Expert Missions are where Xenoverse 2 stops being a solo story and becomes a team game. Up to six players gang up on a giant boss that can split the party across dimensions, and each mission only opens once the previous one has been ranked. For a lot of players that ladder is the slowest part of the whole game, which is why "Expert Missions complete" is one of the lines people look for in a save. This guide explains how the missions work and what clearing them in advance really gives you.
How Expert Missions work
Bandai Namco introduced Expert Missions as a multiplayer mode in which six players team up against giant NPC bosses. During a fight the boss can send teammates off to separate dimensions, where they have to clear a smaller challenge before regrouping with the main team. Once the mode is open, you start missions from the purple rifts dotted around Conton City instead of going back to the Supreme Kai of Time every time.
Each mission card spells out its own rules. The card for Expert Mission 14, "Huge Blasts for Huge Apes!", shows a twelve-minute time limit and three ways to lose: the whole team's health reaching zero, the clock running out, and a note that computer-controlled partners stranded in another dimension do not count as part of the team. That last rule hints at the other important detail: you can fill empty spots with COM partners rather than waiting for five strangers.
Why the ladder takes so long
The missions unlock in order, and you cannot skip ahead. Guides written at launch describe the first two as preparatory missions that open early, with each later mission locked until you earn a ranking on the one before it. The awkward part is that the ranking only counts if you host. Joining someone else's room helps them, not you, so steady progress means building your own lobby again and again, often with a mix of players and COM partners of varying quality.
Then there is difficulty. Later missions such as number 15, "Extreme Malice", are built around bosses that punish scattered teams and wasted time, and a weak or underleveled character makes the clock the real enemy. For anyone fitting the ladder around work, it is easy to stall halfway for weeks.
| Step | What the legitimate route asks | With the save |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the mode | Story progress, then the first preparatory missions | Already open |
| Unlocking the next mission | Earn a ranking on the previous one | Listed as complete |
| Getting ranked | Host the mission yourself; joining others does not count for you | No hosting grind needed |
| Team | Up to six players, or COM partners in empty slots | Unchanged; the save does not affect matchmaking |
| Rules | Time limits and lose conditions on every card | Unchanged whenever you replay |
| Your skill | Learned the hard way | Still yours to build |
What "Expert Missions complete" means in this save
The product listing includes "Expert Missions complete" alongside a fully cleared History Mode on all eight characters and Parallel Quests almost all cleared at the highest score. In plain terms, the ladder is already climbed: the missions are unlocked and their clears are recorded, so you can open any of them from a rift without first ranking the one before it.
What it does not do is play the mission for you next time. Bosses keep their mechanics, timers keep running, and a party that ignores the dimension splits will still wipe. A completed ladder is freedom to pick the fight you want, not a guarantee of winning it.
Getting the most from cleared Expert Missions
Use the open list to practise the fights you find hardest. With every mission available you can drill a single boss repeatedly, solo with COM partners, until the dimension splits and the boss's attack patterns stop surprising you. Give one of your eight characters a durable, high-health build and use it as a forgiving tank while you learn.
When you go online, bring the right character. The listing says the first and second CaC carry added stats, and six-player lobbies are full of strangers who can see exactly how hard your character hits. A character from slots 3 to 8, maxed at the normal Level 199 cap, is the more discreet choice. Our online ban risk guide explains why, and the TP Medals farming guide covers how Expert Missions fit into medal routes if you still run them for rewards.
Is this the right reason to buy?
If Expert Missions are the only thing between you and enjoying Xenoverse 2, the save solves that problem along with a lot of others, since it also brings eight Level 199 characters and finished story progress. If you enjoy the climb itself, or play mostly with a regular group who rank together, you may get more out of the ladder by playing it. Either way, compare it with the rest of the grind in our save versus grind comparison.
The save with Expert Missions complete is $50 for PS4 and PS5, and you can see the full contents on the Xenoverse 2 modded save listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can join an Expert Mission?
Bandai Namco describes Expert Missions as a mode where six players team up against giant bosses. Empty slots can be filled with computer-controlled partners, so you do not need a full lobby to play.
Why do I have to host Expert Missions to unlock the next one?
Launch-era guides note that the ranking which opens the next mission is earned by hosting. Joining another player's room helps them progress but does not move your own ladder forward.
Does the save make Expert Missions easier to win?
Not by itself. It unlocks and records the missions, but boss mechanics, time limits and lose conditions stay the same. Strong characters help, yet coordination still decides most runs.
Can I replay Expert Missions after the save is applied?
Yes. The missions remain playable from the rifts in Conton City, so you can run any of them again solo with COM partners or online with other players.
Which character should I bring to public Expert Mission lobbies?
A character from slots 3 to 8 is the more conservative choice, because the listing says only the first and second CaC have added stats. No modded save can be promised risk free online.