Nintendo’s Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 gives the RPG a new way to put its living-weapon companions at the center of a fight. In Merc Assault, players can choose up to six Blades for a mission, then move, fight and switch freely among them instead of treating them only as companions to a Driver.
Nintendo describes Merc Assault as a new action-battle mode and says combining Blade Specials will be important to winning. That makes the addition a distinct combat setup from the main game’s Driver-and-Blade partnership: in the original adventure, Blades grant Drivers access to weapons and powers, and each Driver can equip up to three of them.
A new Blade and a sharper return to Alrest
The Switch 2 Edition also adds MOMO, a Rare Blade with light and dark forms that change both her appearance and elemental affinity. Nintendo says she has her own quest. New outfit designs for Pyra and Mythra appear during exploration and in cutscenes.