Genshin Impact Xinqiu Build and Lore
Name: Xingqiu
Vision: Hydro
Birthday: 9 October
Constellation: Fabulae Textile
Titles: Juvenile Galant, Guhua Guru of Feiyun Fame, Young Master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, “Zhenyu”
Xingqiu is one of the components of the ‘National Team,’ one of the strongest team compositions in Genshin Impact. His damage reduction abilities and consistent application of Hydro make him a helpful character who can fit many compositions.
His E makes him slash an area in front of him twice, dealing Hydro DMG. It also summons Rain Swords that take a portion of damage and apply the Wet status on nearby enemies. With his Hydropathic passive ability (obtained upon the second ascension), a shattered or expired Rain Sword heals the active character for 6% of Xingqiu’s max HP.
His Burst keeps the Rain Swords at their maximum number. While it’s in effect, regular attacks summon Rainbow Bladework Hydro Blades that deal elemental damage to targets. Rain Swords created by the Burst look different from the ones that appear when using E.
The default maximum number of Rain Swords Xingqiu can create is three, but a constellation upgrade brings it up to four. His Burst has a high energy cost, compounded by a long cooldown for his E skill. Still, the latter ability gives a generous amount of particles, so it should be manageable with enough Energy Recharge.
Table of Contents
Genshin Impact Xingqiu Builds
Sub-DPS
With a focus on getting his Burst consistently, you’ll need some Energy Recharge. Fortunately, the Emblem of Severed Fate is available now. With bonuses to ER and a damage boost based on the stat, this boosts your characters’ damage output.
Possible Sets: Emblem of Severed Fate, a combination of Heart of Depth and Noblesse Oblige
Main Stats: ATK% or Energy Recharge, Hydro DMG Bonus, Crit Rate/DMG
Substats: Crit DMG/Rate, ATK, ER
Healer/Support
At the cost of DPS, Xingqiu can be a healer or ATK buff support with the Noblesse Oblige set. Emblem of Severed Fate is still an option, but damage output will be less due to the focus on HP instead of ATK.
Possible Sets: Noblesse Oblige, Emblem of Severed Fate, a combination of either of the two mentioned sets, and Tenacity of the Millelith
Main Stats: 3x HP, or with ER timepiece or Hydro DMG Bonus cup
Substats: HP, ER
Off-Meta Blizzard Strayer Build
Back when there were no consistent Cryo DPS characters like Ayaka or Ganyu, this was a build that could provide one. It utilizes Chongyun’s infusion skill, making Xingqiu a temporary Cryo user. It’s also easy to access the Freeze reaction with the team composition. Of course, there are other better options now, but if you need a Cryo DPS, this can fill in for the moment.
Main Stats: ATK% or Energy Recharge, Cryo DMG Bonus, Crit DMG/Rate (with Blizzard Strayer, Crit Rate is less of an issue)
Substats: Crit DMG/Rate, ATK, ER
Weapons
Xingqiu does not have a signature weapon. However, due to his excellent synergy with Sacrificial Sword, it has become his weapon from the players’ perspectives. It solves his energy generation issues and lets him recharge his Burst quickly with two uses of his Elemental Skill. Still, there are other alternatives, such as:
- Primordial Jade Cutter
- Skyward Blade
- Mistsplitter Reforged
- Festering Desire
- Favonius Sword
- Blackcliff Longsword
- Amenoma Kageuchi
- Iron Sting
- Harbinger of Dawn
- Filet Blade
- Cool Steel
Make sure to match the sword with the build you want!
Genshin Impact Xingqiu’s Lore (Backstory)
Xingqiu is an avid bookworm and thus devours books regularly. However, to the despair of his more business-minded father and brother, his favorite genre is martial arts novels. The reader read all the textbooks on commerce and business once, then hollowed them out to put in the stories. He read them in class, and he was never caught.
Still, all his reading has given Xingqiu knowledge across a broad range of topics, and he could quickly learn things at a rapid pace. Even his older brother believes he will someday be an asset to the guild.
While Xingqiu remains polite to strangers and acquaintances, he’s more outgoing and mischievous with friends. His usual prank target is an exorcist named Chongyun, mainly by getting the Cryo user to eat hot things or leading him to booby-trapped places. Xingqiu considers the exorcist a friend, but the other definitely resents this side of him.
To prevent Xingqiu from spending all day in the Wanwen Bookstore, his father allowed him to learn martial arts. When our brave bookworm came to the dojo, he realized that the Guhua Clan was dying, and the dojo was rented for appearances.
His father had not counted on Xingqiu’s intelligence and intuition. Being well-read in various novels, he was a savant in multiple disciplines. He ended up single-handedly reviving the whole Guhua Clan. He decided to learn everything, no matter how long it would take.
Xingqiu believes in chivalry, and for him, it means to do good and be good. Before he got his Vision, he could only dream of being a hero and practicing his brand of chivalry. Obtaining his Vision opened so many doors and allowed him to live his fantasy once in a while.
Xingqiu is also a famous light novel writer. After reading so many novels, he tried his hand at writing one. Unfortunately, it didn’t take in Liyue. No publisher wanted to take on his book, which was heavily criticized as bland and uninteresting. Undeterred, Xingqiu printed a few copies and sneaked them into Wanwen Bookstore.
It paid off, as an Inazuman traveler picked it up and liked it. The copy boomed in popularity in Inazuma, with the Yae Publishing House asking for illustrations. This was the beginning of Xingqiu’s partnership with Calx, an artist from Mondstadt.
Many have tried emulating A Legend of Sword, but none have come close yet. The novel is still the reigning number one novel in Inazuma and, surprisingly, Fontaine.
The Irodori Festival hosted a book signing for Zhenyu (Xingqiu’s pen name), which he was troubled about. Usually, Xingqiu has terrible, almost unintelligible handwriting. The only copy he signed was one he carefully and slowly wrote to make it beautiful. Doing that for hundreds of books for fans is impossible. Good thing Kazuha thought up an easy solution during the event.
