Below is an image showing how the puzzle can be solved, it demonstrates that X pairs (or x wings) can still be useful if a value is in a cage with 3 cells.
1. h2=3 (h2 is the only cell in column h that can be 3)
2. g2=2
3. cage g4 = 4,6
4. noting the pair in cage g4: cage g6 = 5,8
5. the cells in cage a6 can be anything, but one of the cells must be 8
This gives us an X pair with the value 8 in rows 6&7 (the cells coloured blue)
6. cage d6 = 1,7
7. both cages d7 & f7 =1,2,3
Now we have the X pair from step 5, paired values in cage d6, and a 3 way pair in cells d7,e7,f7 with the values 1,2,3 , and that is all that is needed to complete the puzzle only using basic steps (I know 3 way pair must be the wrong phrase, but you know what I mean).