Quick answer. In Version 7.1 the best Qiqi build is an ATK% support build: ATK% Sands, ATK% Goblet, and a CRIT Rate Circlet if she holds Favonius Sword (ATK% or Healing Bonus otherwise). Use 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith as the default set. Her best weapons are Favonius Sword for Energy and Finale of the Deep for raw ATK. Level her Elemental Skill first. The upgrade that matters is her Witch's Revelation quest. It cuts her Skill cooldown to 15 seconds, so the Herald of Frost is always up. While she is in a Stellar Glimmer Radiance state, it also gives the party +50% Superconduct and Stellar-Conduct DMG, or +50% Cryo Swirl and Stellar Swirl DMG. The first team KQM's quick guide lists for her is Qiqi, Sandrone, Yae Miko and Nicole.
This guide covers Version 7.1, "A Rekviem for the Underworld". Talent text, weapon passives and set bonuses were checked on 20 October 2026 against HoYoverse's notices and the in-game text recorded on the Genshin Impact Wiki.
Three numbers explain why Qiqi is suddenly worth building:
- Herald of Frost uptime goes from 50% (15s duration on a 30s cooldown) to 100% after Witch's Revelation.
- Her Revelation passive is a flat +50% reaction buff for the whole party.
- Her free Standard selector closes on 3 November 2026 at 14:59 server time.
What changed for Qiqi with Witch's Revelation?
Before Witch's Revelation, Qiqi was a healer with long downtime and no Energy particles. She is now a full-time Cryo applier and reaction buffer. HoYoverse added the system in Version "Luna VIII" (the 1 July 2026 update). The Version "Luna VIII" Update Details on HoYoLAB list seven eligible characters: "Wriothesley, Yae Miko, Cyno, Yumemizuki Mizuki, Qiqi, Diona, and Beidou."
Her new talent is Seven Sacred Treasures. Here is what the Revelation changes, from the in-game text:
| Part of her kit | Before Revelation | After Revelation |
|---|---|---|
| Skill cooldown | 30s for a 15s Herald of Frost | 15s, so the Herald never drops |
| Herald of Frost | Heals and hits nearby enemies | Also makes a Cryo coordinated attack when your active character hits an enemy, once every 2.2s |
| Energy particles | None from her Skill | Skill DMG, Herald of Frost or a coordinated attack hit generates 2 particles, on a cooldown the wiki has not confirmed |
| Party buff in Radiance: Stellar-Conduct | None | +50% Superconduct and Stellar-Conduct reaction DMG |
| Party buff in Radiance: Stellar Swirl | None | +50% Cryo Swirl and Stellar Swirl reaction DMG |
| Elemental Burst in Radiance: Stellar-Conduct | One Cryo hit | Adds a second hit counted as Stellar-Conduct DMG (535.2% at talent Lv10) |
| A4 Talisman on Normal Attacks | 50% chance, once every 30s | In Radiance: 100% chance, once every 15s |
HoYoverse's infographic for her ends with a line in her voice: "If my friends are ever in danger, I will keep everyone safe!"
Two details catch players out. First, the party buff only runs while the Herald of Frost is on the field. Second, the state comes from your team's Stellar Glimmer reactions, not from Qiqi alone. She enters Radiance: Stellar-Conduct when she is inside a Polestar Field. She enters Radiance: Stellar Swirl for 8 seconds after a nearby party member triggers Stellar Swirl. So she needs a Stellar Jubilee character in the party. Our Stellar-Conduct vs Stellar Swirl explainer covers who those characters are.
One more thing about the cooldown. The wiki's gameplay notes say the passive does not lower the base cooldown. Instead, it removes 15 seconds from the remaining cooldown the moment you cast. The notes add that this cut is unaffected by party-wide cooldown reduction such as Anemo Resonance. With full Herald uptime, extra cooldown cuts add nothing anyway. HoYoverse also patched a bug in it. The Version 7.1 Update Details (announcement 21946) list: "Fixes an issue whereby the Elemental Skill CD Reduction effect of Qiqi's Additional Talent 'Seven Sacred Treasures' could occasionally fail to take effect."
How do you unlock Qiqi's Witch's Revelation?
You need two quests and a level-70 Qiqi:
- Finish Archon Quest Prologue: Act III, "Song of the Dragon and Freedom". This is the unlock condition in the Luna VIII Update Details.
- Complete "Revelations by Chance", the Hexenzirkel guidance quest. It gives you the Witch's Revelation Case.
- Raise Qiqi to Level 70. HoYoverse's wording: "You can unveil the revelation when the corresponding character reaches Lv. 70."
- Play "Witch's Revelation: Instruction of Curious Form" in the Court of Fontaine Region. It falls under the Lunar Arcanum The Hanged Man (Upright). The fight is two short waves: four Anemo Hilichurl Rogues, then two Thundercraven Rifthounds. You play it with a trial Qiqi and Keqing, and the reward includes 20,000 Mora and 3 Guide to Prosperity.
Level 70 is a real wall if you take her from the free selector, which only includes ascension materials to Lv. 60. Getting past Lv. 60 takes her fourth ascension: 80,000 Mora, 8 Hoarfrost Core, 3 Shivada Jade Chunk, 30 Violetgrass and 18 Sealed Scroll. Hoarfrost Core drops from the Cryo Regisvine.
What are the best artifacts for Qiqi?
Main stats: ATK% Sands, ATK% Goblet, and a CRIT Rate, ATK% or Healing Bonus Circlet. Her healing scales on ATK, and so does her C6 buff. KQM's Qiqi quick guide (updated for Version "Luna VIII") gives the stat priority as "ER until requirement > ATK% > CRIT Rate (Favonius) > Flat ATK".
| Set | When to use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 4pc Tenacity of the Millelith | Default | Skill hits give the party +20% ATK for 3s. Her Herald keeps hitting, so the buff stays up |
| 4pc Noblesse Oblige | C6 Qiqi in Stellar-Conduct | +20% party ATK for 12s after her Burst, which she casts every rotation at C6 |
| 4pc Scroll of the Hero of Cinder City | Someone else holds Millelith | +12% party DMG for the elements in a reaction she triggers |
| 4pc Instructor | Budget | +120 Elemental Mastery to the party for 8s when she triggers a reaction while on the field, per KQM |
| 4pc Ocean-Hued Clam | Qiqi on the field | Turns her healing, including overflow, into Physical damage |
Heart of the Furnace is worth knowing about. It is the Version 7.0 Stellar Glimmer set, and its 4-piece "increases Stellar Glimmer reaction DMG dealt by all nearby party members by 50%". The set says this also works while the wearer is off the field. KQM's Qiqi page does not list it for her, so only use it on Qiqi if no one else on the team has it. Two copies do not stack.
How much Energy Recharge does Qiqi need?
Less than you think, unless you are at C6. KQM's advice is that before C6, "Qiqi can forgo ER investment entirely and use her Burst every other rotation". Her Skill and A4 already heal enough. At C6 in a Stellar-Conduct team you want her Burst every rotation. Her Burst costs 80 Energy. KQM's targets with Sandrone are:
| Setup | C0 | C1, melee carry | C1, ranged carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Sandrone | 240–285% | 150–170% | 190–220% |
| Sandrone plus another Cryo | 220–245% | 135–155% | 170–190% |
KQM adds: "When Qiqi holds Favonius Sword, her ER requirements decrease by 20–30%."
What is the best weapon for Qiqi?
- Favonius Sword (4★, Energy Recharge). Best for team Energy. CRIT hits have a 60% chance to create particles worth 6 Energy, once every 12s at R1. You need some CRIT Rate to trigger it, which is why a CRIT Rate Circlet goes with it.
- Finale of the Deep (4★, craftable). The best free ATK% sword. Casting her Skill gives +12% ATK for 15s and a Bond of Life worth 25% of her Max HP. Clearing the Bond adds ATK equal to 2.4% of the amount cleared, up to 150 at R1. KQM says Qiqi can easily trigger the first part of the passive.
- Freedom-Sworn (5★). Gives the party Normal, Charged and Plunging DMG plus ATK%. Qiqi has to trigger two reactions to activate it.
- Key of Khaj-Nisut and Peak Patrol Song. KQM lists both as team-buff options. Key fits Melt teams and wants HP% main stats, which cost her some healing. Peak Patrol Song fits Elemental damage teams and wants DEF, up to 3,200.
- Azurelight, Summit Shaper, Aquila Favonia. High ATK, but only use them if you already own one.
Sacrificial Sword is obsolete on her. It was a common pick because its passive can reset her Skill cooldown. The Revelation passive already gives her full uptime. As KQM puts it, it "is no longer needed for full uptime on Qiqi's Skill".
New Bough, the 4-star sword from Version 7.1, is a weaker fit than it looks. Under Radiance: Stellar Glimmer it gives ATK and "Stellar Glimmer reaction DMG dealt by the equipping character". That only boosts Qiqi's own reactions, not the team's.
Which Qiqi constellations matter?
Qiqi is in the Standard wish, so you may already own spare copies. Witch's Revelation upgrades C1, C2, C4 and C6. Here is what each one adds after the quest:
| Constellation | Base effect | Added by Witch's Revelation |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Ascetics of Frost | 2 Energy when the Herald hits a Talisman-marked enemy | In Radiance: Stellar Glimmer, +6 Energy when Herald attacks hit, once every 6s |
| C2 Frozen to the Bone | +15% Normal and Charged DMG vs Cryo-affected enemies | In Radiance: Stellar Glimmer, +50% ATK for Qiqi |
| C4 Divine Suppression | Talisman-marked enemies have 20% less ATK | When a Talisman heal triggers, the lowest-HP party member also gets 180% of her ATK as healing |
| C6 Rite of Resurrection | Burst revives fallen allies, once every 15 minutes | 4 stacks of Glimpse of Mystery after her Burst. Each one adds 600% of Qiqi's ATK to an active teammate's Stellar-Conduct or Stellar Swirl DMG |
C6 is her real power spike. KQM calls it "her best Constellation". Here is a worked example with an assumed 2,000 ATK. Each Glimpse of Mystery stack adds 12,000 DMG to one of your carry's Stellar Glimmer hits. Four stacks add 48,000 per Burst before other multipliers. The stacks last up to 12 seconds, so cast her Burst right before your carry's Stellar Glimmer hits. That is why KQM moves C6 Qiqi to Noblesse Oblige and ATK% swords.
C1 is the most useful early constellation. In KQM's table it cuts her Energy Recharge target by roughly 90 to 115 percentage points with a melee carry.
What are the best teams for Qiqi in 7.1?
Qiqi is at her best in Stellar Glimmer teams, where her +50% buff works. Our Yae Miko build covers the other half of her top team.
| Team | Role | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Qiqi, Sandrone, Yae Miko, Nicole | Stellar-Conduct | KQM's first example Sandrone team. Qiqi brings Cryo, particles and the +50%. Nicole adds ATK and a shield |
| Qiqi, Sandrone, Yae Miko, Escoffier | Stellar-Conduct | Escoffier adds Cryo particles and some Cryo RES shred |
| Qiqi, Sandrone, C6 Beidou, C6 Diona | Stellar-Conduct | For accounts with both C6 4-stars. Beidou's Revelation adds Cryo RES shred |
| Qiqi, Odette, Yae Miko, Alyosha | Stellar-Conduct without Sandrone | Odette is the Stellar Jubilee character and Alyosha is free |
| Qiqi, Vesna, Vodyanitsa, flex | Stellar Swirl | Her Radiance: Stellar Swirl buff gives +50% Cryo Swirl and Stellar Swirl DMG |
| Qiqi, Skirk, Furina, Shenhe or Mona | Cryo support | Qiqi heals for Furina's Fanfare and charges the team |
| Qiqi, Fischl, Xingqiu, Beidou | Budget | Fischl, Xingqiu and Beidou are all 4-stars. Qiqi's Normal Attacks set off their coordinated attacks |
Watch out with Wriothesley. KQM warns that he "has anti-synergy with Qiqi, as her healing can lower the amount of special Charged Attacks he can perform". If you pair them, keep her healing low.
For Vesna teams, see our Vesna build.
Should you pick Qiqi from the free 5-star selector?
Pick her if you run, or plan to run, Sandrone, Yae Miko, Odette or Vesna. Otherwise, probably not. Qiqi is one of eight characters in the "Across the Frozen Wilds, Honing One's Edge" event (announcement 21885). It lets you invite one 5-star from the Wanderlust Invocation Standard Wish, and it ends on 3 November 2026 at 14:59 server time. That is 06:59 UTC on Asia servers, 13:59 UTC on Europe and 19:59 UTC on America.
What helps her case this month:
- Imaginarium Theater. The October season requires Hydro, Cryo and Anemo, so she qualifies as a Cryo character. In the 1 November season, the Version 7.1 Update Details make her a Special Guest Star, next to Odette, Vesna and Jahoda. She is one of five selector characters who are usable in both seasons. Our October Imaginarium guide has the full line-up.
- Spiral Abyss. The Floor 12 first half from 16 October has the Ley Line Disorder "Characters' Stellar Glimmer DMG increased by 75%". That rewards exactly the teams Qiqi buffs. Enemy notes are in our Floor 12 guide.
- Duplicates. If you already own Qiqi below C6, an extra copy should turn into a constellation. HoYoverse's support article says a 5-star copy "awarded by the game" converts into her Stella Fortuna plus 10 Masterless Starglitter. The selector notice itself does not mention duplicates.
This selector has eight candidates. The other 7.1 selector (announcement 21924) adds six more, and our comparison of all 14 free picks across both is in the Version 7.1 free 5-star selector guide.
What materials does Qiqi need?
All figures come from the in-game ascension and talent tables.
| Goal | Materials |
|---|---|
| All ascensions (Lv. 1 to 90) | 420,000 Mora, 46 Hoarfrost Core, 1 Shivada Jade Sliver, 9 Fragments, 9 Chunks, 6 Gemstones, 168 Violetgrass, 18 Divining Scroll, 30 Sealed Scroll, 36 Forbidden Curse Scroll |
| One talent, Lv. 1 to 10 | 1,652,500 Mora, 3 Teachings, 21 Guides and 38 Philosophies of Prosperity, 6 Divining, 22 Sealed and 31 Forbidden Curse Scroll, 6 Tail of Boreas, 1 Crown of Insight |
These totals leave out character EXP and the Mora spent on levelling. Tail of Boreas comes from the weekly boss Andrius, the Wolf of the North. Violetgrass is a Liyue specialty, and her Utility Passive, Former Life Memories, shows Liyue specialties on the mini-map. A Crown of Insight should go to her Skill only if you need her healing. KQM notes that "Qiqi's buffs do not scale with Talent Levels".
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qiqi good in Genshin 7.1? Yes, if you have done her Witch's Revelation quest and you play a Stellar Glimmer team. The quest gives her full Herald of Frost uptime, Energy particles and a +50% party reaction buff. Without the quest, she is the same healer with downtime she was in 2020.
What is the best Qiqi build for Sandrone? Use ATK% Sands and Goblet, a CRIT Rate Circlet with Favonius Sword, and 4-piece Tenacity of the Millelith. At C0 she can skip her Burst. At C6, use Noblesse Oblige and cast her Burst every rotation for the Glimpse of Mystery stacks.
Does Qiqi still need Sacrificial Sword? No. Seven Sacred Treasures already removes 15 seconds from her 30-second cooldown, which matches the Herald's 15-second duration. Favonius Sword or Finale of the Deep does more for her now.
Does Qiqi generate Energy now? Yes, but only after her Witch's Revelation. Her Skill DMG, the Herald of Frost and its coordinated attacks generate 2 Elemental Particles on hit, with a cooldown between drops. Before the quest, her Skill generated none.
Does Anemo Resonance lower Qiqi's Skill cooldown further? It does not help. The wiki's gameplay notes say Seven Sacred Treasures cuts the remaining cooldown by 15 seconds when you cast, and that this cut is unaffected by party-wide cooldown reduction like Anemo Resonance. The Herald already has full uptime.
What level does Qiqi need for Witch's Revelation? Level 70. You also need Archon Quest Prologue: Act III and the quest "Revelations by Chance". Then her own quest, "Witch's Revelation: Instruction of Curious Form", unlocks Seven Sacred Treasures.
