Fun fact: This is the first blade showcase of an actual sword and not a character.

Catalyst Scimitar is probably the best written character in the entire franchise. When all of the party is down, and Catalyst Scimitar hobbles up and tells Sephiroth that they won't give in, it's truly such a powerful moment. What an absolutely great character, thanks for doing a tutorial on it!

Fun fact: for one of her affinity unlocks, you have to fall from a very tall height and survive. You can only do so if you land in the cloud sea (or water) because otherwise you would die. This is a callback to when the party first arrives in Fonsett Village and Nia talks about how she would never jump into the cloud sea like the kids were doing. Rex tried to get her to try it, but she declined. Now that she is Rex's blade, Nia trusts Rex enough to jump from that height. I just thought that was neat foreshadowing/character development.

"I love you, and all you guys!" Trust Rank drops to F

Enel: *Tries to keep the video spoiler free.* KZfaq Preview Play: No.

A thing to note, the reason all her skills are healing oriented is because of the story. Remember, she is so proficient at healing that she can weaponize cancer, and brought a dead Niall back to life.

How can you say she's not centered around damage, her hips are lethal to me.

Rex loves her, and all you guys

“...and here, she hit damage cap with her one hit special, good for her.” Elma:

it's a shame Catalyst Scimitar doesn't have more availability. if they were able to be equipped, on say, Nia for example, they could have been much better

Can I just say that I like how her skills sound kind of science-y? It’s really cool relating to some other blades with different skill names.

Ah, I love this Blade. I love all the Blades! The only missed opportunity here was that the thumbnail wasn't a silhouette of Captain Falcon

So can we talk about how nia can just give people super cancer. I mean Jesus that's op and it's only used once on malos and never brought up again.

Nia’s blade form is amazing, she’s one of my favorite characters and I love having her on my team. When she shouts “THIS WILL BE AWESOME!” during a blade combo, it just makes my day. :)

I was absolutely in love with her when I hit that point in the story. Her look, her character development, her story powers. Everything about her is so awesome, it's a shame they overloaded her on healing so much. Finch when?

Imagine... a damage reward for having 90% or more of your full health instead of the instant regen skill...

Should have been a heart to heart to discuss transfer of property allowing Rex to ride Dromarch.

I've always thought it was really cool that many Xenoblade fans/content creators are very respectful of spoilers. Even 3 years after this game came out, and like 10 for Xenoblade 1, both Catalyst Scimitar and Seven are kept under wraps for new fans.

I actually quite like Blade Nia. Cool design and I like the play style. However, end game is all about damage so sadly she is “better” as a driver

Poor Nia. Not only does she lose to Pyra and Mythra in the story, she's also completely outclassed by them in gameplay.

I'd been good if she had a break art. Her niche was breaking as well as healing before, and her moveset as a blade should reflect that.

Thanks for the thumbnail. I've gotten so many things spoiled for me over the years due to thumbnails, and even thought I already completed the game it still makes me happy to see a non-spoilery thumbnail. I'm sure you've saved a few people from being spoiled on the most infuriating cutscene in the game. Thank you enel.

Damage? What damage? XD Ultimately, I'm a tad disappointed with how she's implemented in gameplay. There's pretty much no overlap between her two forms beyond her high Ether stat. Probably the most disappointing aspect is the fact that she gives a 15% HP mod to Rex, but her hidden affinity chart only gives a 10% HP mod to herself. It would have been trivial to make the two the same just to provide that extra little reference. As for her combination specials with Pyra, I understand that they're both important to Rex, but I think I'd actually prefer a combination between her and Dromarch simply because she's actually his Driver on top of being a Blade herself. Something that would take more work, but wouldn't require new animations, would be receiving the effects of both her aux cores _and_ her accessories at the same time, which could potentially get very ridiculous. Lastly, there's being able to effectively just activate TGC-style and have Nia switch to Blade mode on the fly in the middle of battle, likely with using her Specials as her new Driver Arts. Really there are just so many ways they could have integrated her two forms more closely and I really wish there were more ways that her status in one mode would affect the other. I haven't even mentioned yet the fact that she has so many sources of Break for herself and yet doesn't give one to Rex. I'll still continue to use her in Blade mode though no only because she's Best Girl, but also because doing so basically lets you control 2 Drivers at the same time and have 4 of your 5 party members on the field instead of just 3.

Guess we ain’t waiting for Chuggaaconroy to get to Ch 7 of his XC2 LP, eh?

I wish Nia had a Break art. Rex doesn't get a lot of those and I was using driver Nia for Break throughout most of my playthrough (didn't get QTpi until my NG+ run) so I never saw a reason to use her as a Blade.

Just realized that "Nia" is a pun on "Nya"

I remember the first time I got her and had a blast using her and figuring out how she worked. She's my favorite XC2 character too so I'm really glad you finally got around to covering her!

I was wondering how you were going to avoid spoilers, and this was a great way to do it.

Been enjoying your videos! Been playing through on a new playthrough and you have been teaching me things I never knew!

I think this weapon has potential. If only it did damage.

Yes! Time for best gurl!

Yo Enel, long time fan of the channel! I've always loved xc2 but I never really got into the challenge mode aspect of it. I'm tryna get into it right now but I'm super lost on general setups for blades and team comps as well as general strategies. I'd really appreciate it if you made a video going over these things in a "Guide to Challenge Mode" video. I'm sure a lot of other people would appreciate this sorta video. Thanks

BIG OLE SPOILER PIE BELOW I really wish I used her on my first playthrough. She's clearly meant to substitute for Pyra and Mythra during chapter 7 but I thought I'd be missing out on a healer, so I didn't bother. Boy that Malos fight was a pain... Nia is a very good blade that I like a lot, but I rarely use her because I'd rather be using driver Nia with blades like Crossette. Having Rex play the healer is definitely unconventional, but I can't say it doesn't work. A recent favourite setup of mine has been Rex with Nia and Boreas for healing, and then Obrona for some damage dealing. Definitely a great blade, just one I don't use often.

just incase you were not aware, though the thumbnail avoids spoilers, hovering over enough to get the gif preview does spoil the character in question. Not an actual complaint, but should be known before someone who cares complains.

Would have been dope had her middle skill given her a huge damage boost to the party while HP is high, like 200%ish, considering her role in the story. Would make her skillset much more important.

I had no idea who you were covering this video. Good option!

Your channel is the only reason I'm still playing Xenoblade 2 after beating it. I didn't know there so much content for second playthrough.

Omg thank you for making this video! Nia is one of my favorite blades, sadly she isn't as strong as others but thanks for the guide.

I have been enjoying all of your videos. Keep up the goof work.

Blade nia carried me through late game and I’ll always love her for that.

I'm not even a huge Nia fan and I feel like they could've made her absolutely broken for a pre-dlc blade because it fits pretty well thematically. Also at 10:24 I had to do a double take since you said driver combo but you meant blade combo

That might just be the best thumbnail you've ever made, gonna have to double check the Overdrive vid to compare

Love these guides Enel.

Nia: "Me-ow"

I think the title is hilarious and tragic because that scimitar is the catalyst for the Rex x Aegis relationship development, and its reward is getting friend-zoned even harder than Melia. XD

Genuinely surprised that even with the dlc and new game plus bonuses added over the years she still isn’t able to drive herself like other flesh eaters seen in the story or have a costume where she can use her blade appearance as a driver

Your videos have been so helpful to me, I feel like I have a much better understanding of the combat thanks to your work. With that said, there is still one thing that I’ve struggled with. healing without a dedicated healer has proven to be very difficult for me but I see that you are able to do so just fine. I was wondering if in the late/post game you get access to accessories, AUX cores, etc that does allow you to heal without a healer? Edit: the spoiler warnings you have used throughout your videos have been very well done and it makes me happy to see the larger community treating spoilers with the care they need

I really needed this vid. I was so lost trying to enjoy the blades the story _tries_ to push on you in my current re-re-re-replay. My response to everything in my first play was "lol scary bugman go smash."

Hah took me a second, but I see what you did there with the thumbnail and title XD

40K subs 🎉

Thank you for make the titles spoilerfree xD Coming to think of it, while it wouldn't be a guide on a blade technically, it would be an interesting topic to showcase what skills are the best for common blades and how you can use them. I guess though you already made good videos covering these topics already.

Props for not spoiling story content, even years after release 👌

Honestly, having aggro on Nia isn’t all that big of a deal, since she has absurdly effective and rapid healing, unless you get one shot, you will quickly recover whatever health you lost. I have MAX Affinity ATK and Barrier, but instead of Art Stealth, I have Ultimate Shield.

Ayyy congrats on 40K man!!

This is basically a never die strat

I'm literally in spirit crucible elpys right now in ng+ so this is really helpful as I'm about to unlock blade Nia again 👍

Great video!

the game is almost 4 years old and you still don't put a spoile... respect

I love this blade... and all you guys!

Me who has kos-mos on Nia, "An okay feature that I won't use"

Game tutorial prompt: nia and Pyra have a super strong super special harem level4! U should try!! Enel: no.

You goddamn genius Enel lmao

I tried making Rex a healer/tank hybrid with *scimitar* once. It didn't go *too* bad.... but it wasn't very impressive either.

I think I know why the healing abilities that only affect Rex are there, and seem kind of overkill, and it's because of story reasons, no? I mean, she has strong feelings for Rex, and thus doesn't want him to be hurt at all, right? So while it makes no mechanical sense, I think this is a case of mechanical storytelling. So I am totally okay with her being a niche blade type with no real uses aside from 'I like her so I use her'.

legs

I used her alongside Pneuma throughout the entire rest of the game, and that's about how long the novelty of being mostly unkillable lasted. Decided playing Nia isn't a lot of fun. Passive healing is great, but when all you're good for is healing and the healing happens automatically, then what are you really even doing? I so wish they'd made her more interesting to play... Even if they didn't want to give her more damage, she could've had more support options. Or, based on the cutscene where she attacked Malos by messing with the water in his cells somehow, she could've had a natural DoT effect on any enemies she's in combat with. And it could scale up with affinity, or the amount of damage she's dealt, or something. Anything to give her more to her kit then just...healing.

This weapon looks like a straight upgrade of the Aquarius Blade from Kid Icarus Uprising😯

Nia may be good as a blade, but using her that way is a significant restriction on party composition due to it taking away a possible driver, even worse being that it's the one who specializes in inflicting Break. *Proceeds to send Nia on merc missions in NG+*

Nia and Ursula were two of my favorite Blades to use during my first run (currently on ng+ and I miss her so much). Funny enough, I didn't really rely on Nia as a Driver because of Xenoblade Chronicle's impact on me. As amazing characters Sharla and Melia are-Melia especially-their AI left much to be desired when it came to keeping the party alive (mainly pointing at Sharla here). So I would almost always take control of Sharla and take the role as Healer because MAN if I weren't in control. Now onto XC2, I quickly latched onto Ursula for her healing capabilities, and she basically carried me through a large chunk of the game. And then I got Nia. After that point, my team was set. Pyra/Mythra for damage, and Nia and Ursula for keeping the party alive because DANG I couldn't trust anyone else to heal me.

Idea to make Nia stronger: turn instant regen into a skill that takes a percentage of all healing Nia does and uses it as spike damage instantly dealt to the enemy. Is this broken?? Probably, and would turn her level three special into something absolutely ridiculous, but it fits with her canon skillset.

Now that all story blades are done Zenobia has a chance to have a guide c:

Love the thumbnail.

Really good spoiler cover.

Honestly, I still use Catalyst in a pinch because she can have 50% block rate which extreme high for a healer. Also, Given Catalyst superpower is essentially nullifying damage with life orbs, having different affinity either erecting barriers or potentially nullifying status effects like shackle, shackle heal or stink would be great.Also, sh eshould have alot of accessory slots because spoilers.

Best blade! Lets go!

Maybe Nia is good for Poisoned Paradise. I've never used this strat for that particular fight but I might give it a try.

Hi enel just a quick question i already have passed the storyline wherein nia is a blade but i cant seem to find her for me to equip and manage her as rex blade can you help thanks...

Abyss Masque is a good accessory for Nia imo

Good Guy Enel giving spoiler disclaimer for almost 3-year old game haha. Loving these Blade guides and content still being made for my favorite Switch game.

This thumbnail has the same energy as Nn Li's video for this same weapon lmao.

This is indeed funny thumbnail

Best character.

I get that chaos scimitar is supposed to be super safe so people can complete chapter 7 more easily. But I would have preferred if she got a zeke treatment as well during the dlc that let her lose because she realizes that rex isn't a pushover who needs to be bottle fed.

You know I honestly thought and I could have had some pretty good potential if they gave her a bit more damage like for as much she heals more damage she deals. Or if you manage to heal the enemy and get the enemy to 100% health you'll stun them or paralyze them, or instantly kill them. Pretty cool concept. I also feel like they should have made some changes to roc but that's for another day. An example would changing his element from wind to dark.

Can you do one for Nim ? Lot of people dont like her design but i find her to be a very good healing blade and probably the best knuckle healing blade , she was my go to healer before a specific healing blade was introduce in the game

My Rex is rocking Pyra, "Catalyst", and Roc. He's truly overpowered! Ok, jokes aside, I always tend to have characters in games outfitted in the most "in character" way as possible, and, for Rex, this seems to be his most "in character" setup. Pyra cause he seems to like that form more, "Catalyst" is a good friend of his, and Roc is to honor the memory of Vandam (plus Rex being the new Merc Boss and all).

What are the stats of Nexus Force and Union Sword (Nia, Pyra, and Rex special). I know that it doesn’t do damage, but there has to be some decent thing about it.

Ok but why are Nia's ears backwards? They are backwards right, and I'm not just imagining it? Anyways I love Nia... and all you guys

Lmao it took me way too long to realize who he was talking about

Thank you for talking about best girl.

Is it possible to do a Maximum Custom Difficultly playthrough?

I Prefer driver nia for story boss fights just because I Prefer more healing over bigger healing but that's just me. Also why are favourite pouch items different there the same person?

Nice save

Was trying to think of a way to let nia compete with high end blades, and the scene after the malos came to mind. What if instant regen was replaced with a trade off skill (let’s call it floodplain)? If you healed too much (say you healed a total of 2000 hp while still at full health) the properties of her skills reversed. Anything that would heal will now slowly harm you and the party... but to compensate anyone who took damage from her overkill would have increased arts recharge and/or higher damage. The effect would last until you hit half hp or so.

If I may ask, how do you get all your blades to S+ trust so quick? Or is it because you just have that many hours on the game?

Do you think Nia is better as a Blade, or utilized as a Driver set up with three different healing Blades?

Is the marigold aux core a good alternative for max atk VI?

You seemed very amused about chain attack spamming Cloud Sea King Ken with little effort.

Of course Nia is best healer, even as a driver shes a good healer!

Been a long time coming. Always cute and-