Nintendo details Arts, Classes, Combos and more for Xenoblade Chronicles 3

by Adam Vitale and Kite Stenbuck on 04 June, 2022

Nintendo has detailed more advanced components of combat in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, via Nintendo's Japanese website, including arts, classes, combos and more.

Some of the screenshots and details found on the new topical post have also been doled out piecewise on official Nintendo and Xenoblade Twitter accounts over the last several days.

Find all the details below. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is set to release on July 28 for Nintendo Switch worldwide. For more, you can check out:

What is an Art?

Arts are special techniques that characters can use during combat. When a battle begins, characters will automatically attack with normal attacks, called 'auto-attacks', but arts are more powerful abilities.

Arts are assigned to the B, X, and Y face buttons. Once used, Arts cannot be used again until the gauge fills to full, so it is important to use Arts in a timely and effective manner.

Each character exhibits a variety of specialities in a profession known as a 'class', and each class has its own unique Arts.

Noah's class "Swordfighter"

Swordfighter is an attacker class that is good at dealing damage to the side and rear of the enemy. 'Sword Strike' can deal extra damage when attacking from the side, and 'Thrust Edge' can do more damage when targeting the back.

Mio's class "Gale Master"

Gale Master is a defender class that protects their allies by drawing in the enemy's attacks while dodging them with quick movements. 'Butterfly Edge' is an Art used to focus the enemy's attention on yourself. 'Air Fang' increases attack damage toward enemies that are targeting you, so be sure to attach their attention first.

It is important to note that each class has five Arts, but you can only set three of them, so it is important to choose Arts that work well against the characteristics of the enemy.

Talent Arts

Each class has also 'Talent Arts' that are more powerful than other Arts. The gauge for these Arts fills by doing actions that suit your role. These broad conditions for each are as follows:

Attacker classes: Successful attacks on the side or back of enemies.
Defender classes: Taking actions to prevent enemy attacks, such as guarding or avoiding.
Healer classes: Taking actions to support allies, such as recovery and rescue.

"Swordfighter" Talent Arts

'Exceed Buster' his the enemy with a powerful blow. It can dish a lot of damage especially when the enemy is stunned, so be sure to collaborate with with party members with stun attack Arts.

"Gale Master" Talent Arts

'Gemini Strike' is a powerful attack that attracts the enemy's attention while avoiding their attack. With this technique, you can earn the enemy's attention while protecting your party.

Introducing Classes

Introducing the default classes for the six main characters:

Attacker

Swordfighter: Has balanced stats and excels at fighting bosses and unique enemies

Crusher: Uses super-heavy hammer to pummel enemies. Each attack will have heavy power, and some of the Arts can also disable enemy guards. But also easy to catch enemy aggros.

Defender

Gale Master: Moves around enemies with high agility; evades attacks and counters with Twin Rings. Can also nullify attacks that targets a nearby ally.

Heavy guard: Protects allies with a shield-like gigantic weapon, and has Arts that draw enemy attentions.

Healer

Medic Gunner: One of the Arts will generate a circular field that can heal and buff allies inside. But too much healing can also risk raising enemy aggros.

Tactical: Excels in confusing enemies and supporting allies. The Arts range from inflicting Sleep on enemies to improving the Evasion of allies.

Note that the method in which Art gauges fill will different between Keves characters and Agnus characters. Keves characters (Noah, Lanz, Eunie) will have their Arts gauge recover automatically by time cooldown, while Agnus characters (Mio, Sena, Taion) Arts gauge will recover with auto-attacks during battles.

Mastering Classes

Class Change

Anyone in the main party can change their class to any of the classes mentioned above. It will also change their roles in battles.

Master Arts

Using a class for a long time will eventually let the character 'master' it. It will enable them to use those class Arts even when they assume another class. For example, if Noah has mastered Swordfighter, he'll be able to use Swordfighter Arts with other classes.

Fusion Arts

The player can fuse a mastered Art with a current class Art to activate both at the same time. This is called a Fusion Art, and by using various classes for extended periods of time, your repertoire of abilities will increase.

Four Tips To Take Advantage in Battle

Switch Target

If there are two or more enemies during battle, you can freely switch your target to defeat them one-by-one.

Combo Collaboration with Friends

You can combo together various Arts in cooperation with your party. Even strong enemies can be damaged heavily by breaking their posture (Break), overturning them (Topple), and stunning (Daze). This combo will be introduced in more detail later.

Attack Canceling

When an attack hits, if you make the next attack at just the right time, you can cancel the animation of the previous attack, leading to a smooth continuous attack chain. This is called 'attack canceling', and a circle of light will appear around the character. Doing this successfully can fill the Chain Attack gauge.

Chain Attacks

If you connect combos according to your class, this gauge will accumulate and you can perform a powerful special 'Chain Attack' move in conjunction with the rest of the party. This is a powerful ability, so be sure to use it.