The world of Teyvat is teeming with interesting characters in Genshin Impact. Some of these characters are suited to support roles, while others are made to be pure damage dealers. Xiao is one such character, which has earned him a lot of popularity in the Genshin community.

Xiao’s playstyle in Genshin Impact

Xiao is an Anemo polearm user who goes into a stance via his elemental burst, allowing him to pogo jump his way around the battlefield. Unlike most other Anemo characters, Xiao prefers to deal raw Anemo damage rather than damage via swirl reactions. Heavy investment in his CRIT ratio is necessary to get the most damage out of him. A battery character on his team is also critical to increase his burst uptime. One big draw back of his burst is his gradual loss of HP. It generally requires a shielding character or healer on the team to protect him.

Best weapons for Xiao in Genshin Impact

His best-in-slot weapon is the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, the five-star weapon designed personally for him. It has a CRIT rate acension stat, which is always useful. His faster playstyle also allows him to take full advantage of it’s weapon skill, stacking a lot of damage buffs as he goes. You can obtain the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear from the standard banner by chance or from the weapon banner while it is featured. He unfortunately doesn’t have a lot of free-to-play-friendly options to use. If you have enough spare Starglitter, you could use the Blackcliff Polearm from the Starglitter Exchange. Or, if you’ve pulled the four-star Lithic Spear from the gacha, you could use it.

Best artifacts for Xiao in Genshin Impact

Since the Version 2.6 update, Xiao has an artifact set designed for his playstyle, Vermillion Hereafter. You could still use his prior best-in-slot combination of Viridescent Venerer with an attack boosting set like Gladiator’s Finale or Shimenawa’s Reminiscence. However, this combination by the numbers is just not as good. Try to find artifacts that boost CRIT rate, Anemo damage, and attack to boost his numbers.

Xiao’s Skills in Genshin Impact

Normal Attack: Whirlwind Thrust

  • Normal AttackPerforms up to six consecutive spear strikes.Charged AttackConsumes a certain amount of stamina to perform an upward thrust.Plunging AttackPlunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE damage upon impact.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 two charges.

Elemental Burst: Bane of All Evil

  • Xiao dons the Yaksha Mask that set gods and demons trembling millennia ago.Yaksha’s MaskGreatly 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.In this state, Xiao will continuously lose HP.The effects of this skill end when Xiao leaves the field.

Passive Skills

  • 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.Conquerer 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 three seconds the ability persists. The maximum damage bonus is 25%.Dissolution Eon: Heaven Fall - Using Lemniscatic Wind Cycling increases the damage of subsequent uses of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by 15%. This effect lasts for seven seconds, and has a maximum of three stacks. Gaining a new stack refreshes the effect’s duration.

Xiao’s Constellations in Genshin Impact

  • Dissolution Eon: Destroyer of Worlds - Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling‘s charges by one.Annihilation Eon: Blossom of Kaleidos - When in the party and 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 three. Maximum upgrade level is 15.Transcension: Extinction of Suffering - When Xiao’s HP falls below 50%, he gains a 100% defense bonus.Evolution Eon: Origin of Ignorance - Increases the level of Bane of All Evil by three. Maximum upgrade level is 15.Conqueror of Evil: Guardian Yaksha - While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, hitting at least two opponents with Xiao’s Plunging Attack will immediately grant him one charge of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling, and for the next second, he may use Lemniscatic Wind Cycling while ignoring its cooldown.

What you’ll need to ascend Xiao in Genshin Impact

Check out our handy ascension guide and farming guide for Xiao.

  • Performs up to six consecutive spear strikes.

  • Consumes a certain amount of stamina to perform an upward thrust.

  • Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE damage upon impact.Xiao does not take damage from performing Plunging Attacks.

  • Can be used in mid-air.Starts with two charges.

  • Yaksha’s MaskGreatly 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.In this state, Xiao will continuously lose HP.The effects of this skill end when Xiao leaves the field.

  • 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.

Best Party Members For Xiao in Genshin Impact

Xiao is a very needy damage dealer. He’ll need supports to both heal and shield him, as well as provide energy for him to keep his burst up. Jean is probably his number one support since she can fill two roles as a healer and battery. You could also try using the four-star character Sayu for this. Don’t forget a shielding character is helpful as well. Try Zhongli or Diona.

For more Genshin Impact content, check out Best Ganyu build in Genshin Impact – Weapons, Artifacts, and more! or Best Zhongli build in Genshin Impact – Weapons, Artifacts, and more! on Pro Game Guides.