Top Party Members for Xenoblade Chronicles X Revealed

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can be a daunting task. With a roster of over a dozen unlockable characters, each with seemingly similar classes, the game doesn't always make it easy to understand the nuances. Our guide will help you pick the top five party members for your team, highlighting what makes them stand out.

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 Chronicles X*, and her AI excels at utilizing it in various scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which boosts party evasion, should be your initial focus for leveling up. Additionally, Elma has a range of strong, position-based attacks. While she may have downtime as she repositions, Full Metal Jaguar is designed as a versatile class that blends tanking, support, and offense. With numerous self-buffs, including those that enhance her critical hit rate, and a way to instantly gain 1,000 TP for powerful skills, Elma is an invaluable asset, especially since she's required for most story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter, even outshining other support-focused characters like Hope. She excels at healing the party, removing debuffs, and boosting evasion, making her a crucial ally if Elma's Ghost Factory isn't available. Irina also generates TP for the party, albeit at the cost of her own, through skills like Energy Source and Last Stand. While she won't be leading the charge in combat, Irina's role is vital for keeping the team effective and alive. Pair her with one or two strong attackers to prevent prolonged battles.

Nagi

If you're not playing as a Duelist, Nagi is an essential addition to your team. As one of the few characters in this class, he brings exceptional damage output and self-sufficiency to the battlefield. Duelists can handle both close and ranged combat and have access to area-of-effect abilities, with Blossom Dance being Nagi's standout skill. This powerful move ignores enemy resistances and can take down even the toughest foes quickly. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, include a supporter or someone who can debuff enemies, such as Irina, or use Mastermind skills to weaken foes.

Mia

Mia, a Psycorruptor with the versatility of a Drifter, is a jack-of-all-trades. She can debuff enemies, reduce their debuff resistance, and deal significant damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter potentially causing blackout. Her attacks are amplified when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, so it's crucial to pair her with a party member who can cover these weaknesses.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when you need additional defense. As a Shield Trooper+, he surpasses Lin in every aspect. H.B. excels at drawing enemy attention, making him perfect for teams with aggressive members like Elma or Nagi. He can generate TP with his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, and create 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.