Introduction to Quests

Learn how to find and accept quests in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Discover quest types like Story, Timed, Mutually Exclusive, and Surprise quests.

Hey there! So, you're diving into Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and wondering about those side activities? Quests are basically the sidequests of this massive game, and while most are optional, they're a fantastic way to explore the world and get to know its inhabitants. You'll pick them up from folks all over the place. Keep an eye out for a white exclamation mark – that little symbol hovering over an NPC's head, and also on your in-game map, is your signal that a new quest is ready for you!

To keep track of everything, you can bring up your quest log by pressing the Down button on your directional pad, or by diving into the main menu and selecting the 'Quests' option. If you want to get organized, use the Y button while in the Quests menu to sort them by region, or to see which ones you've finished and which ones are still active.

Now, some quests have a little trick to them – they won't even show up until you've met certain conditions. Often, this is tied to your Affinity with a particular region. The game is divided into five main areas, and as you complete quests in each, your Affinity with that region grows. You can see this Affinity on your in-game Affinity Chart, which uses a five-star system (though there are hidden values in between). Other quests might require you to have progressed a certain way through the main story, have a specific NPC on your Affinity Chart, or perhaps you've completed another quest first.

To help you navigate areas packed with quests, they're often broken down further. You'll see quests given by named NPCs (these are usually called Unique Quests), Monster Slaying quests (where you're tasked with taking down specific monsters), and Collection quests (where you need to gather certain items).

Quests themselves come in a few flavors, and knowing the difference can save you some trouble:

• Story Quests — These are the main questline quests. You absolutely need to complete these to keep the story moving forward. They're usually marked a bit more obviously in-game, both on the quest page and with more prominent map markers.
• Timed Quests — Keep an eye on the clock icon on these! Timed quests will disappear from your log once you pass a certain point in the story, so try to tackle them when you see them.
• Mutually Exclusive Quests — These can be a bit of a headache because they don't have a special marker. Basically, if you choose to do one of these quests, it locks you out of completing another related one. You'll have to make a choice about which path you want to take.
• Surprise Quests — These pop up automatically once you meet their specific requirements. Sometimes this means just walking into a certain area on the map, or they might even be triggered as part of another quest you're already doing.