Top Xenoblade Chronicles X Classes Revealed

Deciding on the best classes in Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition can feel daunting due to the vast array of options and the time required to master new weapon skills. While nearly every class can be effective, some stand out more than others. However, if you stick with your starting class, the Drifter, you'll find it's one of the game's most versatile options.

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Our Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition classes guide highlights the top five classes and explains why they're worth your time.

Drifter

Xenoblade Chronicles X encourages players to move away from the Drifter class at rank 10, but this starting class remains highly versatile and useful throughout the entire game. For fans of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, the Drifter is akin to Shulk but with a more limited skill set. This class provides access to a range of debuff and offensive arts, including skills that can stagger and topple enemies, as well as one that regenerates health, reducing your dependence on party members for healing.

Drifters wield assault rifles for potent ranged attacks and knives for effective melee combat, ensuring versatility in any combat scenario. Moreover, Drifter boasts the highest number of skill slots among all classes, allowing for extensive customization. Even if you experiment with other classes to master new skills, returning to Drifter is advisable for its customization potential.

Full Metal Jaguar

Elma’s class, Full Metal Jaguar, is a high-risk, high-reward option. When your HP drops below 50 percent, you receive a critical hit rate boost. A skill that reduces your health upon attacking ensures you're often in this dangerous but powerful state. The Ghost Factory skill enables allies to evade attacks, while Electric Surge inflicts ether damage—a rare trait among melee classes. Even the class’s basic skill, Shadowstrike, is notably powerful.

Duelist

Duelists are self-sufficient close-range fighters who are also adept with ranged attacks. They use longswords and assault rifles, essentially an enhanced version of the Drifter's arsenal, and gain access to a variety of beneficial skills. Last Stand, for instance, converts your TP into party TP, ensuring your team can unleash powerful attacks when needed.

Soul of the Samurai enhances basic attacks with area-of-effect capabilities, while True Stream Edge recovers TP when your morale is high. However, Blossom Dance stands out as one of the game's best skills, capable of staggering and toppling enemies while ignoring their resistances, making it invaluable against most foes.

Mastermind

If controlling enemy behavior is more your style than dishing out direct damage, the Mastermind class is an excellent choice. While its arts may not match the Duelist's in raw power, they significantly simplify prolonged battles against tough opponents. Masterminds can strip enemy buffs and, at level seven, reduce enemy debuff resistance with each hit. Additional abilities boost TP and inflict the virus effect, making this class a strategic choice that requires careful attention during combat.

Galactic Knight

Although often associated with Skell users, the Galactic Knight offers substantial benefits even outside of these giant robots. They can remove debuffs, heal allies, and deliver heavy, specialized damage. Galactic Knights can also reduce their own cooldowns through melee combos. Their Skell-specific abilities include restoring appendage HP and increasing combat power without stringent conditions, making them a versatile and powerful choice in any setting.