Unlocking Xingqiu’s Full Potential: A Deep Dive into Artifacts for Genshin Impact’s Rainy Swordsman
You have Xingqiu in your Genshin Impact roster. Smart choice. He is a Hydro support. He brings steady Hydro to enemies and sets up reactions. To maximize his power, you must select the right artifacts. Let’s explore optimizing his artifact build.
The Holy Grail: Emblem of Severed Fate
For artifact sets, one stands out: the Emblem of Severed Fate. Why is it the best? Let’s review:
- 2-Piece Bonus: Energy Recharge +20%
- 4-Piece Bonus: Increases Elemental Burst DMG by 25% of Energy Recharge, capped at 75% bonus DMG.
Xingqiu’s Elemental Burst, Raincutter, is vital. It rains swords and drenches enemies in Hydro. Emblem of Severed Fate supports this ability. The 2-piece bonus boosts Energy Recharge, keeping his Burst ready often. The 4-piece bonus turns Energy Recharge into damage. You’ll get rewarded for managing energy. A nice benefit in Teyvat.
Unless seeking a niche build, Emblem of Severed Fate is the best choice. It offers the needed Energy Recharge and damage boost for Xingqiu. It’s like a tailored suit for a swordsman who fights with water.
Decoding Artifact Stats: Main and Sub Stats
Choosing the right set is just the start. Let’s focus on artifact stats. Here’s where it gets nuanced.
Main Stats Priority: The Big Three
Prioritize these main stats for each artifact piece:
- Sands of Eon: Energy Recharge (ER) or ATK% (if ER is sufficient)
- Goblet of Eonothem: Hydro DMG Bonus
- Circlet of Logos: CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG (aim for a 1:2 ratio)
Let’s explore each:
- Sands of Eon: ER or ATK% – The Energy Recharge Dilemma: Energy Recharge on Sands is the default option. Xingqiu needs ER to maintain his Burst. If paired with another Hydro character like Raiden Shogun providing energy, an ATK% Sands may work. Still, prefer ER unless confident energy needs are met. Running out of Burst is frustrating.
- Goblet of Eonothem: Hydro DMG Bonus – No Contest Here: Hydro DMG Bonus is almost always optimal. His damage relies on Hydro application and Burst. Amplifying Hydro damage is smart. Avoid ATK% here as Hydro scales better. It’s like choosing between a wet sword and a dry one — wet wins.
- Circlet of Logos: CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG – Balancing the Scales: For the Circlet, pick between CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG. Maintain a 1:2 ratio. If you have 30% CRIT Rate and 120% CRIT DMG, use a CRIT Rate Circlet for balance. If high CRIT Rate but low CRIT DMG, a CRIT DMG Circlet is your best bet. Balance leads to efficient damage.
Substats Priority: The Supporting Cast
Substats are essential for enhancing performance. Prioritize these:
- Energy Recharge (aim for 190-260% ER)
- CRIT DMG/CRIT Rate
- ATK%/Elemental Mastery (EM)
Here’s why these substats matter:
- Energy Recharge: The Engine of Xingqiu: Energy Recharge is crucial. Aim for 190-260% ER based on team build and weapon choices. If you use a weapon with Energy Recharge as a secondary stat (like Sacrificial Sword), you’ll need less ER from substats. If he’s solo Hydro, you’ll need more. Find the balance for consistent Burst.
- CRIT DMG/CRIT Rate: Damage Amplifiers: Once you secure enough ER, shift focus to CRIT DMG and CRIT Rate. These boost Xingqiu’s damage output, making Raincutter hit harder. Follow that 1:2 ratio if possible.
- ATK%/Elemental Mastery (EM): Secondary Damage Boosters: ATK% gives general damage increase. Elemental Mastery shines if triggering reactions like Vaporize often. They are good additions but secondary to ER and CRIT stats.
Stats and Scaling: Understanding Xingqiu’s Strengths
To optimize Xingqiu, understand how his damage scales:
- Scales off ATK% and CRIT stats: Xingqiu’s Raincutter damage improves with ATK% and CRIT stats.
- Values HP% for utility: His minor healing involves HP scaling. Some extra HP aids survivability in tough spots.
- Main damage source is Raincutter: Raincutter is key. Focus on stats that boost its damage and uptime.
Xingqiu’s Healing: A Gentle Potion
Xingqiu’s healing scales from HP:
- Xingqiu’s Healing: Scales off of HP: His Rain Swords heal when they shatter or expire, relying on HP scaling. It’s not a replacement for dedicated healers but helps team sustain in longer battles.
Constellations: Powering Up Xingqiu
Constellations can change a character’s performance. Xingqiu benefits greatly from them:
- C2: ‘Benevolence Rain Baptizes the Earth’: Game Changer: C2 extends Raincutter’s duration by 3 seconds, adding a 15% Hydro RES Shred debuff to enemies hit for 4 seconds. This boosts damage for Hydro dealers, enhancing Xingqiu’s support role.
- C6: ‘Hence, Call Them My Own Verses’: Bursting with Power and Healing: C6 raises Burst damage and adds healing for on-field characters hit by sword rain. This upgrade enhances Burst damage and strengthens team benefits.
If you can pull constellations for Xingqiu, especially C2 and C6, consider it lucky. They elevate this excellent support into a powerful Hydro enhancer.
Talent Priority: Leveling Up Skills
For talents, focus on:
- Elemental Burst first, then Elemental Skill.
Raincutter (Elemental Burst) is essential. Leveling it boosts his performance significantly.
Up increases damage and Hydro application. This boosts his primary function. After Burst, focus on his Elemental Skill (Fatal Rainscreen). Its damage isn’t as steady as his Burst. Yet, leveling it raises damage and shield effectiveness. The shield plays a minor role in his kit. Normal Attack talent is low priority for support Xingqiu.
Xingqiu: More Than Just Pretty Rain
Look beyond stats and sets. Remember his value:
- Hydro application, a hydro nuke, amplifies damage.
He is not simply a damage dealer. He facilitates. His Hydro application enables Vaporize and Electro-Charged reactions. This boosts damage for primary DPS characters. His Burst offers decent off-field damage. With constellations like C2, he boosts Hydro damage. He does this via Hydro RES Shred.
Pronunciation: Saying His Name Right
For those unsure how to pronounce his name, let’s clarify:
- Xing: Pronounced “shing.” Think “sh” + “sing,” so “Shing.”
- Qiu: Pronounced “Chew.” Like chewing gum, just “Chew.”
So, it is “Shing Chew.” Now you can confidently speak about your optimized Xingqiu build without mispronouncing his name like a hilichurl.
In conclusion, gearing up Xingqiu matters. The right artifacts unlock his potential as a top-tier Hydro support. Emblem of Severed Fate, Energy Recharge, Hydro DMG Bonus, and a balanced CRIT ratio are essential. Equip your Rainy Swordsman and unleash the downpour of damage!
