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The Manhunt is an Affinity Mission you are required to complete while playing Xenoblade Chronciles X. It is a mandatory mission if you want to reach Chapter 10. This page details everything you need to know to complete Manhunt during your XCX playthrough.
This guide contains side quest spoilers! Proceed at your own risk.
| Manhunt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended Level | Prerequisites | Quest Rewards | Complete? |
| 34 | Complete Chapter 8: Gathering Storm Reach character level 33 You must have Elma and Lin in your active party | 300 EXP 22,000 Credits | |
| Quest Description | |||
| "There have been reports that the pair who raided New LA have been sighted in Noctilum. Go there and investigate." | |||
How to Complete Manhunt in Xenoblade Chronicles X
You can start this mission after you complete Chapter 8: Gathering Storm, following the invasion of New Los Angeles. After this happens, you'll need to reach at least 33 with your character, and the Manhunt Affinity Quest should appear outside the BLADE Tower. You can start it with Elma and Lin in your active party. The quest begins with Vandham being excited to see your squad, as he has the perfect mission for you: Dagahn and Ryyz, the pair of Ganglions who attacked New Los Angeles, were spotted in Noctilum. Vandham approves the mission and is sending you out against them, hopeful of the outcome.
You'll receive the waypoint to where they were last spotted, which was in the center of Qing Long Glade, close to Fukai Pass. You can fast travel to this location by visiting the Great Nail or Everwhelm Falls landmarks or by using FN Sites 212, 215, or 218.
When you arrive, there's a smoking fire pile. Tatsu believes it was Dagahn and Ryyz's campfire, and they were recently here. Elma doesn't think it could be them since they don't seem like a pair to use a campfire. You'll have the choice to Advise to look around or you can Caution that you heard something nearby. When you advise to take a look around, you'll do a perimeter sweep, or you're about to do it, and if you caution about hearing someone, Elma agrees and advises everyone to hide. Regardless of your choice, your squad hides nearby, and several Ganglions appear.
They're also looking for the pair who made the fire, wondering where they could be. Elma wonders why they're also after the same people you're trying to find since they're all Ganglion. Regardless, she asks you what you should do next. This choice does give you different tasks for this mission, but the result of this mission does remain the same. You have the option to Agree that attacking these two could lead to more information, or you can Disagree to continue searching instead.
Agree to Shake Them Down for Intel
When you agree to shake the two Ganglions down to see what they know about anything that's going on, the two at the campfire become targets. These are Marnuck Soldiers at level 30, and you should make short work of them, especially if you have your Skell with you. When you defeat them, a cutscene plays out with Elma asking what they know about the ones they're searching to find. They swear never to talk. Although they don't speak, their radio reveals others have spotted the targets. Elma knocks them out and uses the radio signal to figure out where to go.
The next quest marker appears north of you, next to the Bloodpond Basin, Dead Man's Ingress, and the Lotus Keep Building Site. When you arrive, it is not the pair you were looking for that attacked New Los Angeles, but a brand new duo. They're surrounded by Ganglion soldiers, and you'll have to defend them. There are five enemies, four Marnuck Soldiers at level 30 and a Marnuck Commander at level 34. With your Skell, you can cut through them relatively quickly.
After the battle, Elma introduces herself to the strange pair, and they introduce themselves as Celica and Rock. You'll have the dialogue choice to Worry about these two, or you can Interrogate to learn their background. Celica is on guard and pushes back if you show worry toward them or want to learn more about them. Elma stresses that you're there to help, and even Rock tries to convince Celicia that you and your squad are there to help. When Tatsu approaches and explains how you saved him from the Ganglion, Celica seems more interested in potentially trusting you.
Elma further explained that Celica and Rock could come with them to New Los Angeles. If they do, they can come and go as they please. At this, Celica finally introduces herself. Lin provides the coordinates to the city before the cutscene ends. Your next stop is to return to New Los Angeles and speak with Vandham.
This is the end of all the differences in this decision. We'll break down what happens if you choose to keep searching, or you can scroll to the bottom to find the conclusion of Manhunt in Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Disagree and Keep Searching
When you keep searching rather than rely on the Ganglion soldiers, you'll receive another waypoint that takes you to the north of your current location.
You'll go straight to a cave to the north of you, Shark's Jaws, and need to head inside. It's close to the Bloodpond Basin and Dead Man's Ingress, where you can use FN Sites 210, 214, or 208 to fast travel here quicker.
When you arrive in the cave, you meet Rock and Celica, huddled around a fire. Rock is immediately terrified of your group while Elma and Lin are trying to figure out how these pair are connected to the Ganglion chasing them. Elma explains how they're also hiding from the Ganglion, and they're from Earth. Rock appears to want to trust you, but Celica doesn't believe the story. However, before you can continue, a Ganglion squad appears and attempts to leave to call for reinforcements. You cut them off at the cave entrance, fighting against four level 30 Marnuck Soldiers and a level 34 Marnuck Commander.
After the battle, a cutscene begins in front of Rock and Celica. You'll receive a dialogue option where you can Worry about Rock and Celica or attempt to Interrogate them to learn their backgrounds. Both options continue to have Celica on edge, as she's protective of what she shares with strangers. Rock tries to help, given that you took out a Ganglion squad without them asking. Tatsu approaches and introduces himself, sharing how he was also saved by this group when the Ganglion attacked him. This helps Celica open up, and she explains that she and Rock are fugitives against the Ganglion.
Elma and Lin explain that Rock and Celica can visit New Los Angeles if they need a place to stay. They can come and go as they please. They provide the two fugitives with coordinates to the base, and the cutscene ends.
Manhunt Ending
Following the end of either route for the Manhunt Affinity Quest in Xenoblade Chronicles X, you'll have to report to the same spot in New Los Angeles to meet up with Celica and Rock. It's in the Industrial District, next to the Integrated Production Plant landmark.
When you arrive, Rock and Celica are there, and you can speak with them to trigger another cutscene. Celica is a little overwhelmed with the city, but Rock is happy to be here and not running from the Ganglion. With everything settled down, the pair thanks your group for helping them, and they're ready to enjoy life away where they're not constantly running from the Ganglion.
This ends the Manhunt mission. For completing it, you'll receive 300 EXP and 22,000 Credits. This does not recruit Celica to your group, but you can do it on the next Affinity Mission, New in New LA.
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