Looking for a good Genshin Impact Xiao build for his rerun? Few would have predicted that we'd get so many reruns in Genshin Impact 2.4, and that alongside Ganyu and Zhongli, we'd also get the demon slayer, Xiao. You can currently wish for him alongside the new characters, Shenhe and Yun Jin. Even though we now have Kazuha, too, no one does a plunging attack quite like Xiao.
Genshin Impact Shenhe build: Icy exorcist
Genshin Impact Yun Jin build: Prestigious performer
Genshin Impact Itto build: The one and Oni
Genshin Impact Gorou build: Canine commander
Genshin Impact Eula build: Spindrift knight
Seriously, his burst increases his jump distance and AoE damage, meaning he can spam plunging attacks into groups of enemies, or repeatedly activate the Swirl reaction, as he drops into another character's AoE burst. When you throw in his Lemniscatic Wind Cycling skill that lets him dash through enemies or even mid-air, you have a character with even more mobility than Keqing.
Xiao is a reliable damage-dealer and along with characters like Ayaka, Beidou, or Kazuha, has one of the most enjoyable playstyles in the game. In this Genshin Impact Xiao build guide, I'll go through the five-star's abilities, constellations, how you get him, as well as a build to make the most out of him.
Builds
The best Genshin Impact Xiao build
Xiao is best built as a DPS fighter, and since his abilities infuse his regular attacks with Anemo damage, any build should be focused on raising either his Anemo or attack damage.
DPS
- Weapon: Primordial Jade Winged Spear
On a hit, this five-star polearm gets a 3.2% attack boost for six seconds, which stacks up to seven times, and can occur once every 0.3 seconds. If you manage to get all those stacks, damage is boosted by a further 12%. This makes the weapon well-suited to Xiao's speedy fighting style, as he racks up those stacks for that maximum bonus.
The Primordial Jade Winged Spear is available on 2.4's epitome invocation banner, but if you have some Starglitter saved up, you can purchase the Blackcliff Pole through Paimon's Bargains. This four-star polearm boosts crit damage as a sub stat, and increases attack by 12% up to three times whenever you defeat an opponent.
- Artifact: (2) Gladiator's Finale (2) Viridescent Venerer
This set is a good pick for Xiao since two pieces of Gladiator's Finale boosts attack by 18%, while two pieces of Viridescent Venerer boosts Anemo damage by 15%. This creates a good balance for Xiao in terms of both dealing physical damage, and Anemo-infused damage.
In terms of alternate artifacts, you could also replace Gladiator's Finale with Shiminenawa's Reminiscence, or add two pieces of Berskerker for that 12% crit rate increase, which would synergise well with Blackcliff Pole for pushing Xiao towards crits.
Abilities
Xiao's abilities
Here are Xiao's abilities, passives, and Constellations:
| Normal Attack: | Xiao performs six quick strikes with his polearm. |
| Charged Attack: | Xiao will dive down and smash the ground. The higher he falls from, the more powerful the attack. It doubles up as his Plunging Attack. |
| Plunging Attack: | Xiao’s Charged Attack and Plunging Attack are the same. |
| Lemniscatic Wind Cycling: | Xiao dives forward, dealing Anemo damage to all enemies along the way. It can be used in mid-air, and has two charges. |
| Bane Of All Evil: | Xiao takes on the form of the Yaksha, wearing a ghostly mask. During this time, Xiao’s attack range increases, his jumping ability increases, and his regular attacks deal Anemo damage. However, while he’s in this form, his HP will constantly drain. |
| Evil Conqueror - Tamer Of Demons: | Bane Of All Evil gives Xiao a 5% damage increase, and this rises by a further five percent every 3 seconds up to 25% until the skill ends. |
| Dissolution Eon - Heaven Fall: | When Lemniscatic Wind Cycling is used, the next Lemniscatic Wind Cycling has a 10% damage boost if activated within six seconds. This can stack up to three times. |
| Transcension - Gravity Defier: | All party members get a 20% reduction in fall damage. |
| Dissolution Eon - Destroyer Of Worlds: | Lemniscatic Wind Cycling gains an extra charge. |
| Annihilation Eon - Blossom Of Kaleidos: | Xiao’s Energy Recharge is increased by 25% when he's in the party but not currently active. |
| Evil Conqueror - Wrath Deity: | Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling’s skill level by three, with a max level of 15. |
| Transcension - Extinction Of Suffering: | Xiao gains a 100% defense bonus when his HP falls below 50%. |
| Evolution Eon - Origin Of Ignorance: | Increases Bane Of All Evil’s skill level by three, with a max level of 15. |
| Evil Conqueror - Vigilant Yaksha: | During Bane Of All Evil, hitting two or more enemies with Charged Attacks gives Lemniscatic Wind Cycling an additional charge, while reducing its cooldown by one second. |
Ascension materials
Xiao Ascension materials
Character
In order to ascend and level Xiao you'll need the usual Vayuda Turquoise for Anemo characters, as well as Juvenile Jade, which you can get from the Primo Geovishap boss fight. You'll also need two world materials:
- Qingxin
- Slime Condensate
Qingxin are white flowers that are found in the mountainous stone forest of Liyue, but especially at Jueyun Karst and the Guyun Stone Forest. Slime Condensate-series items, on the other hand, are dropped by slimes of different world levels.
Talent
Here are Xiao's talent ascension materials:
- Teachings of Prosperity
- Slime Condensate
- Shadow of the Warrior
- Crown of Insight
Teachings of Prosperity can be earned at the Taishin Mansion domain on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. As mentioned, Slime Condensate-series items come from all different slimes of varying world levels. Shadow of the Warrior is a reward for fighting level 70+ Childe in the Trounce Domain.
Lastly, the Crown of Insight comes from seasonal events, but also upgrading either the Sacred Sakura in Inazuma, or the Frostbearing Tree in Dragonspine.
