Despite being in version 1.0, Zenless Zone Zero features over 10 characters available for battle—some only obtainable through banners. Our comprehensive tier list evaluates the top contenders in the game.
If you’re unsure whether to utilize free characters like Corin and Nicole, or save your Master Tapes to unlock Ellen or Anton through a Signal Search, here’s how they rank in the current meta.
Zenless Zone Zero Character Tier List
| Tier | Characters |
|---|---|
| S | Ellen, Lycaon, Rina, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Jane Doe |
| A | Grace, Nekomata, Nicole, Lucy, Soldier 11, Soukaku, Seth Lowell |
| B | Piper, Koleda, Anby, Anton |
| C | Ben, Billy, Corin |
Best Character in Zenless Zone Zero
Zhu Yuan and Ellen represent the S-Tier characters we recommend for top-tier DPS due to their substantial edge over others. If you seek a standout Support character, Rina is the ultimate choice in the current meta.
Our Tiers Explained
Here’s a quick overview of our tier rankings:
- S: The highest-rated characters currently available
- A: Outstanding characters worthy of investment
- B: Situational characters that shine in specific contexts
- C: Characters best avoided unless you lack alternatives or have a personal preference for them
S-Tier Characters in Zenless Zone Zero
Jane Doe
Jane Doe is an S-Rank Physical Anomaly unit, distinguished as one of the top DPS characters available. Versatile and agile, she delivers significant damage and integrates seamlessly into various team compositions. Her ease of use makes her essential for any player in Zenless Zone Zero.
Qingyi
Qingyi is an S-rank Stun Electric unit, recognized for her stunning abilities and respectable damage output despite not being a primary DPS. Versatile and uninterfered by enemy attacks during her combos, she’s an excellent choice for newcomers.
Zhu Yuan
Zhu Yuan is among the best DPS units in Zenless Zone Zero, known for her ranged combat prowess as an Ether Attack character. Agile and easy to learn, she pairs well with Anby and Nicole for an impressive team composition, ideal for both new and experienced players. For an extensive gameplay guide, check out this build for Zhu Yuan.
Ellen
Ellen Joe, often referred to simply as Ellen, ranks as the second-best DPS character. Her formidable Ultimate capability allows her to tackle various content throughout the game effectively. Ellen’s high mobility further enhances her combat potential, especially when teamed with Ice characters, as her Rising Storm Core Skill boosts damage output significantly. For tips on building Ellen, check this detailed guide.
Lycaon
Lycaon is a Stun-oriented Ice unit currently known as one of the best debuffers. His Metallic Paws Core Skill reduces the Ice damage resistance of enemies by 25%, making him invaluable alongside Ellen. He also deals increased damage to stunned targets, adding to his utility. For effective strategies, here’s a comprehensive guide on the best build for Lycaon.
Rina
Rina is recognized as the premier Support character in Zenless Zone Zero. Her Core Skill, Mini Destruction Partner, elevates the PEN Ratio of all units in the party, amplifying damage against tougher enemies. Her mobility allows for evasive maneuvers, and she synergizes well with Electric units. For best practices, consult our detailed guide on Rina’s optimal build.
A-Tier Characters in Zenless Zone Zero
Seth Lowell
Seth Lowell is an A-rank Defense unit recognized for his support capabilities, particularly in lowering the Anomaly resistance of enemies. He is highly effective in tandem with Jane Doe and is worth developing in the current meta.
Grace
Grace stands out as the best Electric DPS character, capable of contributing damage even off-field through her unique abilities. While effective in team rotations, she requires precise timing that may complicate her use. Our detailed guide on Grace provides insight into optimizing her build.
Nekomata
Nekomata is an often-underrated unit in Zenless Zone Zero, thriving in area damage scenarios when tackling multiple smaller enemies. Speedy and capable of dodging attacks, her Quick Attacks and Dodge Counter provide a significant damage boost. Yet, her lack of dedicated Physical Support keeps her from S-Tier.
Nicole
Nicole is a top-tier crowd-control unit, with her EX Special Attack enabling her to group enemies while inflicting Ether damage. Coupled with her ability to debuff enemy defenses by 20% through her passive ability, she stands out among free characters, offering great utilities. However, her crowd-control attributes have less impact on bosses and larger foes.
Lucy
Lucy excels as a Support unit, featuring capabilities that allow her to summon Guard Boars, dealing off-field damage. Her EX Special Attack enhances the ATK of all party members. After character switches, she can regenerate party energy, which supports teams with high energy requirements. Be cautious, as her summoned Boars may struggle against quick adversaries.
Soldier 11
Soldier 11 ranks as the top Fire DPS unit, characterized by her straightforward gameplay focusing on high damage output. Simple to utilize, her abilities increase damage dealt to Stunned enemies, making her a solid choice alongside characters like Lucy, Nicole, and Rina. Unfortunately, her lack of dedicated teammates limits her effectiveness; the sole member of the Obol Squad faction could improve with future character updates.
Soukaku
Soukaku is an Ice unit recognized for her remarkable support capabilities in Zenless Zone Zero. Her Vortex stacks can be consumed to greatly enhance her own attack, passing the buff to the next unit switched in. Additionally, she supports Ice characters by amplifying their damage. Her freeze ability is advantageous in challenging fights, although managing Vortex stacks can be time-consuming. Check out our guide on the best build for Soukaku for more details.
B-Tier Characters in Zenless Zone Zero
Piper
Piper serves as a mixed utility character in Zenless Zone Zero. She can bolster her Anomaly buildup while enhancing her team’s damage output once enough stacks are collected through her Ultimate and EX Special Attack. However, her on-field time collecting stacks is excessively long, thereby reducing the team’s overall DPS in time-sensitive encounters.
Ugly
Koleda is primarily a Stun-based DPS character. Although capable of dealing Daze damage and increasing the party’s Chain Attack DMG, her role is overshadowed by dedicated Attack units who fulfill the DPS function more effectively. She is best used alongside Ben, which may hamper your team’s overall damage capabilities, making her less advantageous overall.
Anby
Anby shares similar viability issues as Koleda. As a Stun-based unit, her Daze damage is notable, but without significant contributions beyond a debuffer role, her utility remains limited. The only edge she holds is being a free character, making her viable early on until better units become available.
Anton
Anton falls into a Lightning Attack unit category, suffering from over-dependence on a particular skill, his Burst Mode. This reliance limits his viability within teams focused on optimally utilizing varied abilities. The necessity for teammates to sustain his Burst Mode compromises overall team composition, thus relegating Anton to a situational role in the meta.
C-Tier Characters in Zenless Zone Zero
Ben
Ben is unique in that he provides shields, being the sole Defense-oriented character available in the game. However, the current meta has little demand for shields as dominance leans toward damage outputs and buffs. Thus, his slow attacks and lack of relevant abilities when used with underwhelming teammates leave him ineffective.
Billy
Billy is currently regarded as one of the least effective characters. While he can strike from a distance, he requires standing still, causing a significant loss of damage if movement occurs. His damage scaling also ranks poorly compared to competitive units, making him unwise for investment, even as a free character.
Corin
Corin represents a Physical Attack unit with subpar damage potential, specializing in single-target attacks. While intended for use against bosses, a plethora of more efficient Attack units exist. Billy’s poor scaling exacerbates these issues, and with the absence of Physical Support options, her effectiveness dwindles.
If you’re interested in more content, check out our summary of the latest codes and Twitch drops, as well as information on controller support for the game.
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