Board 8 > If you're playing Xenoblade for the first time post here

(+) Yeah! (+)

I kind of want to replay XC2, but always realize I don't want to deal with Ursula's New Groove ever again

---

I forgot that there's a random quest chain that results in Shulk getting a new Monado art.

Even if none of it is particularly deep lore, I still like all the archaeology quests about researching ruins across Bionis.

---

Yeah he gets 2 monado arts from side quests. Eater and Armour

Level 10 Monado Armour is 75% damage reduction which is useful

---

Shine you never played torna? That's surprising. It's actually really good, better than the base game in a lot of ways

---

Looking at the release calendar I was probably still playing dragon quest 11 at the time and then Mega Man 11 and Red Dead Redemption 2 and it just passed me over

---

Shulk can get optional Monado arts?? Dafuq I had no idea. I also didn't know there were additional skill trees until this playthrough either lol.

Anywho, I just finished with prison island. All sidequests I can find bested. At about 60 hours.

---

I gotta say, I completely forgot about the fight at the end of chapter 13, but that is a really cool fight for an RPG, you don't see many like that in this kind of game. Good stuff.

Also you could probably remove most of chapter 12 and the game would still work, but having it in really improves the characters and narrative.

---

I'd say Monado Armour is one of the best Arts in the game. Shulk in general is pretty OP even as the non-lead, since his Monado Arts are automatically available if you warn him of a vision.

---

Just got past Prison Island. Actually enjoyed it more than the first time around - it works better once you know the full scope of the plot. Game continues to live up to my expectations that are built upon years of untouchable nostalgia, which is impressive.

I've really come around on the arranged music. One Who Gets In Our Way deserves better but everything else is golden.

---

I might need to switch to the original soundtrack in a NG+ run, because outside of a couple exceptions, I haven't really noticed a difference.

Which might be a good thing because the music is still awesome.

---

Okay let's go to Sword Valley.

https://i.imgur.com/6F4Y57u.jpg

Also I appreciate that Adidi's portrait got bigger after that quest.

---

Even despite being overleveled the whole game, Mischievious Naberius still put up a good fight (my team was 58-59 compared to its 57).

---

After struggling yesterday, I tore through Territorial Rotbart while underleveled by 5-6. Sometimes, all you need is that Chain Attack which goes off for 270k. Imagine my hype when I also got the exact Arts manual I was hunting on the first check.

I think I've now done everything before progressing the plot... except for maxing Alcamoth's affinity to 5*, which will require a ton of talking to these NPCs. Thinking about getting a pizza to get me through this experience.

---

Decided to go ahead and finish this up tonight and just finished attacking and dethroning god. Ended up not bothering with every achievement or doing all the heart-to-hearts, didnt want to do the affinity grind. Beyond the Sky is still pure cheese, I totally forgot about this song.

Ill probably start up Future Connected tomorrow.

---

how dare you shirk your responsibilities of 400 glorious side quests

---

I mean, I did probably 99% of them.


---

that's okay that's what I'm here for

speaking of which what a beautiful Colony 6



---

But yeah, I'm starting to pull a Shulk and FEEL IT as well. My pace has slowed and I've put off the damn High Entia affinity links for at least a week.

I say this as I've logged like 85 hours in three weeks.

---

Now seems like a good point to start crafting the 300% gems I need before I begin to take on the superbosses

Everyone's affinity is almost maxed out anyway so that's not a huge concern anymore

---

TOO HOT

---

to me
to you
to me
to you

---

I've been leveling up affinity evenly across the board and not sticking to any one party so I'm not expecting a big grind. Finishing up Alcamoth and everyone is over halfway there already.

---

KamikazePotato posted...

I've been leveling up affinity evenly across the board and not sticking to any one party so I'm not expecting a big grind. Finishing up Alcamoth and everyone is over halfway there already.

Yeah I was running a static party for most of my playthrough so far (only at Sword Valley though) but decided to make it easier on myself later on and started switching it up while grinding Valar mountain. I think I'll switch back to the static for boss fights though, because it's more fun that way

---

Do rank 1 and 2 stones have any purpose? I never really got good at the whole gem thing

---

Not really, they're way too weak. I usually pay attention to gem crafting at the end when it's Superboss time.

---

I basically went solo Shulk in my first playthrough so experimenting with other characters has been fun. Personal rankings on who's the most fun to play:

Shulk > Reyn > Riki > Dunban > Melia > Sharla

Jury is out on Seven because I don't have her yet.

---

Melia > Seven > Shulk > Dunban > Riki > Sharla > Reyn for me

---

Seven > Dunban > Shulk >> Melia > Reyn >> Sharla > Riki

Seven has fun Arts and the best animations in the game, especially when you get some Haste effects stacked and they start attacking like the world's strongest crack addict. I also love Seven's combat dialogue. Dunban is... maybe the strongest character in the game. Amazing Talent Art, the best Auras, huge DPS, functional in any party setup. The quote he yells during Blossom Dance might be my favorite in Xenoblade. Shulk's also good fun due to his positioning, but he's just not as fast and cool as the other two, though getting a good Backslash is satisfying af.

Can't comment on the other four as much. Melia is fun but NEEDS to be player controlled. Reyn is fun and Sword Drive is satisfying... I hardly use Sharla or Riki.

---

Berserker Magnum Charge Sword Drive lmaooo

... if only you could teach the AI how to use their arts without just removing their other options :|

yo's the best ranking for me tho, just bump Riki and probably/maybe Reyn up one

---

https://twitter.com/shineget64/status/1274240705733357568

whoops didn't mean to aggro the final superboss but your time is soon

---

The Mana Sword posted...

to me
to you
to me
to you

It still amazes me that this Nintendo-published, sprawling JRPG contains a Chuckle Brothers reference.

---

now there's a Melia I can work with

---

now there's a Shulk I can work with

---

now there's a Dun Dun I can work with

and honestly the rest will just get leftover gems unless I run into a situation where I feel I really need them

---

I got the 6th party member. Game got kind of interesting again.

---

Also I think Im doing something wrong, because Melia and Riki just dont work in the party.

if I dont have a tank to draw Aggro and sharla to heal everyone dies. Idk what Im doing wrong

---

Melia's AI is bad and you should only be using her if you're controlling her directly, then she's one of the better characters if not the best one.

Riki is kind of a jack of all trades but he really doesn't do anything well. I like using him to stack status effects then use his one art that does more damage the more status effects an enemy is suffering from. Other than that I don't use him much.

---

lol Unreliable Renzo went down so quick my characters now. Now I can finally get Riki's 5th skill tree

---

Melias AI is not great so she is best as playable. When played shes a damage machine and one of the best. Riki is good as AI though, and his massive HP means it is okay for him to draw aggro.

With that said, I have been leaving Melia as AI to build affinity (or use Monado purge on some uniques) and shes totally viable with the right arts. Even if I do go no copy bolt! a lot.

Also you are past what most think is the slowest part of the game now, fair to say.

Edit: Just to clear up, I disagree that Melia should only be used to play as. Shes a reliable toppler which is good. Just be aware of the disconnect.

---

Collectopedia 100%!

I can't remember if I even bothered to go all the way with that in the original

---

which also means I might as well just grind Final Marcus a bunch now to get a bunch of love sources and max out the affinity with everyone

---

ninkendo posted...

which also means I might as well just grind Final Marcus a bunch now to get a bunch of love sources and max out the affinity with everyone

You're a high enough level where you can use the Stormy Belagon method on Eryth Sea, but I'm not sure which way is faster.

---

well everyone's already pink with eachother anyway so I only need a handful of love sources. Either way's fine really

especially when I'm just saving and reloading in front of the gold chest until I get it


---

Finished the main story, now I guess I have to do some grinding before I can take on any of these quests involving Lv90+ monsters. (my team is only 83-84 and can barely land a single hit on those guys)

---

Your blade... it did not cut deep enough.

Still the best scene in the game.

So many great lines, and the new version of Tragic Decision is excellent.

---

DanKirby posted...

Finished the main story, now I guess I have to do some grinding before I can take on any of these quests involving Lv90+ monsters. (my team is only 83-84 and can barely land a single hit on those guys)

I think you're at a good level to train in Alcamoth, if you're looking for a good spot

---

DanKirby posted...

Finished the main story, now I guess I have to do some grinding before I can take on any of these quests involving Lv90+ monsters. (my team is only 83-84 and can barely land a single hit on those guys)

Night Vision is your friend

---

Hmm. Not so sure about Future Connected so far. Its kind of...boring?

---

maybe I finish Xenoblade tonight after I wake up :O

Almost done learning all skills and maxing out everyone's affinity and only a handful of sidequests left, then from there I'll run through all 157 unique monsters from a list to make sure I didn't miss any of them and I got all their affinity coins, then take on the super bosses and finish the story

Then I'll start Future Connected after that.

---

And Future Connected finished after around 7 hours. Its...not great. Except for the Ponspectors.

---