Deciding on the best Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition classes can be a daunting task, given the variety of options and the time it takes to master new weapon skills. While nearly any class can be effective in this RPG, certain ones stand out due to their versatility and utility. If you stick with the class you start with, that's perfectly fine too, as it's one of the most adaptable in the game.

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Our Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition classes guide highlights the five best classes in the game and explains why they are worth considering.

Drifter

Xenoblade Chronicles X encourages players to move away from the Drifter class once they reach rank 10, yet Drifter remains a highly versatile and valuable class throughout the game. For fans of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, think of Drifter as akin to Shulk, but with a more limited skill set. This class offers a range of debuff and offensive arts, including skills that can stagger and topple enemies, as well as one that regenerates health, reducing your dependency on party members for healing.

Drifter wields assault rifles for effective ranged attacks and knives for potent melee strikes, ensuring flexibility in combat. Moreover, Drifter boasts the highest number of skill slots of any class, making it ideal for customization. Even if you experiment with other classes to master new skills, returning to Drifter can enhance your gameplay experience with personalized setups.

Full Metal Jaguar

Elma's class, Full Metal Jaguar, is a high-risk, high-reward option. It enhances your critical hit rate when your HP dips below 50%, and one skill deliberately reduces your health during attacks to maintain this critical boost. The Ghost Factory skill aids your allies by helping them evade incoming attacks. Additionally, Electric Surge allows you to deal ether damage, a rarity among melee classes, while the basic skill, Shadowstrike, packs a punch.

Duelist

Duelist excels as a self-sufficient combatant, adept in both close and ranged combat. With a longsword and an assault rifle, Duelist's arsenal resembles an upgraded version of the Drifter's setup. The class accesses a wide range of skills, including Last Stand, which boosts the party's TP using your own, facilitating powerful attacks from your teammates.

Soul of the Samurai enhances basic attacks with area-of-effect capabilities, while True Stream Edge restores TP when morale is high. However, Blossom Dance stands out as one of the game's best skills, staggering enemies and bypassing their resistances, setting up topples effectively.

Mastermind

If you're more interested in manipulating enemy behavior than dealing direct damage, Mastermind is an excellent choice. While its arts may not hit as hard as those of the Duelist, they significantly ease battles against tough foes. Mastermind can strip enemy buffs and, at level seven, reduce debuff resistance with each attack. It also boosts TP and can inflict the virus effect on opponents, requiring strategic attention to battle dynamics.

Galactic Knight

Although commonly associated with Skell users, Galactic Knight offers substantial benefits even outside of these giant robots. This class can remove debuffs, heal allies, and deliver heavy, specialized damage. Galactic Knights can also reduce their own skill cooldowns through melee combos. For Skell users, this class restores appendage HP and boosts combat power without stringent conditions, enhancing overall battlefield performance.