Picking the best Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition party members can feel like a daunting challenge. With over a dozen unlockable characters, many of whom sport classes that appear nearly identical at first glance, and little in the way of clear explanations from the game, it’s easy to feel lost.
Recommended Videos Our Xenoblade Chronicles X best party members guide highlights the top five allies you should have in your squad—and why they’re essential to your success.
Elma
Elma may be one of the first recruits you gain access to, but don’t let that fool you—she’s far from weak. As a Full Metal Jaguar, she belongs to one of the most versatile classes in Xenoblade X, and her AI makes excellent use of it in nearly every combat scenario. Her standout abilities include Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which boosts the party’s evasion—prioritize leveling these up. She also brings a range of positional attacks into the mix.
The only drawback is that she sometimes experiences downtime while repositioning before attacking. However, Full Metal Jaguar is designed as a hybrid class offering tanking, support, and offensive capabilities—not pure DPS. Thanks to a wide array of self-buffs, including those that increase critical hit chance, and an ability that instantly grants 1,000 TP for stronger skills, Elma has plenty of ways to support your team. Plus, she’s required for many story missions, making her a reliable staple.
Irina
When it comes to support, Irina reigns supreme—even ahead of other support-focused characters like Hope. She excels at healing the party, removing debuffs, and boosting overall evasion, especially if Elma isn’t using or can't use Ghost Factory. Additionally, she serves as a steady source of TP regeneration, provided she can keep her own TP levels high. Skills like Energy Source and Last Stand allow her to share TP with the group, albeit at the cost of her own.
While she won’t be carrying battles on her own or taking down Tyrants solo, she’s invaluable in keeping your team alive and effective. For best results, pair Irina with at least one strong attacker—preferably two—to avoid drawn-out fights.
Nagi
If you're not playing as a Duelist yourself, Nagi is a must-have addition to your party. He's one of the few Duelists available in Xenoblade X, and he delivers impressive damage output while being more than capable of holding his own in battle. The Duelist class offers versatility—handling both close-range and long-range combat—and even features area-of-effect attacks.
His signature move, Blossom Dance, is among the most powerful tools in the game. It not only hits hard but ignores enemy resistances, allowing you to take down even the toughest foes in just one or two strikes.
To maximize Nagi’s potential, consider pairing him with a supporter like Irina or using Mastermind skills to debuff enemies, ensuring he lands clean, devastating hits.
Mia
Though Mia is officially a Psycorruptor, her skillset aligns closely with that of a Drifter. She does a bit of everything—and does it well. From inflicting debuffs to reducing enemy resistance against them, Mia contributes heavily to crowd control. Her Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen are potent attacks, with the latter potentially causing blackout.
Most of her moves become stronger when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. Her only real weaknesses are poor survivability and no healing options, so make sure she’s backed by a tank or healer in your party.
H.B.
H.B. is an ideal substitute for Lin whenever you need extra defense and room to swap her out for another character. He essentially improves upon everything Lin brings to the table—only better. With a class titled “Shield Trooper+”, you’d expect nothing less, but H.B.’s utility goes beyond just tanking. He’s more efficient at drawing enemy aggro, making him a great fit alongside aggressive classes or characters like Elma and Nagi. He can also generate TP through taunt attacks.
In addition to raising debuff resistance and boosting ranged attack power, H.B. can topple enemies, apply debuffs, and generate a durable shield. If you're struggling to survive during open-world exploration or side content, completing his affinity mission and adding him to your roster is highly recommended.
