What is the best artifact set for a main DPS Xiao in the Spiral Abyss in Genshin Impact?

The best artifact set for a main DPS Xiao in the Spiral Abyss is the Vermillion Hereafter set. This set is specifically designed to enhance Xiao's damage output, making it ideal for his role as a hypercarry in the Abyss. The two-piece bonus increases Xiao's attack by 18%, while the four-piece bonus provides a significant boost to his damage after using his Elemental Burst. When Xiao uses his Burst, he gains a stack that increases his attack by 8% for 16 seconds, and this effect can stack up to four times. Additionally, when the Burst ends, Xiao loses one stack every second, but the damage boost remains active for a short duration, allowing him to maintain high damage output throughout his rotation.

To maximize Xiao's performance in the Spiral Abyss, you need to focus on several key mechanics. First, Xiao's Elemental Burst, Bane of All Evil, is the core of his damage output. During his Burst, Xiao's normal, charged, and plunging attacks are converted into Anemo damage, and his jump height is significantly increased. This allows him to perform high-damage plunging attacks repeatedly, which is his primary source of damage. To ensure Xiao can use his Burst as often as possible, energy management is crucial. Xiao has a high energy cost for his Burst (70 energy), so you need to build a team that can generate energy particles efficiently.

A common team composition for Xiao in the Spiral Abyss includes a battery character like Sucrose or Jean, who can generate Anemo particles to help Xiao recharge his Burst. Sucrose is particularly effective because she can use her Elemental Skill to generate multiple Anemo particles and provide crowd control with her Elemental Burst. Jean, on the other hand, offers healing and additional energy generation, making her a versatile support for Xiao. Another important team member is a shield character like Zhongli or Diona, who can protect Xiao during his Burst, as he is vulnerable to interruptions and damage while plunging. Zhongli is the preferred choice due to his strong shield and resistance shred, but Diona can also work well, especially if you need healing and Cryo application for elemental reactions.

For the fourth slot, you can use a sub-DPS or buffer like Bennett or Albedo. Bennett is an excellent choice because his Elemental Burst provides a significant attack boost and healing, which synergizes well with Xiao's high damage output. Albedo can provide consistent off-field damage with his Elemental Skill and increase the team's overall damage with his Elemental Burst. Alternatively, you can use a character like Fischl or Xingqiu for additional off-field damage and elemental reactions.

When building Xiao's artifacts, prioritize the following stats: attack percent, crit rate, crit damage, and energy recharge. The ideal main stats for his artifacts are attack percent on the sands, Anemo damage bonus on the goblet, and crit rate or crit damage on the circlet, depending on which stat you need more. For substats, focus on crit rate, crit damage, attack percent, and energy recharge. A good crit ratio to aim for is around 70% crit rate and 140% crit damage, but higher is always better if you can achieve it.

For weapons, the best options for Xiao are five-star polearms like Primordial Jade Winged-Spear or Staff of Homa. These weapons provide high base attack and crit stats, which are essential for maximizing Xiao's damage. If you don't have access to five-star weapons, the four-star Deathmatch or Blackcliff Pole are excellent alternatives. Deathmatch provides crit rate and a passive that increases attack and defense, while Blackcliff Pole offers crit damage and a passive that boosts attack after defeating enemies.

In the Spiral Abyss, Xiao's rotation is relatively straightforward. Start by using your support characters' abilities to generate energy and set up buffs or shields. For example, use Sucrose's Elemental Skill to generate Anemo particles, then switch to Bennett to use his Elemental Burst for the attack boost. Next, switch to Xiao and use his Elemental Skill to gain energy, then activate his Elemental Burst. During his Burst, focus on performing plunging attacks to deal maximum damage. Be mindful of your positioning to avoid being interrupted by enemies, and use your support characters' abilities as needed to maintain energy and buffs.

One common mistake to avoid is neglecting Xiao's energy needs. Without sufficient energy recharge or a proper battery, Xiao may struggle to use his Burst consistently, which significantly reduces his damage output. Another mistake is not using a shield character, as Xiao is vulnerable to interruptions and damage during his Burst. Additionally, avoid using Xiao's Elemental Skill too frequently outside of his Burst, as it can waste energy that could be used to recharge his Burst.

Advanced techniques for optimizing Xiao's performance include timing his plunging attacks to maximize damage and energy generation. For example, you can use Xiao's Elemental Skill immediately after a plunging attack to cancel the animation and deal additional damage. Additionally, you can use his Elemental Skill to reposition yourself during his Burst, allowing you to avoid enemy attacks and maintain optimal positioning for plunging attacks.

In specific scenarios, such as facing enemies with high physical resistance or shields, Xiao's Anemo damage can be less effective. In these cases, you may need to adjust your team composition to include characters who can break shields or deal elemental damage. For example, if you're facing Cryo shields, you can use a Pyro character like Bennett or Xiangling to break the shields quickly. Similarly, if you're facing enemies with high Anemo resistance, you may need to rely more on your sub-DPS characters to deal damage.

Overall, Xiao is a powerful main DPS character in the Spiral Abyss, but he requires careful team building and energy management to perform at his best. By using the Vermillion Hereafter artifact set, optimizing his stats, and building a team that supports his needs, you can maximize Xiao's damage output and clear the Abyss with ease.