The Best Weapons For Xiao In Genshin Impact
Xiao has been one of the most popular DPS characters in "Genshin Impact" since his debut in Genshin Impact 1.3. Genshin fans have fawned over his pretty boy aesthetic and loyalty to Geo Archon Zhongli. However, he's also got plenty of combat utility outside of his dedication.
The Vigilant Yaksha has a healthy Crit Rate that rises with every Ascension Level, which also fuels his normal attacks and Anemo DMG Burst. However, some players don't know the best weapons to complement his Crit Rate stat and Anemo abilities. Many content creators, including Zy0x, suggest a mix of ATK or Anemo DMG-boosting 5-star artifacts like Gladiator's Finale, Shimenawa's Reminiscence, or Viridescent Venerer depending on how much your team members already buff Xiao's ATK and the substats on the artifacts. These artifacts work, but you can't forget about the importance of a tried and true weapon. These are the best weapons to use for Xiao, from 5-star to free-to-play friendly options.
Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (5-star)
- Ability: On hit, increases ATK by 3.2% for 6s. Max 7 stacks. This effect can only occur once every 0.3s. While in possession of the maximum possible stacks, DMG dealt is increased by 12%.
Five-star weapons have higher base stats attached to them, which make them more valuable than 4-star counterparts. In this case, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear is a must-have for any spear-wielding DPS thanks to its high Crit Rate. Xiao, who focuses on high damage from his plunge attacks, especially appreciates a higher Crit Rate or Crit DMG. The Primordial Jade Winged-Spear also complements that playstyle because of the ATK increase with every hit.
The jade-tipped spear increases ATK by 3.2 percent for 6 seconds up to 7 stacks, meaning that 3.2 percent can add up to much more. Then, to push the damage even further, the DMG dealt is increased by 12 percent whenever the user accumulates all 7 stacks. The 3.2 percent ATK increase isn't much on its own, but that 12 percent can easily boost a character with just 1000 ATK to 1120 plus the bonus damage from the existing ATK increase stacks.
Staff of Homa (5-star)
- Ability: HP increased by 20%. Additionally, provides an ATK Bonus based on 0.8% of the wielder's Max HP. When the wielder's HP is less than 50%, this ATK bonus is increased by an additional 1% of Max HP.
Staff of Homa, also known as Hu Tao's signature weapon, also works with Xiao. He might not be able to make use of the HP boost like Hu Tao, but the Crit DMG sub stat is something that can benefit any polearm user. For the record, Staff of Homa increases HP by 20 percent and provides an ATK Bonus based on 0.8 percent of the wielder's Max HP. As per my own account, a level 90 Xiao already has a base HP of 12,736. That times 0.8 equals nearly 1,000 points more DMG.
Even better, the Staff of Homa raises that ATK bonus by another 1 percent of the Max HP when the user's HP is less than 50 percent. Hu Tao's Elemental Skill drains her HP, which makes this staff an ideal weapon for her. However, it also happens to work with Xiao because his Elemental Burst drains his HP. If you add another 1 percent of Max HP out of 11,236, that's easily over 1,000 more DMG than you would've done at full health with Staff of Homa.
Deathmatch (4-star)
- Ability: If there are at least 2 opponents nearby, ATK is increased by 16% and DEF is increased by 16%. If there are fewer than 2 opponents nearby, ATK is increased by 24%.
Deathmatch is a popular choice for Battle Pass buyers who don't mind grinding to BP Tier 30 for a weapon. Its CRIT Rate substat can boost a lackluster ATK stat into a devastating one. At its base, it also has a built-in 16 percent ATK and DEF increase if the player is facing multiple enemies and a 24 percent ATK increase.
If you don't want to buy the $10 Battle Pass, then Deathmatch is already a no-go. Thankfully, you can get similarly powerful weapons without paying up, even if it's arguably harder. Also, if you already happen to have a high CRIT Rate from your artifacts, you might want to consider equipping a weapon that boosts CRIT DMG like Blackcliff Pole instead.
White Tassel (3-star)
- Ability: Increases Normal Attack DMG by 24%.
White Tassel is a 3-star weapon that most players receive while pulling for the 5-star of their dreams. Because of this, it's easier to end up with multiple copies to use for refining (a.k.a. strengthening weapons by cannibalizing copies) and making it an even more reasonable weapon for free-to-play players. Mid-level Travelers around Adventure Rank 40 or higher should invest in one of the 4-stars on this list if possible, but beginners can feel safe putting money into a White Tassel without it being a waste.
Every DPS needs more attack, and that's exactly what the White Tassel offers. Its ATK substat speaks for itself and so does its ability, which raises Normal Attack DMG by 24 percent. If you have 1000 ATK, that's already 240 more DMG. Xiao can strike an enemy up to four times in quick succession with his Normal Attack and, even though his Elemental Burst is where the bulk of his damage comes from, it's definitely helpful when his Burst is charging up.