In Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition, Affinity affects how well the players’ avatar and Party Members get along, but this stat is also useful for unlocking Skill Slots, Signature Arts, and other new party members.
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With such a complex game filled to the brim with features, quests, and mechanics, it is understandable that players feel a little lost. So, here’s a full breakdown of how Affinity works in Xenoblade Chronicles X, including how to raise it fast, what are HXH Events, and Affinity Missions.
How Does Affinity Work In Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition
Affinity is a progression chart that encourages interaction between players, Party Members, and NPCs who are potential recruits for the group. The Affinity values of the Main Character (Avatar) and the NPCs will rise according to the players’ actions.
This stat is critical to unlock certain quests known as Affinity Missions, which will most of the time allow players to recruit more party members and unlock new Skills and their signature Arts.
How to Raise Affinity Fast
There are several methods through which players can raise their affinity, which include the following:
- Completing Battles
- Following Party Member Soul Voices (quips) during combat
- Choosing dialogue options that ‘align’ with the Party Members’ personality
- Complete Heart-to-Heart Events (HXH)
- Completing Affinity Missions
Battles and Soul Voices would be the best Early method to raise Affinity fast, but as the story progresses, players will feel obligated to farm Affinity doing Quests, choosing Dialogue Options, and completing HXH Events.
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Complete Battles With Your Party Members
Battles are one of the best ways to raise the Affinity bar fast, and if players pay attention during Companion ‘quips’ (also called Soul Voices) they will be able to progress even further.
Players can keep battling and at the end of each fight, a small amount of Affinity with the Active Party members will rise. More so if they put a real effort into listening to their Soul Voices. And even if they lose some battles, they won’t lose affinity, so don’t fear the respawn button as there is no penalty for blacking out.
Activating Soul Voices
Soul Voices are call-outs that happen when companions trigger certain effects during combat, commanding the player’s avatar to follow up with certain actions (attacks, auras, etc.).
Responding correctly to Soul Voices will raise affinity much faster, and there are more chances to receive extra ‘hearts,’ after combat ends.
Choose Dialogue Options That Companions Like
Picking up certain dialogue options will make companions like Elma or Lin raise affinity with the player. Elma, for example, likes duty-bound responses, and humility. While boldness, sarcasm, and chirpy responses will make Lin like the player more.
It all depends on how the players decide to express themselves, but ultimately, every dialogue choice is a good chance to win more Affinity. The thing is that companions need to be selected as Active Party Members for this to work, so keep that in mind.
Complete Heart-to-Heart (HXH) Events
Each time players raise a ‘Heart’ in the Affinity bar with a Party Member, a special event called Heart-to-Heart (HXH) will appear in the City Map. Traveling there will reveal a small interactive spot that can only be activated when the Party Member is NOT in one of the active spots of the group.
Players can open the Party menu by pressing (+) then selecting the Active Party Members menu, and move the characters to an Inactive spot. That way, they can trigger the HXH encounter, which consists in choosing some dialogue and putting up with a cutscene in exchange for some Affinity gain.
The more players ‘agree’ with the Characters’ way of being, the more affinity they will gain. This happens throughout the whole adventure in every dialogue option during Quests and Cutscenes.
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Completing Affinity Missions
Affinity Missions are special events that require more than just a dialogue encounter and are aligned with the interests of every playable character in the game. Some of them unlock Characters’ special abilities and Arts, while others are required to progress through the adventure in Xenoblade Chronicles X. Others are required to unlock party members.
This type of mission has some requirements, and some Party Members might be locked out of them, so keep a close eye at the Mission Requirements before starting them. Affinity Missions often appear as Orange Hand icons on the map, so keep an eye peeled for them.
By the rule of thumb, each time players progress one Heart in the affinity bar, there’s a chance for an Affinity Mission to be unlocked, but there might be other prerequisites for unlocking them.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence