Character classes play an important role in the combat action of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, as they do in many RPGs, but the way new classes are unlocked for your characters is quite unique, with new classes tied to optional recruitable heroes. This leads to natural questions like what are the best classes to prioritize unlocking and use, and of course how exactly do you unlock them all.
This page is here to help you with these particular conundrums, to make the rest of your journey through the vast lands of Aionios easier. We’ll list all the classes in Xenoblade 3, how to unlock the classes, and some of our picks for the best classes for each character, making this a comprehensive class guide.
Warning: This page will contain spoilers for certain heroes and classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
List of Xenoblade 3 character classes, skills and arts
Xenoblade 3 features 24 classes in total, the six starting classes plus 18 different classes that can be optionally unlocked through heroes; all you have to do is find their hero, get them, and then work on unlocking that class for anyone you think will work well.
Below is a list of all character classes in XC3, plus a little bit about each one. We’ll also detail where you can “upgrade” each class to increase the rank cap from 10 to >20, which is done through Side Stories or Ascension Quests.
Swordfighter (attacker)
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- Starting class: Noah
- How to upgrade: The Swordfighter class will be upgraded as part of the automatic story progression in Chapter 7 in “Side Story: Noah”
- Class Skills:
- Sharp Eye: Increases Dexterity by 50%.
- Covert Attack: Reduces the aggression generated by attacks by 65%. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Cypher Edge: Increases critical rate by 50%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Inspirit: Increases damage dealt by 150% when fighting a single or boss monster.
- Arts Class:
- ground strike [AOE] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- sword strike [Side Break]
- edge push [Back attack ↑]
- Air Slash [Cancel attack ↑]
- shadow eye [Aggro halved / Atk up] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Talent Art: Overclock Buster [Dazed ↑]
- Bonus: They can use the Monado “skin” for their weapon, once unlocked.
Zephyr (Defender)
- Starting class: Mio
- How to update: Updated as part of the automatic story progression in Chapter 6 in “Side Story: Mio”
- Class Skills:
- Stormy Gale: Increases agility by 30%. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- I’ll Defend You: 16% to avoid attacks on allies within a fixed radius.
- Split Second Counter: Deals 200% attack damage when you dodge an attack. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Ether’s Sanctuary: Increases Ether’s defense by 30%.
- Arts Class:
- Butterfly leaf [High aggro]
- air intake [Aggroed ↑]
- wide bar [Evade] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- shiny ring [Target Lock] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Speed demon [Eva. up / Atk down]
- Talent Art: Gemini Strike [High aggro / Evade]
Medic Gunner (Healer)
- Initial class: Eunie
- How to upgrade: It can be upgraded in Chapter 5 of the mission “Side Story: Eunie” obtained from City
- Class Skills:
- Medical Mind: Increases the amount of HP healer from using healing arts by 30%.
- Quick Recovery: Increases allies’ respawn speed by 40% and increases healing by 15.
- Ninja Healer: Reduces damage generated by healing arts by 50%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Eternal Formation: Increases the duration of the field effect by 50%. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Myopic screen [Daze] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- group healing [AOE / Heal]
- Power Ring [Field / Atk up]
- Aether Cannon [Accuracy Down] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Vortex [AOE/Area heal on hit]
- Talent Art: Ring of Healing [Field / Regenerate]
Tactician (Healer)
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- Starting class: Tactical
- How to upgrade: It can be upgraded in Chapter 6 of the mission “Side Story: Taion”, which is located in Agnus Castle.
- Class Skills:
- Ether Ability: Increases damage dealt by Ether Arts by 50%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Shieldrender: Adds a 100% chance that the attack is unblockable.
- Eternal Curse: Extends the duration timers of debuffs applied to enemies by 50%.
- Unavoidable Avoidability: 10% chance to evade enemy attack. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- assault [Ether Def. down] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Stormy Skies [AOE / Heal]
- nebulous figure [Field / Eva. up]
- Avenging Eagle [AOE / Eva. down]
- dark flag [AOE / Sleep] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- Talent Art: Infinity Blade [AOE / Pierce]
Heavy Guard (Defender)
- Starting class: Lanz
- How to upgrade: It can be upgraded in chapter 5 of the mission “Side Story: Lanz”, which is located in the base of Great Sword
- Class Skills:
- Defensive Soul: Increases physical defense by 20%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- I’ll Protect You: Reduces damage taken by allies in a fixed radius by 30%.
- Aggravator: Accumulates Aggro every second.
- Tenacious Blocker: Increases block rate by 50% when HP is at 30% or less. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Bull Rush [Topple]
- Crash Out [AOE / High aggro] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- Uppercut Slash [High aggro]
- Variable turret [Block attacks]
- Solid posture [Def. up / Atk down] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Talent Art: Mad Taunt [AOE / Taunt]
Ogre (Attacks)
- Starting class: Seine
- How to upgrade: It can be upgraded in Chapter 7 of the mission “Side Story: Sena”, which is located in City
- Class Skills:
- Insult to Injury: Increases damage dealt when attacking downed enemies by 150%.
- Fury Smash: Increases reaction success rate by 45 percentage points.
- Fighting Prowess: Increases damage dealt by physical arts by 50%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Dynamite Spirit: Increases damage dealt by 60% when HP is at 90% or higher. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Big Impact [Front Blowdown]
- hammer head [Side attack ↑]
- Giant Swing [Knockback] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- cannonball [Dazed ↑]
- Maximum voltage [Unblockable/Atk up] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Talent Art: Pressure Drop [Launch]
Flash Fencer (striker)
- Hero: Ethel
- How to unlock: Obtained as part of the automatic story progression in chapter 3 of the mission “No Courage Required”
- How to Upgrade: Take Cammuravi to the back of Colony Omega in Chapter 7
- Class Skills:
- First Move Victory: Increases damage dealt by 50% during the first 30 seconds of battle.
- Fighting Instinct: Increases damage dealt by 50% when using a Talent Art (up to 200%)
- Critical Hit: Increases critical hit damage bonus by 50%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Able Hands: Fills the Talent Art recharge gauge to 100% at the start of battle. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- cross impact [Power Charge on hit] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- null bar [AOE/Side Crit. Rate+]
- hidden thorn [Bleed] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- Edge of the revolution [Back attack ↑]
- Acceleration [Atk spd up / Dmg taken up]
- Talent Art: Saber Strike [Smash]
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War Medic (Healer)
- Hero: Power
- How to unlock: Obtained as part of the automatic story progression in chapter 3 of the mission “The Friendly Right Hand”
- How to Upgrade: Complete Valdi’s Ascension quest “I’m a Mechanic” in Chapter 6. This requires completing several of Repapa’s item request lists in Colony 30.
- Class Skills:
- Recovery Engine: Removing debuffs increases own healing power by 50% (up to a maximum of 150%).
- Rescue License: Increases HP restored by 40% when an ally is revived.
- Healing License: Increases the amount of HP healed from using healing arts by 30%. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Antibody System: Reduces the duration of personal debuffs by 50%. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Heal the bullet [AOE / Heal]
- Multi Blast [Area heal on hit] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- Advanced cooling [Field / Def. up] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Cure Bullet [AOE/Clear debuffs/Debf. barrier]
- Vital Bullet [AOE / Delayed healing]
- Talent Art: Technical Heal [Heal party]
Guardian Commander (Defender)
- Hero: Zeon
- How to unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 3 by revisiting Colony 9 and completing the mission “Where is the Heart”
- How to upgrade: Complete the Ascension of Zeon quest “Reasons to Evolve” in Colony 9 of Chapter 5. Make sure you have Zeon in your party for the quest to appear.
- Class Skills:
- I’ll Help: Make attacks on nearby allies with low HP. Damage is reduced by 20%.
- Soldier Potential: When HP is at 30% or below, restores 1.4% HP every second.
- Pride of the Protector: Increases reload speed by 50% when targeting non-defenders. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Mind for Guarding: Increases damage reduction rate when blocked by 20%. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Noble mockery [Taunt] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- Shield of the shield [Topple] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Falcon Swoop [AOE / Awakened Boost]
- Great Protection [Block Rate+/Atk down]
- Imperial Sword [Awakened Boost]
- Talent Art: Deflector Field [Absorb damage/Awaken]
Thaumaturg (Healer)
- Hero: Teach
- How to unlock: Obtainable in Chapter 3 by revisiting Colony Gamma and completing the mission “Going Beyond Power”
- How to update: Complete Teach’s ascension mission “Shadow of Enmity” in Colony Gamma in Chapter 6. You must have completed the various “Teach Teachers” requests in the job board there . Make sure you have Teach in your party for the quest to appear.
- Class Skills:
- Wheel of Rebirth: Heals all allies using 900% healing power when an explosion is executed.
- Qinggong: Increases evasion by 35% while moving.
- Ultimate Qigong: Ignores 50% of the enemy’s physical defense when it lands a hit. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Life Saving Fists: Heals when the auto attack hits, up to a maximum of 100% healing power. [Rank 15 Master Skill]
- Arts Class:
- Range Divider [Area heal on hit]
- violent gust [Chance to pierce] [Rank 1 Master Art]
- divine protection [Field / Armor Veil]
- Jumping running [AOE/Clear debuffs/Atk+]
- Spearhead Thrust [Bind] [Rank 10 Master Art]
- Talent Art: Demise Thrust [Burst]
Yumsmith (attacker)
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- Hero: Riku and Manana
- How to unlock: Obtained as part of the automatic story progression at the end of Chapter 3 in the mission “The Council of a Nopon”
- How to upgrade: Complete Riku & Manana’s Ascension quest “Culinary Repertory” in Chapter 6 by placing the duo in your party and heading to Camp Inlet on the Erythian Sea.
- Class Skills:
- Explosive blast! – Increases field dissolution damage by 300%.
- Drain Sappy-Sappy! – Increases the success rate of debuff effects by 25 percentage points. [Rank 5 Master Skill]
- Slicey-Dicey! – Increases field damage dealt by 200%.[Master15thdeposition[Rank15Master[Màster15ºdeposició[Rank15Master