How to unlock and change classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Every character in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 can unlock the classes of every party member in the game, but it’s not immediately obvious how to do so.

Classes are a critical part of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, with each class striking a different balance between offensive output, defensive strength, and support capabilities. As players advance through the game, they get the ability to mix and match character classes, creating some powerful combinations. That’s great on its own, but other mechanics also become available at the same time, making things even more powerful.

This isn’t available at the start of the game, though. So how do players unlock classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and how do players get different classes made available? This is how.

How to unlock classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Each character can unlock another character’s class by fighting alongside them in battle. 

As party members fight together, they become more familiar with each others’ fighting styles. This eventually allows them to unlock the ability to change into the classes of their party members. Alongside this, characters can also master skills from their primary class and will be able to use them even after changing classes.

How to change classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Players can change the class of a character in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 after advancing in the main story past a certain point in chapter two.

While the ability to change classes is often immediately available in other single-player RPGs, players have to work for it here. After finishing chapter one and first seeing Noah and Mio team up, players progress into chapter two and unlock a number of new mechanics based around the new six-character party. Included in this is the ability to change characters’ classes, which is discovered after Mio and Noah suddenly trade clothing.

In terms of how to actually do it, it’s unlocked in the menus after progressing to this point:

1. Open menus
2. Go to characters
3. Scroll to the character you’d like to be a different class using L and R
4. Select “class”
5. Choose which class you’d like the character to switch to

Unlock more classes by recruiting new characters

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 players can unlock new classes by recruiting more characters to their party.

Though the game includes two main protagonists and four additional primary characters, the list of potential party members is much longer than that. There are a total of 14 playable characters in the game, with at least two more set to come via DLC in the future. Each character has their own unique starting class, and other party members can then change into those new classes.

There are six main characters with a few more characters that are unlocked simply by playing through the main story. A number of them are optional, but the game makes it obvious which characters can join the party when they’re encountered.