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Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Defense

By
Ben Chard
,
Jarrod Garripoli
, &
Seren Morgan-Roberts

Description

Defense Gems are all about changing the way your character’s Defense can be modified such as adding resistances to Debuffs or elemental damage. It’s a category with a wide range of useful Gems and some of them will be crucial for tackling some of the toughest enemies in the game but outside of that, you’ll want to avoid setting most of them. Other than 2 Gems, the rest are all for your armor slots.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Arts Seal Resist 100% Increases Arts Seal resistance by x%
  • Uses: Arts Seal is a Debuff that will prevent your characters from using any of their Arts and this Gem will help you to resist it. As far as Debuffs go, this is one that is used little in the game making the Gem rather useless.

  • Best Characters: You shouldn’t have a need for this Gem but if you do decide to use it, set it to one of the Ether based characters such as Melia as your Physical based characters will be fine with auto-attacks if they suffer Arts Seal.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Arts Stealth 50% Aggro accumulated from using Arts is reduced by x%
  • Uses: This is a Gem that sounds far more useful on paper than it is. When set, this Gem will allow Arts to generate less Aggro, useful for any characters that have high burst damage. The issue here is there is another Gem which does everything this Gem does and more making it rather redundant.

  • Best Characters: It’s hard to suggest a character for this Gem, you should avoid using it over the more useful Aggro Down Gem however if you do, Shulk and Seven are prime candidates.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Auto-Atk Stealth 50% Aggro accumulated from auto-attack is reduced by x%
  • Uses: This Gem suffers the same problems as Arts Stealth. When set, this Gem will allow auto-attacks to generate less Aggro, useful for any characters that have high dps. The issue yet again is there is another Gem which does everything this Gem does and more making it rather redundant like Arts Stealth.

  • Best Characters: It’s hard to suggest a character for this Gem, you should avoid using it over the more useful Aggro Down Gem however if you do, Seven is a prime candidate.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Bind Resist 100% Increases Bind resistance by x%
  • Uses: Bind Resist is arguably the worst of the Resist Gems (and that’s saying something) purely down to Bind as a Debuff. Bind will prevent your character from moving, a minor annoyance for Physical based characters but nothing more than that so you shouldn’t worry about preventing it.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Blaze Defence 100% Reduces Blaze damage taken by x%
  • Uses: Like most of the elemental Defence Gems, they’re highly situational based on the enemies you’re fighting. When set, Blaze Defence will lower the damage taken from Blaze so unless you’re up against an enemy using that, avoid this Gem.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you’re up against an enemy using Blaze often, consider equipping it then.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Bleed Defence 100% Reduces Bleed damage taken by x%
  • Uses: Like most of the Debuff Defence Gems, they’re highly situational based on the enemies you’re fighting. When set, Bleed Defence will lower the damage taken from Bleed so unless you’re up against an enemy using that, avoid this Gem.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you’re up against an enemy using Bleed often, consider equipping it then.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Chill Defence 100% Decreases Chill damage taken by x%
  • Uses: Like most of the elemental Defence Gems, they’re highly situational based on the enemies you’re fighting. When set, Chill Defence will lower the damage taken from Chill so unless you’re up against an enemy using that, avoid this Gem.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you’re up against an enemy using Chill often, consider equipping it then.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Confuse Resist 100% Increases Confuse resistance by x%
  • Uses: As with most of the Resist Gems, Debuff Resist does everything this can do and more. Confuse will stop your character from attacking and cause them to run around until it wears off.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. As previously mentioned, Debuff Resist does everything this Gem can do and more.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Daze Resist 100% Increases Daze resistance by x%
  • Uses: This is one of two Debuffs that the ever useful Debuff Resist Gem doesn’t cover. Daze Resist will increase the chances of Daze not landing on your character, useful for tricky enemies that may have a Counter Daze Spike Aura.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you do decide to set this Gem, consider putting it on your party leader, that way they can help recover others suffering from Daze easily.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Debuff Resist 100% Increases resistance to all debuffs by x%
  • Uses: This is the Gem that makes all (except Topple and Daze) Resist Gems obsolete. With this set, you’ll resist all debuffs making it an incredibly useful Gem to keep slotted.

  • Best Characters: There isn’t a best character for this Gem however consider putting it on your party leader, that way they can help recover others suffering from certain Debuffs easily.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Divine Protect 100% Increases Instant Death resistance by x%
  • Uses: Another Gem that has a Debuff not covered by Debuff Resist, this Gem will stop Arts that can cause Instant Death from happening. It’s a highly situational Gem but vital on those specific battles.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem however consider putting it on your party leader, that way they can help recover others suffering from this Debuff easier.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Ether Protect 50% Activated at start of a battle. Reduces ether damage by x%
  • Uses: The Protect Gems are useful Gems on paper that are less useful due to needing the Buff Plus Time Gem to make it last longer than 30 seconds. Additionally, like Ether Down, there’s not enough enemies using Ether Arts in the game to make this viable.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Good Footing 100% Increases Blow-Down resistance by x%
  • Uses: Like most of the Defence class Gems, this is a highly situational Gem. This will increase your resistance to Blow-Down that some bosses can cause with their Arts. Once again, this is not used often enough to keep it on full time, only changing when the time calls for it.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem however consider putting it on your party leader, that way they can help recover others suffering from this Debuff easier.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Lock-On Resist 100% Increases Lock-On resistance by x%
  • Uses: Strong contender for one of the worst Gems, Lock-On is a Debuff that should rarely cause any bother. There are very few enemies that will use Lock-On in the game (locks you target to the enemy) and those that do tend to be lesser enemies that go down quickly in boss battles.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Paralysis Resist 100% Increases Paralysis resistance by x%
  • Uses: Like the majority of the other Resist Gems, this is a Gem that is outclassed by Debuff Resist. Paralysis is a nasty Debuff but yet again, there’s not too many enemies that will make use of it. Still, Debuff Resist will keep you covered there, making this obsolete.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Physical Protect 50% Activated at start of battle. Reduces physical damage by x%
  • Uses: The Physical counterpart to Ether Protect that are less useful due to needing the Buff Plus Time Gem to make them last longer than 30 seconds. This is slightly more useful than Ether Protect mainly down to Physical Arts being more prominent however that alone doesn’t save it.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Pierce Resist 100% Increases Pierce resistance by x%
  • Uses: Like the majority of the other Resist Gems, this is a Gem that is outclassed by Debuff Resist. Pierce is a deadly Debuff, lowering all of your defences to zero but yet again, there’s only a handful of enemies (most coming towards the end of the game) that will make use of it. Still, Debuff Resist will keep you covered there, making this obsolete.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Poison Defence 100% Reduces Poison damage taken by x%
  • Uses: Like most of the elemental Defence Gems, they’re highly situational based on the enemies you’re fighting. When set, Poison Defence will lower the damage taken from Poison so unless you’re up against an enemy using that, avoid this Gem.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you’re up against an enemy using Poison often, consider equipping it then.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Sleep Resist 100% Increases Sleep resistance by x%
  • Uses: Like the majority of the other Resist Gems, this is a Gem that is outclassed by Debuff Resist. Sleep can be a deadly Debuff in certain situations, especially if the entire party are hit with it. Still, Debuff Resist will keep you covered there, making this obsolete.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Slow Resist 100% Increases Slow resistance by x%
  • Uses: Like the majority of the other Resist Gems, this is a Gem that is outclassed by Debuff Resist.

  • Best Characters: There are no best characters for this Gem, it’s a Gem you should avoid setting at all costs.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Spike Defence 100% Reduces Spike damage taken by x%
  • Uses: This is the one Defence Gem that is worth setting and indeed vital, for certain encounters, especially the higher level Unique Monsters and the Super Bosses. With this set, it will decrease the damage taken from Spike Auras and with the nastiest enemies in the game having these in abundance, this is vital to survive them.

  • Best Characters: Any character that is physically attacking your enemy is a prime candidate here but especially your tanks. Additionally, it’s vital that Seven reaches the cap of Spike Defence due to how quickly she attacks.

Icon Name Cap Effect
Test Guide LOL Screenshot Topple Resist 100% Increases Topple resistance by x%
  • Uses: This is one of two Debuffs that the ever useful Debuff Resist Gem doesn’t cover. Topple Resist will increase the chances of Topple not landing on your character, useful for tricky enemies that may have a Counter Topple Spike Aura.

  • Best Characters: Like most situational Gems, there isn’t a best character for this Gem. If you do decide to set this Gem, consider putting it on your party leader, that way they can help recover others suffering from Daze easily.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Nintendo
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    1 June 2020
  • Last Updated
    12 September 2021
    Version History
  • Guide Author
    Ben Chard, Jarrod Garripoli, Seren Morgan-Roberts

Share this free guide:

The guide for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition features all there is to see and do including a walkthrough featuring coverage of all Chapters, Quests, Affinity Charts, and much more. Including an in-depth walkthrough of Future Connected, the new story and all of the new changes that Definitive Edition brings.

Inside this guide you will find:

  • A Complete Walkthrough - Taking you through the main story and side quests.
  • An indepth Quests section - All the side quests found in the different cities and regions.
  • Extensive Tour Guide section - Annotated maps and details on enemies found in each region.
  • Full coverage of Future Connected - Everything you need to know about the new DLC!
  • Detailed information on all Characters - Pages dedicated to Arts and Skill Trees for each character.
  • And guides covering: Equipment, Gems, Affinity Charts, Records & Trials.

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