Explore Shulk's Arts in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Learn about his Talent, Normal, and Monado Arts, their effects, and how to acquire them.
Shulk has three types of Arts in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition: Talent Arts, Normal Arts, and Monado Arts. Talent Arts are unique abilities that change throughout the game. Normal Arts are learned as Shulk levels up and can be improved with Art Books. Monado Arts are powerful abilities unlocked through the story and sidequests, utilizing the Monado.
Talent Art
Shulk's initial Talent Art is Turn Strike, which deals heavy damage and inflicts Break. After acquiring the Monado, this is replaced by Activate Monado, enabling the use of Monado Arts. The Talent Art gauge fills with five hits and depletes differently for each Monado Art used.
Normal Arts
These Arts are learned as Shulk levels up.
Back Slash
- Level Learned: Default
- Art Type: Red; Physical
- Description: Deals double damage when used from behind the enemy. Has a relatively short cooldown.
- Intermediate Book Location: Ether Light Shop (Colony 9), Drainage Control Room Shop (Ether Mine)
- Advanced Book Location: Mystical Klesida, Veteran Yozel, General Arachno
Light Heal
- Level Learned: Default
- Art Type: Blue; Ether
- Description: A basic healing Art, useful early in the game before Sharla joins.
- Intermediate Book Location: Ether Light Shop (Colony 9), Drainage Control Room Shop (Ether Mine)
- Advanced Book Location: Veteran Yozel, Throne Sardi, General Arachno
Slit Edge
- Level Learned: 3
- Art Type: Red; Physical
- Description: Reduces enemy defenses by 50% when used from the side.
- Intermediate Book Location: Ether Light Shop (Colony 9), Drainage Control Room Shop (Ether Mine)
- Advanced Book Location: Indomitable Daulton, Magnis Ardun, Panasowa Arachno
Stream Edge
- Level Learned: 5
- Art Type: Pink; Physical
- Description: Hits enemies in a fan-shaped pattern in front of Shulk, capable of inflicting Break on multiple enemies. Fills the Talent Gauge for each enemy hit.
- Intermediate Book Location: Refugee Camp Shop (Bionis’ Leg)
- Advanced Book Location: Powerful Eligos, Evil Bathin, Tempest Vang
Shadow Eye
- Level Learned: 10
- Art Type: Blue; Ether
- Description: Reduces Shulk's aggro and grants a Physical Arts Plus buff for five seconds, increasing Physical Art damage by 50%.
- Intermediate Book Location: Refugee Camp Shop (Bionis’ Leg)
- Advanced Book Location: Victorious Gross, Gluttony Gogol, Sloth Gogol
Air Slash
- Level Learned: 14
- Art Type: Pink; Physical
- Description: Has a chance to inflict Break regardless of position, and a chance to inflict Slow when used from the enemy's side.
- Intermediate Book Location: Refugee Camp Shop (Bionis’ Leg)
- Advanced Book Location: North Star Gusion, Admiral Arachno, Aura/Rius Antol
Shaker Edge
- Level Learned: 23
- Art Type: Yellow; Physical
- Description: Shulk's Daze Art. Has a wind-up, best used at the start of a Topple.
- Intermediate Book Location: Frontier Village Weapon Shop
- Advanced Book Location: Canyon Valencia, Femuny Wisp, Jada Arachno
Battle Soul
- Level Learned: 32
- Art Type: Blue; Ether
- Description: Consumes 50% of Shulk's current HP to increase the Talent Gauge. Useful for quickly activating Monado Arts.
- Intermediate Book Location: Frontier Village Weapon Shop
- Advanced Book Location: Musical Vanflare, Opulent Flamii, Sloth Gogol
Monado Arts
Unlocked through the story and specific sidequests after Shulk gains the Monado. These Arts consume a portion of the Talent Gauge, ranging from half to all of it. Some Monado Arts can only be leveled up to 4 until after the Prison Island story event.
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