After extensively playing and reviewing the Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles this week, I realized that the game’s size and complexity likely makes it a bit intimidating for those who aren’t familiar with the game. So, I decided to make this list of handy tips and tricks that will help you throughout the game.
Rule of Fives
While playing Xenoblade Chronicles, you’ll come across plenty of Materials and Collectables in the field and as battle rewards. A good number of the game’s countless side-quests will ask for anywhere from one to ten of these items, though most quests require five or less items. As such, it’s prudent to keep at least five of each Material and Collectable as you obtain them, rather than selling them for early cash or gifting them for party affinity.
Never Pass a Side-Quest
The way that side-quests are handled is one of the best parts of Xenoblade Chronicles. You rarely have to return to quest-givers to complete their quests and receive the rewards. Rather, the second you obtain the last item you need or slay the last enemy on your list, you’ll typically get a “Quest Completed” notification alongside your new spoils. Since it’s so quick and easy to finish side-quests, I recommend taking every single one you can find (given by NPCs with exclamation points above their heads,) as you’ll likely end up finishing quite a few incidentally while playing the game.
Frequent Fast-Travels
Fast-travelling is incredibly easy and worthwhile in Xenoblade Chronicles, as Landmarks (points that you can travel to) are placed quite fairly across every map in the game. Fast-travelling doesn’t cost anything and actually gives you an in-game achievement and some EXP after fast-travelling fifty times. You can do it at almost any time outside of battle, so don’t hesitate to fast-travel to a town to get some new equipment or to level grind a bit.
Sun and Moon
Certain items, enemies, and quests are only available at set times of the day (or night.) Thankfully, you can easily change the time of day from the pause menu at any point in the overworld. There’s no time limit or consequence for messing around with the clock, so feel free to experiment to see what differences you can find throughout the world during different times of the day. Or just swap to whatever time has your favorite music.
Affinity Schedules
If you prefer order to experimentation, you can see exactly when certain characters are active by looking at each settlement’s section in the Affinity section of the pause menu. Talking to a character or trading with them will put their info into their town’s section of the chart, so you can find out what time they’re active, what they’ll trade, and more at any time.
Level Gaps
You may notice that higher-leveled enemies in the overworld have different name-tags at the top of the screen. This is because of the gap between your party leader’s level and the opponent’s. This doesn’t only change the color of their tag though– these differences can have huge effects in battle.
An enemy that is six or more levels higher than your party leader will have a red name-tag. Fighting these opponents is ill-advised, as you’ll have between a -120% and -200% hit rate against them, as well as a -120% and -200% evade rate, a -66% to -110% ether hit rate, and a -30% to -100% block rate. You’ll get a 50% EXP and AP bonus for winning though, as well as 20 SP.
An enemy that is between three and five levels higher than your party leader will have a yellow name-tag. Once you have a handle on the game, you can likely handle these opponents with a decent team. There are still some downsides, like the -24% to -40% hit rate, the -24% to -40% evade rate, the -18% to -32% ether hit rate, and the -15% to -25% block rate. You do get a slick 25% EXP and AP bonus for taking down yellow-tag foes, as well as fifteen SP.
An enemy the same level or a difference of two levels to your party leader will have a white name-tag, and provides no added difficulties beyond a -5% to -10% block rate for opponents with higher levels than you. Being up to two levels above your opponent will give you between a 5% and 10% block rate boost, though there’s no added EXP. These encounters give you 10 SP.
Blue and black tags are reserved for weaker enemies that are two to six levels beneath you, or more than six. You get stat boosts equal to the penalties present for fighting red and yellow-tag enemies respectively, but between 50% to 90% less EXP as a result. Keep all these level advantages and penalties in mind while level-grinding, as they could be the difference between a long grind or brisk grind session for a super-boss. Check out the Xenoblade Wiki page that these stats are from for further information.
A Gem in the Sword is Worth Two in the Inventory
It can be easy to forget about gem-crafting and equipping when you’re deep into the story of Xenoblade Chronicles, but it’s important to remember nonetheless. The best overall gems are Agility Up, HP Up, Strength Up, Ether Up, Muscle Up, and Haste. Others are great for specific battles or bosses (Spike Damage, Double Attack, resistance to whatever attacks your opponent uses,) but the previously listed gems are generally the ones that are best to focus on crafting and equipping.
EXP Everywhere
Pretty much everything in Xenoblade Chronicles gives you EXP. Finding new locations and fast-travel points, earning in-game achievements, and beating enemies will all grant you EXP, so don’t feel pressured to battle if you feel underleveled. Explore areas you haven’t yet at different points of the story, as new landmarks and quests open up to you and can provide you with lots of experience and items.
Minor Tips
–Future Connected doesn’t carry over any character data from the main game, so you can start it up straight from the main menu before playing the base game if you’ve already played the original Wii game.
-At a point towards the end of the base game, certain quests will become locked-out. These quests have a little clock on their icon in the quests menu, so you know to complete them ASAP.
-The point of no return is very clearly communicated in the story of Xenoblade Chronicles, and you’re asked if you’re okay with proceeding at that time. After that point, you cannot save your game or fast-travel away, so be prepared and make a save file beforehand.
-Shulk doesn’t have to be your party leader, or even in your active party. You can swap him for another character at most points in the game. You should keep him in the party for any Mechon fights though, as his Monado Enchant is essential for those battles.
-There are two “secret” Monado Arts that are obtained through side-quests towards the end of the game. These Arts, Armor, and Eater, can be quite handy against tougher foes, so I recommend you take all the side-quests on the Fallen Arm as they appear.
-You can swap between the Remastered soundtrack and the original Wii soundtrack on the options menu, so feel free to experiment to see which you prefer.
Have any questions about Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition? Let us know in the comments below.
