Xiao Guide and Best Builds for Genshin Impact

Strengths

• Easy to play with higher skill combos available
• Incredible AoE damage
• Great for exploration

Weaknesses

• Good artifact investment is required
• Drains HP during their Elemental Burst
• Certain enemies are hard to hit such as flying enemies

Xiao's is primarily played as a Hypercarry, using various supports available to increase his personal damage. Unlike many other Anemo characters, Xiao does not incorporate swirling various elements into his gameplay.

Xiao has a range of strong 5-star weapons that work for him due to his skills scaling off of attack. Therefore, we have listed several 4-star options as well. Additionally, Xiao wants around 130% Energy Recharge to help maintain uptime on his Elemental Burst.

With regard to his artifact set choices, they are all fairly similar damage-wise and while Vermillion Hereafter is his best in slot that does not necessarily mean it is worth aiming for. Marechaussee Hunter is incredibly resin efficient and a powerful alternative. Aside from Marechaussee, Desert Pavilion Chronicle being generally third best, if you already have a well-built set for Xiao then consider spending your resin on other characters such as his supports.

Xiao's gameplay revolves around using Bane of All Evil to apply his Yaksha's Mask and increase his jump height, Plunge damage and turn his attacks into Anemo Damage. To play Xiao optimally however, start by using both of his Elemental Skills, Lemniscatic Wind Cycling before his Burst. This is because Lemniscatic Wind Cycling will not generate Energy while under the effects of Bane of All Evil.

Afterwards, you can begin your plunge attacking, You also want to throw in the occasional normal/charged attack to animation cancel between plunges which varies depending on if you are fighting 1 enemy or multiple enemies.

• Single Target — Plunge > Normal Attack > Charged Attack > Repeat
• AoE — Plunge > Normal Attack > Plunge

Xiao has several benefits and techniques you can use to help your exploration of the open world.

• Transcension: Gravity Defier reduces stamina consumption while climbing.
• Lemniscatic Wind Cycling can be used in the air helping you cover a lot of distance without losing any height.
• Using Lemniscatic Wind Cycling will also result in restoring a small amount of stamina which can be useful while gliding and especially climbing helping you get further.

Because Xiao is the Main DPS of your team and by far the primary source of damage, using characters that increase his damage is the way to go. Players often use characters like Jean, Faruzan and Bennett to do so.

Xiao will need a healer to help mitigate his constant HP loss while under the effects of Bane of All Evil. A shielder such as Zhongli or character with interruption resistance can also help but is less important compared to having a healer. More importantly, using a character as a battery to help ensure Xiao never runs out of energy is incredibly helpful to your team.

Here are 3 examples of Hypercarry teams you can run with Xiao. Faruzan, Xianyun and Bennett are there to provide huge damage bonuses with additional support from characters like Jean or ZZhongli who bring extra Resistance Shred to the party. Jean at C4 also reduces Anemo Resistance by 40%.

As a 4-Star budget tea you can use 2 Pyro characters, one of which being Bennett, allows you to gain an additional 25% Attack from Pyro resonance. The main 2 Pyro options here are Xiangling or Thoma with Xiangling providing impressive damage and Thoma instead providing defensive support. Anemo characters in this team provides additional RES Shred for Pyro as well as additional Energy for Xiao. Faruzan is still your best option here although Lynette can be a nice alternate choice instead providing an ATK boost.