Showdown with Z

Showdown with Z is Disc 8, Track 9 on the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Original Soundtrack and Disc 19, Track 9 on the Xenoblade Chronicles Original Soundtrack Trinity Box. It uses motifs from : Moebius 3 at 0:27, Moebius 4 at 1:56. It also uses a motif from the B section of Off-Seer - Noah at 1:25.

There are two versions of this track: Showdown with Z, Act 1 and Showdown with Z, Act 2 (according to the copyright data on JASRAC). The first version is identical to the second but without electric guitar or additional drums, most noticeably at 1:38. (Act 2 is the version featured on the soundtracks.)

Showdown with Z, Act 1 plays in when fighting Z: specifically, the initial phase, first phase of Z∞, X∞, and Y∞ sections of the fight. The track does not play during the cutscenes between the initial phase and first Z∞ phase, but it plays through all other cutscenes between the above phases.

The track smoothly transitions to the equivalent part of Showdown with Z, Act 2 when the party reappears in front of Z immediately before the final Z∞ phase. This version of the track continues as the boss theme for the remainder of the fight.

This track is notable for being one of very few battle themes which take priority over the music: it continues playing through s, including the automatic Chain Attacks in the initial phase of the fight. (This is only true until Melia and Nia join the fight, past which point Chain Attack overrides Showdown with Z.)