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Xenoblade Chronicles Xmay seem like it has a simple combat system. You engage an enemy, your character auto-attacks, and every now and then, you trigger some Arts.
As you play, you learn about positioning, combos, Overdrive, Quick Cooldowns, and Soul Voice. These combat mechanics work together to create a complex and completeJRPGbattle system.
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The game does its best to guide the player,offering multiple tutorialsfor each feature. However, it can feel a bit like overkill, especially early on when you’re still getting used to things.
The most confusing mechanic, without a doubt, is Soul Voice.That’s why in thisXenoblade Chronicles XSoul Voice guide, I’ll break it down and explain how it works in a practical way, along with the optimal strategies to employ it.
What is The Soul Voice Mechanic
Occasionally, an orange circle will pop up in battle, prompting a quick-time event.This is called a Soul Challenge.
Depending onhow well you perform in this QTE, you can get a Good or Perfect rating, earning different rewards:
To trigger a Soul Challenge, you need to perform specific actions tied to your Soul Voices. There are multiple variations, and it’s up to the player to decide which ones to keep active.
Successfully completing Soul Challenges increases Morale, represented by a yellow bar beneath your Arts Palette.The higher the Morale, the more frequently Soul Voices activate, but the harder it is to complete a challenge.
How to Choose a Soul Voice
Choosing a Soul Voice for your character is as easy aspressing Start, going to Party, and selecting Soul Voice.However, your first time on this screen might feel overwhelming.
There are 16 possible Soul Voice triggers, 12 fixed and 4 customizable.
Every Soul Voice has two characteristics:
Let’s take Artful Execution as an example. The trigger condition is"a character successfully uses an Art’s special effect."
Many Arts have bonus effects, such as attacking an enemy from the side or back or executing a melee or ranged combo. These count as an Art’s special effect.
To make things easier,a visual cue—a small exclamation mark above an Art—indicates that its next use will activate the special effect,so always prioritize those.
This applies to all Soul Voices, whether it’s starting the battle with a ranged weapon, using a specific Art, or breaking a monster’s appendage.
Remember, even if you fulfill a Soul Voice condition, it’s not guaranteed that a Soul Challenge will occur.
Picking the Best Voice Type
Every Soul Voice has three different Voice Types, each havingvaried effects granted after successfully completing a Soul Challenge.
These are usually melee or ranged attack bonuses, but they can also include buffs, enemy debuffs, or even Soul Heal, which restores the entire Party’s HP.
The choice of Voice Type depends heavily on your build.My main class is Astral Crusader, which focuses on Ranged Arts. Because of that,I always prioritize types that enhance my sniper attacks.
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There are also 4 customizable Soul Voices, ranging from “Sprint for three seconds in battle” to oddly specific conditions like “Be healed by a female character.”
you’re able to go with more universal triggers that work regardless of your class or party composition, or you can micromanage your Soul Voices whenever you change groups.
Triggering Party Members' Soul Voice
Every party memberalso has their own Soul Voices.These aren’t editable and activate differently.
Now and then, a battle companion will call out a command mid-fight—that’s your cue to follow up with a specific Artand trigger their Soul Voice effects.
Honestly, it’s hard to tell what a party member wants based on their command alone, especially whenthe battle is chaotic.
Luckily,whenever a party member’s Soul Voice can be activated, one of your Arts in the bar will glow. If you use it at that moment, you’ll trigger a bonus effect.
Look at the screenshot above. Yelv’s dialogue boxes triggered my ranged arts. Thus, they have a yellow glow around them.
In short, you’ll deal more damage if the glowing Art is melee or ranged. If it’s a support, debuff, or aura, you’ll likely Soul Heal the entire party.
It’s worth keeping an eye on your party’s suggestions. I can’t even count how many times I survived a fight just because my teammates triggered their Soul Voices, allowing me to heal everyone.
Don’t spam your Arts mindlessly. Sometimes, waiting for a party member’s Soul Voice to get extra bonuses on top of the Secondary Cooldown feature is worth waiting for.
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