Top Party Members in Xenoblade Chronicles X Revealed

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel like a daunting task. With a vast array of unlockable characters and seemingly similar classes, understanding how to optimize your party can be challenging. Our guide to the best party members in *Xenoblade Chronicles X* will help you select the top five allies to enhance your gameplay experience.

Elma

Elma, one of the first characters you can recruit, is far from the weakest link in your party. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is among the best in Xenoblade X, and her AI excels at utilizing it effectively across various combat scenarios. Elma's standout skills include Ghostwalker, which generates a decoy to distract enemies, and Ghost Factory, which enhances the party's evasion. Prioritize leveling these skills, though be mindful of her occasional downtime when positioning for attacks. Full Metal Jaguar is designed as a versatile class that combines tanking, support, and offensive capabilities rather than focusing solely on damage per second (DPS). Elma's array of self-buffs, including those that boost her critical hit rate, and her ability to quickly gain 1,000 TP to activate potent skills, make her an invaluable asset, especially since she's required for most story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter, surpassing even other specialized support characters like Hope. Her ability to heal the party, remove debuffs, and increase evasion—particularly when Elma's Ghost Factory isn't available—makes her essential. Irina also serves as a consistent source of TP through skills like Energy Source and Last Stand, which trade her own TP to boost the party's. While not designed for solo combat or taking down tough enemies like Tyrants, Irina's role is crucial in complementing strong attackers to prevent prolonged battles.

Nagi

If you're not playing as a Duelist yourself, adding Nagi to your team is a wise choice. As one of the few Duelists in Xenoblade X, Nagi not only deals significant damage but also excels in self-sufficiency, capable of engaging enemies at both close and long range. His area-of-effect ability, Blossom Dance, is particularly potent, ignoring enemy resistances and often defeating even the toughest foes in a few hits. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, pair him with a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies.

Mia

Despite being classified as a Psycorruptor, Mia embodies the versatility of a Drifter. She excels in multiple roles, from applying debuffs and reducing debuff resistance to dealing heavy damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which can also cause blackout. Mia's abilities are further enhanced when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, she lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, so it's critical to include a party member who can cover these areas.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin, offering superior defense and versatility. His Shield Trooper+ class not only improves upon Lin's abilities but also enhances his role as a defender. H.B. is adept at drawing enemy attention, making him a vital asset for more aggressive playstyles or when teamed with characters like Elma or Nagi. Additionally, he can generate TP with his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, apply 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.