Chapter 6: Dark Matters

It’s a race between BLADE and the Ganglion to see who can uncover a vital piece of tide-turning technology first. Don’t fall behind!

Chapter Prerequisites

• Survey 20 percent of Noctilum.
• Complete the “A Friend in Need” affinity mission.
• Complete Chapter 5.
• Required Members: Elma and Lin.

Main Mission Walkthrough

Once you accept this mission, a cutscene gives you your first look into the hierarchy, inner workings, and plans of the Ganglion. You’re also introduced to Luxaar, the Ganglion commander. An ominous cloud hangs over the proceedings.

Then it’s time for dinner!

Go ahead and choose your meal, and prepare for the briefing. Lao’s team has found an alien mech, and taps L and Team Elma regarding a mysterious mech to be found in Noctilum. Neither BLADE nor Ganglion can get to it, and L knows why—it’s guarded by ferocious territorial beasts known as the Tainted.

New Story Mission: Chapter 6

Head to Noctilum and retrieve the alien mech.

Objective 1

Retrieve the alien mech from Noctilum’s Dead Man’s gulch.

After a discussion between Lin and Lao, it’s time to head out. As usual, Noctilum can be a bit of a maze, so make sure you use the Follow Ball to help you out.

When you arrive at the gulch, you’ll see the tainted up close. From here on, it’s pseudo-stealth time. Elma says they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Take this to heart. They won’t attack you unless you attack them first.

It looks like you’re about to make a clean escape. However, no plan survives contact with Tatsu, and without a second thought, the tainted are upon you. It’s time to fight!

Objective 2

Defeat the tainted caro.

Tainted Caro x3

Lv. 21-30: Enemy

Tainted are tough and fast, lashing out with powerful Bite attacks and debuffing Roars. Absolutely stay behind these monsters if you can while dishing out your attacks. Try to be at least level 25 before wandering into this battle.

Topple is your best friend here, as is noting elemental weaknesses: If all else fails, use fire.

The caro are down. Unfortunately, this only invites more trouble. There’s still no way out but through, so it’s boss time.

Objective 3

Defeat the tainted sphinx.

Tainted Sphinx

Lv. 24: Boss

The tainted sphinx is bigger and tougher than the tainted caro. Expect more of the same as the last fight, only more painful. Speaking of the caro, the sphinx will call some in to the fight halfway through. If you had an easy time against the caro in the last fight, then you may wish to just have your entire team concentrate on the sphinx—once it’s gone, the battle’s over no matter what.

As Team Elma is set upon by a seemingly insurmountable number of tainted, a scene takes place that will prove very familiar to players of the original Xenoblade Chronicles. Enjoy!

Objective 4

Report to Commander Vandham in front of the restricted hangar in New LA’s Administrative District.

Come the end of the mission, you’ll be able to take the Skell license test to get your Skell license, which is something you absolutely want. We’ll talk about that in the next section.