Want to know how to get the best start in Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Don't fret! With our comprehensive beginner's guide, you'll be set on the right track! Learn all about Combat, Arts, Exploration, and more!

Getting Started in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Getting Started
Know your Roles Know your Controls Learn How to Use Arts Using Field Skills Complete Side Quests How to Heal Familiarize Yourself with Combat Avoid High Level Enemies

Know Your Roles

Class	Role
Attacker	Attackers are your primary damage-dealing classes, they find and exploit enemy weak spots.
Defender	Defenders are used to draw out enemy aggro so Attackers can maneuver to weakpoints and deal critical blows.
Healer	Healers are your support classes, providing aid in the form of heals and buffs.

All Classes will fall under one of these three major Roles. At first, characters will only have their starting class to work with, but later on you will have access to classes outside your starting class. Be sure to experiment with what suits your playstyle!

All Classes and Roles

Know Your Controls

Combat	Exploration
- Move Character // - Use Art - Use Talent Art // - Use Master Art - Select Fusion Art - Interlink (while Interlinked) - Switch Interlinked Character (while Interlinked) - Cancel Interlink - Select Tactics + - Any Combo + - Focus Attack + - Fusion First + - Follow Leader +/ - Switch Characters - Use Chain Attack	- Move Character - Jump - Open Menu - Show / Hide Objectives - Interact / Talk - Enlarge Minimap + - Open Map - Lure Enemy - Draw Enemy Attention / - Switch Characters + - Edit Shortcuts - Show Shortcuts + /// - Shortcuts + - Camera Position and Direction + - Reset Camera

You can still however change the button mapping of your controller on the Nintendo Switch system itself. This has been made possible since the V10.0.0 system update last April 13, 2020. However, this is only compatible with official Nintendo Joy-Con and Pro Controllers, and the Nintendo Switch Lite.

How to Change Button Mapping

Learn How to Use Arts

Arts are the bread and butter of combat in Xenoblade 3. Though you can rely on auto-attack, using Arts will deal more damage as well as provide buffs for you and your team. Arts come in different types, each with their own use.

Using Field Skills

Fields Skills are special actions that enable the player to navigate terrain you wouldn't be able to go through, such as walking through tightropes or climbing walls. To use Field Skills, press to interact with obstacles you cannot normally traverse. Unlock more Field Skills as you progress the story by talking to people.

Complete Side Quests

Hero Quest	Standard Quest	Collectopaedia

Xenoblade 3 offers lots of side content to keep you hooked for hours on end. Some Standard Quests are needed to progress through the main story. Hero Quests are special quests that allow you to meet new heroes, learn their classes, learn Field Skills, and more. Collectopaedia Cards are useful in gaining more Affinity with colonies and getting accessories in exchange for items you find in the overworld.

How to Heal

In Combat

Team members assigned to a Healer class will automatically use Arts that can heal surrounding teammates when you are not controlling them directly.

While Exploring

There are no consumables in the game that will heal you outside of combat. Instead, healers will constantly heal you even as you take fall damage from cliffs and ledges.

Familiarize Yourself with Combat

Time your Arts with Auto-Attack

You won't have to button mash to attack enemies as the game implements an auto-attack system. However, you should use this auto-attack function to your advantage as you plan out strategies on combat as some Arts will deal more damage when done from a certain position or if the enemy is in a certain status effect.

Avoid High Level Enemies

Do not engage the giant enemies

In the world of Aionios, monsters of different levels can be seen roaming around all in the same general area. This means that even though you are only starting out, you might see a giant monster that is 20, or even 40, levels above you in the same area!

Take note of the icons beside enemy levels

Some monsters will have icons next to their levels, even though they may seem low-levelled, these are Elite and Unique monsters and will give you a run for your money.

All Unique Monster Locations

Useful Beginner Information

Other Beginner Essentials
Difficulty Settings Using Nopon Coins Efficiently How to Fast Travel How to Flee How to Change Classes Increase EXP and rewards with cooking How to Save Going Ouroboros

Difficulty Settings

The game allows you to choose from 3 playable difficulties, each catering to a specific player type. Lowering the difficulty will significantly affect how much damage you take from enemy attacks, while not affecting how much damage you can deal, as well as the rewards you can get.

Use Nopon Coins Efficiently

Throughout your journey you will encounter containers containg Silver Nopon Coins and Gold Nopon Coins. These coins can also be obtained from assisting one side in Skirmishes, and defeating Unique Monsters. These special coins can act as another form of currency in-game that allows you to craft Gems, cook meals at rest stop, and even unlock new Classes!

How to Farm Nopon Coins

How to Fast Travel

You can freely traverse the open world from the Map menu and fast travel to any point or landmark in the map that you have already unlocked. In addition to fast travel, you can also choose the time of day when you arrive at the next waypoint.

How to Flee

In Combat

If you hold while in battle, this Battle menu will pop up. You can give up the fight and be transported back to the nearest landmark, but you will lose all the items you have found up until that point.

While Exploring

While you are exploring the world, it is inevitable that you will catch the attention of some of the monsters roaming around. You can choose to engage them in combat, but if you want to flee, all you need to do is to run the opposite direction! In most cases, enemies can only run a limited distance where they try to chase you.

How to Change Classes

Class Changing is Unlocked in Chapter 2

The ability to change classes is unlocked in Chapter 2 after completing the Standard Quest: The Hillside Hulk. After a short tutorial, you can now change classes in the Characters menu to better suit your taste and playstyle.

How to Unlock Other Classes

Increase EXP and rewards with cooking

You can cook meals at Rest Stops to provide temporary buffs ranging from increased EXP rewards to increased Drop Rates and even increased CP rewards for a short period of time. While you can cook meals with the Collectible ingredients you will find in the overworld, you can also cook meals using Nopon Coins if you do not have all the necessary ingredients.

How to Save the Game

3 Ways to Save the Game

Ways to Save the Game
A	Quick-Saving Quick-saving from the Main Menu is done by holding immediately when you open the Main Menu
B	Manual Saving Manual Saving is done by: Opening the Main Menu > System > Save.
C	Rest Stop Saving Rest Spot Saving is done by choosing "Save" while stationed at a Rest Spot.

The game allows you to save in 3 ways. These methods are merely options for players to choose from as there is virtually no difference saving from the Main Menu, System Menu, or Rest Spot.

Going Ouboros

Interlink to Gain the Power of Ouroboros

Ouroboros Form is a new form introduced to Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that allows two partner characters to fuse into one stronger being during battle! This unlocks stronger and unique moves and its form can even be swapped between two forms to adjust in the heat of battle!

Ouroboros Interlink Partners
Noah	⟷	Mio
Eunie	⟷	Taion
Lanz	⟷	Sena

Ouroboros Form and Strength Depends on the Dominant Link

Ouroboros Form
Noah Form Specializes in high-damage attacks	Mio Form Specializes in highly evasive movements
Lanz Form FIghting style prioritizes defending	Sena Form Unleashes attacks that ignore defense
Eunie Form Specializes in healing	Taion Form Specializes in status effects

The form and specialty of the Ouroboros is determined by the leader, which can be changed during the fusion process. Make sure to pick the appropriate form to cater to your current strategy.

Other Tips and Tricks

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Related Guides

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Wiki Front

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Guides
Story Walkthrough	Side Quests
Classes	Tips and Tricks
Characters	List of All Arts
Maps	Food and Dishes
Accessories	Enemies
Items	Skills
Message Boards	News and Events