This is a guide to Skill Trees and choosing the best skill trees for every character in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (XC1) for the Nintendo Switch. Read on to learn which Skill Trees you should be using!
List of Contents
Each Character has Skill Trees which, when upgraded, give them certain skills and passive buffs as long as they are equipped. There are exactly skills per skill tree. Each character has five skill trees: three that they start out with and two that they can obtain through quests.
Characters only get the passive buffs and skills from the currently equipped Skill Tree, although Skill Links apply as long as they are equipped from another character (regardless of tree). Skill Trees can be improved by acquiring SP from defeating enemies and discovering new locations.
SP Farming Guide | How to Grind SP
Each skill has a color, shape, and icon that all indicate something different about the skill. Here is the guide to understanding what a skill does and who it affects!
Blue skills are active whether or not the character is in the battle party. | |
Orange skills are only active if the character is in the battle party. | |
This skill only affects the party member who has the skill. | |
This skill affects all battle party members. | |
This skill affects the entire party. | |
Skills with diamond shapes cannot be linked to other skills. See more about skill links down below. |
Using Affinity Coins, characters can link skills from another character, activating the skill for both of them. This activates the skill for the host, regardless of their currently equipped skill tree.
The number of skills they can link from another character is dependent on the affinity level with that character. Raising affinity level with that character unlocks linking more slots and more varied skills. Additionally, each skill must have the right shape in order to be linked between characters.
Best Skill Links for Each Character
Shulk needs critical rate boosts because it boosts his Arts, and his regular attacks, which will be used a lot to fill up his talent art gauge. That being said, Bravery is the best choice. Alternatively, Intuition guarantees hits so that's the best choice before Bravery is unlocked.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Counter Rate Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Dunban becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Medium Equipment | Allows medium weight armour to be equipped. | - | 10 |
Invincible Hero | In battle, boosts strength when HP is at max (10%). | 700 | 6 |
Warrior's Ambition | Increases tension after successful Battle Start Affinity (25). | 1000 | 8 |
Overwhelming | Increases aggro drawn by when dealing damage (10%). | 2000 | 2 |
Hero's Valour | Grants HP Up buff at start of battle (20%, 40 sec). | 3500 | 3 |
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agility Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Shulk becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Battle Cry | Increases tension gained from Battle Start Affinity (20). | 300 | 13 |
Underdog | Agility Up buff at start of battle with higher level enemies (15%, 30 sec). | 700 | 2 |
Equipment Master | Reduces weight of equipment (5). | 1000 | 5 |
Fever Pitch | Increases chance of Fever when gem crafting. | 2000 | 18 |
Element of Surprise | Improves Arts with Bonus Effects from behind. | 3500 | 20 |
Shulk Build, Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
As Reyn is mainly a tank, using Camaraderie to increase his Physical Defense is his best move. Before that, using Spirit to increase his strength is also a good move because most of his arts are Physical Arts. However, sticking with Spirit to keep his strength high is a great option as well (especially if playing as Reyn).
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Defense Up | Acquired through completing the Friendship Tokens Side Quest. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Ties of Friendship | Increases chance of a Chain Link (5%). | 200 | 14 |
Shoulder to Shoulder | Heals the party after a chain attack (10%). | 500 | 25 |
Flying Start | Battle Start Affinity grants Haste buff to the party (15%, 30 sec). | 800 | 10 |
Solitary Fight | Grants Strength Up when a party member is Incapacitated (25%, 15 sec). | 1000 | 3 |
Friends Forever | Boosts the affinity gained when encouraging an ally (30%). | 1500 | 30 |
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strength Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Reyn becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5 | 10 | 30 | 50 | 70 | 100 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Medium Equipment | Allows medium weight armour to be equipped. | - | 10 |
Mental Fortitude | Grants Phys Def Up at start of battle with higher level enemies (10%, 30 sec). | 700 | 2 |
Unrelenting Spirit | Prevents Incapacitation from lowering tension. | 1000 | 28 |
Feel the Heat | Increases tension when damage is taken (5). | 2000 | 40 |
Sheer Determination | Boosts physical defence when HP is at half (15%). | 3500 | 7 |
Reyn Build, Best Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
Because Sharla is incredibly squishy, you want to keep her alive using the Perseverance skill tree to increase her survivability.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Defense Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Sharla becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Firm Defence | Boosts physical defence (5%). | 300 | 18 |
Ether Expansion | Increases ether (25). | 700 | 8 |
Solid Defence | Grants Physical Defence Up buff at start of battle (20%, 30 sec). | 1000 | 6 |
Ether Unleashed | Increases ether when HP is at half (15%). | 2000 | 2 |
Ultimate Sniper | Reduces the duration of Cool Off (50%). | 3500 | - |
Sharla Build, Best Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
Dunban is a good damage dealer that has a lot Physical Arts, so increasing his Strength with the Enthusiasm skill tree is a good idea. Before that, Wisdom is the best of his initial trees.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strength Up | Acquired through completing the Stunted Growth Side Quest. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 70 | 100 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Charge Acceleration | Grants Haste buff at start of battle (30%, 15 sec) | 200 | 8 |
Counter Rage | Increases chance of a counter-attack (10%). | 500 | 6 |
Ardent Strike | Increases tension gained after a critical hit (10). | 800 | 7 |
Deadly Determination | Increases tension gained when using Arts (10). | 1000 | 48 |
Blazing Aura | Fills Party Gauge when activating an Aura (20). | 1500 | 43 |
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agility Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Dunban becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Spiritual Awakening | Greatly increases aggro when no armour is equipped (25%). | 300 | 2 |
Reckless Abandon | Increases agility when HP is at half (15%). | 700 | 8 |
Twin Swords | Increases chance of a double attack (5%). | 1000 | 18 |
Natural Born Warrior | Reduces weight of equipment (5). | 2000 | 5 |
Inner Peace | Greatly increases agility with no armour equipped (30%). | 3500 | 18 |
Dunban Build, Best Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
Initially, you'll want Riki to be on the Vivacity Skill Tree until he maxes out to 9999 HP, then switch him to Cowardice afterwards to further increase his survivability.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Block Rate Up | Acquired through completing the Getting Bigger Side Quest. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2% | 5% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 20% |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Pretty Stars! | Increases strength during the night (15%). | 200 | 7 |
Watch Out! | Increases agility when HP is at half (20%). | 500 | 8 |
Amazing Stars! | Reduces cooldown during the night (15%). | 800 | 13 |
Bullseye! | Improves accuracy of back attacks (50%) | 1000 | 45 |
Bestest Stars! | Increases EXP awarded in battles during the night (20%). | 1500 | 13 |
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HP Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Riki becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Like Sun! | Increases strength during the day (10%). | - | 7 |
Friends Now! | Allows low-value items to be offered when trading (5%). | 700 | - |
Love Sun! | Reduces cooldown during the day (10%). | 1000 | 18 |
Lucky Me! | Improves chance of monsters dropping silver chests (10%). | 2000 | 30 |
Adore Sun! | Increases EXP awarded in battles during the day (15%). | 3500 | 18 |
Riki Build, Best Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
Because Melia mostly uses Ether Arts, her best tree to use would be Passion once it is unlocked. Before that, Honesty is a good choice because it increases the damage and crit rate of her elementals.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ether Up | Acquired through completing the Ancient High Entia Mystery Side Quest. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
10 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 70 | 100 |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Nonchalant Heart | Reduces tension loss when an attack fails (5). | 200 | 7 |
Awakening Strike | Boosts damage dealt to enemies suffering Sleep (50%). | 500 | 10 |
Telethia Killer | When an aura is active, increases damage dealt to Telethia (50%) | 800 | 48 |
Passion of Flame | Extends Blaze duration when dealt to an enemy (20 sec). | 1000 | - |
Rejection of Evil | Greatly reduces the effects of Spike attacks (50%). | 1500 | 50 |
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Critical Hit Rate Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Melia becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
High Speed | Increases agility (15). | 300 | 20 |
Whisper of the Wind | Boosts Wind damage (25%). | 700 | - |
Amplified Ether | Grants Ether Up buff at the start of battle (25%, 30 sec). | 1000 | 5 |
Electric Shock | Boosts electric damage (25%). | 2000 | - |
Enlightenment | Increases accuracy of ether attacks. | 3500 | 25 |
Melia Build, Best Arts, Skill Trees, and Usage Guide
The best skill tree for Fiora, the seventh party member to join you, is Courage. A boosted Crit Hit rate for an attacker like Fiora is a huge bonus.
Effect | How to Unlock | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Critical Hit Rate Up | Default Skill Tree unlocked when Fiora becomes playable. | ||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 15% |
Skill | Effect | SP | Coins |
---|---|---|---|
Mechonis Equipment | Allows special armour from Mechonis to be equipped | - | - |
Desperate Daggers | Increases counter-attack rate when HP is at half (15%). | 700 | 2 |
Second Wind | Increases amount of HP restored when revived (20%). | 1000 | - |
Ultimate Strike | Increases damage of critical hits (20%). | 2000 | 13 |
Unwavering Courage | Fills Party Gauge if two allies are Incapacitated (50). | 3500 | 28 |
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Rashness is easily fiora’s Best skill tree. Critical combo is super op with haste gems, double attack gems and speed shift. It causes her to crit 50% of the time which with haste and speed shift means that she fills the party gauge in seconds. Also explosion of energy is pretty good