Hey there, Genshin Impact enthusiasts! Today, we're diving deep into everything you need to know about Xiangling, the head chef of the Wanmin Restaurant and a powerful Pyro polearm wielder. Whether you're just starting your adventure in Teyvat or are a seasoned Traveler looking to optimize your team, this guide will cover Xiangling's talents, best builds, team compositions, and essential tips to make her shine.

Who is Xiangling?

Xiangling is a 4-star Pyro character in Genshin Impact, known for her incredible off-field damage potential. She hails from Liyue and works as a chef, which reflects in some of her quirky voice lines and animations. What makes Xiangling stand out is her ability to consistently apply Pyro even when she's not on the field, thanks to her Elemental Burst, Pyronado, and her adorable companion, Guoba. This makes her an invaluable asset for Vaporize, Melt, and Overload team compositions. Her accessibility as a 4-star character combined with her high damage ceiling makes her a favorite among both F2P players and whales.

Why Choose Xiangling?

• Consistent Pyro Application: Xiangling's Pyronado and Guoba provide reliable Pyro application, crucial for triggering reactions like Vaporize and Melt.
• High Off-Field Damage: Her Elemental Burst deals significant damage even when she's not actively fighting.
• Accessibility: As a 4-star character, she's easier to obtain and constellation levels are more achievable.
• Versatility: She fits into various team compositions, making her a flexible choice for different combat scenarios.

Talents Overview

Understanding Xiangling's talents is key to maximizing her potential. Let's break down each of her abilities:

Normal Attack: Dough-Fu

Xiangling's normal attack consists of up to five consecutive spear strikes. While her normal attacks aren't the primary focus, knowing the attack string can be useful in certain situations. The charged attack consumes stamina to lunge forward, dealing damage to enemies along the path. However, it's generally better to focus on her Elemental Skill and Burst for damage.

Elemental Skill: Guoba Attack

Guoba Attack summons Guoba, Xiangling's fiery bear companion, who breathes fire at enemies. Guoba attacks four times, dealing AoE Pyro damage. This skill is incredibly useful for applying Pyro in a localized area. Managing Guoba's placement and understanding its attack pattern is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness. Guoba's attack range is somewhat limited, so positioning Xiangling strategically can ensure that Guoba hits the intended targets.

Elemental Burst: Pyronado

This is where Xiangling truly shines. Pyronado unleashes a swirling vortex of fire that orbits the active character, dealing continuous Pyro damage to nearby enemies. The Pyronado persists even when Xiangling is off the field, making it an incredible source of off-field damage. The duration and damage output of Pyronado make it the cornerstone of many Xiangling builds. Understanding the mechanics of Pyronado, such as its duration and how it interacts with different enemies, is vital for optimizing your damage.

Passive Talents

• Crossfire Cuisine: Increases the Pyro DMG Bonus of all party members by 10% for 10s after Guoba Attack ends. This passive provides a nice damage boost for the team after using Guoba.
• Beware, It's Super Hot!: When Guoba Attack ends, Guoba leaves a chili pepper on the field. Picking up the chili pepper increases ATK by 10% for 10s. This passive encourages strategic use of Guoba and rewards players who actively pick up the chili pepper.
• Chef de Cuisine: When Xiangling perfectly cooks an ATK-boosting dish, she has a 12% chance to receive double the product. A helpful little bonus that can save you some ingredients when cooking.

Best Builds for Xiangling

When building Xiangling, the primary focus is on maximizing her Elemental Burst damage and ensuring she has enough Energy Recharge to consistently use Pyronado. Here are some of the best weapon and artifact choices:

Weapons

• Staff of Homa: Arguably the best weapon for Xiangling, providing a massive HP boost and converting a portion of HP into ATK. Its passive effect further increases ATK when the wielder's HP is below 50%. This is a premium option, but the damage output is unparalleled.
• Engulfing Lightning: Another excellent choice, especially if you struggle with Energy Recharge. It increases ATK based on Energy Recharge and grants additional Energy Recharge after using an Elemental Burst.
• The Catch: A free-to-play friendly option obtained from fishing in Inazuma. It provides Energy Recharge and increases Elemental Burst damage and CRIT Rate.
• Dragon's Bane: A solid choice for Vaporize teams, as it increases damage against enemies affected by Hydro or Pyro.
• Favonius Lance: If your team needs more energy, this weapon can help generate particles for the entire party.

Artifacts

• Emblem of Severed Fate (4-Piece): This is the go-to artifact set for Xiangling. It provides a significant boost to Energy Recharge and increases Elemental Burst damage based on Energy Recharge.
• Crimson Witch of Flames (4-Piece): A viable option for teams that heavily rely on Pyro reactions like Vaporize and Melt. It increases Pyro damage and boosts the damage of Overloaded and Burning reactions.
• Gilded Dreams (4-Piece): An excellent choice if Xiangling is triggering reactions in Dendro-related teams (Burning, Vaporize). It provides significant buffs to Elemental Mastery and ATK.

Artifact Stats

• Sands: Energy Recharge or ATK%
• Goblet: Pyro DMG Bonus
• Circlet: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG (depending on your stats)

Substats: Prioritize CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, Energy Recharge, and ATK%. Aim for a CRIT Rate of at least 50-60% and a CRIT DMG of 120% or higher. Energy Recharge is crucial, especially if you're not using a weapon with Energy Recharge as the main stat. A good benchmark is around 180-220% Energy Recharge.

Team Compositions

Xiangling's versatility allows her to fit into a variety of team compositions. Here are some popular and effective teams:

National Team

• Characters: Xiangling, Bennett, Xingqiu, Chongyun (or Raiden Shogun)
• Role: This team focuses on consistent Vaporize and Melt reactions, with Xiangling as the primary damage dealer.
• Strategy: Bennett provides ATK buff and Pyro resonance, Xingqiu enables Vaporize, and Chongyun (or Raiden Shogun) offers additional utility or damage.

Raiden National Team

• Characters: Xiangling, Bennett, Xingqiu, Raiden Shogun
• Role: A variation of the National Team, replacing Chongyun with Raiden Shogun for increased energy generation and consistent damage.
• Strategy: Raiden Shogun helps recharge the team's energy and provides sustained damage during her Burst.

Vaporize Team

• Characters: Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, Sucrose (or Kazuha)
• Role: Focuses on maximizing Vaporize reactions with Hydro application from Xingqiu and Pyro application from Xiangling.
• Strategy: Bennett provides ATK buff and Pyro resonance, while Sucrose (or Kazuha) shreds enemy resistance and groups enemies together.

Melt Team

• Characters: Xiangling, Bennett, Rosaria (or Kaeya), Sucrose (or Kazuha)
• Role: Utilizes Melt reactions with Cryo application from Rosaria (or Kaeya) and Pyro application from Xiangling.
• Strategy: Bennett provides ATK buff and Pyro resonance, while Sucrose (or Kazuha) shreds enemy resistance and groups enemies together.

Dendro Team

• Characters: Xiangling, Dendro Traveler (or Nahida), Xingqiu, Bennett
• Role: Utilizing Burning and Vaporize reactions with Dendro cores.
• Strategy: Dendro Traveler (or Nahida) applies Dendro, Xingqiu enables Vaporize, and Bennett provides ATK buff and Pyro resonance.

Constellations

While Xiangling is already powerful at C0, her constellations can significantly enhance her abilities:

• C1: Crispy Outside, Tender Inside: Increases Guoba Attack's AoE by 20%. A small but useful upgrade.
• C2: Oil Meets Fire: The last attack in Xiangling's Normal Attack sequence applies a debuff to enemies, reducing their Pyro RES by 15% for 6s. This constellation can increase her damage output, but it requires using her Normal Attacks, which aren't her primary focus.
• C3: Tricky and Delicious: Increases the Level of Pyronado by 3. A significant damage boost to her Elemental Burst.
• C4: Slow Cook: Increases the duration of Pyronado by 40%. This is a game-changing constellation, extending the duration of her Burst and increasing her overall damage potential.
• C5: Guoba à la Carte: Increases the Level of Guoba Attack by 3.
• C6: Condensed Fire: During Pyronado's duration, all party members gain a 15% Pyro DMG Bonus. This constellation provides a substantial damage boost to the entire team.

Tips and Tricks for Playing Xiangling

• Energy Recharge is Key: Ensure Xiangling has enough Energy Recharge to consistently use Pyronado. This is the most crucial aspect of her build.
• Guoba Placement: Pay attention to Guoba's placement to ensure it hits the intended targets. Position Xiangling strategically to maximize Guoba's effectiveness.
• Use Bennett: Bennett's ATK buff and Pyro resonance synergize perfectly with Xiangling, significantly boosting her damage output.
• Optimize Rotations: Practice your team's rotations to ensure consistent Pyro application and maximize reaction damage.
• Take Advantage of Reactions: Build your team around reactions like Vaporize and Melt to amplify Xiangling's damage.

Final Thoughts

Xiangling is a powerhouse in Genshin Impact, capable of dealing incredible off-field damage and fitting into a variety of team compositions. Whether you're a new player or a veteran, investing in Xiangling is a worthwhile endeavor. By understanding her talents, building her effectively, and utilizing her in the right team, you can unlock her full potential and dominate the Spiral Abyss. So go ahead, give Xiangling a try, and watch your enemies melt away!