Xenoblade Chronicles X: Class Guide complete with Arts lists

Xenoblade Chronicles X brings the battle for humanity’s survival straight to Wii U owners on December 4th. The open-world RPG features full character customization options, but the range of possibilities won’t end with crafting a unique appearance. Players can choose from sixteen different classes to aid them across the span of their journey, taking into account personal battle strategies and difficulty to decide between character progression paths. Without further ado, here’s a comprehensive guide to all 16 classes to get you started.

Guide Introduction

Each class includes:

• A description
• Standard weapons, one long-ranged and one melee
• The number of skill slots available
• Unlockable Arts
• A note for further class progression/change

Keep in mind that weapons start out tied to specific classes, but only until players completely master the respective class. You can use weapons with any class once its initial respective class is mastered.

Each Art is followed by the equipable weapon and the class rank necessary to unlock it. This guide does not include the sixteen additional arts unlocked via affinity quests.

1. Drifter

Description: Starting class offering a balanced variety of Arts but no stat bonuses or skills.

Standard Weapons:

• Long-ranged – Assault Rifle
• Melee – Knife

Skill Slots: 5

Arts:

1. Flame Grenade (Assault Rifle, Rank 1)
2. Assault Hammer (Assault Rifle, 1)
3. Chrome Armor (Knife, 2)
4. Slit Edge (Knife, 4)
5. Infuriate (Assault Rifle, 6)
6. Recuperate (Knife, 8)

Note: Upon reaching Rank 10, Drifter branches out into 3 different level two classes: Striker, Commando, and Enforcer.

2. Striker

Description: Branch of Drifter class. “Choose this route if you want to go in guns blazing.” Mixes offensive and defensive Arts. Provides HP and melee attack bonuses. “Well balanced and suited for beginners.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Assault Rifle
• Melee – Longsword

Skill Slots: 1

Arts: 

1. Rising Blade (Longsword, Rank 1)
2. Defensive Stance (Longsword, 2)
3. Power Dive (Assault Rifle, 3)
4. Tornado Blade (Longsword, 4)
5. Furious Blast (Assault Rifle, 6)
6. Magnum Edge (Longsword, 8)

Note: Upon reaching Rank 10, Striker branches out into two different level 3 classes: Samurai Gunner and Shield Trooper.

3. Commando

Description: “Choose this route if you want to rack up damage.” Focuses on skillful application of damage buffs. Provides bonuses to melee accuracy, ranged accuracy, and evasion.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Dual Guns
• Melee – Dual Swords

Skill Slots: 2

Arts: 

• Black Slash (Dual Swords, Rank 1)
• Early Bird (Dual Guns, 1)
• Stream Edge (Dual Swords, 2)
• Sliding Slinger (Dual Guns, 2)
• Upper Hand (Dual Swords, 4)
• Shadowrunner (Dual Swords, 6)

Note: Upon reaching Rank 10, Commando branches out into two different level 3 classes: Winged Viper and Partisan Eagle.

4. Enforcer

Description: “Choose this route if you want to provide support from afar.” Offers Ranged Arts. Provides bonuses to ranged power and potential. “Tricky to master and suited for professionals.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Raygun
• Melee – Knife

Skill Slots: 2

Arts: 

1. Beam Barrage (Raygun, Rank 1)
2. Repair (Knife, 3)
3. Myopic Screen (Raygun, 5)
4. Full Specs (Knife, 7)

Note: Upon reaching level 10, Enforcer branches out into two level 3 classes: Psycorruptor and Blast Fencer.

5. Samurai Gunner

Description: One progression option from Striker. A mix of offensive and defensive Arts. Provides bonuses to HP and melee attack. “Well balanced and suited for beginners.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Assault Rifle
• Melee – Longsword

Skill Slots: 2

Arts: 

1. Offensive Stance (Longsword, Rank 1)
2. Burst Grenade (Assault Rifle, 1)
3. Decoy Round (Assault Rifle, 2)
4. Flash Grenade (Assault Rifle, 3)
5. Medic Free (Assault Rifle, 4)
6. Assault Breaker (Assault Rifle, 6)
7. Burning Slash (Longsword, 8)

Notes: Samurai Gunner branches into the level 4 class, Duelist.

6. Shield Trooper

Description: The second progression option from Striker. Features new weapons while focusing on defense. Greatly improves HP and melee attack.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Gatling Gun
• Melee – Shield

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Wild Down (Shield, Rank 1)
2. Missile Volley (Gatling Gun, 1)
3. Flame Cloak (Shield, 2)
4. Iron Prison (Shield, 3)
5. Wild Smash (Shield, 4)
6. Trash Talk (Shield, 5)
7. Bullet Storm (Gatling Gun, 7)

Notes: Shield Trooper branches into the level 4 class, Bastion Warrior.

7. Winged Viper

Description:  One progression option from Commando. Improves your damage-dealing capabilities. Retains the bonuses to melee accuracy,
ranged accuracy, and evasion.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Dual Guns
• Melee – Dual Swords

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Side Slash (Dual Sword, Rank 1)
2. Thirsty Edge (Dual Swords, 2)
3. Violent Streak (Dual Guns, 3)
4. Blood Sacrifice (Dual Swords, 4)
5. Killing Machine (Dual Swords, 6)
6. Primer (Dual Guns, 8)

Notes: Winged Viper branches into the level 4 class, Full Metal Jaguar.

8. Partisan Eagle

Description: The second progression option from Commando. New weapons with an emphasis on ranged attacks. Provides bonuses to ranged power and accuracy.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Sniper Rifle
• Melee – Javelin

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Arcing Horn (Javelin, Rank 1)
2. Shrapnel (Sniper Rifle, 1)
3. Eagle Eye (Sniper Rifle, 2)
4. Raijin (Javelin, 3)
5. First Down (Sniper Rifle, 4)
6. Spiral Horn (Javelin, 6)
7. Intercept (Sniper Rifle, 8)

Notes: Partisan Eagle branches into the level 4 class, Astral Crusader.

9. Psycorrupter

Description: One of the progression options from Enforcer. Weaken the enemy using debuffs. Bonuses to ranged attack and potential. “Tricky to master and suited for professionals.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Raygun
• Melee – Knife

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Screamer (Knife, Rank 1)
2. Subterfuge (Raygun, 2)
3. Absorber Skin (Knife, 3)
4. Ether Blast (Raygun, 5)
5. Brainjack (Knife, 7)

Notes: Psycorrupter branches into the level 4 class, Mastermind.

10. Blast Fencer

Description: The second progression option from Enforcer. New weapons with balanced offense and defense. Provides bonuses to both melee and
ranged attacks.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Psycho Launchers
• Melee – Photo Saber

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Starfall Blade (Photon Saber, Rank 1)
2. Stellar Ray (Psycho Launchers, 1)
3. Geolibrium (Photon Saber, 2)
4. Lightning Cloak (Psycho Launchers, 2)
5. Starfall Rondo (Photon Saber, 3)
6. Jetstream (Psycho Launchers, 4)
7. Astrolibrium (Photon Saber, 6)
8. Shooting Star (Psycho Launchers, 8)

Notes: Blast Fencer branches off into the level 4 class, Galactic Knight.

11. Duelist

Description:  “Advanced Samurai Gunner. Shifts the focus more toward offense. Provides bonuses to HP and melee attack.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Assault Rifle
• Melee – Longsword

Skill Slots: 3

Arts: 

1. Incendiary Edge (Longsword, Rank 1)
2. Gunforce (Assault Rifle, 2)
3. Takedown Shot (Assault Rifle, 4)
4. Samurai Soul (Longsword, 6)
5. Last Stand (Assault Rifle, 8)

Notes: Duelist is one of six final classes! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

12. Bastion Warrior

Description: “Advanced Shield Trooper that increases attribute resistance in addition to defense. Greatly improves HP and melee attack.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Gatling Gun
• Melee – Shield

Skill Slots: 4

Arts: 

1. Hellfire (Gatling Gun, Rank 1)
2. Shield Wall (Shield, 2)
3. Enhanced Stand (Gatling Gun, 2)
4. Reality Rift (Shield, 3)
5. Thermal Payload (Gatling Gun, 4)
6. Bombardier (Shield, 6)
7. Cool Off (Gatling Gun, 7)
8. Supershield (Shield, 8)

Notes: Bastion Warrior is the second of six final classes! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

13. Full Metal Jaguar

Description: Advanced Winged Viper. Features tricky offensive Arts. Bonuses to melee accuracy, ranged accuracy, and evasion.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Dual Guns
• Melee – Dual Swords

Skill Slots: 4

Arts: 

1. Electric Surge (Dual Swords, Rank 1)
2. Ghost Walker (Dual Guns, 2)
3. Executioner (Dual Guns, 4)
4. Combat Limbo (Dual Guns, 6)
5. Hundred Shells (Dual Swords, 8)

Notes: Full Metal Jaguar is the third of six final classes! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

14. Astral Crusader

Description: Advanced Partisan Eagle, also centered on ranged attacks. Bonuses to ranged attack and accuracy.

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Sniper Rifle
• Melee – Javelin

Skill Slots: 4

Arts: 

1. Overwhelm (Javelin, Rank 1)
2. Hawkeye (Sniper Rifle, 1)
3. Speed Demon (Javelin, 2)
4. Side Winder (Sniper Rifle, 3)
5. Hair Trigger (Javelin, 4)
6. Ghost Sniper (Sniper Rifle, 6)
7. Trident Buster (Javelin, 8)

Notes: Astral Crusader is the fourth of six final classes! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

15. Mastermind

Description: The ego-trip class. “Advanced Psycorruptor that adds ally support Arts to the mix of enemy debuffs. Improves ranged attack and potential.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Raygun
• Melee – Knife

Skill Slots: 4

Arts: 

1. Dispel (Knife, Rank 1)
2. Gravity Blast (Raygun, 1)
3. Gravity Cloak (Raygun, 2)
4. Servant Sacrifice (Knife, 3)
5. Energy Source (Knife, 4)
6. Black Butterfly (Knife, 6)
7. Pathogen Blast (Raygun, 8)

Notes: Mastermind is the fifth of six final classes! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

16. Galactic Knight

Description: “Advanced Blast Fencer that adds recovery Arts to its even mix of offense and defense. Improves melee and ranged attack.”

Standard Arms:

• Long-ranged – Psycho Launchers
• Melee – Photo Sabers

Skill Slots: 4

Arts: 

1. Astral Heal (Photon Saber, Rank 1)
2. Astral Protection (Psycho Launchers, 1)
3. Starfall Blossom (Photon Saber, 2)
4. Astral Purge (Photon Saber, 3)
5. Novalibrium (Psycho Launchers, 4)
6. Starlight Kick (Psycho Launchers, 6)
7. Astral Horizon (Photon Saber, 7)
8. Galactic Cataclysm (Photon Saber, 8)

Notes: Galactic Knight is the last final class! Once mastered, consider backtracking to another level to unlock even more weapons and Arts.

Special thanks and acknowledgment of Mechathief, Primulus, and Gessenkou for releasing a comprehensive Arts guide for Xenoblade Chronicles X.