Challenge Battle Mode (XC2)

Challenge Battle Mode is a mode in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Much like the Time Attack mode in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and the in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, it consists of a set of unique battles that can be fought in order to obtain special rewards.

Challenge Battle Mode can be found in the, by taking a portal at Olethro Playhouse in Olethro Ruins, which appears after collecting the Nopon Summons from the Challenge Battle Mode DLC. More challenges become available depending on specific conditions, such as progressing the story, defeating a specific, beating another challenge battle, or collecting a DLC key item. There are 27 challenges in total, one of them being temporary.

Additionally, three Rare s are tied to the Challenge Battle Mode,, , and. The former two will join the party immediately upon entering the Land of Challenge while Elma will join upon completing Otherworldly Fighter. The three cannot however leave the Land of Challenge until specific Challenge Battles are completed, namely Dino Drama for Shulk and Fiora, and Elma: Redux for Elma.

Overview
Each challenge has a difficulty mode, which match the regular game's difficulties, namely Custom, Easy, Normal and Bringer of Chaos. Some challenges will however force certain party formations, such as limiting the amount of party members to two or forcing a particular character to participate. Challenges have a level restriction, meaning that if the character's level is higher than the level shown, it will be reduced back down to this level. Blade powers may also be restricted, meaning that certain Blades' weapon stats will be reduced if they exceed the restrictions.

During challenge battles, enemies will come in waves, with the number of waves shown in the challenge's description beforehand. Challenge battles also have a time limit of 60 minutes, after which the challenge will be failed. Enemy waves will appear depending on time, meaning that more enemies may appear even if the current wave of enemies was not defeated yet. If every enemies in a wave were defeated before the next one appears, said next wave will appear a few seconds afterward.

Moreover, no, WP, or is gained during challenge battles and  progresses like normal. s will be dropped by enemies during the battle, which must be picked up to obtain rewards. Three tiers of rewards unlock as ether cubes are picked up, unlocking a treasure trove of increasing rarity for each tier unlocked, with the amount of ether cubes needed depending on the specific challenge battle. These treasure troves can contain s, Flawless Noponstone, some, , Core Chips, and Aux Cores, up to tier 6 which cannot be obtained anywhere else.

The timer keeps running even during chain attacks, s or third stage Blade Combos. The challenge battle can be paused, stopping the timer, by sheathing the weapon and pressing the "+" button. There, three options can be chosen: Give up on the challenge, retry it, or to keep going. After defeating the challenge battle's final wave, a few seconds will be given to collect the remaining ether cubes before the player is teleported back to the Land of Challenge and given their rewards.

List of challenges
Check the individual challenge articles for more detailed information, such as restrictions, item rewards or enemies involved.
 * Grazing Flock, available from the start.
 * Pest Control, available from the start.
 * Think of the Soldiers, available from the start.
 * Bewitching Dance, available from the start.
 * Grazing Flock, available after starting chapter 7.
 * Sacred Wood, available from the start.
 * Temperantian Standoff, available after starting chapter 5.
 * Dread Contagion, available after starting chapter 9.
 * Panic at the Seaside, available after starting chapter 6.
 * Tiger! Tiger! IRL, available after starting chapter 7.
 * Torna's Finest, available after starting chapter 5.
 * Serious Showdown, available after starting chapter 9.
 * Dino Drama, available after completing the main story.
 * Humanoid Alliance, available after completing the main story.
 * Chickenheart Challenge, available after defeating.
 * Cloud King's Revenge, available after defeating.
 * Reinventing the Gogol, available after completing the main story.
 * Mk. VIII, available after completing the main story.
 * Fiercest Faction, available after completing the main story.
 * 9th Imp. Armored Div., available after completing the main story.
 * Call the Exterminators, available after starting chapter 8.
 * Attack of the Aspar, available after starting chapter 8.
 * Titan Battleship Assault, available from the start.
 * This Year's Heropon, available after completing the main story.
 * Otherworldly Fighter, available after starting chapter 6.
 * Elma: Redux, available after completing Otherworldly Fighter, which it replaces.
 * Poisoned Paradise, available after starting chapter 6.