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[chaosblade]

I always feel like the odd man out since my party destroyed

Spoiler

Loritha

,

Spoiler

Gadolt

, and the final boss, plus earlier bosses like

Spoiler

Xord

. Yet I seriously struggled with the near-endgame

Spoiler

dragon you fight before Dickson

. I guess it was just because the game glitched or something and I couldn't use Shulk to get rid of the spike effect, so 7th kept committing suicide via spike damage.

I still don't know how I beat that on my first try, it was one of the ugliest and most poorly fought boss fights I've ever done in an RPG.

I also had trouble with Reckless Godwin, but that unique is an absolute beast if you try to kill it when you're first making your way through that area.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Congratulations, man! Glad you kept at it and didn't give up.
You can pretty much go ahead and beat the game now, I think, without having to do the whole bunch of quests that opened up since you don't like those, although there might be some less "filler" ones that you might want to check out.

Thanks. I just started exploring some of the new areas and am on LV74. Where's the best place to level up from 74 to 80? I want to explore Thephra Cave, but I'm getting smoked by all the LV 89 monsters.

 

[Zornica]

Thanks. I just started exploring some of the new areas and am on LV74. Where's the best place to level up from 74 to 80? I want to explore Thephra Cave, but I'm getting smoked by all the LV 89 monsters.

there are 2 options:

1) follow the main path, because it was ment to guide you from lvl ~74 to X (follow the path until dunban tells you that there will be no turning back if you move any further.)

2) wind cave has some lvl 75 enemies, but the density is pretty low.

 

[Wichu]

Thanks. I just started exploring some of the new areas and am on LV74. Where's the best place to level up from 74 to 80? I want to explore Thephra Cave, but I'm getting smoked by all the LV 89 monsters.

Try the final dungeon(s) (

Spoiler

Bionis' Interior and Prison Island redux

); also, Bionis' Leg (Windy Cave) has monsters around your level. Tephra Cave post-game is one of the last places you should be exploring - I did Bionis' Leg, then

Spoiler

Prison Island

, Satorl Marsh (night), and

Spoiler

Alcamoth

, before venturing into Tephra Cave's later sections.

 

[chaosblade]

Thanks. I just started exploring some of the new areas and am on LV74. Where's the best place to level up from 74 to 80? I want to explore Thephra Cave, but I'm getting smoked by all the LV 89 monsters.

80 is about where you will want to be at the end of the game. Best idea is probably just to continue the story.

But Windy Cave and the high level Kromers around Eryth Sea are good for getting to 80. Then

Spoiler

Alcamoth

should get you high enough to start tackling Tephra Cave. And to max your level, the level 98 Deinos Sauros served me well.

But yeah, you're talking post-game stuff, if you can tackle Tephra cave you're way overleveled for the final boss. Just make sure you keep a save before the point of no return (you're clearly told about it).

 

[flyover]

I did Bionis' Leg, then

Spoiler

Prison Island

, Satorl Marsh (night), and

Spoiler

Alcamoth

, before venturing into Tephra Cave's later sections.

Yeah. Sweep the Bionis' Leg first (the cave and the lake platforms), and then head to

Spoiler

Alcamoth

. The latter is good for several levels' worth of quick grinding, once you can handle it.

 

[Wichu]

If you want to make leveling ridiculously easy, kill a few Bagrus (?) Nebulae in Makna Forest; the Rare Mars Crystals they drop often have the Exp. Up property. Get a few Exp. Up gems, and getting to 99 is a breeze - with the right skill links, you can get about 300k exp. per monster. They should be beatable at about level 85.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Thanks for all your tips guys. I will probably just grind my character up to 80 before I have another go at

Spoiler

Lorithia, because right now my AI comrades are too retarded to stay clear of the acid pools. Seriously, the AI in this game is retarded and during this battle it really shows how unreliable and idiotic they are. Environmental hazards with an AI whose wayfinding ability is that of a suicidal lemming... what a great idea. Why not make that fight underwater and time based as well, and throw in an escort mission while you're at it.

I really don't know, but given that I can't rely on the AI with that boss I better grind myself up before facing the boss again. Thanks for the tips, I allready started killing Gogols on Bionis Leg, will go to satorl marsh and then to alcamoth.

It's rare that a game makes you feel underpowered at level 75.

 

[SecretMoblin]

Make sure, if you aren't, to use the tools you have to 'guide' the AI. If they start going to the edges of the arena, command them to come to you and then either command them to attack at will or attack the same enemy as the leader.

It might be an annoyance to have to use a feature you rarely (if ever) need elsewhere, but it can make a massive difference.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Make sure, if you aren't, to use the tools you have to 'guide' the AI. If they start going to the edges of the arena, command them to come to you and then either command them to attack at will or attack the same enemy as the leader.

It might be an annoyance to have to use a feature you use rarely (if ever) elsewhere, but it can make a massive difference.

I use this feature all the time, and the wayfinding of the AI rarely works in normal places, let alone ones with environmental dangers.

I might need a hammer and some nails to fix those morons into place as they constantly ignore my orders. They allready did the same BS during the

Spoiler

Gadolt fight

and it's the same problem now. They are either running in circles doing nothing at all, or running off into the acid pool standing there or running in the opposite direction when called.

Actually a leash would be better. I don't want to rely on those morons, so its better to just grind up to 80 or higher before going back there.

 

[flyover]

Actually a leash would be better. I don't want to rely on those morons, so its better to just grind up to 80 or higher before going back there.

I completely understand. My companions were idiots in the

Spoiler

Lorithea

battle, as well. Every time I fought that battle (seemingly regardless of my commands to them), they splashed around in the acid pool: swimming about and all but growing mermaid tails and singing "Under the Sea."

That's when I started sidequesting, and got sidetracked for the next several dozen hours. By the time I returned to that boss battle, it was cake. But in the first go-rounds, I felt as if I were being punished for something beyond my control.

I love the game. My game of 201X, so far. Just had a problem with that battle in particular. And, in general, the boss battles were the weakest part of the game's design, to me.

 

[CrazyDude]

So how fast is the battle system compared to other jrpgs?

 

[Elfforkusu]

So how fast is the battle system compared to other jrpgs?

It's real time, like a single player MMO.

Generally speaking, battles drag on if you're underlevelled, but you can bail out (unless it's a boss) and come back later.

 

[B.K.]

I'm stuck at the beginning of

Spoiler

Galahad Fortress. I have to kill a unique monster Mechon to get an item I need, but when I try to attack it, eight more Mechons fall from the ceiling. Guess it's time to grind.

 

[StunandStab]

My first loss in a boss fight was because I decided to fight a mechon boss without Shulk in the party... lol, that didn't go so well. I just can't bring myself to put party members together in battle who have max affinity with eachother already, I gotta keep building that affinity! Everyone must love Melia.

 

[fabricated backlash]

I completely understand. My companions were idiots in the

Spoiler

Lorithea

battle, as well. Every time I fought that battle (seemingly regardless of my commands to them), they splashed around in the acid pool: swimming about and all but growing mermaid tails and singing "Under the Sea."

That's when I started sidequesting, and got sidetracked for the next several dozen hours. By the time I returned to that boss battle, it was cake. But in the first go-rounds, I felt as if I were being punished for something beyond my control.

I love the game. My game of 201X, so far. Just had a problem with that battle in particular. And, in general, the boss battles were the weakest part of the game's design, to me.

I finally did it. I won't lie, this might be the worst boss fight I had to endure ever. About 90% of the time, I had to spend ordering my team around so they don't stroll off into the acid pools. What a chore.

I am now at LV 77 and on track again, the enemies and challenge right now seems appropriate and manageable, unlike the last two roadblocks who simply threw me off.

Spoiler

Btw, is Prison Island the last Area, or is there more afterwards?

 

[Feep]

I finally did it. I won't lie, this might be the worst boss fight I had to endure ever. About 90% of the time, I had to spend ordering my team around so they don't stroll off into the acid pools. What a chore.

I am now at LV 77 and on track again, the enemies and challenge right now seems appropriate and manageable, unlike the last two roadblocks who simply threw me off.

Spoiler

Btw, is Prison Island the last Area, or is there more afterwards?

That's the final area.

 

[Eusis]

Generally speaking, battles drag on if you're underlevelled, but you can bail out (unless it's a boss) and come back later.

And if it's a boss, you die and come back later!

 

[fabricated backlash]

That's the final area.

Yeah, seems appropriate in terms of setting and challenge.

 

[Wichu]

I'm stuck at the beginning of

Spoiler

Galahad Fortress. I have to kill a unique monster Mechon to get an item I need, but when I try to attack it, eight more Mechons fall from the ceiling. Guess it's time to grind.

You can lure out the normal Mechon, then fight the unique by itself.

 

[beje]

Just finished the game for the first time. I was trying to do as much sidequests as I could find but ended up calling bullshit after finishing the ones in

Spoiler

Agniratha

(and looking at my backlog) so I just rushed to the end from there. Final play time, 102 hours. It's been ages since I clock that high in a game without counting Pokémon (where you can just mash "A" or walk eggs while you're doing other stuff), probably the last one was Final Fantasy X-2.

Also, the whole ending stuff about

Spoiler

the orbital station and how everything started

really caught me off-guard. That twist was really damn good, and a great way to put everything together.

Definitely, best JRPG of the whole generation, and very high in my personal Top 10.

 

[Ultratech]

Just finished the game for the first time. I was trying to do as much sidequests as I could find but ended up calling bullshit after finishing the ones in

Spoiler

Agniratha

(and looking at my backlog) so I just rushed to the end from there. Final play time, 102 hours. It's been ages since I clock that high in a game without counting Pokémon (where you can just mash "A" or walk eggs while you're doing other stuff), probably the last one was Final Fantasy X-2.

Also, the whole ending stuff about

Spoiler

the orbital station and how everything started

really caught me off-guard. That twist was really damn good, and a great way to put everything together.

Definitely, best JRPG of the whole generation, and very high in my personal Top 10.

Yeah, I'd have to agree. I just finished it up myself at around 115 hours. (Lv90; Probably did like 90% of all Quests.) Crazy stuff that last fight, though it was kinda easy (chalk it up to being Lv90 and OP as hell; there was no way I wasn't gonna win).

And yeah, that little plot revelation towards the end was pretty surprising. Who would've thought that?

But yeah, easily one of the best JRPGs I've played in a while. Feels good man. Feels damn good.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Just finished the game for the first time. I was trying to do as much sidequests as I could find but ended up calling bullshit after finishing the ones in

Spoiler

Agniratha

(and looking at my backlog) so I just rushed to the end from there. Final play time, 102 hours. It's been ages since I clock that high in a game without counting Pokémon (where you can just mash "A" or walk eggs while you're doing other stuff), probably the last one was Final Fantasy X-2.

Also, the whole ending stuff about

Spoiler

the orbital station and how everything started

really caught me off-guard. That twist was really damn good, and a great way to put everything together.

Definitely, best JRPG of the whole generation, and very high in my personal Top 10.

yeah even with the problems I had with

Spoiler

Gadolt and Lorithia

I can safely say that I haven't enjoyed a JRPG as much as this one since Skies of Arcadia.

The sense of exploration and discovery in this game is amazing. The scale is off the charts, and while it sometimes drags a bit too much for my taste, and has some boring filler content later on in the game, it is still one of my top games this generation. Definetly the best JRPG in years that I played.

 

[clemenx]

Oh man this game is a straight up DRUG. I asked a friend who lives in Spain to buy it for me since she was coming for Christmas.

I'm level 35 at 23 hours and just got

Spoiler

Riki

I've been using Dunban since getting him, with Shulk and Sharla. Don't know what to do with my party with the 2 newest members D:
I've been way overleveled for every boss so far but the questing and exploring is oh so worth it.

 

[Oxx]

After putting the Wii away over Christmas I'm probably more likely to go back to the high-level Xenoblade end-game than to try and finish Zelda.

 

[EvaTType01]

I passed the game, however which part is the "point of no return?", i was reading that it will tell you, i was waiting for it, but i guess i must have missed it......

Spoiler

mechonis got destroyed GASP! and all the other quests on mechonis field and argitrnita i didnt finish yet.....

I need a sense of where to kinda stop and do the other side quests, so that I can begin my new game+

Also, I was wondering, how are you guy's builds on Tank char? is it all full blown agi or def? or a mix and match of both? also, if theres a spike toppled enemy, you dont topple him right? is there an indicator somewhere that tells me the enemy has spike abilities?

 

[Levyne]

I passed the game, however which part is the "point of no return?", i was reading that it will tell you, i was waiting for it, but i guess i must have missed it......

Spoiler

mechonis got destroyed GASP! and all the other quests on mechonis field and argitrnita i didnt finish yet.....

I need a sense of where to kinda stop and do the other side quests, so that I can begin my new game+

Also, I was wondering, how are you guy's builds on Tank char? is it all full blown agi or def? or a mix and match of both? also, if theres a spike toppled enemy, you dont topple him right? is there an indicator somewhere that tells me the enemy has spike abilities?

Before end game I just used the Monado skill to get rid of aura to deal with spike enemies. Later it's pretty much required to get the Spike defense gems to fight the high level UMs and that also reduces spike damage whether it's topple spike or not.

The point you referenced is a significant one and does lock you out of some quests or items, but the true point of no return is 1000% obvious. One of your party members will let you know.

Spoiler

It's an Elevator, basically don't take it.

.

Agility is the best stat because (I believe) it increases your change to hit and decreases the enemies chance to hit you.

 

[chaosblade]

I passed the game, however which part is the "point of no return?", i was reading that it will tell you, i was waiting for it, but i guess i must have missed it......

Spoiler

mechonis got destroyed GASP! and all the other quests on mechonis field and argitrnita i didnt finish yet.....

I need a sense of where to kinda stop and do the other side quests, so that I can begin my new game+

Every time you are about to get to a point where timed quests expire, you'll be hit with a "Do you want to do this?" or "Are you sure?" type option. I'm pretty sure there are only three times in the entire game where this happens,

Spoiler

one when you start Colony 6 reconstruction, timed quests at the refugee camp expire. One on Junks before you go to Mechonis Core, timed quests on Mechonis and Alcamoth expire,

and one right before the end of the game. For that last one, it's not vague at all that it's the point of no return.

Also, I was wondering, how are you guy's builds on Tank char? is it all full blown agi or def? or a mix and match of both? also, if theres a spike toppled enemy, you dont topple him right? is there an indicator somewhere that tells me the enemy has spike abilities?

Defense for Reyn, but I didn't really use him much once I got more party members. 100% Agility for 7th and Dunban, as high as they could go, not really any emphasis on defense at all.

And I don't think there is an indicator for spikes, apart from you taking damage.

 

[EvaTType01]

oh.....now i understand what those clock symbols mean next to the quest title, i knew they expired, but didnt know when, lol, thanks!

that last one with

Spoiler

Dunban talking at prison island before the gate was very obvious haha, I was just confused at the other points, thanks!

 

[Zornica]

I passed the game, however which part is the "point of no return?", i was reading that it will tell you, i was waiting for it, but i guess i must have missed it......

Spoiler

mechonis got destroyed GASP! and all the other quests on mechonis field and argitrnita i didnt finish yet.....

I need a sense of where to kinda stop and do the other side quests, so that I can begin my new game+

Also, I was wondering, how are you guy's builds on Tank char? is it all full blown agi or def? or a mix and match of both? also, if theres a spike toppled enemy, you dont topple him right? is there an indicator somewhere that tells me the enemy has spike abilities?

you didn't miss it, you haven't reached it yet. Just go on, you can't miss it. Agility is the most important atribute by far, so I'd go with that. If an enemy has spikes, your allies will die, that should be indicator enough i guess there is no other way than to simply know if an enemy has spikes or not.

edit: damn, my browser didn't show all those posts in between -_-

Every time you are about to get to a point where timed quests expire, you'll be hit with a "Do you want to do this?" or "Are you sure?" type option. I'm pretty sure there are only three times in the entire game where this happens,

there is at least one other time when that happens:

Spoiler

after you finished alcamoth and go for valak mountain, the high entia "airship" captain will ask you the same thing.

 

[chickdigger802]

Do the controls 'feel' better later? Got past the first 'town', and found it really weird that ability select is on the dpad and there seems to be an emphasize on where you wack a dude, so you need some claw grip to be 'effective'. Also not really sure what people in my party are doing.

 

[chaosblade]

Do the controls 'feel' better later? Got past the first 'town', and found it really weird that ability select is on the dpad and there seems to be an emphasize on where you wack a dude, so you need some claw grip to be 'effective'. Also not really sure what people in my party are doing.

Classic controller? Sounds like you might be better off with the Wii Remote+Nunchuck since movement and art selection is easier/more straightforward. Camera control isn't as good though.

I didn't really have any problem with a CCPro though. And only a few arts (mostly Shulk's) emphasize where you hit an enemy.

 

[clemenx]

Oh man this game is a straight up DRUG. I asked a friend who lives in Spain to buy it for me since she was coming for Christmas.

I'm level 35 at 23 hours and just got

Spoiler

Riki

I've been using Dunban since getting him, with Shulk and Sharla. Don't know what to do with my party with the 2 newest members D:
I've been way overleveled for every boss so far but the questing and exploring is oh so worth it.

12 Hours after this post, I'm level 40 at 30 hours played XD This is what I meant with drug, this game just kills a day with free time. I just got to

Spoiler

Eryth Sea

and had to force myself to save.

Any advice for using

Spoiler

Melia? I want to use her but I feel dumb or something I can't seem to do good stuff with her.

 

[Zornica]

Any advice for using

Spoiler

Melia? I want to use her but I feel dumb or something I can't seem to do good stuff with her.

I wrote a tutorial 2 month ago because

Spoiler

Melia

is probably the hardest character to play, if you don't know how to use her properly.

I know, google translate is not perfect, but I guess you can understand it
M.Tut

The are some important things to know befor playing her:
You need to summon a spell first, befor you can use it. If you summon one, a glowing orb will appear above your head. this means your spell is ready to use. while the spell is floating above you, it will improve one of your stats (depending on the spell). With the button in the middle, you can fire your floating orbs at your enemy.
and don't forgett: do not use the water spell, it sucks and isn't worth it.

 

[chickdigger802]

Classic controller? Sounds like you might be better off with the Wii Remote+Nunchuck since movement and art selection is easier/more straightforward. Camera control isn't as good though.

I didn't really have any problem with a CCPro though. And only a few arts (mostly Shulk's) emphasize where you hit an enemy.

Are you suppose to switch between characters? In games where there are AI partners I usually just stick with main character.

 

[Hiltz]

Are you suppose to switch between characters? In games where there are AI partners I usually just stick with main character.

You can do whatever you want. The game never forces you to control any specific character.

 

[beje]

You can do whatever you want. The game never forces you to control any specific character.

But if you want to develop friendships, you have to play with every possible combination.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Are you suppose to switch between characters? In games where there are AI partners I usually just stick with main character.

Yeah man, switch it up - it adds a lot of variety in there
I only ever really used Shulk when there were lots of Mechon about

 

[StunandStab]

I wrote a tutorial 2 month ago because

Spoiler

Melia

is probably the hardest character to play, if you don't know how to use her properly.

I know, google translate is not perfect, but I guess you can understand it
M.Tut

The are some important things to know befor playing her:
You need to summon a spell first, befor you can use it. If you summon one, a glowing orb will appear above your head. this means your spell is ready to use. while the spell is floating above you, it will improve one of your stats (depending on the spell). With the button in the middle, you can fire your floating orbs at your enemy.
and don't forgett: do not use the water spell, it sucks and isn't worth it.

Water does suck, but it has saved my life a few times when AI Reyn just dies so quickly to every tough enemy he tries to tank... at least my Melia can dodge; maybe I should think about giving Reyn some agility gems

Yeah man, switch it up - it adds a lot of variety in there
I only ever really used Shulk when there were lots of Mechon about

It's fun to defeat mechon/bosses without Shulk, and then hear them go "You would never get this far without the Monado!" or something like that. XD

 

[B.K.]

I've never played a game with so many fetch quests before. It seems like every ten minutes, I'm having to go fetch something to move the story along.

 

[MetatronM]

I've never played a game with so many fetch quests before. It seems like every ten minutes, I'm having to go fetch something to move the story along.

Xenoblade has tons of fetch quests, but almost none of them are for the main story.

In fact, I can't think of a single one off the top of my head beyond your first trip to Tephra Cave at the very start of the game.

 

[B.K.]

Xenoblade has tons of fetch quests, but almost none of them are for the main story.

I can name two I've had to do in the last 45 minutes that I've been playing.

Spoiler

I had to go get water for Fiora after the crash onto the fallen arm. I didn't have to go far, but it was still a fetch quest. Now, I have to go to another part of the arm to find some Mechon parts so the Machina doctor and put Fiora back together.

 

[Ultratech]

I wrote a tutorial 2 month ago because

Spoiler

Melia

is probably the hardest character to play, if you don't know how to use her properly.

I know, google translate is not perfect, but I guess you can understand it
M.Tut

The are some important things to know befor playing her:
You need to summon a spell first, befor you can use it. If you summon one, a glowing orb will appear above your head. this means your spell is ready to use. while the spell is floating above you, it will improve one of your stats (depending on the spell). With the button in the middle, you can fire your floating orbs at your enemy.
and don't forgett: do not use the water spell, it sucks and isn't worth it.

Yeah, that link does explain quite a few good things.
Some things to point out:

-Summons; Use mostly Fire, Wind, and Thunder. Thunder in particular does CRAZY damage if leveled up. Earth has a long-ish cooldown, and Ice is okay. Summon Copy is handy to have if you need your last summon immediately.

-Buffs: Keep in mind that most of the passive buffs the Summons give do stack.

-Healing: Although you have some healing, it's not really worth using since Healing Gift saps your HP, and Summon Water isn't that great (near max, it's like a few hundred HP regen every few seconds, and the HP absorb is close to 1000).

-Reflection: Reflects back ALL damage dealt to Melia (except Talent Arts). Needless to say, it's really good if you accidentally get aggro.

-Spear Break + Starlight Kick = Instant Topple (assuming enemy isn't Immune); Use and abuse! (Except on Topple-Spike enemies!)

-For Talent using, use Burst End and Mind Blast. Mind Blast in particular is pretty strong and can seal Arts/Auras.

Xenoblade has tons of fetch quests, but almost none of them are for the main story.

In fact, I can't think of a single one off the top of my head beyond your first trip to Tephra Cave at the very start of the game.

There's a few for the Main Story that I can think of off the top of my head. But that's it really.

Are you suppose to switch between characters? In games where there are AI partners I usually just stick with main character.

You don't have to, but it breaks the monotony of playing just one character. Personally, I like playing as Riki and slapping Status Effects on everything.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

There's also the one where you gather the shards for the ceremony

The fetch quests aren't bad at all though, they're mostly designed to encourage exploration, which is a good thing in a game so large

 

[Oxx]

Using Melia a lot did expose how little the game requires you to vary your tactics.

After the hundredth time going through the 'Summon Fire/Summon Thunder/Summon Copy/Break/Topple/Spam Summons' combo at the start of every battle, it did feel like a bit of a chore.

 

[clemenx]

Using Melia a lot did expose how little the game requires you to vary your tactics.

After the hundredth time going through the 'Summon Fire/Summon Thunder/Summon Copy/Break/Topple/Spam Summons' combo at the start of every battle, it did feel like a bit of a chore.

I've been feeling the same with Dunban since getting him "Gale Slash!/Break/Topple!" That's why I want to use Melia now xD
I didn't like using Reyn and I feel like the AI is better at Sharla than me, lol. I did used RIki for a while as well, Liked him too. I suppose I'll go back to Shulk as time goes on.

 

[creid]

OK, just region-freed my Wii and am ready to start this in a few days. Do the battle voices ever convey useful information, or is it all flavor? It may be my deciding factor between Japanese & English voices.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

OK, just region-freed my Wii and am ready to start this in a few days. Do the battle voices ever convey useful information, or is it all flavor? It may be my deciding factor between Japanese & English voices.

Keep it in english, the voices sometime dictate the flow of battle, if you or the enemy has the upperhand, also the banter is really enjoyable and changes depending on how much your characters friendships develop

The english dub is fantastic

 

[Rich!]

On my second playthough. First one was rushing through the story - now I'm doing the sidequests.

Just got to the fallen arm, and HOLY FUCKING SHIT:

Spoiler

just realised the black mechon wreckage near the beach is motherfucking mumkhar!!!! got the spike through his chest and everything!

how did I not notice that before?!?

 

[BlazingDarkness]

I never realised that D: