Best Party Members in Xenoblade Chronicles X

Choosing the best party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition* can seem daunting at first. With numerous unlockable characters and overlapping classes, the game doesn't immediately clarify how to optimize your team. To help you navigate this, our guide highlights the five best allies to include in your party and explains why they stand out.

Elma

Elma is your first recruit, but don't let that fool you—she's far from weak. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is one of the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI uses it masterfully. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which boosts party evasion, should be your first upgrades. While her position-based attacks may lead to some downtime as she repositions, Elma's versatility as a hybrid tank, support, and offensive unit is unmatched. With self-buffs that enhance her critical hit rate and the ability to quickly gain 1,000 TP, she's a crucial asset, especially since she's required for many story missions.

Irina

Irina stands out as the game's top supporter, outshining even other support specialists like Hope. Her ability to heal, remove debuffs, and boost evasion is invaluable, particularly if Elma's Ghost Factory isn't in play. Irina also helps generate TP for the party through skills like Energy Source and Last Stand, though at the cost of her own TP. While she won't solo battles or take down Tyrants, her support capabilities are essential. Pair her with one or two strong attackers to keep fights swift and efficient.

Nagi

If you're not playing as a Duelist, Nagi is a must-have. As one of the few characters in this class, he excels at dealing damage and can handle himself in combat. Duelists are versatile, effective at close and long range, and have access to powerful area-of-effect skills. Nagi's Blossom Dance is particularly potent, ignoring enemy resistances and capable of taking down tough foes quickly. To maximize his effectiveness, team him with a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies.

Mia

Mia, a Psycorruptor with the versatility of a Drifter, is a jack-of-all-trades. She can debuff enemies, reducing their resistance to further debuffs, and her attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen deal significant damage, with the latter potentially causing blackout. Mia's skills are enhanced when an aura is active, and she can even topple foes. Her only weaknesses are self-defense and healing, so ensure she's paired with characters who can cover these areas.

H.B.

H.B. is an excellent substitute for Lin when you need more defense. His Shield Trooper+ class is an enhanced version of Lin's, offering superior defensive capabilities. H.B. excels at drawing enemy attention, making him invaluable for aggressive playstyles or when teamed with offensive characters like Elma or Nagi. Beyond defense, he can generate TP, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, and apply debuffs. His robust shield and versatility make him one of the best defenders in *Xenoblade Chronicles X*, essential for surviving outside the main storyline.