You know that feeling. You spend twenty hours grinding Core Crystals, praying to the RNG gods, and then—bam—another common 1-star generic Blade pops out. It's frustrating. Honestly, it’s probably the most polarizing part of the entire game. But there's a reason people are still talking about how to get all blades Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers, even years after the Switch launch. It isn't just about completionism. It’s about how these living weapons fundamentally change how you play the game.
The gacha system is brutal. Let's be real. If you’re hunting for KOS-MOS, you know the pain of seeing that silhouette and getting something else entirely. Yet, the depth hidden in these characters is staggering. Each Rare Blade has a unique quest, a specific personality, and a skill tree—called an Affinity Chart—that requires you to actually engage with the world of Alrest. You aren't just collecting stats; you're building a team of specialists.
The Reality of the Rare Blade Grind
There are roughly 40 Rare Blades in the base game, plus those added in New Game Plus and the DLC. Getting them all isn't just a matter of luck, though luck (the LCK stat) helps. It’s about understanding the "pity" system. Most players don't realize that the game actually puts you into one of five hidden "pity groups" the moment you start a save file. This determines which specific Rare Blades are easier for you to pull early on. If you've ever wondered why your friend got Percival and Azami immediately while you're stuck with Boreas, that's why.
Don't just mash the 'A' button on Common Core Crystals. That's a waste of time. To efficiently find all blades Xenoblade Chronicles 2 features, you need Legendary Cores and high Idea levels. Bravery, Truth, Compassion, and Justice—these aren't just flavor text. They skew the elemental odds of the Blade you pull. If you want a specific element, you need to use Boosters to tip the scales. It's a layer of math hidden under a layer of anime aesthetics.
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Those Elusive Quest-Specific Blades
Not everything comes from a crystal. Some of the best units in the game are locked behind specific interactions or hefty price tags. Take Sheba, for instance. You don't "pull" her. You buy an Inherited Core Crystal from a shop in Torigoth for a cool 500,000 gold. It sounds like a lot, but for a glass cannon who deals more damage based on how much gold is on the battlefield? Totally worth it.
Then there's Vess. You have to find her in Gormott, finish a heartfelt quest involving a bittersweet retirement story, and then wait. The game makes you wait. It's these moments where the "collect-a-thon" feels more like a narrative experience. Herald is another standout, tucked away behind a breakable wall in Tantal, requiring you to sacrifice a massive amount of items to her altar. These aren't just RNG drops; they are rewards for exploration.
Combat Synergies and the "Best" Blades
Is there a "best" Blade? People argue about this on Reddit every single day. Most veterans point to Mythra because of her "Lightspeed Flurry" skill, which basically lets you spam Arts if you crit. It's broken. It's beautiful. But if you’re looking to round out your roster, you need to think about Driver Combos. Break, Topple, Launch, Smash. If your lineup of all blades Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has provided can't hit those four stages, you’re going to struggle against the high-level Superbosses like Cloud Sea King Ken.
- Tora’s Poppi: She is technically three Blades in one. Poppi QTpi is widely considered the strongest unit in the game if you’re willing to grind Tiger! Tiger! (or just use the Crystalized Ether in the DLC).
- Dromarch: Reliable, but honestly, many players swap him out for a Rare Bitball or Twin Rings healer once the difficulty spikes.
- The DLC Powerhouses: Crossette and Corvin changed the meta entirely. Crossette’s damage scaling is absurd for a healer-class Blade.
The nuance comes in the elements. You need a diverse spread to trigger Elemental Bursts during Chain Attacks. If you have three Fire Blades equipped, you're going to hit a wall very quickly.
New Game Plus: The Challenge Returns
If you thought you were done after the credits rolled, you’re wrong. Monolith Soft added a suite of "Torna" Blades to the New Game Plus pool. We're talking about characters like Akhos, Patroka, and Mikhail. These were villains in the main story, but now they can be your partners. This adds a whole new layer to the hunt. They have some of the most unique weapon types in the game, like the Frayed Bow or the Twin Naginata.
Getting these specific entities requires you to dive back into the grind, but the pull rates for NG+ Blades feel slightly more generous. Maybe it's the game’s way of apologizing for the KOS-MOS drought.
Why Field Skills Matter
It's easy to focus on damage numbers. 2 million damage? Cool. But can you open that level 5 Electric Mastery door? This is where the "filler" Rare Blades shine. Characters like Adenine increase item drop rates, which is essential for farming the very crystals you need to find the rest of the roster. Ursula’s "New Groove" quest is infamous—it takes dozens of hours of mercenary missions to complete—but she’s one of the best passive healers in the game once she’s maxed out.
Field skills turn the world of Alrest into a puzzle. You see a treasure chest on a high ledge? You might need Wind Mastery and Leaping. You see a frozen lake? Fire Mastery. Collecting all blades Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers isn't just for combat; it’s your literal key to seeing every inch of the map.
The Mental Game of Completionism
Look, the 0.1% pull rate for the rarest Blades is real. It’s okay to take a break. Most players who successfully fill their Blade Album do it by integrating the grind into their regular play. Farm the Relentless Arduran in Gormott (don't kill the baby Ardun early on, please, for your own sake) to get Legendary Core Crystals. Use a Driver with high luck, equip Luck-boosting accessories, and use a Blade with a Luck-modifying stat.
It’s a ritual.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
- Stop Killing the Baby Ardun: If you haven't started yet, feed the small Ardun in Torigoth until it becomes a level 99 Superboss. It is the best source of Legendary Core Crystals in the game.
- Optimize Luck: Use Rex or Zeke with Luck-focused gear. Comets and Gold Gear can push your stats high enough to actually matter.
- Release Common Blades (Wisely): Don't just dump them. Max out their Affinity Charts first to get Weapon Points (WP) and then release them to get Boosters.
- Use Mercenary Missions: If you have a Rare Blade you don't like using (sorry, Godfrey), send them on Merc Missions. They’ll fill out their Affinity Chart while you’re doing other things.
- Check Your Pity Group: If you are 50 hours in and missing specific "easy" Rares, look up the Pity Groups on the Xenoblade Wiki. It might help you realize you’re just chasing a low-probability ghost.
Finding every single Blade is a marathon, not a sprint. The game is designed to be played over a long period. Whether you're hunting for the raw power of Zenobia or the quirky dialogue of Kasandra, the journey through Alrest is defined by the partners you find along the way. Focus on the synergies first, and the collection will follow.