Xianyun, aka Cloud Retainer, is an Anemo support character in Genshin Impact who has the ability to increase your party members’ jump height. This mechanic is unique to Xianyun and can be used to enable a variety of Plunge DPS teams. So who makes the best Plunge DPS with Xianyun?
The team suggestions below are sorted by element and presented in order of most recommended to least recommended.
Xiao teams with Xianyun
The most obvious synergy is with Xiao, an Anemo DPS character whose kit is centered around Plunging Attacks to begin with. Since you will probably be running Faruzan with him, you’ll end up with a triple Anemo team, reducing everyone’s Energy Recharge requirements significantly. Aside from Xiao, Faruzan, and Xianyun, you have two options for your last team slot:
Furina is the better option. Her Fanfare mechanic synergizes well with both Xiao’s health drain and Xianyun’s healing.
Bennett’s huge ATK buff makes him a great option too. Note that in order to benefit from Bennett’s buff, you’ll need to stay inside his Burst circle, which can be hard when Xiao knocks enemies back with his plunges.
Pyro teams with Xianyun
Several Pyro characters have potential as Plunging Attack DPS characters, especially when paired with C6 Bennett.
Gaming is a 4-star Pyro Claymore user whose kit revolves around Plunging Attacks. He actually doesn’t need Xianyun to execute his special Plunging Attacks, but he benefits from her buffs.
If you’d rather use a 5-star instead, Diluc and Hu Tao deal great damage too, even if their kits aren’t explicitly designed with Plunging Attacks in mind. You may want to intersperse Diluc’s Skill or Hu Tao’s Charged Attacks between Plunges, though.
Alternatively, Bennett himself can fill the on-field DPS role if he has his Constellation 6. This opens up a team slot to enable more reactions, i.e. allowing two Cryo characters to enable more Melts.
No matter who you choose as your on-field Plunging Attack DPS, you can play these teams as Vaporize, Melt, or mono Pyro. Just add Furina, Xingqiu, or Yelan if you want Vaporize. For Melts, try Kaeya, Rosaria, or Layla. For a mono Pyro team, add Xiangling.
Geo teams with Xianyun
Itto, Noelle, and Navia are all able to infuse their Plunging Attacks with Geo. Paired with Xianyun, they can deal significant Geo damage by spamming Plunging Attacks.
Gorou is a recommended teammate for Itto and Noelle, who scale with DEF. Gorou provides useful DEF buffs that will boost their damage considerably.
Zhongli’s shield will help prevent your DPS from getting knocked out of the air while performing a Plunging Attack. He also reduces enemy Geo RES — an extra valuable debuff since we can’t use 4pc Viridescent Venerer with Geo.
Furina doesn’t synergize with Geo specifically, but she buffs everyone by a significant amount and works well with Xianyun. She’s highly recommended with Navia, but is a great addition to Itto and Noelle teams too.
Raiden teams with Xianyun
Raiden Shogun’s Electro infusion during her Burst also affects her Plunging Attacks. Her plunges during her Burst state count as Burst damage, so she doesn’t benefit from Xianyun’s buffs to Plunging Attacks, but she still gains the increased jump height needed to enable plunges.
Most of Raiden’s normal teams should still work when Raiden is using Plunging Attacks. Just be sure to use Normal Attacks between plunges if you have Xingqiu or Yelan on your team. Even better, use a Charged Attack instead, since alternating Charged and Plunging Attacks is the optimal combo for Raiden’s damage.
You should also note that Raiden’s plunge teams aren’t better than her normal teams. You should only consider Raiden with Xianyun if you like the Plunging Attack playstyle.
Chongyun teams with Xianyun
If you want to try for Cryo teams instead, Chongyun and Xianyun together can enable anyone to perform Cryo-infused Plunging Attacks. You can play Chongyun as the on-field DPS with Xiangling and Bennett to enable Melt. Note that Bennett’s Constellation 6 effect will override Chongyun’s Cryo infusion, so it’s important that you do not have it activated.
Alternatively, you can play a mono Cryo team with Shenhe to buff raw Cryo damage as much as possible.
Candace teams with Xianyun
Candace grants a Hydro infusion to teammates, allowing for Hydro-infused Plunging Attacks. Xingqiu is the best on-fielder for this role, and you should weave Normal Attacks in between plunges in order to proc his Rain Swords. Bennett can also be used to buff Xingqiu’s ATK. Even if you’ve already activated C6 Bennett, it will not override Candace’s infusion, so this team is safe to play with C6 Bennett!
You can also get some Vaporize going by bringing Xiangling instead of Xingqiu. In this team, Bennett himself would be on-field dealing Hydro damage with his Plunging Attacks.
