As Genshin Impact's Sumeru Arc is soon coming to an end, players have experienced a unique version update in 3.7. This update not only introduced a new character called Kirara and new hangout quests, but it also expanded significantly on the Genius Invokation TCG. While some fans of Genshin Impact may have found the update lacking, players who focus on the TCG have been delighted with a wealth of new cards, including character cards and action cards. This influx of options and combinations has the potential to shift the meta and provide players with exciting gameplay possibilities. Even for casual players, it offers a great opportunity to express their creativity and enjoy their favorite characters in the TCG format.
One of the playable character cards introduced in Genshin Impact's version 3.7 update is none other than Xiao. His gameplay is not significantly different from his playstyle in the actual game, as it still revolves around activating his burst to unleash powerful plunging attacks. Plunging is considered a somewhat intricate and intricate mechanic in the game, as it involves switching to another character and using a normal attack. Fortunately, Xiao can make great use of this mechanic thanks to his Elemental Burst.
Xiao Card & Skills
Xiao enthusiasts will be delighted to know that acquiring his character card and talent card is quite accessible, even for new players of the TCG. Just like the other character cards, obtaining Xiao's card is possible by using a Match Invitation Letter at the Cat's Tail and emerging victorious in a Friendly Fracas duel against Xiao. Furthermore, players can obtain his talent card by successfully completing the additional missions associated with this duel.
Normal Attack: Whirlwind Thrust
Primary Dice | 1 Anemo |
|---|---|
Secondary Dice | 2 Unaligned |
Effect | Deals 2 Physical DMG. |
Elemental Skill: Lemniscatic Wind Cycling
Primary Dice | 3 Anemo |
|---|---|
Effect | Deals 3 Anemo DMG. |
Elemental Burst: Bane of All Evil
Primary Dice | 3 Anemo |
|---|---|
Energy Cost | 2 Energy |
Effect | Deals 4 Anemo DMG. This character gains Yaksha's Mask. |
Special Effect | Yaksha Mask The character to which this is attached has their Physical DMG dealt converted to Anemo DMG, and they will deal +1 Anemo DMG. When the character to which this is attached uses a Plunging Attack: +2 additional DMG. If the character this card is attached to is the active character, when you perform "Switch Character": Spend 1 less Elemental Die. (Once per Round) Duration (Rounds): 2 |
Xiao's Talent Card: Conqueror of Evil: Guardian Yaksha
Xiao's Talent Card, as expected, centers around his Elemental Burst and grants him additional effects when activating it. Surprisingly, rather than providing extra benefits for plunging attacks, this card reduces the dice cost of his Elemental Skill. While this can be advantageous for efficient dice management and faster energy regeneration to sustain his Elemental Burst, it does not enhance his plunging attack damage or character swapping. Consequently, some players may deem it less essential, especially if they prefer to utilize talent cards of other characters for more impactful effects or opt for more convenient options to fill their action card slots.
Best Xiao Decks
Xiao, despite being a primary DPS character, deviates from his role in the actual gameplay in the TCG. Here, he thrives on swift character swapping rather than staying on the field for an extended duration during his Elemental Burst. Consequently, Xiao is most effective in teams that either facilitate quick swapping or derive advantages from it. Typically, the first two deck options provided below are considered the most popular and optimal choices. However, for players interested in exploring alternative playstyles with Xiao, there is ample opportunity to do so.
Xiao + Raiden Shogun + Bennett
A team composition featuring Raiden Shogun, Bennett, and Xiao is highly popular due to its effective and straightforward strategy and combo rotation. While this deck excels in generating Overload elemental reactions, Xiao's versatility extends beyond solely focusing on Overload. With Raiden Shogun as a teammate, players can benefit greatly from her on-field and off-field DPS capabilities, as well as her ability to generate energy for other characters with her Burst.
Moreover, although Xiao in the TCG does not have self HP drain during his Burst, he can still leverage Bennett's healing abilities and damage boost, particularly when using his Elemental Skill. This allows Xiao to not only rely on quick swapping and his Normal Attack but also land multiple powerful hits with his talent card when Bennett's Elemental Burst inspiration field is active. Therefore, this composition offers tremendous versatility for Xiao, enabling various combinations and adaptability even in the face of disruptions from enemies. However, it is recommended to start with Raiden's Elemental Skill and Burst to set the stage for success in subsequent turns.
Xiao + Venti + Shenhe
Another highly effective and popular team composition involves pairing Venti and Shenhe with Xiao. This combination is particularly powerful because, similar to Xiao's Elemental Burst, Venti's Elemental Skill enables characters to swap with reduced elemental Die usage. Additionally, Venti's talent card decreases the elemental die cost of the next normal attack after using his Burst, which greatly facilitates Xiao's ability to perform plunging attacks with minimal die consumption.
Adding to the synergy, Shenhe's Elemental Skill explicitly states that characters will deal additional Cryo-DMG, including when it is swirled. Since both Venti and Xiao have the capability to swirl Cryo, they can consistently deal extra damage with each turn. It is worth noting that this synergy becomes especially valuable when facing decks that rely on Hydro characters who self-infuse Hydro through specific actions, such as Kokomi, Barbara, and Xingqiu. The additional Cryo damage can cause them to freeze themselves, further disrupting the opponent's strategies.
Xiao + Kokomi + Yae Miko
A less popular but unique team composition that players can experiment with involves Kokomi and Yae Miko. Both of these characters have the ability to create summons, allowing them to be desired off-field. However, they can also actively apply elements on the field and contribute to damage output, particularly since the Electro-Charged reaction can gradually wear down opponents over time. Additionally, Xiao's swirling ability can further spread the applied elements, resulting in multiple Electro-Charged reactions within a single turn.
In this composition, it is recommended that players first set up the summons of both Kokomi and Yae Miko. They can then swap to Xiao and remain with him until his Elemental Burst is ready to be activated. Afterward, players can swap back to Yae Miko to perform a plunging attack, followed by an Elemental Burst that deals devastating additional damage. Finally, they can swap back to Xiao for even more powerful plunging attack damage.
Recommended Action Cards
Among the new variety of action cards introduced in the game, there is one card that Xiao can make great use of, known as the "Plunging Strike" card. This card allows players to directly swap to another character and perform a normal attack that functions as a plunging attack. It can be highly beneficial for Xiao to switch to another character, use their action, and then switch back to Xiao to deal significant damage. It's worth noting that this card requires 3 of the same elemental dice instead of unaligned dice, but it still provides an excellent means for quick swapping and using fewer dice when the opportunity arises.
In addition to the aforementioned card, Xiao teams can greatly benefit from action cards that facilitate quick swapping, such as "Katheryne" and "Leave It To Me!". These cards allow the swapping action to be performed as a quick action, preventing the combo from being interrupted. "Changing Shifts" and "Dawn Winery" can also be useful, although their effects are similar to those of Xiao and Venti, so they may not be necessary in every team composition. Furthermore, players can explore other options for additional dice management, such as cards like "Timmie", "Varanara", and "The Bestest Travel Companion".
Genshin Impact is now available on Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is in development.