Hero Compendium

Recruit and master diverse Heroes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with our Hero Compendium. Understand their unique Classes and Arts to diversify party composition.

Welcome to the Hero Compendium, your definitive guide to recruiting and mastering the unique abilities of Aionios's diverse Heroes! These invaluable allies join your party as a seventh member, each bringing a distinct Class and powerful Arts that can significantly alter the flow of battle. Mastering their recruitment and understanding their strengths is crucial for tackling the toughest challenges Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has to offer.

Understanding Heroes

Heroes are special characters who temporarily join your party. Unlike your main six Ouroboros members, Heroes do not participate in Chain Attacks directly, but their presence is felt through their unique Heroic Chain Attack Order, which can provide powerful buffs or debuffs, or even extend your Chain Attack. More importantly, each Hero unlocks a specific Class for your main party members to inherit and master. This is the primary way to expand your team's tactical options.

• Recruitment: Most Heroes are recruited by completing their associated Hero Quests. These quests often involve exploring new areas, defeating powerful enemies, or resolving local conflicts.
• Class Unlocks: Upon recruitment, the Hero's Class becomes available for your main party members to learn. Each character has varying aptitudes for different classes, affecting how quickly they master them.
• Heroic Chain Attack Order: During a Chain Attack, you can select your active Hero to perform a special action, often providing a significant boost to your Chain Attack score or granting beneficial effects.
• Mentoring: Heroes can also mentor your party members, allowing them to gain Class Points (CP) for the Hero's class even when that Hero isn't actively in the party. This is vital for efficient class mastery.

Recruitment Walkthroughs

Below is a detailed breakdown of how to recruit some of the earliest and most impactful Heroes you'll encounter. Follow these steps to bolster your ranks!

Ethel (Flash Fencer)

Ethel is one of the first Heroes you'll encounter, and her Flash Fencer class is an excellent offensive option for your Attacker characters.

• Recruitment Trigger: Ethel joins your party automatically during Chapter 1: Ouroboros, specifically after the events at the Gormott Titan's Head. There are no special prerequisites beyond progressing the main story.
• Class Overview: The Flash Fencer is a high-damage Attacker class specializing in quick, multi-hit Arts and critical hits. It's particularly effective for characters like Noah or Mio.
• Key Arts to Master:
  • Saber Strike: A fast physical attack.
  • Cross Impact: Deals damage and inflicts Break, setting up Topple combos.
  • Grand Image: Boosts critical hit rate.
• Strategic Tip: Equip Flash Fencer on a character with high Dexterity and Critical Rate Up accessories (e.g., Critical Symbol, found from defeating unique monsters like "Puzzled Ropl" in the Aetia Region).

Valdi (War Medic)

Valdi provides crucial healing and support, making the War Medic class indispensable for early-game survivability.

• Recruitment Trigger: Valdi is recruited during Chapter 2. After reaching the Colony 30 area, you will automatically initiate the Hero Quest "The Kindest Flame".
• Walkthrough:
  1. Upon entering the Colony 30 area, a cutscene will play, introducing Valdi and his predicament.
  2. Follow the quest marker to the Colony 30 Supply Depot.
  3. You'll need to gather 3x Sparkleberries. These can be found as collection points around the Melnath's Shoulder area, just outside Colony 30. Look for glowing blue nodes on the ground.
  4. Return to Valdi at the Supply Depot and deliver the Sparkleberries.
  5. Next, Valdi will ask you to help repair a damaged Levnise. You'll need 2x Ironwood and 1x Ether Cylinder.
     • Ironwood: Found from collection points in the Alfgaro Region, particularly near the Alfgaro Falls landmark.
     • Ether Cylinder: Can be purchased from the Quartermaster's Store in Colony 30 for 100 G, or occasionally dropped by mechanical enemies.
  6. Deliver the materials to Valdi. After a brief repair sequence, Valdi will officially join your party.
• Class Overview: The War Medic is a Healer class focused on direct healing and revival. It's an excellent choice for characters like Sena or Taion, who can benefit from its healing output.
• Key Arts to Master:
  • Healing Circle: Creates a healing field.
  • Medi-Shot: Single-target heal.
  • Resurrection: Revives a fallen ally.
• Strategic Tip: Prioritize mastering this class on at least one character to ensure consistent healing in tougher battles. Pair with accessories that boost healing power (e.g., Medic's Band, found in chests around the Aetia Region).

Zeon (Guardian Commander)

Zeon's Guardian Commander class offers robust defense and aggro management, essential for any balanced party composition.

• Recruitment Trigger: Zeon is recruited during Chapter 3. After arriving at Colony 9, initiate the Hero Quest "A Soldier's Duty" by speaking to the Colony 9 Commander.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Speak to the Commander in Colony 9 to accept the quest.
  2. Follow the quest marker to the Colony 9 Training Ground. You'll need to defeat a group of Gogol enemies. These are standard enemies in the area, usually found in groups of 2-3.
  3. After the battle, Zeon will ask for assistance with a supply run. You'll need to gather 5x Colony 9 Ration Packs. These are sparkling collection points found exclusively within Colony 9 itself, often near the mess hall or barracks.
  4. Deliver the Ration Packs to Zeon.
  5. Finally, you'll be tasked with clearing out a group of Levenis that are harassing a supply route. Head to the marked location in the Aetia Region Upper. Defeat the 3x Levenis Scouts and the larger Levenis Alpha.
  6. Return to Zeon in Colony 9 to complete the quest, and he will join your party.
• Class Overview: The Guardian Commander is a Defender class that excels at drawing enemy aggro and shrugging off damage. It's ideal for characters like Lanz or Noah if you need a more durable build.
• Key Arts to Master:
  • Solid Stance: Boosts defense and draws aggro.
  • Shield Bash: Deals damage and inflicts Daze.
  • Iron Wall: Grants temporary invincibility.
• Strategic Tip: Assign this class to your primary tank character. Focus on accessories that boost Block Rate or reduce incoming damage (e.g., Titan Belt, dropped by powerful enemies in the Cadensia Region).