Overdrive is a battle mechanic in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. It replicates the Overdrive mechanic from Xenoblade Chronicles X, although toned down quite heavily. Activating an Overdrive requires and consumes a full Party Gauge. While enabled, bonuses are granted to the party for a limited period of time for each Driver Art and Blade Special used.
When an Overdrive is activated, the track "Wir Fliegen" from XenobladeX Original Soundtrack plays until the Overdrive expires. "Wir Fliegen" plays regardless of the 'Alternative Track' setting being on or off.
Activating an Overdrive[]
Beginning an overdrive requires having Elma as an active Blade, and a full Party Gauge. The player must then hold and press . This will consume the whole Party Gauge.
Additionally, activating an Overdrive plays a small animation, during which Elma cannot attack.
Overdrive battle mechanics[]
While activated, the Party Gauge is filled more slowly than usual, and each Art will increase the Overdrive counter by 1 for Driver Arts, and by 5 for each Blade Special (though multi-hit Blade Specials seem to increase the counter for each hit dealt?). The higher the counter, the higher the bonuses granted to the party. The counter caps at 999, and shows "MAX" when this occurs.
During the whole time the Overdrive is active, a gauge to the right of the Overdrive counter will deplete. When the gauge finishes emptying (it stays empty for a little while before ending), the Overdrive ends. However, performing the activation steps again (having Elma out and a full Party Gauge, holding and pressing ), the Overdrive will be extended and the gauge will fill up somewhat (depending on how full it was before extension). This process can then be repeated ad infinitum.
Trivia[]
- Combining Overdrive with Mythra's Lightspeed Flurry Skill to quickly chain Arts and Blade Specials enables fast refilling of the Party Gauge, and thus extension of the Overdrive.