Best Xingqiu Genshin Impact build: Artifacts, weapons, more

October 28, 2022

Xingqiu is one of Genshin Impact’s best Sub DPS characters. Don’t let the bookworm facade fool you, this Hydro Sword character packs a very handy punch with lots of off-field damage and even some healing on the side. Here’s the best build to get the most out of Xingqiu, including his top Artifacts and weapons.

Since the day Genshin Impact launched, Xingqiu has been a staple of some of the game’s best comps. The Hydro Sword user seems rather unassuming given his lack of power as a standalone unit, but he thrives when others do the heavy hitting for him.

He’s a perfect Sub DPS-slash-support, quickly getting his skills off before moving off-field to let the primary carries do the work. He has healing, can proc plenty of Elemental Reactions, and more. There’s not much Xingqiu can’t do.

If you’re looking to maximize Xingqiu’s impact in your Genshin Impact squad, we’ve got his best build right here with the top artifacts, weapons, and more.

Xingqiu boasts a ton of off-field damage.

Xingqiu abilities in Genshin Impact

Normal Attack: Guhua Style

Normal Attack: Xingqiu performs up to five rapid strikes.
Charged Attack: Xingqiu consumes a certain amount of Stamina to unleash two rapid sword strikes.
Plunging Attack: Xingqiu plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.

We’re going to keep it real ⁠— you’ll likely never need to use any of Xingqiu’s attacks. You only ever really swap onto him to collect energy particles for his Burst, or to use his skill.

If you want to swing in a couple of normal attacks for DPS while doing so feel free, but you don’t need to learn his best attack string (N1C, one normal attack into a charged attack) as he thrives as an off-field support.

Elemental Skill: Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen

Xingqiu performs twin strikes with his sword, dealing Hydro DMG. At the same time, this ability creates the maximum number of Rain Swords, which will orbit your active character.

Xingqiu’s skill also heals allies when the swords dissipate. This makes healing in a pinch easy. If you’re in need of a heal in the middle of nowhere, just use it, swap to the character who needs healing, and wait for it to time out.

Elemental Burst: Guhua Sword: Raincutter

Xingqiu’s burst allows you to fight using an illusory sword rain, while creating the maximum number of Rain Swords. The ability activates when a character normal attacks ⁠— it won’t activate on charged or plunging attacks.

These swords will rain down on targets when you attack, dealing Hydro DMG and setting up for Elemental Reactions. You can only ‘cast’ the swords once per second, so high attack speed characters can’t just abuse that. However, it’s great to get Vaporize or Freeze comps going.

Xingqiu quickly jumps into battle, uses his abilities, then dips away to let his allies do the dirty work.

Xingqiu constellations

Find multiple copies of Xingqiu? You’ve got plenty of great constellations to look forward to ⁠— including a huge power spike at C6.

Level 1 ⁠— The Scent Remained: Increases the maximum number of Rain Swords by 1.
Level 2 ⁠— Rainbow Upon the Azure Sky: Extends the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3s. Decreases the Hydro RES of opponents hit by sword rain attacks by 15% for 4s.
Level 3 ⁠— Weaver of Verses: Increases the Level of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 4 ⁠— Evilsoother: Throughout the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter, the DMG dealt by Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen is increased by 50%.
Level 5 ⁠— Embrace of Rain: Increases the Level of Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen by 3. Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Level 6 ⁠— Hence, Call Them My Own Verses: Activating 2 of Guhua Sword: Raincutter’s sword rain attacks greatly enhances the third sword rain attack. On hit, the third sword rain attack also regenerates 3 Energy for Xingqiu.

Best Xingqiu artifacts in Genshin Impact

Xingqiu’s best artifact set in Genshin Impact, without a doubt, is Emblem of Severed Fate. Not only does it buff his Elemental Burst DMG in a 4-Piece (which is where Xingqiu really shines), it also allows him to go all in on Energy Recharge.

However, if you are lacking some good Emblem of Severed Fate options, you can always go for a 2-2 split with Noblesse Oblige or Heart of Depth, or straight up the former in a 4-Piece. Either one of those artifact sets are solid on Xingqiu, but a good Emblem set will always shine the brightest.

Here’s the breakdown of each of Xingqiu’s best artifacts in Genshin Impact:

Artifact	Set Bonuses
Emblem of Severed Fate	2-Piece Set: Energy Recharge +20% 4-Piece Set: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge. A maximum of 75% bonus DMG can be obtained in this way.
Noblesse Oblige	2-Piece Set: Elemental Burst DMG +20% 4-Piece Set: After using an Elemental Burst, all teammates get +20% ATK. Lasts 12s, does not stack
Heart of Depth	2-Piece Set: Hydro DMG Bonus +15% 4-Piece Set: After using an Elemental Skill, increases Normal Attack and Charged Attack DMG by 30% for 15s.

Best Xingqiu weapons in Genshin Impact

Xingqiu can make use of most of the high-quality swords in Genshin Impact. However, you might not want to expend a Primordial Jade Cutter or a Mistsplitter Reforged (both are very solid on Xingqiu and best in slot for a reason) on just a Support / Sub-DPS.

There are some better budget options. Sacrificial Sword is probably his best option at the four-star level as you can get multiple casts of your skill back-to-back to quickly charge your energy. Anenoma Kageuchi is also solid because of the energy recharge ability, and the fact it’s free-to-play means you can get it maxed out very easily.

With that being said, be sure to pick one of the options below for Xingqiu’s best weapon in Genshin Impact:

Xingqiu Talent Level-Up and Ascension materials

You’ll be trawling all around Liyue for Xingqiu’s Talent Level-Up and Ascension materials. He requires Silk Flowers (which can be found around the Harbor and at Wangshu Inn), Cleansing Hearts from the Oceanid boss, and Masks from Hilichurl camps.

You do need to fight Andrius in Wolvendom to get Tail of Boreas for his Talents, but otherwise, you’ll be doing plenty of grinding in Liyue.

Here’s a full list of Talent Level-Up and Ascension materials you’ll need to max out your Xingqiu.

Xingqiu Talent Level-Up Materials

Talent Level-Up Materials
Talent Level-Up Materials	Teachings of Gold x9	Guide to Gold x63	Philosophies of Gold x114
Common Ascension Materials	Damaged Mask x18	Stained Mask x66	Ominous Mask x93
Weekly Boss Materials	Tail of Boreas x18

Xingqiu Ascension Materials

Ascension Level	Mora Cost	Materials
1	20,000	Varunada Lazurite Sliver x1	–	Silk Flower x3	Damaged Mask x3
2	40,000	Varunada Lazurite Fragment x3	Cleansing Heart x2	Silk Flower x10	Damaged Mask x15
3	60,000	Varunada Lazurite Fragment x6	Cleansing Heart x4	Silk Flower x20	Stained Mask x12
4	80,000	Varunada Lazurite Chunk x3	Cleansing Heart x8	Silk Flower x30	Stained Mask x18
5	100,000	Varunada Lazurite Chunk x6	Cleansing Heart x12	Silk Flower x45	Ominous Mask x12
6	120,000	Varunada Lazurite Gemstone x6	Cleansing Heart x20	Silk Flower x60	Ominous Mask x24

Best Xingqiu team comp

Xiangling and Xingqiu are a powerful duo in Genshin Impact.

Xingqiu can basically be dropped into any Genshin Impact team comp as a solid Sub DPS. However, he thrives best alongside Sword, Polearm, or Claymore allies like Ayaka, Xiangling, and Beidou.

The Genshin Impact “national team” of Xiangling, Chongyun, Bennett, and Xingqiu is one of the most popular comps in the game for a reason ⁠— not only is it low investment with only four-star characters, but it’s using top-tier units that can tackle Spiral Abyss if needed.

However, if you have any non-Bow or Catalyst Main DPS, you can just splash a Xingqiu in and they’ll love the bonus damage and healing. Just be mindful Xingqiu works best with Cryo, Pyro, and Electro allies because of the big Elemental Reactions he can proc off his Burst.

Xingqiu is one of the best four-star characters in Genshin Impact and can really help you get the best out of your team with his Elemental Reactions.

Want more allies to pair him with? Check out our other Genshin Impact character guides below:

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