Blade (XC2)

Blades are a species in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Torna ~ The Golden Country. They are awakened from Core Crystals by Drivers.

Appearance
Blades vary greatly in appearance. Most of them, known as "Common" Blades, resemble blue-skinned humanoids wearing white and dark grey armour, with glowing blue lines across their body and a round blue Core Crystal on their chest. Some Common Blades are quadrapedal, shaped more like a feline predator; these have their Core Crystal on the top of their head instead. There are also unique Blades known as "Rare" or "Legendary" Blades. These have entirely unique and distinct designs, appearing as a wide array of different colours and species. Even among the Rare and Legendary Blades, they all have a blue Core Crystal on their chest, with very few exceptions (e.g. Pyra's crystal is green, and Dromarch's is on his back).

Characteristics
Blades begin their existence as nothing but their Core Crystal. In order to take form and awaken, a potential Driver must resonate with the crystal. The awakened Blade provides their Driver with additional abilities and a summonable weapon. Each Blade can only be attached to one Driver at a time, while Drivers can have multiple Blades at once.

Blades fight alongside their Drivers in combat. It is generally futile to attack a Blade, as they heal very quickly from most injuries. However, if their Driver dies, the Blade instantly reverts back to an inert Core Crystal. Such a crystal turns a dull black, and the Blade cannot be reawakened. After some time, the crystal will regain its glow, and the Blade can be reawakened by another Driver. When reawakened, the Blade retains its personality, but loses all memories of its previous awakening.

A Blade's Core Crystal is its weak point. If the crystal is damaged or fragmented, their healing abilities are compromised, and if the crystal is sufficiently damaged the Blade can be killed outright.

Aegis
An Aegis is an especially powerful Blade created by the Architect. The only Aegises in all of Alrest are Malos and Pneuma (Pyra and Mythra).

Flesh Eater
Flesh Eaters are Blades that have eaten a Human's heart. That allows a Blade to outlive its Driver.

Artificial Blade
Artificial Blades are Blades created from mechanical parts originally created by Tatazo and Soosoo. Artificial blades do not have a Core Crystal and using it does not require the aptitude needed for resonating with a regular Blade.

Gameplay
A driver can have up to three Blades equipped at once. The player can swap between Blades mid-fight, but only after a certain cooldown. Although Blades are not controlled directly, it determines the Driver's weapon type, and with that its Driver Arts. The Blade itself has individual Blade Specials needed for Blade Combos.

Notable Blades

 * Pyra
 * Mythra
 * Nia
 * Dromarch
 * Roc
 * Poppi
 * Brighid
 * Aegaeon
 * Pandoria
 * Malos
 * Jin
 * Akhos
 * Patroka
 * Mikhail
 * Sever
 * Obrona
 * Perdido
 * Cressidus
 * Haze
 * Minoth

Rare Blades

 * Godfrey
 * Wulfric
 * Perceval
 * Vale
 * Agate
 * Gorg
 * Boreas
 * Dagas
 * Kasandra
 * Praxis
 * Theory
 * Perun
 * Kora
 * Azami
 * Ursula
 * Newt
 * Nim
 * Sheba
 * Vess
 * Adenine
 * Electra
 * Zenobia
 * Finch
 * Floren
 * KOS-MOS
 * Herald
 * Dahlia
 * T-elos
 * Poppibuster
 * Shulk
 * Fiora
 * Crossette
 * Corvin
 * Elma

Gladius