Xenoblade Chronicles X: All 22 Playable Characters & How To Unlock Them

One of the very best parts of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition — or any other Xenoblade game tbh — is the cast of characters who join you on your adventures.

In order to help you to collect 'em all (wrong franchise?), we've put together this quick-look character guide to where each of your newest and bestest pals can be found and added to your squad.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Playable Character List - All 22 Unlockable Characters

Collecting up all characters in XCX will take you some time, and doing it as quickly as possible will require a studious focus on the game's many, many Affinity Quests.

Once you have a team, you might be wondering how to put each character together so they're effective in combat. We've got a guide on the Best Combat Builds For Every Character, which covers the best Skills and Arts for all 22 of them,

Elma

Elma will join you from the start of the game.

Lin

Lin joins you in Chapter 1.

Irina

Irina joins you in Chapter 3.

Gwin

Complete Chapter 3 to unlock Gwin.

Doug

Complete Chapter 3 to unlock Doug.

Lao

Lao shows up during Chapter 4.

L

Complete Chapter 4 to unlock L.

H.B.

Complete the Affinity Mission "A New Rival" (Admin District, NLA) to unlock H.B.

This mission will become available to you after Chapter 3, and once you have reached level 12.

Yelv

Get your level up to 15, complete Chapter 3, and then do the Affinity Mission "Meeting Yelv" to unlock Yelv. (Commercial District, NLA).

Alexa

To recruit Alexa, you need to complete the Affinity Mission "Weaponized", which you can take on once you've cleared Chapter 4 and accepted the "Guinea Pigs Wanted!" Basic Mission.

Frye

Compete the Affinity Quest "Bottoms Up". This quest requires you to complete Chapter 4 first, then you'll want to be around level 19 to breeze through.

One other important point to note, this mission can only be accepted at night. The starting location is NLA's industrial district at the Repenta Diner.

Boze

Head to the East Gate of the Admin District in NLA to accept the Affinity Mission "The Mad Monk". In order to start, you'll speak to Boze at the east gate and take on a request that leads into the mission.

Mia

Complete the "Mamma Mia" affinity quest chain in order to add the fabulous Mia to your mix. Mia will give you the quest, and you can start it at the northwest of the Admin District in NLA , where you'll find her waiting on a platform.

Phog

Complete Chapter 4, then head for the Water Purification Plant in the Residential District of NLA to complete the Foggy Dilemma quest.

Hope

Complete the Hope Springs Eternal affinity quest (NLA, Residential District, Cathedral). You'll need to be level 21 and have accepted the Marry Me! Standard Quest to accept this one.

NeilNail

NeilNail is one of four new characters introduced in Definitive Edition on Switch.

Complete "The Qlurian Archaeologist". You'll find this affinity quest at the BLADE Concourse to the right side of BLADE Tower in NLA. You'll need to be level 21, and have completed chapter 5 to unlock this mission!

Murderess

Complete the "My Dream" Affinity Quest (Admin District, NLA, Hangar). Hit level 22, and complete chapter 5 to unlock access to this one.

Liesel

Liesel is the second new character who you can snap up in Definitive Edition. She's available for use after completing the Affinity Quest "New Skell on the Block" which is available after clearing Chapter 6 and getting a Skell license.

This mission recommends a level of 25, so it's doable fairly early on. Oh, and you'll get a new Skell, too!

Nagi

To unlock Nagi, complete the Affinity Mission "Nagi Time" (Blade Barracks), which becomes available once you've completed Chapter 8.

Celica

Complete Chapter 9 and the "Manhunt" Affinity Mission.

Once done, go to NLA's Industrial District to accept the "New In New LA" Affinity Mission. Simple! Sort of.

Ga Jiarg

Ga Jiarg is a familiar name to those who have played Xenoblade Chronicles X, but in Definitive Editions, he's one of the four new recruitable characters.

To get him to join, you need to complete the Affinity Quest A Challenger Approaches to unlock Ga Jiarg, which is available in Chapter 10. This quest requires a level of 42 (rec 46) and can be taken on from the BLADE Barracks in NLA.

Alois Bernholt - The Hero

The final unlockable character in the game, and the final brand new character in Definitive Edition, Al (as he likes to be called) is a great party member.

AB will join your squad - alongside his rather exciting new Skell - during the events of Chapter 13 - Act 1. Easy!

Who is your favourite character? Do you like the new party members in Definitive Edition? Let us know in the comments.