Top Party Members for Xenoblade Chronicles X

Choosing the optimal party members in *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel daunting, especially with a vast array of unlockable characters and seemingly similar classes. This guide aims to simplify your decision by highlighting the five best party members and detailing their unique strengths.

Elma

Elma is not only the first party member you can recruit but also one of the most powerful. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is among the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI utilizes it effectively in various scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which enhances party evasion, should be prioritized for leveling. While Elma's position-based attacks may cause some downtime as she positions herself, her class is designed to be a versatile hybrid of tank, support, and offense. With a suite of self-buffs that boost her critical hit rate and the ability to instantly gain 1,000 TP for powerful skills, Elma is a vital asset, especially since she's required for most story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's premier supporter. Even when compared to other support-focused characters like Hope, she excels in healing, debuff removal, and boosting party evasion—particularly useful when Elma's Ghost Factory isn't available. Irina also generates TP for the party, though it requires maintaining her own TP levels. Skills such as Energy Source and Last Stand help in this regard by boosting party TP at the expense of her own. While not suited for solo combat or taking down Tyrants, Irina's role is crucial in supporting strong attackers to prevent prolonged battles.

Nagi

For those not interested in playing as a Duelist, Nagi is an invaluable addition to your team. As one of the few Duelists in *Xenoblade X*, he excels in dealing damage while being self-sufficient in combat. His class allows him to handle enemies at close and long range and even offers area-of-effect abilities. Nagi's standout skill, Blossom Dance, is exceptionally potent, capable of ignoring enemy resistances and potentially defeating the toughest foes in just a few hits. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, pair him with a supporter or someone who can debuff enemies, like Irina or a Mastermind with debuffing skills.

Mia

Despite being classified as a Psycorruptor, Mia embodies the versatility of a Drifter. She excels in multiple roles, from inflicting debuffs and reducing debuff resistance to dealing significant damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which may cause blackout. Most of her attacks are amplified by active auras, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks self-defense and healing capabilities, making it essential to include a party member who can cover these areas.

H.B.

H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when additional defense is needed, allowing you to swap Lin out for another character. His "Shield Trooper+" class enhances his defensive capabilities beyond Lin's, making him exceptionally effective at drawing enemy attention—a crucial asset when playing aggressive classes or alongside characters like Elma or Nagi. H.B. can also generate TP through his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, inflict 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.