Among Genshin Impact players, Xingqiu has long been regarded as one of the most powerful support and sub-DPS characters thanks to his Hydro application, damage reduction, and ability to trigger elemental reactions. However, when it comes to maximizing his potential, one of the most common debates revolves around weapon choice should Xingqiu use the Sacrificial Sword or the Favonius Sword? Both weapons offer valuable benefits, but their usefulness depends on team composition, playstyle, and energy management needs. Understanding the pros and cons of Sacrificial Sword versus Favonius Sword for Xingqiu can help players make the best choice for their builds.
Why Xingqiu’s Weapon Choice Matters
Xingqiu’s damage output and support utility largely rely on his Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst. His skill, Guhua Sword Fatal Rainscreen, generates damage, applies Hydro, and creates rain swords for protection. His burst, Guhua Sword Raincutter, is one of the strongest Hydro application abilities in the game, enabling endless Vaporize and Freeze reactions. Both abilities, however, consume a significant amount of energy. This is why the choice between Sacrificial Sword and Favonius Sword is so important-both address Xingqiu’s energy recharge needs in different ways.
The Sacrificial Sword
The Sacrificial Sword is one of the most popular weapons for Xingqiu. Its secondary stat provides Energy Recharge, which helps him maintain frequent bursts. The weapon’s passive ability has a chance to reset the cooldown of his Elemental Skill after dealing damage, allowing Xingqiu to use his skill twice in quick succession. This is particularly valuable because his skill generates energy ptopics and provides Hydro application alongside damage reduction.
Advantages of Sacrificial Sword
- High Energy Recharge substat helps Xingqiu maintain burst uptime.
- Cooldown reset passive allows double skill casts, generating more Hydro ptopics.
- More ptopics mean better energy support for the team, especially Hydro-dependent comps.
- Consistent Hydro application with skill resets increases reaction potential.
Disadvantages of Sacrificial Sword
- The passive effect relies on RNG, with a chance to fail at times.
- Requires refinement levels to improve the cooldown reset consistency.
- Less team-wide utility compared to Favonius Sword in terms of energy generation for others.
The Favonius Sword
The Favonius Sword also features Energy Recharge as its substat, but its passive ability focuses on generating additional elemental ptopics for the whole team. Critical hits from the user have a chance to generate energy ptopics, significantly boosting team energy regeneration. While it doesn’t reset cooldowns like the Sacrificial Sword, the Favonius Sword can serve as a more team-oriented option.
Advantages of Favonius Sword
- Energy ptopics generated benefit the entire team, not just Xingqiu.
- Stable energy regeneration when Xingqiu has a high Crit Rate build.
- Easy to refine, as Favonius weapons are commonly obtained from standard wishes.
- Encourages balanced Crit Rate builds, which can improve overall damage output.
Disadvantages of Favonius Sword
- Relies heavily on Crit Rate to trigger its passive consistently.
- No skill reset means fewer Hydro ptopics from Xingqiu himself.
- Requires careful Crit Rate investment, which may conflict with Hydro Damage or ATK stats.
Comparing Sacrificial Sword and Favonius Sword
When choosing between Sacrificial Sword and Favonius Sword for Xingqiu, the decision often depends on whether the focus is on self-sufficiency or team support. Sacrificial Sword allows Xingqiu to be more independent, generating his own energy with double skill casts. Favonius Sword, on the other hand, benefits the entire team, making it more useful in comps that have high energy demands.
In Energy-Hungry Teams
If your team includes characters like Raiden Shogun, Beidou, or other burst-dependent units, the Favonius Sword may be the better choice. It ensures a steady stream of energy ptopics for the team, improving the rotation of multiple characters at once.
In Vaporize or Freeze Comps
For teams where Xingqiu plays a central role in Hydro application, such as pairing with Hu Tao for Vaporize or Cryo units for Freeze, the Sacrificial Sword can shine. Resetting his skill ensures faster Hydro application and more damage reduction uptime, directly boosting reaction potential and survivability.
Team Composition Considerations
The weapon choice also depends on who Xingqiu is paired with. Below are some examples of common team setups and how the weapon choice might differ
- Hu Tao + XingqiuSacrificial Sword is excellent here for constant Hydro application to trigger Vaporize.
- Freeze Comps with Ganyu or AyakaSacrificial Sword ensures a steady stream of Hydro for permanent Freeze.
- Raiden National Team (Raiden, Xingqiu, Xiangling, Bennett)Favonius Sword works well since it improves energy circulation for everyone.
- Double Hydro CompsEither weapon can work, but Sacrificial Sword provides stronger Hydro consistency.
Refinement and Artifact Synergy
Weapon refinement levels and artifact builds also play an important role in this comparison. A high-refinement Sacrificial Sword will drastically reduce downtime for Xingqiu’s skill, while a high-refinement Favonius Sword increases ptopic generation reliability. Artifact sets like Emblem of Severed Fate pair well with both options due to Energy Recharge scaling into Burst Damage. However, Crit Rate builds are more favorable when using the Favonius Sword to maximize its passive.
Which Weapon is Best for F2P Players?
For free-to-play players, availability matters. The Sacrificial Sword may be harder to obtain consistently since it is a limited gacha pull. The Favonius Sword, being part of the standard banner, is easier to acquire and refine. This makes Favonius Sword a practical choice for players who may not have Sacrificial Sword or cannot refine it to higher levels. However, if a player has even a moderately refined Sacrificial Sword, it often becomes the preferred weapon for maximizing Xingqiu’s personal effectiveness.
Practical Recommendation
Ultimately, both weapons are excellent choices for Xingqiu, and the best weapon depends on context. If you prioritize Xingqiu’s individual performance and want to ensure he always has his burst ready with strong Hydro application, the Sacrificial Sword is the ideal choice. If you value team-wide energy support and your Xingqiu has a solid Crit Rate build, the Favonius Sword may serve your team better. Players should experiment with both options to see which feels smoother in their rotations and aligns with their artifact stats.
The debate between Sacrificial Sword and Favonius Sword for Xingqiu in Genshin Impact does not have a one-size-fits-all answer. Sacrificial Sword provides self-sufficiency and better Hydro uptime, while Favonius Sword enhances team-wide energy regeneration. Factors like team composition, refinement levels, artifact builds, and personal playstyle all influence the decision. Whether you choose the Sacrificial Sword or the Favonius Sword, Xingqiu remains one of the most valuable characters in Genshin Impact, capable of elevating any team through his powerful Hydro application and support abilities.