Best Builds for Xingqiu in Genshin Impact: Artifacts, Weapons, Talents, and Team Compositions

Unlocking Xingqiu’s Full Potential: The Expert Guide to Building Genshin Impact’s Rain Swordsman

You pulled Xingqiu, Genshin Impact’s charming Hydro swordsman. Congratulations! He fits into many teams. However, just having him isn’t enough. You want to turn him from decent support to Hydro powerhouse. This guide helps you build the perfect Xingqiu.

Deciphering the Best Artifact Sets for Xingqiu

Artifacts are crucial in Genshin Impact. For Xingqiu, the right set is essential. We need stats and bonuses that boost his strengths. There’s a clear best option and some strong alternatives depending on your needs and luck.

The Undisputed Champion: 4-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate

Let’s get to the point. To maximize damage, the 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate is his best option. It synergizes perfectly. This set fits characters like Xingqiu who depend on their Elemental Burst for damage and want Energy Recharge.

The 2-piece bonus grants a flat 20% Energy Recharge. This helps Xingqiu, who needs good ER to keep his Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, ready. The real benefit is the 4-piece bonus. It raises Elemental Burst damage by 25% of your Energy Recharge, up to 75% extra damage. Seventy-five percent only by stacking a stat Xingqiu already needs? It feels designed for him.

Since Xingqiu’s main damage source is his Burst, this set boosts him significantly. You can farm the Emblem of Severed Fate in the Momiji-Dyed Court. It’s Resin-efficient and also drops Shimenawa’s Reminiscence set. Farming here benefits many characters, making it a smart choice.

Solid Alternatives: When You’re Waiting for Emblem Pieces

What if you’re not lucky with Emblem of Severed Fate? Or maybe you want to try a different style? There are other viable sets for Xingqiu.

2-Piece Noblesse Oblige + 2-Piece Emblem of Severed Fate: The Balanced Approach

This combo works well if you want team support while keeping good damage. Noblesse Oblige offers a 20% Elemental Burst damage bonus. Combining it with 20% Energy Recharge from Emblem of Severed Fate gives a good mix of damage and energy.

If no one else has a 4-piece Noblesse Oblige, you can complete it on Xingqiu. The 4-piece bonus boosts your team’s ATK by 20% after the wielder uses their Elemental Burst. This is tempting but usually less effective for his damage compared to Emblem of Severed Fate. It’s only decent if buffing the team matters most and no one else can do it.

Mix-and-Match: For the Statistically Inclined

If you’re early in the game, or have excellent 2-piece sets, mix and match! A combo of two-piece Emblem of Severed Fate, two-piece Noblesse Oblige, and two-piece Heart of Depths can work. This is about using what you have while you aim for the ideal set.

Avoid DPS sets like Gladiator’s Finale or Heart of Depths. Unless you’re using Xingqiu as an on-field DPS, his strength lies in off-field Burst damage. Buffs to Normal or Charged Attacks are largely ineffective for him.

Prioritizing Artifact Stats: The Key to Xingqiu’s Combat Prowess

The Holy Trinity of Stats: Energy Recharge, Hydro DMG Bonus, and Crit

Xingqiu’s priorities are clear: Energy Recharge (ER), Hydro DMG Bonus, and Crit Rate/Crit DMG. These are the essential pillars of his effectiveness.

Energy Recharge: Fueling the Rain

Start with Energy Recharge. Xingqiu’s Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, needs 70 Energy. This is quite a bit, so you need to use it often. Aim for 190% to 260% Energy Recharge. That range is broad, but how much you need depends on factors like weapon and team composition. If you use a Sacrificial Sword, lean towards the lower end. If your team doesn’t generate much energy, aim higher.

Hydro DMG Bonus: Amplifying the Hydro Swords

Hydro DMG Bonus increases the damage of Xingqiu’s Hydro attacks. It’s essential. Prioritize this on your Goblet artifact.

Crit Rate and Crit DMG: Ensuring Consistent Damage Spikes

Crit Rate and Crit DMG are crucial for any damage-dealer. You want your rain swords to crit for high damage. Aim for a Crit Rate of at least 55% and a Crit DMG of 100% or higher. Ideally, target a 1:2 ratio between Crit Rate and Crit DMG. Reaching a 50%/150% crit ratio is a great goal for a high-performing Xingqiu.

Main Stats vs. Substats: Where to Focus Your Efforts

Now, let’s discuss where to get vital stats on your artifacts.

• Sands of Eon (Timepiece): Main stat should typically be Energy Recharge, especially if you’re struggling to reach 190-260%. If ER is okay, switch to ATK%.
• Goblet of Eonothem (Cup): This should almost always be Hydro DMG Bonus. It’s the biggest damage source.
• Circlet of Logos (Headpiece): Choose between Crit Rate or Crit DMG. If your Crit Rate is low, go for Crit Rate. If decent, choose Crit DMG.

For substats, prioritize the same as main stats in this order:

1. Energy Recharge
2. Crit Rate
3. Crit DMG
4. ATK%

Elemental Mastery can also be helpful, especially if you’re using Xingqiu in reactions (like Vaporize), but it’s less important than core stats.

Balancing Act: The Art of Stat Distribution

Building Xingqiu requires balance. You need enough Energy Recharge to Burst consistently. Crit is vital for damage, and Hydro DMG Bonus amplifies it all. Don’t focus solely on one stat at expense of others. A Xingqiu with 250% ER but 30% Crit Rate won’t perform as well as a balanced one.

sweet spot where everything clicks.

Weaponry for Xingqiu: Swords of Rain and Versatility

Xingqiu shows great flexibility in weapon choices. Some swords excel, but many can fit your stride. Options vary widely. Let’s discuss the arsenal, ranging from top-tier picks to gems perfect for free-to-play players.

The Pinnacle of Power: 5-Star Swords

If you seek the best, and have no worries about rarity, these 5-stars emerge:

Primordial Jade Cutter: The Stat Stick Supreme

Primordial Jade Cutter is indeed the top sword for Xingqiu. Its remarkable stats boost ATK and Crit Rate. These attributes greatly benefit Xingqiu, reaching critical Crit Rate levels. Its passive ability grants HP%, boosting ATK based on HP. While he doesn’t use HP for damage directly, the added HP increases Rain Swords’ durability. The ATK boost? A fantastic bonus. Game Rant confirms every aspect of the sword suits Xingqiu perfectly. If owned, it’s game-changing.

Skyward Blade: The All-Around Powerhouse

Skyward Blade is another fantastic 5-star sword. It offers Energy Recharge as a substat, fitting for Xingqiu. Its passive enhances Crit Rate and boosts Normal Attack SPD. Post-Elemental Burst, it further increases ATK and Normal/Charged Attack DMG. Normal Attack buffs are less impactful due to the off-field role, but the Energy Recharge, Crit Rate, and ATK increase make it invaluable overall. TheGamer labels it as the best all-around weapon for Xingqiu.

The 4-Star Stars: Accessible and Effective

For many players, 4-star weapons sit more directly in reach and often balance power with accessibility. Xingqiu boasts some brilliant 4-star options:

Sacrificial Sword: The Energy Recharge King

Sacrificial Sword stands as Xingqiu’s signature 4-star weapon for solid reasons. It provides Energy Recharge as a substat. Its passive can reset Elemental Skill cooldown on hit. This is a significant boost for him. Resetting his Skill leads to more energy particles, dramatically lowering Energy Recharge needs overall. This means more Hydro applications and defensive Rain Swords. TheGamer calls it one of Xingqiu’s best weapons, praising its energy recharge and damage.

Favonius Sword: Team Energy Support

Favonius Sword offers solid Energy Recharge potential. Its substat is also Energy Recharge. Its passive generates Elemental Particles for everyone upon critting. This makes it an excellent support weapon, not just for Xingqiu but for the entire team. If energy is a challenge or you face team-wide issues, Favonius Sword can be the solution. It’s similarly regarded with Sacrificial Sword as top-tier for overall team utility, as highlighted by TheGamer.

Other Viable 4-Star Options

Consider these other viable 4-star swords; they can be surprisingly effective:

• Iron Sting: This Elemental Mastery sword suits reaction-heavy teams, particularly those focused on Vaporize or Electro-Charged reactions. However, if this is chosen, balance for lower Energy Recharge elsewhere in your kit is vital. As stated by TheGamer, it’s viable if you achieve high Energy Recharge elsewhere (around 250%).
• Festering Desire: If available to you, this event-exclusive sword is solid. It has Energy Recharge as a substat and raises Elemental Skill DMG and Crit Rate; both benefits boost Xingqiu’s Skill damage and energy production.
• The Alley Flash: While primarily boosting Elemental Mastery and movement speed, a decent base ATK exists that may yield damage. Still, lacking Energy Recharge makes this less ideal.

Free-to-Play (F2P) Friendly Finds

If you’re new or seeking budget options, good F2P swords for Xingqiu exist:

Harbinger of Dawn: The 3-Star Crit Gem

Harbinger of Dawn, a simple 3-star sword, shines for Xingqiu. It features a Crit DMG substat and a passive that bolsters Crit Rate when HP exceeds 90%. If you maintain high HP (easy while off-field), enjoy massive Crit bonuses that near some 4-star options in damage potential. TheGamer sees this sword unlocking Xingqiu’s full capabilities.

Sapwood Blade: The Craftable ER Option

Sapwood Blade is a craftable 4-star sword with Energy Recharge as a substat. Its passive grants Elemental Mastery using Dendro reactions. Though less useful for Xingqiu directly, the Energy Recharge remains valuable. A solid F2P choice if needing an ER sword and lacking Sacrificial or Favonius Swords fits nicely. TheGamer regards it as suitable for sword supports like Xingqiu needing Energy Recharge.

Weapon Ranking Considerations: Energy Recharge is King

When assessing weapons for Xingqiu, remember Energy Recharge should come first. As stated by TheGamer, rankings expect you meet Xingqiu’s Energy Recharge needs for consistent Burst usage. If falling below those targets (190-260%), favor weapons with Energy Recharge as subs or passives. Crit weapons and Energy Recharge options hold the highest value for him.

Talent Prioritization: Leveling Up Xingqiu’s Skills

Talents define character skills in combat. For Xingqiu, knowing talent priority is key for resource use.

Burst > Skill >> Normal Attack: The Leveling Hierarchy

The talent leveling order is straightforward: Elemental Burst > Elemental Skill >> Normal Attack.

Guhua Sword: Raincutter (Elemental Burst): The Top Priority

Xingqiu’s Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, forms his kit’s base damage source and Hydro application. It benefits him as a valuable sub-DPS and support unit. Leveling his Burst boosts the damage often by increasing the rain swords’ damage multiplier, raising overall output significantly. Invest in this talent first.

Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen (Elemental Skill): Secondary but Important

Xingqiu’s Skill, Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen, provides Hydro damage, applies Hydro consistently, and generates Rain Swords offering damage reduction and interruption resistance. Leveling his Skill increases both its damage and the protective Rain Swords’ reduction slightly. While not primary like his Burst, leveling fills this role after his Burst.

Normal Attack: Keep at Level 1 (Usually)

Xingqiu’s Normal Attacks do not shine. They scale poorly and rarely integrate into his best playstyle geared toward off-field Hydro application and damage. Barring any unique builds in mind, keep his Normal Attack talent at Level 1; focus materials on Burst and Skill progress instead.

In conclusion, prioritize leveling his Burst first, then the Skill, and generally ignore the Normal Attack talent completely to maximize his most impactful abilities’ effectiveness.

Constellation Considerations: Are Xingqiu’s Constellations Worth It?

Constellations bring bonuses unlocked through acquiring duplicates of a character. For Xingqiu, the question shifts from “are they worth it?” to “how much stronger does he get with constellations?”

The answer is yes; Xingqiu’s Constellations are Greatly Worth It

Xingqiu’s constellations improve his Hydro application significantly along with boosting damage and utility greatly—an absolute YES. While C0 provides strength already, levels beyond push him further toward top-tier sub-DPS and support status.

Key Constellations: C2 and C6 Stand Out

All of Xingqiu’s constellations carry benefits; however, C2 and C6 are game-changers, noted frequently as his best constellations.

Constellation 2 (C2): Rainbow Upon the Azure Sky

C2 significantly enhances his damage output consistency by extending Elemental Burst duration.

Guhua Sword: Raincutter gains a 3-second cooldown reduction. This allows more rain swords, Hydro application, and prolonged damage. Enemies struck by rain swords experience a 15% Hydro RES drop for 4 seconds, boosting both his Hydro damage and your team’s damage. C2 is crucial for Xingqiu mains.

Constellation 6 (C6): Hence, Firmament

C6 enhances energy generation and damage output significantly. It enhances his Burst by adding rain swords to attacks and regenerates 3 Energy every three rain sword hits. This lowers Energy Recharge demands, so you can focus on ATK and Crit. C6 turns Xingqiu into a damage powerhouse.

Other Valuable Constellations: C1, C3, C4, and C5

C2 and C6 are key, but the other constellations hold value:

• Constellation 1 (C1): Crimson Rain at Dusk: Increases his Elemental Skill rain swords by 1, adding slight damage reduction and interruption resistance.
• Constellation 3 (C3): Embrace of Rain: Raises the level of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3, increasing its damage.
• Constellation 4 (C4): Evilsoother: Increases damage from Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen by 50% during Burst duration, encouraging skill use before Burst.
• Constellation 5 (C5): A Flash of Lightning: Raises Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen level by 3.

Overall, each constellation is beneficial. However, C2 and C6 elevate his effectiveness to a new level.

Team Compositions: Where Does Xingqiu Shine?

Xingqiu’s versatility shines in many team compositions. He delivers steady Hydro application and significant off-field damage. Here are some effective team pairings.

Synergies with Fast Attack Speed DPS Characters

Xingqiu performs well with fast attack speed Main DPS characters. His rain swords apply Hydro frequently, enabling reactions like Vaporize, Electro-Charged, or Freeze.

Prime Candidates for Xingqiu Pairings:

• Pyro DPS (Vaporize Teams): Diluc, Hu Tao, Klee, Yoimiya, Lyney, and Yanfei excel with Xingqiu. His Hydro application allows for Vaporize on almost every attack, enhancing their damage. He is the best sub-DPS for Diluc, outshining options like Mona.
• Electro DPS (Electro-Charged Teams): Keqing, Fischl, Razor, and Beidou gain from Xingqiu’s Hydro application for Electro-Charged reactions, ensuring consistent damage and control.
• Cryo DPS (Freeze Teams): Ayaka, Ganyu, and Kaeya benefit from Xingqiu’s Hydro for Freeze reactions. He boosts survivability and control over enemies. In the Genshin Base guide, he is essential for Kaeya-centric Freeze compositions.

Beyond Reactions: General Sub-DPS and Support Role

Xingqiu excels beyond reaction-focused teams. His consistent off-field damage ensures he remains a valuable asset in various team setups. He provides a reliable damage base and augments overall team DPS.

Team Building Flexibility: Adapt to Your Needs

Xingqiu’s flexibility stands out. Experiment with different team compositions to find what suits your style. His constant Hydro application and off-field damage enhance multiple teams in Genshin Impact.

Energy Recharge (ER) Deep Dive: Fine-Tuning Xingqiu’s Energy Needs

Energy Recharge impacts Xingqiu’s build significantly. Getting this stat right unlocks consistent Burst uptime and maximizes his potential.

The 190-260% ER Target Range: A Guideline, Not a Rule

The 190-260% Energy Recharge range serves as a starting point but is not strict. Your ideal ER varies based on several factors:

• Weapon Choice: Using a Sacrificial Sword lowers his ER needs due to its Skill reset. With it, 150-170% ER suffices according to TheGamer. Other weapons with Energy Recharge substats also lower ER needs.
• Team Composition: Characters that generate energy particles reduce his ER needs. Conversely, teams with energy-hungry members require higher ER.
• Constellation Level: C6 greatly boosts energy regeneration, decreasing ER requirements considerably.
• Enemy Energy Drop: Fighting enemies dropping energy particles helps recharge his Burst faster, slightly lessening ER needs.

Testing and Adjusting: The Key to Optimal ER

The best method to find ideal ER is testing in actual teams against various foes. Monitor Burst cooldown consistency. If you often wait for his Burst, you need more Energy Recharge. Adjust artifact Sands main stat and substats until you achieve steady Burst uptime.

Emblem of Severed Fate and ER Synergy: A Perfect Match

Xingqiu’s prime artifact set, Emblem of Severed Fate, benefits from high Energy Recharge by enhancing his Burst damage. This creates synergy: stack ER for consistent Bursts which also boosts Burst damage via the set bonus. Prioritize Energy Recharge for Xingqiu.

Scaling and Leveling: Understanding Xingqiu’s Stat Growth

Let’s discuss how Xingqiu’s abilities scale and whether leveling him to 90 is worthwhile.

ATK Scaling: The Foundation of His Damage

Xingqiu’s abilities mainly scale off of ATK. Boosting ATK increases Hydro swords’ damage. HP% aids durability of Rain Swords, but primary damage potential stems from ATK and Crit stats. Focus on Crit and ATK for the best results, as confirmed by the community.