How to Recruit Xerc in Octopath Traveler 0

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-12-09 19:10:54
In the vast and varied world of Octopath Traveler 0, assembling a balanced and powerful party is paramount to success. While physical attackers and healers form the backbone of any group, true tactical dominance often relies on devastating elemental magic. This is where Xerc, the dedicated and slightly eccentric scholar, proves his worth. Xerc's specialized knowledge of ancient artifacts and his formidable elemental abilities make him one of the most potent casters you can add to your roster.This definitive guide will lead you through the precise steps required to find and recruit Xerc in the bustling city of Grandport, detail the unconventional quest that secures his loyalty, and illuminate why his unique skill set—centered around soulstones and immense elemental damage—makes him an invaluable asset in the toughest battles.

Octopath Traveler 0: How to Recruit Xerc

🏛️ The Scholar's Gambit: Recruiting Xerc

Unlike many early-game recruits tied directly to the Wishvale reconstruction effort, securing Xerc requires navigating the high-stakes financial world of Grandport after reaching a key point in the main story.

Prerequisite: Bestower of Power

Before you can even begin the process of recruiting Xerc, you must first reach a critical juncture in the main narrative:

  • Complete Chapter 3: Bestower of Power. This achievement marks the progression necessary to unlock the subsequent events in Grandport.

Step-by-Step Recruitment

Once the prerequisite is met, you can embark on the recruitment quest forXerc, which involves a brief but decisive exchange in the market:

  • Travel to Grandport: Make your way to the grand, mercantile city of Grandport.
  • Locate Xerc: Head toward the market area. Xerc will be easily identifiable, typically found standing near one of the numerous stalls.
  • The Initial Request: Engage Xerc in conversation. His dialogue reveals his predicament and academic passion. He will immediately ask to borrow 10,000 Leaves.

    • Crucial Note: You must have 10,000 Leaves (money) readily available in yourinventory when you speak to him to advance this part of the recruitment.
  • The Bidding Event: After lending him the money, Xerc will participate in a local biddingevent, likely trying to secure a rare soulstone or artifact.

    • Do not worry about the outcome: Xerc is narratively intended to lose the bid. This failure is what drives the next stage of the quest.
  • Pursue the Noble: The loss sends Xerc reeling, but the matter isn't over. Make your way down to the port area of Grandport.
  • Confront the Immoral Noble: You will find the character responsible for Xerc's loss—the Immoral Noble. Approach this NPC and challenge him to a fight. This combat encounter is the final test.
  • Victory and Recruitment: Defeat the Immoral Noble in battle. Once you secure the victory, Xercwill be elated, his honor and—more importantly—his passion restored. Hewill then happily join your party, bringing his invaluable scholarly expertise to your cause.
  • 📚 The Unconventional Scholar: Xerc’s Profile

    Xerc is not your typical academic. He is a scholar consumed by a singular, intense focus: the study of soulstones. In the academic world, this fixation has earned him a reputation forbeing somewhat odd or unconventional. However, this very obsession iswhat gives him his immense power in battle.

    Defining Support Skills

    As you progress through the game and invest in Xerc, unlocking his support skills will drastically amplify his utility and the power of yourentire team's elemental output. These skills focus on resourcemanagement and raw elemental might:

    Support Skill ProgressionEffectImpact on Party
    Initial UnlockBoosts the power of any Soulstones used in battle.Makes consumable items (Soulstones) much more effective as burst damage tools.
    Mid-Tier UnlockPermanently raises a single character’s Elemental Attack by 50.Dramatically increases the damage output of any chosen caster or hybrid character.
    Advanced UnlockIncreases a character's Maximum SP by 50.Provides a critical boost to a character's resource pool, allowing for more skill usage.

    The Game-Changing Passive

    One of Xerc's most desirable later-game assets is a passive ability thataddresses one of the major limitations of all magic-focused characters:resource consumption.

    • Passive Ability: Grants the character a 50% chance to spend zero SP when using a skill.

    This passive is game-changing. With a 50% chance to cast powerful spells for free, Xerc (or any character he is supporting) can sustain offensivepressure throughout lengthy boss battles without constant reliance onrestoring items or abilities.

    💥 Mastery of the Elements: Xerc in Battle

    Xerc's true battlefield strength lies in his role as a damage-dealing Scholar. His base stats are geared towards elemental output, but his most powerful tool is his ultimate ability.

    Ultimate Ability: Soulstone's Might

    This is arguably one of the most powerful and strategically versatile ultimate abilities in Octopath Traveler 0.

    • Effect: Soulstone's Might is a devastating, multi-hit, all-element attack.
    • Mechanic: When unleashed, Xerc blasts every enemy on the field with a single hit of Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Light, and Dark damage.

    Strategic Advantage

    This multi-elemental strike is not just about raw damage; it's a powerful tool for breaking enemy shields. Many high-level enemies and bosses have multipleelemental weaknesses. By hitting a target with six different elementaltypes in one action, Xerc is extremely effective at exploiting variousweaknesses simultaneously, allowing your party to quickly strip shieldsand set up for maximum damage.

    Xerc’s ability to manipulate resources, amplify elemental damage, and exploitmultiple weaknesses at once makes him an indispensable party member.While his recruitment requires a small financial investment and a quickduel, the rewards—a dedicated, powerful elemental scholar—are well worth the effort

    Genre(s): RPG
    Developer(s): Square Enix, DOKIDOKI GROOVE WORKS
    Mode: Single-player
    Age rating (PEGI): 12+
    Video preview



    Other Articles Related

    How To Get The Ship in Octopath Traveler 0
    Unlock the ultimate freedom in Octopath Traveler: Conquerors of the Continent! Our guide reveals the exact steps to get your ship, sailing the seas to explore new lands and quests.
    How to Recruit Celsus in Octopath Traveler 0
    Recruit Celsus in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent with thiscomplete guide. Learn his location, the required story path, battlestrategy, and his unique skills for your team.
    How to Recruit Pius in Octopath Traveler 0
    Want to recruit the elusive Pius in Octopath Traveler 2? Get a full guide on how to locate him, use the Allure/Hire action, meet his required level, and add this powerful ally to your team.
    How to Recruit Macy in Octopath Traveler 0
    Looking for the mysterious wanderer in Octopath Traveler? Discover how to findand recruit Macy in Octopath Traveler. Our guide reveals her location,prerequisites, and the rewards for adding her to your party.
    How to Recruit Delitia in Octopath Traveler 0
    Recruit Delitia in Octopath Traveler: Discover the exact method, location, andrequirements to add this powerful, hidden character to your party. Acomplete, spoiler-free guide.
    How to Recruit Laurana in Octopath Traveler 0
    essential steps to recruit Laurana in Octopath Traveler 0. Unlock herpotential and enhance your gameplay with our guide
    How to Complete The Last Cask in Octopath Traveler 0
    Learn the secrets of The Last Cask, Octopath Traveler's post-game dungeon.Our guide reveals how to find this hidden area, defeat its powerfulboss, and claim the ultimate rewards.
    How to Recruit Xerc in Octopath Traveler 0
    guide on how to recruit Xerc in Octopath Traveler 0. Unlock his potential and enhance your gameplay with our expert tips.
    How to Recruit Stia in Octopath Traveler 0
    guide on how to recruit Stia in Octopath Traveler 0. Unlock herpotential and enhance your gameplay with expert tips and strategies.
    How to Talk to Animals in Octopath Traveler 0
    how to communicate with animals in Octopath Traveler 0. Unlock secrets and enhance your gameplay with our guide.
    How To Make Friendly Bento in Disney Dreamlight Valley
    Discover the recipe for Friendly Bento in Disney Dreamlight Valley! Astep-by-step guide on where to find ingredients, cook the perfect meal,and delight your villagers.
    How To Play Ben 10 Super Hero Time
    Learn how to play Ben 10 Super Hero Time! A quick guide for kids and fans onsetting up, choosing aliens, and using special abilities to win. Fun,easy steps to get into the game!
    How to Recruit Stia in Octopath Traveler 0
    guide on how to recruit Stia in Octopath Traveler 0. Unlock herpotential and enhance your gameplay with expert tips and strategies.
    How To Get Black Passion Lily in Disney Dreamlight Valley
    Want the rare Black Passion Lily in Disney Dreamlight Valley? Learn theexact biomes, growth times, and gardening tips to find and grow thiselusive flower for quests and crafting.