In Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, you'll take on some missions where your choices will have consequences. There are some Xenoblade X side requests where choosing the wrong option can result in an NPC's death. While this isn't the case with "The Mad Monk," your choice in this quest will influence how a later Affinity Mission will play out. "The Mad Monk" takes your party into dangerous territory, so it doesn't hurt to be above the recommended level before meeting with your client: Boze Lowes.
How to Complete 'A New Rival' in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
A New Rival is an Affinity Mission from H.B. In Xenoblade Chronicles X --here's how to get through it.
How to Complete The Mad Monk Affinity Mission
The Mad Monk Guide
You'll need to complete Chapter 5 before "The Mad Monk" Affinity Mission can be taken. Once you've done this, check the taskboard, and you'll see a mission called "Backup Request" (Boze). Accept it, and you'll be able to start its respective Affinity Mission by going to the East Gate in New Los Angeles.
The required level for "The Mad Monk" is level 20, as is its recommended level. However, due to the area you'll be expected to travel, it's highly recommended you're level 30-35. You'll still have to run through dangerous territory, but you'll have a higher chance of surviving if you're closer to the enemy levels.
It doesn't matter what choices you choose when first speaking to Boze Lowes. You'll then add him to your party and set out for the Vitrioal Cesspool in Noctilum. Your goal is to traverse the dangerous cavern and rescue one of Boze's students: Reggie.
When you complete the mission, you'll be able to add Boze to your party, and you'll receive the following:
- 220 XP
- 13000 Credits
Vitriol Cesspool Location
If you've been activating FN Sites in Noctilum, then chances are you may have activated FN Site 209, which is right outside the Vitriol Cesspool. FN Site 205 is north of the Vitriol Cesspool, albeit a little further away.
If you don't have either FN Site activated, then warp to FN Site 216 or the Skybound Coil Tree Landmark. From there, head southwest to the corner of your map. If you're marking "The Mad Monk," you can use Tatsu's Follow Ball (R + X-button) to guide you towards the Vitriol Cesspool.
Refer to the red arrows on the above image for the route you can take to reach the Vitriol Cesspool from FN Site 216.
Upon entering the Vitriol Cesspool, you'll run into an injured Ma-non named Jejebba. You'll be given the option to Follow or Demand. Choosing Follow will put you on the A route of "The Mad Monk"; choosing Demand will put you on the B route. If you choose to help (Demand) the Ma-non, an extra step will be added to "The Mad Monk." You'll need to gather and deliver five Muneria Flowers to Jejebba.
If you want to know more details about where to find Muneria Flowers, go to Should You Help the Ma-non? Section.
Where to Find Reggie
Regardless of your choice, Reggie is still trapped in the cave, so head in deeper. You'll come across an open room with poisonous water and dangerous enemies. The giant white 'lumps' near the Skell wreckage points (golden squares on your minimap) are level 40 enemies that will jump out and attack you.
To avoid running into them, hug the rightmost wall and circle around the room until you reach the tunnel at the back. You'll have to jump over rocks to avoid alerting enemies, so make sure you're sprinting to get the most out of your jump (ZR-button).
When you find Reggie, speak to him, and you'll be expected to fight a wave of heinous blattas (level 14) for 2 minutes. When the timer is up, you'll fight another wave for 2 more minutes, this time against heinous forfexes (level 18).
Because you'll be fighting two waves back to back, it's recommended you build your party before approaching Reggie. Make sure you have a "tank" (ex: L or Lin) and a healer/buffer (ex: Irina) to pull aggro and heal you respectively.
If you're way above the recommended level, you won't have to worry as much, but you should still bring decent party members to avoid defeat.
After this, sit through another cutscene with Reggie, then return to Eleanora in New Los Angeles to complete your quest.
How to Reach FN Site 108 in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
This guide details a path that players can use to reach FN Site 108, which can yield several materials, in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.
Should You Help the Ma-non?
Where to Find Muneria Flowers
Whether you leave or help Jejebba won't change who survives at the end of the Affinity Mission. However, your choice will change scenes and dialogue in Boze's third Affinity Mission: "Boze's Ignorance." If you don't care for additional scenes, then feel free to choose whichever option suits you best.
A Route
If you choose to ignore the Ma-non (Follow), Jejebba will get up and leave, and he won't appear for the rest of the mission. Furthermore, you'll be ambushed during "Boze's Ignorance" by a Definian named ST816: Stalio, since you won't have Jejebba's technology to foil her disguise. Boze will also be unable to overcome his xenophobia, insisting that all xenos can't be trusted.
B Route
If you choose to help the Ma-non (Demand), you'll need to find five Muneria Flowers and give them to Jejebba so he can heal. Choosing this path will take you down "The Mad Monk (Route B)." You can find Muneria Flowers in Rust Lake, which is in the southern part of Noctilum, near FN Site 217.
Muneria Flowers spawn on top of the water of Rust Lake, so you'll likely have to swim to get them. You'll also want to be careful as the monsters on Rust Lake are level 35+ and will attack if they see you. However, if you thoroughly explored Noctilum during Chapter 4, it's likely you already have the Muneria Flowers.
If you helped Jejebba, he'll appear once you've rescued Reggie to give Boze a Ma-non device. This technology will reveal ST816: Stalio's true form during "Boze's Ignornace," thus thwarting her ambush. You'll also get a cutscene at the end of the mission where Boze recognizes his ignorance and overcomes his xenophobia.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
- Released
- March 20, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Rebuild humanity on the mysterious planet Mira in this action RPG.
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