10 spoiler-free tips for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 beginners
29/07/2022
Are you ready to embark on a heartfelt journey in Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Whether you’re new to Japanese role playing games (JRPGs), playing a Xenoblade Chronicles game, or just need a bit of help, we’ve got some spoiler-free tips and tricks to help guide you through your adventure.
1: Haven’t played a Xenoblade Chronicles game before? No problem!
While there are some connections between the games that long-time fans are sure to notice, each Xenoblade Chronicles game is a self-contained story with its own lore, characters and gameplay ideas. That means you can jump into Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and have fun, regardless of your experience with the series.
2: Take it easy!
If this is your first Xenoblade Chronicles game or you’re new to JRPGs in general, consider choosing an easier difficulty at the start of the game. Doing so will make the combat a tad easier, allowing you to focus on enjoying the story and characters. Finding things too easy? You can adjust the difficulty at any time from the main menu > System > Options > Game > Difficulty.
3: Finding your way around
Feeling lost or just eager to push on with the main story? Pressing the ZL Button and Y Button will generate a bright red line showing you the shortest route to your next destination. It’s sure to come in handy when navigating Aionios' huge and diverse landscapes. However…
4: Feed your wanderlust!
…it’s recommended to stray from the path from time to time. Exploration is an important part of any big adventure, and doing so here is a sure-fire way to make some amazing discoveries – new side quests, a chance encounter (be on the lookout for ? icons on the map), landmarks for fast travelling, maybe even a stunning vista or two. Just tread carefully around the bigger monsters (you can often run around them!).
5: Watch and learn
Finding battles a little overwhelming? Use the – Button to activate “Auto-Battle” which lets your character fight independently . This can be especially useful if you want to learn more about how all of the battle mechanics work, such as combos and Chain Attacks. This feature isn’t available in certain, important battles though, so make sure you don’t rely on it too much!
6: Practice makes perfect
JRPGs are known for having deep, complex battle systems, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is no different! If you need a refresher, check out “Training Drills” in the System menu to get yourself up to speed on the fundamentals of battle, such as using cancelling to the fullest or how to pull off combos. You’re sure to come away with a new trick or two up your sleeve!
7: Beat a hasty retreat!
If you find yourself faced with impossible odds, hold the A Button to sheathe your weapon and then sprint to a safe distance away from the battle to recover. By pressing and holding the – Button, you can also restart a battle or return safely to the nearest landmark.
8: Equip your party in a jiffy!
There are so many ways to make your party fighting fit, and with six characters to manage at any given time, there’s a lot to think about. To make things easier, press the Y Button on the Character menu and – bish bash bosh – the selected character will be automatically equipped with the best Arts, Skills, Gems and Accessories at their disposal.
9: Keep the party balanced!
When switching up Classes and Roles, it’s recommended to start out with at least two Attackers, two Defenders and two Healers in your party. From there, you can experiment with the roles to best suit your needs. For example, if a monster keeps going after your healers, consider adding an extra Defender to help draw the monster’s attention. Need some extra support? Assign a Hero to dish out more damage, take the enemy’s aggro or bolster your healing squad.
10: Level up at Rest Spots
Experience Points, or EXP, are essential for levelling up your party and making them stronger. You’ll earn EXP from battling monsters, completing side quests and discovering new landmarks on your travels. There’s also "A Special Level-Up Method" found at Rest Spots where you can increase your characters’ levels using bonus EXP gathered during your adventure.
With these tips, you’re sure to get the most out of your journey through Aionios. By the way, if you’re looking for more help or want to read a tutorial pop-up that you accidentally skipped through (it happens), you can browse a huge selection of useful tips at any time from the main menu > System > Tips.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.
By the way, if you like behind-the-scenes stories and game development insights, check out Ask the Developer Vol. 6, Xenoblade Chronicles 3!
