Xiao is a playable character in Genshin Impact introduced as part of the 1.3 update, All That Glitters.

Xiao is featured as the boosted 5-Star character in his Inviation to Mundane life Banner in version 3.4, but he will eventually return at some point in the future when the Banner schedule cycles back to him.

Whether you have him, or want to prepare for if you do Wish for him successfully, it's good to know the best Xiao build in Genshin Impact, including his best Artifacts and best team. It's also handy to learn what his Constellation perks are, and what Xiao Talent materials and Ascension materials are needed to level up Xiao to his full potential.

Be sure to check out our beginner's guide with tips and tricks, and Genshin Impact codes page to get free Primogems that can be used towards unlocking Xiao and other characters.

Xiao materials and stats:

Xiao Talents, skills, star, element, and weaponXiao Talent materialsXiao Ascension materialsXiao Constellation

Xiao build:

How to play Xiao in Genshin ImpactBest Xiao team compBest Xiao Artifacts and weaponsBest Xiao buildCharacter Demo - "Xiao: Doombane" | Genshin Impact.

Genshin Impact Xiao Talents, skills, star, element, and weapon

Xiao is a 5-Star Anemo character with high DPS (damage per second) who uses a polearm weapon to cause AOE (area of effect) damage primarily by using plunge attacks. Plunging with a polearm while his Elemental Burst is active is Xiao's main DPS attack.

Here's a summary of Xiao's abilities and stats in Genshin Impact:

Element: Anemo.Rarity: 5-Star.Weapon: Polearm.Banner: Invitation to Mundane Life.Best build: DPS.Normal Attack: Whirlwind Thrust.Elemental Skill: Lemniscatic Wind Cycling.Elemental Burst: Bane of All Evil.Passive one: Conqueror of Evil, Tamer of Demons (while under the effects of Bane of All Evil, all damage increases by a further 5% for every three seconds the ability persists, with the maximum damage bonus capping at 25%).Passive two: Dissolution Eon, Heaven Fall (using Lemniscatic Wind Cycling increases the damage of subsequent uses of the ability by 15%, lasts seven seconds at a maximum of three stacks, and gaining a new stack refreshes the effect's duration).Exploration bonus: Transcension, Gravity Defier (decreases climbing stamina consumption for your party members by 20%, but is not stackable with other teammates who have a Talent that provides the same effect).

Xiao Normal Attack: Whirlwind Thrust

Xiao can perform up to six consecutive spear strikes, and when charged, his normal attack consumes stamina to perform an upward thrust. You can press the attack button while in the air to perform a plunge attack, which causes AOE damage. Xiao doesn't take any damage from plunge attacks, regardless of how high he drops.

Elemental Skill: Lemniscatic Wind Cycling

Xiao lunges forward, causing Anemo damage to enemies in his path. Lemniscatic Wind Cycling starts with two charges, and can also be used while in mid-air. Using this skill will generate three elemental particles when it hits an enemy, but it will not generate any particles if Bane of All Evil is active. This skill is very useful when exploring, as Xiao can use it twice in a row to bypass large gaps in the environment.

Elemental Burst: Bane of All Evil

Xiao wears the Yaksha Mask to greatly increase his jumping ability, AOE range, and attack damage, which is converted into Anemo damage. This can't be overridden by other elemental infusions. Unfortunately, Xiao continuously loses health while wearing the Yaksha Mask. The effect ends when Xiao leaves the field and is swapped for another active character.

Genshin Impact Xiao Talent materials

Slime Concentrate.

To get the most out of using Xiao, you will have to level his abilities up by using Talent materials, which vary from character-to-character.

For Xiao, you're going to need to farm a lot of Slime and Prosperity items (if you don't already have them) to fully upgrade his DPS capabilities.

As Xiao has three Talents, you will have to spend three times the Talent materials listed below to fully upgrade all of his abilities, which we've also detailed below the table.

Here's what Xiao Talent materials you need to improve one of his abilities:

Xiao Talent levelTalent materialsMora costLevel 2x3 Teachings of Prosperity, x6 Slime Condensate12,500Level 3x2 Guide to Prosperity, x3 Slime Secretions17,500Level 4x4 Guide to Prosperity, x4 Slime Secretions25,000Level 5x6 Guide to Prosperity, x6 Slime Secretions30,000Level 6x9 Guide to Prosperity, x9 Slime Secretions37,500Level 7x4 Philosophies of Prosperity, x4 Slime Concentrate, x1 Shadow of the Warrior120,000Level 8x8 Philosophies of Prosperity, x6 Slime Concentrate, x1 Shadow of the Warrior260,000Level 9x12 Philosophies of Prosperity, x9 Slime Concentrate, x2 Shadow of the Warrior450,000Level 10x16 Philosophies of Prosperity, x12 Slime Concentrate, x2 Shadow of the Warrior, x1 Crown of Insight700,000

Here's what Talent Materials you'll need to fully upgrade one of Xiao's skills:

x1 Crown of Insightx3 Teachings of Prosperityx6 Slime Condensatex6 Shadow of the Warriorx21 Guide to Prosperityx22 Slime Secretionsx31 Slime Concenratex38 Philosophies to Prosperity1,652,500 Mora

To upgrade all three of Xiao's skills, here's all the Talent Materials you'll need:

x3 Crown of Insightx9 Teachings of Prosperityx18 Slime Condensatex18 Shadow of the Warriorx63 Guide to Prosperityx66 Slime Secretionsx93 Slime Concenratex114 Philosophies to Prosperity4,957,500 Mora

Genshin Impact Xiao Ascension materials

Qingxin.

Just like Talents, you need to use Xiao Ascension materials to upgrade his health, attack, defence, and critical hit effectiveness.

For Xiao, you're going to need to farm a lot of Qingxin and and slime materials (if you don't already have them) to fully upgrade his DPS capabilities.

Unlike Talent materials, you only need to spend the below Ascension materials once to fully raise Xiao to his highest character level. There is also Acquaint Fate rewarded for reaching certain Ascension levels. You can spend this Fate on the standard and beginner Banners to Wish for characters and weapons.

Here's what Xiao Ascension materials and Mora you need to upgrade him for each Ascension level:

Xiao Ascension levelAscension materialsMora costAscension rewardLevel 20x1 Vayuda Turquoise Silver, x3 Qingxin, x3 Slime Condensate20,000x1 Acquaint FateLevel 40x3 Vayuda Turquoise Fragment, x2 Juvenile Jade, x10 Qingxin, x15 Slime Condensate40,000NoneLevel 50x6 Vayuda Turquoise Fragment, x4 Juvenile Jade, x20 Qingxin, x12 Slime Secretions60,000x1 Acquaint FateLevel 60x3 Vayuda Turquoise Chunk, x8 Juvenile Jade, x30 Qingxin, x18 Slime Secretions80,000NoneLevel 70x6 Vayuda Turquoise Chunk, x12 Juvenile Jade, x45 Qingxin, x12 Slime Concentrate100,000x1 Acquaint FateLevel 80x6 Vayuda Turquoise Gemstone, x20 Juvenile Jade, x60 Qingxin, x24 Slime Concentrate120,000None

In total, here's all the Ascension Materials you need for Xiao in Genshin Impact:

x1 Vayuda Turquoise Sliverx6 Vayuda Turquoise Gemstonex9 Vayuda Turquoise Fragmentx9 Vayuda Turquoise Chunkx18 Slime Condensatex30 Slime Secretionsx36 Slime Concentratex46 Juvenile Jadex168 Qingxin420,000 Mora

Genshin Impact Xiao Constellation

By getting duplicates of Xiao from wishing on Banners, you will receive his Stella Fortuna. This material allows you to unlock Constellation levels, with each upgrade either improving an existing Talent or Passive ability.

Here are all of Xiao's Constellation level upgrades in Genshin Impact:

Dissolution Eon, Destroyer of Worlds (C1): Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling's charges by one.Annihilation Eon, Blossom of Kaleidos (C2): When in the party but not on the field, Xiao's energy recharge is increases by 25%.Conqueror of Evil, Wrath Deity (C3): Increases the level of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by three, with a maximum upgrade level of 15.Transcension, Extinction of Suffering (C4): When Xiao's HP falls below 50% he gains a 100% defence bonus.Evolution Eon, Origin of Ignorance (C5): Increases the level of Bane of All Evil by three, with a maximum upgrade level of 15.Conqueror of Evil, Guardian Yaksha (C6): While Bane Evil is activated, hitting at least two opponents with Xiao's plunging attack will grant him one charge of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling, and for the next second, he may use Lemniscatic Wind Cycling regardless of its cooldown status.

How to play Xiao in Genshin Impact

It's important to play Xiao on the field, using his plunge attacks and Elemental Burst as much as possible, only swapping to other characters when you need to recharge energy or start a healing field. If you swap to another character while Xiao's Elemental Burst is active, the effect will end and you will lose out on causing damage to enemies.

Xiao's Elemental Burst comes with health and energy downsides.

Best Xiao team comp in Genshin Impact

Xiao is an excellent DPS character with a fun playstyle, who is most effective with a good team to support his energy and health needs.

As Xiao is a high DPS character whose Elemental Burst costs a lot of energy, he is best paired with a fellow Anemo character, like Sucrose or Venti, so they can recharge Xiao's energy quickly. You'll also want to have a party member who can heal Xiao, like Jean or Bennett, as he can lose a lot of health while his Elemental Burst is active.

It's important to have a good team if you main Xiao.

Best Xiao Artifacts and weapons in Genshin Impact

The Primordial Jade Winged-Spear is Xiao's best weapon.

The best Xiao Artifacts in Genshin Impact will either raise his attack or elemental damage stats. It's best to try for the 4-piece Vermillion Hereafter set, but any Artifact that boosts his damage is a good substitute.

Alternatively, if you don't have a team that can help with Xiao's energy needs, equipping some Artifacts that help with energy recharge is recommended. This does lower his DPS potential, but it's better to activate his Elemental Burst as much as possible to get more opportunities to cause high Anemo damage. If running a low energy recharge team, you should take two sub DPS characters instead to raise Xiao's attack damage as much as possible.

As for weapons, you'll ideally want to equip Xiao with the 5-Star Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, as it's his signature weapon, meaning it's built for his needs. The Blackcliff Pole or Prototype Starglitter are good 4-Star options instead.

Hydro Archon Furina is coming, but for now in Version 4.1, Neuvillette and Wriothesley debut, and you'll need Subdetection Units for Wriothesley. Our Fontaine guide can help with Fontaine's Reputation and the Fountain of Lucine, and you can also redeem new codes for Primogems, and check out our regularly updated tier list.You need luck from the Pity and 50/50 systems to Wish with Fate for characters on Banners, and you always need the right Adventure Rank for events.Elsewhere, we have tips and tricks for beginners, Dendroculus locations, fishing locations, and TCG card locations.

Best Xiao build in Genshin Impact

With all this in mind, if you want to take advantage of his high DPS capabilities, we have compiled what we think is currently the best Xiao build in Genshin Impact below:

Best Weapon: Primordial Jade Winged-SpearBest Artifacts: x4 Vermillion Hereafter (or x2 Viridescent Venerer and x2 Gladiator's Finale)Best team members: A support healer to negate Xiao's life drain (like Jean or Bennett), another Anemo to help with Elemental recharge (like Sucrose, Jean, or Venti), and a support off-field to increase Xiao's attack damage/longevity even more (like Fischl, Albedo, or Zhongli)

While it can take a lot of time to find these Artifacts and Ascension/Talent materials to level-up Xiao, it's worth the effort if you wish to main Xiao as a fairly straight-forward pure DPS character - as long as you have a good team to enhance his Talents.

Good luck levelling up Xiao in Genshin Impact!

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