Aggro (Japanese: ヘイト, Heito, Hate; English dub: /ˈæɡroʊ/) is a mechanic in the Xenoblade Chronicles series that draws enemies towards a member in the party.
Xenoblade Chronicles
In Xenoblade Chronicles and Future Connected, using Battle Arts will raise the aggro of enemies. The member with highest aggro will be targeted by the enemy. There are some arts that will increase, decrease, eliminate, or absorb aggro.
Certain characters such as Reyn, Dunban and Fiora are used to gain aggro so that other characters can find a better position. The three mentioned characters will either have high defence and HP (Reyn) to attract enemy attacks, or high agility (Dunban and Fiora) to dodge the attacks.
Luring an enemy will immediately give the party leader the aggro.
Damage
Under normal circumstances, every point of damage done to a monster increases aggro by 0.5 point on its aggro table.
Healing
Under normal circumstances, every point healed makes 1.25 points of aggro.
Recovery Up gems increase the amount the target will be healed by, which causes more aggro. For example, if Melia's Healing Gift heals for 1740, that will result in 2175 points of aggro (from the healing only). If her target uses a Rank VI Recovery Up gem to increase healing by half, Healing Gift will now heal 2,610 which results in 3,262 points of aggro.
No aggro is generated from healing as a result of regeneration (Such as Melia's Summon Aqua, or Aura Heal gems) or encouraging an ally during battle (such as when encouraging with Reyn's Healing Inspiration is skill linked).
Receiving Damage
When a party member is the target of an enemy's aggro, he or she will lose two points of aggro for every point of damage received from that enemy under normal circumstances. So if a party member pulls aggro off the tank and gets receive damage by the enemy, aggro will return to the tank (provided he or she do nothing else to produce aggro).
Notes:
- Receiving Spike damage does not reduce aggro for a party member.
- Reyn's Anchor Chain aura completely negates any aggro he will lose when taking damage.
- Shulk's Forced Mercy skill increases the amount of aggro reduced by 25% per hit.
Arts
In addition to damage aggro, most arts, including auras, generate volatile aggro beyond any damage or healing they might do. The amount of volatile aggro generated is dependent on the party member's level. This type of aggro dissipates at a rate of 60 points per second. For example if a Level 50 Melia were to use her Reflection art, she would generate a total of 1600 volatile aggro.
Although the exact formula for calculating the arts volatile aggro is not known, this formula is an approximation: arts volatile aggro = arts volatile aggro parameter × (character's level + 14).
The parameters can be found here at the Japanese Wiki, listed in the "Hate" category. The rest of this list is pertaining to arts that have extra special modifiers for aggro. The question mark means nothing has been confirmed.
| Effect | Character | Art | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eliminate Aggro | Dunban | Heat Haze | Eliminates all aggro and makes it impossible to gain aggro. |
| Riki | Play Dead | Removes all aggro by feigning death. | |
| Reduce Aggro | Sharla | Covert Stance | 25% to 52%. No aggro gain for duration. |
| Shulk | Shadow Eye | 30% to 75% | |
| Absorb Aggro | Dunban | Blinding Blossom | 20% to 56% |
| Increase Aggro | Dunban | Battle Eye | Lock-On |
| Dunban | Peerless | Depends on Dunban's level. Volatile aggro is added to enemies around Dunban. | |
| Fiora | Lock-On | Lock-On | |
| Reyn | Anchor Chain | Reyn's static aggro is added to each enemy engaged in battle at a rate of 200 per second. | |
| Reyn | Aura Burst | Depends on Reyn's level for each enemy hit. | |
| Reyn | Engage | Lock-On and +25% to Mad Taunt | |
| Reyn | Hammer Beat | Depends on Reyn's level for each enemy hit. | |
| Reyn | Mad Taunt | Depends on Reyn's level. Mad Taunt aggro's dissipation rate per second is 1/30th of the total. Mad Taunt aggro reaches 0 after 30 seconds. |
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
In Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Torna ~ The Golden Country, aggro is gained from using Driver Arts and Blade Specials. The Driver currently aggroed by enemies will have a red ring appear around them known as the Aggro Marker. The wedges that appear on the marker point toward the enemies currently targeting the Driver.
Aggro is increased by dealing damage, using healing arts, applying Elemental Orbs, and using the Draw Aggro Blade Art. Aggro decreases overtime as well as when a Driver takes damage, with the aggro resetting to 0 when Incapacitated. Additionally, Hugo's Imperial Tether draws all enemy Aggro to him for 15 seconds, and Minoth's Duelo triples the aggro gained from the next art used by him.
Arts
Aggro-Increasing Arts
The following arts increase the user's aggro when used.
Aggro-Reducing Arts
The following arts decrease the user's aggro when used.
Aggroed-Up Arts
The following arts deal more damage when the user is aggroed.
Specials
Aggro-Increasing Specials
The following Specials increase the user's aggro when used.
Aggro-Reducing Specials
The following Specials decrease the user's aggro when used.
| Character | Specials |
|---|---|
| Adenine | Harness the Wind |
| Gorg | Bittersweet Dreams |
| Perun | Punishment Strike |
| Praxis | Foam Blast |
| Perdido | Diamond Flight |
| Minoth | Espada |
Aggroed-Up Specials
The following Specials deal more damage when the user is aggroed.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
In Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Future Redeemed, aggro is gained from using Arts. The character currently aggroed by enemies will be surrounded by a ring that is red for Attackers and Healers, and blue for Defenders. When targeted, a red or blue Targeting Line, depending on the character's role, will connect the enemy and the character they're attacking. Defender classes will draw aggro towards themselves.
Aggro is increased by using damaging healing arts. Aggro decreases overtime as well as when a character takes damage, with the aggro resetting to 0 when Incapacitated. Aggro will not generate if the enemy is dazed. The Target Lock Status Effect will cause the target enemies or party members to have their aggro locked to the target enemy or party member. The Brimming Spirit Gem boosts aggro generated from using arts, while Disperse Bloodlust reduces it. Additionally, Perilous Presence lets the user start each battle with aggro.
Arts
Aggro-Increasing Arts
The following arts increase the user's aggro or the rate aggro is acquired when used.
Aggro-Reducing Arts
The following arts decrease the user's aggro or the rate aggro is acquired when used.
| User | Arts |
|---|---|
| Swordfighter | Shadow Eye |
| Full Metal Jaguar | Dead Set |
| Stalker | Night Hunt |
| Soulhacker | Tail Slap |
Aggroed-Up Arts
The following arts deal more damage when the user is targeted.
| User | Arts |
|---|---|
| Zephyr | Air Fang |
| Lone Exile | Gale Slash |
| Ashera | Inferno Wheel |
| Lanz (Ouroboros) | Ray of Punishment |
| Shulk | Monado Purge |
Etymology
The term aggro is a clipping of "aggravation". In British English, "aggro" has also the following meanings:
- exasperation or irritation
- a rivalry or grievance especially public in nature marked by mistrust, rancor, and often violence
- violence against persons and property that is usually deliberate but not specific in its aims