Attackers are bar none the best role in the game. So much of Xenoblade 2's combat revolves around doing as much damage as possible, and obviously attackers are designed to do that. There are a lot of great, powerful, and just straight up busted attackers, but also plenty that get the short end of the stick comparatively.

This will be looking at the main story, post-game (including New Game +), and Challenge Mode.

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

Pyra & Mythra are amazing Blades. On their own, Pyra is good at dealing lots of damage with Blade Combos, while Mythra is good at spamming Driver Arts by landing critical hits. Pyra also has very strong DPS (damage-per-second) effects, and Mythra can provide nice team with her Foresight skill. Together, they make for a powerful combo.

Unfortunately, though, aside from Blade Combos, Pyra is outclassed by Mythra in every way, and is only really useful for that one thing. Both of them also have pretty low defenses.

Pyra

Stat Mod: Strength 10%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 10%

Specials

Lv1: Flame Nova (Ether) - Increased damage to beast enemies by 100%.

Lv2: Prominence Revolt (Ether) - Increased damage to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv3: Blazing End (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv4: Burning Sword (Ether) - 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Blade Arts

Accuracy Up

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

Purifying Flames - Specials have a 15% chance to defeat non-boss enemies with up to 20% HP.

Resplendence - Increased Blade Combo damage by 72%.

Flaming Edge - Increased critical damage by 50%.

Set-Up

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Core Slots: 2

Aux Cores

- *Fusion Combo Up

- *Specials Lv3 Plus

- Critical Up (or Alts)

- *Affinity Max Atk

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Belts (topple)

- Loincloth

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

Mythra

Stat Mod: Ether 10%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 10%

Specials

Lv1: Ray of Punishment (Ether) - Increased damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv2: Photon Edge (Ether) - Adds a 100% of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv3: Lightning Buster (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv4: Sacred Arrow (Ether) - Adds a 100% of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Blade Arts

Critical Up

Recharge Boost

Battle Skills

Foresight - Increases accuracy and evasion of the party by 50% at max Affinity.

Lightspeed Flurry - Recharges Arts used by 100% upon landing a critical hit.

Glint - Increases critical hit rate by 15%.

Set-Up

Recommended Aux Core:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Critical Up (or Massive Melee)

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Evasion Focus

- Specials Lv2/3 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Loincloth

- Shoes

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Maybe

Challenge Mode: No

Roc is more of a utility Blade than anything. Aside from Corvin, he's Rex's only Blade with a Smash Art, and he's one of few Attacker Blades with an evasion Art. He certainly has his uses, but aside from having access to the highest critical rate tier with the right Core Chip, he's not particularly strong when compared to other Attackers. His bonus effects from Specials and skills also aren't particularly good and he's not very defensive.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Dexterity 15%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 5%

Specials

Lv1: Death Wing (Physical) - Increased damage dealt to flying enemies by 100%.

Lv2: Crushing Twister (Physical) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv3: Feather Typhoon (Ether) - 5% chance of killing flying regular enemies on attack.

Lv4: Crimson Storm (Physical) - Increased damage by 150% to launched enemies.

Blade Arts

Back Attack Up

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

Sickle - Reduced aggro build-up from attacks by 40%.

Storm and Stress - Increased damage dealt by 100% for the first 30 seconds of battle.

Swoop - Increased damage dealt from the back by 100%.

Set-Up

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- Hunter's Chemistry

- Fusion Combo Up

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Vambraces

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Maybe

Pandoria as she is isn't particularly great. While she's strong, her animations are all fairly slow and she's not very tanky. She does at least have Launch and some decently nice reactions with Knockback and Blowdown. Her Lv4 Special is also one of the strongest in the game.

The main appeal of Pandy is Zeke's Unleash Shining Justice skill. With it, she's much stronger and her movement speed and attacking animations are much, MUCH faster. It allows for fast and powerful Art-chaining. But this is only if you've unlocked enough if Zeke's hidden Affinity Chart in New Game+.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 10%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 10%

Specials

Lv1: Lightning Force (Ether) - Increased damage tp machines by 100%.

Lv2: Electric Circus (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv3: Thunder Doom (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv4: Supersonic Thunderbolt Slash (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Recharge Boost

Battle Skills

Quickest Purple - Boosts Art recharge by 50% at max Affinity.

Thunderblast - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Sudden Spark - Increased auto-attack speed by 30%.

Set-Up

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk (or Alts)

- *Critical Up

- *Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- Hunter's Chemistry

- [Enemy] Hunter

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- Headbands

- Medals (critical heal)

- Loincloth

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Maybe

Wulfric is the best Megalance, not counting the reskinned weapons in New Game+. His critical hits are strong and plentiful, and he can do a lot of damage at max Affinity. All of his Specials have a decent number of hits, and his Lv4 Special is particularly strong. He can also really lay a hurt on toppled and launched enemies. Getting his Core Crystal is also required in the story, so he's particularly worth using.

The main downsides are his low defenses and long Art cooldown. He's also outclassed by the Cobra Bardiche Blade who has the same element and (essentially) weapon. Megalances also aren't a particularly strong weapon to begin with.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 15%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 5%

Specials

Lv1: Brutal Lance (Physical) - Increased damage to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv2: Termination Blast (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv3: Hellbound (Physical) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Apocalypse (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Blade Arts

Critical Up

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

The Preternatural - Increased damage to toppled enemies by 150%.

Power Unleashed - Increases damage dealt by 100% at max Affinity.

Critical Strike - Increased critical damage by 50%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Rex / Mòrag

Rex's Strength is naturally higher, but not by much. His animations with the Megalance are also just ever so slightly faster. It's mostly a matter of if you want Break (Rex) or Smash (Mòrag).

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- *Specials Lv4 Plus

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Swimsuit (if using Mòrag)

- Burst Symbol

- Abyss Masque

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Maybe Not

Vale has pretty strong boosted damage, particularly her increased damage from using Specials. She also has nice Blade Arts for an Attacker, a lot of Aux Cores and some pretty strong Specials. However, her Special buff resets after you switch off of her, and she relies somewhat heavily on positioning. Her Specials are also fairly slow.

Abilities

Ideal Driver: Rex / Mòrag

Stat Mod: Ether 15%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 10%

Specials

Lv1: Blood Altar (Physical) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv2: Tainted Palace (Physical) - 5% chance of killing beast regular enemies on attack.

Lv3: Accursed Prison (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Dark Drama (Physical) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Blade Arts

Back Attack Up

Critical Up

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

Violence Machine - Increased damage dealt by 50% each time a Special is used (max 300%).

Void Lance - Increased damage dealt from the side by 100%.

Overture of Blood - Increased damage dealt to launched enemies by 150%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Rex / Mòrag

Rex's Strength is naturally higher, but not by much. His animations with the Megalance are also just ever so slightly faster. It's mostly a matter of if you want Break (Rex) or Smash (Mòrag).

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Specials Lv1 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

- Abyss Masque

- Vambraces

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Maybe

Challenge Mode: Maybe Not

Agate has some very high, but very situational damage boosts, such as dealing more damage to insectoid enemies. She can also buff the entire party's damage at max Affinity, which is good. She also has particularly high defenses for an Attacker.

As mentioned before, her boosts are very situational, so they aren't particularly great. She also has pretty slow Specials with not many hits, and her Blade Arts are less than good.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Dexterity 10%

Defenses:

Physical 20%

Ether 20%

Specials

Lv1: Heliodor ion (Physical) - Increases damage dealt to launched enemies by 150%.

Lv2: Star Beryl Courage (Physical) - Increases damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv3: Rhodochrosite Might (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv4: Invincible Moldavite (Ether) - Increases damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Blade Arts

Critical Up

Accuracy Up

Battle Skills

Razor-Sharp Iolite - Increased damage dealt by the party by 50% at max Affinity.

Tanzanite Pursuer - Increases damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Tiger's Eye Wrecker - Increased damage dealt to insectoid enemies by 80%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke

Zeke is the best Greataxe . His animations are all pretty fast, and he's got really nice Arts with it like Topple and Critical recharge.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- Critical Up

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Belts (topple)

- Loincloth

- Critical Symbol

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

The main appeal of Dagas is his Kaiser Zone skill. With it, he can increase attack power and AOE for the entire party. But otherwise, he's got pretty respectable damage, particularly in Blade Combos. His gold skill is largely useless, and his Specials have low hit counts. He's one of the best at playing and is pretty much just used for that.

Defenses:

Physical 15%

Ether 15%

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 10%

Specials

Lv1: Flame Crown (Physical) - Increases damage dealt to aquatic enemies by 100%.

Lv2: Tyrant Crush (Physical) - Increases damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv3: Kaiser Flare (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv4: Blazing Conquest (Ether) - Increase damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Kaiser Zone - Increased damage and AOE of the party by 120% at max Affinity.

Regal Presence - Increased Blade Combo damage by 60%.

Gold Effect - Increases enemy gold drop rate by 100%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Mòrag / Zeke

While Zeke is the better Greataxe , as mentioned before, Dagas' best aspect is his ability to buff the entire party. So having Mòrag buff the stronger Zeke is particularly nice.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon

Aux Cores

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- *Affinity Max Atk

- Fusion Combo Up

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Headbands

- Belts (topple, Zeke)

- Vambraces

- Critical Symbol

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Maybe

Challenge Mode: Maybe Not

Praxis has particularly good skills and has some really fast and high hit-count Specials (particularly Lv3 and 4). Her critical rate can also get really high. However, she unfortunately only has one Aux Core slot. Her accuracy buffs aren't the mist useful and her Lv1 and 2 Specials also don't hit that much. Though at least she isn't a random draw from a Core Crystal.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Dexterity 10%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 5%

Specials

Lv1: Foam Blast (Ether) - Reduces 40% of aggro toward the upon landing a hit.

Lv2: Geyser Spring (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance to deal a guard-annuling attack

Lv3: Fierce Deluge (Physical) - Increased damage from the side by 150%.

Lv4: Torrential Pain (Physical) - Increased damage from the side by 150%.

Blade Arts

Accuracy Up

Critical Up

Battle Skills

The Awakened (Power) - Increased damage dealt by 100% at max Affinity.

The Awakened (Skill) - Increased accuracy by 50% at max Affinity.

Brimming Pep - Increased damage dealt by 60% when HP is 90% or higher.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Rex / Mòrag

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Critical Up

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

- Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

Main Story: Maybe (Not)

Post-Game / New Game+: Maybe Not

Challenge Mode: Maybe

Azami has an...interesting niche. All of her boosted damage comes from having low HP. While she is very powerful when boosted, especially in Chain Attacks, it's not a particularly amazing niche. It really requires a specific set-up to be great, and it's pretty unfavorable early-game.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Ether 15%

Defenses:

Physical 0%

Ether 15%

Specials

Lv1: Nightmare Rondeau

Lv2: Shadow Rhapsody

Lv3: Decadent Finale

Lv4: Evil Ensemble

*All Ether, all do increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less. Hit counts and range are all different.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Accuracy Up

Battle Skills

All For Love - The lower the Driver's HP, the stronger the Special.

Pain of Longing - Increases Affinity by 30 when an ally takes damage.

Vendetta - Counters attacks with 300% ether damage.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke

While Nia has slightly higher Ether, her main role as a healer outside of (and probably in) New Game+ means she isn't able to get off the boosts as easily.

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Endurance

- *Affinity Max Atk

- Specials Lv1 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

Accessories

- *Loincloth

- *Revival Pod

- *Burst Symbol

- Headbands

- Critical Symbol

- Abyss Masque

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Maybe Not

Sheba has some pretty specific but nice boosts. In particular, she gets stronger both from picking up gold mid-battle and when there are more female characters, both Drivers and Blades. With those, she can be monstrously strong.

However, she's not particularly great in Challenge Mode. Getting her boost from females requires less freedom with builds, and you can't pick up money at all unless you use her Lv3 Special. Her Specials also don't have particularly high hit counts, and her defenses are below average.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Ether 15%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 15%

Specials

Lv1: Dessert Bomb (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 90% or higher.

Lv2: Tea Leaves (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv3: Golden Font (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance to drop gold upon landing a hit.

Lv4: Royal Tea Party (Ether) - No bonus effect.

Blade Arts

Critical Up

Back Attack Up

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

Economicanimal - Increases attack power as gold is collected during battle (max 333%).

Entitled Entourage - Increases damage dealt by 30% for each female in battle (excluding self).

Financial Settlement - Reduces aggro drawn from Driver Arts and Specials by 30%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Nia

Not only does Nia have the highest Ether stat, but her being a female means Sheba will always get the minimum 30% damage boost from Entitled Entourage.

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Critical Up

- *Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

Accessories

- *Crimson Headband

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

- Vambraces

- Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

Zenobia is very strong. Her boosts make her particularly great against bosses and Unique Monsters, and especially superbosses. If her boost requirements are met, she can deal some of the highest damage in the game. However, although she's powerful, her Specials have relatively low hit counts, so she isn't particularly great in Chain Attacks. She can also draw aggro pretty easily, which isn't great for an Attacker.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 15%

Defenses:

Physical 15%

Ether 15%

Specials

Lv1: Diabolic Zephyr (Physical) - Increased damage by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv2: Adamantine Axe (Physical) - Increased damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv3: Ascension Blade (Ether) - Increased damage dealt to higher-level enemies by 100%.

Lv4: Twixt Heaven & Hell (Physical) - Increased damage dealt to higher-level enemies by 100%.

Blade Arts

Recharge Boost

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Carnage - Increased damage dealt to bosses and Unique Monsters by 100%.

The Indomitable - Increased damage dealt to higher-level enemies by 80%.

Greatest Warrior - 40% more damage dealt for each enemy in battle (max 250%).

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke

Zeke is the best Greataxe . His animations are all pretty fast, and he's got really nice Arts with it like Topple and Critical recharge.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

- *Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

- Specials Lv3/4 Plus

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Loincloth

- Abyss Masque

- Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

Main Story: Yes

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

Herald is another really strong one. At max Affinity, she can reach insanely high damage. Her Lv1 Special is also the best in the game with 16 hits and high critical damage. It's particularly great in Chain Attacks. And her Lv4 is no slouch either. Unfortunately, though, the side effect of Dissolve Seal makes her easy to kill, and her healing ive doesn't really help much.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 15%

Defenses:

Physical 20%

Ether 15%

Specials

Lv1: Empyrean Salvo (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv2: The Heavens Open (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv3: Final Retribution (Physical) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv4: Heaven on Earth (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Dissolve Seal - Deal 200% and take 30% more damage at max Affinity.

Taboo - Increases aggro reduction by 30%.

Unlimited Output - Restores 12% HP of damage dealt after a successful auto-attack.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke

Zeke just barely doesn't have the highest Ether stat, but he's still an amazing Ether Cannon . His animations are also just a little bit faster. With Herald in particular, he benefits way more than Nia from the Strength Mod.

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Specials Lv1 Plus

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Loincloth

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Burst Symbol

- Abyss Masque

Main Story: Yes (If you can even get her)

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

KOS-MOS is the best Ether Cannon. She offers party healing with her Lv2 Special, great DPS with her attacks, and her tanking abilities are surprisingly good at max Affinity. Not only does she annul defense completely, but her Specials are really strong, especially the Lv3. Her only downsides are her low base crit rate, lack of Driver Combo Arts other than Break, and mess than good aggro reduction.

But overall, there's a very good reason why she's so impossible to unlock in the first place.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Ether 20%

Defenses:

Physical 20%

Ether 20%

Specials

Lv1: R-Blade (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv2: H-Effect R (Ether) - When landing a hit, restores 50% of damage dealt to the whole party.

Lv3: F-G-Shot (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: X-Buster (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Blade Arts

Recharge Boost

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Phase Transition Tech - Annuls enemy defense and increases Special damage dealt by 100%.

Hyoerclock - Deal 100% more and take 30% less damage at max Affinity.

Encephalon - Reduces aggro build-up from attacks by 40%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke / Nia

Recommended Core Chip:

Moon Matter

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- *Specials Lv2/3 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Loincloth (Zeke)

- Burst Symbol

- Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

- Abyss Masque

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Main Story: NG+ only

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

The Cobra Bardiche Blade is one of the strongest DPS Blades in the game. While she can't change Core Chips, the weapon she has comes with really good stuff, including a high crit rate and increased crit damage. She works very similarly to a Megalance, but comes with an evasion Art on all Drivers. She has a particularly good niche in dealing more damage to enemies with an elemental weakness. That's great for an Earth Blade, as their Blade Combos can go into Volcano, which has very high DPS. She also gets a damage buff from defeating enemies, which is particularly useful in Challenge Mode.

Downsides are that said buff is very conditional, she has long cooldown, and her Specials have low hit counts.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 15%

Defenses:

Physical 10%

Ether 10%

Specials

Lv1: Swallow's Flight (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv2: Great Garland (Ether) - Increased damage dealt to toppled enemies by 150%.

Lv3: Dragonfly Slash (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Lv4: Illusory Bloom (Ether) - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Fatal Blow - Increased damage dealt by the party when elemental weaknesses are exposed.

Fury - Increased damage dealt by 150% when HP is 30% or less.

Sanguine Steel - Increased damage dealt for each enemy killed by 100% (max 300%).

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Mòrag / Rex

Rex's Strength is naturally higher, but not by much. Like with the Megalance, his animations are also just ever so slightly faster. It's mostly a matter of if you want Break (Rex) or Smash (Mòrag).

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Fusion Combo

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Burst Symbol

- Vambraces

- Abyss Masque

Main Story: NG+ only

Post-Game / New Game+: Maybe

Challenge Mode: Maybe Not

Out of any Blade on this list, Obrona's probably the weakest. But she may be worth using at least a bit. She has a really good Break Art (on Nia) that recharges on critical hits, and her Specials are pretty good. Her fast auto-attack speed also makes up for her Arts' long cooldown.

She's unfortunately pretty weak, though, and her skills aren't that outstanding. She also has a fixed crit rate like every other NG+ Blade. She doesn't have anything particularly noteworthy other than that great Break Art. Really, she's only listed here as an option for her ideal Driver.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Agility 20%

Defenses:

Physical 5%

Ether 5%

Specials

Lv1: Shred (Physical) - Increased damage dealt from the back by 150%.

Lv2: Skewer (Ether) - Increased damage by 150% when HP is 90% or higher.

Lv3: Cruel World (Ether) - 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Lacerator (Ether) - Increased damage by 150% when HP is 90% or higher.

Blade Arts

Recharge Boost

Battle Skills

Swift Kitty - Increased auto-attack speed by 45%.

Now You See Me - Reduced aggro drawn from auto-attacks by 75%.

Quick Prep - Reduced cooldown time for a Blade Switch by 45%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Nia

She has that aforementioned great Break Art, plus comes with a healing Art on her. She also has two offensive ether arts, which compliments Nia's high Ether pretty nicely.

The Swift Kitty skill is also fitting.

Aux Core Slots: 2

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Scarves

- *Scopes

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: Yes (If you can even get her)

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

T-elos is the best Greataxe. She has the highest boosted damage in the game with some solid skills, strong Specials and, like KOS-MOS, just completely ignores defense and boosts Specials. She's pretty much Zenobia on steroids. Though some of her boosts aren't always the most practical or optimal. And her Lv3 Special, in particular, is relatively slow and doesn't hit a whole ton.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 15%

Defenses:

Physical 20%

Ether 20%

Specials

Lv1: ECHIDNA (Physical) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv2: MAGDALENE 16 (Ether) - Increased damage dealt to higher-level enemies.

Lv3: T-SKYLLA (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: U-TENERITAS (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Blade Arts

Arts Plus

Critical Up

Battle Skills

Phase Transition Tech - Annuls enemy defense and increases Special damage dealt by 100%.

Heaven's Tracker - Increases damage a Driver deals by 200% (max 500%) each time they fall in battle.

Heartbreaker - Increased damage dealt for each enemy killed by 100% (max 300%).

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Zeke

Zeke is the best Greataxe . His animations are all pretty fast, and he's got really nice Arts with it like Topple and Critical recharge.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon Chip

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Specials Lv2 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Loincloth

- Orbs

- Abyss Masque

- Burst Symbol

Main Story: No

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

Shulk plays very differently from other Attackers. While, yes, he can do some good damage, but true to how he was in Xenoblade 1, he doubles as party . He's also a reskin of a Shield Hammer, but he's actually good. His animations are much faster, his cooldown is faster, and he's much stronger. He even has access to the highest auto-attack damage in the game. His Lv2 Special in particular is really good, having a solid bonus effect, AOE and speed. In the way of , his Lv1 Special is incredibly helpful in Challenge Mode as it's the only way to get rid of the Awakening status. His skills provide nice buffs to the party, and his visions are incredible for avoiding powerful attacks.

However, his Lv1 and 3 Specials aren't particularly great for Chain Attacks. His damage buffs are also outclassed by other Blades like Dagas and Agate. And he's still technically a Shield Hammer, so his animations aren't the absolute fastest.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Ether 20%

Defenses:

Physical 20%

Ether 20%

Specials

Lv1: Monado Purge (Ether) - 100% chance to remove Awakened status from the enemy.

Lv2: Monado Cyclone (Ether) - Increased critical damage by 85%.

Lv3: Monado Buster (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Monado Unbound (Ether)

Blade Arts

Accuracy Up

Debuff Cancel

Back Attack Up

Battle Skills

Vision - Can avoid powerful enemy attacks via quick-time event (60 second cooldown).

Monado Enchant - Increased damage dealt by the party by 40% at max Affinity.

Monado Speed - Increased accuracy and evasion of the party by 40% at max Affinity.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Mòrag

Mòrag is already one of the better Shield Hammer s, being a bit faster than the others and having a Topple Art.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon Chip

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Specials Lv2 Plus

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- Critical Up

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Swimsuit

- *Shoes

- Burst Symbol

- Abyss Masque

Main Story: No

Post-Game / New Game+: Yes

Challenge Mode: Yes

Elma's high damage ratio, fast animations and strong Specials give her some of the highest DPS in the game. Her Specials make her particularly good in Chain Attacks because of their high hit counts. Her crit rate can also get very high. And she has really solid defenses for an attacker combined with an evasion Art on all Drivers.

The REAL pièce de résistance is Overdrive. It provides good party with stacking bonus effects, shortened Art cooldown, and reaction resist reduction. And it'll stay active even if she's not in out. (Plus, Wir fliegen is a fucking awesome song).

Unfortunately, it cannot be combined with Chain Attacks, and those are typically the better use for the Party Gauge. And she has no Driver Combo Arts besides Break on Nia.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Ether 20%

Defenses:

Physical 30%

Ether 25%

Specials

Lv1: Sliding Slinger (Ether) - Increased damage dealt to higher-level enemies by 100%.

Lv2: Hundred Shells (Ether) - Increased damage dealt from the back by 150%.

Lv3: Violent Streak (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Full Metal Jaguar (Ether) - Adds a 100% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Blade Arts

Critical Up

Recharge Boost

Arts Plus

Battle Skills

Overdrive - With her in battle, press R and — to activate. (Effects mentioned before). Uses Party Gauge, lasts 90 seconds.

Crisis Catalyst - Increased damage by 150% and crit rate by 40% at max Affinity.

Background Noise - Increased damage dealt from the back by 150%.

Set-Up

Ideal Driver: Rex

Mainly because he has high ratios and low cooldown with Twin Rings(-like) weapons.

Recommended Core Chip:

Tachyon Chip

Aux Cores

- *Affinity Max Atk

- *Hunter's Chemistry

- *Specials Lv2/3 Plus

- Outdoor/Indoor Atk Up

- [Enemy] Hunter

- Sunlight Eye/Night Vision

Accessories

- *Headbands

- *Medals (critical heal)

- *Burst Symbol

- Loincloth

- Abyss Masque

- Eyepatches (or Noise Dampener)

CHAPTER 7 STORY SPOILERS!!!

Pneuma

The true form of Pyra and Mythra. By far the strongest Blade in the game (not necessarily best overall) and the best Blade. She's capable of boosting the entire party's damage by a ton, while also boosting their accuracy and evasion. She also has the highest defenses of any Blade. And she's capable of using literally any element of Special, and will get one hit on every single orb in one move in a Chain Attack.

However, she can only be used for 1 minute per battle, and you need to have a full Party Gauge and max Affinity with the Aegis in order to activate her. The lack of Aux Core slots and locked auto-attack damage also make her fall behind in the post-game.

Abilities

Stat Mod: Strength 10% / Ether 10%

Defenses

Physical 60%

Ether 60%

Specials

Lv1: Starburst (Ether) - Adds a 60% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv2: Radiant Flare (Ether) - Adds a 60% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv3: Genesis Saber (Ether) - Adds a 60% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Lv4: Infinity Blade (Ether) - Adds a 60% chance of dealing a guard-annuling attack.

Battle Skills

A Dream of the Future - Can initiate elemental combo at random.

The Chosen One - Greatly enhances the Driver's abilities through the power of the Aegis.

The Aegis - Greatly enhances the party's abilities through the power of the Aegis.

Best Accessories

- Headbands

- *Medals

- *Burst Symbol

- *Loincloth

- Abyss Masque

- Belts

The main strategy you'd want to use with her is setting up maybe at least 4 orbs (just to be on the safe side) and get another Lv2 Blade Combo afterward. Activate her after this is set up as she always starts with a Lv3 Special, which'll allow you to immediately end the Blade Combo. Then do a Chain Attack and wreck house.