Xiao
Xiao is a thrilling, hands-on Anemo main DPS, but he's demanding: the team exists to buff him alone and you'll need to master the plunge-cancel rhythm. With Natlan's new Long Night's Oath set his damage jumped noticeably over the old Vermillion build. No Jade Winged-Spear? Staff of Homa or even the 4-star Deathmatch still carry him well. Invest in Xiao if you love solo-carry burst gameplay; what he needs most is Faruzan for Anemo buffs and a shield to plunge safely.
Ranking & buildright on this page
2
Farmingopen tool
3
Damage Calculatoropen tool
4Build a teamready-made comps
Xiao Build
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear
Staff of Homa
Calamity Queller
Deathmatch
Blackcliff Pole-
4pc
Long Night's Oath -
4pc
Vermillion Hereafter -
2pc+2pc
Gladiator's Finale + 
Viridescent Venerer
Priority substats: CRIT DMG / CRIT Rate › ATK% › Energy Recharge
Q > E > NA — Burst enables his plunge damage buff so max it first, Skill adds side damage and mobility, Normal Attacks come last.
Teams for Xiao
Xiao's talents
Whirlwind Thrust
Performs up to 6 consecutive spear strikes.
Charged Attack
Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to perform an upward thrust.
Plunging Attack
Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Xiao does not take DMG from performing Plunging Attacks.
Lemniscatic Wind Cycling
Can be used in mid-air.
Starts with 2 charges.
According to the legends of another land, the world will someday be crushed by two great wind wheels. Xiao's mastery over polearms is transcendent, ripping his foes apart like those legendary wind wheels.
Bane of All Evil
Yaksha's Mask
·Greatly increases Xiao's jumping ability.
·Increases his attack AoE and attack DMG.
·Converts attack DMG into Anemo DMG, which cannot be overridden by any other elemental infusion.
In this state, Xiao will continuously lose HP.
The effects of this skill end when Xiao leaves the field.
Donning the Mask of the Yaksha, Xiao takes the terrifying, demon-conquering form of the Vigilant Yaksha. But this great power has also brought him great suffering. Some call him "The Bane of All Evil."
Conqueror of Evil: Tamer of Demons
The maximum DMG Bonus is 25%.
Dissolution Eon: Heaven Fall
This effect lasts for 7s, and has a maximum of 3 stacks. Gaining a new stack refreshes the effect's duration.
Transcension: Gravity Defier
Not stackable with Passive Talents that provide the exact same effects.
Combat Rotation
- Before the fight, make sure Xiao has banked the full 70 energy for Bane of All Evil, and pair him with a healer since the Burst drains his own HP continuously.
- Fire off Lemniscatic Wind Cycling (E, starts with 2 charges) once or twice to dash into the enemy pack, tag them with Anemo, and stack the Heaven Fall passive (each E cast boosts the next E's damage by 15%, up to 3 stacks over 7s).
- Cast Bane of All Evil (Q, costs 70 energy, 18s cooldown): don the Yaksha Mask, converting all normal/charged/plunging attacks into Anemo DMG with wider AoE, and begin the continuous HP-drain state for 15 seconds.
- During those 15 seconds, keep jumping and Plunging Attacking, weaving E dashes in mid-air to launch upward faster and drop into another plunge — chain E-into-plunge as fast as possible for max output.
- Watch the HP bar closely since Bane of All Evil bleeds Xiao's own health the whole time; lean on party heals/shields to survive the full duration.
- Let the Conqueror of Evil passive ramp: DMG dealt rises 5% every 3 seconds while masked, capping at 25%, so try to stay in the Burst state as long as safely possible.
- When the Burst is about to end or HP gets dangerous, disengage and use any remaining E charges to dodge and reposition.
- Recharge energy through normal attacks and elemental particles, then repeat the E-dash into Q into plunge-attack loop whenever 70 energy is ready again.
Xiao constellations
Increases Lemniscatic Wind Cycling's charges by 1.
When in the party and not on the field, Xiao's Energy Recharge is increased by 25%.
Increases the Level of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
When Xiao's HP falls below 50%, he gains a 100% DEF Bonus.
Increases the Level of Bane of All Evil by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
While under the effects of Bane of All Evil, hitting at least 2 opponents with Xiao's Plunging Attack will immediately grant him 1 charge of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling, and for the next 1s, he may use Lemniscatic Wind Cycling while ignoring its CD.
Base Stats (Lv90)
Character Profile
- Region: Liyue
- Voice Actors: JP 松岡禎丞 · EN Laila Berzins · KR Shim Kyu-hyeok · CN kinsen
Other Anemo characters
Ascension materials
Total ascension materials to reach level 90 (talent books not included).
Talent scaling by level
Whirlwind Thrust
| Lv 1 | Lv 10 | Lv 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Hit DMG | 27.5%+27.5% | 49.1%+49.1% | 57.6%+57.6% |
| 2-Hit DMG | 56.9% | 101.6% | 119.0% |
| 3-Hit DMG | 68.6% | 122.3% | 143.3% |
| 4-Hit DMG | 37.7%+37.7% | 67.2%+67.2% | 78.8%+78.8% |
| 5-Hit DMG | 71.5% | 127.6% | 149.6% |
| 6-Hit DMG | 95.8% | 171.0% | 200.4% |
| Charged Attack DMG | 121% | 216% | 253% |
| Charged Attack Stamina Cost | 25.0 | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| Plunge DMG | 82% | 162% | 196% |
| Low/High Plunge DMG | 164%/204% | 323%/404% | 392%/490% |
Lemniscatic Wind Cycling
| Lv 1 | Lv 10 | Lv 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 253% | 455% | 537% |
| CD | 10.0s | 10.0s | 10.0s |
Bane of All Evil
| Lv 1 | Lv 10 | Lv 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal/Charged/Plunging Attack DMG Bonus | 58.5% | 95.2% | 108.9% |
| Life Drain | 3.0% Current HP Per Second | 2.0% Current HP Per Second | 2.0% Current HP Per Second |
| Duration | 15.0s | 15.0s | 15.0s |
| CD | 18.0s | 18.0s | 18.0s |
| Energy Cost | 70 | 70 | 70 |
Advanced frame data (official)
Elemental application ICD, gauge units and interruption resistance — official numbers rarely published anywhere.
Whirlwind Thrust
| Hit | Gauge | ICD | Interruption res. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Attack 1-Hit A | 1U | 2.5s/3 Hits | 25.08 |
| Normal Attack 1-Hit B | 1U | — | 25.08 |
| Normal Attack 2-Hit | 1U | — | 51.76 |
| Normal Attack 3-Hit | 1U | — | 62.32 |
| Normal Attack 4-Hit A | 1U | — | 34.28 |
| Normal Attack 4-Hit B | 1U | — | 34.28 |
| Normal Attack 5-Hit | 1U | — | 65.04 |
| Normal Attack 6-Hit | 1U | — | 87.12 |
| Charged Attack | 1U | 0.5s | 120 |
| Plunging Attack Collision | 0U | — | 25 |
| Low Plunge | 1U | — | 100 |
| High Plunge | 1U | — | 150 |
Lemniscatic Wind Cycling
| Hit | Gauge | ICD | Interruption res. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill DMG | 1U | 0.1s | 100 |
Bane of All Evil
| Hit | Gauge | ICD | Interruption res. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Converted Normal Attack 1-Hit A | 1U | 2.5s/3 Hits | 37.62 |
| Converted Normal Attack 1-Hit B | 1U | — | 37.62 |
| Converted Normal Attack 2-Hit | 1U | — | 77.64 |
| Converted Normal Attack 3-Hit | 1U | — | 93.48 |
| Converted Normal Attack 4-Hit A | 1U | — | 51.42 |
| Converted Normal Attack 4-Hit B | 1U | — | 51.42 |
| Converted Normal Attack 5-Hit | 1U | — | 97.56 |
| Converted Normal Attack 6-Hit | 1U | — | 130.68 |
| Converted Charged Attack | 1U | 0.5s | 180 |
| Converted Plunging Attack Collision | 0U | — | 37.5 |
| Converted Low Plunge | 1U | — | 150 |
| Converted High Plunge | 1U | — | 225 |
FAQ about Xiao
What is the best weapon for Xiao?
How much Mora to max out Xiao?
What are Xiao base stats at Lv90?
Voice actors
- 日本語: 松岡禎丞
- English: Laila Berzins
- 中文: kinsen
- 한국어: Shim Kyu-hyeok
Ascension & Talent Materials
Ascension by phase
| Unlocks Lv | AR | Mora | Ascension & Talent Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 40 | AR 15 | 20,000 | |
| Lv 50 | AR 25 | 40,000 | |
| Lv 60 | AR 30 | 60,000 | |
| Lv 70 | AR 35 | 80,000 | |
| Lv 80 | AR 40 | 100,000 | |
| Lv 90 | AR 50 | 120,000 |
Talent — one skill to Lv10
Teachings of Prosperity
×3
Slime Condensate
×6
Guide to Prosperity
×21
Slime Secretions
×22
Philosophies of Prosperity
×38
Slime Concentrate
×31
Shadow of the Warrior
×6
Crown of Insight
×1
Multiply by 3 for all three skills. · Mora: 1,652,500
Total Mora to max out: 5,377,500
Official name in other languages
Wish banner history
Release date
Released: Feb 1, 2021 · Version 1.3
Voice Lines & Comments
Birthday
This mortal concept of commemorating the day of your birth really is redundant. Ahem. Wait. Uhh, have this. It's a butterfly I made from leaves. Okay. Take it. It's an adepti amulet — it staves off evil.
Self-Introduction
Hello
If you awake to a knife at your throat, if monsters dig their claws into you, if death comes knocking at your door... Call out my name. Adeptus Xiao. I will be here when you call.
About Xiao: Inhuman
I'm far from human. I can't make much of human emotions.
About Xiao: Liyue
Liyue is changing. Rapidly... Forget it. It means nothing to me.
More About Xiao: I
I'm willing to protect you. But don't think about getting close, and stay out of my way, or all that awaits you is regret.
More About Xiao: II
In the thousands of years that have passed, I have taken countless wraiths. If you want no trouble, stay away from me. See me as a weapon, and nothing more.
More About Xiao: III
Their voices... I can always hear them. Their screams, their cries, demanding more death... This is my burden to carry. It has nothing to do with you.
More About Xiao: IV
Morax...? What do you know of this name!? He gave me the name Xiao, and released me from the endless pain I endured. I will not forgive those that dare to speak against him, even you.
More About Xiao: V
It's too late. The connection between us is too strong. Even if you wanted to, it's too late to sever it. Hm? You've never thought to sever it? *sigh* This eternal dance of demon subjugation... My fight goes on. But, I would like to know more about you.
About Us: Warnings
If a day comes where even you are taken by the darkness, it will be up to me...
About Us: Trust
Do not fall prey to the darkness. I have no mercy. Though, perhaps you can stand your ground alone.
About Us: Drowsiness
Who's there? Oh... You think I sleep? You have no respect for the ways of the adepti.
About Us: Lantern Rite
The Lantern Rite? The time for humans to discard their glowing trash into the sea has returned... How childish... Though, if you insist... I will go with you.
Thoughts About Other Characters
Zhongli
Can I ask... Zhongli — what does he do with his days? Huh? Birds, antiques, flowers... Hmm... What deeper meaning do they hold?
Beidou
Beidou? I have nothing to do with her. Though there is such a thing as the leviathan. As a mere human, she has proven her power in defeating Haishan.
Baizhu
You want... Baizhu to make a medicine to take away my pain? I understand your intentions, but mortal medicine has no effect on adepti.
Hu Tao
Hu Tao? Her liveliness is irritating. Fortunately, she is also humorous, so you need not worry about her growing into a boring human.
Venti
Venti? So that's the name he goes by. His tunes are... forget it.
Ganyu
Ganyu is neither mortal nor illuminated beast. Wandering both the mortal and adepti realms with duty as her sole guide, it was inevitable that she would become perplexed... What? Me? You believe a yaksha who knows nothing more than how to massacre countless souls and emerge unscathed is a suitable mentor for such an individual? ...Your mind occupies a very different world from that which your body inhabits.
Shenhe
It seems Shenhe places a great deal of trust in you. Well, how could she not. There are few people in the world as kind and good-natured as you.
Yelan
I've heard that she once investigated The Chasm, following the trail of the Millelith. If she can investigate mysteries like that on her own, she must be someone of rare skill.
Hobbies & Personality
Xiao's Hobbies
There's nothing timid about you, having the courage to ask about my hobbies. So, fight me. How long do you think your body will last against my blows?
Xiao's Troubles
Trouble? Ha. Trouble means nothing to adepti. There is no trouble that can last for a thousand years.
Favorite Food: Almond Tofu
I have no interest in mortal food. Cooking is tedious and the wait is long. The one thing I can manage to stomach is almond tofu.
Favorite Food: Memories
The taste of Almond Tofu feels like a fond dream...
Least Favorite Food
Wait. I am expected to place slices of meat in wrappings myself? And then... eat them? Together? Ugh, humans these days do not know what they are doing.
Feelings About Ascension
Feelings About Ascension: Intro
This is it? Nothing worth getting excited about.
Feelings About Ascension: Building Up
New power? All it will be used for is death.
Feelings About Ascension: Climax
The limit to one's power is self-destruction. Answer me. Why do you persist?
Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion
Countless souls have fallen prey to these hands. I too have been swallowed by the darkness — and yet you dare to drive me on. You may think of me as... your companion. You seek to find me salvation? ...You... really are a difficult being to comprehend.
Receiving a Gift
Receiving a Gift: I
Mm... Not bad... Why are you staring at me?
Receiving a Gift: II
No need.
Receiving a Gift: III
Try something else next time.
Source: official HoYoverse Fetter (friendship) voice-lines — Genshin Impact
Strengths & Weaknesses
- At Lv90, Xiao already gets +19,2% CRIT Rate baked into the ascension stat line — no artifacts needed for this part.
- The core mechanic (via Transcension: Extinction of Suffering) scales with DEF — DEF% is a rarely-contested artifact substat, usually easy to roll extra of.
- Since it scales with DEF (via Transcension: Extinction of Suffering), most teammates' ATK%/EM buffs are nearly useless on it — needs its own dedicated DEF gear/weapon.
- The Transcension: Extinction of Suffering mechanic only triggers once the character's own HP drops below a certain threshold — you must risk low HP to get the effect.
- 5★ (Polearm) — only available on limited/character-specific banners, not on the standard wish.
Role Rankings
Machine-classified by scanning mechanic keywords in the OFFICIAL skill text (not another site's opinion ranking). Characters whose weapon type is inherently elemental (e.g. catalysts, bows) may not show "Does this well" for On-Field even if they can still be played on-field — this is a limit of text-based detection.
| Character | Weapon | Artifact Set | Main Stats | Substat Priority | Where To Farm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
XiaoA
|
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
|
Sands: ATK%
Goblet: Anemo DMG Bonus
Circlet: CRIT DMG / CRIT Rate
|
CRIT DMG / CRIT Rate › ATK% › Energy Recharge |
Tier List→
Teams→
Full profile
A yaksha adeptus who defends Liyue. Also heralded as the "Conqueror of Demons" and "Vigilant Yaksha."
- Affiliation: Liyue Adeptus
- Birthday (day/month): 4/17
- Specialty dish: "Sweet Dream"
- Namecard: Xiao: Mask — Namecard style. He longs for a day to come when he will wear the mask and dance — not to conquer demons, but to the tune of that flute amid a sea of flowers.