Art Points, commonly referred to as AP, are a game mechanic in Xenoblade Chronicles and Future Connected, similar to EXP and SP; however, instead of being used immediately to level up characters, they are left for the player to manually level up the wanted arts, and can be saved for as long as desired. AP can be earned by defeating enemies and discovering Landmarks.
Using AP to level up Arts increases their effectiveness. What this means is different for every Art, however; damage-dealing Arts will increase in power upon leveling, and all Arts (excluding the Monado Arts) will be granted shortened Cooldown times.
Added effects may also become more potent upon leveling up, though this is also dependent on the Art. Leveling pink Arts will prolong the time an enemy suffers the Break status, but leveling green and yellow Arts will not prolong the time that an enemy will suffer Topple or Daze respectively. Orange Arts will increase the time that their auras remain potent but, again, whether or not the actual effect of said aura will be improved depends on the Art. The Berserker aura's Strength Up effect can be improved, but its Physical Defense Down side effect will always remain at a 25% drop. Lastly, it should be noted that Monado Shield is unique in that it is the only art to gain no bonuses or prolonged effects upon leveling up. Its effect of nullifying Talent Arts for 15 seconds will always remain the same, and it has no cooldown either. Instead, it is Monado Shield's level itself that functions as the upgrade for this art, as it can only block enemy Talent Arts of an equal or lower level than itself.
Like experience points and SP, higher leveled enemies (compared to members of the player's party) will yield more AP, and low-leveled enemies will yield very little. AP, EXP, and SP are calculated based on the lowest-level battle party member, and enemies defeated during a Chain Attack will yield 25% AP more than normal. The amount of AP gained from an enemy or upon discovering a location can be increased with the use of AP Up gems. Although quests will often give experience and money, players will not gain AP or SP upon completing a quest, nor will both be given upon leveling up.
AP cannot be spent if an Art has reached its maximum level, and the maximum can be extended with the use of Art Books. See Leveling Battle Arts for more information on this.
Increasing AP Gain
The following methods will increase the gained AP from enemies:
- Reyn's Spoils of War skill in his Diligence skill tree (15%)
- Dealing the last hit to an enemy during a chain attack (25%)
- Equipping AP Up gems (5% - 200%)