Understand Xiao
Useful when…
- Repeated AoE Anemo Plunging Attacks during Bane of All Evil.
- Using two stored Skill lunges, including in mid-air, for damage and repositioning.
- Taking advantage of his immunity to damage from his own Plunging Attacks.
Burst and plunge combat
Bane of All Evil lasts 15 seconds at the listed level-one value, costs 70 Energy, and has an 18-second cooldown. During Yaksha's Mask, Xiao gains greatly increased jumping ability, attack area, and attack damage; his attacks become Anemo damage that other elemental infusions cannot override. He continuously loses 3% of his current HP per second at the listed level-one value, and the effect ends if he leaves the field. His Plunging Attacks do not cause him to take damage, but that does not cancel the Burst's ongoing HP drain. This is a field-time commitment: leaving to switch characters ends the state.
Skill and supporting passives
Lemniscatic Wind Cycling lunges through opponents, can be used in mid-air, and starts with two charges; the listed cooldown is 10 seconds. It gives Xiao a way to reposition or deal a separate Anemo hit, while Dissolution Eon increases the damage of subsequent Skill uses by 15% per stack for seven seconds, up to three stacks, refreshing when a new stack is gained. Conqueror of Evil increases all Xiao damage by 5% while the Burst is active, plus another 5% for every three seconds it persists, to a 25% maximum. His exploration passive reduces climbing Stamina use for his party by 20%, without stacking with identical passives.
Talent and ascension priorities
The Normal Attack track governs the Plunging Attack damage that defines his Burst field time, making it a direct investment for a plunge-focused Xiao. The Burst track improves Bane of All Evil's damage bonus and drain values, while the Skill track improves his lunges and matters more if you use them as a meaningful damage source. Ascension uses Vayuda Turquoise, Qingxin, Slime materials, and Juvenile Jade at later stages. The supplied ascension costs do not describe a special bonus level, so treat ascension stages and talent levels as separate investments.
Limits and common mistakes
The Burst drains current HP continuously, so his plunge immunity should not be mistaken for general damage immunity or protection from the Burst's own drain. Switching Xiao off field ends Yaksha's Mask, which makes swaps during the state costly. His Anemo conversion cannot be overridden, so another character's elemental infusion will not change his Burst attacks. Skill lunges can be used mid-air, but their two charges are distinct from the Burst's jump enhancement.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Bane of All Evil supplies stronger Anemo attacks and jumps while continuously draining HP.
- Leaving the field ends the Burst, limiting mid-state swaps.
- Normal Attack investment is relevant to the signature Plunging Attacks; Skill investment depends on use of the lunges.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming plunge damage immunity prevents the Burst's HP drain.
- Switching Xiao out during the Burst and expecting its state to continue.
- Expecting another elemental infusion to override the Burst's Anemo conversion.