Best Classes in Xenoblade Chronicles X

Deciding on the best classes in Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition can be overwhelming, given the variety and the time needed to master new weapon skills. While any class can be effective in this RPG, some stand out as particularly useful. If you stick with the starting class, that's perfectly fine too, as it's among the most versatile options in the game.

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

Drifter

Xenoblade Chronicles X encourages you to move beyond the Drifter class once you reach rank 10, but Drifter is a rare starting class that remains highly versatile and useful throughout the entire game. For those familiar with the first Xenoblade Chronicles, Drifter is reminiscent of Shulk, though with a more limited skill set. This class provides access to a variety of debuff and offensive arts, including skills that stagger and topple enemies, as well as one that regenerates health, reducing your reliance on party members for timely healing.

Drifter utilizes assault rifles for potent ranged damage and knives for effective melee attacks, ensuring versatility in combat. Moreover, Drifter boasts the highest number of skill slots of any class in the game. Even if you experiment with other classes to master new skills, it's beneficial to return to Drifter later for customization to your preferred playstyle.

Full Metal Jaguar

Full Metal Jaguar, Elma's class, is a high-risk, high-reward option. It gains a critical hit rate boost when your HP drops below 50 percent, and one skill consistently keeps your HP low by reducing it with each attack. The Ghost Factory skill allows allies to evade incoming attacks, while Electric Surge inflicts ether damage—a feature uncommon among melee classes. Even the basic skill, Shadowstrike, is notably powerful.

Duelist

Duelist excels as a self-sufficient attacker, adept in both close-range and ranged combat. Using a longsword and an assault rifle, it's akin to an enhanced version of Drifter's weapon setup. Duelists access a broad array of useful skills, including Last Stand, which uses your TP to boost the party's TP, facilitating powerful attacks from teammates.

Soul of the Samurai enhances basic attacks with area-of-effect capabilities, while True Stream Edge recovers TP when your morale level exceeds one. However, Blossom Dance stands out as one of the best skills, staggering enemies for toppling and bypassing their resistances, which is invaluable against most foes.

Mastermind

If you favor controlling enemy behavior over direct damage, Mastermind is a superb choice. While its arts may not match the Duelist's in strength, they simplify long battles against tough enemies. Mastermind can remove enemy buffs and, at level seven, learns a skill that reduces enemy debuff resistance with each attack. It also boosts TP and has a capstone art that inflicts the virus effect. Managing Mastermind requires more attention to battle dynamics, but the effort is rewarding.

Galactic Knight

Though often linked with Skell users, Galactic Knight offers substantial benefits beyond Skell usage. They can remove debuffs, heal allies, and deal significant specialized damage. Galactic Knights can shorten their own cooldowns with melee combos, while their Skell-centric abilities restore appendage HP and directly increase combat power without prerequisites.