2nd son of the famous Feiyun Commerce Guild, Guhua swordsman and up and coming author, Xingqiu is a prime case in being more than meets the eye. He is a Hydro Sword user who can both protect and heal his allies while outputting consistent Hydro damage without even having to be on the field, being one of the best in the game at creating reactions for his team. To learn how to get the most out of Liyue’s #1 bookworm, read this guide!
How to get Xingqiu in Genshin Impact?
Xingqiu is a 4-star Character that is always available across all banners. On occasion she gets a rate up banner alongside the featured 5 Star character for the cycle that greatly increases your chance of rolling him, so keep an eye out in order to maximize your chance of getting him!
1. Combat Info
→ Ascensions and Stats
| Ascension Phase | Level | Base HP | Base ATK1 | Base DEF | Special Stat2 (ATK) |
| 0✦ | 1/20 | 857 | 17 | 64 | — |
| 20/20 | 2,202 | 43 | 163 | ||
| 1✦ | 20/40 | 2,842 | 56 | 211 | — |
| 40/40 | 4,257 | 84 | 316 | ||
| 2✦ | 40/50 | 4,712 | 93 | 349 | 6.00% |
| 50/50 | 5,420 | 107 | 402 | ||
| 3✦ | 50/60 | 6,027 | 119 | 447 | 12.00% |
| 60/60 | 6,735 | 133 | 499 | ||
| 4✦ | 60/70 | 7,190 | 142 | 533 | 12.00% |
| 70/70 | 7,897 | 156 | 585 | ||
| 5✦ | 70/80 | 8,352 | 165 | 619 | 18.00% |
| 80/80 | 9,060 | 179 | 671 | ||
| 6✦ | 80/90 | 9,515 | 188 | 705 | 24.00% |
| 90/90 | 10,223 | 202 | 758 |
| Mora | Gems | Character Level Up Materials | Materials | Materials | |
| Ascension Cost (0 → 1) | 20,000 | 1 Varunada Lazurite Silver | N/A | 3 Silk Flower | 3 Damaged Mask |
| Ascension Cost (1 → 2) | 40,000 | 3 Varunada Lazurite Fragment | 2 Cleansing Heart | 10 Silk Flower | 15 Damaged Mask |
| Ascension Cost (2 → 3) | 60,000 | 6 Varunada Lazurite Fragment | 4 Cleansing Heart | 20 Silk Flower | 12 Stained Mask |
| Ascension Cost (3 → 4) | 80,000 | 3 Varunada Lazurite Chunk | 8 Cleansing Heart | 30 Silk Flower | 18 Stained Mask |
| Ascension Cost (4 → 5) | 100,000 | 6 Varunada Lazurite Chunk | 12 Cleansing Heart | 45 Silk Flower | 12 Ominous Mask |
| Ascension Cost (5 → 6) | 120,000 | 6 Varunada Lazurite Gemstone | 20 Cleansing Heart | 60 Silk Flower | 24 Ominous Mask |
→ Talents
Guhua Style-Normal Attack
Normal Attack
Perform up to 5 rapid strikes.
Charged Attack
Consumes a certain amount of Stamina to unleash 2 rapid sword strikes.
Plunging Attack
Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE DMG
Guhua Sword: Fatal Rainscreen-Elemental Skill
Xingqiu performs twin strikes with his sword, dealing Hydro DMG. At the same time, this ability creates the maximum number of Rain Swords, which will orbit your active character.
The Rain Swords have the following properties:
- When a character takes DMG, the Rain Sword will shatter which reduces the amount of DMG taken.
- Increases the character's resistance to interruption.
20% of Xingqiu's Hydro DMG Bonus will be converted to additional DMG Reduction for the Rain Swords.
The maximum amount of additional DMG Reduction that can be gained this way is 24%.
The initial maximum number of Rain Swords is 3.
Using this ability applies the Wet status onto the character.
Guhua Sword: Raincutter-Elemental Burst
Initiate Rainbow Bladework and fight using an illusory sword rain, while creating the maximum number of Rain Swords.
Rainbow Bladework
- Your active character's Normal Attacks will trigger consecutive sword rain attacks, which deals Hydro DMG.
- Rain Swords will remain at the maximum number throughout the ability's duration.
Hydropathic-1st Ascension Passive
When a Rain Sword is shattered or when its duration expires, it regenerates the current character's HP based on 6% of Xingqiu's Max HP.
Blades Amidst Raindrops-4th Ascension Passive
Xingqiu gains a 20% Hydro DMG Bonus
Flash of Genius-Utility Passive
When Xingqiu crafts Character Talent Materials, he has a 25% chance to refund a portion of the crafting materials used.
→ Talent Upgrade
| Talent Level | Required Ascension Level | Mora | Common Materials | Talent Level Up Materials | ||
| 1 → 2 | 2* | 12,500 | 6 Damaged Mask | 3 Teachings of Gold | ||
| 2 → 3 | 3* | 17,500 | 3 Stained Mask | 2 Guide to Gold | ||
| 3 → 4 | 3* | 25,000 | 4 Stained Mask | 4 Guide to Gold | ||
| 4 → 5 | 4* | 30,000 | 6 Stained Mask | 6 Guide to Gold | ||
| 5 → 6 | 4* | 37,500 | 9 Stained Mask | 9 Guide to Gold | ||
| 6 → 7 | 5* | 120,000 | 4 Ominous Mask | 4 Philosophies of Gold | 1 Tail of Boreas | |
| 7 → 8 | 260,000 | 6 Ominous Mask | 6 Philosophies of Gold | 1 Tail of Boreas | ||
| 8 → 9 | 5* | 450,000 | 9 Ominous Mask | 12 Philosophies of Gold | 2 Tail of Boreas | |
| 9 → 10 | 5* | 700,000 | 12 Ominous Mask | 16 Philosophies of Gold | 2 Tail of Boreas | 1 Crown of Insight |
→ Constellation
2. Availability
→ Paimon's Bargains
Xingqiu was available in 2 Paimon's Bargains Starglitter Exchange:
March 2021
September 2021
→ Event Wishes
As a 4-star Character, Xingqiu can be found in the following Wishes
-Standard Wish Wanderlust Invocation (Indefinite)
-Beginners' Wish (Indefinite until all 20 wishes have been made)
-All Character Event Wishes and Weapon Event Wishes
Be on the lookout for when she is announced for a rate up on a Character Event Wish!
3. Personality
At first glance, Xingqiu comes off as a reserved yet polite boy. He changes significantly and is a lot more sociable when he’s around family or close friends like Hu Tao or Chongyun, the latter he especially enjoys pulling pranks on. Just like the heroes in the multitudes of novels he’s read, Xingqiu has a strong innate sense of justice and chivalry, and isn’t afraid to leverage his status and wealth if it means helping those he feels have been wronged. Despite being the ghostwriter for the wildly popular (In Inazuma and Fontaine at least) series “A Legend of Sword”, he has notoriously rough handwriting and his estate’s maids have noted some of his occasional slob tendencies.
4. Appearance
Xingqiu has navy blue hair that in a neatly kept bowl cut with one extended lock on his left side. He has deep amber eyes and wears a tassel on his singular right earring. He wears an ornate navy blue silk coat with golden accents with shorts to match, and at the end of his sleeves are white frills.The back of his shirt frays out into two uneven rectangular coattails, and wears white and gold plaid boots. His vision can be found on a tassel kept on his left hip
5. Character Stories
→ Character Details
Every merchant in Liyue Harbor knows of Xingqiu from the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
All see him as a kind and well-mannered young man who is an excellent student, a top talent in every sense.
As the second-born son of the family, Xingqiu is not required to shoulder the burden of managing the Guild's affairs. However, Xingqiu possesses a unique scholarly talent among his peers — that is, the offspring of Liyue's wealthiest merchants — and was often praised by his tutors as a young student.
Xingqiu's elder brother, while he was learning the family business from their father, firmly believed that Xingqiu would become a great asset to the business one day.
However, little did he know that Xingqiu, after finishing the dauntingly thick volumes on commerce and philosophy, would hollow them out and sneak martial art novels into them, which he read incessantly thereafter.
Sometimes, Xingqiu suddenly disappears for hours at a time with no explanation. When asked why, he simply replies: "A moment of solitude."
→ Character Story 1
To Xingqiu, "a moment of solitude" can mean all sorts of things.
Examples include visiting Wanwen Bookhouse to peruse the latest novels, and going to Heyu Tea House to sample Yun Jin's latest drink.
Sometimes, it means that he is off to fight for justice in the name of chivalry.
Defeating bandits on the road, driving away monsters, helping distressed children by fetching their kites from the tree tops... there are all manner of responsibilities that fall into the category of chivalry.
Inspired by tropes from his beloved martial arts novels — such as the king who wears a disguise and mingles with the common folk — Xingqiu does not hesitate to leverage the power of the Feiyun Commerce Guild to resolve more complex issues when violence isn't the answer.
→ Character Story 2
One day, Xingqiu's older brother came looking for him, only to find he wasn't around. When Xingqiu later returned, he came across his brother in the hallway.
"Your room was a mess, so I cleaned it up. Listen, both you and I are responsible for the reputation of Feiyun Commerce Guild. We have to act the part. If you can't clean up a room, how will you clean up the world? An adeptus once said..."
After half an hour of lecturing, Xingqiu was finally let go but his brother said something strange at the end:
"I'll not enter your room without permission next time... I'll make sure the maids do the same."
Xingqiu had no idea what he was talking about. However, as his brother turned away with a despondent look upon his face, he muttered to himself:
"Those books under his bed... No. No, I shouldn't go looking at what kind of books they are... Xingqiu is growing up after all... Don't want to be lecturing him all the time... Puberty perhaps?"
Afterwards, even Xingqiu found it odd. Expecting that one of the maids would have something to say about the stash of martial arts novels under his bed, he had long since prepared his response, but in the end, no one ever bothered to check his room again.
→ Character Story 3
To keep Xingqiu from spending his whole day at Wanwen Bookhouse at Feiyun Slope, his father agreed to let him learn martial arts from the Guhua clan.
Much to his dismay Xingqiu quickly discovered that Guhua was a dying art that had been in constant decline for years. There was no proper tuition and it turned out the luxury dojo he had signed up for didn't even belong to the clan — they had just rented it temporarily to keep up appearances.
Xingqiu's father was, of course, aware of this state of affairs in advance. To him, the whole thing was just for fun; he thought Xingqiu would be content to learn a spot of bladework for show, not for serious self-defense.
He hadn't counted on the prodigiously intelligent and extremely well-read Xingqiu being as outstanding a talent in Guhua as he was in every other discipline he had turned his hand to. A combination of his own intuition and extensive knowledge of ancient literature meant he was able to completely revitalize the dead art.
Xingqiu was disappointed by Guhua's martial arts program at the beginning, but he found the other tricks they taught to be exactly what he hoped for. Quicklime, smoking sand, paper fish, sword-swallowing, fire-breathing... Xingqiu was spoiled for choice.
He decided on the spot that he would learn them all, no matter how long it will take him. He reasoned that they would be useful to have repertoire during his future exploits as a chivalrous hero.
→ Character Story 4
There are two sides to the swashbuckling Xingqiu's personality. While quiet and unassuming in front of strangers, he is gregarious and chatty in the company of close friends and family. Though more restrained than his elder brother, he even has a playful and mischievous side.
The one who usually bears the brunt of his bizarre sense of humor is someone named Chongyun, an exorcist usually found on one of the forest trails around Liyue.
"Chongyun... I found a haunted house for you to practice in..."
"Chongyun, you have to believe me... It wasn't me who laid traps inside the house— What? It's not haunted? Well... I, uh, couldn't have known that could I?"
"Chongyun... Don't glare at me like that... Look, you're injured. You'd better lie there and get some rest."
"Tell you what, Chongyun, we have a maid who learned the art of essential oil therapy in a nobleman's house in Sumeru... How about I ask her to tend to your wounds? You owe me for this though..."
→ Character Story 5
The notion of chivalry means different things to different people.
Chivalry means listening to your conscience calling you to action when you see injustice, right? Or is chivalry simply knowing right from wrong? No, that's not enough — it must have something to do with being a righteous person...
To Xingqiu, chivalry simply means: Be good, and do good.
As a son of a wealthy merchant in Liyue Harbor, he was born to ride the waves in the world of trade. Notions of Chivalry should have gradually left him as he grew up. However, obtaining a Vision changed everything — it meant he was finally able to accomplish those legendary deeds he could only dream of as a child.
Of course, there is no way he can completely divest himself of his duties in the Guild, but so long as he gets to go out and be the hero even occasionally, he is perfectly content with his life.
The only thing that can wipe the smile from Xingqiu's face is when cynics question the true motives of chivalrous heroes. Rank, reputation, reward, shadowy deals... Whenever Xingqiu hears people smearing the names of true heroes, the expression on his face may not change, but he will be sure to add that person to the special section of his blacklist reserved for people he despises even more than carrots.
→ A Legend of Sword
Xingqiu once wrote a martial arts novel named "A Legend of Sword" based on his own experiences, intending to publish it in Liyue Harbor.
To his surprise, his manuscript was rejected by local publishing houses, who believed that no one would have any interest in a story with "a setting as wildly unrealistic as the plot is banal."
Undeterred, Xingqiu had a few copies printed privately and sneakily placed them on the shelves of Wanwen Bookstore during one of his many trips there. But just as the publishers had suspected, it failed to garner much interest from readers. This was quite a blow to Xingqiu's confidence.
Unbeknownst to him, however, a passing merchant from Inazuma did indeed purchase a copy to bring home, where it received rave reviews. Writers the region over attempted to copy the success of "A Legend of Sword" but none succeeded — it maintains a permanent residency in the number one bestseller spot to this day.
→ Vision
The martial arts school known as the Guhua Clan has been in decline for several hundred years now. In its heyday, the name of the Clan rang like steel throughout the harbor. It is said that the Clan harbored three great secret arts — the ways of the "Light Piercer" for polearms, "Rain Cutter" for swords, and "Life Ender" for those who excelled in both. The three arts would be refined over the generations, and with time would reach their apex. Yet the Clan's strength would continue to wane, leading to them losing their influence... The three arts became diamonds in the rough, quietly awaiting a successor.
After many years, the Guhua Clan would finally get one in Xingqiu. It was he who successfully grasped the ancient "Martial Principle" after merely four years of study.
The Guhua weapon arts stress using the weapon as an extension of your body, and indeed this is a common idea amongst the various schools of martial arts in Liyue. But the way Xingqiu saw it, the basis of the polearm and sword was the use of a Vision. Martial arts were meant to see a Vision as an extension of themselves, and see their weapon as an extension of the Vision. Hence, he says that: the arts of both the polearm and the sword are just the art of the "eye."
Having come to this epiphany, Xingqiu took up a quill and penned a verse on the Martial Principle. Reading it, the Guhua head was shaken with tears, declaring that "it is not Xingqiu who needs the Guhua Clan, but the Guhua Clan that needs Xingqiu." Since then, this verse has been sealed up at the Clan headquarters at Wangshan Hall. Disciples are proscribed from reading it, much less outsiders.
The verse reads thus:
Guhua's arts I have studied long, in its secrets I am trained, now its long-lost depths fall upon me like the coming of blessed rain. The beating heart of Guhua's sword art is as a shower of floating flowers. One amidst may seize a bloom, but those without read only doom.
The Guhua lance is a lantern's dance, like flames in night's deep glooming. Like sparks, they scatter with ease in the dark, then join like the daybreak looming.
They say the sword is as your arm — I say its glint is the beholder's eye, a light like the bright dawn coming.
Those who wander are burdened not. Freely they cut rain, and enlightened they pierce light. Like a snaking dragon, they cannot be subdued. In their right eye the blade, and in the other the spear.
This text should have been free for all to read. The only reason why it was sealed is because of the dreadful handwriting.
6. Namecard
HOW TO OBTAIN:Reach Friendship Level 10 with Xingqiu
Description: Come watch the night rain that brings no rainbow.
7. Constellation
“Fabulae Textile” meaning “Woven Stories” in Latin
8. Quests and Events
→ Archon Quests
N/A
→ Story Quests
- Fabulae Textile Chapter (Xingqiu's story)
- Act I: Bookworm Swordsman
- All parts
World Quests
- Yae Publishing House's Invitation
→ Events
- Moonlight Merriment
- One for the Foodies, Two for the Show
- Three to Get Ready, and Here We Go (cinematic)
9. Character Interactions
Xingqiu mentions the following characters in his/her voiceover lines
-Beidou
-Ningguang
-Chongyun
-Yun Jin
-Hu Tao
-Qiqi
-Xiangling
-Xinyan
-Albedo
-Zhongli
-Shenhe
Xingqiu is mentioned by the following characters in their voiceover lines
-Albedo
-Chongyun
-Ganyu
-Hu Tao
-Keqing
-Ningguang
-Xiangling
-Xinyan
-Yanfei
10. Trivia
-Albedo is the illustrator for Xingqiu’s novel "A Legend of Sword".
-Xingqiu is the first playable character to appear in a non-event World Quest.
-Xingqiu shares an english voice actress with Bennet, Cristina Vee Valenzuela.
11. Explainer Video
12. FAQs
What role is best for Xingqiu?
Xingqiu is one of, if not the best supports in the game, bringing a combination of healing, damage, and damage mitigation. The best part of it all is that he doesn’t even have to be on the field in order for these effects to apply, giving you more time to put out damage on other characters.
What are the best Artifacts for Xingqiu?
-Two options stand out for Xingqiu in this area. If you want something generalist and to give his Elemental Skill some oomph you should run 2 Noblesse Oblige (20% Elemental Burst Damage) and 2PC Heart of Depth (15% Hydro Damage). If you want to go all out in boosting his Elemental Burst Damage and uptime then you should go with 4PC Emblem of Severed Fate (20% Energy Recharge, Elemental Burst DMG increased by 25% of Energy Recharge).
What is Xingqiu’s best weapon?
One of Xingqiu’s biggest strengths is that his best weapons are 4-Stars that are significantly easier to attain than expensive 5 Star ones. Sacrificial Sword is far and away his best option for supportive builds, while Lion’s Roar or Favonius Sword are also competitive options.
13. Final Thoughts
Xingqiu manages to not only be an extremely potent support, which enables some of the strongest team combinations in the game, he’s also rather economical, being relatively easily to obtain and being able to bring a high amount of value whether you’re a high spender or someone who hasn’t spent a dime as a F2P player. He is simply a near invaluable piece, and you can’t possibly go wrong with the Guhua Geek.
