Xenoblade NG+ pre-game notes

For the fastest movement and loading, you will want to run the game on Wii U VC at 50 HZ.

Have all these arts maxed and set:

Shulk
-Air Slash
-Slit Edge
-Back Slash
-Stream Edge
-Shadow Eye
-Battle Soul
-Monado Cyclone
-Monado Buster

Reyn
-Aura Burst
-Magnum Charge
-Berserker
-Sword Drive
-War Swing
-Bone Upper
-Dive Sobat
-Lariat or Wild Down

Sharla (doesn't really matter much)
-Head Shot
-Thunder Bullet

Dunban
-Peerless
-Tempest Kick
-Demon Slayer
-Soaring Tempest
-Steel Strike
-Electric Gutbuster
-Worldly Slash
-Gale Slash

Melia
-Summon Bolt
-Summon Ice

Riki (isn't used)

Fiora
-Speed Shift
-Second Gear
-Air Fang
-Cross Impact
-Spear Blade
-Double Wind
-(maybe) Shutdown

Skill Trees:
First make sure Dunban does not have his Hero's Valour or Gentleman's Valour skills
Set each character to the following skill branch:
Shulk – Bravery
Reyn – Spirit
Sharla (doesn't matter much) – Devotion or Confidence
Dunban – Enthusiasm
Melia – Passion
Riki (isn't used)
Fiora – Daring

Skill Links:
Have at least 518 Affinity Coins

Shulk
From Riki
-Nutricious!
-Cuddly Hero!
-Heavy Equipment
-Like Sun!
From Dunban
-Counter Rage
-Invincible Hero
-Twin Swords
From Reyn
-Battle Character
-Rampage
From Sharla
-Vendetta
-Ether Assault
From Melia
-Power of the Moon
-Telethia Killer
From Fiora
-Opening Blow
-Explosion of Energy
-Battle Stance
-Ultimate Strike
-Vision Mode

Reyn
From Riki
-Nutricious!
-Cuddly Hero!
-Like Sun!
From Dunban
-Invincible Hero
-Counter Rage
-Twin Swords
From Shulk
-Glorious Future
-Element of Surprise
-Stealth Warrior
From Sharla
-Ether Assault
-Vendetta
-Ether Explosion
From Melia
-Power of the Moon
-Arcane Aura
-Ultimate Ether
-Telethia Killer
From Fiora
-Critical Combo
-Ultimate Counter
-Battle Stance
-Ultimate Strike
-Opening Blow

Sharla
From Riki
-Nutricious!
-Like Sun!
-Cuddly Hero!
From Dunban
-Invincible Hero
From Shulk
-Element of Surprise
-Immunisation
From Reyn
-Battle Character
-Rampage
From Melia
-Power of the Moon
-Ether Awareness
-Ultimate Ether
-Amplified Ether
From Fiora
-Battle Stance
-Ultimate Strike
-Critical Combo
-Opening Blow

Dunban
From Riki
-Nutricious!
-Heavy Equipment
-Cuddly Hero!
-Like Sun!
From Sharla
-Vendetta
From Shulk
-Element of Surprise
-Immunisation
-Glorious Future
From Reyn
-Battle Character
-Rampage
From Melia
-Telethia Killer
-Power of the Moon
-Nonchalant Heart
From Fiora
-Critical Combo
-Ultimate Counter
-Opening Blow
-Explosion of Energy

Melia
From Sharla
-Ether Expansion
-Ether Assault
From Reyn
-Battle Character
From Fiora
-Ultimate Strike
-Opening Blow
-Explosion of Energy

Riki (isn't used)

Fiora
From Melia
-Telethia Killer
-Nonchalant Heart
From Sharla
-Vendetta
-Adrenaline
From Shulk
-Element of Surprise
From Dunban
-Overwhelming
-Ardent Strike
-Counter Rage
From Riki
-Nutricious!
-Adventure Time!
I am not 100% sure about the third circle skill. You have two options.
-Like Sun!
or
-Pretty Stars!
Gadolt, Egil, the two fights at Mechonis Core with Egil and Zanza, Lorithia, and the early Prison Island battles are all during the day.
On the other hand, the telethia fights in Colony 6, the late Prison Island battles and the final boss are all during the night.
Personally, I've used the day skill so far.

Equipment and Gems:
Any Lancelot Gear can be replaced with any equipment with a slot you like for fashion.

Shulk
-Monado III
-First Attack Plus VI then Back Atk Plus VI
-Attack Stability VI
-Attack Plus VI
-Lancelot Gear
-Earth Cloak VI
-Lancelot Armour
-Strength Up VI
-Glory Gauntlets U
-Asura Cuisses U
-Lancelot Boots
-Quick Step VI

Reyn
-Machina Guarder II
-Back Atk Plus VI
-Attack Plus VI
-Attack Stability VI
-Lancelot Gear
-Strength Up VI
-Glory Armour U
-Glory Gauntlets U
-Asura Cuisses U
-Lancelot Boots
-Quick Step

Sharla
-Machina Rifle III U
-Master Glasses U
-Pistis Top U
-Grace Gloves U
-Asura Cuisses U
-Infantry Boots U
Dunban
-Machina Blade III
-Double Attack VI
-Attack Plus VI
-Attack Stability VI
-Lancelot Gear
-Strength Up VI
-Glory Armour U
-Glory Gauntlets U
-Asura Cuisses U
-Lancelot Boots
-Quick Step VI

Melia
-Alcor Staff U
-Master Glasses U
-Pistis Top U
-Grace Gloves U
-Lancelot Boots
-Quick Step VI

Riki (isn't used)

Fiora
-Conviction Blades
-Phys Def Down VI
-Weapon Power VI
-Double Attack VI
-Ether V Goggles U
-Speed V Frame U
-Attack IV Arms U
-Attack IV Boosters U
-Sedna Drones

Have your gems in an easy to equip order. This may require selling off the ones you already own and making fresh ones, as well as removing them before killing Zanza III before making a NG+ file. I made them in this order:
Double Attack, Weapon Power, Phys Def Down, Back Atk Plus, Strength Up, Attack Stability, Attack Plus, Double Attack, Quick Step, Quick Step, Quick Step, Strength Up, Strength Up, Attack Stability, Attack Plus, Back Atk Plus, Earth Cloak, Attack Plus, Attack Stability, First Attack Plus, Quick Step

Notice this is the reverse order they will show up in your inventory, going left to right from the top.

Loading the game:
Start the game and after killing the Colony Krabble, go over to load the game up again. This reduces load time.