Once again, Genshin Impact players find themselves beset on all sides by conundrums. This time around, the game presents players with two important choices, Yelan and Xiao. For those who don't have issues with in-game expenditures, getting both wouldn't be a problem. But majority of the players don't have the spending power (or luck) to get both characters with just 150 wishes.
So us stingy misers— a.k.a. low spenders and free-to-play players, will have to pick a lane here. Such a bifurcation is more divisive than ever before in Genshin Impact. Yelan has proven herself to be one of the best sub-DPS characters in the game, while Xiao has an awesome track record as a hypercarry DPS. There can only be one for those who don't want to bore a Chasm-sized hole through their wallets. So, armpits or angst? Let's count the merits of each.
8 Why Yelan: She's A 2nd, Higher Damage Xingqiu
For accounts that have Raiden Shogun or Hu Tao (or a dedicated Pyro DPS, like Xiangling), then the wiser pick for this banner should be Yelan. Yelan is practically a second and more powerful Xingqiu. Accounts who have both Hu Tao/Xiangling/Diluc or Raiden will do well with another character like Xingqiu so that both "National" teams can be run in the Spiral Abyss.
But apart from that reason, even having a character similar to Xingqiu is already a huge account boost. Xingqiu, after all, was one of the most irreplaceable meta characters and there was no viable substitute for him until now. With Yelan in the picture, Xingqiu can fill in for other roles or teams.
7 Why Xiao: One Of The Best Main DPS Characters
As for why players might want to opt for Xiao, he's been one of the best DPS characters ever since he was released. He's stayed in his high spot for quite some time now. Xiao isn't on the same level as Ganyu or Hu Tao when it comes to hypercarrying but he holds well on his own. Players can still reliably depend on Xiao if they want a 36-star Spiral Abyss run.
Much of this strength as a hypercarry lies in his simple and straightforward playstyle. He has one of those "press button to win" designs— albeit it comes with a minor condition. Almost everything Xiao does also focuses on damage, so players who prefer less intricate gameplay might want to pick him.
6 Why Yelan: She's Easy To Build
With that said, building a main DPS or just about any character in Genshin Impact is always a monumental undertaking. It usually requires months of luck, determination, and foresight. Yelan, however, has been a pleasure for many players. She's one of the few characters in the game who has a wide selection of Artifact sets to pick, and all of her viable choices are similar in power.
Moreover, she takes full advantage of two of the least-desired Artifact stats in the game: HP and HP%. Yelan gains her damage from this stat. So any "trash" HP artifacts an account has lying around is Yelan's treasure. Last but not least, her weapon choices are also some of the most intriguing. She can excel well enough even with just multiple 3-star bows. Free-to-play players will surely find this delightful.
5 Why Xiao: More Active Playstyle
For some players, it's easy to see how Yelan can be a turnoff (physical appearance and design notwithstanding). Sub-DPS characters aren't exactly the most active ones in Genshin Impact. Their playstyles tend to revolve around pressing their utility abilities and then switching to a main DPS. For players who want to spend their hard-earned wishes on a dedicated main DPS character, then Xiao might be the better pick.
For sure, Xiao will be taking up the spotlight for any team he's in since he's a hypercarry. Players will get to see more of him on the field, and this can lend to the feeling of getting one's money's worth since they get to actively use the character they worked towards obtaining.
4 Why Yelan: Better For Future-Proofing An Account
While a new hypercarry character in Genshin Impact is exciting and can be more alluring gameplay-wise, they tend to have a short heyday in the meta. They're easy to replace, after all; any new main DPS of the same element has a chance of power-creeping them in the near future. Yelan, on the other hand, is a sub-DPS.
Supports and sub-DPS characters in Genshin Impact have longer lifespans in the game's meta. They're always relevant because their contributions to teams can be irreplaceable. Such was the case with Xingqiu. With Yelan almost filling in for the same role, players can expect Yelan to have the same relevance or longevity in the meta.
3 Why Xiao: Better For Accounts Without A Hypercarry
Still, there might be exceptions for hypercarries that have a short relevance in the meta. Some accounts might not have a 5-star hypercarry yet. This is the case for new or beginner players whose character rosters typically just consist of the free characters. In this case, Xiao will definitely give a big boost to said types of accounts.
He can easily kill bosses and other big hurdles for new players. Those who haven't gotten Diluc or upgraded their Xiangling— or probably even accounts that need a second hypercarry when starting out in the Spiral Abyss will benefit well in getting Xiao.
2 Why Yelan: She's More Versatile
Another point for Yelan being better for future-proofing accounts is that she can fit into more roles. While her primary purpose seems to be as a sub-DPS or Hydro applicator, Yelan— with the right attack sequence, setup, or weapons can slide into the main DPS role. Such an endeavor requires more investment, however— probably even a Constellation or her signature 5-star weapon.
Regardless, there's no denying the fact that Yelan can fit into more teams. Since she's also a sub-DPS, players can easily assign her into varying teams that require a damage boost. One simply cannot do the same with Xiao as his teams have to be specifically tailored for him alone.
1 Why Xiao: Better Area Damage & Simpler Gameplay
One advantage Xiao does when it comes to dealing with enemies is that he has one of the most consistent wide-radius area damage abilities in the game. Even his Elemental Skill hits multiple enemies in a short line. The real star for Xiao's damage is his Elemental Burst.
It deals high, staggering Anemo damage in a large circle. Dealing with multiple enemies or boss minions has never been easier with Xiao. At the same time, he can also deal consistent damage against single targets and even flinch them from time to time. If this is an important gameplay element for players, then Xiao excels well in this department.
Genshin Impact is available on mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5. A Switch version is currently under development.