Genshin Impact has more than enough 5-star characters to choose from, but only a few names come up when deciding who are the top-tier DPS characters. Xiao is one of them, and it just so happens that in the 3.4 update, the Vigilant Yaksha comes back for his second rerun banner. If you’re missing a powerful DPS on your team, try pulling for him!
Xiao Spotlight
Xiao, the Vigilant Yaksha and adeptus Alatus, is by far one of the most popular and powerful Anemo characters in the game. He’s an excellent DPS pick thanks to his high base stats, exceptional AoE, and consistent damage output.
After adding up his overall damage delivered during his Elemental Burst, he may even be a challenger against Hu Tao’s crazily high damage bursts for many players. What’s more remarkable is that Xiao does not rely on Elemental Reactions. He performs all of the things with sheer Anemo supremacy.
Xiao Best Build & Weapon
Xiao is normally played as a hypercarry character due to his fast attack speed and high attack damage potential. Since he practically demands to be used on the field 99% of the time, it’s best to maximize his damage with the best weapons and artifacts Genshin Impact has to offer and create a team around him.
DPS Build
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear
- 5-star Polearm
- Just from aesthetic alone, it’s safe to say that the Jade Spear is made for Xiao. This weapon allows Xiao’s ATK to increase by 3.2% for 6s when hitting an enemy. The effect is stackable up to 7 and can only occur once every 0.3s. While in possession of the maximum possible stacks, DMG dealt is increased by 12%.
Staff of Homa
- 5-star Polearm
- Although this weapon is marketed with Hu Tao, it can also work with Xiao thanks to its passive. With this weapon, Xiao’s HP is increased by 20%. It also provides an ATK Bonus that is based on 0.8% of his Max HP. When Xiao’s HP drops below 50%, his ATK bonus is further boosted by an additional 1% of Max HP.
F2P Substitutes:
Deathmatch
- 4-star Polearm
- This polearm isn’t truly F2P since you’ll have to buy the Battle Pass to get it at level 30, but it’s better than spending hundreds (if not thousands) of money into the weapon banners. For this weapon, Xiao gets a 16% boost in ATK and DEF if there are at least 2 opponents nearby. If there are fewer than 2 enemies, ATK is increased by 24%.
Missive Windspear (R5)
- 4-star Polearm
- This polearm is completely free for players and only obtainable during the event “Of Ballads and Brews.” (Sorry, players who skipped the event and those who didn’t even catch it.) The Missive Windspear provides Xiao with a 12% increase in ATK bonus and an Elemental Mastery boost of 48 within 10s after an Elemental Reaction is triggered.
Prototype Starglitter
- 4-star Polearm
- Completely F2P friendly, players can get this polearm by forging. With this weapon, Xiao can get a boost in Normal and Charged Attack DMG of 8% for 12s after using his elemental skill. It also has a maximum of 2 stacks.
Best Artifacts
DPS Build
Vermillion Hereafter (4-piece Set)
- This character will acquire the Nascent Light effect after performing an Elemental Burst, boosting their ATK by 8% for 16s. When a character’s HP decreases, their ATK will further increase by 10%. This increment can happen a maximum of four times. This effect can be activated once every 0.8 seconds. The Nascent Light will be dispelled once the character leaves the field.
Desert Pavilion Chronicle (4-piece Set)
- When Charged Attacks hit opponents, the equipping character’s Normal Attack SPD increases by 10% for 15 seconds, while Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attack DMG increases by 40%.
Viridescent Venerer (2-piece) + ATK% (2-piece)
- These artifacts are Xiao’s recommended before the Inazuma and Sumeru update. For the 2-pc. Viridescent Venerer, you’ll get a +15% Anemo DMG Bonus, and you have to pair it with either a 2-pc. Gladiator’s Finale or 2-pc. Shimenawa’s Reminiscence for the +18% ATK bonus.
Since the Inazuma update, many players consider the 4-pc. Vermillion Hereafter is the best artifact set for Xiao because of its focus on his burst damage. However, many Travelers (like me) still prefer to use the 2-pc. VV + 2-pc. ATK set since it takes too long to farm for artifacts with decent stats. If you already have a well-built Xiao, we recommend not switching out your artifacts until you have a complete set with your desired sub stats.
Artifact Stat Priority
Flower
- Main: Flat HP
- Sub: Crit Rate / Crit DMG / ATK% / Energy Recharge
Feather
- Main: Flat ATK
- Sub: Crit Rate / Crit DMG / ATK% / Energy Recharge
Sands
- Main: ATK%
- Sub: Crit Rate / Crit DMG / ATK% / Energy Recharge
Goblet
- Main: Anemo DMG Bonus%
- Sub: Crit Rate / Crit DMG / ATK% / Energy Recharge
Circlet
- Main: Crit DMG / Crit Rate
- Sub: Crit Rate / Crit DMG / ATK% / Energy Recharge
Best Team Comp
We have listed quite a few team compositions that you can choose from. From 5-star character-filled teams to F2P-friendly ones, (we even added some meme teams!) here are some of our top picks.
Premium Team for Xiao
I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again: Xiao needs a team that can support him. Since he has issues with Energy Recharge since he cannot generate particles with his Elemental Skill while using his Burst, you’ll need an Anemo Battery on your team.
In this team comp, Faruzan will act as your Anemo Battery of sorts. Not only does she give Xiao an additional Damage Bonus thanks to her Elemental Burst, but she can also apply Anemo RES debuff to enemies. Bonus points if you can get Faruzan to C6: her constellations rely heavily on buffing her allies!
Raiden Shogun will act as your Sub DPS/Support in the team since she deals Electro damage to enemies with her skill. She can also boost Xiao’s Energy Recharge, which is desperately needed, while also increasing the damage of his Burst when her skill is activated.
Last but not the least, Bennett is a crucial addition to this team comp since his Elemental Burst can not only heal Xiao but also give him a huge ATK buff.
This team comp is pretty much the same as the one above, but instead of Raiden Shogun, we could also use Yelan as a Sub DPS. Since Yelan’s Burst can be used off-field, it’s the perfect accompaniment to Xiao’s insane attack patterns, speed, and damage. Not to mention, Yelan’s Passive Skill, “Adapt with Ease,” allows Xiao to get a 50% bonus damage while her Burst is active.
If you’re the type to get really lucky, throw your money at the game, or both (like me), then it’s pretty safe to say that you have more than enough 5-stars to play around with. In this team comp, everyone except Jean is a 5-star that you can only get on the limited banner.
Same as the previous team comp, Raiden Shogun will be your Sub DPS/Support with her skill, mainly dealing Electro damage to enemies. Zhongli will serve as your Shield, Burst DMG Support, or even both (if you build him right). Lastly, Jean will be your healer and Anemo Battery—just spam her skill until you see Xiao’s Elemental Burst is full!
Free-To-Play Friendly Team For Xiao
If you’re not the type to chase after 5-stars and their limited banners, that’s fine! Not all of us have the money or the patience to grind for primogems. Here are some nice team comps that you can use for Xiao.
Yes, Bennett makes another return! His Burst is too useful for you not to use him (unless you activated his C6, which… time to make Xiao a Pyro character, I guess.) He comes with Sucrose, who can act as your Anemo Battery and Burst Support. She can also reduce elemental resistances; her Skill and Burst are Crowd Control-focused. Time to gather up those mobs!
Xiangling is another great Sub DPS character since you can use her burst off-field. She also has a high Elemental Mastery, which works great with Sucrose’s Burst. Not to mention, having two Pyro characters in a team will increase your whole party’s damage by 25%.
In this team comp, we’ve decided to throw in Jean considering it’s rather easy to get her as a pity character (unless you keep getting Qiqi or Keqing.) If you don’t have her, going for Sayu can work with no problem.
This team comp focuses on off-field bursts, with Xiangling’s “Pyronado” partnered with Xingqui’s “Guhua Sword: Raincutter” to activate Vaporize and deal additional damage on top of Xiao’s barrage of attacks.
Instead of Vaporize, we’re going for Freeze with Xingqui’s burst and Chongyun’s skill. First, lay down Chongyun’s skill to apply Cryo on your enemies, then activate Xingqui’s Burst before switching to Xiao and bombarding your enemies using either his skill or Burst.
Here’s another interesting team comp, with Fischl acting as your Sub DPS since she can leave Oz on the field for Electro damage. If you pair it with Xingqui’s skill and burst, it’s easy to apply Electro-Charged reactions. Sayu can be your Anemo Battery and healer; simply activate her skill and roll around the enemies to deal Anemo and Swirl damage before activating her burst.
Meme Team (or is it?)
Yeah, I think you can see why I called these the “Meme Teams.” Have you ever tried using just only one Element in your team comp? Bonus: You get an achievement if you complete a domain using only one element.
As much as I would love to call these Meme Teams, they do actually work. With Xiao as your Main DPS, you just have to focus on tweaking Kazuha since he also serves a DPS role—or just have two DPS on your team; why not?
Assuming that you have an EM build Venti, all you need is to gather Anemo particles and bust out all of these characters’ bursts. Venti’s would gather the mobs, Jean would provide the heals, Kazuha for additional damage, and Xiao for complete destruction.
This one also works in a similar capacity, with a little change. Sucrose would gather the mobs, Sayu would be the healer, and Faruzan would be the buffer. (I really need to build her.) All in all, two solid teams when you don’t want to deal with activating elemental reactions.
How to Use Xiao
Xiao is a hypercarry DPS, so it’s best to stack on Crit Rate, Crit DMG, and ATK stats. If you have characters that can support him by giving him buffs, all the better. He is rather selfish with regard to field time, so make sure to activate your other characters’ skills and bursts before you bring out Xiao’s Burst. Just keep in mind his health; it does decrease the longer his Burst is activated.
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