Genshin Impact Xinyan guide: weapons, artifacts, and more

Genshin Impact's pyro-fueled rockstar can really pack a punch with high DPS output she can also perform a supportive role, equipping her with the right weapons and artifacts amplify those inherent abilities.

Genshin Impact Xinyan guide

Weapons

If you want to run Xinyan primarily for her DPS you have a lot of Claymore options open to you (lists and community discussions have over 12 viable options), if you want to edge her more towards a supportive, shielding role you are going to have a slightly narrower field to work with.

Whatever your priorities, here are some of the frontrunners:

Skyward Pride

(Picture: miHoYo)

A relatively balanced option that favours Xinyan’s Elemental Burst: more Energy Recharge plus a hefty damage amp from Sky-ripping Dragon Spine and its vacuum blades mean this build is great for blitzing opponents after using Riff Revolution. Great for burst heavy play styles that aren’t as focused around consistent damage.

The Unforged

(Picture: miHoYo)

A weapon made for Noelle and Xinyan. Stacking damage and a 20% shield strength increase is a match made in heaven for a Xinyan that wants to be on the field for an extended period. It’ll still work in a quick-swap or low-field time build for Xinyan but you don't get as much work done with Golden Majesty.

Even better, it’s currently got a massively upped drop rate on the current Epitome Invocation Banner. Catch it while you can!

Sacrificial Greatsword

(Picture: miHoYo)

The best option for a supportive Xinyan - Energy Recharge means more Elemental Bursts, and Composed means a significant amount more shielding via refunded Elemental Skill cooldowns. In other words, exactly what you’re after from a weapon.

If you are in need of a non-rolled option, consider Prototype Animus. It favours a damage heavy build, but it is both forgeable and effective so it is a worthy candidate to consider.

Artifacts

(Picture: miHoYo)

The simplest artifact set-up to run on Liyue’s first (and only) rockstar is 2-piece Gladiator’s Finale with  2-piece Bloodstained Chivalry. Attack and Physical DMG amps work well for both a main DPS and sub DPS build - the latter working particularly well if you want to be quick-swapping between characters a lot. 

You can switch out the 2-piece Gladiator’s Finale for 2-piece Noblesse Oblige for a more burst damage and supportive build, trading out some consistent damage for a 20% increase in Elemental Burst DMG.

• Read more: Genshin Impact Jean guide: weapons, artifacts, and more 

Even better, you can just run Full Noblesse Oblige if you are using Xinyan primarily for her skills. You lose out on consistent damage, but the party wide buffs her Riff Revolution provides with this set-up are very potent.

At the other end, for DPS builds on Xinyan, Full Gladiator’s Finale or Bloodstained Chivalry are in contention alongside the aforementioned 2/2 split, but Full Retracing Bolide is the best numbers for consistent damage. If you can keep Xinyan’s shield active, then the 40% damage increase to basic attacks is nigh-unbeatable.

Lastly, Instructor and The Exile make for good supportive options if you’re struggling to find good versions of other sets.

(Picture: miHoYo)

Artifact Stats

Here’s where you going to what to prioritise Xinyan’s stats: 

Main/Sub DPS Stat Priorities

1. Physical DMG Goblet (key)
2. Crit Rate ( 50~%+)
3. Crit DMG
4. ATK
5. Energy Recharge
6. DEF

Support Stat Priorities

1. Physical DMG Goblet (key)
2. DEF
3. Crit Rate
4. Crit DMG
5. ATK
6. Energy Recharge

It’s important to note here that at Constellation Level 2, Xinyan’s Elemental Burst has 100% Crit Rate, which means even in (frankly, especially in) a supportive build, Crit DMG becomes worth an incredible premium. You can get the best of both worlds that way: a solid blast of extra DPS while still being a great shielding support.

Play Patterns

Xinyan is all about getting stuck in. Her shield from her Elemental Skill, Sweeping Fervour, gets stronger based on the number of enemies hit (with a reduced threshold via her Ascension Skill “The Show Goes On, Even Without An Audience…”), which means you want to be hitting a minimum of two enemies every time you use this ability.

Similarly, her Elemental Burst, Riff Revolution, hits enemies with a wall of sound (Physical DMG) and pyrotechnics (unsurprisingly, Pyro DMG) that radiates out from Xinyan. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to be in the thick of things. Live that mosh pit life, basically.

Lead Guitarists… always taking the spotlight. (Picture: miHoYo)

If you’re playing her as a burst or support character, that’s pretty much it - fire off her skills, then let other characters pick up where Xinyan left off. If you’re running her as a DPS, then keep that shield on and make the most of the +15% Physical DMG it provides thanks to “... Now That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll!”.

If you can get Xinyan to Constellation Level 2 (certainly plausible - she’s got an upped drop rate on the Gentry of Hermitage Banner right now), her Elemental Burst is guaranteed to crit and automatically activates a tier 3 “Rave” level shield from her Elemental Skill. If you can get her to this point, her power in pretty much every role is hugely increased, but particularly supportive and burst-damage styles.

As for teammates, Xinyan is great to pair up with other Physical DMG characters (Diluc and Keqing work, but so do most Claymore Users) due to her Elemental Skill buffing that damage type. Beyond that, as a Pyro user Cryo and Hydro are always in high demand because of the brutal damage output of Vaporise and Melt.

• Read more: Genshin Impact Keqing guide: weapons, artifacts, and more 

If you can consistently proc Superconduct with Cryo and Electro for the 40% Physical RES debuff on enemies, then consider that as another very strong option, but be advised Xinyan can often accidentally activate Overload/Melt instead, which cleans off elements... 

With that, your Xinyan soundcheck is complete. Time to start the show!