Deciding the best Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition classes can feel daunting with the array of options available and the time it takes to master new weapon skills. However, any class can be effective in this RPG, though some stand out more than others. If you're happy with your starting class, that's perfectly fine too, as it's one of the most versatile in the game.

Our Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition classes guide highlights the top five classes in the game and explains why they're worth your time.

Drifter

Xenoblade Chronicles X encourages you to move away from the Drifter class once you reach rank 10, but Drifter is unique as a starting class that remains versatile and useful throughout the game. For fans of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, Drifter is akin to Shulk but with a smaller skill set. This class offers a range of debuff and offensive arts, including skills that stagger and topple enemies, and one that regenerates health, reducing your reliance on party members for healing.

Drifter wields assault rifles for potent ranged attacks and knives for strong melee combat, ensuring flexibility in battle. The class's standout feature is its highest number of skill slots in the game, allowing for extensive customization. Even if you experiment with other classes, returning to Drifter is advisable for its adaptability.

Full Metal Jaguar

Full Metal Jaguar, Elma's class, is a high-risk, high-reward choice. It boosts your critical hit rate when your HP drops below 50%, and one skill ensures you frequently stay below this threshold by reducing your health when attacking. The Ghost Factory skill helps allies evade attacks, while Electric Surge inflicts ether damage, a rarity among melee classes. Even the basic skill, Shadowstrike, is powerful, making Full Metal Jaguar a thrilling class to master.

Duelist

Duelist excels in self-sufficiency and close-range combat, yet handles ranged attacks well. Armed with a longsword and an assault rifle, it's like an enhanced version of the Drifter's arsenal. Duelists gain access to a variety of useful skills, including Last Stand, which boosts party TP at the cost of your own, facilitating powerful attacks from your teammates.

The Soul of the Samurai skill adds area-of-effect damage to basic attacks, and True Stream Edge recovers TP when your morale is high. However, Blossom Dance is one of the best skills in the game, staggering and toppling enemies while ignoring their resistances, making it incredibly effective against most foes.

Mastermind

If you enjoy manipulating enemy behavior rather than focusing on raw damage, Mastermind is an excellent choice. Though its arts may not be as potent as those of the Duelist, they make challenging battles more manageable. Mastermind can remove enemy buffs, reduce debuff resistance at level seven, and boost TP, culminating in a capstone art that inflicts the virus effect. This class requires attentive gameplay, but the strategic depth it offers is rewarding.

Galactic Knight

While often associated with Skell users, Galactic Knight offers much more. It can remove debuffs, heal allies, and deal significant specialized damage. Galactic Knights can shorten their own cooldowns through melee combos. Their Skell-specific abilities enhance appendage HP and combat power without conditions, making Galactic Knight a versatile and powerful class both in and out of Skells.