Choosing the best party members in *Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition* can feel daunting, given the game's extensive roster of characters and seemingly similar classes. To help you navigate this complex system, our guide highlights the five best allies for your party, detailing what makes them stand out.
Elma

Elma is an early recruit in *Xenoblade Chronicles X*, but don't let that fool you—she's far from the weakest link. As a Full Metal Jaguar, one of the game's top classes, Elma excels in versatility, serving as a hybrid tank, support, and offensive powerhouse. Her AI masterfully employs skills like Ghostwalker, which creates a decoy, and Ghost Factory, which enhances party evasion. These skills should be prioritized for leveling. While her position-based attacks may require some movement time, Elma's arsenal of self-buffs, including critical hit boosters and an instant 1,000 TP gain, make her an invaluable asset, especially for story missions where she's mandatory.
Irina

Irina stands out as *Xenoblade Chronicles X*'s premier supporter. Her abilities go beyond mere healing; she can remove debuffs and boost party evasion, filling gaps left by other support characters like Hope. Skills such as Energy Source and Last Stand allow her to generate TP for the party at the expense of her own. While Irina won't be soloing any Tyrants, her role is to enhance your team's efficiency. Pair her with one or two strong attackers to keep battles swift and decisive.
Nagi

Nagi is a must-have if you're not playing as a Duelist. As one of the few characters in this class, he brings exceptional damage output and self-sufficiency to your party. Duelists like Nagi can handle enemies at both close and long range, and his area-of-effect ability, Blossom Dance, is particularly potent, ignoring enemy resistances to down tough foes in just a few hits. To maximize Nagi's effectiveness, include a supporter like Irina or use Mastermind skills to debuff enemies.
Mia

Mia, despite being a Psycorruptor, brings the versatility of a Drifter to your party. She excels at debuffing enemies and reducing their debuff resistance while dealing significant damage with attacks like Beam Barrage and Myopic Screen, the latter potentially causing blackout. Her skills are amplified when an aura is active, and she can even topple enemies. However, Mia lacks in self-defense and healing, so ensure she's paired with characters who can cover these weaknesses.
H.B.

H.B. is your go-to replacement for Lin when you need enhanced defense. As a Shield Trooper+, he surpasses Lin in every aspect, from attracting enemy attention to generating TP with his taunt attack. H.B.'s abilities extend to increasing debuff resistance, boosting ranged attack power, toppling enemies, and creating a sturdy shield. His versatility makes him one of the best defenders in *Xenoblade Chronicles X*. If you're struggling with survival outside the main storyline, completing H.B.'s affinity mission and recruiting him is highly recommended.