Updated for Version 3.2
Xingqiu is a 4-star Hydro sword character who excels in consistent Hydro application and single-target damage while off the field.
More extensive testing is in progress. Note that the information given is subject to change if and when new discoveries are made.
The full-length guide (currently in the process of being updated) is available here.
Table of Contents
New Content
| Dendro (Nahida, Collei, DMC) | While teams surrounding Dendro reactions still need much testing, Xingqiu is a good pick for Bloom (Hyperbloom and Burgeon) teams due to his strong Hydro application. This allows him to have synergy with the current roster of off-field Dendro supports: Collei, Dendro Traveler, and Nahida. |
| Nilou | With Nilou’s kit generally restricting her teams to only Hydro and Dendro characters, Xingqiu can be a strong option for off-field damage and Hydro application. |
| Cyno | Xingqiu fits in well with Hyperbloom Cyno teams, although not so much for Aggravate Cyno teams. |
| Candace | With the addition of Candace and her Burst’s Hydro Infusion, on-field Xingqiu is (potentially) a more viable playstyle, although still suboptimal. |
| Tighnari | Unfortunately, Xingqiu does not synergize well with Tighnari due to Tighnari’s kit focusing on Aimed Shots. |
| Sapwood Blade | Although far from Xingqiu’s best weapon, it’s a F2P craftable with a minimal but useful ER substat. The EM buff it gives can be beneficial for reaction-based teams as well. |
Character Overview
Playstyles
Off-Field DPS
Xingqiu’s most common playstyle that best utilizes his kit. Off-field DPS Xingqiu enables reactions through consistent Hydro application while also contributing respectable personal damage.
On-Field DPS
On-field DPS Xingqiu is usually a playstyle chosen due to personal preference. Otherwise, teams using on-field DPS Xingqiu have a lower damage ceiling compared to teams where he is an off-field DPS.
Talents
Talent Priority
Off-Field DPS: Burst > Skill
On-Field DPS: Skill = Burst > Normal Attack
Regardless of the playstyle, Xingqiu’s Burst makes up a majority of his damage and is important to level. Xingqiu’s Skill also deals significant damage, especially for on-field DPS builds. For off-field DPS builds, Normal Attacks should not be leveled.
Normal Attack | Guhua Style
Talent Description
Normal Attack
Performs up to 5 rapid strikes.
Charged Attack
Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to unleash 2 rapid sword strikes.
Plunging Attack
Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG upon impact.
Xingqiu’s Normal Attacks are rather lackluster and are rarely used apart from extra triggers of his own Burst, Favonius Sword’s passive, or on-field DPS playstyles. Xingqiu’s full attack string (N5) is best for proccing his Burst as an on-field DPS.
Elemental Skill | Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen
Talent Description
Xingqiu performs twin strikes with his sword, dealing Hydro DMG. At the same time, this ability creates the maximum number of Rain Swords, which will orbit your active character.
The Rain Swords have the following properties:
– When a character takes DMG, the Rain Sword will shatter, reducing the amount of DMG taken.
– Increases the character’s resistance to interruption.
20% of Xingqiu’s Hydro DMG Bonus will be converted to additional DMG Reduction for the Rain Swords.
The maximum amount of additional DMG Reduction that can be gained this way is 24%.
The initial maximum number of Rain Swords is 3.
Using this ability applies the Wet status onto the character.
Xingqiu’s Skill hits and applies Hydro to enemies twice.
In addition to dealing respectable damage, Xingqiu’s Skill creates three (or four, with C1) Rain Swords that orbit around the on-field character. These Rain Swords should not be overlooked as they provide additional Hydro application, Interruption Resistance, damage reduction, and small healing (through Xingqiu’s A1).
Elemental Burst | Guhua Sword: Raincutter
Talent Description
Initiate Rainbow Bladework and fight using an illusory sword rain, while creating the maximum number of Rain Swords.
Rainbow Bladework
– Your active character’s Normal Attacks will trigger consecutive sword rain attacks, dealing Hydro DMG.
– Rain Swords will remain at the maximum number throughout the ability’s duration.
The highlight of Xingqiu’s kit and a majority of his damage. When the on-field character does a Normal Attack, sword rain attacks will fire and deal Hydro damage to the enemy. The number of swords fired alternates between 2 and 3 in a 2-3 pattern (this pattern changes to 2-3-5 with C6). Despite being primarily single-target, Xingqiu’s Burst is what makes him the premier Hydro applicator and reaction enabler.
Additionally, the maximum number of Rain Sword orbitals (3 with C0, 4 with C1+) will last for the entire duration of Xingqiu’s Burst. These Rain Swords are the same Rain Swords from his Skill, and so the utility they provide is still relevant (Interruption Resistance, damage reduction, etc.). Xingqiu’s A1 healing only occurs when the Burst duration ends and the Rain Swords shatter/disappear.
Ascension 1 Passive | Hydropathic
Talent Description
When a Rain Sword is shattered or when its duration expires, it regenerates the current character’s HP based on 6% of Xingqiu’s Max HP.
Xingqiu’s A1 provides very minor healing. But when combined with the other utility provided by his Rain Swords, it makes Xingqiu a relatively comfortable pick.
Ascension 4 Passive | Blades Amidst Raindrops
Talent Description
Xingqiu gains a 20% Hydro DMG Bonus.
A simple, useful, and completely unconditional 20% Hydro DMG bonus. Also increases the damage reduction from Xingqiu’s Rain Sword orbitals.
Constellations
Constellation 1 | The Scent Remained
Increases the maximum number of Rain Swords by 1.
Increasing the max number of orbital Rain Swords from 3 to 4 does not fundamentally change anything in Xingqiu’s kit. Although arguably Xingqiu’s worst Constellation, it provides some quality-of-life upgrade by allowing for more healing and damage reduction.
Constellation 2 | Rainbow Upon the Azure Sky
Extends the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3s.
Decreases the Hydro RES of opponents hit by sword rain attacks by 15% for 4s.
Xingqiu’s second-best Constellation. By increasing the duration of his Burst, Xingqiu can fire more Rain Swords and apply Hydro for longer. The Hydro RES Shred is also useful for both Xingqiu himself and other Hydro teammates.
Constellation 3 | Weaver of Verses
Increases the Level of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
A simple but significant +3 Talent Level increase to Xingqiu’s Burst.
Constellation 4 | Evilsoother
Throughout the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter, the DMG dealt by Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen is increased by 50%.
Increases the damage from Xingqiu’s Skill by 50% if used during Xingqiu’s Burst. Can be useful for on-field DPS builds and Sacrificial Sword users, but not as relevant otherwise and should not be forced into rotations.
Constellation 5 | Embrace of Rain
Increases the Level of Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen by 3.
Maximum upgrade level is 15.
Another simple +3 Talent Level increase, but for Xingqiu’s Skill and therefore not as significant as C3.
Constellation 6 | Hence, Call Them My Own Verses
Activating 2 of Guhua Sword: Raincutter‘s sword rain attacks greatly enhances the third sword rain attack. On hit, the third sword rain attack also regenerates 3 Energy for Xingqiu.
By far, Xingqiu’s best Constellation. The description is a bit misleading: On the third Rain Sword hit, Xingqiu will fire 5 Rain Swords—changing his attack pattern from 2-3-2-3 to 2-3-5—and regenerate 3 Energy. This increases Xingqiu’s damage and Hydro application while also reducing his ER requirements.
Artifacts
ER Requirements
Xingqiu’s ER requirements are highly variable depending on his C6 procs, his teammates, the enemy, etc. The following table assumes the average, but it is recommended to use Zakharov’s Energy Recharge Calculator for a more accurate estimate of Xingqiu’s ER requirements.
Off-Field DPS:
| Weapon | Pre-C6 (C0-C5) | C6 |
| Favonius Sword | ~190-220% | ~150-180% |
| Sacrificial Sword (R3+) | ~150-180% | ~130-150% |
| Amenoma Kageuchi (R3) | ~190-230% | ~160-190% |
| Other | ~220-260% | ~180-220% |
On-Field DPS:
On-field DPS Xingqiu builds will generally want around 10-20% less ER than what is listed above for off-field DPS builds.
Artifact Stats
 Sands |  Goblet |  Circlet |
| ER or ATK% | Hydro DMG | CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG |
Substats: ER (until requirements) > CRIT > ATK%
An ER Sands is usually preferred to help meet Xingqiu’s high Energy requirements, but in the case that Energy is not an issue (such as with an ER weapon), an ATK Sands can be competitive or even better.
A CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG Circlet should be chosen based on which one brings Xingqiu closer to the ideal 1:2 ratio.
Artifact Sets
| Artifact Set | Description |
| 4pc Emblem of Severed Fate (EoSF) | By far, Xingqiu’s BiS artifact set that provides everything he needs—ER and increased Burst damage. |
| 4pc Noblesse Oblige (NO) | Xingqiu’s worst set for personal damage, but can be useful if no one else in the team holds 4NO. |
| Any 2pc combination of Heart of Depth (HoD), NO, EoSF, or ATK% | Simple and easy sets that work on Xingqiu if you don’t have a good 4EoSF for him. |
Weapons
Although certain weapons are better on Xingqiu in terms of personal damage, Burst uptime should still be a priority. It is recommended to only choose a non-ER weapon if Energy is not an issue on your Xingqiu. As a general rule of thumb, ER weapons will tend to prefer an ATK% Sands. Anything else will tend to prefer an ER Sands.
| Weapon | Description |
| Primordial Jade Cutter | Xingqiu’s BiS in terms of personal damage. Gives a hefty amount of CRIT Rate with a non-conditional passive. |
| Mitsplitter Reforged/Haran Geppaku Futsu | Good damage stat sticks that give CRIT and all Elemental DMG Bonus. However, Xingqiu cannot make full use of their passives, which causes them to fall behind Jade Cutter. |
| Skyward Blade | A very comfortable stat stick choice with high Base ATK, a good chunk of ER, and a little bit of CRIT Rate. |
| Favonius Sword | One of Xingqiu’s best 4* weapon choices. Gives ER and, with consistent triggers of its passive, decreases ER requirements for both Xingqiu and the entire team. |
| Sacrificial Sword | At R1 and R2, Sacrificial Sword is mainly an ER stat stick. But starting at R3, its passive can be consistently triggered every rotation—significantly lowering Xingqiu’s ER requirements and making it one of his strongest 4* weapon choices. |
| Festering Desire | A good F2P option but from a time-limited event. If you have it, it gives both ER and Skill DMG—both of which are useful for Xingqiu. |
| Amenoma Kageuchi | Craftable and F2P. A solid choice if you don’t have the other options. It lowers Xingqiu’s ER requirements with its passive while also supplying ATK% with its substat. R3+ is recommended due to Xingqiu rarely gaining more than one stack. |
| Sapwood Blade | Another solid F2P craftable option. Has a lower ER substat but a higher Base ATK. The passive’s EM buff to a teammate can be conditionally useful. |
Teams
Team-Building
Xingqiu is a very versatile unit due to his strong Hydro application, allowing him to fit into almost any team that uses Hydro-related reactions (which is a lot of teams). Even without reactions, Xingqiu can still be a good pick due to his significant off-field damage.
Some important notes:
- Xingqiu’s Burst procs on Normal Attacks, limiting his synergy with Aimed Shot Bow users like Ganyu, Tighnari, etc. and Xiao*
- *See the KQM Xiao Guide for more details on Xiao-Xingqiu synergy, specifically the JET combo
- Without an Anemo unit to Swirl and spread Hydro, Xingqiu’s Hydro application is primarily single-target
- Xingqiu’s Burst does not snapshot buffs such as Bennett’s Burst
- These buffs can still be useful for other teammates
- When paired with a shielder or another defensive utility (such as C1 Beidou), the damage reduction and micro-healing from Xingqiu’s Rain Swords can sometimes be enough to run without a healer
Notable Teammates
| Character | Description |
| Yelan | Despite filling a role extremely similar to Xingqiu’s, Yelan and Xingqiu work quite well together. This power duo applies a constant Hydro aura on the enemy while off the field, and they lower each other’s high ER requirements. Hydro Resonance and Xingqiu’s C2 Hydro RES Shred are also beneficial for Yelan. |
| Anemo units holding 4VV (+ Zhongli) | Includes Sucrose, Kazuha, Venti, etc., and Zhongli. The Elemental RES Shred from 4VV (or Zhongli’s Skill) is simply too valuable to be ignored. |
| Most units who apply an Element that can react with Xingqiu’s Hydro application | This can come in the form of an on-field DPS (Hu Tao, Raiden, Ayaka, etc.), an off-field DPS (Xiangling, Fischl, Kaeya, etc.), or even Infusion (C6 Benny and BFF Chongyun). |
| On-field DPS units who use Normal Attacks | Even a DPS who doesn’t value Xingqiu’s Hydro application will appreciate his off-field damage (these are usually Physical DPS units—like Eula—since Hydro is such an important Element for most reaction-based teams). |
Example Teams
This is not a comprehensive list of teams, and the inclusion of a certain team—or lack thereof—does not necessarily indicate the power level of the team in question. This list is not ranked.
*Teams involving the Dendro Element—denoted with an asterisk (*)—are still in the process of being tested/theorycrafted. Information on these teams is subject to change.
Double and Triple/Mono Hydro
Xingqiu works well with other Hydro teammates for energy generation and his C2’s Hydro RES Shred. In Triple/Mono Hydro teams, Xingqiu’s Hydro application is often less relevant compared to his raw off-field damage.
Popular options for the second Hydro include Yelan or an on-field Hydro DPS like Ayato or Childe. Triple/Mono Hydro teams generally include: Xingqiu and Yelan, Kokomi and/or a Hydro DPS, and then Kazuha/Venti/Zhongli for more Hydro RES Shred.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Ayato — Fischl — Bennett
Xingqiu — Yelan — Kokomi — Kazuha
Vaporize
Xingqiu’s off-field Hydro application pairs very well with a Pyro DPS such as Hu Tao, Yoimiya, Diluc, Yanfei, Xiangling, etc. One of the flex slots is almost always reserved for a shielder/healer, whereas the other flex slot can be essentially anyone who fits in the team.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Hu Tao — Yelan — Zhongli
Xingqiu — Diluc — Albedo — Zhongli
Electro-Charged/Taser
While an Anemo unit is technically not required for Electro-Charged/Taser teams, the utility of 4VV, Swirl, and crowd control/grouping make Anemo units highly valuable. The Anemo unit is also usually the driver for the reactions due to most Anemo units building EM anyways. Common options for the Electro unit include: Fischl, Beidou, Kuki, Raiden. Common options for the Anemo unit include: Sucrose, Heizou, Kazuha.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Fischl — Sucrose — Beidou
Overvape
Due to the Electro-Charged reaction allowing a Hydro and Electro aura to coexist on the enemy, a Pyro application will result in both Overload and Vaporize reactions (albeit inconsistently). Hence, the name “Overvape.”
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Yoimiya — Fischl — Zhongli
Xingqiu — Xiangling — Raiden — Bennett
Soup
Overvape, but add an Anemo unit to Swirl and you’ve got a hodgepodge (“soup”) of reactions and numbers on your screen.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Thoma — Fischl — Sucrose
Freeze
Sources of Cryo include: Ayaka, Chongyun, Kaeya, Rosaria, etc. Freeze is one of the more common Xingqiu teams that can run without a healer, since a shielder/healer can be unnecessary when faced with freezable enemies. An Anemo unit for grouping and 4VV is a more common flex slot choice.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Ayaka — Kazuha — Rosaria
Hyperbloom*
One of Xingqiu’s more common teams with the new Dendro Element. Pairs Xingqiu and a Dendro unit to generate Blooms, then adds an Electro unit. Common flex units include Yelan or an Anemo unit (an Anemo unit to Swirl is more preferable in cases where the Electro unit cannot reliably hit the Blooms’ Dendro Cores to trigger Hyperbloom).
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Nahida — Kuki Shinobu — Yelan
Xingqiu — Dendro Traveler — Fischl — Sucrose
Burgeon*
Requires a Hydro and Dendro unit for Blooms, and a carefully controlled Pyro applicator to Burgeon the Dendro Cores. To trigger Burgeon instead of Burning, high Hydro application is desirable, and Xingqiu can fit that role.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Nahida — Thoma — Kokomi
On-Field DPS Xingqiu
Xingqiu’s versatility allows him to run with practically anyone. Apart from personal preference, one incentive to run on-field DPS Xingqiu is that his Burst can receive exclusively on-field buffs such as Bennett’s Burst. This can be valuable in single-target scenarios where an Anemo driver to Swirl and chain-react is less relevant.
Common teammate choices include: Xiangling to reliably vaporize Xingqiu’s Skill (and Burst), Sucrose for the 4VV Shred and TTDS buff, Chongyun for playing the two buddies together and Cryo Infusion/Freeze … the list goes on. The addition of Candace opens the possibility for on-field Hydro Xingqiu, although this still needs further testing.
Example Teams
Xingqiu — Xiangling — Sucrose — Bennett
Credits
Chasing Haze#3014, Quincy#6965, leah.#2212, Rathalos#2875, Luno#1337, Seima#4597, juko#9385, idkanonymized#4166, acie#1290, konodiada#4956
Team images courtesy of the KQM portrait generator