X-Drive

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All six Symphogear users in their X-Drive forms.

The X-Drive (エクスドライブ, Ekusu-Doraibu^?) is the evolved true form of the Symphogear. It is commonly used at the end of each season.

Overview[]

This form is concealed within the Symphogear relics under 301,655,722 locks, and can only be unlocked under a high-level phonic gain. The X-Drive appears to only last for one use before the user's Symphogear reverts to their normal form at whatever level they had last naturally unlocked it at.

When the X-Drive is active, the Symphogear gains a predominantly-white color scheme and enhanced design, universally including the addition of angelic wings formed of colored light. In this state, all Symphogears, regardless of their normal abilities, are capable of unassisted flight both in the Earth's atmosphere and in space. They can also communicate telepathically with each other, and others such as Finé. All of the user's normal attacks can still be utilized, but at such a drastically greater level of both power and scope that destroying an entire army of Noise is an easy task, and even standing up to a fully-energized complete relic becomes possible. On top of this, the X-Drive can be used to bolster the strength of another wielded relic, such as Solomon's Cane or Durandal.

The X-Drive's particular form and strength is based off the current level of power the Symphogear has achieved before unlocking it, as Hibiki, Tsubasa and Chris all possessed radically different X-Drive forms when they unlocked them again in G compared to their forms in season 1.

History[]

Symphogear[]

Tsubasa, Hibiki and Chris in their X-Drive form in season 1.

In season 1, the Lydian School anthem composed with the singer's hopes and futures are capable of unleashing this miracle for Hibiki Tachibana, Tsubasa Kazanari, and Chris Yukine.

Symphogear G[]

The Symphogear users in their X-Drive form in G.

In G, the X-Drive was activated for Hibiki, Tsubasa, and Chris, alongside the new users Maria Cadenzavna Eve, Shirabe Tsukuyomi, and Kirika Akatsuki, by gathering phonic gain from the entire human population singing Serena's song, Apple, together.

Symphogear GX[]

The Symphogear users in their X-Drive form in GX.

In GX, using Gungnir to absorb the energy and Airgetlám to redistribute it, Carols's phonic gain — equivalent in power to seven billion Superb Songs — is absorbed and used to activate X-Drive.

Symphogear XV[]

The Symphogear users (excluding Hibiki) in their X-Drive form in XV.

In XV episode 7, the recently revived Carol unleashes her song to escape the Daedalus Labyrinth and attempt to reactivate the Château de Tiffauges. Although she fails to reactivate the Chateau, the adapters are struck by her phonic gain and unlock the X-Drive for all the Symphogear users except the absent Hibiki.

In XV episode 12, the adapters receive help from Noble Red, who sacrifice their lives to build a tunnel form of Daedalus Labyrinth in an attempt to guide the adapters back to Earth, but before they reach the atmosphere of Earth, the Daedalus Labyrinth breaks up as Noble Red completely used up their energy and disappeared. The adapters lost the guidance and only relies on their Amalgam's Cocoon Stage to protect them in space.

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The Symphogear users (excluding Maria) in their Burning X-Drive form.

As they reached the Earth's atmosphere, their Cocoon barrier broke and burned. The adapters decided to rely on the song in their heart to unlock the X-Drive. Now freed from the curse and without relying on anyone's phonic gain but their own, the adaptors explosively detonated their phonic gain with their Superb Song. A new final form, Burning X-Drive (バーニング・エクスドライブ, Bāningu Ekusu-Doraibu^?), was born.^[1]

Design Evolutions[]

S1	G	GX	XV

Gungnir
			N/A
Between the first and second seasons, there's a huge change in Hibiki's wings, where instead of 3 pairs of spear-like attachments on the wings, they changed into feather-type wings. Most of the white part of her outfit is yellow. In GX, her bright yellow wings faded slightly to light yellow. The bottom part of the wings was replaced with a yellow scarf. In XV, during the battle against Shem-Ha's defense system, in Hibiki's absence, she is the only one of the main 6 Symphogear users who could not obtain the main X-drive. In Burning X-Drive, she loses the mech on her wings, and her scarf ends up in flames, turning red. The top of her boots, along with her gaunlets become pointy, and she regains the fabric on her torso.

Ame no Habakiri

Between the first and second seasons, there are huge changes in Tsubasa's wings, where instead of ankle blade wings, they changed into ribbon-type wings. Most of the light blue part of her outfit is accented in dark blue. Between the GX and XV seasons, some of the light blue parts of her outfit were painted black, while the turquoise blue deepened. In Burning X-Drive, her top ribbon wings now disappear, and her ankle blade becomes visible once again.

Ichaival

Between the first and second seasons, there's a huge change in Chris's wings, where instead of long diamond-shaped wings on her back, they changed into feather-type wings on her waist. In GX, the pink part of the headgear became white. The red part of the missile barrage gear on her waist was filled with yellow, long, diamond-shaped pistols. Most of the light red part of her outfit became darker. In XV, her crossbow disappeared. In Burning X-Drive, her top wings disappeared, while the missile barrage gear on her waist has 2 reds on top and 2 yellows on the bottom. Her headgear also became smaller.

Airgetlám
N/A
In G, Maria's wings are small and extended down her knees. In GX, Maria's wings became bigger, and the extended wings disappeared. Maria gets a darker blue color scheme on her arm gear. In XV, Maria gets a medium violet red color scheme on her arm gear. Her wide breastplate curves up slightly and is less sharp. In Burning X-Drive, her breastplate disappeared, and her fabric turned greener. Her wings became white, while her gown's fabric disappeared.

Shul Shagana
N/A
In G, there's a change in Shirabe's hair blade wings, where her hair blade and other parts of her gear were used in Final Omega Style: Dystopia. Between the GX and XV seasons, some of the light pink parts of her outfit are becoming darker. The light pink fabric at her thigh turned white, while her hair ribbon, instead of strips, turned colored. In Burning X-Drive, her hair blades are longer while the wing parts are extended.

Igalima
N/A
Between the GX and XV seasons, the green tip of her helmet became fully colored. Some of the light green parts of her outfit are becoming darker. Her helmet also became sharper. In Burning X-Drive, her hair wings extended and became bigger, while her shoulder-blade wings became sharper and pointed upward. Her backup wings disappeared.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

In XDU events, Kanade, Miku and Serena achieve X-Drive forms for their Symphogears:
- In Katayoku no Sōsha, Kanade Amou is able to achieve an X-Drive form through use of phonic gain created through an S2CA involving all seven Symphogear users. Later in END of. Final Chapter she was able to achieve an Burning X-Drive form for her Symphogear.
- In Kageri Saku Senkō, Miku receives an X-Drive form for the Shénshòujìng. Later in END of. Final Chapter she was able to achieve an Burning X-Drive Unlimited form for her Symphogear.
- In Innocent Sister, Serena receives an X-Drive form for the Airgetlám.
AXZ is the only season that doesn't feature the X-Drive.
XV is the only season that features the X-Drive twice, with the first instance being in the middle of the season.
Crunchyroll erroneously translates X-Drive as 'Ex-Drive'.

References[]

↑ Symphogear XV, Keyword #64: X-Drive, Translation at YameteTomete

[XVKeyword64-1] Symphogear XV, Keyword #64: X-Drive, Translation at YameteTomete

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