Trading

Trading is a mechanic in Xenoblade Chronicles. It is possible with any named, each having their own set of items offered for trade. To obtain an item, a or collectable with an equal or higher sell value than the desired item must be offered. Items are exchanged one-for-one, so to get multiple copies of one item requires an equal number of trades. When trading for a, the gem's rank is fixed but its value within that rank is random.

If the player offers an item of significantly higher value than what's being asked for, an overtrade occurs, and the NPC provides an extra item in addition to what as being traded for. For example, if an NPC's overtrade item is worth 2000 G, the player gets one if they make a trade where the item they give up is worth 2000 G or more than the item they receive. Overtrade items vary between NPCs in the same way as their stock of tradable items.

NPCs offer more items when the Area Affinity level is increased. They also offer different items depending on the area they are located in. A few NPCs like Désirée, Zain and Kurralth offer a different set of items in the same area depending on other things. Some items, such as the collectables from the Other Collectopaedia, can only be obtained through trading, and sometimes only if the NPC is in an area for a single objective.

Trading is not present in Future Connected.