Can Xiangling Rock The Skyward Spine? A Genshin Impact Guide

by Jhon Lennon 61 views

Hey Genshin Impact fans! Ever wondered if Xiangling and the Skyward Spine are a match made in Teyvat? You're in the right place! We're diving deep into whether this iconic polearm is a good fit for our fiery chef. We'll explore Xiangling's abilities, the Skyward Spine's perks, and how they gel together on the battlefield. So, let's get cooking and find out if this weapon upgrade is worth it for your Pyro queen! We'll cover everything from her best builds, to team compositions. By the end, you'll know exactly whether to equip Xiangling with this weapon or look for other options. Let's see if Xiangling can use the Skyward Spine, it's a great choice for damage, but let's dive into all the aspects of how to do it!

Understanding Xiangling: The Pyro Queen of Genshin Impact

Before we jump into weapon comparisons, let's refresh our knowledge of Xiangling. She's a powerful Pyro character known for her off-field damage and consistent application of Pyro, especially with her Elemental Burst, Pyronado. Here's a quick rundown:

  • Elemental Skill (Guoba Attack): Summons Guoba, who breathes fire, dealing AoE Pyro damage. It's a great way to apply Pyro, but the aim can be a bit unreliable. You should consider its usage, for example, if you have a lot of enemies, you must use it in the center so the area of effect catches more enemies, but against a single enemy you might not get the same value. So, if you're using this skill, plan it ahead of time.
  • Elemental Burst (Pyronado): Xiangling spins a fiery polearm around, dealing continuous Pyro damage to nearby enemies. This is her bread and butter, especially for off-field damage. Think about this burst, in order to maximize it, you must consider the range of the character, in addition to this the enemies need to be close to her, in order to be affected by the spin, so you must consider those aspects when playing her in combat.
  • Passive Talents: Xiangling's passive talents enhance her damage, energy regeneration, and cooking abilities. She's a very cost-effective character, as you do not need to invest a lot to get good results, but the return of investment is great, since she can deal great amounts of damage with a well-built team.

Xiangling's main role is usually a sub-DPS, providing consistent Pyro application and dealing considerable damage over time. Her high energy cost for her Burst makes Energy Recharge a crucial stat. That's why we need to focus on weapons and team compositions to boost her. Her playstyle revolves around using her Burst frequently, so energy recharge is a must, and we should consider her talents to get the best out of her.

Skyward Spine: An Overview of the Polearm

Now, let's get into the Skyward Spine. This is a 5-star polearm known for its high Base ATK and Energy Recharge stat, which are key for characters needing to constantly use their Elemental Burst. Here's what makes it special:

  • Base ATK: Provides a high base attack stat, which is always useful, but not as good compared to other weapons, like the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear.
  • Energy Recharge: Its secondary stat is Energy Recharge, which boosts her ability to use her Elemental Burst more often. This is great for Xiangling since, as we know, she needs to use her burst constantly.
  • Passive Ability - Skypiercing Might: Increases CRIT Rate by 8% and grants a passive that boosts Normal and Charged Attack DMG by 20% and has a 50% chance to trigger a vacuum blade on hit, dealing 40% of ATK as damage in a small AoE. This passive helps increase Xiangling's damage output, specially when considering that the damage is AoE. You must consider that the passive ability helps with damage, which is a great aspect to consider when deciding a weapon for your character.

The Skyward Spine's Energy Recharge secondary stat and passive ability make it appealing, especially for characters that heavily rely on their Elemental Burst. However, it's not always the best choice for every character. For Xiangling, the stats fit well, but other factors come into play.

Synergies and Drawbacks: Skyward Spine with Xiangling

Let's break down how the Skyward Spine performs on Xiangling:

The Pros

  • Energy Recharge: The Energy Recharge is crucial for Xiangling. It helps her to use her Elemental Burst, Pyronado, more frequently, which leads to more consistent off-field Pyro application and damage. This helps a lot when you are using her. With enough energy recharge, you can use her burst every time that it is available.
  • Increased CRIT Rate: The CRIT Rate boost increases overall damage output. You do not need to focus a lot on the crit rate, so you can focus on other stats, such as crit damage, to increase your damage.
  • Attack Speed: Skyward Spine has a useful passive, especially for Xiangling's damage. The passive can trigger an ability that boosts her normal and charged attacks. This can be great when Xiangling is on-field, but as a sub-dps character, the impact of this is lower than other polearms.

The Cons

  • Damage Potential: While the Skyward Spine is good, other weapons may offer higher damage potential for Xiangling. Weapons like the Staff of Homa or the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear give higher damage to your character, increasing the amount of damage that she can deal.
  • Passive is Underutilized: The Skyward Spine's passive, while providing extra damage, isn't as impactful on Xiangling since she's mainly used for her off-field burst. The overall effect of this is reduced, because the main reason why she is in the party is to cast her Elemental Burst.
  • Alternative Options: There are free-to-play options, like the Catch, that can provide better value for Xiangling. If you are a free-to-play player, you can consider this option.

Optimized Builds and Team Compositions

If you decide to use the Skyward Spine on Xiangling, here’s how to build her and which teams work well:

Artifacts

  • Emblem of Severed Fate: The best set for Xiangling. It boosts Energy Recharge and increases Elemental Burst damage based on the amount of Energy Recharge you have. It works perfectly with Skyward Spine's energy recharge.
  • Crimson Witch of Flames: This set is a good choice if you lack a good Emblem of Severed Fate set. This set will help increase Pyro Damage and increase the damage dealt when you cast your elemental reactions.

Stats to Prioritize

  • Sands: Energy Recharge or Attack % (depending on your needs). Aim for around 180-200% Energy Recharge with the Skyward Spine.
  • Goblet: Pyro DMG Bonus.
  • Circlet: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG. Aim for a good balance between the two. You can consider a good balance between the 2, so your overall damage increases.

Team Compositions

  • National Team: Xiangling, Xingqiu, Bennett, and another character, like an Anemo character. This team has high damage, and great application of elemental reactions.
  • Reverse Vaporize: Xiangling, Bennett, and a Hydro applicator (like Childe or Yelan). This team is focused on Vaporize reactions.
  • Mono Pyro: Xiangling, Bennett, and two other Pyro characters. This team will focus on maximizing Pyro damage.

Final Verdict: Is Skyward Spine Good for Xiangling?

So, can Xiangling use Skyward Spine? Absolutely, yes. The Energy Recharge is very valuable, and the CRIT rate bonus is always welcome. However, it's not the absolute best option, as other weapons offer a higher damage ceiling. It's a solid choice, especially if you need the Energy Recharge and don't have better options. It will make your Pyro Queen more effective and ensure she can consistently use her powerful Pyronado. Consider the weapon as an alternative, but it is not the best. You can still use it and get good results! But there are other weapons that are better.

Here’s a quick recap:

  • Pros: Good Energy Recharge, CRIT Rate bonus.
  • Cons: Lower damage potential compared to other 5-star options, passive not fully utilized.
  • Verdict: A good choice, especially if you value Energy Recharge. It is a good choice for people that just want to use the weapon without a lot of investment.

If you're looking for peak performance, consider weapons like Staff of Homa or Primordial Jade Winged-Spear if you have them. But, don't feel like you're missing out if you're using Skyward Spine; it's still a very viable option, especially if you're aiming for a balanced build. If you don't have other 5-star weapons, Skyward Spine can work well.

Happy gaming, and keep those Pyronados spinning!