Best Xingqiu Genshin Impact build: Artifacts, weapons, more

Xingqiu, the enigmatic Hydro swordsman of Genshin Impact, stands out not just for his elegant combat style but also for his unparalleled ability to manipulate water in battle. As a 4-star character, he excels as a Sub DPS, seamlessly applying Hydro to trigger powerful elemental reactions like Vaporize and Hyperbloom. This guide delves into the best builds for maximizing Xingqiu’s potential, from optimal weapons and artifacts to effective team compositions that can elevate your gameplay. Whether you’re looking to enhance his damage output or support your main DPS, understanding Xingqiu’s strengths and strategies is key to mastering this versatile character.

General information

Xingqiu is a 4-star Hydro character in Genshin Impact, wielding a sword and known for his exceptional off-field damage and Hydro application. His abilities allow him to effectively trigger elemental reactions, making him a valuable asset in various team compositions. As a versatile sub-DPS, Xingqiu excels in providing consistent Hydro status to enemies while also offering damage reduction and healing through his Elemental Skill. This guide will explore the best builds, weapons, and artifacts for maximizing Xingqiu’s potential in combat, ensuring players can fully utilize his strengths in diverse scenarios.

Xingqiu is a four-star character with a Hydro element. He fights with a sword. His strengths are Elemental Burst and Elemental Skill, so you should mainly focus on building Energy Recharge so that Xingqiu can use his abilities as often as possible.

Best team compositions

Xingqiu excels in a variety of team compositions due to his exceptional Hydro application and versatility as a sub-DPS. His ability to consistently apply Hydro makes him a key player in reactions like Vaporize and Hyperbloom, allowing teams to maximize damage output. Notable compositions include pairing him with characters like Hu Tao and Yelan for powerful Vaporize setups, or integrating him into National Teams alongside Bennett and Xiangling for sustained elemental reactions. Additionally, his synergy with Dendro and Electro characters enhances the effectiveness of Bloom-based teams, showcasing his flexibility across different playstyles and team strategies.

Hydro Sub DPS – Xiangling/Xingqiu/Raiden/Bennet
Hydro Sub DPS – Diluc/Xingqiu/Bennet/Venti

Sub DPS Build/Support Build

Xingqiu excels as both a Sub DPS and Support character in Genshin Impact, primarily through his exceptional Hydro application and damage output. His Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, allows for continuous Hydro infusion with each normal attack from the active character, making him invaluable for triggering reactions like Vaporize and Hyperbloom. For optimal performance, players should focus on building Energy Recharge to ensure frequent use of his abilities, ideally aiming for around 200% ER. Recommended artifact sets include 4x Emblem of Severed Fate, which boosts Elemental Burst damage significantly, or 4x Noblesse Oblige for added team support through ATK buffs. Weapons such as the Sacrificial Sword or Favonius Sword enhance his utility by providing additional Energy Recharge and cooldown reduction, further solidifying his role in any team composition.

Xingqiu can become both your sub DPS and support. All thanks to its ability to use Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst at a fast pace.

Artifacts – 4x Emblem of Severed Fate/4x Noblesse Oblige
Weapons – Sacrificial Sword/Favonius Sword

The best choice for this build, would be to using 4x Emblem of Severed Fade. It is more focused on Elemental Burst damage and to be able to use it as soon as possible. It is important to achieve 200% ER. Thanks to this set of artifacts, it is possible. 2x will give you 20% ER, and 4x will increase Elemental Burst DMG by 25%, up to a maximum of 75%, depending on the maximum ER you have.

You can also focus on 4x Noblesse Oblige to increase Elemental Burst DMG by 20%. But most importantly, having four parts of this artifact, after using the EB, other party members will receive a boost, which is increased ATK DMG by 20% for 12 seconds. A variant of these artifacts focuses more on assisting others in battle while strengthening EB damage.

As for weapons, the greatest use will be swords, which grants an additional Energy Recharge. The ideal choice will be Sacrificial Sword. In addition to Energy Recharge, you’ll also get a 40% chance that your Elemental Skill cooldown will end immediately, so you’ll be able to use it twice in a row. This will give you a large amount of Energy points.

The second weapon, Favonius Sword, focuses more on making Xingiu last longer on the battlefield and attack with normal attacks. In addition to Energy Recharge, if you get a critical hit, you’ll have a 60% chance of creating an Elemental Orb, which will grant you 6 Energy points. This effect may occur once every 12 seconds.

Talents

Xingqiu is a versatile 4-star Hydro character in Genshin Impact, renowned for his exceptional ability to apply Hydro consistently and support his team through powerful elemental reactions. His talents, particularly his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst, allow him to deal significant off-field damage while providing utility such as damage reduction and healing. Players should prioritize leveling both his Elemental Skill, Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen, and his Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, to maximize his effectiveness in various team compositions. With the right builds, Xingqiu can excel in roles as both a sub-DPS and a support character, making him a valuable addition to many team setups focused on reactions like Vaporize and Hyperbloom.

Talents are abilities used by every character in the game. For Xingqiu, you should develop both Elemental Skill (Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen) and Elemental Burst (Guhua Sword: Raincutter) evenly because they significantly affect the damage inflicted by this character.

Regarding Normal Attacks (Guhua Style), invest in them last.

Constellations

Xingqiu’s Constellations in Genshin Impact significantly enhance his capabilities as a Hydro character, making him a versatile asset in various team compositions. Each of his six Constellations provides unique benefits that improve his damage output, healing potential, and overall utility. For instance, his second Constellation, “Rainbow Upon the Azure Sky,” extends the duration of his Elemental Burst while simultaneously decreasing enemies’ Hydro resistance, allowing for more potent Hydro reactions. Meanwhile, his sixth Constellation, “Hence, Call Them My Own Verses,” not only boosts damage from his sword rain attacks but also regenerates energy, ensuring he can maintain high uptime on his abilities. Understanding these Constellations is crucial for maximizing Xingqiu’s effectiveness in battle and optimizing team synergy.

What are the key differences between Xingqiu and Yelan

Xingqiu and Yelan, both Hydro characters in Genshin Impact, share similarities but also exhibit key differences that influence their roles in team compositions.

Similarities

Role: Both characters serve as Sub-DPS and Hydro enablers, facilitating powerful elemental reactions like Vaporize.
Elemental Burst: Their damage output heavily relies on their Elemental Burst, which is crucial for applying Hydro to enemies.

Key Differences

Cooldown and Casting: Yelan’s Elemental Skill has a shorter cooldown but may take longer to cast, making her better suited for AoE situations. In contrast, Xingqiu excels in single-target scenarios due to his Elemental Skill’s longer cooldown but superior Hydro application.
Hydro Application: Xingqiu provides a more consistent and higher Hydro application, essential for triggering reactions effectively. Yelan, while powerful, has a lower overall Hydro application and relies more on her Elemental Burst for damage.
Scaling: Yelan scales with HP, limiting her synergy with ATK buffs like those from Bennett or Noblesse Oblige artifacts. Xingqiu scales with ATK, allowing him to benefit from these buffs and enhancing his damage potential.
Defensive Capabilities: Xingqiu offers defensive benefits through his Elemental Skill, which provides damage reduction and healing. Yelan lacks these defensive utilities, focusing purely on offense.

Conclusion

In summary, while Yelan can replace Xingqiu in many team setups due to her higher damage output, Xingqiu remains valuable for his utility and consistent Hydro application. Choosing between them often depends on the specific needs of your team composition and playstyle preferences.

Which character is better for a beginner, Xingqiu or Yelan

For beginners in Genshin Impact, choosing between Xingqiu and Yelan can significantly impact your gameplay experience. Here’s a comparison to help you decide which character might be better suited for new players.

Xingqiu

Availability: As a 4-star character, Xingqiu is easier to obtain, appearing frequently in banners and available through Paimon’s Bargains. This accessibility makes him a reliable choice for beginners who may not have many characters yet.
Utility: Xingqiu offers strong defensive capabilities through his Elemental Skill, which provides damage reduction and minor healing. This can be particularly beneficial for new players who may struggle with survivability in tougher content.
Hydro Application: He excels in consistent Hydro application, making it easier to trigger elemental reactions like Vaporize and Hydro-related effects. His abilities are straightforward, allowing beginners to grasp the mechanics without overwhelming complexity.

Yelan

Rarity and Power: Yelan is a 5-star character, which generally means she has higher base stats and damage potential. However, her rarity makes her harder to obtain compared to Xingqiu.
Offensive Playstyle: While Yelan offers higher damage output, she lacks the defensive utility that Xingqiu provides. For beginners focused on maximizing damage rather than survivability, Yelan can be appealing, but her effectiveness may depend on having a well-rounded team.
Skill Complexity: Yelan’s abilities have a slightly steeper learning curve due to her reliance on HP scaling and the timing of her skills. This might pose a challenge for newcomers who are still getting accustomed to the game mechanics4.

Conclusion

For most beginners, Xingqiu is the better choice due to his accessibility, utility, and ease of use. He provides essential support that can help new players navigate early game challenges effectively. If you manage to obtain Yelan later on, she can complement your team with higher damage output, but starting with Xingqiu will offer a more balanced introduction to Hydro characters in Genshin Impact.