Choosing the ideal party members for *Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition* can feel daunting. With a plethora of unlockable characters and classes that often appear similar, the game doesn't rush to clarify the nuances. To help you navigate this complex RPG, our *Xenoblade Chronicles X* best party members guide highlights the top five allies to include in your team, explaining what makes them stand out.
Elma
Elma, the first party member you can recruit, is far from the weakest. Her class, Full Metal Jaguar, is among the best in *Xenoblade X*, and her AI leverages it exceptionally well across various scenarios. Key skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which enhances party evasion, are crucial to level up first. Additionally, Elma boasts powerful position-based attacks. While she may experience some downtime due to positioning before attacking, her role as a hybrid tank, support, and offensive unit shines through. With numerous self-buffs, including critical hit enhancements, and the ability to instantly gain 1,000 TP, Elma significantly bolsters your party's performance. Her presence is vital, especially in most story missions.
Irina
Irina stands out as the premier supporter in the game, outshining even dedicated support specialists like Hope. Her abilities to heal, remove debuffs, and boost evasion are invaluable, particularly when Elma's Ghost Factory is unavailable. Irina also generates TP for the party, sacrificing her own with skills like Energy Source and Last Stand. Though she won't lead the charge in battles or take down Tyrants solo, her role in the party is to enable powerful attackers, ensuring fights don't drag on unnecessarily.
Nagi
For those not opting to play as a Duelist, Nagi is a must-have. As one of the few characters in this class, he excels at dealing damage and managing threats both at close and long range. His area-of-effect ability, Blossom Dance, is particularly potent, capable of bypassing enemy resistances and swiftly defeating even the toughest foes. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, pair him with a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies if party slots are limited.
Mia
Despite being classified as a Psycorruptor, Mia embodies the versatility of a Drifter. She can debuff enemies, reduce debuff resistance, and unleash potent attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter of which may cause blackout. Mia's attacks gain strength when an aura is active, and she can even topple foes. Her limitations lie in self-defense and healing, so ensure she's teamed up with members who can cover these aspects.
H.B.
H.B. serves as an excellent substitute for Lin when you need enhanced defense. His Shield Trooper+ class is an upgraded version of Lin's, offering superior defensive capabilities. Beyond mere defense, H.B. excels at drawing enemy attention, which is crucial when playing aggressive roles or alongside characters like Elma or Nagi. He can also generate TP with his taunt attack, increase debuff resistance, boost ranged attack power, topple enemies, and create a robust shield. As one of the game's top defenders, H.B. is essential for surviving outside the main storyline, so make sure to complete his affinity mission and recruit him.
