Choosing the top Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition party members can feel daunting. The RPG features over a dozen unlockable characters, many with seemingly similar classes, and its mechanics aren’t immediately clear.
Our Xenoblade Chronicles X guide highlights the five strongest party members and explains what makes them exceptional.
Elma
Elma, your first recruitable ally, is far from ordinary. Her Full Metal Jaguar class ranks among Xenoblade X’s finest, with her AI excelling in nearly every scenario. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which summons a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which enhances team evasion, should be prioritized. She also boasts powerful position-based attacks.
Her attacks may involve brief repositioning pauses, but Full Metal Jaguar blends tanking, support, and offense—not pure DPS. With self-buffs boosting her critical hits and a skill to instantly gain 1,000 TP for stronger abilities, Elma shines. Her mandatory role in most story missions only adds to her value.
Irina
Irina stands out as the game’s premier support character, surpassing even dedicated supporters like Hope. She heals, clears debuffs, and boosts team evasion—especially when Elma’s Ghost Factory isn’t active. Skills like Energy Source and Last Stand generate TP for the party at her own expense, ensuring a steady supply.
Irina won’t win battles solo or defeat Tyrants, but that’s not her role. Pair her with one or two heavy-hitting attackers to keep fights swift and avoid prolonged battles.
Nagi
If you’re not playing as a Duelist, Nagi is a must-have. As one of the few Duelists in Xenoblade X, he delivers high damage and thrives independently. Effective at close and long range, he also wields area-of-effect skills. His standout ability, Blossom Dance, ignores enemy resistances and can fell tough foes in just one or two strikes.
Nagi excels with a supporter or debuffer like Irina. If your party is full, use Mastermind skills to weaken enemies and amplify his impact.
Mia
As a Psycorruptor, Mia channels the versatility of a Drifter. She excels at debuffing, lowering enemy debuff resistance, and dealing heavy damage with Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, which can also cause blackout. Her attacks grow stronger with an active aura, and she can topple foes. However, she lacks defensive and healing skills, so pair her with a protector or healer.
H.B.
H.B. is a superior alternative to Lin when you need robust defense. As a Shield Trooper+, he outshines her in every way. He draws enemy attention effectively, perfect for aggressive classes or allies like Elma or Nagi, and generates TP with his taunt. His skills make him a top-tier defender.
H.B. boosts debuff resistance, enhances ranged attack power, topples enemies, applies debuffs, and creates a durable shield. If survival is a challenge outside the main story, complete his affinity mission to recruit this exceptional defender.
