Top Xenoblade Chronicles X Party Members Revealed

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition* can feel overwhelming with the game's extensive roster of unlockable characters and seemingly similar classes. This guide is here to help you navigate through the choices and select the top five allies to enhance your gameplay experience.

Elma

Elma is your first recruit, but don't let that fool you into thinking she's anything less than exceptional. As a Full Metal Jaguar, one of *Xenoblade X*'s premier classes, Elma excels in diverse combat scenarios. Her AI masterfully utilizes skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which increases the party's evasion. Prioritize leveling these skills for maximum benefit. Elma also boasts a range of potent, position-based attacks. Although she may have downtime as she repositions, her hybrid role as a tank, support, and offensive unit is invaluable. With numerous self-buffs that boost her critical hit rate and the ability to quickly gain 1,000 TP, Elma is essential for most story missions, providing robust support to your team.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's top supporter. Even when compared to other support specialists like Hope, her abilities shine. Irina can heal, remove debuffs, and enhance party evasion, making her a versatile asset, especially when Elma's Ghost Factory is unavailable. She consistently generates TP for the team, albeit at the cost of her own TP through skills like Energy Source and Last Stand. While Irina isn't designed to take down enemies single-handedly, her presence is crucial in a party with 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 Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he delivers exceptional damage and can handle himself well in combat. Duelists are versatile, capable of engaging enemies at various ranges and utilizing area-of-effect attacks. Nagi's standout skill, Blossom Dance, is particularly powerful, ignoring enemy resistances and capable of defeating even the toughest foes quickly. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, pair him with a supporter like Irina or utilize Mastermind skills for debuffing enemies.

Mia

Mia, a Psycorruptor with the heart of a Drifter, is incredibly versatile. She can debuff enemies, reduce debuff resistance, and deliver heavy damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which can also cause blackout. Her attacks become even more potent when an aura is active, and she can topple enemies. While Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, her multifaceted skill set makes her a valuable party member, provided she's teamed with characters who can cover these weaknesses.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when you need enhanced defense. With his Shield Trooper+ class, H.B. not only outperforms Lin but also excels in drawing enemy attention, which is crucial if you're using more aggressive characters like Elma or Nagi. Beyond defense, he can generate TP through taunts, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, and apply debuffs. His ability to create a sturdy shield makes him one of the best defenders in the game. If you're struggling to survive outside the main storyline, completing H.B.'s affinity mission to recruit him is highly recommended.