Quick Take: In Genshin Impact, going full 4pc Vermillion Hereafter edges out 2pc mixes—like Viridescent Venerer paired with ATK% sets—by a solid 5-10% DPS boost, thanks to those juicy up to 48% ATK spikes kicking in during Burst. It plays right into Xiao's 3% HP drain per second, but you'll need 120-130% ER and a clean 1:2 CRIT ratio to make it sing. For F2P folks, 2pc mixes still hit 95% of that DPS while giving you more wiggle room on RES shred. Tailor it for plunge damage in Abyss, leaning on your substats and team setup.
Xiao's Artifact Headache: Where to Even Start?
Why These Sets Can Make or Break Xiao
Picture this: Xiao pops his Burst, Bane of All Evil, and suddenly every attack turns Anemo with a whopping +58.5% DMG bonus at level 1—scaling all the way up to +108.9% at level 13. But it costs 70 energy and drains 3% of his HP every second for 15 seconds. That's where smart artifact sets come in, pumping up ATK, CRIT, and Anemo DMG to shave 10-15% off your Abyss clear times. We're talking plunge multipliers that start at 82% base (on the low end) and climb to 204% high, pushing to 433% with a level 10 Normal Attack talent.
To get rolling:
Check your ER in the character menu—aim for 120-130%.
Slot in the Flower for flat HP, Plume for flat ATK, and Sands for ATK% or ER.
Hit up a dummy and clock your 15-second Burst DPS.
If you're piecing together Xiao's full kit, swing by our Genshin Impact Xiao Complete Build Guide for the deep dive.
Breaking Down 4pc Vermillion vs. the 2pc Shuffle
The 4pc Vermillion Hereafter? It starts with +18% ATK from the 2pc bonus, then the real magic hits: Nascent Light gives +8% ATK for 16 seconds after Burst, and you stack up to four Hemorrhage effects (+10% ATK each, maxing at +40%) every time you lose HP on a 0.8-second timer. For Xiao, that HP drain means full stacks in just 3.2 seconds, netting +48% ATK total. Dropped on March 30, 2022, in Version 2.6, and it's stayed untouched through 5.3. Simulations peg it 5-10% ahead of 2pc mixes, like Viridescent Venerer (VV: +15% Anemo DMG and 40% Anemo RES shred on Swirl) plus 2pc Gladiator's Finale (+18% ATK).
Deciding factor? Here's how:
Grind Vermillion pieces from the Lost Valley domain in the Chasm (AR 45+, 20 resin per run, best on Wed/Sat/Sun for those 5-stars).
Lock in 4pc if your CRIT Rate beats CRIT DMG in a 1:2 ratio and ER's at 120%; otherwise, mix it up.
Plug everything into Genshin Optimizer for a reality check.
Unpacking the Vermillion Hereafter 4-Piece Magic
How the Bonuses Actually Work
That 4pc bonus? It drops Nascent Light for +8% ATK over 16 seconds, then layers on Hemorrhage stacks—up to four at +40% ATK—whenever HP dips every 0.8 seconds. They vanish if you swap characters or Burst again. The pieces break down like this: Flower for flat HP, Plume for flat ATK, Sands for ATK% or ER, Goblet for Anemo DMG, and Circlet for CRIT Rate or DMG. In Xiao's 15-second Burst (with an 18-second cooldown), his 3% HP-per-second drain racks up 3-4 stacks fast, hitting +48% ATK in 3.2 seconds. That juices his +5% DMG passive from Conqueror of Evil, capping at 25%.
Make it happen:
Fire off Burst right after two Skills—Lemniscatic Wind Cycling drops 3 particles each, netting 60 ER at 100% efficiency.
Stick on-field for those plunges to hold the stacks.
Push pieces to +20, chasing CRIT Rate (50-60% total with his +24.2% ascension stat), CRIT DMG (200%), ATK%, and ER.
Why It Clicks So Well with Xiao's Playstyle
Xiao's Burst drain? It's tailor-made for these stack triggers, supercharging plunge DPS right out the gate. At level 90, he's got base stats of 12,736 HP, 349 ATK, and 799 DEF, plus that +24.2% CRIT Rate from ascension. It edges out stuff like 4pc Desert Pavilion Chronicle (20-40% DMG after Skill, but only 2-second stacks) especially for those full 15 seconds of plunging. Snag C1 for an extra Skill charge, and ER drops to 80-90% for smoother uptime.
To sync it up:
Pre-Burst, spam Skill twice for Dissolution Eon stacks (+15% Skill DMG, max three over 7 seconds).
Burst straight into plunges, canceling animations with a double jump.
Team him with Jean to offset that 2-3% HP drain at higher talent levels.
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Mixing It Up: 2-Piece Strategies That Actually Work
The Go-To: Gladiator + Emblem Vibes
Pair 2pc VV (+15% Anemo DMG, plus 40% Anemo RES shred on Swirl) with 2pc Gladiator's Finale (+18% ATK) or Emblem of Severed Fate (+18% ATK with ER perks), and you're pulling 95% of 4pc Vermillion's DPS—substats be kinder too. VV's shred amps team Anemo damage by slashing RES 40% in reaction-heavy squads, holding its own in Swirl-focused rotations but dipping 5% behind in straight hypercarry mode.
Quick setup:
Farm VV from Mondstadt's Valley of Remembrance domains.
Grab ER Sands if you're under 120%.
Pair with Sucrose to trigger those Swirls and see the difference.
Other Combos Worth Your Time
Try 2pc Desert Pavilion Chronicle (+15% plunge DMG after Skill) with 2pc Vermillion for a hybrid twist; or 2pc Berserker's (+24% CRIT Rate under 70% HP) plus 2pc Vermillion if CRIT's your weak spot. These shine for F2P players who've farmed pre-Chasm stuff—way more forgiving on bad rolls. Even 2pc Oath (+75% Plunging DMG max) with 2pc Vermillion nudges ahead in pure plunge spam, though it needs Natlan access; overall, mixes clock 95% output with just a 5% hit.
To pull it off:
Break down those low-roll pieces for materials.
Gear for Anemo appliers; push ER to 130%.
Use the strongbox (AR 45, trade three 5-stars for a random piece) to craft that ATK% 2pc bonus.
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Crunching the Numbers: DPS Face-Off
What Sims and Tools Tell Us
Straight from the data, 4pc Vermillion pulls 5-10% more DPS than 2pc mixes, all thanks to that +48% ATK versus flat bonuses. Genshin Optimizer backs it up: +10% jump with Faruzan in hypercarry setups. At a 1:2 CRIT ratio (50% Rate, 200% DMG), it effectively boosts Burst DMG by 70% when passives layer in.
Test it yourself:
Feed in 9/9/9 talents and your weapon to the optimizer.
Simulate 15-second rotations: Double Skill > Burst > 10-12 plunges.
Tweak for Furina's +8% ATK from her fanfare.
Plunges Under the Microscope
Those plunges? They scale from 82% to 433% at level 10 Normal Attack. Vermillion's ATK surge beats VV's shred in single-target fights, giving a 10% edge on a 204% high hit at level 1, multiplied by 48% ATK. In Abyss Floor 12's multi-enemy chaos, it means quicker wipes through steady stacks.
Benchmark like this:
Time how fast you drain a 100k HP dummy.
Weave in C6 Faruzan for that 10-15% amp.
Flip to mixes if ER substats outshine CRIT.
Curious about weapons? Check our Best Weapons for Xiao.
Nailing Energy Recharge and Burst Reliability
Xiao's ER Sweet Spot
Aim for 120-130% ER to keep that 70-cost Burst at 80-90% uptime, fueled by six particles from two Skills (60 ER at 100%). Vermillion pumps ATK but skips energy help; mixes let you slot ER Sands. With Favonius weapons or C2 (+25% off-field ER), you can ease to 110%; C1's extra Skill charge lightens the load.
Figure it out:
Math it: (70 / particles + team share) x 100 = your ER goal.
Chase ER substats until you hit target.
Recruit Faruzan as your battery buddy.
How Sets Shape Your Rotations
Vermillion demands 15 seconds on-field to max stacks (full build in 3.2 seconds), perfect for hypercarry. Mixes give swap flexibility with ER emphasis. Both hit 90% uptime at 130% ER; the 16-second duration mostly covers the 18-second CD. Burst itself generates zilch, so lean on pre-Burst Skills.
Rotation blueprint:
Buffs from supports > Double Skill > Burst > Plunges (cancel with double jump).
Toss in Swirl enablers after Skills for mix builds.
Jean's your safeguard against drain hiccups.
Weighing the Wins and Losses
4pc's Edge in Pure Anemo Squads
The upsides? That 48% ATK synergy nets 5-10% DPS gains, especially in hyper Anemo teams (Xiao, Faruzan, Xianyun, Jean) where 0.8-second stacking flies. Downsides: Stacks drop off-field, and it's picky about ER substats. Furina adds another +8% DPS via fanfare on ATK—Abyss AoE heaven. (As an editor who's farmed this set twice, it's a grind, but the payoff in Floor 12 feels epic.)
Go for it:
Hit the Chasm for 50/50 runs.
+20 your pieces.
Mixes for Hypercarry Flexibility
Bright side: More forgiveness on ER and CRIT; VV's 40% shred blankets the team; 95% output that's F2P gold from easier farms. The catch? 5% DPS dip, and it leans on Swirls—Sucrose or bust. Weaker in no-reaction lineups.
My take:
Blend 2pc VV + 2pc ATK sets.
Verify 130% ER in tests.
Team ideas? Peek at Ultimate Xiao Team Comps.
Traps to Dodge and Fixes
Substats: Don't Sleep on Them
Big oops: Rocking 4pc without CRIT or ER, tanking uptime under 80%. Fix: Hunt CRIT Rate > DMG > ATK% > ER (up to four subs per piece); mixes cut more slack. Skimpy ER means skipped Bursts; stick to 1:2 ratio.
Sort it:
Scan subs: flats/%, CRIT, EM, ER.
Trash the duds, enhance to reroll.
Double-check that Anemo Goblet.
Team Synergies You Can't Ignore
Common slip: No healer for the drain, or VV sans appliers, gutting your shred. Counter: Jean or Xianyun for heals; Zhongli's shield for non-stop plunges. Off-field swaps kill Vermillion stacks—keep Xiao front and center.
Steps to avoid:
Go hyper for 4pc, reactions for mixes.
Build plunge immunity against knockback.
Monitor stacks and ER if DPS feels off.
Player Stories from the Trenches
Reddit and HoyoLab Favorites
From what I've seen in community threads, 4pc Vermillion rules for dedicated Xiao mains—the 5-10% gain makes endgame farming worthwhile. Mixes win for all-rounders. Reddit builds with C0 Xiao and 4pc hit 100k+ plunges on god-rolls. HoyoLab Abyss logs show Vermillion speeding through Floor 12 groups over mixes.
Try this:
Post your build on forums for tips.
Tweak for C6 (extra Skill and plunge spam loves Vermillion).
Max talents at 9/9/9.
Real Abyss Wins
4pc shines for faster AoE plunges on multi-foes; mixes keep it 95% efficient for chill runs. Faruzan bumps the gap to 10-15%; Furina elevates both.
In practice:
Time your Floor 12 clears.
Adapt to patches (steady since 2.6, still meta in 5.3).
Mark Xiao's banner: Jan 21 - Feb 11, 2025.
Pro Tips and Your Toolkit
Mastering Genshin Optimizer
This tool lets you sim 4pc against mixes, nailing that 5-10% edge by punching in stats, talents, and rotations. ER under 120%? Mixes pull ahead.
Hands-on:
Grab it and load Lv90 bases.
Run Abyss scenarios.
Fine-tune to 50/200 CRIT.
Smart Farming Paths in Liyue
Target Vermillion in Lost Valley (Chasm, after quests, 20 resin/run, Wed/Sat/Sun prime time). Mixes from older domains; 50/50 odds on pieces, strongbox for crafts.
Efficiently:
Unlock Chasm at AR 45+.
Start with 2pc if you're short.
+20 that Anemo Goblet—no skips.
Wrapping It: Worth the Fuss?
The Bottom Line
4pc Vermillion delivers a 5-10% DPS lift for tuned hypercarry builds with strong substats; 2pc mixes cover 95% for everyday F2P play.
Picking Your Poison
Grab 4pc for endgame Abyss in mono-Anemo; mixes for reaction crews or if rolls suck. Farm to +20 god-rolls—the casual gap's tiny anyway.
Ready to tweak Xiao? Fire up Genshin Optimizer and drop your build in the comments!
Post-Patch Tweaks for Your Build
How Updates Shake Things
Vermillion's frozen since 2.6—no tweaks, and it tops niche picks like Marechaussee Hunter (+36% CRIT Rate on HP shifts). Version 5.3 (Jan 2025) locks in the meta; Xiao's banner runs Jan 21 - Feb 11, 2025.
Stay sharp:
Scan patch notes for new synergies.
Re-run sims after drops.
Fold in C1/C6 for ER or DPS bumps.
More on upgrades? Hit Xiao Constellation Value.
Xiao Artifact FAQs
What's the top artifact set for Xiao in Genshin Impact?
4pc Vermillion Hereafter takes the crown for Anemo hypercarry, stacking up to 48% ATK during Burst off his HP drain—5-10% DPS over mixes. It's plunge perfection in Abyss, but lock in 120-130% ER.
Does 4pc Vermillion beat 2pc mixes for Xiao?
Yep, by 5-10% DPS in Burst loops, with full ATK stacks in 3.2 seconds. Mixes like VV + Gladiator offer flex but falter sans Swirls; weigh your ER and CRIT.
DPS gap between 4pc Vermillion and 2pc Gladiator on Xiao?
5-10% favor for 4pc, via 48% ATK on 204% plunges versus Gladiator's +18% ATK. Sims show mixes at ~95% output, especially with ER-friendly subs.
Pros and cons of mixing artifacts on Xiao?
Pros: Easier on substats (ER Sands slot), VV's 40% team RES shred, F2P-friendly farms. Cons: 5% DPS short of 4pc, needs Swirls without Sucrose. Great for non-Anemo teams.
Do 2pc mixes fix Xiao's energy woes?
Absolutely—ER Sands hit 120-130% for 80-90% uptime on 70 cost. Favonius or C1 lowers it; Vermillion goes offensive with Faruzan backing.
Vermillion still meta for Xiao post-updates?
Totally, holding strong in 5.3 (Jan 2025), unchanged from 2.6. Beats Desert Pavilion or Marechaussee with broad ATK power; Furina's +8% synergy seals it.