Both characters are sitting pretty in SS-Tier for Sub-DPS roles, and their Spiral Abyss usage rates prove it. Furina shook things up when she dropped, and with Mavuika, Skirk, and Ineffa on the horizon, these two have only gotten stronger. The community’s pretty clear on this: C0 Furina > C0 Yelan > C6 Xingqiu for overall account value – though that’s a conversation for another day.
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The 2025 Meta Reality Check
What’s Actually Working Right Now
Yelan dominates when you need burst damage and offensive buffs. Xingqiu? He’s your guy for consistent application and keeping your team alive.
The post-Furina landscape changed everything. HP-scaling synergies are everywhere, dedicated healers are back in fashion, and Yelan benefits massively from teams with proper healing support. Meanwhile, Xingqiu’s defensive utility still carries teams that can’t fit a dedicated healer.
Here’s what’s defining the 2025 meta:
Double Hydro cores absolutely demolish in Vaporize teams (Hu Tao and Yoimiya mains, you know what I’m talking about)
Both excel as Hydro enablers for Hyperbloom – Dendro reactions aren’t going anywhere
Taser comps still love that consistent off-field application
Mono Hydro teams with Furina? Top-tier territory.
Breaking Down Their Kits (The Stuff That Actually Matters)
Hydro Application – Where the Magic Happens
Xingqiu’s system is beautifully consistent. His C6 burst fires in that sweet 2-3-5 sequence, dramatically boosting application rates.
Those Rain Swords aren’t just for show either – they provide AoE application to nearby enemies. Standard ICD of 3 hits/2 seconds, but the overall application rate is just chef’s kiss.
Yelan’s approach is more… finicky. At C0, she fires 3 swords per wave with standard ICD, and honestly? She struggles with fast applicators like Hu Tao.
It’s frustrating. But C2 changes everything – adds an extra water arrow every 1.8s with no ICD, completely solving her application issues. She’s more single-target focused though, which can be limiting.
The Damage Scaling Game
This is where things get interesting. Yelan’s HP scaling completely bypasses ATK stats – it’s a totally different optimization game. At similar investment levels (think C0 Yelan with Aqua Simulacra vs C6 Xingqiu with Primordial Jade Cutter), their personal damage is surprisingly comparable.
But here’s Yelan’s ace: her A4 passive provides ramping DMG% buff from 1% to 50%. That’s not just personal damage – that’s boosting your entire team’s DPS.
The scaling differences you need to know:
Yelan wants HP%, Hydro DMG%, CRIT – ATK is literally useless for her
She can’t benefit from ATK buffs (sorry Bennett), but she doesn’t need them
Level her to 90/90. Seriously. Base HP gains are substantial for her damage
Hydro Resonance gives 25% Max HP buff, which directly translates to more damage
Xingqiu brings something completely different to the table. Damage reduction up to 29% at max talent level, interruption resistance, and healing equal to 6% Max HP per sword. It’s purely defensive, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
Damage Numbers (Because We All Care About Big Numbers)
Constellation Impact
Yelan’s power spikes:
C1 drops her ER requirements from ~225% to ~160% in solo Hydro scenarios. Game-changer for artifact farming.
C2 adds 14% Max HP damage every 1.8s with no ICD – that’s a 20-24% personal damage increase
C6 transforms your first 5 Normal Attacks into enhanced Breakthrough Barbs. We’re talking ~150% total damage increase. Absolutely bonkers.
Xingqiu’s key moments:
C2 extends burst duration by 3 seconds and provides 15% Hydro RES reduction. Solid upgrade.
C6 changes everything – that 2-3-5 sequence dramatically improves application and regenerates 3 Energy per cycle
Weapon Choices That Actually Matter
For Yelan:
Aqua Simulacra – 88.2% CRIT DMG substat, best personal damage, no contest
Elegy for the End – team-wide EM and ATK buffs for reaction teams
Favonius Warbow – significantly reduces team ER requirements (underrated choice)
Slingshot (yes, the 3-star) – 31.2% CRIT Rate, surprisingly competitive F2P option
For Xingqiu:
Primordial Jade Cutter – 44.1% CRIT Rate with HP-to-ATK conversion
Sacrificial Sword – enables second skill use, completely solves energy issues
Favonius Sword – high ER with team energy generation
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Team Building Reality
The Double Hydro Revolution
Running both together isn’t just viable – it’s often optimal. Here’s why:
Double Hydro benefits:
Reduces ER requirements for both by 30-50% (your artifact farming just got easier)
25% Max HP buff through Hydro Resonance
Combines Xingqiu’s defensive utility with Yelan’s offensive buffs
Ensures consistent Hydro application for even the fastest Pyro applicators
Teams that absolutely demolish:
Vaporize: Hu Tao + Yelan + Xingqiu + Zhongli/Kazuha (the classic)
Taser: Raiden + Kazuha + Yelan + Xingqiu (Double Hydro variant that hits different)
Freeze: Ayaka + Shenhe + Yelan + Kazuha (high damage) vs Wriothesley + Furina + Xingqiu + healer (more balanced)
Investment Strategy (Your Primogems Matter)
Energy Requirements – The Real Talk
Yelan’s ER needs:
Solo Hydro, no ER weapon: 260-330% (ouch)
Solo Hydro, Favonius Warbow: 210-260% (manageable)
Double Hydro, no ER weapon: 170-230% (comfortable)
Double Hydro, Favonius Warbow: 150-195% (smooth sailing)
Xingqiu’s requirements:
C0-C5, no ER weapon: 220-260%
C6, no ER weapon: 180-220%
C0-C5, Sacrificial Sword R3+: 150-180%
C6, Sacrificial Sword R3+: 130-150%
Smart Investment Order
Get the essentials first (Yelan C0, Xingqiu C6)
Key constellations next (Yelan C1-C2, Xingqiu C6 if you don’t have it)
Functional weapons (Favonius, Sacrificial – don’t sleep on these)
Signature weapons and refinements (luxury territory)
New accounts? Go for Xingqiu first. He’s a 4-star, more accessible, and that defensive utility will carry you. Established accounts with C6 Xingqiu should definitely grab Yelan for roster diversity.
Build Optimization (The Nitty-Gritty)
Artifacts and Stats
Both want 4-piece Emblem of Severed Fate. Other sets work, but you’re looking at 5-20% damage loss. Not worth it.
Yelan targets:
30,000+ HP, 60-70% CRIT Rate, 120-140%+ CRIT DMG
ER% or HP% Sands, Hydro DMG% or HP% Goblet
Substat priority: ER (to requirement) > CRIT > HP%
Xingqiu targets:
1,800+ ATK, 60-70% CRIT Rate, 120-150%+ CRIT DMG
ER% or ATK% Sands, Hydro DMG% Goblet
Substat priority: ER (to requirement) > CRIT > ATK%
Looking Ahead
The projected 2025 releases are only going to make both characters stronger. Mavuika Vaporize teams will use Double Hydro cores, Skirk Freeze compositions will have flexible Hydro slots, and Ineffa Lunar-Charged teams will likely use Xingqiu as the primary enabler.
Both represent excellent long-term investments. They’re fundamental elemental enablers across multiple team archetypes – that’s not changing anytime soon.
The Questions Everyone’s Actually Asking
Is Yelan just better than Xingqiu now? Nope. They’re different tools for different jobs. Yelan brings higher damage and team buffs for teams that already have adequate defense. Xingqiu offers superior application consistency and keeps your team alive. The real answer? Use both.
Which one should I pull first? New accounts: Xingqiu, hands down. He’s accessible and that defensive utility will save your life. Established rosters: Yelan for the damage contribution. If you already have C6 Xingqiu, definitely go for Yelan.
Can Yelan just replace Xingqiu everywhere? Not really. C0 Yelan struggles with fast Pyro applicators – you need C2 for reliable solo performance. And if your team relies on Xingqiu’s defensive utility, you’ll need alternative protection with Yelan.
Who actually does more damage off-field? At comparable investment, Yelan deals higher personal damage thanks to HP scaling. Her A4 passive provides up to 50% damage amplification, making her total team contribution higher.
Is Xingqiu still relevant in 2025? Absolutely. Still SS-Tier for consistent application, defensive utility, and synergy with new characters. The projected Ineffa teams will likely love him.
Constellations or new characters first? If you have C0-C5 Xingqiu, prioritize his C6 – it’s a fundamental performance transformation. If you already have C6 Xingqiu, focus on Yelan C1-C2 for quality-of-life improvements and solo Hydro capability.
