Now known as Xianyun in the hustle and bustle of Liyue Harbour, Genshin Impact fans might remember her as "Cloud Retainer" from the Liyue Archon Quest series, a haughty adeptus who takes the form of an elegant crane. With the launch of the Version 4.4 update, she has become a playable character! Read on to find out how to best capitalise on her power with our Xianyun build guide.
In this guide, we'll dive into the best weapons, artifact sets, and team compositions to help you maximise the potential of the legendary Adepti of Jueyun, enabling you to blow away your opponents with ease!
Xianyun has received her first Genshin Impact banner in the much-anticipated Version 4.4 update! To welcome her arrival, feel free to check out our Xianyun farming guide, along with a comprehensive overview of her full ability kit.
Who is Xianyun?
Xianyun is a 5-star Anemo Catalyst user who scales with ATK, and is best deployed as a Healer and/or Plunge Attack buffer.
Cloud Retainer is an Adepti and a powerful illuminated beast who once served as an ally to the Prime of Adepti, known as the Liyue Archon Morax. During the Liyue Archon Quest series, Cloud Retainer only appeared in the form of a white crane with blue, gold, and black plumage.
At last year's Lantern Rite Festival, a trailer revealed Cloud Retainer's human form. She appears as a tall woman with long, navy hair with light blue undertones. Her hair is tied in a high ponytail secured with a hairpin that resembles the sharpness of a crane. She has shorter eyebrows and wears red-framed glasses.
After the Archon War, Cloud Retainer dwelt in her abode on Mt. Aocang, Liyue, and dedicated her time to training her two devoted disciples, Shenhe and Ganyu.
In current times, Cloud Retainer has moved to Liyue Harbour and goes by the name Xianyun. While Xianyun sees herself as inarticulate, reserved, and unyieldingly proud, the people who have come to know her describe her as someone witty, chatty, warm-hearted, and easy to get along with.
Best weapons for Xianyun
Xianyun uses a Catalyst. Her damage and utility scale off ATK, making it the core stat to consider. However, with her hefty Elemental Burst cost, Energy Recharge becomes crucial for unleashing her full potential.
Rarity | Name | Stat | Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
5-star | Crane's Echoing Call
| ATK% | After the equipping character hits an opponent with a Plunging Attack, all nearby party members' Plunging Attacks will deal 28% increased DMG for 20s. When nearby party members hit opponents with Plunging Attacks, they will restore 2.5 Energy to the equipping character. Energy can be restored this way every 0.7s, and can be triggered off-field. |
5-star | Oathsworn Eye | ATK% | Increases Energy Recharge by 24% for 10s after using an Elemental Skill. |
4-star | Favonius Codex | Energy Recharge | CRIT Hits have a 60% chance to generate a small amount of Elemental Particles, which will regenerate 6 Energy for the character. Can only occur once every 12s. |
Xianyun's best in-slot weapon is her signature weapon, Crane's Echoing Call. This weapon perfectly complements her role as a Plunge Attack Enabler and also grants a whopping 16.5% ATK at level 90.
In terms of F2P options, Oathsworn Eye will be your best choice. Because of its Energy Recharge bonus when you cast your Elemental Skill, characters who need 60 or above energy to charge their Elemental Burst, like Xianyun, should use this weapon! If you don't have the Oathsworn Eye (which is understandable as it's an event-exclusive weapon), you can opt for the Favonius Codex. This weapon serves a similar niche and is a great alternative!
Best artifacts for Xianyun
The best artifacts for Xianyun depend on whether your Main DPS can capitalise on Viridescent Venerer's resistance shred. We recommend that you equip Song of Days Past if your Main DPS is a non-reactive unit like Xiao. Otherwise, if your Main DPS uses Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo, use Viridescent Venerer, to capitalise on their potent interaction with Swirl.
Build | Artifacts | Artifact Bonuses |
|---|---|---|
General debuffer | Viridescent Venerer | 4-Piece: Increases Swirl DMG by 60%. Decreases opponent's Elemental RES to the element infused in the Swirl by 40% for 10s. |
General buffer | Song of Days Past
| 4-Piece: When the equipping character heals a party member, the Yearning effect will be created for 6s, which records the total amount of healing provided (including overflow healing). When the duration expires, the Yearning effect will be transformed into the Waves of Days Past effect: When your active party member hits an opponent with a Normal Attack, Charged Attack, Plunging Attack, Elemental Skill, or Elemental Burst, the DMG dealt will be increased by 8% of the total healing amount recorded by the Yearning effect. The Waves of Days Past effect is removed after it has taken effect 5 times or after 10s. A single instance of the Yearning effect can record up to 15,000 healing, and only a single instance can exist at once, but it can record the healing from multiple equipping characters. Equipping characters on standby can still trigger this effect. |
Given that most of Xianyun's damage output and healing capabilities rely on her ATK scaling and Elemental Burst, it is crucial to prioritise stacking as much ATK on her as possible. Additionally, having a good amount of Energy Recharge is essential to ensure her Burst ability recharges quickly. As such, the main stats for her artifacts should be as follows:
- Sands: ATK% or Elemental Recharge
- Goblet: ATK%
- Circlet: ATK% or Healing Bonus%
ATK%, Energy Recharge, and Elemental Mastery are ideal as substats.
Best team comps for Xianyun
Given Xianyun's niche support traits, she shines brightest in Plunge Attack-focused teams, empowering characters with high Plunge DMG multipliers. If you equip her with the Viridescent Venerer artifact set, sub-DPS with Swirl-able elements (Pyro, Hydro, Electro, or Cryo) become even more potent partners. However, she also works as an incredible healer outside of Plunge teams.
Here are some Xianyun teams that maximise her abilities:
- Team 1: Xiao + Xianyun + Faruzan + Furina
This dream team synergises perfectly, showering Xiao with buffs and maximising his plunge DMG. Xianyun and Faruzan boost his ATK and Anemo DMG, while working in tandem with Furina, rapidly stacking Fanfare to maximise his damage output.
- Team 2: Xiao + Xianyun + Zhongli + Furina
This variation trades Faruzan's offensive buffs for Zhongli's impenetrable shield and universal Elemental Resistance shred. Xiao's survivability and damage output remain top-notch, making this team a well-rounded powerhouse.
- Team 3: Diluc + Xianyun + Furina + Zhongli
For players who prefer Diluc's playstyle, this team brings together Xianyun's Hydro application for Vaporise reactions, Furina for Hydro application, and Zhongli for shielding. This combination optimises Diluc's Plunging Attack scaling and damage potential.
That was everything you need to know about Xianyun's best weapons, artifacts, and team compositions in Genshin Impact!
Interested in learning more about Genshin Impact? Discover all that you need to know about the 18 new characters set to be released during Genshin Impact's Fontaine cycle. On top of that, the Version 4.5 banners have been leaked! Get ahead of the curve and start planning your Primogem savings for your future party members with our Fontaine character banner schedule here.
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