Xuanwu Dragon Traveler Build & Guide

Four Saints

T1SSR+Guardian

Role: Shield tank with shield-scaling damage

Factions: Sanctum Glory / Arcane Wisdom

Best For: PvP, Holy King Contest, Wyrmbone Ruins, Sanctum Glory Trial Realm, Arcane Wisdom Trial Realm

Overview

Xuanwu is an SSR+ Guardian from Sanctum Glory and Arcane Wisdom. She shields herself and her allies with almost every skill, gives shielded allies extra Damage Reduction, and turns her own shield into damage through Mortal Veil's parasol. She is the strongest Sanctum and Arcane tank for shield teams, especially next to Mimir.

Title:: Four Saints
Origin:: Chinese mythology
Roles:: Umbrella turns yin and yang, Dark armor guards the team
Star target:: Diamond recommended
Build priority:: Worth pulling for Sanctum and Arcane

Xuanwu, Four Saints, official art from Dragon Traveler

Xuanwu Skills

Unbroken Flow

S1 · Overdrive · 20s cooldown

Can select 1 melee ally. Leaps to the target location, dealing physical damage equal to 800-1190% of own Attack to enemy units within a massive circular area around the target, and inflicting Attack Down. Enemy units in the large inner circular area are knocked airborne. Then gains a shield equal to 22-35.2% of own Max HP and grants the selected allied unit a shield equal to 11-17.6% of own Max HP for 15s.

Alternatively, can select 1 ranged ally. Leaps to the nearest enemy unit, dealing physical damage equal to 800-1190% of own Attack to enemy units within a massive circular area around the target, and inflicting Taunt on the nearest enemy unit for 10s. Enemy units in the large inner circular area are knocked airborne. Then gains a shield equal to 22-35.2% of own Max HP and grants the selected allied unit a shield equal to 11-17.6% of own Max HP for 15s.

Mortal Veil

S2 · Ultimate Skill · 12s cooldown

Enters Parasol Stance for 5s and gains Physical Defense Up, dealing physical damage equal to 60-87% of own Attack + 150% of own current shield value to enemy units within a medium circular area around self every 0.5s.

When possessing both Morale and Fervor, enters the Grace state. While in the Grace state, this skill additionally deploys a parasol at the enemy Luminary farthest from self, dealing the same damage to enemy units within a medium circular area around it. Also grants a shield equal to 20-32% of own Max HP to allied units within the medium circular areas around self and the parasol for 8s. While casting this skill, becomes immune to control effects and lethal damage. Removes Grace when the skill ends.

Dance of Duality

S3 · Secret Skill

All allies gain 10-16% Damage Reduction while they have a shield. If they have a shield granted by Xuanwu's skills, they gain an additional 10-16% Damage Reduction.

In battle, every 8s, grants a random Blessing Buff to an allied Luminary with a shield, prioritizing one they do not already have.

Mystic Beacon

S4 · Special Skill · 16s cooldown

Throws a parasol at the allied Luminary with the highest Attack, prioritizing ranged units, or at an allied Wyrm. When the parasol reaches the target, grants allies within a medium circular area a shield equal to 8-14% of own Max HP. The parasol remains on the battlefield for 5s, granting 20 Skill Haste to allies within a medium circular area around it. Each time an allied unit unleashes an Overdrive, gains 1 stack of Awakening. Each Awakening stack increases own Shield Efficiency by 5%.

Ranges such as 340-520% show the value at skill level 1 and at max level. Keywords are explained in the glossary.

Talent: Shifting Harmony

Lv 1
Each time Xuanwu grants an allied unit a shield, Xuanwu gains 1 stack of Mystic Sun, stacking up to 8 times for 10s. Each stack of Mystic Sun increases Physical Defense and Magic Defense by 3-4.8% and Block by 40-70.
When Xuanwu's active skill deals damage, it also applies Mystic Moon, stacking up to 12 times for 5s. Each stack of Mystic Moon reduces the target's Break by 40-70.
Whenever an enemy with Mystic Moon deals non-Overdrive damage to an ally with Mystic Sun, that ally temporarily gains 3% x ( Mystic Sun stacks + Mystic Moon stacks) Block Damage Reduction Efficiency.
Lv 2
When an allied Luminary enters Grace, reduces the cooldown of Mortal Veil by 4 seconds.
Lv 3
Increases own Physical Defense and Magic Defense by 10% and HP by 5%.
Lv 4
When Xuanwu grants a shield to an ally, additionally applies 1 stack of Mystic Sun to that unit. ( Mystic Sun applied to allies is considered a dispellable buff.)
Lv 7
At start of battle, applies 3 stacks of Mystic Sun to all allied Luminaries, and gains an additional 3 stacks of Mystic Sun.

Divinity

Each Divinity level offers one or two nodes; where there are two you pick one. Our recommendation is in the build notes further down.

Lv	Option A	Option B
1	Health EnhancementBoosts HP by 5%.
2	Sanctum Crit ResistGrants 250 Crit Resistance for 4s upon receiving a Blessing Buff.	Sanctum BlockGrants 250 Block for 4s upon receiving a Blessing Buff.
3	Magic Defense EnhancementBoosts Magic Defense by 10%.	Health EnhancementBoosts HP by 7%.
4	Sanctum Magic DefenseGrants 16% Magic Defense for 6s when an ally enters Grace.	Sanctum HasteGrants 12 Haste for 6s when an ally enters Grace.
5	Health EnhancementBoosts HP by 7%.	Block EnhancementGrants 150 Block.
6	Eclipse RebirthEclipse Rebirth: When a shield granted by Xuanwu's active skill is broken, restores HP to the shield holder equal to 20% of their Max HP and applies Significant Physical Defense Boost.

Xuanwu Build: Relic, Gear and Subclass

Relic

Dwarven Codex SSR · first choice

Increases Bonus Damage of self-cast AoE skills by 49%.

Star Crystal Greatsword SSR · alternative

In battle, increases Attack by 14.4% and Physical Defense and Magic Defense by 14.4%. For every 10 seconds survived in this battle, additionally increases Attack by 7.2% and Physical Defense and Magic Defense by 7.2%, up to an additional 43.2%.

Gear

Build 1

Headgear: Flamelord's Helmet (HP)
Chestplate: Flamelord's Armor (HP)
Bracers: Flamelord's Gauntlets (HP)
Boots: Flamelord's Boots (HP)
Weapon: Last Whisper (Penetration)
Accessory: Eagle Warrior Portrait (Judgment)

HP set 1-piece: Boosts HP by 10%.
Penetration set 1-piece: Boosts Attack by 20% and ignores 12% of the target's Physical Defense and Magic Defense when attacking. (Defense Ignore effect can stack up to 40%)
Judgment set 1-piece: Boosts 12 Haste, and Overdrive damage by 20%.

Build 2 (alternative)

Headgear: Arcane Hood (Haste)
Chestplate: Arcane Robe (Haste)
Bracers: Arcane Gauntlets (Haste)
Boots: Arcane Boots (Haste)
Weapon: Tome of Stars (Arcane)
Accessory: Starlight Magisterium (Arcane)

Haste set 2-piece: Boosts Haste ability by 10.
Arcane set 2-piece: Increases HP by 15%, Overdrive Energy Consumption reduced by 1 point.

Build 3 · With Star Crystal Greatsword

Headgear: Flamelord's Helmet (HP)
Chestplate: Flamelord's Armor (HP)
Bracers: Flamelord's Gauntlets (HP)
Boots: Flamelord's Boots (HP)
Weapon: Tome of Stars (Arcane)
Accessory: Starlight Magisterium (Arcane)

HP set 1-piece: Boosts HP by 10%.
Arcane set 2-piece: Increases HP by 15%, Overdrive Energy Consumption reduced by 1 point.

Build 4 · With Dwarven Warhammer

Headgear: Valiant Helmet (Block)
Chestplate: Valiant Armor (Block)
Bracers: Valiant Vambraces (Block)
Boots: Valiant Boots (Block)
Weapon: Tome of Stars (Arcane)
Accessory: Starlight Magisterium (Arcane)

Block set 2-piece: Boosts Block by 200.
Arcane set 2-piece: Increases HP by 15%, Overdrive Energy Consumption reduced by 1 point.

How the sets compare is covered in the gear sets guide.

Subclass

Guardian (recommended, HP +8% Damage Reduction +8%): When the HP of an Other Luminary first falls below 20%, immediately consumes 20% of current HP to grant it a Shield equal to 28-40.6% of self's max HP for 8 seconds. (This effect can trigger up to 3 times per battle)
Lionheart Knight (alternative, ATK +8% PDEF +16%): When applying any control status, additionally reduces the controlled target's 21-30% Attack. (This effect lasts for 10 seconds)

Teams with Xuanwu

Formations players run with Xuanwu. Lists longer than six include the usual substitutes; the Overdrive order is the order to fire ultimates in manual play.

Mimir · Vivienne · Xuanwu · Hela · Azure Dragon · Gabriel · Scheherazade · Ophelia

Overdrive order: Xuanwu → Vivienne → Mimir → Hela → Azure Dragon → Gabriel

Gabriel · Azure Dragon · Vivienne · Xuanwu · Hela · Poseidon · Ophelia · Scheherazade

Overdrive order: Xuanwu → Vivienne → Hela → Azure Dragon → Gabriel

Scheherazade · Azure Dragon · Artemis · Xuanwu · Mimir · Vivienne

Overdrive order: Artemis → Xuanwu → Vivienne → Mimir → Scheherazade

More full teams with explanations are on the best teams page.

Our Take on Xuanwu

Xuanwu is T1, a Guardian who protects and deals damage at the same time. Dance of Duality gives every shielded ally 10-16% Damage Reduction, with the same again for shields Xuanwu provides, and hands a random Blessing Buff to a shielded ally every 8 seconds. Mortal Veil hits every 0.5 seconds for 60-87% of Attack plus 150% of her current shield value, so the thicker her shield, the harder she hits, and node 2 trims 4 seconds off it whenever an ally enters Grace. Unbroken Flow lets you choose an ally to shield and either knocks up an area or taunts the nearest enemy for 10 seconds. She is tied to Sanctum and Arcane teams, but within them she is one of the best pulls available.

Strengths

+Dance of Duality gives 10-16% Damage Reduction to every shielded ally from any source, plus another 10-16% when the shield is hers.
+Mortal Veil deals 150% of her current shield value every 0.5 seconds for 5 seconds, and in Grace it adds a second parasol at the farthest enemy, shields allies and makes her immune to control and lethal damage while it lasts.
+Unbroken Flow adapts to the ally you pick: a melee ally gets Attack Down on enemies and a knock-up, a ranged ally gets a 10-second taunt on the nearest enemy, and both get a 15-second shield.
+Mystic Beacon gives 20 Skill Haste to allies near its parasol, which it throws at the highest-Attack ally, preferring ranged units.

Weaknesses

−She is tied to her factions: much of her value relies on Sanctum Grace and Arcane Awakening.
−Diamond stars are recommended, which is 18 copies.
−Mystic Sun on allies counts as a dispellable buff, and shield strippers such as Mordred remove both her shields and her stacks.

How to Play Xuanwu

Xuanwu takes the front row. In the recorded Sanctum teams she opens the Overdrive order (Xuanwu, Vivienne, Mimir, Hela), and in the Arcane team she follows Artemis (Artemis, Xuanwu, Vivienne, Mimir). The choice inside Unbroken Flow matters. Pick your ranged carry, usually Mimir, to taunt the nearest enemy for 10 seconds and give the carry a 15-second shield, which Mimir turns straight into damage. Pick a melee ally when you need Attack Down and a knock-up against a melee dive. Cast Mortal Veil while her own shield is large, right after Unbroken Flow's self-shield. In Grace it also deploys a parasol at the farthest enemy, shields allies in both circles and makes her immune to lethal damage while casting. Grace ends when the enhanced Mortal Veil finishes, but node 2 cuts 4 seconds from its cooldown whenever any ally enters Grace, so in a Sanctum team it comes back quickly. For divinity, take Health Enhancement, Sanctum Block at level 2 (her talent's Mystic Sun also adds Block, and Block removes 30% of a hit), Health Enhancement at level 3, Sanctum Haste at level 4, Block Enhancement at level 5 and Eclipse Rebirth at level 6, which heals a shield's holder for 20% of Max HP when the shield breaks. The Guardian subclass gives an emergency shield to allies below 20% HP up to 3 times.

Good Teammates

Mimir (SSR+) – Unbroken Flow can shield Mimir for 15 seconds and taunt for her, and Mimir's damage scales directly with her current shield value.
Azure Dragon (SSR+) – Azure Dragon's team-wide shields switch on Dance of Duality's Damage Reduction for every ally, and both appear together in the Sanctum and Arcane lineups.
Vivienne (SSR+) – Casts right after Xuanwu in the recorded orders; her possession shield adds to Dance of Duality, and her Fervor helps allies into Grace, which cuts Mortal Veil's cooldown.
Artemis (SSR EX) – A ranged Arcane carry who opens the Arcane order before Xuanwu; Mystic Beacon prefers ranged high-Attack allies for its 20 Skill Haste.

Keywords in brackets are explained in the status effect glossary.

Should You Invest?

Diamond (18 copies) is recommended; she is listed as worth pulling for Sanctum Glory and Arcane Wisdom players. Divinity: Health Enhancement, Sanctum Block, Health Enhancement, Sanctum Haste, Block Enhancement and Eclipse Rebirth. Relic: Dwarven Codex, which adds 49% Bonus Damage to her self-cast AoE skills such as Mortal Veil and Unbroken Flow, or Star Crystal Greatsword for toughness. Subclass: Guardian or Lionheart Knight. Gear: Arcane set with Haste or HP, or HP with Penetration and Judgment for more damage. Free players in Sanctum or Arcane should treat her as a priority pull.

Xuanwu FAQ

Is Xuanwu worth pulling?: Yes, for Sanctum Glory and Arcane Wisdom players. She is T1, protects the team and deals damage that scales with her shield. Outside those factions she loses much of her value.
Xuanwu or Azure Dragon?: They work best together. Azure Dragon provides team-wide shields and Death Rattle, while Xuanwu turns any shield into extra Damage Reduction and protects the front line. If you can only build one, Xuanwu is the tank and Azure Dragon is the flexible support.
Which ally should Xuanwu's Overdrive target?: Usually your ranged carry, such as Mimir. Choosing a ranged ally taunts the nearest enemy for 10 seconds and shields the carry for 15. Choose a melee ally when you need Attack Down and a knock-up instead.
What is the best relic for Xuanwu?: Dwarven Codex, which adds 49% Bonus Damage to self-cast AoE skills such as Mortal Veil. Star Crystal Greatsword is the alternative if she needs more Attack and defense in long fights.

Guides Featuring Xuanwu

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