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Genshin Impact Xiao Build and Lore

Xiao Build and Guide

Name: Xiao (Alatus)

Vision: Anemo

Birthday: April 17th

Constellation: Alatus Nemeseos

Titles: Guardian Yaksha, Vigilant Yaksha, Conqueror of Demons, Alatus the Golden-Winged King, Nuo Dancer of Evil Conquering

Xiao is the first Anemo character centered around dealing damage instead of supporting others. He vanquishes all evil with his agile moves and skills with his spear. Unlike other characters, Xiao can make a plunge attack at any height without taking damage. For the other characters, at a certain altitude, they start taking damage even with a plunge attack and can even die if done too high.

His Elemental Skill, Lemniscatic Wind Cycling, makes him do a forward thrust while surrounded by Anemo energy. It deals Anemo DMG and has two charges, three with a constellation upgrade. What makes it unusual is that Xiao can use it while airborne. It lets him dash forward while gliding (save a bit of stamina) or hit a Ruin Guard's vulnerable core. That is if you have his Burst active.

His Elemental Burst, Bane of All Evil, is where Xiao dons his mask, letting loose the power that earned him the title 'Conqueror of Demons. In this state, his regular attacks deal Anemo DMG, and he has increased jumping ability. With the latter, he can initiate plunging attacks by jumping. The downside is that his health decreases by a set percentage every second as long as it is active.

Xiao’s Best Builds

Anemo DMG/Swirl

This build is centered around the Viridescent Venerer artifact set. If you're going for a 4-set, make sure to have a character with a Swirl-able element (Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, Electro) in the party. This lets you take advantage of the 4-set effect of reducing the enemy's resistance to a Swirled element. Recommended characters are Kuki, Barbara, and Xingqiu. A 2-set with either of the ATK+18% sets (Gladiator's, Shimenawa) is also possible.

Main Stat Priorities: ATK%, Anemo DMG Bonus, Crit DMG or Crit Rate (depending on your weapon) or triple EM if you're using 4-set, Energy Recharge

Substats: Crit Rate/DMG (prioritize the one that's not your headpiece stat), ATK (both flat and percentage, Elemental Mastery (if 4-set)

Vermillion Hereafter

After the Chasm opened up, we found out more lore about Xiao's lost yaksha compatriots, one of which is related to this artifact set. It comes from a new artifact domain, rewarding players with this along with the Echoes of an Offering. It's Xiao's best-in-slot equipment, as the 4-set grants him an ATK bonus when a Burst is used. Furthermore, having the equipped character's HP decrease during the buff's duration increases the boost percentage. You can say that Xiao is the only one to take advantage of that effect (for now).

Main Stat Priorities: ATK%, Anemo DMG Bonus, Crit DMG or Crit Rate

Substats: Crit Rate/DMG (prioritize the one that's not your headpiece stat but having both is better), ATK (both kinds), Energy Recharge

Budget Build (4-star sets)

When you don't have access to the above artifacts, you can use the Berserker's 4-set or its 2-set and some of the ATK+18% (Brave Heart or Resolution of Soujourner) effects. Prioritize the same stats as above.

Weapons

His best-in-slot weapon is, of course, the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear. It's always available in the Standard Banner. It also has been featured in Weapon Event Banners ( when Xiao is a featured character). Other weapons he could use are:

  • Staff of Homa
  • Deathmatch
  • Blackcliff Pole
  • White Tassel

If you have a problem with his Energy Recharge, the Favonius Lance is also an option. However, this sacrifices his damage somewhat. When maximizing the 4-set VV effect, Dragon’s Bane is a good weapon to use.

Skill Priority

Maximizing his damage means increasing the levels of all his skills. Since his Burst is a buffed state, it still relies on the base percentage of his Normal Attacks. You'll also want to level up the Burst because that increases the bonus damage. As for Lemniscatic Wind Cycling, it's a good mobility tool, and it also damages enemies. Why wouldn't you improve on it?

Recommended Levels: 9/9/9 or 'triple crowned'

Xiao Genshin Impact Lore (Backstory)

As gleaned from his titles, Xiao is a guardian adepti tasked to protect Liyue from lingering hostile forces. The war gods raged against each other and left behind these traces of resentment, as gods never truly die. This yaksha has tirelessly fought against them alone, as his companions have been killed or disappeared. Legends say that some fell into corruption, others fought with each other, and one went mad and was never heard from again. Since then, he has always fought alone.

All the fighting has led him to incur karmic debt, which is why he is aloof and distances himself from mortals. He has also hurt mortals when they get too close to his fighting, though he never means to. Those are his reasons for distancing himself, though deep inside, he's a gentle soul. His war is invisible and never-ending, so mortals do have to stay away.

He was not called Xiao throughout all those years. It was a name given by necessity to protect him. You see, he was once enslaved by a cruel god and made to do unspeakable acts. Morax, the Geo Archon, defeated that master and gave the yaksha another name to protect him. Since then, he has used the name Xiao and pledged his service to protect Liyue from harm.

His fight with the defeated gods' lingering traces of resentment and hate incur a karmic debt on him. As he fights, his soul gets tainted with these negative feelings. The only way to destroy them is to accept them like so. The amount he has gathered over the years should've corrupted him beyond all reason, yet he feels no hatred nor resentment. Because he has lived for thousands of years, any karmic debt is a blip in his memories. No debt is great enough that can't be paid off with time, either.

One time, as he wrestled with the pain and agony of his debt, someone playing the flute dispelled the pain and gave him peace. It played through the wind, on and on until dawn. He was curious who was playing but had a hunch it was another Archon.

Throughout his history of fighting and wrestling with karmic debt, there was not one place he could call 'home.' He just leaves the current battlefield into the next. Since the Liyue Qixing is aware of him, they set up a place to support him covertly. That resulted in the Wangshu Inn, a headquarters or base for the lonely yaksha. Once in a while, he stops by, and the inn gives him a bowl of Almond Tofu. The dish's texture reminds him of the dreams he once had to devour, something he missed and liked.

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