Interlink Leveling & Bonuses — Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Guide

Master Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Interlinking for Ouroboros power. Learn how to increase Interlink Levels and unlock new bonuses and abilities.

Mastering Interlinking is crucial for overcoming the toughest challenges in Aionios. Your Ouroboros forms gain significant power and new abilities as their Interlink Level increases. This section will guide you through the mechanics of leveling up your Interlink and the powerful bonuses you unlock.

Understanding Interlink Levels

Each pair of characters (Noah & Mio, Lanz & Sena, Eunie & Taion) has their own independent Interlink Level, ranging from 0 to 20. The higher the level, the stronger their Ouroboros form becomes, gaining increased stats, new Arts, and powerful passive bonuses.

How to Level Up Interlink

Interlink Levels are primarily increased by spending Soul Points (SP) at any Rest Spot or Camp. SP is a unique currency earned through various in-game activities. Here's a breakdown of how to efficiently farm SP:

1. Defeating Unique Monsters: These powerful foes, often marked with a distinctive grave icon on the map after their first defeat, are the most reliable source of significant SP. Seek out Unique Monsters that are several levels higher than your current party for maximum SP gains.
2. Completing Quests: Both Main Story Quests and Side Quests (Standard Quests and Hero Quests) often reward a substantial amount of SP upon completion. Prioritize these, especially Hero Quests, as they unlock new classes and further enhance your party's capabilities.
3. Discovering Landmarks and Secret Areas: Each new Landmark or Secret Area you discover grants a small amount of SP. While not a primary source, these passive gains add up over time.
4. Chain Attacks: Successfully executing Chain Attacks in battle provides a small SP bonus. The higher your Chain Attack score, the more SP you'll receive.
5. Bonus SP from Food: Certain dishes prepared at Rest Spots or Camps can grant a temporary boost to SP earned from battles. Look for recipes like "Nopon Hotpot" (increases SP gain by 15%) or "Grilled Fish with Herbs" (increases SP gain by 10%). Ingredients for these can be found throughout Aionios or purchased from Nopon traders.

Once you have accumulated enough SP, simply visit a Rest Spot or Camp, navigate to the "Upgrade Ouroboros" option, and select the pair you wish to level up. Each level requires an increasing amount of SP.

Interlink Level Bonuses

As your Interlink Level increases, you'll unlock several powerful bonuses. These are categorized into several types:

• Stat Increases: Each level provides a flat increase to the Ouroboros form's Attack, Defense, and HP. These are essential for survivability and damage output in tougher encounters.
• New Ouroboros Arts: At specific Interlink Levels, your Ouroboros form will learn new Arts. These Arts are often more powerful or have unique effects compared to their base Arts. For example, Noah & Mio's Ouroboros might unlock a powerful area-of-effect Art at Level 5, or a healing Art at Level 10. Pay close attention to these unlocks, as they can significantly alter your Ouroboros combat strategy.
• Master Arts: Perhaps the most significant bonus, reaching certain Interlink Levels allows the individual characters to "master" their Ouroboros Arts. Once an Art is mastered, the character can equip and use that Art even when not Interlinked. This is a game-changer, as it allows you to incorporate powerful Ouroboros abilities into your regular combat rotations, greatly expanding your tactical options. For example, mastering Noah's Ouroboros Art "Cross Impact" allows him to use it as a regular Art, providing a potent damage option.
• Passive Abilities: Some Interlink Levels grant passive bonuses that affect the Ouroboros form, such as increased critical hit rate, reduced aggro generation, or enhanced debuff resistance.

Pro-Tip: Don't neglect leveling up all Interlink pairs! While you might favor one Ouroboros form over another, the Master Arts unlocked are invaluable for all characters. A well-rounded party with access to a diverse set of Master Arts will be far more effective in the long run.

Recommended Leveling Strategy

Early in the game, focus on defeating any Unique Monsters you encounter. As you progress, prioritize completing Hero Quests to unlock new classes and gain substantial SP. Once you have a good grasp of the combat system, consider actively farming Unique Monsters that are slightly above your level. A good early-game farming spot for SP is the "Despotic Arachno" Unique Monster located in the Aetia Region, near the Gura Flank landmark. It respawns quickly and offers decent SP for early-game progression.

Remember to always check the "Upgrade Ouroboros" menu at Rest Spots to see which bonuses are coming up next and plan your SP spending accordingly.