New Details Emerge About Ouroboros Pairs in Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Fresh off announcing a new release date for Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Nintendo has been sharing new information about the game’s Interlink System and Ouroboros tag-team pairs. Though we’ve seen (more of) the upcoming JRPG in action by way of the most recent launch-date trailer, these new bits of information give fans a better idea of how the system works. 

Nintendo describes the Interlink system as an essential part of winning battles in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, where two characters can combine into a powerful Ouroboros giant once specific conditions are met (there’s still more on what those conditions are to be shared at a later date). However, the melding of two characters only lasts so long before the Ouroboros “will overheat.” 

Some of the tag-team pairs, which will always combine together, have more in-depth descriptions than others so far, but here’s what we know from Nintendo of America’s Twitter: 

• Noah and Mio can combine into a powerful sword-wielding Ouroboros (which Nintendo says is “pretty cool” — and we agree). 

• Lanz and Sena use their Ouroboros form to protect other characters while in battle. It’s mentioned that “they’ll be playing both offense and defense in this form,” so it won’t all be about protection, and we’ll have to wait to see what kind of offensive abilities they bring to the battlefield.

• Eunie and Taion will act as medics while in battle, with “the powerful ability to revive all fallen allies at once.” As with Lanz and Sena, it’s likely they will bring some other offensive capabilities to the fore, though that’s currently unclear.

Originally set to release for Nintendo Switch in September, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will now launch on July 29, the same day as Digimon Survive. A brand-new launch trailer dropped alongside the announcement, and you can see it right over here if you haven’t already. Stay tuned for more info in the coming months.