Skill Tree Guide: Best Skill Trees For Each Character

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!

What Are Skill Trees?

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

Explanation of Skill Tree Icons

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.

What Are Skill Links?

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

Best Skill Tree for Shulk

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.

Bravery Skill Tree

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%

Bravery Skills

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

Intuition Skill Tree

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

Intuition Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Reyn

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).

Camaraderie Skill Tree

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

Camaraderie Skills

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

Spirit Skill Tree

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

Spirit Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Sharla

Because Sharla is incredibly squishy, you want to keep her alive using the Perseverance skill tree to increase her survivability.

Perseverance Skill Tree

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

Perseverance Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Dunban

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.

Enthusiasm Skill Tree

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

Enthusiasm Skills

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

Wisdom Skill Tree

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

Wisdom Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Riki

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.

Cowardice Skill Tree

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%

Cowardice Skills

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

Vivacity Skill Tree

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%

Vivacity Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Melia

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.

Passion Skill Tree

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

Passion Skills

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

Honesty Skill Tree

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%

Honesty Skills

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

Best Skill Tree for Seven

Related Links - Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Beginner's Guide to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Gameplay Mechanics
Battle System and Combat Guide	Can You Switch Characters in Battle?
Stats Explained	Status Effects Explained
How to Chain Attack	What Does Tension Do?
How to Topple | Topple Lock Guide	What is Spike Damage?
Trading and Overtrading Guide	Collectopaedia Guide and Rewards
Presents Guide	How to Change the Weather
What is Weight?	-
Guides for Leveling and Grinding
How to Level Up Fast	AP Farming Guide
SP Farming Guide	How to Farm Money
How to Raise Affinity	Tephra Cave Glitch
Leveling Areas Post 70	How to Get Affinity Coins
Optimization Guides
Best Party and Team Setup	Best Skill Trees For Each Character
Best Skill Links for Each Character	Best Gifts for Each Character
Art Manuals List	What to Sell | Best Items to Sell
Miscellaneous Guides
What Carries Over to New Game Plus?	What is Expert Mode?
Achievement Guide and List	What Happens if You Die?
Appearance Guide | How to Change Appearance	List of Missables
100% Playthrough Checklist	-
Colony 6 Items
How to Get Gogol Horns	How to Get Inferno Element
How to Get Black Liver Bean	How to Get Snow Element
How to Get Azure Hollyhocks	How to Get Dust Element
How to Get Red Frontier	How to Get Empress Beetles
How to Get Rainbow Slugs	How to Get Ice Cabbages
How to Get Sturdy Armor	How to Get Squall Element
How to Get Bunnia Scent Wood	How to Get Fossil Monkey
FAQs
How to Get High Entia Emblem	How to Enter Hode's Lair
Where is Banquet Vassago	How to Get Bitter Kiwis
How to Enter Power Pipe Ruins	-