What artifacts are needed for Xiao: the choice of build in Genshin Impact

Choosing the right gear for Xiao is a key element in assembling one of the most popular ano-anemo damagers in Genshin Impact. Many players are often confused about the sheer number of sets and characteristics available, not realizing which set will dominate their account. The effectiveness of this character depends on how well you distribute the statues on the bowl, hat and watch.

In this article, we will look at what artifacts Xiao needs to maximize its potential, and not only the obvious options like Viridescent Venererer, but also the niche combinations that can be useful in certain situations, and understanding the mechanics of its ultimatum ability will help you make the right choice.

Don't underestimate the importance of secondary characteristics, as they are often the deciding factor between failure and successful passage of the Abyss. Critical damage and critical chance are priority stats for Xiao, often more important than pure attack metric. Let's dive into the details so that your character inflicts maximum damage on enemies.

The best artifact sets for Xiao

When choosing a kit, the first thing to do is to focus on Shimenawa's Reminiscence. This set, mined in the Momiji-Dyed Court domain, is perfect for Xiao thanks to its 18% bonus to the ATK and the powerful effect that, when used up, increases the damage of a conventional and charged attack by 50%. Because Xiao spends energy during his ultimatum ability, this bonus works almost always as long as his combat mode is active.

But the classic and most versatile option is the combination of Viridescent Venererer (2 parts) and any set with a bonus to attack (2 parts). Two parts of the VV give 15% of ano-uron, which is the base multiplier for all its attacks. When combined with two parts of Gladiator's Finale or Shimenawa's Reminiscence, which give 18% of the attack, you get a stable and predictable increase in damage without additional conditions.

For players who are just starting out and don't have access to top-end dungeons, the Brave Heart set is a great temporary solution. The three parts of this set, which you can get from the bosses of the world, increase the damage from conventional and charged attacks by 35%. This is less than the top sets, but much better than no bonuses at all.

๐Ÿ“Š What Artifact Set Are You Using for Xiao?
Shimenawa's Reminiscence
Viridescent Venerer (2) + Atk (2)
Gladiator's Finale (2) + VV (2)
Another option

And there's also the Noblesse Oblige set, which is sometimes seen as an alternative, and the two parts give you a bonus to the damage of the explosion, which is useful, but in Xiao's case, the main damage is done during the animation of the jumps, not at the moment of the explosion itself, so it's considered less effective than competitors focused on physical damage or general attack.

Optimal characteristics of artifacts

After you know the set names, you have to go to the specific characteristics of each item. For a watch (Sands of Eon), the primary choice is ATK%. Although Xiao is masquerading from the attack, the fixed value of the ATC will be significantly weaker than the percentage gain, especially at high levels of pumping.

For a headgear, the situation depends on your crit balance. You need to aim for a crit ratio of 1:2. If you don't have a critical chance, choose Crit Rate. If the chance is already in the 70-80% range, definitely take Crit DMG. Using ATC% or Ano-uron on the hat is only possible if your crites are already perfectly balanced, which is extremely rare.

The Goblet of Eonothem must always have the basic Anemo DMG Bonus parameter. It is the foundation for any elemental damager. Attempting to use a physical-damage bowl or ATK% will result in the loss of approximately 30-40% of potential damage, since all Xiao damage during the ulta is converted into ano-damage and cannot be amplified by physical bonuses.

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When choosing between a high-damage artifact but poor substats, and an artifact with less damage but ideal substats, it is often more profitable to choose the latter option for the long term.

The table below summarizes the priorities of the main characteristics for each slot:

Artifact slotBasic parameter (Priority 1)Basic parameter (Alternative)Importance
The clock (Sands)ATK%Energy Recharge (rarely)Tall.
The Cup (Goblet)Anemo DMG BonusATK%Critical
Cap (Circlet)Crit Rate / Crit DMGATK%Critical
Plume (Plume)ATK (fixed)No.Medium
Flower (Flower)HP (fixed)No.Low.

Importance of secondary characteristics

Once you've selected the basic parameters, you switch to secondary stats that come up randomly, and the most desirable parameter for Xiao is Crit Rate and Crit DMG. The ideal ratio is where the chance of a crit multiplied by two equals the loss of a crit, for example, at a 60 percent chance, you want to have 120% damage.

The second most important parameter is Energy Recharge. Xiao has a high energy expenditure on its ultimatum ability โ€” 70 Without enough recharging stock, you risk being left without an ult in battle, which will reduce your risk of recharging. DPS. The optimal value is considered 120-140% Reload if you are playing without_battery_.

โš ๏ธ Warning: Don't ignore Energy Recharge completely. Even if you have great crites, but the character can't activate the ult in time, the build efficiency drops to zero โ€” 110-120%.

Percentage attack (ATK%) It's also a useful secondary statue, but it's less valuable than the Cretans. If you're faced with a choice between an artifact with two crit stats and an artifact with an attack and a charge of energy, you'd better lean towards the Cretans, provided that the minimum recharge threshold has already been reached. Fixed attack (Flat) ATK) It is practically useless at high levels.

โ˜‘๏ธ Checklist of the perfect artifact

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Where to Farm Artifacts for Xiao

The main pharma for top-end sets is the Momiji-Dyed Court domain, located in the Inadzuma region, and this is where Shimenawa's Reminiscence and Emblem of Severed Fate fall from. Although the Emblem set is more focused on supports or characters whose damage depends on the explosion of the elements, its two parts with the bonus to ATC can be used in the mix.

To get Viridescent Venerer, you need to visit the Valley of Remembrance domain in Mondstadt, which is one of the most important domains in the game, since this set is needed for almost every ano character, and it is recommended to accumulate resin on this domain in parallel with the pharmacy of other characters, so as not to waste resources.

If you're a beginner and you don't have much resin, focus on Gladiator's Finale and Wanderer's Troupe, which are dropped from bosses weekly (Truckshop and Windwing King respectively) and regular bosses. Although the chance of getting the right piece is small, it allows you to gradually collect good pieces without the cost of resin on domains.

The Secret to Effective Pharmacy
Don't waste resin on domains until you've reached the maximum difficulty level (World Level 90). Artifacts with 5 stars only start dropping from Level 80 of the world, but guaranteed to only drop by 90. Until then, use temporary sets.

Assembly for early and late play

In the early stages of the game, when you do not yet have access to Inadzum or enough resin, do not despair. the combination of Adventurer (2 parts) and Lucky Dog (2 parts) will give you the necessary bonus to ATC. The main thing during this period is to pump artifacts to +16 or +20 to compensate for the lack of net bonuses raw-stats.

In midgame, when Mondstadt and Li Yue are open, your goal is to build 2+2. Find any two VV parts and any two VVs with an attack bonus. This is the "gold standard" that will allow you to comfortably navigate all the content of the game, including Spiral Abyss on the ground floors.

For endgame, when you aim for maximum damage numbers, it's a long process of ruminating artifacts. You'll need pieces with perfect substats: double crit, ATK% and Energy. Often, players spend months to assemble a complete set of 5 artifacts with 3-4 useful secondary characters on each.

โš ๏ธ Note: Do not use artifacts with a basic parameter DEF or HP Xiao, even if they have perfect substats, the basic parameter has too much weight in the calculation formula, and the loss of the main bonus is not compensated by secondary statistics.

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The main purpose of Xiao assembly is to maximize damage during the operation of its ultimatum power, so all the statues must work to increase the ATC, Cretes and Ano-uron.

Frequent errors in assembly

One of the most common mistakes is prioritizing the Noblesse Oblige set for the sake of a bonus to the team: Xiao is the main Damager (Main DPS), and his job is to do damage, not buff others. By wearing Noblesse, you sacrifice your personal damage for the sake of an Allies bonus, which in Xiao's case is ineffective, since he occupies the battlefield most of the time.

Also, players often forget about weapon synergy. If you use a Primordial Jade Winged-Spear spear, which gives you a lot of crit chance, then you better put a crit damage on the hat. Conversely, with a Deathmatch or Blackcliff Pole weapon, you may need a crit-chance cap. Balancing weapons statues and artifacts is the key to success.

Another mistake is ignoring the level of pumping artifacts. The 4-star artifact pumped to +20 is often better than 5 stars, but with a +0 or +4 level. Always try to keep the main slots (clock, cup, cap) as pumped as much as possible, even if their substats are not perfect.

The Myth of Physical Damage
Many people think that Xiao does a lot of physical damage before the ulta is turned on, but it's true that his potential is revealed in the ano form, and it makes no sense for him to collect a physical set (Pale Flame), because it weakens his primary role.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

Does Xiao need a 4-part Viridescent Venerer set?
No, 4 Viridescent Venerer parts are not needed for Xiao if he plays as the main damager. This set is designed for sappors that change quickly to reduce the resistance of enemies. Xiao spends a long time on the field, so it is more profitable for him to combine 2 VV parts with 2 sets per attack or use 4 Shimenawa parts.
What is the minimum level of crit chance needed for Xiao?
The comfortable minimum is 60-70% of the Crete Chance. Below this value, the damage becomes too unstable ("torn"), and you'll often see yellow digits instead of white, which reduces the overall effectiveness of the character. Try to keep a balance where Crete Uron is about twice the Crete Chance.
Can I use Xiao without_constellation_?
Yes, Xiao is a great character even on 0 const (C0).His basic mechanics and damage multipliers are quite high. Constellations improve him by giving extra charges of skill or increasing damage, but they don't fundamentally change the way the game is played and are not mandatory for any content to pass through.
Should I download Energy Recharge on Xiao?
Yes, but within a reasonable range. If your Xiao can't store 70 energy for the ulta by the time it ends, you won't have enough to recharge. However, if you use sappors like Sucrose, Venti or Favonius Lance, then the need for Energy Recharge on Xiao's artifacts themselves decreases, and you can invest more in crits.
Which artifacts are better: Shimenawa or 2+2?
Shimenawa's Reminiscence set (4 parts) typically produces a greater damage gain (about 10-15% more) than the 2+2 combination, thanks to a 50% bonus to conventional attacks. However, it requires energy consumption, which can be uncomfortable in some builds. The 2+2 combination is more stable and unconditioned, but yields less final damage. The choice depends on the availability of good artifacts.