Supports

Faruzan

• Faruzan is Xiao’s best support. She offers a vast range of utility from immense buffs to non-5*-locked Anemo RES Shred, all of which Xiao benefits from. She single-handedly raises Xiao’s personal damage by an approximate 40%-60% depending on buffs and team.

• She enables other CRIT-built Anemo units to be run alongside Xiao as they can benefit from the aforementioned buffs too.

• Before C6, due to her limited particle generation, it is recommended to run her along with another Anemo battery.

Recommended Xiao ER: 140% (Pre-C6 Faruzan), 120–130% (C6 Faruzan)

See Faruzan Guide for more details.

Xianyun

• Xianyun is a premium Xiao support, rewarding high investment builds at C0 by providing up to 9000 Flat DMG (or 18000 Flat DMG at C2) to 8 of Xiao's Plunge Attacks to a single enemy while her Burst is active.

• She also provides consistent team-wide healing, synergizing well with HP-draining mechanics like Furina's Fanfare stacking.

• She generates 5 Anemo particles per Elemental Skill, lowering ER requirements in Triple Anemo compositions.

• Her Burst buffs and heals follow the active character.

Energy Requirements

• She generally wants to funnel her Skill's particles to herself, so she prefers to be run alongside another Anemo battery (e.g., C1 Sucrose, C4/Sacrificial Sword Lynette).

• C6 Faruzan is required to maximize her value while keeping Xiao's ER requirements low. Other Anemo batteries (e.g., Sucrose, Lynette) can work but at severely reduced efficacy.

• Her C1 can help reduce ER needs.

Recommended Xiao ER: 115% (C6 Faruzan)–140% (other)

See Xianyun Guide for more details.

Sucrose

• Sucrose is the best possible Battery one can have for Xiao due to her multiple Skill charges and ability to prefunnel his Burst.

• At C0 she should use Sacrificial Fragments, but at C1+ she can equip whatever Catalyst suits your needs, generally Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers (TTDS) or Prototype Amber.

Recommended Xiao ER: 120–130%

Jean

• Jean’s main strength lies in her multi-purposeness. She can be built as a Burst DPS, while still being an excellent party-wide healer and good battery.

• Jean enables Xiao Furina teams by sustaining the team's HP loss and stacking Fanfare points quickly.*

• Jean's C4 provides 40% Anemo RES shred within her Burst field.*

• 4pc Ocean-Hued Clam is a good alternative to 4pc NO for Burst DPS Jean. For details, please see this sheet.

*Note: With Furina or her C4, it is important to ensure Jean can comfortably Burst every rotation.

Recommended Xiao ER: 130–140%

Lynette

• Lynette is a great battery option after Sucrose and C6 Faruzan, and players can get a free copy once they reach AR25, making her the best free-to-play Anemo support.

• She generates 4 Anemo particles on her Skill, and can get an extra Skill charge once she reaches C4.

• In addition to her batterying capabilities, she holds off-field DPS potential once built, especially when paired with Faruzan.

Recommended Xiao ER: 120–130%

Sayu

• Functions much like Jean, but requires the below technique to battery Xiao properly.

• A short Hold Skill must be performed in order to hit an enemy with both the roll and kick to generate 3 particles. If only the kick lands, only 2 particles will be generated.

Recommended Xiao ER: 130–140%

Kazuha

• Does not buff Xiao’s Anemo DMG. Thus, should only be used in conjunction with either Faruzan for a CRIT build, or a strong Elemental Off-field DPS to buff their damage.

• With a Favonius or Sacrificial Sword, generates a lot of energy and has great grouping.

• Kazuha's Elemental Skill and Burst unfortunately takes quite a bit of time, which results with the loss of other party member's ability duration for Xiao. His long field presence also equals to extending rotations.

Recommended Xiao ER: 130%

Venti

• While Venti is a decent battery, his Elemental Burst can hurt Xiao’s DPS against smaller enemies that are lifted up in his Burst.

• If you want to use Venti’s Burst for Off-field damage, it should be used at the start of rotations to group enemies and minimize interference with Xiao’s plunges.

Recommended Xiao ER: 130%

Anemo Traveler

• Elemental Burst shreds Anemo Resistance at C6.

• Burst can be detrimental against smaller enemies as it carries them away from Xiao. Thus, it should be used against sturdier enemies.

• Burst requires high ER to use every rotation.

• A Quick Hold Skill should be utilized to generate 3-4 particles (Tap Skill only generates 2).

Recommended Xiao ER: 140–150%

 Zhongli

• One of Xiao’s best supports.

• His shield is the strongest in the game, allowing Xiao to resist stagger from enemies and focus on plunging safely, even permitting healer-less comps.

• Requires no Energy management to function effectively.

• Zhongli’s shield offers Anemo RES Shred at C0 and easy access to Geo Resonance.

• Zhongli’s Burst can crowd control by petrifying enemies. If built for damage, his Burst and Skill resonance damage can also deal notable Burst and off-field damage.

• Can run 4pc TotM or 4pc NO to buff his team.

 Chiori

• Chiori is a Geo off-field damage dealer whose Elemental Skill lasts most of Xiao's Burst duration (17s). Her Skill cannot be destroyed.

• She is recommended to be utilized with Zhongli to maximize her damage potential:

  • His Geo construct enables Chiori's second doll.

  • His shield activates Geo Resonance, providing Geo RES shred.

• She generates 1.2 particles with an interval of 3 seconds, making her a decent energy provider.

• Her C1 is not necessary for Xiao teams due to her generally being used with Zhongli.

 Albedo

• Comfortable off-field DPS; one of the only in this role whose Skill lasts the entirety of Xiao’s Burst duration.

• Decent particle generation through Elemental Skill (around equal to C6 Fischl).

• Has cheap F2P weapon options, including Cinnabar Spindle and R5 Harbinger of Dawn.

• Best utilized with Zhongli to enable Geo Resonance in order to unlock full off-field DPS potential.

 Geo Traveler

• Only recommended to be utilized with Zhongli, who enables Geo Resonance.

• If invested, can dish out considerable Burst damage through their Elemental Skill and Burst.

• CRIT Rate increased by 10% within their Elemental Burst.

• Can run 4pc NO to offer ATK buff on Burst.

• Elemental Burst can help contain enemies.

• If used with Zhongli, can help proc 4pc TotM buff more effectively by expanding resonance area.

• If used with a built Zhongli, can deal passive damage through resonance ticks.

Bennett

• Elemental Burst offers fast healing.

• Offers ATK buff from both his Talent and 4pc NO.

• Due to Xiao’s plunges knocking back enemies, it can be hard to stay within his circle.

• His ER needs in a Xiao team is higher than others, and you may want more ER% than average to be able to Burst every rotation with ease. 

Xiangling

• Offers powerful off-field Pyro DMG through her Pyronado, which travels at ground level.

• Often requires Bennett or Raiden in the same comp to funnel her Burst due to its expensive energy cost.

• Even with Bennett, ensuring she has enough energy for continuous Bursting without wasting time batterying her can be difficult. She is prone to extending your rotations.

Thoma

• Thoma offers a decent shield with long uptime. However, his shield stacking requires lingering NAs to proc, which can make him tricky to use for players.

• C6 offers 15% Plunge DMG Bonus. However, its value is diminished given Xiao’s abundance of DMG Bonus.

• Energy hungry. Requires at least Bennett to help fund his Burst. Recommended to have at least C4 to use with Xiao.

Furina

• Furina provides strong off-field DPS and buffs with full uptime and no range limitations (i.e., no "circle impact").

  • Furina's Skill (Ousia) provides strong off-field DPS.

  • Furina's Burst provides up to 75% DMG Bonus at C0 and up to 100% DMG Bonus with her C1.

• Incentivizes the use of a party-wide healer, such as Xianyun or Jean, to quickly stack Fanfare. Please see Teams for more details.

• As a solo Hydro, Furina will generally require between 180–200% ER (or lower depending on the number of Favonius weapons in the team).

Yelan

• Sustains Burst for most of Xiao’s field time and provides DMG Bonus% from her A4 passive, making her a solid buffer and off-field DPS.

• Requires using JET or NA cancels to utilize damage, but is easier to proc than most as there is no input delay.

• Has high ER requirements to sustain Burst uptime; therefore may require Raiden or Favonius Weapons.

Barbara

• Can equip Prototype Amber or Everlasting Moonglow with 4pc Clam to deal passive bubble damage. She can proc 7 bubbles over her E duration.

• Can equip Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers to provide ATK buff (although it complicates rotations).

• Applies Wet to Xiao, making him susceptible to Freeze, Electrocharge, etc. depending on the Abyss enemies, this can make her difficult to play with. 

• No particle generation.

• Note: Barbara is only included in our guide as she's the only true free healing unit. If you have other built healers, we recommend using them solely on the merit that they're built. 

Xingqiu

• Provides stagger resistance and supplemental healing.

• Requires using JET or lingering NA cancels between plunges in order to utilize as a proper off-field DPS.

Diona

• Provides a solid shield that is the most practical after Zhongli’s.

• Solid healing, though ticks are slower than other options.

• Can consistently generate particles with Favonius Bow due to her multi-hit Hold Elemental Skill.

• Has potential to battery other Cryo supports in a double Cryo team comp.

Rosaria

• Offers off-field Cryo DMG through her Burst.

• Consistent Cryo application allows her to maintain Cryo aura on enemies for Cryo Resonance uptime (usually with Diona).

• When maximized, A4 passive shares an extra 15 CRIT Rate.

Qiqi

• Strongest off-field Healer.

• 4pc Ocean-Hued Clam permits Qiqi to be an off-field DPS. 

• Only Liyue healer (for Lithic comps).

• No particle generation.

Raiden 

• Please see more details in our Xiaoden guide.

• Enables Xiao to continuously Burst with minimal ER requirements and provides flexibility with rotations by eliminating the need to funnel.

• Mitigates Xiao's disadvantages against phased bosses and in energy-scarce scenarios.

• Allows Xiao to use teammates with high Burst costs.

• Even at C0, Raiden's personal damage is worth the rotation extension.

• Raiden needs more investment than other battery options, especially Sucrose who only needs TTDS.

Fischl

• Provides considerable single-target off-field DPS.

• Can also be converted into a pure support build with Elegy for the End and 4pc TotM for buffing purposes.

• Fischl’s C6 can be procced with NA cancels between Xiao’s plunges.

Yae

• Acts as off-field damage dealer with E turrets.

• Convenient source of frontloaded Burst damage.

• Her high field time may be detrimental to utilize without proper understanding of rotations.