What is it that makes Xenoblade Chronicles 2 so appealing? This fantastic JRPG was much anticipated prior to its 2017 release, following in the wake of the iconic original. Continuing that same fantastical storytelling vibe, those outlandish characters and a familiar-yet-different creative combat system, it had all the tools it needed to become a success. It’s a Nintendo Switch must-have for any genre fan.

RELATED: 10 Nintendo Switch Games To Play If You Love Pokémon Sword & Shield

Speaking of the combat system, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 implements a new Blade/Driver mechanic, in which a supporting character (a Blade) is bonded to a party member (a Driver). While this allows for a lot of customization, Blades aren’t mere equipment. Many have become popular characters in their own right, and Ursula certainly qualifies. Here are some details you may not know about this supportive Blade and wannabe pop star.

10 She Has Very Unique Mercenary Missions

The Blade Ursula from Xenoblade 2

As a deep and engrossing RPG, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 certainly isn’t afraid to throw a lot of grinding at the player. One form this takes in the Mercenary Missions, which allows Drivers and Blades to bond and the player to learn more about them.

Ursula’s exclusive missions take a very unique form: she wants to overcome her timid nature and perform concerts for her fans, which means only one thing: lots and lots (and lots) of grinding for said fans. Grinding is Ursula’s watchword, as her Affinity Chart is infamously difficult to raise to the maximum. If you’re not prepared for that, you might want to reconsider using her in the first place.

9 Her Favorite Pouch Items Are The Torigonda And Steamwork Organ Instruments

Ursula and Beary in a scene from Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Ursula’s storyline revolves around her timidity. As players soon learn, she finds it incredibly difficult to trust the party and her Driver, and it’s only through steadily boosting her confidence that everybody is able to help her overcome this.

Trust is crucial to her, and this is an element that goes hand in hand with correct Pouch Item choices. Among Ursula’s favorites are the Steamwork Organ (purchased at the Adelno Music in Alba Cavanich) and the Torigonda (Soniarus Music in Torigoth). This is no surprise at all, given her music leanings.

8 Her Battle Skills Are Equally Unique And Powerful

The Blade Ursula using a special move

As with most Blades in the game, Ursula has an interesting selection of skills that helps to define a party’s overall approach to battles. There’s a lot of competition for Blade slots, but she brings something to the mix that many others simply don’t.

RELATED: Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition: 10 Things It Improves From The Original

With Beary Healing, she can restore HP to the team on a Blade Switch, which is very unusual. Hide and Seek limits the aggro caused by Driver Arts and Specials, which is more niche but certainly helps with survivability. Her final Battle Skill, Snow Charm, gives the whole party a shield when at max Affinity, which also has a lot of utility in the right situation.

7 She’s Actually Relatively Strong In Combat

Ursula in a cutscene from Xenoblade Chronicles 2

With all of this in mind, it’s clear to see that Ursula is a support-oriented Blade. With her great lupine buddy Beary in tow (more on Beary later), she might give the impression of being a damage dealer, but there are many far better choices for that role.

Drivers that focus more on pure DPS will perform better with allies other than Ursula and Beary, yes, but this isn’t to say she’s weak. By the standards of HLR Blades, she can handle herself too. This is another string to her interesting, frustrating, unusual bow.

6 She’s A Great Healer

Ursula's awakening animation from Xenoblade 2

Having established that Ursula is a healer, one question newer fans are sure to have is this: where does she stand when it comes to HLR Blades? Who’s the best support Blade?

Well, as is often the case, that will depend on a player’s party setup, preferred style of play and other considerations. However, she’s very potent in the role (especially with her exclusive ability to heal the team on switching), even if her more niche moves like Snow Charm can be inconsistent. Other HLR Blades may help the Driver’s stats more (such as Boreas), but it all depends on your style and the elements of your other Blades.

5 She Has An Excellent Blade Art

The Blade Ursula from Xenoblade Chronicles 2

While Blades aren’t technically playable characters in their own right, they may as well be. To emphasize this, they have unique combat abilities of their own, known as Blade Arts.

The player has limited control over when these are activated, as they’re passives that Blades have access to in battle when certain conditions occur. Ursula has a very nice Blade Art that some players may have overlooked: Debuff Cancel. It’s also available to Dromarch, Floren, Perun, Finch, Shulk and Adenine, offering them the ability to remove any and all debuffs from their Driver (with a 50% chance to activate when they’re afflicted with one). Debuffs can be super debilitating, so this is a fantastic asset for any supportive Blade. Who wouldn’t want to be instantly freed from all kinds of terrible, annoying things that can happen in a battle?

4 There’s Really No Explanation For Beary’s Existence

Ursula playing music with Beary in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Now, granted, if you’re going to be diving into a lot of deadly battles, a polar bear with vicious claws is a handy friend to have around. There’s no denying that. The only real issue here is, Beary’s existence is never elaborated on.

RELATED: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot: Every Support Party Member, Ranked

As a player’s connection to Ursula develops and she becomes more comfortable with her teammates, some backstory really would’ve been appreciated. How did she come to meet the creature? Is it a familiar of sorts? How do they occupy the same Core? The relationship between the two is unlike any other in the game (Nim, Kit and Sunny aren’t really the same), and it would be fascinating to know more about these unusual party members. Sadly, the game skates over the whole issue.

3 Beary Offers A Huge Amount Of Combat Utility, Though

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 combat gameplay

If you were turned away by the intense grind Ursula can demand, you may not be aware of how effective a Blade she can be. A super solid HLR Blade for a variety of team compositions, who can also bring a solid amount to the table in terms of damage? That’s tough to pass up, and Beary is instrumental when it comes to the latter.

Ursula’s Blade Specials all utilize the creature’s melee talents. At level 1, Beary Strong simply sees him rush at an opponent and swipe his claws. Level 2’s Beary Helpful unleashes an AoE wave of ice, while level 3’s Beary-Go-Round is (as you’d expect) a spinning claw attack that can strike multiple foes. Finally, at level 4, Ursine Phantasm is a tag-team attack. The key to these moves is their additional effects: at max level, Beary Strong will always spawn two small health potions on hitting, while Beary Helpful will restore half the damage it dealt to the whole party when maxed out.

2 Her Heart-To-Heart Begins At Cobalt Cliffs In The Kingdom Of Uraya

Ursula's Heart To Heart, "Not Quite Comfortable," in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Ursula’s first heart-to-heart, for the many players who were intimidated by her Affinity Chart and haven’t put the time into her, is instigated at the Cobalt Cliffs. It’s unlocked by pausing to sleep at Garfont Village’s Harghalgh Inn.

This scene, titled Not Quite Comfortable Yet, is a touching moment that allows Ursula to begin to build a lot of trust with her Driver, when they opt to reassure her that it’s okay to take her time and settle in with the team. There’s some surprisingly touching dialogue here, making for a scene that’s worth experiencing.

1 Her Missions Are Excellent For Boosting Other Blades

Ursula's Merc Missions menu in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

There’s no denying that Ursula will require a significant time investment in order to perform at her best. This doesn’t mean that all this time will be invested purely in her, though.

These very quick Merc Missions (just ten minutes) are perfect for advancing the Blade Charts of other Blades that aren’t in use. This means that the player is achieving several things at once, passively. It’s a pain to keep fiddling with the menu so often, but the benefits of doing so can be much greater than players might think.

NEXT: 10 Action RPGs To Play If You Like Monster Hunter: World