He was free. Honestly, that’s the first thing most people remember about Xiangli Yao. When Kuro Games handed out a five-star Electro Resonator during the 1.2 "In the Turquoise Moone" update, it wasn’t just a marketing gimmick to save face after a rocky launch. It was a statement. He is the Principal Investigator at the Huaxu Academy, a literal genius with a mechanical arm, and somehow, he’s still one of the most balanced DPS units in the game. You've probably seen the flashy calculations by now. You know, the ones where people try to pit him against Calcharo. But looking at the raw numbers doesn't tell the whole story of why this character actually works in the late-game Tower of Adversity.
He’s fast.
Really fast.
When you play Xiangli Yao, the game feels different because his kit isn't bogged down by the "clunky" animations that plague other Electro units. If you’ve spent any time maining Calcharo, you know the pain of getting interrupted mid-ultimate. One wrong dodge and your damage per second (DPS) falls off a cliff. Xiangli Yao doesn't care. He’s built for the rhythm of modern action RPGs where boss aggression is dialed up to eleven.
The Huaxu Academy Genius and His Mechanical Arm
The lore behind Xiangli Yao is actually pretty grounded for a guy who fights with a giant robotic fist. He’s obsessed with "automata," which is just a fancy word for robots. In the world of Solaris-3, research isn't just about reading books; it's about surviving the Tacet Discords. His mechanical arm, the "Veritas," is a masterpiece of engineering that reflects his personality: precise, efficient, and slightly detached.
Researchers at the academy describe him as a workaholic. It's kinda funny because his gameplay reflects that exact mindset. There is no wasted movement. His Resonance Liberation, "Cogitation Model," transforms his basic attacks into "Pivotal Transitions." Basically, he enters a state where he just starts punching everything into oblivion.
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But here is the catch. Most people think he’s just a "brainless" attacker. That’s wrong. To play him at a high level, you have to manage his "Capacity" gauge. You can’t just mash buttons and hope for the best. You need to understand the timing of his "Decipher" state. When you use his Resonance Skill while the gauge is full, he performs an enhanced attack that counts as Resonance Liberation damage. This is a massive distinction. Why? Because it means you should be stacking Resonance Liberation DMG Bonus on his Echoes, not just standard Attack power.
Why the "Free" Label Misleads People
There's this weird stigma in gacha games. If a character is free, players assume they'll be powercrept in two weeks. Xiangli Yao broke that rule. He isn't a "budget" version of a better character. He is the gold standard for Electro DPS.
Actually, let's look at his synergy with Yinlin. If you were lucky enough to pull Yinlin back in 1.0, you have the "Golden Duo" of Wuthering Waves. Yinlin provides a 20% Electro DMG Deepen and a 25% Resonance Liberation DMG Deepen. Since almost all of Xiangli Yao’s heavy lifting comes from his Liberation, these two are practically married at the hip. Without her, he's still great, but with her, he’s a god.
I’ve seen players try to run him with Sanhua for the Basic Attack speed buff. Don't do that. It’s a trap. His "Pivotal Transitions" might look like basic attacks, but they scale off Liberation stats. If you're building him for basic attack speed, you're essentially leaving half his damage on the table. Stick to supports like Verina or Shorekeeper for the raw ATK buffs, or Baizhi if you’re still playing on a budget.
Solving the Echo Grind for Xiangli Yao
You need the Thundering Mephis. Or the Tempest Mephis. Honestly, the debate between these two has caused more arguments in the Discord than the actual story of the game.
The Tempest Mephis is generally easier to land. It’s quick. It gives you that sweet Electro and Heavy Attack damage boost. However, the Thundering Mephis has a higher ceiling if you can land the full hit sequence. The problem is that the Thundering Mephis animation takes forever. In a timed environment like the Tower of Adversity, those three extra seconds spent watching a lightning clone dash around can be the difference between a 3-star clear and a 2-star failure.
For the sub-stats, you’re looking for:
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- Crit Rate (Keep it above 60%)
- Crit Damage (Aim for 220%+)
- Resonance Liberation DMG Bonus (As much as possible)
- Energy Regeneration (120% is the sweet spot)
If your Energy Regen is below 110%, you’re going to have "dead" rotations where Xiangli Yao is just standing there doing mediocre physical punches while waiting for his bar to fill. That feels terrible. Get that ER up even if it means sacrificing a bit of Crit. Consistency beats a "screenshot" crit any day of the week.
The Reality of the "Signature Weapon" vs. Alternatives
His signature weapon, "Verity's Handle," is undeniably cracked. It gives a flat 12% increase to all Attribute DMG and stacks a Resonance Liberation DMG bonus every time you use a skill. It’s tailor-made for him. If you have the Astrite to spare, it's one of the few signature weapons in Wuthering Waves that feels like a genuine game-changer rather than a 5% marginal upgrade.
But what if you're F2P?
The "Stoneward" (the standard 5-star gauntlet) is a solid runner-up. It gives a lot of base ATK. Even the 4-star "Hollowed Mirage" works in a pinch because of its ATK stacks, though you have to be careful not to take damage, or you’ll lose those stacks.
One thing that's often overlooked is his Resonance Chain (Wavesbands). Since he was a free unit, many players only have him at S0. If you’re considering spending your Afterglow Corals on his sequences, S1 is a decent stopping point. It increases his "Capacity" generation, making his rotations feel way smoother. S2 is where the real damage jump happens, giving him a flat 40% Crit Damage boost during his ultimate. That’s massive. But honestly? At S0, he’s already clearing the hardest content in the game. You don't need the duplicates.
Navigating the Rotation Without Messing Up
Playing Xiangli Yao is about flow. You start with your supports. Verina does her jump-attack-skill combo to proc the Rejuvenating Glow set. Then Yinlin comes in, builds her Forte, drops her Mark, and uses her Outro.
When Xiangli Yao swaps in via Intro Skill, he immediately gains "Capacity."
- Use his Resonance Skill.
- Activate Resonance Liberation (The big cinematic punch).
- Use the enhanced Resonance Skill (Decipher) immediately.
- Perform the "Pivotal Transition" basic attack string.
- Repeat the Skill-to-Attack loop until the state ends.
It sounds simple, but the visual effects are so bright and chaotic that it’s easy to lose track of your character. The trick is to watch the skill icon. When it glows, hit it. Don't overthink the animations. He has built-in resistance to interruption during his ultimate, so you can actually tank a few light hits without falling over. Just don't try to face-tank a literal nuke from the Mephis boss.
Misconceptions About His "Mid-Tier" Status
Earlier on, some "meta" spreadsheets ranked him below Jiyan or Changli. This was mostly based on "Damage Per Hit" screenshots rather than "Damage Per Rotation."
Xiangli Yao isn't about one big number. He’s about a thousand medium-sized numbers delivered in a ten-second window. In Wuthering Waves, the bosses move a lot. Jiyan is great because he has a huge AOE, but against single-target bosses like the Heron or the Memphis, Xiangli Yao actually pulls ahead because his damage is more concentrated.
He’s also incredibly "comfy." That’s a term we use for characters who don't require you to be a pro-gamer with 10ms ping to play effectively. His hitboxes are generous, and his mechanical arm has a surprising amount of reach.
Actionable Steps for Your Xiangli Yao Build
If you want to maximize him right now, stop farming for perfect Crit Damage sub-stats and look at your Energy Recharge first. A Xiangli Yao that can't Ult on cooldown is a dead weight on your team.
- Step 1: Check your Energy Recharge. If it's under 115%, swap your 1-cost Echoes for ones with ER sub-stats.
- Step 2: Level his Forte. Prioritize his Resonance Liberation and his Resonance Skill. His Basic Attack talent is actually the least important because the "Pivotal Transitions" scale off his Liberation level.
- Step 3: Practice the "Quick-Swap." He has relatively short field time requirements compared to Calcharo. You can swap to a healer, pop a skill, and swap back without losing his ultimate state if you’re fast enough.
- Step 4: Pair him with the right Echo set. Void Thunder is the standard, but if you're struggling with survivability, ensure your sub-stats have at least one or two flat HP or DEF rolls. Glass cannons don't do DPS when they're dead.
He represents a shift in how Kuro Games designs characters—moving away from overly complex, punishing mechanics toward fluid, high-intensity combat that feels rewarding. Whether you're a lore nerd interested in the Huaxu Academy or just someone who wants to punch monsters with a robot hand, he's easily one of the most cohesive units in the roster. Get his rotation down, respect the Energy Recharge requirements, and he'll carry you through the toughest holograms the game has to offer.