Monica Vandham

For the characters sharing the same name, see Monica and Vandham.

The future doesn't belong to you! For those who have not completed games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, this page contains spoilers regarding the plot. Discretion is advised.

Monica Vandham
Monica Vandham
Species	Citizen
Gender	Female
Age	33
Hair colour	Brown
Eye colour	Brown
Affiliation	House Vandham Lost Numbers
Occupation	Head of House Vandham Leader of the Lost Numbers City Elder
Voice actor (JP)	Akeno Watanabe
Voice actor (EN)	Pippa Bennett-Warner
Main appearances	Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed (credits)

Monica Vandham (Japanese: モニカ・ヴァンダム, Monika Vandamu) is a character in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. She is simply named Monica as a Hero or an NPC. She was designed by Masatsugu Saito, the lead character designer of the game.

Overview

Monica can be recruited as a Hero after completing Hero Quest Vandham's Heir. She is the daughter of Guernica Vandham, the mother of Ghondor, and current head of House Vandham. As the City's Elder, she is also the leader of the Lost Numbers.

To get Monica to Rank 20, a member of the party must reach rank 10 with the Lost Vanguard class and the quest Promise to the Future will be available in the City.

Story

From a young age, Monica had a distant relationship with her father Guernica, who was always busy with managing or protecting the City. Once Monica joined the Lost Numbers, she gained a greater understanding of him as a person, but at the cost of losing any remaining resemblance of a parent-child relationship. Around age 15, she gave birth to her daughter Ghondor, with Jansen's brother as the father. When Monica was around 19 years old, her husband was deployed on a mission to Corne Island to collect ether, but was killed. His death led Monica to resolve to take up the role of the City elder, and bring and end to the war against Moebius.

Monica encounters the party

After Guernica dies in Alfeto Valley, Shania reclaims his eyepatch and is ordered by Monica to keep watch on the party. When the party headed into Keves Castle, Monica sent a dispatch of Lost Numbers to assist the party in their fight and escape. Eventually, the party makes their way to the base of Swordmarch, where they encounter a group of Lost Numbers headed by Monica. After they explain that they are the enemies of Moebius, the group escorts the party to the City. She introduces the current Ouroboros to the original Ouroboros candidates, reveals that she had Shania spy on the party, and begins a tour of the City. First, she brings the party to the Module Warehouse and reveals the truth of the world to the party; that the soldiers of Keves and Agnus are conscripted from birth, sent off to claim life energy and be killed for the sake of Moebius, and are eventually reborn through the use of Cradles after death to repeat the process indefinitely. She also reveals that the Citizens are the descendants of the first Ouroboros, a concept that the party doesn't understand, so next she brings them to a the Medical Facility's maternity ward to show them what a child is, and how humans are naturally supposed to be born, then grow up and have a family of their own. Afterwards, the group heads towards the Remembrance Stones, where Shania gives Monica her father's eyepatch, which she promptly lays down on the Stones while explaining the concept of a spouse and romance, hinting at the bond between Noah and Mio. The final stop is the Memorial Hall, where she sheds light on the City's founding Ouroboros, the creation of Ouroboros using the powers of the true Queens of Keves and Agnus, the fact that there can only exist six Ouroboros at one time, and that the Masked Queens that are found at the Castles are imposters, while the true Queens are opposed to Moebius and currently asleep in hiding. Afterwards, she brings the party to the Lost Numbers' dormitory to let them rest when they need to. The party makes their way to the War Room next morning, where Monica discusses an operation to sneak into Agnus Castle to rendezvous with Ghondor, the only one who knows the location of the true Queens, and break her out of the castle's prison camp, before she gets executed in a month during the eclipse at Hope's Rest. She sends the party to find the Nopon engineer Samon to get more details on the operation. Samon supplies the party with the Boundary, a ship capable of traversing the Erythia Sea. Late one night, Eunie heads into the Module Warehouse to reminisce on her previous Husk she discovered, to which Monica enters and guesses as such. Eunie asks why they don't just release the soldiers from their Cradles to help fight against Moebius, to which Monica replies that while they'd be free of the Flame Clock, it's not their fight, their lives are too short for a war that may rage on for an indefinite amount of time, and that she wants them to live in a world where they can have a life not spent fighting. She encourages Eunie to not spend time thinking about her old Husk, and instead focus on the present and future, and what she can leave behind.

Monica mourning Guernica at the off-seeing

At the beginning of her Hero Quest, the party inquires to Monica about Guernica, to which she explains her complicated relationship with her father, and how she wished she had more time with him. Travis brings up Guernica's policy of returning the personal belongings of the deceased to their families, and the party offers to bring back any remaining mementos from the soldiers who died in the battle at Alfeto Valley. After retrieving them, the party returns with them to the Remembrance Stones, a mass memorial for the people of the City. Travis explains this tradition is similar to the off-seeing the soldiers of Keves and Agnus do for their lost comrades, inspiring Noah and Mio to perform their off-seer melody, causing motes to rise from the deceased's belongings, including Guernica's eyepatch. Monica proclaims that just as Guernica entrusted the families of the deceased with their personal effects, the fallen also entrust their allies with the future. Monica then entrusts Travis with handling matters in the City while she travels and fights alongside the party, to carry on the legacy of her father who once did the same.

Monica informs the party that Samon's work on the Boundary is finished, and meets with them and the Ouroboros candidates one last time to go over the details of the infiltration operation. Once they finally break into the prison camp, they meet with Ghondor and discover that she is Monica's daughter, although she initially appears to hold many opposing viewpoints to her mother. Despite this, she eventually hands over the key to the Cloudkeep, where the true Queen of Agnus lies asleep, and agrees to help them break out. However, their escape attempt is foiled by Shania's betrayal, and Noah decides to return the key and create a diversion so Ghondor could escape. Once she returns to the City, Ghondor organizes a rescue attempt without Monica's approval, causing Monica to criticize her daughter's actions as suicide, and that Noah's group sacrificed themselves to save her. But suddenly Consul M appears in the City to warn them of the incoming Annihilator attack from Agnus Castle, allowing them to use the City's true nature as a mobile Ferronis to relocate to an area underneath Erythia Sea before it was struck.

After Shania's failed plot and subsequent suicide, Monica calls the party and Ghondor via Iris to request them to clear some monsters out, while the Lost Numbers would retrieve the contents of the Material Storage Warehouse that remained on Swordmarch later. While they are loading up the supplies, Ghondor receives a call that Shania, reborn as a Moebius, attacked the City. Meanwhile, Monica holds the last line of Defense in Memorial Hall, while commanding troops to stop Shania, to seemingly little effect. Ghondor and the party rush towards the City, only to find Monica and the rest of the Citizens in stasis. After the party defeats Shania for good, her mother insults her at the Remembrance Stones, causing Monica to nearly assault her in rage as she was the source of many of her insecurities.

Jansen revealing his feelings to Monica

At the start of her Ascension Quest, she stumbles upon Garrett rejecting the Ouroboros candidates' request to borrow a transport ship from the defense squad. Monica doesn't see an issue with this, but Garrett clashes with her, arguing that the City's most pressing issue is protecting themselves in case of a Moebius attack, and that the Ouroboros candidates don't have what it takes to defeat Moebius and should refocus their efforts where they won't be wasted. While Eunie argues that its those efforts that keep the people of the City safe, Garrett bluntly states that sending their soldiers to be slaughtered won't change the world, and criticizes Monica for inspiring others with such ideas. Over a meal at Michiba Canteen, Monica explains that Garrett only wishes to keep his family safe, and resents Monica for being willing to send her daughter into combat. After explaining the complications of being both the City elder and a parent to the party, she's informed by Travis that Jansen's group left the city in an unauthorized transport, and decided to seek out Garrett for any information on their destination. Upon speaking with him, Garrett states he didn't know their intentions, and that them disobeying their orders was another situation like Shania's. Noah argues that it might be her actions that caused them to act out, with Taion bringing up the idea that no defense would save the City if they were betrayed by one of their own. Monica tells Garrett that although their actions were foolish, they are still trying their best to help the City in their own way, and that simply telling them how to think would be no different than Moebius. She agrees with Garrett's viewpoint that it's their responsibility as adults to help and guide the young after their failures, leading to Garrett noting her acting like a parent for once. Monica mentioned that it was Guernica who taught her that, Garrett agrees with their similarities and apologizes for not being able to help further. Afterwards, Miyori contacts Monica via Iris, and mentioned she overheard Kryto talking about Corne Island, the place where Jansen's brother died 14 years ago on a mission. Monica heads over there with the party, and finds the Ouroboros candidates in combat with some Territorial Antols in the deepest level of the island, leading to the party assisting them and defeating the Antols. While Monica chews out the candidates for disobeying orders, they state their desire to be useful and protect the City, even if they aren't on the same level as the Ouroboros. Monica tells them while their fighting is top class amongst the Lost Numbers, not even her own father would be able to beat Moebius, and that their needless deaths would cause more suffering for others. Jansen argues that since Monica is on the front line, they should be able to handle the rear. He states that he made a pledge on the day Monica became elder to not leave her alone or be killed in action, and professes his love for her. This leaves Monica shocked, and Jansen says that they should talk it over after the fighting is over. Afterwards, Eunie tells Monica she should think about who she wants to be in the future, and should talk to Jansen about what such a future would entail.

Monica alongside Ghondor, encouraging Noah to believe in his choice

After acquiring all of the Origin Metal to upgrade the Boundary into the Bravery, a ship capable of breaking through the Great Vortex and reaching Origin, Monica organizes the Lost Numbers to begin the final assault on Origin while she oversees from the City. As they approach the vortex, Origin rises from beneath the sea, and begins firing on the approaching ships, as well as various Colonies. Monica orders Ghondor to take up a role as decoy, so that the party can pierce through Origin's center and force field generator, allowing the Great Vortex to disappear. After the party frees Melia, Monica mobilizes the Gilgamesh, the Ferronis at the heart of the City, to support the Colonies fighting back against Moebius, and contacts Ghondor to assist in the all-out assault against Origin's exterior. The mother and daughter reunite with the party in the interior of Origin after they defeat a group of Kurria Flaks, both separately claiming to be curious about the leader of the enemy they fought for so long. The two enter the Amphitheater alongside the party for the final battle against Z. After defeating him, they appear in the illusion of a green field alongside the party and the Queens, and are later seen together alongside the other notable Citizens before the worlds once again separate. As their souls were recorded in Origin, Monica and the other Citizens will be born once again in the new world.

Gameplay

Monica's class is a Defender class named Lost Vanguard. In a Chain Attack, Monica starts with 30 TP by default, but the class skill Now That's Tactics! increases this by 5-10 TP. Her Chain Art is Lost Advent, and her Heroic Chain bonus will reactivate the character with the most TP and give them 15 TP on top of that if she completes a Chain Order.

Base Stats

These are Monica's raw stats prior to modifications by class. They serve as a baseline for calculating her stats in the Lost Vanguard class (see its page for the corresponding multipliers which adjust these stats). Intermediate values are linearly interpolated between these base stats.

Level	HP	Attack	Healing Power	Dexterity	Agility
1	548	27	24	31	20
99	7,833	382	341	307	200

General Stats

These stats assume Monica is at rank 20 in her class. Stat increases from gems are shown separately from the base stat, and may not fully apply if Monica has not unlocked the corresponding gem slots.

Level	HP	Attack	Healing Power	Dexterity	Agility	Critical Rate	Block Rate	Physical Defense	Ether Defense
1, base	685 (+100)	38	8	37	18	10%	30%	50%	35%
99, base	9,791 (+1,500)	824	119	368	180	20%	40%	50%	35%
99, with default accessories	12,238 (+1,500)	824	119	368	180	20%	40%	65%	35%

Monica equips the following gems:

• Ironclad
• Ultimate Counter, at level 20 onwards
• Perilous Presence, at level 40 onwards

Monica equips the following accessories as her default accessories, which can be changed in post-game or New Game+. All equipped accessories assume their Common variant.

• Soldier's Headband
• Iron Temple Guard, at level 30 onwards
• Berserker's Armor Vest, at level 50 onwards

Affinity Links

Monica Vandham	Has to rescue	Ghondor

			initially
Monica Vandham	Bitchqueen	Ghondor

			initially
Monica Vandham	Relief	Ghondor

			initially
Monica Vandham	House Vandham	Ghondor

			initially
Monica Vandham	Family	Ghondor

Monica Vandham	Daughter	Guernica Vandham

			initially
Monica Vandham	Inherited dying wish	Guernica Vandham

Monica Vandham	Dependable lieutenant	Travis

Monica Vandham	Cooperating	Gray

Monica Vandham	Recognize their authority	Garrett

Monica Vandham	Affection	Jansen

Challenge Battle Mode

City's Bulwark Monica
City's Bulwark Monica
Type	Lost Numbers
Movement	Ground
Details
Location	Land of Challenge
Category	Challenge Battle Boss
Level	115
Detection	Sight, 120° at 15 M
Time	During Heroes Frontline
Respawns	No
Stats
HP	5,124,240
Attack	1,171
Healing Power	711
Dexterity	431
Agility	252
Phys. Defense	25%
Ether Defense	0%
Critical Rate	0%
Front Guard Rate	20%
Side Guard Rate	10%
Rear Guard Rate	0%

City's Bulwark Monica (Japanese: 鉄傑のモニカ, Tekketsu no Monika) is a Challenge Battle Boss fought at level 115 alongside Wrathfist Ghondor, No. 7 Segiri, and Artificer Valdi during the second wave of the Challenge Battle Heroes Frontline.

Resistances

Break	85%	Topple	0%
Daze	0%	Burst	0%
Launch	0%	Smash	0%
Knockback	Immune	Blowdown	Immune
Phys. Debuffs	75%	Ether Debuffs	60%

Enraged

Trigger	Enemy is reduced to 50% HP.
Effects	Boosts damage dealt by 25%.

Arts

Name	Attribute	Targets	Hits	Power	Reactions/Statuses	Use Conditions	Cooldown
Auto-Attack 1	Physical	Single Target	1	180%		Anytime	0s
Auto-Attack 2	Physical	Single Target	1	180%		Anytime	0s
Shockwave	Physical	Single Target	2	400%	Knockback if enemies are using Arts	Anytime	8s
Lightning Strike	Physical	Single Target	2	450%	Target Lock / Blowdown	Anytime	12s
Thunder Steel	Ether	Frontward AOE	2	250%	Bind	While enraged	15s

Trivia

• Monica's Japanese voice actress, Akeno Watanabe, also voices Sharla in Xenoblade Chronicles, Ga Buidhe in Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Panacea in Future Redeemed.
• She and Ghondor are the only heroes who cannot directly join the party in the trek through Origin until they rejoin the party after defeating the Kurria Flaks.

Gallery

Artwork

Official Artwork of Monica

Official Artwork of Monica wearing her eyepatch

Monica's Concept art

In-Game Renders

Class Menu Icon

Chain Art Icon

Chain Art Icon (with eyepatch)

Level Up Icon

Level Up Icon (with eyepatch)

Screenshots

Monica's eye during her introduction cutscene.

Monica's Iris