Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Heroes: How to Unlock every Hero

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 trades away the Blades system from the previous game in the series, replacing it with Heroes. These characters are separate from your main cast of six playable characters, but each Hero is still a huge part of Xenoblade 3's combat - despite many heroes being optional unlocks.

Functionally, Hero characters are quite similar to the rare blades from Xenoblade 2, but instead of being obtained through a randomized gacha system, heroes are unlocked by completing the Xenoblade 3's main story or side quests. This guide exists to help you to get every hero, and details how each is useful.

Xenoblade 3 Hero guide: How to unlock and use All Heroes

Heroes are Xenoblade 3's replacement for blades, giving you more options in combat. Unlocking every hero isn't easy, however.

In Xenoblade 3 Heroes fulfill several roles. Firstly, they slot into a 7th slot in your battle line-up alongside your six main characters, and then participate in combat alongside the cast. However, heroes cannot be directly controlled and you cannot adjust their equipment as you can with Noah and company.

Additionally, each hero exhibits their own unique one of the Xenoblade 3 classes, meaning they have a relatively unique utility in battle. By recruiting Heroes into your party, you can acquire their classes for the main characters to use.

Unlocking heroes differs slightly depending on which Hero you're talking about. While some Heroes are earned through the main storyline in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, several are earned through optional sidequests starting in Chapter 3.

At first, Heroes begin at rank 10, and the class you earn from them can also be ranked up to 10 on any of the main playable cast. Later in the game, each Hero character can undergo an "Ascension" side quest, which will raise that Hero's rank from 10 to 20, and will also allow that class to rank up to 20 on your main characters.

On this page, we list every Hero in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, their class, how to unlock that hero, and how to upgrade their class.

Note: Official artwork for some of these Heroes has not been officially shared by Nintendo, so you'll see a mix of artwork and in-game screenshots below for the time being.

Warning: This page will have spoilers for several heroes and characters in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Main Characters

In terms of your main cast of playable heroes - the core traditional RPG party of adventurers - Xenoblade 3 has six characters you'll get to know. For posterity, even though they're separate from the Heroes system, those characters are as follows:

Noah

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Noah-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Harry McEntire
  • Japanese Name: Noah
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Ryohei Arai
  • Class: Swordfighter
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: The Swordfighter Class will upgrade as part of automatic story progression in Chapter 7 in "Side Story: Noah"

Mio

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Mio-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Aimee-Ffion Edwards
  • Japanese Name: Mio
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Minami Tsuda
  • Class: Zephyr
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: Upgraded as part of automatic story progression in Chapter 6 in "Side Story: Mio"

Eunie

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Eunie-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Kitty Archer
  • Japanese Name: Eunie
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Megumi Han
  • Class: Medic Gunner
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: Can be upgraded in Chapter 5 in the quest "Side Story: Eunie" obtained in City

Taion

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Taion-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Olivier Huband
  • Japanese Name: Taion
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Ryohei Kimura
  • Class: Tactician
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: Can be upgraded in Chapter 6 in the quest "Side Story: Taion", found at Agnus Castle

Lanz

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Lanz-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Jack Bardoe
  • Japanese Name: Lanz
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Kohsuke Tanabe
  • Class: Heavy Guard
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: Can be upgraded in Chapter 5 in the quest "Side Story: Lanz", found at Great Sword's Base

Sena

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Sena-Class.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Rebecca LaChance
  • Japanese Name: Sena
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Miyuki Satou
  • Class: Ogre
  • How to Unlock: Starting class
  • How to Upgrade: Can be upgraded in Chapter 7 in the quest "Side Story: Sena", found in City

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Hero List: All Heroes, and how to unlock and upgrade them

There's many heroes in Xenoblade 3 - and not all of them are humanoid, as this screenshot shows.

Okay, so, here we are - the full Xenoblade 3 Heroes List. This list will be handy as it can serve as a checklist to make sure you recruit every hero, but also it features useful information like how to unlock each hero by starting their related quest, and then how to upgrade that hero later in the game.

Unlocking every hero isn't compulsory, but it is advised: getting every hero can help you to unlock all job classes in Xenoblade 3, giving you many more options in combat. Here's all of the Heroes you'll find:

Silvercoat Ethel

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Ethel_Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Lucy Doyle
  • Japanese Name: Ethel
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Atsumi Tanazaki
  • Class: Flash Fencer
  • How to Unlock: Obtained as part of automatic story progression in Chapter 3 in the quest "No Want of Courage"
  • How to Upgrade: Take Cammuravi to the rear of Colony Omega in Chapter 7

Artificer Valdi

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Valdi-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Mack Keith-Roach
  • Japanese Name: Rudy
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Yu Kobayashi
  • Class: War Medic
  • How to Unlock: Obtained as part of automatic story progression in Chapter 3 in the quest "The Kind Right Hand"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Valdi's Ascension Quest "I'm a Mechanic" in Chapter 6. This requires filling several of Repapa's item request lists in Colony 30.

Dutiful Zeon

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Zeon-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Neil Newbon
  • Japanese Name: Zeon
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Ryota Osaka
  • Class: Guardian Commander
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 3 by revisiting Colony 9 and completing the quest "Where the Heart Is"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Zeon's Ascension Quest "Reasons to Evolve" in Colony 9 in Chapter 5. Make sure to have Zeon in your party for the quest to appear.

Inscrutable Teach

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Teach-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Martin T. Sherman
  • Japanese Name: Shido
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Hiroko Takahashi
  • Class: Thaumaturge
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 3 by revisiting Colony Gamma and completing the quest "Going Beyond Power"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Teach's Ascension Quest "Shadow of Enmity" in Colony Gamma in Chapter 6. You have to have completed the various "Teach's Teachers" requests on the job board there. Make sure to have Teach in your party for the quest to appear.

Peerless Riku & Manana

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Riku-&-Manana_Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Tarinn Callender / Grace Saif
  • Japanese Name: Riku & Manana
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Sayaka Sembongi / Aya Suzaki
  • Class: Yumsmith
  • How to Unlock: Obtained as part of automatic story progression near the end of Chapter 3 in the quest "A Nopon's Counsel"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Riku & Manana's Ascension Quest "Culinary Repertoire" in Chapter 6 by placing the duo in your party and heading to Camp Inlet in Erythia Sea.

Ashenpelt Gray

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Gray-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Shaun Dooley
  • Japanese Name: Gray
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Shigeru Chiba
  • Class: Full Metal Jaguar
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 3 after gaining the Wall Climb field skill and completing the "A Gray Matter" quest past the vines in the eastern part of Aetia. 
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Gray's Ascension Quest "Payback for Treason" in Chapter 5 in City.

Dawnhero Isurd

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Isurd_Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Ian Bouillion
  • Japanese Name: Isurugi
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Tomoaki Maeno
  • Class: Strategos
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 4 in Colony Lambda by completing the quest "Unwavering Resolve"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Isurd's Ascension Quest "Effervescent Heart" in Colony Lambda in Chapter 6. Make sure Isurd is in your party for the quest to appear.

Ghostbow Juniper

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Juniper-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Lilly Hart
  • Japanese Name: Yuzuriha
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Rie Kugimiya
  • Class: Stalker
  • How to Unlock: Obtained as part of automatic story progression in Chapter 4 in the quest "Natural Selection"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Juniper's Ascension Quest "Survivors" in Colony Tau in Chapter 6. Make sure Juniper is in your party for the quest to appear.

Undying Blade Ashera

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Ashera-Art-JP.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Cassie Layton
  • Japanese Name: Ashera
  • Japanese Voice Actor: M⋅A⋅O
  • Class: Lone Exile
  • How to Unlock: Obtained near the end of Chapter 4 in the Keves Castle Region in the quest "The Wrath of Ashera"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Ashera's Ascension Quest "A Deep-Seated Scar" in Chapter 7 by placing Ashera in your party and heading to Old Kana Battlefied in Fornis Region.

Craftmaiden Alexandria

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Alexandria-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Sharlit Deyzac
  • Japanese Name: Nina
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Ami Koshimizu
  • Class: Incursor
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained as early as Chapter 3 in Colony Iota by completing the quest "Her Reasons"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Alexandria's Ascension Quest "Inescapable Past" by heading to Colony Iota in Chapter 5 with Alex in your party. You may have to have completed previous Colony Iota quests and have delivered Colony Iota Goods to other Colonies using the Collectopaedia Card system.

City's Bulwark Monica

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Monica-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Pippa Bennett-Warner
  • Japanese Name: Monica
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Akeno Watanabe
  • Class: Lost Vanguard
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 5 in City with the quest "Vandham's Heir"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Monica's Ascension Quest "Promise to the Future" in Chapter 7 in City. Make sure Monica is in your party for the quest to appear.

Proudbanner Fiona

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Fiona-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Rebecca Benson
  • Japanese Name: Mashiro
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Aoi Yuki
  • Class: Signifer
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 5 on the western side of Erythia Sea after the quest "Transparent Dreams"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Monica's Ascension Quest "A Farewell Reset" in Chapter 6 in Colony Mu. Make sure Fiona is in your party for the quest to appear.

Defiant Triton

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Triton-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Stanley Townsend
  • Japanese Name: Triden
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Takaya Hashi
  • Class: Soulhacker
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 5 on the eastern side of Erythia Sea after the quest "Doing It My Way"
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Triton's Ascension Quest "My Memories" by cooking at any campsite with Manana while Triton is in the party. Some prior Colony 15 related quests are also required.
  • Triton's class is special in that it learns arts and skills by defeating Unique Monsters in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

Wrathfist Ghondor

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Ghondor-Art-JP.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Dominique Moore
  • Japanese Name: Ghondor
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Satomi Akesaka
  • Class: Martial Artist
  • How to Unlock: Gained automatically as part of story progression at the beginning of Chapter 6.
  • How to Upgrade: After Side Story: Noah in Chapter 6, complete Ghondor's Ascension Quest "Knowing Your Family" by heading to Castle Agnus with Ghondor in your party.

Glorysong Miyabi

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Miyabi-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Sorcha Groundsell
  • Japanese Name: Miyabi
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Misato Fukuen
  • Class: Troubadour
  • How to Unlock: Gained automatically as part of story progression in Chapter 6 after the quest "Side Story: Mio".
  • How to Upgrade: Complete Miyabi's Ascension Quest "Happiness" in City in Chapter 7. Make sure Miyabi is in your party for the quest to appear.
    • There seem to be other requirements for this quest to appear. Make sure you complete other City-related quests first, if you have not done so yet.

Smoldering Cammuravi

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Cammuravi_Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Shai Matheson
  • Japanese Name: Kamunabi
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Kamunabi
  • Class: Seraph
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 6 after Side Story: Mio by revisiting Colony Omega and completing the quest "A Twist of Fate"
  • How to Upgrade: Take Cammuravi to the rear of Colony Omega in Chapter 7

No. 7 Segiri

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Segiri-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Brigid Leahy
  • Japanese Name: Nagiri
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Ai Kayano
  • Class: Machine Assassin
  • How to Unlock: Can be obtained in Chapter 6 in Upper Aetia by completing the quest "Inhumanity". You have to have completed a previous quest "Severed Connection", as well. Check out our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Quest Guide for more details!
  • How to Upgrade: After refurbishing the Prison area for the Colony 0 residents, followed by completing a series of quests there, complete Segiri's Ascension Quest "Invisible Bond". Make sure Segiri is in the party for the quest to appear.

Nia, Queen of Agnus

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Nia-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Catrin-Mai Huw
  • Japanese Name: Nia
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Hitomi Ohwada
  • Class: Lifesage
  • How to Unlock: After seeing the game's end credits, visit Cloudkeep in the post-game.
  • How to Upgrade: In the post-game, visit the four spots marked on the map (Founder Shrine in City, Agnus Castle, Saffronia Tree at Fornis Region, Tower Camp in Pentelas Region), get Mio to Rank 10 in Lifesage, then discuss the information. Complete Nia's Ascension Quest "Grasping My Future"

Melia, Queen of Keves

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Melia-Screen.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Jenna Coleman
  • Japanese Name: Melia
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Shiori Katsuta
  • Class: Royal Summoner
  • How to Unlock: After seeing the game's end credits, visit Keves Castle 1F in the post-game.
  • How to Upgrade: In the post-game, raise Noah to rank 10 in the Royal Summoner class, then visit Keves Castle Throneroom with Melia in the party for her Ascension Quest "From Atop Her Throne".

Artificial Blade Ino

Xenoblade-Chronicles-3_Ino-Art.jpg
  • English Voice Actor: Ina Marie Smith
  • Japanese Name: Ino
  • Japanese Voice Actor: Aoi Koga
  • Class: Noponic Champion
  • How to Unlock: Accept the quest "Champion of the Nopon" from Expansion Pass Vol. 2., then complete the quest in Chapter 3 near the Great Idalla Ravine in Fornis.
  • How to Upgrade: Raise Noah to rank 10 in the Noponic Champion class, then visit Namba Mound Camp to start the Ascension Quest "The Hope of Noponkind".