Genshin Impact’s Xiao is a five-star anemo polearm wielder, adeptus, and sole surviving member of Morax’s five Yakshas. Plagued with karmic debt, our vigilant yaksha is quite a loner these days, residing in Wangshu Inn and generally keeping to himself – until you summon him to the battlefield, that is! In this Genshin Xiao build we go over his skills, ascension materials, best weapons and artifacts, and more, so you can make the most of this incredible unique and powerful character.
If you’re looking for more content like this, take a look at our Genshin Impact Kokomi, Genshin Impact Raiden, and Genshin Impact Albedo build guides. We’ve also created a Genshin Impact tier list so you can see where all your favourite characters rank, and a Genshin Impact codes list so you can get your hands on some extra primogems.
Genshin Impact Xiao guide
What’s the best Genshin Xiao build?
Xiao is an amazing choice for a main DPS role. We’ve included weapons and artifacts that boost his attack even further and provided details on each of his skills. We recommend pairing him up with Genshin Impact’s Jean for some quick heals and increased movement speed.
What’s the best Genshin Xiao weapon?
Our preferred weapon for Xiao is the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear. However, as it’s a five-star weapon, it can be hard to get your hands on. The Blackcliff Pole is a suitable replacement until you’re lucky enough to receive the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear.
| Weapon | Effect | How to obtain |
| Primordial Jade Winged-Spear | On hit, Xiao’s attack is increased by 3.2% for six seconds. Seven stacks maximum. Can only occur once every 0.3 seconds. While in possession of seven stacks, damage dealt is increased by 12% | Gacha |
| Staff of Homa | Xiao’s HP is increased by 20%, and he gains an attack bonus based on 0.8% of his max HP. When his HP falls below 50%, this attack bonus is increased by an additional 1% of max HP | Gacha |
| Blackcliff Pole | Xiao’s attack is increased by 12% for 30 seconds after defeating an enemy. A maximum of three stacks, the duration of each stack is independent | Purchase from Paimon’s Bargains shop |
What are the best Genshin Xiao artifacts?
We recommend equipping a full set of Vermillion Hereafter, or two artifacts from Gladiator’s Finale and Viridescent Venerer to maximise Xiao’s damage output.
| Artifact set | Effect |
| Vermillion Hereafter | Two equipped: Increases attack by 18% Four equipped: After using an elemental burst, Xiao gains the Nascent Light effect, which increases his attack by 8% for 16 seconds. When his HP decreases, his attack increases by a further 10%. This can occur this way a maximum of four times and can be triggered once every 0.8 seconds. Nascent Light is dispelled when Xiao leaves the field. If Xiao uses an elemental burst again during the duration of Nascent Light, the original Nascent Light is dispelled. |
| Gladiator’s Finale | Two equipped: Increases attack by 18% Four equipped: If the wielder of this set uses a sword, claymore, or polearm, their normal attack damage is increased by 35% |
| Viridescent Venerer | Two equipped: 15% anemo damage bonus Four equipped: Swirl damage is increased by 60%. Your opponent’s elemental resistance to the element infused in the swirl is decreased by 40% for ten seconds |
Alternate Artifacts
If you’re struggling to get the artifacts listed above, the berserker set is much easier to acquire, and makes for a good replacement set.
| Artifact set | Effect |
| Berserker | Two equipped: +12% crit rate Four equipped: When Xiao’s HP falls below 70%, his crit rate increases by an additional 24% |
Recommended stats and sub-stats
Main stats:
- Attack% for Sands
- Crit rate or crit damage for Circlet
- Anemo% or attack% for goblet. Anemo% is almost always going to be the better choice here
Sub stats:
- Crit rate and crit damage
- Attack%
- Energy recharge
Xiao scales off attack, crit rate, and crit damage, so they should always be your priority when it comes to sub-stats. Energy recharge isn’t as important to Xiao as it is to other characters, but his gameplay does rely on his elemental burst, so we recommending aiming for about 20-40% energy recharge through artifact sub-stats.
What are Genshin Xiao’s skills?
Active skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Whirlwind Thrust | Perform up to six strikes |
| Whirlwind Thrust (charged) | Consumes stamina to perform an upward thrust |
| Whirlwind Thrust (plunging) | Trigger this move in mid-air to plunge downwards, causing AoE damage |
| Lemniscatic Wind Cycling | Deals AoE anemo damage to enemies in his path, can be used in mid-air. Starts with two charges |
| Bane of All Evil | Xiao dons the Yaksha Mask which has the following effects:
While wearing the mask, Xiao will continuously lose HP |
Passive skills:
| Skill | Effect |
| Evil Conqueror – Tamer of Demons (unlocked at ascension one) | While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, all damage dealt by Xiao is increased by 5%. Damage increases by a further 5% every three seconds the ability is active. The maximum damage bonus is 25%. |
| Dissolution Eon – Heaven Fall (unlocked at ascension four) | Lemniscatic Wind Cycling increases the damage of subsequent uses by 15%. This effect lasts for seven seconds. Maximum three stacks. Gaining a new stack refreshes the duration |
| Transcension – Gravity Defier (unlocked automatically) | Decreases climbing stamina consumption for party members by 20%. Not stackable. |
What are Genshin Xiao’s constellations?
| Constellation | Effect |
| Dissolution Eon – Destroyer of Worlds | Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling’s charges by one |
| Annihilation Eon – Blossom of Kaleidos | When in the party but not on the field, energy recharge is increased by 25% |
| Evil Conqueror – Wrath Deity | Increases the level of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by three |
| Transcension – Extinction of Suffering | When HP falls below 50%, Xiao gains a 100% defence Bonus |
| Evolution Eon – Origin of Ignorance | Increases the level of Bane of All Evil by three |
| Evil Conqueror – Vigilant Yaksha | While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, hitting at least 2 opponents with a plunging attack will grant Xiao one charge of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling and for the next one second, he may use Lemniscatic Wind Cycling while ignoring its cooldown |
What are Genshin Xiao’s ascension materials?
Make sure you collect a lot of Qingxin along the way, as you will need over 150 to fully ascend Xiao.
| Required level | Mora | Materials |
| 20 | 20,000 | One Vayuda Turquoise Sliver, three Qingxin, three slime condensate |
| 40 | 40,000 | Three Vayuda Turquoise Fragment, two Juvenile Jade, ten Qingxin, 15 slime condensate |
| 50 | 60,000 | Six Vayuda Turquoise Fragment, four Juvenile Jade, 20 Qingxin, 12 Slime Secretions |
| 60 | 80,000 | Three Vayuda Turquoise Chunk, eight Juvenile Jade, 30 Qingxin, 18 Slime Secretions |
| 70 | 100,000 | Six Vayuda Turquoise Chunk, 12 Juvenile Jade, 45 Qingxin, 12 Slime Secretions |
| 80 | 120,000 | Six Vayuda Turquoise Gemstone, 20 Juvenile Jade, 60 Qingxin, 24 Slime Secretions |
What is the best Genshin Xiao team comp?
When picking a team for Xiao, we recommend picking one battery and two supports. Xiao is a hyper carry, and the rest of the team’s main aim is to ensure that he doesn’t die. The following are two examples of strong Xiao teams.
Genshin Impact’s Zhongli compliments Xiao well due to his shield being the strongest in the game. If you’re pairing Xiao up with Zhongli, we recommend adding another geo character to enable geo resonance, which increases Zhongli’s shield even further. Good choices include Genshin Impact’s Albedo, Genshin Impact’s Ningguang, and the Genshin Impact Traveler when aligned with Geo. The final spot should be given to a battery or healer, and they should preferably be anemo wielders. We recommend Genshin Impact’s Jean, Genshin Impact’s Sayu, or Genshin Impact’s Sucrose.
If you don’t have Zhongli, don’t worry – a Xiao double cryo team is also a great option. Teaming him up with Genshin Impact’s Diona provides heals and shields. Then add Genshin Impact’s Rosaria, Genshin Impact’s Ganyu, or Genshin Impact’s Qiqi to the mix along with one of the anemo battery/healers mentioned above. The double cryo resonance boosts Xiao’s crit rate against enemies affected by cryo, and an anemo support equipped with Viridescent Venrer offers some nice resistance shred.
There you have it! Those are all the basics you need to know about Genshin Impact’s Xiao. If you’re looking for more content like this, check out our Genshin Impact next banner and Genshin Impact Inazuma guides.
