Mastering Xingqiu: The Ultimate Hydro Support Guide

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on Xingqiu, one of the most versatile and powerful support characters in Genshin Impact.

This guide goes deep into his abilities, optimal artifact and weapon choices, and synergistic team compositions, explaining why Xingqiu is an indispensable asset in your lineup.

Let's dive in!

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Mastering Xingqiu: The Ultimate Hydro Support Guide for Genshin Impact

Xingqiu's Playstyle and Abilities

Elemental Skill: Guhua Sword - Fatal Rainscreen

This skill deals significant Hydro damage to enemies.

It generates Rain Swords that orbit the character, providing damage reduction.

When Rain Swords break or expire, they heal the character based on Xingqiu's max HP.

With a 21-second cooldown, timing and weapon choice (like Sacrificial Sword) are crucial to optimize its use.

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Elemental Burst: Guhua Sword - Raincutter

Xingqiu's burst continuously applies Hydro to enemies, enabling consistent elemental reactions when paired with other elements like Pyro or Electro.

The burst also inflicts Hydro damage through Rain Swords, contributing to the team's overall DPS.

Managing its 80 energy cost is essential for ensuring its frequent use.

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Talent Priorities

Elemental Burst: Prioritize leveling this talent first as it's central to Xingqiu's role as a Hydro enabler and damage dealer.

Elemental Skill: Enhance this second to improve defensive capabilities and supplemental healing.

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Artifacts for Xingqiu

Best Artifact Sets

Emblem of Severed Fate: Ideal for boosting Xingqiu's elemental burst damage, this set's 4-piece bonus converts a portion of his energy recharge into burst damage.

Noblesse Oblige: A viable alternative, especially if Emblem of Severed Fate isn't available or if another team member isn’t using this set.

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Main Stat Priorities

• Sands: Focus on Energy Recharge. Xingqiu’s elemental burst has a high energy cost, making recharge crucial for frequent use.
• Goblet: Hydro Damage Bonus. As Xingqiu's skills and burst deal Hydro damage, amplifying this increases his overall damage output.
• Circlet: Crit Rate or Crit Damage, based on your other stats. Aim for a balanced Crit Rate and Crit Damage ratio (typically 1:2).

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Substat Priorities

• Energy Recharge: Essential for consistently deploying Xingqiu's elemental burst.
• Crit Rate and Crit Damage: Enhance Xingqiu's damage output during his burst phase.
• ATK%: A secondary priority but still beneficial for increasing his damage.

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Weapon Selection

Sacrificial Sword

Its passive ability has a chance to end the cooldown of Xingqiu's Elemental Skill upon hitting an enemy, effectively allowing for double usage.

Helps in generating energy for his Elemental Burst.

Maximizing Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill utility, especially at lower refinement levels.

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Favonius Sword

Critical hits have a chance to generate a small amount of Elemental Particles, helping in energy recovery.

A more accessible option for players who may not have the Sacrificial Sword.

Effective for ensuring Xingqiu can use his Elemental Burst frequently.

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Skyward Blade

Boosts CRIT rate, enhancing Xingqiu's overall damage output.

Additionally provides Energy Recharge, balancing damage and ability uptime.

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Primordial Jade Cutter

Offers a significant increase in CRIT rate, greatly boosting Xingqiu’s damage potential.

Increases Xingqiu’s HP, indirectly enhancing the healing from his Rain Swords.

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Mistsplitter Reforged

Ideal for maximizing Xingqiu’s Hydro damage, especially in high-reaction teams.

Contributes to overall damage output.

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Choosing the Right Weapon

Energy Recharge vs. Damage Output‍

If Xingqiu is your primary source of Hydro application and elemental reactions, consider weapons that prioritize Energy Recharge.

If he serves as a secondary DPS, weapons enhancing damage are more suitable.

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Team Dynamics‍

Adjust weapon choice based on the energy needs and DPS role of your team.

For example, in a team with another character providing enough energy, you might prioritize damage over recharge.

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Xingqiu's Role in Team Compositions

Xingqiu in Elemental Reaction Teams

Vaporize Teams with Pyro DPS

Xingqiu excels when paired with Pyro DPS characters like Hu Tao, Diluc, or Xiangling.

He consistently applies Hydro, setting up powerful Vaporize reactions that significantly boost the main DPS's damage.

Hu Tao (Main DPS), Xingqiu (Hydro Support), Zhongli (Shield/Geo Support), Bennett (Healer/ATK Buff).

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Electro-Charged Teams

Xingqiu works well in Electro-Charged teams, often called "Taser" teams, with characters like Fischl, Beidou, or Raiden Shogun.

His frequent Hydro application synergizes with Electro characters to produce continuous Electro-Charged reactions.

Beidou (Sub-DPS), Xingqiu (Hydro Support), Fischl (Electro Support), Kazuha (Anemo Support/CC).

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Freeze Compositions

While other Hydro characters like Mona or Childe can also fit into Freeze teams, Xingqiu’s consistent Hydro application is beneficial.

Pairs well with Cryo DPS like Ganyu or Ayaka for constant Freeze control.

Ayaka (Main DPS), Xingqiu (Hydro Support), Diona (Healer/Shield), Venti/Sucrose (Anemo CC).

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Dendro Compositions

Teams focusing on Bloom reactions have become increasingly popular, and Xingqiu's persistent Hydro application makes him a key player in these teams.

Whether it’s Hyperbloom, Burgeon, Quickbloom, or Nilou’s Bountiful Cores, Xingqiu fits seamlessly into any variant of Bloom teams.

Alhaitham or Cyno (Main DPS), Xingqiu (Hydro Support), Nahida (Dendro Support), and Kuki Shinobu (Sub-DPS/Healer).

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Xingqiu in Utility and Support Roles

Healing and Damage Mitigation

Xingqiu's Rain Swords provide some healing, complementing teams without a dedicated healer.

The Rain Swords also offer damage reduction, enhancing team survivability.

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Providing Energy Recharge

In certain compositions, Xingqiu can function as an energy battery, particularly if equipped with the Favonius Sword.

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Xingqiu's Constellations

C1: The Scent Remained

Increases the maximum number of Rain Swords by 1.

While not directly boosting damage, this constellation enhances Xingqiu's defensive capabilities and provides a slight increase in healing from his Elemental Skill.

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C2: Rainbow Upon the Azure Sky

Extends the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter by 3 seconds and decreases Hydro RES of enemies hit by sword rain attacks by 15% for 4 seconds.

Significantly boosts both Xingqiu's damage output and the team's overall Hydro-related reaction potential.

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C4: Evilsoother

Throughout the duration of Guhua Sword: Raincutter, the Hydro DMG of Xingqiu's sword rain attacks increases by 50%.

Considerably increases the damage of Xingqiu's Elemental Burst, further reinforcing his role as a potent off-field damage dealer.

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C6: Hence, Call Them My Own Verses

Activates 2 additional Rain Swords when using Guhua Sword: Raincutter and Rain Swords deal 50% more DMG.

A massive boost to Xingqiu's DPS capability, making his Elemental Burst one of the most powerful in the game for Hydro application and damage.

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Tips for Maximizing Xingqiu's Potential

Enhancing Xingqiu's Support Efficiency

Skill and Burst Timing

Activate Xingqiu’s Elemental Skill right before switching to your main DPS.

This ensures maximum uptime for the damage reduction and healing from his Rain Swords.

Use Xingqiu's Elemental Burst before a DPS character to set up continuous Hydro application, enhancing elemental reaction potential.

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Energy Management

Ensure Xingqiu has enough Energy Recharge to frequently use his Elemental Burst, but not at the expense of his overall damage potential.

Consider weapons like the Sacrificial Sword to mitigate his Elemental Skill's long cooldown, effectively doubling its utility.

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Integrating Xingqiu in Combat

Elemental Reaction Optimization

Pair Xingqiu with characters that can exploit his Hydro application, like Pyro characters for Vaporize or Electro for Electro-Charged reactions.

Pay attention to the timing of reactions.

For instance, in a Vaporize team, ensure Xingqiu’s Hydro application is ready for the DPS character’s key damaging abilities.

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Using Rain Swords

Use Xingqiu’s Rain Swords for damage reduction in tougher fights, particularly where healing options are limited.

Although not a primary healer, Xingqiu’s healing can be a crucial backup, especially in teams without a dedicated healer.

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Conclusion

Xingqiu in Genshin Impact stands out as a remarkable support character, capable of enhancing a variety of team compositions with his Hydro abilities.

His flexibility, significant damage output, and ability to facilitate powerful elemental reactions make him a top-tier choice for any player looking to strengthen their team's overall performance.