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Maximizing Xiao’s Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Energy Recharge

The ideal Energy Recharge (ER) for Xiao in Genshin Impact isn’t a fixed number carved in stone; it’s a dynamic value that depends heavily on your team composition and playstyle. However, as a general guideline, aim for 120% to 140% ER. This range allows him to consistently use his Elemental Burst, Bane of All Evil, which is the cornerstone of his damage output. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of ER for the Vigilant Yaksha and explore how to optimize it for peak performance.

Understanding Xiao’s Energy Needs

Xiao’s playstyle revolves around repeatedly activating his Elemental Burst. During the burst, he gains increased attack damage, enhanced jumping ability, and converts his attacks into Anemo damage. However, this powerful state comes at a cost: he continuously loses HP. Therefore, consistent burst uptime is critical for both maximizing damage and mitigating the risk of him being defeated. Since his energy cost is 70, this could be hard, but with enough ER, can be easily achieved!

Factors Influencing Xiao’s Energy Recharge Requirements

Several factors affect how much ER Xiao needs to function effectively:

Team Composition: This is the most crucial factor. Running Xiao in a double or triple Anemo composition drastically reduces his ER needs. Having another Anemo character (or two) generates Anemo particles, which provide more energy to Xiao than particles of other elements.
Weapon Choice: Some weapons, like the Favonius Lance, provide Energy Recharge as a secondary stat and generate Elemental Particles upon triggering their passive effect. Equipping such weapons on your support characters can significantly alleviate Xiao’s energy problems.
Constellations: Xiao’s C1 (Cyclone of Chaos) grants him an additional charge of his Elemental Skill, Lemniscatic Wind Cycling. More skill uses translate to more energy generation, lowering his ER requirements.
Enemy Type: In scenarios with multiple enemies, they generate more Elemental Particles as they are defeated. This means Xiao will receive more energy passively, lessening the need for high ER. In boss battles with only one enemy, high ER is crucial.
Playstyle: How frequently you use your supports’ Elemental Skills and how efficiently you collect particles influence Xiao’s energy economy.

Recommended ER Values Based on Team Composition

Here’s a more specific breakdown of recommended ER based on common team setups:

Solo Anemo (Xiao + Non-Anemo Team): 180%+ ER is generally required for acceptable uptime. This scenario is not recommended due to the reliance on enemy energy drops.
Double Anemo: 140% – 160% ER. This is a more manageable range, allowing for better stat allocation on artifacts. A Favonius weapon on your support character is highly recommended.
Triple Anemo: 120% – 140% ER. With three Anemo characters generating particles, Xiao’s energy needs are substantially reduced. This setup allows for greater flexibility in artifact stats and weapon choices.

Optimizing ER Through Artifacts and Weapons

Artifacts: The main source of ER on artifacts comes from the Energy Recharge stat on the sands. Substats on other artifacts (flower, feather, goblet, circlet) can also contribute significantly. Prioritize ER substats after Crit Rate, Crit Damage, and ATK%.
Weapons: As mentioned, the Favonius Lance is an excellent choice for support characters in a Xiao team. Other weapons like Skyward Spine provide ER as a secondary stat, but are often better suited for characters who benefit from the weapon’s other effects.

Over-Capping ER: Diminishing Returns

While having sufficient ER is crucial, overdoing it can lead to wasted stats. Once Xiao can consistently use his burst off cooldown, any additional ER provides diminishing returns. Prioritize other offensive stats like ATK, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage once you’ve met the required ER threshold. It’s far more useful to ensure you have a good damage percentage stat.

Xiao’s Ideal ER in Summary

Xiao needs to have his energy recharge around 120% to 140% ER to consistently use his Elemental Burst.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Xiao’s Energy Recharge

1. What happens if Xiao doesn’t have enough Energy Recharge?

If Xiao lacks sufficient Energy Recharge, you’ll struggle to activate his Elemental Burst consistently. This leads to a significant drop in damage output and increased vulnerability since he is reliant on burst uptime to survive.

2. Is it better to prioritize ER over Crit Rate/Damage for Xiao?

No. Crit Rate and Crit Damage are vital for maximizing Xiao’s damage. Prioritize them after meeting the required ER threshold. A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 70% Crit Rate and then maximize Crit Damage.

3. Which Anemo characters are the best batteries for Xiao?

Sucrose, Kazuha, and Jean are excellent battery options. Sucrose provides a substantial amount of energy with her Elemental Skill and Burst. Kazuha offers both energy and damage buffs. Jean can act as a healer and battery simultaneously. Venti is also viable, especially against groups of enemies, although his burst can sometimes lift enemies out of Xiao’s plunge range.

4. Does Xiao’s C1 significantly reduce his ER needs?

Yes, Xiao’s C1 provides an extra charge of his Elemental Skill, translating to more energy generation. This can reduce his ER needs by approximately 10-20%, depending on the frequency of skill usage.

5. Can I use the Emblem of Severed Fate artifact set on Xiao to increase his ER?

While the Emblem of Severed Fate set does increase Elemental Burst damage based on ER, it’s generally not recommended for Xiao. The 2-piece ATK bonuses from sets like Gladiator’s Finale or Shimenawa’s Reminiscence, combined with a 2-piece Viridescent Venerer set, usually provide a better damage boost.

6. How does the Favonius weapon passive work and how does it benefit Xiao teams?

The Favonius weapon passive generates Elemental Particles when the wielder scores a Crit Hit. These particles provide energy to the entire team, significantly alleviating Xiao’s energy problems.

7. Should I use an ER Sands on Xiao if I’m struggling with energy?

If you’re struggling to reach the required ER threshold, using an ER Sands is a viable option. However, once you can consistently use his burst, consider switching to an ATK% Sands for increased damage output.

8. How important is team synergy for Xiao’s energy generation?

Team synergy is crucial. A well-coordinated team with characters who can generate Elemental Particles and provide support buffs can significantly improve Xiao’s overall performance.

9. What are some common Xiao team compositions that address energy issues?

Popular Xiao teams include:

Xiao + Sucrose + Fischl + Bennett: Sucrose provides energy, Fischl provides off-field damage and energy, and Bennett provides healing and ATK buff.
Xiao + Jean + Albedo + Zhongli: Jean acts as a battery and healer, Albedo provides off-field damage, and Zhongli provides shielding and RES shred.
Xiao + Kazuha + Bennett + Xiangling: Kazuha provides energy and damage buffs, Bennett provides healing and ATK buff, and Xiangling provides off-field damage.

10. Does Xiao’s own Elemental Skill generate enough energy for his burst?

Xiao’s Elemental Skill does generate energy, but it’s usually not sufficient to fully charge his burst on its own, especially in solo Anemo compositions. Additional battery support is typically required.

11. Is it worth investing in ER substats on all of Xiao’s artifacts?

It’s worth investing in ER substats until you reach the desired ER threshold. Once you’ve met the requirement, prioritize other offensive stats.

12. How does enemy energy particle generation affect Xiao’s ER needs?

Enemies generate Elemental Particles when they are defeated. Facing multiple enemies means more particles, reducing Xiao’s reliance on ER.

13. What is the impact of the new artifact sets on Xiao’s ER requirements?

The Vermillion Hereafter artifact set focuses on boosting Xiao’s ATK during his burst, which can indirectly impact his energy needs because you need more energy to begin the damage increase. While this set is generally considered his BiS (Best in Slot), it doesn’t directly address energy issues.

14. Is Xiao’s energy recharge more important in Abyss compared to the overworld?

Energy Recharge is generally more important in the Spiral Abyss due to the increased difficulty and the need for consistent burst uptime.

15. Are there any external tools or calculators that can help determine Xiao’s ideal ER?

Yes, Genshin Impact calculators and team optimizers can help you determine Xiao’s ideal ER based on your specific team composition, weapon choices, and artifact stats. These tools simulate energy generation and consumption to provide a more precise ER recommendation.

Understanding and optimizing Energy Recharge for Xiao is vital for unleashing his full potential as a powerful Anemo DPS character. By considering the factors discussed in this guide and tailoring your team composition and artifact choices accordingly, you can ensure that Xiao consistently decimates his enemies with the Bane of All Evil. As the Games Learning Society highlights, understanding the underlying mechanics of games enhances our engagement and strategic thinking. You can explore more insights into game mechanics and learning at the GamesLearningSociety.org.

What is the ideal energy recharge for Xiao?