We all want the strongest and most synergetic teams we can get, so to help that, what is the best Genshin Impact Xiao build?
Xiao, also named Alatus, is an Adeptus who served the God Morax millennia ago, being the only survivor of the Five Yakshas, Morax’s old task force. Nowadays he’s a solitary demon hunter, reserved in his manners who shows zero interest in modern human life, rather preferring to tag alone and usually getting in a bad mood around people. On the battlefield, however, he’s one of the best DPS units.
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How Do I Get Xiao in Genshin?
As with most Genshin Impact fighters, Xiao is obtainable through wishes. Given that it is a mystery gacha system there is no way to guarantee that you'll unlock him - it'll be a case of luck. Keep trying and hope for the best!
Currently, Xiao is available with a higher rate in the Invitation to Mundane Life Banner. This runs from May 31, 2022 to June 21 2022. This runs at the same time as Yelan's banner in the new 2.7 update that has finally come.
What Are the Best Xiao Builds?
Xiao is one of the best Main DPS in the game. His speed and attack moves make it a great unit on the offensive side, and being such a straightforward attacker makes his building setups simple, similar to Diluc. You want to concentrate on boosting his Attack and Elemental Skill damage values since his low cooldown allows you to spam it very frequently.
Below is the best Xiao build right now. You can keep reading to find out the hows and whys of this particular Xiao build, but if you've used this character before, you'll quickly understand the thought process behind his best weapon and artifact choices.
Role | Best Weapon | Alternative Weapons | Best Artifacts | Alternative Artifacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Anemo Main DPS Build | Primordial Jade Winged Spear or Staff of Homa | Blackcliff Pole, Staff of Homa | Viridescent Venerer (4 Pieces) or Gladiator's Finale (4 Pieces) | Gladiator's Finale (2 Pieces) & Crimson Witch of Flames (2 Pieces) |
Anemo DPS Build
Getting an Attack boost every time you hit an enemy comes in handy with a unit as fast as Xiao, which makes the Primordial Jade Winged Spear the best possible option. However, since you won’t always be able to get this 5-star weapon, you can also use great alternatives, such as the Blackcliff Pole or the Staff of Homa.
While Viridescent Venerer is the best option for this setup, it can be tricky to obtain, so replacing it with a Gladiator’s Finale set is a good alternative. If you prefer more immediate bonuses, you can also make a 2-2 mix set of Viridescent Venerer and Gladiator’s finale.
What Are the Best Team Comps for Xiao?
Xiao is an Anemo Main DPS unit that plays extremely well either alone or with others but shines especially well if you can trigger as many reactions as possible. For this, companions that can do that such as Bennett are recommended, and also whoever can give her some extra juice, like Zhongli or Sucrose.
Character | Element |
|---|---|
Xiao | Anemo |
Bennett | Pyro |
Sucrose | Anemo |
Zhongli | Geo |
What Are the Best Weapons for Xiao?
Weapons like the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear or Staff of Homa are the only real good options for this build. You can also find a more affordable and equally good alternative in the form of the Blackcliff Pole. Last but not least, if you’re looking for a craftable option, you can obtain the Prototype Starglitter if you still don’t have any of the former.
Weapon | Rarity | Stats | Skills | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Staff of Homa | 5-Star | Critical Damage | Reckless Cinnabar: HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an Attack Bonus based on 0.8% of the wielder’s Max HP. When the wielder's HP is less than 50%, this Attack Bonus is increased by an additional 1% of Max HP. | Wishes |
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear | 5-Star | Critical Rate | Eagle Spear of Justice: On hit, increases Attack by 3.2% for 6 seconds. Max 7 stacks. This effect can only occur once every 0.3 seconds. While in possession of the maximum possible stacks, Damage dealt is increased by 12%. | Wishes |
Blackcliff Pole | 4-Star | Critical Damage | Press the Advantage: After defeating an opponent, Attack is increased by 12% for 30 seconds. This effect has a maximum of 3 stacks, and the duration of each stack is independent of the others. | Wishes |
Prototype Starglitter | 4-Star | Energy Rechar | Magic Affinity: After using an Elemental Skill, increases Normal and Charged Attack Damage by 8% for 12 seconds. Max 2 stacks. | Forge |
- Read More: Our Genshin Impact Spiral Abyss guide
What Are the Best Artifacts for Xiao?
Depending on which build you choose to make, you may need the Viridescent Venerer or Gladiator's Finale sets for Anemo DPS purposes. How many of these you choose to equip on her will depend on your gameplay, so it is suggested that you test different builds, see how they work as mixed or full sets and you can decide then.
Artifacts | Two-Piece Effect | Four-Piece Effect |
|---|---|---|
Viridescent Venerer | Anemo damage Bonus +15% | Increases Swirl damage by 60%. Decreases opponent's Elemental Resistance to the element infused in the Swirl by 40% for 10 seconds. |
Gladiator's Finale | Attack +18%. | If the wielder of this artifact set uses a Sword, Claymore or Polearm, increases their Normal Attack damage by 35%. |
Xiao Artifact Stats
Given Xiao's set of skills, you want to develop Attack as the main stat and focus on boosting Critical Damage as the sub-stat.
Slot | Main Stat | Sub Stats |
|---|---|---|
Feather | Attack | Critical Damage, Attack%, Critical Rate, Elemental Mastery / Energy Recharge |
Flower | HP | Critical Damage, Attack%, Critical Rate, Energy Recharge / Attack |
Hourglass | Attack% | Critical Damage, Critical Rate, Elemental Mastery/ Attack, Energy Recharge |
Goblet | Anemo Damage Bonus | Critical Damage, Attack%, Critical Rate, Attack |
Headpiece | Critical Damage | Attack%, Critical Rate, Attack / Elemental Mastery, Energy Recharge |
What Are Xiao's Skills and Talents?
Xiao shines as an Anemo Main DPS, with abilities that increase his mobility, offensive stats, and overall damage output, at the cost of HP in the case of his elemental Burst. This makes Xiao a great unit to tackle almost any fight, as long as you're careful in combat at all times.
Attack | Effect |
|---|---|
Normal Attack | Performs up to 6 consecutive spear strikes. |
Charged Attack | Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to perform an upward thrust. |
Plunging Attack | Descends from mid-air to strike the ground from below, dealing AoE damage upon landing. Xiao does not take damage from performing Plunging Attacks. |
Elemental Skill - Lemniscatic Wind Cycling | Xiao lunges forward, dealing Anemo damage to opponents in his path. Can be used in mid-air, starts with 2 charges, and Generates 3 elemental particles when hits at least 1 target. |
Elemental Burst - Bane of All Evil | Xiao dons the Yaksha Mask, gaining the following effects. Yaksha's Mask -Greatly increases Xiao's jumping ability. -Increases his attack AoE and attack damage. -Converts attack damage into Anemo damage, which cannot be overridden by any other elemental infusion. Xiao will continuously lose HP in this state, and the effects end when Xiao leaves the field. |
Talent#1 - Conqueror of Evil: Tamer of Demons | While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, all damage dealt by Xiao increases by 5%. damage increases by a further 5% for every 3 seconds the ability persists. The maximum damage Bonus is 25%. |
Talent#2 - Heaven Fall | Using Lemniscatic Wind Cycling increases the damage of subsequent uses of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by 15%. This effect lasts for 7 seconds and has a maximum of 3 stacks. Gaining a new stack refreshes the effect's duration. |
Talent#3 - Transcension: Gravity Defier | Decreases climbing Stamina consumption for your own party members by 20%. Not stackable with Passive Talents that provide the exact same effects. |
What Are Xiao's Constellations?
If you get to pull Xiao multiple times, you will eventually reach a level of the constellation that will turn her into an excellent DPS unit, with improvements on all her Skills and their respective cooldowns, making Xiao a great Main DPS for your party.
Constellation | Effect |
|---|---|
Dissolution Eon - Destroyer of Worlds | Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling's charges by 1. |
Annihilation Eon - Blossom of Kaleidos | When in a party but not on the field, Xiao's Energy Recharge is increased by 25%. |
Conqueror of Evil: Wrath Deity | Increases the Level of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by 3, up to a maximum level of 15. |
Transcension - Extinction of Suffering | When Xiao's HP falls below 50%, he gains a 100% Defense Bonus. |
Evolution Eon - Origin of Ignorance | Increase the Level of Bane of All Evil by 3, up to a maximum level of 15. |
Conqueror of Evil: Guardian Yaksha | While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, hitting at least 2 opponents with Xiao's Plunging Attack will immediately grant him 1 charge of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling and for 1 second, he may use Lemniscatic Wind Cycling while ignoring its cooldown. |
What Are Xiao's Ascension Materials?
Ascending Xiao boosts his Attack and HP stats more than anything else, a welcomed improvement that makes him a great DPS. Farming the Primo Geovishap can take a bit, but for improving a unit as helpful as Xiao is for your team it's worth the effort.
Ascension Rank | Required Level | Required Materials |
|---|---|---|
1 | 20 | 20000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Sliver x1, Qingxin x3, Slime Condensate x3 |
2 | 50 | 40000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Fragment x3, Juvenile Jade x2, Qingxin x10, Slime Condensate x15 |
3 | 60 | 60000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Fragment x6, Juvenile Jade x4, Qingxin x20, Slime Secretions x12 |
4 | 70 | 80000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Chunk x3, Juvenile Jade x8, Qingxin x30, Slime Secretions x18 |
5 | 80 | 100000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Chunk x6, Juvenile Jade x12, Qingxin x45, Slime Concentrate x12 |
6 | 90 | 120000 Mora, Vayuda Turquoise Gemstone x6, Juvenile Jade x20, Qingxin x60, Slime Concentrate x24 |
What Are Xiao's Talent Level Up Materials?
An important part of building Xiao is remembering to level up her talents and abilities. The order in which you go about this will change slightly depending on the role you expect him to play in your team, but here's the most common Xiao talent upgrade order:
- Normal Attack
- Elemental Burst
- Elemental Skill
Daily Drops | Enemy Drops | Weekly Drops |
|---|---|---|
Teachings/Guide/Philosophies of Prosperity | Slime Condensate/Secretions/Concentrate | Shadow of the Warrior |
And that's everything you need to know about Genshin Impact Xiao! You now have all the info you need to make the most of the Vigilant Yaksha in combat. Good luck!