Let's be real for a second. If you’ve played Xenoblade Chronicles 2, you’ve felt that specific brand of agony when a Legendary Core Crystal pops open and out comes... another generic, three-star common Blade with a generic spear. It’s brutal. The "gacha" mechanic in this game is easily its most divisive feature, yet it’s also what makes every single playthrough feel weirdly personal.
Most people think getting Xenoblade 2 all blades is just a matter of blind luck. Honestly? That’s only half the story. While RNG is the king of Alrest, there are actual internal numbers, hidden "pity" systems, and specific quest-lines that most players overlook while they’re busy grinding for KOS-MOS.
The Reality of the Blade Pool
You can't just look at the Blade Album and see a simple list. The game categorizes these sentient weapons into three distinct buckets: Story Blades, Rare Blades (the ones with unique designs and voice acting), and the infinite sea of Common Blades.
Story and Scripted Blades
These are your guarantees. You don't have to pray to the Architect for these. Pyra, Dromarch, Poppi, Brighid—they’re baked into the narrative. But then you have the "Fixed" Rare Blades. These are often missed because they require you to actually engage with the world rather than just spamming Core Crystals at the Argentum Trade Guild.
- Wulfric: You get his crystal after a certain beastly encounter in the main story.
- Vess: Requires a heart-wrenching quest in Gormott/Uraya.
- Theory and Praxis: These two are locked behind a multi-stage quest-line that involves a literal assassination plot.
- Kassandra: You have to salvage her from a specific spot in Mor Ardain after reading a specific informant's note.
The Random Rare Blades (The Gacha Hell)
This is where the frustration lives. There are 20+ Rare Blades that only appear through random resonance. The odds aren't equal, either. The game secretly assigns your save file to one of five "Seed Groups" the moment you start. This determines your "Pity Blades"—three specific Rares you are guaranteed to get early on to keep you from quitting. If you get Godfrey and Agate first, you’re likely in Group 1. If you get Perceval and Azami, you're in Group 2.
How to Actually Beat the Odds
If you're hunting for the elusive KOS-MOS or T-elos, you have to stop just clicking "A" and start looking at your stats. Luck matters, but Idea levels matter more.
- Luck Stat: This is simple. Equip accessories like the Bunny Tail or luck-modifying Common Blades. It doesn't guarantee a Rare, but it widens the "window" the game uses to calculate success.
- Idea Cloud: This is the big one. Bravery, Sincerity, Compassion, and Justice. Each corresponds to specific elements. Want a Dark or Light blade (like KOS-MOS)? You need to boost your Justice level.
- Core Rarity: Legendary Cores have a 3x multiplier compared to Common ones. It sounds like a lot, but 3x a tiny number is still a small number.
Basically, don't waste your Boosters. If you use a Justice Booster, the game only looks at the Light and Dark pool for that pull. It’s the only way to narrow the field.
The New Game Plus and DLC Factor
The "All Blades" checklist gets significantly longer once you finish the game. Monolith Soft added several "Torna" Blades to the base game's New Game Plus mode.
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- The Torna Crew: You can finally resonate with Mikhail, Patroka, and Akhos. Some, like Mikhail, aren't even in crystals—you have to go find him at the base of the World Tree and just... talk to him.
- T-elos: She’s only available after you’ve cleared the game once. Interestingly, her pull rate is massive compared to others. Almost everyone gets her within their first ten crystals in NG+.
- The Challenge Mode Trio: If you have the Expansion Pass, Shulk, Fiora, and Elma (from XC1 and XCX) can join your party. They don't live in crystals; they live in the Land of Challenge. You have to beat specific trials to "bring them back" to Alrest permanently.
Why Common Blades Actually Matter
Don't release every Common Blade you find. It’s a rookie mistake. Common Blades are the only way to max out your Idea Cloud stats through their Affinity Charts. More importantly, they carry "Field Skills."
You will hit walls in the story—literally, walls of ice or wind—that require Level 5 Mastery. Your Rare Blades won't always have the right combo. A random 4-star Common Blade with "Fortitude" and "Mineralogy" can be the difference between finishing a quest or wandering aimlessly for three hours.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you are serious about checking off every box in the Blade Album, stop mindless grinding and follow this order:
- Clear the Quests First: Get Vess, Praxis, Theory, and Kassandra out of the way. This removes them from any weird logic and gives you powerful tools early.
- Farm the Relentless Arduran: In Gormott, there’s a baby Ardun. Do not kill it. Feed it until it becomes a Level 99 Superboss. It is the best source of Legendary Core Crystals in the game.
- Check Your Group: Use a "Pity Blade" chart online to see which seed you’re in. It will tell you which Blades will be your "Wall"—the ones with the lowest natural probability for your specific save.
- Manage Your Overdrive Protocols: These items are rare. Do not use them to move a healer to a tank just because you like the aesthetic. Save them for when you pull a top-tier attacker like Zenobia on a healer like Nia.
Getting Xenoblade 2 all blades isn't just a trophy; it changes the combat from a slow burn into a chaotic, elemental-bursting masterpiece. Just remember: KOS-MOS has a base drop rate of 0.1%. It’s not you, it’s the math. Keep pulling.