Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Editiondrops players into one of the biggest and most complex open worlds Monolith Soft has ever designed (even bigger than Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule). Massive continents stretch way beyond viewing distance and are packed with towering indigens ready to wipe you off the face of Mira if you wander slightly too far.
The game wastes no time throwing players into the deep end, letting you explore, fight, and manage resource systems that can feel overwhelmingly fast. It’s easy to spend those first few hours running in circles, unsure which systems actually matter or how to get stronger without constantly dying (which you will). By the time you start understanding things, they are usually several hours deep and wondering what they missed.
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The real problem is that Xenoblade X doesn’t always explain what’s important until it’s too late or in a brief tutorial screen right after a cutscene. You can easily sink dozens of hours into the wrong activities, miss must-have upgrades, or realize you’ve been making things harder on yourself the whole time. Luckily, most of those problems are avoidable once you know what to prioritize. Learning where to explore, how probes work, and what combat systems actually matter early will save you hours. We made every possible mistake, so here’s your chance to skip the worst of it.
8Explore Early and Activate Fast Travel Points
Mira’s Big, and It’s More Walking Than Frodo Did To Mt. Doom
One of the biggest mistakes new players make in Xenoblade X is ignoring the world early on. Mira is massive and filled with fast travel points called FN Sites, landmarks, and resources designed to make your life easier once you unlock them. The sooner you start exploring, the faster you cut down on backtracking and those painful hikes across zones packed with enemies, sometimes 50 levels above you.
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Fast travel points don’t unlock automatically. You need to visit locations on foot to activate them via shining beacons of light, which means every scouting trip pays off later. The game barely explains this, but unlocking those travel spots saves hours of frustration down the line. Drop a few probes while you’re out there, and you’ll turn Mira from a giant deathtrap into something a lot more manageable and easier to traverse.
7Don’t Skip Affinity and Story Missions
Turns Out, Skipping Story Content Breaks the Game Later. What?!
Xenoblade X gives you so much freedom that it’s easy to ignore the story and affinity missions while you run around exploring, dropping probes and fighting tyrants. The problem is, both are tied directly to important upgrades, some heart-to-hearts, and eventual access to Skells. Ignoring them for too long can leave you underpowered and wondering why certain features are STILL locked hours into the game.
Affinity missions also build relationships with your party members, unlocking new skills and interactions you’ll need later. Some story missions even gatekeep entire areas, making exploration harder if you put them off. It’s not obvious at first, but balancing exploration with these missions keeps the game from turning into a grind. Knocking out affinity and story objectives early saves you from hitting a wall when the enemies get tougher and the world opens up even more.
6Learn Soul Voices and Combat Combos
Spamming Arts Won’t Save You
Combat in Xenoblade X looks simple at first. Fire off art, watch cooldown, repeat. What the game doesn’t explain well is how important Soul Voices and combos are once fights get harder (especially when you aggro 5+ monsters). Following your party’s callouts and triggering the right color-coded responses boosts damage, keeps your team healed, and unlocks bonuses that can turn the tide of battle.
The more you understand how Soul Voices work, the less random fights feel. Setting up combos like topple, launch, and slam becomes essential once enemies start hitting harder. The system rewards timing and planning over button spamming, but the game barely teaches any of this upfront. Reading those callouts and building your art around them changes everything, especially once the Skells come to light.
5Managing Aggro and Positioning in Battles
Standing Still Is the Fastest Way to Lose a Fight
Xenoblade X doesn’t explain much about aggro, but understanding it is the difference between surviving and watching your party drop like flies. Enemies target whoever generates the most damage, and if you’re not paying attention, your squishy ranged characters will become an onslaught sponge. Learning how to manage aggro and shift enemy focus is just as important as upgrading your gear.
Positioning matters, too. Some arts hit harder from the side or back, while others generate less threat if you use them right. Arts will usually specify this, so organize them on your menu in the way that makes the most sense. Moving around enemies and timing your attacks creates openings, keeps the heat off your weaker characters, and turns combat from exchange of blows into something way more strategic.
4Install Mining and Research Probes ASAP
Steady Income or Broke?
Probes are one of the most important systems in Xenoblade X, but it’s easy to overlook how fast they impact your progress. Mining and research probes start generating income and materials as soon as they’re placed, and the earlier you drop them, the faster you build up the resources needed for weapon/armor upgrades, new gear, and eventually Skells. Waiting too long means you’ll be grinding for cash later and wasting more time.
The game introduces the basics but barely explains how powerful a good probe network can be. Managing these setups early takes the pressure off when you hit expensive story missions or need rare materials fast. Mining probes bring steady money, while research probes improve profits based on your survey percentage. If you want to avoid being broke when the Skells show up, start placing those probes as soon as possible. Nice things sometimes cost money.
3Upgrade Arts and Class Ranks Regularly
Your Starter Skills Will Not Carry You Through Mira
It’s easy to forget about upgrading arts and class ranks when you’re busy exploring, but leaving them behind is one of the fastest ways to hit a wall in Xenoblade X. Your starting arts get outpaced quickly, and enemies start punishing basic setups once you move into tougher zones. Upgrading favorite arts boosts damage, reduces cooldowns, and unlocks better versions of skills you rely on in every fight.
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Class ranks are just as important. Leveling them up unlocks new weapons, skills, and passive boosts that change how your character plays. Some classes fit certain party roles better than others, so ignoring this system limits your options. Regular upgrades make every fight feel smoother, scaled, and staying on top of classes helps you survive long enough to see what the game really has to offer.
2Use Collectopedia for Easy Rewards
It’s Free Stuff for Doing What You’re Doing Already
The Collectopedia is one of those systems Xenoblade X barely explains but quietly rewards you for paying attention. Every time you grab random items from glowing spots around Mira, they get added to this list. Filling out rows or entire categories earns you materials, experience, and sometimes gear…all for collecting things you would have picked up anyway.
Ignoring the Collectopedia means missing out on easy bonuses that stack up over time. You don’t need to grind or hunt specific materials most of the time. Just keep checking it as you play, turn in completed rows, and enjoy the free rewards. It’s one of the few systems that actually pays you for doing what you’re already doing, and it adds up faster than you’d think.
1Experiment with Different Classes and Check the Skill Trees to Match Your Playstyle
Your Starting Build Is Not Meant to Last Forever
Xenoblade X gives you a surprising amount of flexibility with classes and skills, but the game doesn’t push you to experiment. Sticking with your starter class feels safe early on, but you’ll miss out on better weapons, passive buffs, and powerful arts more designed to fit your playstyle. Some of the most fun builds come from mixing classes and unlocking skills that change how you approach every fight.
Each class tree opens up new options that let you fine-tune your party role. Whether you want to tank, deal huge burst damage, or play support, the system rewards players who try different combinations. Waiting too long to branch out means missing skills that make the mid-game way easier. Start testing builds early, and you’ll figure out what works long before the enemies start hitting much harder.
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