How to Increase Survey Rate

Updated: Mar 21, 2025 5:45pm UTC

To progress the main story in Xenoblade Chronicles X, you must reach a particular Survey Rate percentage in specific areas. This page explains how to increase your Survey Rate in XCX and lists which main missions require a certain Survey Rate percentage.

This guide is based on information from Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch. While it should primarily be the same for the Wii U version, there may be some differences.

How to Increase Survey Rate Percentage in XCX

In Xenoblade Chronicles X, your Survey Rate indicates how much you’ve explored and completed objectives in an area. Each area is split into segments, as shown in the Segments section of the map. Once unlocked, each segment features a task, such as treasure to find, a Tyrant to defeat, or a Normal or Affinity Mission to complete. The area's Survey Rate will increase once you finish that segment’s task.

To unlock segments on the Segments map, you must find and activate FN Sites scattered across each region. These are indicated by Segment Recon icons on the Segments map and highlighted in the overworld by a red beam of light.

Some FN Sites will be unreachable until you unlock your Skell, the mission for which becomes available once you complete Chapter 6: Dark Matters.

Additionally, some FN Sites require you to fly in your Skell, which you don't unlock until later on.

Approach an FN Site and interact with it by pressing and holding A. This will unlock the segments around it, allowing you to see the objectives you can complete to increase your Survey Rate in that area.

Once you’ve activated an FN Site, its light beam will turn gold, and you can fast-travel to it from the map anytime.

Segment Map Icons

You’ll find the following icons on the Segments map in Xenoblade Chronicles X, each corresponding to an objective:

Map Icon	Objective
	FN Site
	Treasure
	Normal Mission
	Affinity Mission
	Tyrant
	Objective Complete

Survey Rate Rewards in Xenoblade Chronicles X

Survey Rate rewards are only available in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch.

You automatically unlock a reward for every 5% Survey Rate increase in each XCX: Definitive Edition region. These range from Credits and BP to helpful items like Tensifiers and Probes. For the full list of Survey Rate Rewards and checkmarks to help you track your progress, head to our All Survey Rate Rewards - Survey Reward List guide.

For more Xenoblade Chronicles X game help, check out: