Ah, my old pal Xiao. He's been my main DPS ever since he first dropped into Teyvat, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. Back in the day, I'd just pop his burst and start plunging like a madman, hoping I wouldn't get smacked out of the air. Fast forward to 2026, and wow, have things changed. With the release of Xianyun and some other key characters, my boy Xiao has gone from a solo powerhouse to the star of some seriously impressive team lineups. It's like he finally got the support crew he deserved!
The Dream Team: FFXX (Final Fantasy 20)
Man, when I first heard about this team, I thought it was a joke. But let me tell you, it's no joke—it's the real deal. This lineup is what we in the Xiao Mains community call the "endgame."
Team Composition:
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Xiao (The Main Event)
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Faruzan (The Buff Master)
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Furina (The Off-Field Queen)
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Xianyun (The Plunge Enabler)
So here's how this party works:
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Faruzan at C6 is an absolute game-changer. She's not just boosting Xiao's Anemo damage; she's throwing CRIT DMG buffs around like confetti. It's beautiful.
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Furina is there doing her thing, buffing the whole team while dealing damage off-field. She's like that friend who quietly does all the work while everyone else takes the credit.
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Xianyun... oh, Xianyun. She's the reason Xiao's plunges hit like a truck. Plus, she keeps everyone alive with her healing. A real MVP.
Now, I won't sugarcoat it—this team is expensive. You're looking at three 5-star characters, and C6 Faruzan isn't exactly easy to get. But if you can swing it, holy moly, the damage numbers are something else.
Budget FFXX: When Your Wallet Needs a Break
Okay, so maybe you don't have C6 Faruzan. Or maybe you're missing one of the 5-stars. No worries, we've got you covered. The community has come up with a budget version that still slaps.
Key Adjustments:
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Energy, Energy, Energy! Without C6 Faruzan, you're gonna need to stack Energy Recharge on your Anemo units. I'm talking Favonius Warbow on Faruzan and maybe an ER sands artifact or two. Trust me, you don't want Xiao waiting around for his burst.
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The core idea is the same: Faruzan buffs, Furina does her thing, Xianyun enables plunges. You just need to manage your energy a bit more carefully. It's like driving a car with a smaller gas tank—you gotta plan your pit stops.
The Classic: Double Geo Xiao
Before all this FFXX business, we had the good old Double Geo team. And you know what? It still holds up in 2026.
Team Composition:
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Xiao
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Zhongli
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Albedo
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Flex Spot (Xianyun/Faruzan/Bennett)
Why it works:
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Zhongli provides that sweet, sweet shield and resistance shred. He's like a personal bodyguard for Xiao.
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Albedo drops his flower and does off-field damage without breaking a sweat.
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Geo Resonance gives you that damage boost and extra shield strength. It's a comfy, reliable team.
If you don't have Albedo, Geo Traveler can work in a pinch, but watch out for those Geo constructs. They can be a bit... temperamental.
Free-to-Play Friendly Teams
Not everyone has a wallet deep enough to pull for multiple 5-stars, and that's totally fine! You can still make Xiao shine with a budget team.
My Go-To F2P Setup:
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Xiao
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Faruzan (even at low constellations)
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Sucrose or Lynette
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Bennett
Here's the breakdown:
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Sucrose might not give EM buffs that Xiao cares about, but she's an energy-generating machine. Slap a Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers on her, and you've got a nice ATK buff for Xiao too.
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Bennett is, well, Bennett. He heals, he buffs, he's basically the Swiss Army knife of support characters.
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This team won't hit the same crazy numbers as FFXX, but it's reliable and gets the job done. Sometimes that's all you need.
Mixing and Matching: Alternative Teams
Look, we don't all have every character in the game. Life happens. Here are some solid alternatives based on what you might be missing:
| What You're Missing | Who to Use Instead | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| C6 Faruzan | Just use her anyway! | Build more ER, use Favonius Warbow, she still buffs! |
| Xianyun | Jean, Bennett, or Sayu | They heal and provide support. Jean especially is great for energy. |
| Furina | Bennett, Jean, Zhongli | More traditional buffers/supports. Less damage but more survivability. |
A few extra tips from someone who's been playing Xiao for years:
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Energy Management is Key: No matter what team you run, make sure Xiao can burst off cooldown. It's better to have a bit less damage and consistent bursts than big numbers once in a blue moon.
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Don't Sleep on Healers: Xiao drains his own HP, and Furina drains everyone's HP. A good healer isn't just nice to have—it's essential. Xianyun, Jean, and Bennett are all fantastic options.
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Flexibility is Your Friend: The beauty of Xiao teams in 2026 is that there are so many viable options. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for your playstyle and roster.
At the end of the day, playing Xiao is about that feeling of soaring through the air and striking down your enemies with massive plunging attacks. Whether you're running the ultra-expensive FFXX team or a budget F2P setup, that core fantasy is still there. And with the teams available now in 2026, it's easier than ever to make Xiao feel like the powerhouse he was always meant to be. So go out there, do some plunges, and have fun—that's what gaming's all about, right?