Wandering about Aionios inXenoblade Chronicles 3will unlock more Landmarks and Camps which essentially serve as Fast-Travel points. Depending on where the Ouroboros are in their journey, there may be some Landmarks that are inaccessible untilXC3players have reached a milestone in their current chapter. However, there’s a unique type of Landmark referred to as Secret Areas that net more experience and SP upon discovery.
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Secret Area Fast-Travel points are marked on the map with a yellow mountain icon. They don’t serve any special purpose beyond their bonus XP, but they’re usually home to tougher monsters and ether channels. There are also areas that are hidden in plain sight that don’t classify as Secret Areas, but it’s highly likely they’ve been missed on a first playthrough ofXenoblade Chronicles 3. Furthermore, while there are more than five Secret Areas in Aionois, these are just a few that are easier for newcomers to discover without needing to wait until the end-game.
7Serrato Spring
Serrato Spring is located in theFornis Region, which unlocks in Chapter 2. On the image above, it’s theright northmost landmark. If this is the first time exploring the Fornis Region, then Serrato Spring will be inaccessible until Chapter 3. In order toreachSerrato Springs,XC3players will need the Scree Walking party skill from Teach back at Colony Gamma.
Players can start Teach’sHero Quest: Going Beyond Powerby backtracking to the northwest Aetia Region. With Scree Walking, head northeast of Colony 4 and there will be sand dunes to cross. This will lead to the Dannagh Desert, and Serrato Spring itself is north from there.
6Cotte Fountainhead
Cotte Fountainhead is to the left of theVista of RhonnarLandmark in the Pentelas Region. Once the Rope Sliding Party Skill is unlocked (complete Juniper’s Hero Quest in Chapter 4),they can take the rope northof the Landmark to reach the other half of the Vista. There’s a large tree root/limb here that leads back. Take this, and it will lead up to a higher level near the Vista’s Landmark. Enemies here are around level 61, so it may be best to leave this Secret Area alone for the time being.
However, those that are at the right level can continue along the upper path until they see purple vines. Using Valdi’s Party Skill, climb up the walls and continue west until the Cotte Fountainhead area is discovered.On the above image, the Cotte Fountainhead is marked by the Secret Area icon (mountains) in the middle-left of the screen. Unlocking Secret Areas creates a new Fast-Travel point, but there are two level 64 Unique Monsters that can be defeated to get a Gravestone Fast-Travel point.
5Transcendent Retreat
Transcendent Retreat is a Secret Area that players may unlock while working through Teach’s Going Beyond Power quest. For context, Teach passes on the Scree Walking skill midway into the quest. Noah and the team will follow him in a large circle (clockwise) starting from Colony Gamma. Continue to explore the rest of the area after fighting the Consul, and it’s possible to unlock the Transcendent Retreat.
Like other Secret Areas, Transcendent Retreat has some stronger enemies, but they’renot as outrageously over-leveledas the ones at Cotte Fountainhead. So, it’s possible to wander around without having to worry. From the Transcendent Retreat, keep heading west to return to Colony Gamma.
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4Forerunners' Tower
Forerunner’s Tower is one of the four Secret Areas (like Serrato Spring) in theFornis Region. This is to the south of Colony 4 and closer to the entrance to the Pentelas Region. More specifically, the Secret Area is near the Urayan Tunnels Entrance in theRae-Bel Tableland regionof Fornis. Players will need Valdi’s wall climbing skill to reach Forerunners' Tower.
In the chance the Ouroboros don’t already have this,continue on to Ribbi Flats(i.e: progress the main story) and eventually, they’ll meet Valdi. Complete his Hero Quest: The Kind Right Hand to get the Wall Climbing skill, and backtrack to theRiez Tarn Lake. Go through the cave, go north, then look for the purple vines along the wall.
3Sage’s Domicile/Milio Trick Caverns
Chances are players saw the Sage’s Domicile sticking out above the Namba Mound Camp. There’s a yellow point of interest/Question Mark icon on the map, but it’s impossible to reach the caverns from here. Instead, head north of the Namba Mound Camp to unlock the Raptor Perch Landmark (highlighted in the above image). Look at the mesa to find an entrance to a cave.
These are the Milio Trick Caverns, and they’re home to level 24 monsters. Players will need to solve two puzzles and defeat two Elite Monsters (a total of three “challenges”) before they can reach the domicile.There’s a pair of Nopon at the Sage’s Domicile, and speaking to them starts a quest, which involves spending Nopon Coins (Silver) at their Nopon Coin X-Change shop. Sage’s Domicile and the Milio Trick Caverns don’t qualify as Secret Areas, but it’s easy to miss them, and some accessories from the Coin X-Change may be worth buying.
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2Radial Outlook
Radial Outlook is in the Cadensia Region, which unlocks around the start of Chapter 5 if players are consistent with the main story. Reaching the Secret Area requires the usage of The Boundary, a ship that unlocks after helping Samon (a Nopon) in Chapter 5.Xenoblade Chronicles 3will try and push its players to complete the Standard Quest, but the Cadensia Region has much to uncover.
Starting from the Swordmarch Landmark (southmost landmark on the above image), keep heading straight and go past the rock walls. Then, turn left to find an island. There’s a hidden cave entrance near the shore, and going through there leads down a “U-shaped path”. At the end of this path is the Radial Outlook Secret Area (top-left icon on the above image).All the items in this areaare Legendary-tier, so make sure to grab them as well as the Martis Rings Accessory.
1Svinne Cavity
Svinne Cavity is where players can get that Container they may have spotted as far back as Chapter 1. To reach the Cavity, Fast-Travel to the Shark’s Jaws Cape. Continue to the southern edge of the cape, and look down. Players will know they’re in the right area if the monsters floating about in the water are around level 40. Refer tothe above imageand go where the green arrows/cursor indicates. There’s a small cave guarded by a level 51 Elite Monster. Follow the path, and it will eventually lead to the Svinne Cavity.
This isn’t a Landmark that players can Fast-Travel to, but there is a Unique Monster that can be defeated to unlock a Gravestone Fast-Travel point. Feel free tograb the Container to get a few Nopon Coinsand rare items. Like the Sage’s Domicile, this does not classify as a Secret Area, hence there isn’t any bonus EXP or SP to be earned. However, since Svinne Cavity is home to a Unique Monster, it’s not a bad idea to return to this area once players have unlocked the Soulhacker Class.
