Rex (Xenoblade): Analysis
Before we begin…
Because I actually want people to read this blog and for other outside reasons Xenoblade 3 will be absent from this analysis and this will mostly focus on Xenoblade 2 and anything from Xenoblade 1 that connects to it.
I also will not be including any potential content from Challenge Battle or any of the post game Blades given their status within the games narrative contradicts notable aspects of the plot.
Some Terminology
Blade Specials-Special moves that a blade can perform
Blade Arts- Skills that can boost performance of a Blade
Blade Skills- The same shit
Ether- The main source of a Blades ability
Aegis- Occasionally I might refer to Pyra and Mythra together as just "Aegis" rather than just saying "Pyra and Mythra."
Torna Mythra Terminology that exists solely for her
Vanguard Arts- Special skills that a Driver can perform.
Rear Guard Arts- Special skills that a Blade can perform
Torna Specials- Special moves Mythra did in Torna
Background
An entire horizon of white. A sea of clouds, and at its heart, the World Tree, piercing the heavens.
Fair warning I’m gonna be talking about like 3-4 different characters here so this background is going to be fucking long.
Around when he was two years old Rex’s mother managed to arrive at Fonsett Village. With his father dead titans away, Rex’s mother would die shortly after her trip, with her final words being for the village to take care of Rex. Raised by his “Auntie Connie” and the Titan Azura, Rex would take up a job in hopes of finding a way to Elysium and discovering if the answers there would solve the various problems within Alrest. Eventually Rex would be given a shady job by the organization known as Torna to retrieve a special container. This container was the legendary Aegis known as Pyra. Just as Rex came into contact with her sword, Rex would be stabbed in the heart by Jin, one of the members of Torna. Luckily that aforementioned contact was enough to get Rex to actually meet Pyra and the two of them made a deal. Rex would take Pyra to Elysium and Pyra would bring Rex back to life by sharing her life force. The pair would then escape Torna’s grasp and begin their journey towards Elysium. Unfortunately they would be attacked by several people due to the Aegis’s legendary status, notably during the Aegis War that sunk three titans into the ground 500 years ago.
Eventually Rex would gain more friends along his journey, one of them notably being the mercenary (and best Aussie) Vandam. An encounter with Torna would cause Vandham to be killed by the group, causing Rex to lose his cool and nearly get himself killed. Just when his fate seemed sealed Pyra began to change into an entirely new person. This person was Mythra, the “real” Aegis. Remember that war 500 years ago? That was fought by Mythra and the other Aegis Malos. To make a long DLC story short Mythra and her Legendary Driver Adamm would help quell Malos’s rampage, but during the final battle Mythra’s power would go berserk and destroy the titan of Torna (see where the name comes from?). Through sheer grief Mythra would end up creating Pyra as a manifestation of what she wish she was. Adamm would then seal her beneath the Cloud Sea, hoping for her power to never be used again. Naturally did this not come to pass.
Rex’s skills a driver would begin to improve overtime and his bond with both Pyra and Mythra would strengthen. Unfortunately he would have a run in with Jin again and proceed to get whooped so badly that his confidence would shatter and Pyra would give herself up to protect him. After a pep talk from the crew Rex would gain the resolve to rescue the Aegis and take her to Elysium (he also friendzoned Nia but shhhhhh). After convincing Pyra and Mythra that he would not abandon them and help them figure out their purpose in the world, Rex would unlock the true power of the Aegis. This true power manifested as Pneuma, the actual real real Aegis that existed long ago in the Trinity Processor.
What’s the deal with the Trinity Processor you may ask? Well remember Klaus from Xenoblade 1 and how he deleted the universe in an ego trip? Well he used a funky gate that’s called “The Conduit” which totally isn’t the Zohar guys. After messing up the universe of Xenoblade 2 he would begin reconstructing life piece by piece, eventually creating the Blades. Pneuma and Logos were some of the first Blades created and would receive data from other Blades to create more evolved Blades as time went on. This would be interrupted however when a man named Amalthus would climb the World Tree and steal the two Aegis cores, thus leading to Aegis War and the rest of the game.
Oh and Alvis was there but then he fucked off.
Anywho to rein it in back into the main plot Rex and Pneuma would eventually confront Malos one more time as he planned on using Aion to destroy Alrest. While they were successful in stopping him the Conduit jumped ship and caused the Elsiyum to fall apart. Pneuma would then sacrifice herself to destroy the Elysium completely while the party would escape back down to Alrest. Transferring her Core Crystal to Rex as he flew back to Earth, Pneuma would utter the words “I love you” before disappearing completely. Luckily while the gang was back on Earth, the Core Crystal Rex had begun to glow, bringing back Pyra and Mythra in separate bodies. As the new world began to form, so did Rex’s new journeys with Pyra and Mythra respectively.
Experience
Mythra prior to the events of the game participated in the “Aegis War”, combating against blades such as Brighid who have been passed down for generations and maintain some form of their past lives, and her fellow Aegis who has the knowledge of all Blades and Titans.
Rex mentions that he had received training from Gramps “even when he was little.” His skills as a Driver are lacking at first, but he becomes the “Master Driver” by the time he unlocks the Aegis’s true power as Pneuma, something which the legendary hero Addam couldn’t accomplish nor handle even a fraction of the power that Pneuma had. By the end of the game Rex has fought and bested the top Drivers from different nations such as Morag, and the strongest Blades in the world such as Jin and Malos.
What makes besting Blades like them in particular impressive is the nature of a Blades data collection. Normal Blades accumulate data about the outside world, which is then relayed to Malos and Pneuma respectively. This is reaffirmed when Malos mentions he has the data of all blades and titans, and later Pneuma as well. Said data involves things like their Drivers biological status and the various experiences they share with them. This data is eventually sent back to the Core Crystals to create evolved stronger Blades. Given characters such as Jin and Malos have lived for 500 years Rex besting both of them is very impressive especially given his young age.
Equipment
Anchor
A device on Rex’s left hand, Rex can use his anchor to reach far away places and pull himself and others in the process.
Accessories
A set of items that Rex can equip to give him various bonuses within battle. The bonuses can range from increasing healing potential, boosting strength, to gaining certain resistances to statuses such as instant death. The full list of accessories can be found here
Blades
Blades are weaponized lifeforms, born from a Core Crystal in order to resonate with a “Driver”, providing them power and weapons in the process. These weapons can vary from swords, axes, cannons, to even scythes. Their aforementioned weapons can be recreated from the core crystal even if it’s lost or broken, and as long as their core crystal is intact blades can regenerate from most injuries. As mentioned above Blades are consistently acquiring data about the outside world, which doesn’t just include humans but animals as well.
Blades come with different types of elements that they access via the ether in the surroundings such as Fire, Water, Wind, etc. Drivers have even been shown to utilize these elemental properties without having to use specific arts. Blade specials that are executed in a specific pattern can lead to a Blade Combo, which can access different “Seals” on an opponent. These seals are as follows:
Seal Self Destruct-....exactly what it says on the tin
Seal Stench- Stench in XB2 is an effect that messes with the affinity bond between Driver and Blade. In other words this prevents people from messing with the transfer of energy between the two.
Seal Shackle Driver- This prevents the sealing of a Drivers abilities.
Seal Back Attack- Stops back attacks. Very reliable.
Seal Blowdown- This prevents Rex from being knocked back far distances. Somewhat useful
Seal Shackle Blade- Prevents the sealing of a Blades abilities.
Seal Affinity Down- Basically the same general purpose as Seal Stench for all intents and purposes.
Seal Reinforcements- Prevents the opponent from calling any reinforcements (duh).
Elemental Orbs also more often than not appear on an opponent, and they can be “bursted” to increase damage potential even more.
Drivers as well can join in on the fun with the ability to use Driver Combos. If you’ve played a Xeno game then you are familiar with the iconic rhythm of Break>Topple>Launch>Smash. In a “VS” sense these would just be various means of crippling the opponent that can be enhanced should they be performed in tandem with a Blade Combo. When combining a Blade Combo with a Driver Combo, the result can be a Fusion Combo which basically amplifies the effects of both.
Core Chips
Core Chips serve as a means of altering the weapon to strengthen its capabilities. These can range from boosting the effects of attacks, amplifying defenses, to adding on special effects like death manipulation.
The list of Core Chips can be found here.
Aux Cores
Like Core Chips, Aux Cores are another means of amplifying the abilities of a Blade. A list of what Aux Cores can be applied can be seen here.
Rare Blades
Rare Blades are basically special ultra blades with special weapons and powers. Given Rare Blades can be resonated with any party member at any time there isn’t exactly a “canon” loadout for what Rare Blades Rex pulled from the Gacha system. For this analysis will primarily focus on the Blades Rex directly gets within the story and only he can resonate with.
Pyra
The Blade Rex becomes acquainted with at the beginning of the story. As the legendary Aegis Pyra is granted with immense firepower. Quite literally as her main element is fire which she utilizes in many different ways, be it attacking, lighting an area, or just being a walking heater.
Blade Specials
Flame Nova-Absorbs ether and transforms it into fighting spirit.
Prominence Revolt-Pillars of fire erupt from beneath all enemies.
Blazing End-Concentrate attack on a single enemy, incinerating them.
Burning Sword-Cleave the enemy with a giant sword of flame that detonates on impact
Union Sword-A team attack with Nia. Beats the enemy to a pulp with a medley of fire and water.
Blade Arts
Accuracy Up-Increases accuracy
Arts Plus-Boosts power of next Driver Art
Battle Skills
Purifying Flames-Special has 5% to 15% to chance to defeat non-boss enemies up to 20% HP.
Resplendence-Increases Blade Combo damage by 24% to 72%.
Flaming Edge-Increases critical damage by 10% to 50%.
Mythra
The “real” Aegis that everyone has been talking about. By Pyra’s own words Mythra is way stronger than her and it’s not hard to see why. Mythra uses the element of “Light” which only 2 other characters in the game have access to, and unlike other blades who draw on the ether around them, Mythra draws from the Conduit itself. The most notable ability Mythra gains however is “Foresight”, a prediction of the immediate future. With this Rex can effectively counter and adapt to potential threats and strategies. During Torna Mythra was shown to see visions of her time with Rex in the far future, though for some reason this potency of future sight never comes up again.
But it’s not a Xeno game without giant mechs and Mythra gains access to her own in the form of the Artifice Siren.
As revealed on the back of a fucking model kit (I fucking hate Takahashi holy shit) the Artifices were created by the Trinity Processor as a class of weapons designed to be devices to the Conduit. As it’s put by the…model kit the Artifices are “cells of a larger autonomous system.” Siren is powered by a built in system known as a “Slave Generator” to receive energy from the Conduit itself and as it’s commander Mythra can call upon it. Alongside flight and two blades to use in melee combat, Siren contains a particle cannon that can be used to call upon giant death lasers from the sky, which Mythra has shown she can calculate the necessary output to avoid large-scale damage. If need be Mythra can even enter the Siren itself to pilot it directly. Through sheer willpower Pyra can take control of Siren if need be.
Blade Specials
Ray of Punishment-Fire concentrated arrows of light at an enemy.
Photon Edge-Move at light speed to cut the enemy instantly.
Lightning Buster-Slice an enemy multiple times with a blade of light.
Sacred Arrow-Rain down arrows of light from above to tear the enemy apart.
Blade Arts
Critical Up-Increases critical hit rate.
Recharge Boost-Boosts Arts recharge from auto-attack.
Blade Skills
Foresight-Increases accuracy and evasion rate of team by 30% to 50% at max Affinity.
Lightspeed Flurry-Recharges Art or Special used by 20% to 100% upon landing a critical hit.
Glint -Increases critical hit rate by 5% to 15%.
Vanguard Arts
Glimpse the Future-Allows Mythra to dodge incoming blows. (But hoooooooooooow the world may never know)
Rear Guard Arts
Blinding Flash-An attack Mythra uses when switching with her Driver
Spectral Halo-A buff that raises “critical hit”
Radiance Bomb-An AOE attack that can knock down foes
Aureole-A move that can “recharge arts” very useful.
Torna Specials
Twilight Striker-Launch a flurry of light-speed slashes, then finish up with a spinning strike.
Chroma Dust-Charge your sword with ether energy, then blast the enemy from mid-air.
Terminal Flash-A focused attack targeting a single enemy to annihilate them.
Hadron Impact-Let Addam Rex make the first strikes, then nail the enemy from mid-air.
Roc
The Blade that initially belonged to Vandham, Rex would later reawaken Roc albeit without any proper memories of his previous life. Utilizing the element of Wind and granting Rex access to Dual Scythes. Roc can devastate his foes with his acrobatic movements.
Blade Specials
Death Wing-Combine the Dual Scythes and throw them at the enemy.
Crushing Twister-Take the enemy by surprise with acrobatic movements.
Feather Typhoon-Create a giant vortex to suck up the enemy in one go.
Crimson Storm-Roc follows up Driver attack with an assault from the air.
Blade Arts
Back Attack Up-Increases backstab dmg; halves aggro.
Arts Plus-Boosts power of next Driver Art.
Blade Skills
Sickle-Reduces aggro build-up from attacks by 20% to 40%.
Storm and Stress-Increases damage dealt by 60% to 100% 30 seconds after the start of battle.
Swoop-Increases damage dealt from the back by 20% to 100%.
Nia
One of the first companions to join Rex on his journey. Initially just a regular driver like the rest of his crew, after coming to terms with her past and deciding to no longer hide who she is Nia revealed her true form as a Flesh Eater Blade. With her specialty in water, Nia becomes a proficient healer to the point of effectively reviving people. On a more dangerous scale Nia can use her healing to alter the replication rate of a person's cells. In other words Nia can give you cancer.
Blade Specials
Last Hope-Drain enemies' life force, and distribute it to allies.
Merciful Heart-Attack enemies with a water shock wave.
Redeeming Strike-Destroy enemies from within by manipulating the power of regeneration.
Divine Sword-Invert the power of regeneration to erode the enemy from within.
Nexus Force-Beat the enemy to a pulp with a medley of fire and water.
Blade Arts
Debuff Cancel-Cancels debuffs from enemies. This includes effects such as instant death.
Absorb Damage-Erects a barrier that absorbs damage.
Battle Skills
Sea of Plenty-Periodically restores HP to the entire party while at max Affinity.
Instant Regen-Adds chance of restoring HP after taking a hit.
Cellular Stimulus-Restores HP of damage dealt after a successful auto-attack.
Pneuma
The true form of the Aegis that existed in the Trinity Processor long ago. As the Master Blade Pneuma has several new abilities granted to her, primarily the ability to warp reality to her whims. Stated by Jin to manifest what Rex imagines (truly awesome), Pneuma has shown to alter the physical laws around her, granting her the ability to match higher speeds or even negate Jin’s absolute zero ice abilities. She can access any element allowing for effectively any Blade Combo, can reflect damage when blocking, and even resurrect Rex should he ever die.
Being the Master Blade means she has the data of all Blade Cores. This allows her to pull abilities such as healing, and allows Rex to bond with any Blade regardless of whoever they’ve resonated with prior. Combined with her reality warping this likely means Pneuma can use any ability of any Blade.
Blade Specials
Starburst-Blast a merciless siren beam through enemies.
Radiant Flare-Attack hostiles with a light-speed attack
Genesis Saber-Pierce enemies with countless light blades created by ether
Infinity Blade-Unleash energy and sever the enemy with a sword of light.
Blade Arts
Critical Up-Increases critical hit rate.
Recharge Boost-Boosts Arts recharge from auto-attack.
Arts Plus-Increases power of next Driver Arts.
Blade Skills
A Dream of the Future-Can initiate elemental combo at random.
The Chosen One-Greatly enhances the Driver's abilities through the power of the Aegis.
The Aegis-Greatly enhances the party's abilities through the power of the Aegis
Aion
The ultimate Artifice designed to destroy Alrest. While Pneuma doesn’t use it a whole lot, she does pilot at the end of the game and it’s specifically referred to as her “true power”. During the boss Aion displays abilities such as nullifying healing, summon other artifices to the battle, and summon a giant fucking sun to damage the party.
Driver Arts
Alongside the abilities of the Blades, Rex has his own skills that he can use depending on the weapon.
Anchor Shot- Rex fires his anchor at the opponent, which often drops health potions in the process.
Sword Bash- An attack that’s more effective when hitting from the back.
Double Spinning Edge- A double sword slash that does more damage when hitting the sides.
Rolling Smash- An AOE sword smash.
Redemption- A wide healing ability.
Water Flower- A sword strike that pierces the opponent.
Hydro Blast- An AOE water ability that can blowback the opponent.
Saber Slash- A combination of sword slashes that can sometimes drop health potions.
Cyclone Smash- A technique that can be amplified should the opponent be low on health.
Wild Scythe- A slash that drains the HP in the process and can make Rex evade oncoming attacks.
Wing Smash- An attack that brings the scythes down at full force.
Vortex Edge- By spinning the scythes, Rex can affect a larger range as well as deal more damage to flying enemies.
Resistances
Apart from any resistances granted by accessories
Mythra briefly overpowering Amalthus’s control.
Rex and the cast survive being in the vicinity of Jin’s absolute zero
Feats and Accomplishments
Strength
As mentioned multiple times in the game, Mythra and Malos’ battle sunk three continents into the ground. This is shown during Torna.
Speed
With the help of Foresight avoids a special attack from Morag and Brighid
Siren’s particle cannon can reach Earth from space in seconds. Its targeting ray can move at the speed of light
Several of Mythra and Pneuma’s attacks are stated to move at light speed
Keeps up with Jin in his true Flesh Eater form as shown above.
Durability
^Blocks an attack from Sever
Scaling
Being the Master Driver and Master Blade respectively, Rex and Pneuma pretty much get every notable feat in the series. Granted the best feats in the game come from them so this is more or less bit stuff but it’s cool to note it none the less.
Zeke+Pandoria
Shatters the ground beneath him with his “Ultimate Lightning Fury Slash”
Pandoria’s “Lightning Force” is stated to catch a lightning strike
Brighid
Jin
Malos
Weakness
Due to the shared life force between Rex and the Aegis, the two of them have a Jojo effect going on where damage is shared between the two. Even when they are far away from each other, the pain can be felt by both. It is possible for the Aegis to transfer all of her life force to Rex in a pinch, though this would eventually cause the Aegis to die.
Ether is also important for Blades that aren’t the Mythra+Pneuma to perform many of their abilities. Anything that can mess with the flow of ether or straight up remove it’s presence can be dangerous for Blades.
Blades also come with specific elemental weakness. Brighid for example was explicitly weak to water (though the Aegis seems somewhat resistant to this as Pyra is not affected by said water.)
Summary
+Even when limiting to just story Blades, Rex has tons of variety and options at his disposal. Pneuma’s reality warping only expands this
+Many accessories and gear to help cover various debuffs
+Mythra and Pneuma are not affected by Ether nulling abilities thus keeping their kits
+Resurrection on the chance Rex falls is available alongside several healing methods
+Pneuma’s own data provides 500+ years of knowledge and more. Rex has also bested foes of similar experiences
+Rex means “King” for a reason
-Shared life force means Rex and the Aegis are both at risk at all times
-Anything that can change the ether flow will cripple other Blades
-Those fucking early game screams man
Thanks for reading, it's been fun relooking at Xenoblade 2 again during the Xeno 3 hype. Hopefully that bio didn’t break your brain.
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