The Overdrive mechanic provides a lot of bonuses during combat in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Learn how to unlock and how to trigger and all the different bonuses that Overdrive provides.

How to Unlock Overdrive

Complete Chapter 5

Mission	Details
Ma-non Maneuvers (Chapter 5)	Lv. Requirement: 1 Rec. Lv. 19 Max Members: 4 Restricted Members: • Irina • Gwin How to Unlock: • Clear The Ganglion Menace • Clear Renewed Will • Install a data probe at Oblivia's entrance

Overdrive becomes available immediately after completing Chapter 5 of the game's main story.

All Chapters Guide (Story Missions)

Overdrive Counter Explained

How to Increase Counter Counter Bonuses How to Increase Counter Bonuses Party Chain Lasts 25 Extendable Seconds

While Overdrive is active, a counter will appear in the arts palette, and a guide will appear on the upper right side of the screen, showing how to use the counter. Increasing the counter further increases the bonuses you get during Overdrive.

How to Increase Counter

The Counter is increased by activating arts in a specific sequence. To help keep track of a sequence, the color of the counter will indicate the type of the last activated art.

Art Sequence	Example
Use the same art types in succession.	Melee Art > Melee Art or Range Art > Range Art
If changing between offensive arts (melee or ranged), use a debuff (purple), support (green), or aura (blue) art in between to keep the counter going.	Melee Art > Support Art > Ranged Art or Ranged Art > Debuff Art > Melee Art

Counter Bonuses

The bonuses the counter provides will be shown near it in addition to a couple that aren't shown.

How to Increase Counter Bonuses

Combo	Effect
Green > Any Color	Double Overdrive Count: Chained Art increases counter by double the amount.
Purple > Any Color	Appendage Damage Up: Chained Art deals 50% more appendage damage.
Blue > Green	HP recovery: Restores 10% HP for whoever completes this combo
Blue > Purple	Debuff Time Extended: Extends the purple art's debuff effect time by 25%.
Orange 3+ times in a row	EXP Up: Increases experience gained by 10% (to max 200%)
Yellow 3+ times in a row	Class EXP Up: Increases class EXP gained by 10% (to max 200%)

Similar to how you would increase the counter, activating arts in specific sequences will provide different bonuses. As mentioned, to help keep track of a sequence, the color of the counter will indicate the type of the last activated art.

Party Chain

Each character in your party can activate Overdrive by issuing the order to them. If more than 2 characters in your party currently have Overdrive activated, your party will receive further bonuses.

Lasts 25 Extendable Seconds

After activating Overdrive, a timer at the bottom of the screen will indicate the Overdrive's duration. At the end of the timer, Overdrive and its bonuses will end.

However, if you were able to accumulate 3000 TP while in Overdrive, you can spend it to extend the Overdrive by 25 seconds. This can be done multiple times with no limit.

How to Get Infinite Overdrive

Increase Max TP and Equip TP Boosts

Because the duration extension of Overdrive is dependent on having accumulated 3000 TP within 25 seconds, you can build your character and party to potentially have infinite Overdrive by equipping arts, skills, armor, and augments that focus on increasing Max TP and providing TP Boosts.

How to Increase Max TP

How to Trigger Overdrive

Accumulate 3000 TP

Once you have unlocked Overdrive, it will automatically appear as an option during combat once you have accumulated 3000 TP.

Tension Points (TP) Guide

What is Overdrive?

Timed State That Provides a Lot of Bonuses

Overdrive is an activatable mechanic with a duration that provides a lot of bonuses to your character and party.

In addition to buffs, it immediately deals a large amount of damage to all enemies in the battle at the initial activation. The amount of damage dealt depends on your Potential stat.

What is Potential Stat?

Overdrive List of Buffs

• Shortens Cooldowns
• Provides Tertiary Cooldowns
• Increases Damage Dealt
• Weakens Enemy Debuff Resistance

While Overdrive is active, the cooldown of all your arts is shortened and has a tertiary cooldown which allows you to spam them much more effectively. In addition, it increases art damage dealt and weakens the enemies' resistance to debuffs.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Related Guides

Tips and Tricks: Beginner's Guide

All Tips and Tricks Guides