What is the best way to use Xingqiu's Rain Swords in Genshin Impact?
Xingqiu is one of the most versatile and powerful support characters in Genshin Impact, primarily due to his Rain Swords ability. His Elemental Skill, Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen, and Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, are central to his role as a Hydro enabler and damage mitigator. To use Xingqiu's Rain Swords effectively, you need to understand their mechanics, optimize his build, and integrate him into a team that maximizes his potential.
First, let's break down the mechanics of Xingqiu's Rain Swords. His Elemental Skill, Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen, creates Rain Swords that orbit around the active character. These swords provide damage reduction, increase resistance to interruption, and heal the active character slightly when they expire or are shattered. The number of Rain Swords depends on the skill level, with a maximum of three at higher levels. His Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, summons Rain Swords that attack alongside the active character's normal attacks, dealing Hydro damage. This ability is particularly powerful because it allows Xingqiu to apply Hydro consistently, enabling powerful elemental reactions like Vaporize and Electro-Charged.
To use Xingqiu effectively, start by timing his Elemental Skill and Burst correctly. Use his Elemental Skill before engaging in combat to activate the Rain Swords' damage reduction and healing effects. This is especially useful in challenging fights where survivability is key. After using his Elemental Skill, switch to your main DPS character and activate Xingqiu's Elemental Burst. The Rain Swords from his Burst will attack alongside your DPS, applying Hydro and triggering elemental reactions. This setup is particularly effective with Pyro DPS characters like Hu Tao or Diluc, as it enables consistent Vaporize reactions, which amplify damage significantly.
One important tip is to manage Xingqiu's energy recharge. His Elemental Burst has a high energy cost, so building energy recharge is crucial. Aim for at least 200% energy recharge through artifacts and weapons to ensure his Burst is available as often as possible. Sacrificial Sword is an excellent weapon choice for Xingqiu, as it provides energy recharge and has a chance to reset the cooldown of his Elemental Skill, allowing you to generate more energy and maintain uptime on his Rain Swords.
When building Xingqiu, prioritize artifacts that enhance his Hydro damage and energy recharge. A 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate set is ideal, as it increases energy recharge and boosts his Elemental Burst damage based on his energy recharge stat. Alternatively, a 2-piece Heart of Depth and 2-piece Noblesse Oblige set can also work well, providing Hydro damage and Burst damage bonuses. For main stats, focus on Energy Recharge on the Sands, Hydro Damage Bonus on the Goblet, and Crit Rate or Crit Damage on the Circlet, depending on your needs.
In terms of team composition, Xingqiu shines in teams that rely on elemental reactions. Pair him with a Pyro DPS like Hu Tao, Diluc, or Yoimiya to trigger Vaporize, or with an Electro DPS like Raiden Shogun or Keqing for Electro-Charged reactions. Adding an Anemo support like Sucrose or Kazuha can further amplify damage by grouping enemies and reducing their Hydro resistance. A healer or shielder like Bennett or Zhongli can provide additional survivability, allowing Xingqiu to focus on supporting the team.
A common mistake to avoid is neglecting Xingqiu's energy recharge. Without sufficient energy recharge, his Elemental Burst will have long downtimes, reducing his effectiveness as a Hydro enabler. Another mistake is using his Elemental Skill too late in combat, missing out on the damage reduction and healing benefits of the Rain Swords. Always activate his Elemental Skill at the start of a fight to maximize its utility.
Advanced techniques include using Xingqiu's Rain Swords to mitigate damage during enemy attacks. For example, when facing a powerful boss like Azhdaha or the Primo Geovishap, activate Xingqiu's Elemental Skill just before the boss's heavy attack to reduce incoming damage. Additionally, you can use his Rain Swords to apply Hydro to multiple enemies in quick succession, setting up for AoE elemental reactions like Vaporize or Electro-Charged.
In specific scenarios, such as the Spiral Abyss, Xingqiu's consistent Hydro application and damage reduction make him invaluable. In Floor 12, where enemies hit hard and have high HP, Xingqiu's Rain Swords can help your DPS survive while dealing significant damage through elemental reactions. Pair him with a strong Pyro DPS and an Anemo support to clear waves of enemies efficiently.
In summary, to use Xingqiu's Rain Swords effectively, focus on timing his abilities, building energy recharge, and integrating him into a team that leverages elemental reactions. Prioritize artifacts and weapons that enhance his Hydro damage and energy recharge, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting energy management. With the right setup, Xingqiu can significantly boost your team's damage output and survivability, making him a cornerstone of many powerful team compositions in Genshin Impact.
First, let's break down the mechanics of Xingqiu's Rain Swords. His Elemental Skill, Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen, creates Rain Swords that orbit around the active character. These swords provide damage reduction, increase resistance to interruption, and heal the active character slightly when they expire or are shattered. The number of Rain Swords depends on the skill level, with a maximum of three at higher levels. His Elemental Burst, Guhua Sword: Raincutter, summons Rain Swords that attack alongside the active character's normal attacks, dealing Hydro damage. This ability is particularly powerful because it allows Xingqiu to apply Hydro consistently, enabling powerful elemental reactions like Vaporize and Electro-Charged.
To use Xingqiu effectively, start by timing his Elemental Skill and Burst correctly. Use his Elemental Skill before engaging in combat to activate the Rain Swords' damage reduction and healing effects. This is especially useful in challenging fights where survivability is key. After using his Elemental Skill, switch to your main DPS character and activate Xingqiu's Elemental Burst. The Rain Swords from his Burst will attack alongside your DPS, applying Hydro and triggering elemental reactions. This setup is particularly effective with Pyro DPS characters like Hu Tao or Diluc, as it enables consistent Vaporize reactions, which amplify damage significantly.
One important tip is to manage Xingqiu's energy recharge. His Elemental Burst has a high energy cost, so building energy recharge is crucial. Aim for at least 200% energy recharge through artifacts and weapons to ensure his Burst is available as often as possible. Sacrificial Sword is an excellent weapon choice for Xingqiu, as it provides energy recharge and has a chance to reset the cooldown of his Elemental Skill, allowing you to generate more energy and maintain uptime on his Rain Swords.
When building Xingqiu, prioritize artifacts that enhance his Hydro damage and energy recharge. A 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate set is ideal, as it increases energy recharge and boosts his Elemental Burst damage based on his energy recharge stat. Alternatively, a 2-piece Heart of Depth and 2-piece Noblesse Oblige set can also work well, providing Hydro damage and Burst damage bonuses. For main stats, focus on Energy Recharge on the Sands, Hydro Damage Bonus on the Goblet, and Crit Rate or Crit Damage on the Circlet, depending on your needs.
In terms of team composition, Xingqiu shines in teams that rely on elemental reactions. Pair him with a Pyro DPS like Hu Tao, Diluc, or Yoimiya to trigger Vaporize, or with an Electro DPS like Raiden Shogun or Keqing for Electro-Charged reactions. Adding an Anemo support like Sucrose or Kazuha can further amplify damage by grouping enemies and reducing their Hydro resistance. A healer or shielder like Bennett or Zhongli can provide additional survivability, allowing Xingqiu to focus on supporting the team.
A common mistake to avoid is neglecting Xingqiu's energy recharge. Without sufficient energy recharge, his Elemental Burst will have long downtimes, reducing his effectiveness as a Hydro enabler. Another mistake is using his Elemental Skill too late in combat, missing out on the damage reduction and healing benefits of the Rain Swords. Always activate his Elemental Skill at the start of a fight to maximize its utility.
Advanced techniques include using Xingqiu's Rain Swords to mitigate damage during enemy attacks. For example, when facing a powerful boss like Azhdaha or the Primo Geovishap, activate Xingqiu's Elemental Skill just before the boss's heavy attack to reduce incoming damage. Additionally, you can use his Rain Swords to apply Hydro to multiple enemies in quick succession, setting up for AoE elemental reactions like Vaporize or Electro-Charged.
In specific scenarios, such as the Spiral Abyss, Xingqiu's consistent Hydro application and damage reduction make him invaluable. In Floor 12, where enemies hit hard and have high HP, Xingqiu's Rain Swords can help your DPS survive while dealing significant damage through elemental reactions. Pair him with a strong Pyro DPS and an Anemo support to clear waves of enemies efficiently.
In summary, to use Xingqiu's Rain Swords effectively, focus on timing his abilities, building energy recharge, and integrating him into a team that leverages elemental reactions. Prioritize artifacts and weapons that enhance his Hydro damage and energy recharge, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting energy management. With the right setup, Xingqiu can significantly boost your team's damage output and survivability, making him a cornerstone of many powerful team compositions in Genshin Impact.