support, and offensive unit is invaluable. With self-buffs that enhance her critical hit potential and the ability to instantly gain 1,000 TP, Elma is a crucial asset, especially since she's required for most story missions.
Irina
Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter. Even with other support specialists like Hope, Irina's ability to heal, remove debuffs, and boost evasion makes her indispensable. Her skills, Energy Source and Last Stand, generate TP for the party at the expense of her own, making her a constant source of energy. While Irina won't be the one to take down Tyrants, her role is to ensure the party's longevity in battle. Pair her with one or two strong attackers to keep fights short and efficient.
Nagi
If you're not playing as a Duelist, Nagi is a must-have. As one of the few Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he's a self-sufficient damage dealer capable of handling enemies at close and long range. His area-of-effect ability, Blossom Dance, is particularly potent, ignoring enemy resistances and capable of downing tough foes quickly. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, pair him with a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies.
Mia
Mia, a Psycorruptor with the versatility of a Drifter, is a jack-of-all-trades. She can debuff enemies, reduce debuff resistance, and deal heavy damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which can cause blackout. Her attacks are enhanced by active auras, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, so ensure she's teamed with members who can cover these weaknesses.
H.B.
H.B. is an excellent substitute for Lin when you need enhanced defense. As a Shield Trooper+, he surpasses Lin in every aspect, from attracting enemy attention to generating TP with his taunt attack. H.B. also boosts debuff resistance, increases ranged attack power, topples enemies, inflicts debuffs, and generates a sturdy shield. If you're struggling to survive outside the main storyline, completing H.B.'s affinity mission to recruit him is a wise move.
