ZZZ tier list - the best characters in Zenless Zone Zero

Who is at the top of the ZZZ tier list? HoYoverse’s latest gacha comes with a full roster of playable agents that sport unique abilities, attributes, and combat specialties. With so many characters to choose from, it can be difficult to decide who to add to your team. We’ve tested each one to bring you a complete and reliable tier list that ensures you’re investing your time and level-up materials into the right units.

Our expert Zenless Zone Zero tier list is based on the current stats and performance in the latest Zenless Zone Zero update, so be aware these rankings may be subject to change. However, we plan to regularly update this tier list as new characters are introduced in Zenless Zone Zero banners, so check back regularly for the latest developments in the gacha game. All that being said, let’s get into the best (and worst) characters in Zenless Zone Zero 1.2.

ZZZ tier list

Here are the best Zenless Zone Zero characters for October 2024:

S-Tier

Caesar is a fantastic Physical Support unit with a suite of buffs built into her kit. The focal point is her Radiant Aegis shield, which applies a shield to allies that also bestows a bonus to damage and anti-interrupt. She also applies a damage increase debuff to enemies thanks to her Battle Spirit additional ability. All of the above effects are easy to trigger, boast an extended uptime, and are applicable in all combat situations.

However, Caesar isn’t just a buff dispenser; she’s also a fierce combatant in her own right. Her EX lets her parry enemy attacks with her shield, with an optional follow-up swing to dole out some heavy punishment. This makes her a highly versatile unit, capable of taking a backseat as a dedicated buffer or assuming an on-field tank role if needed. Just bear in mind that her kit forces her to remain on the defensive and match the speed of foes, which can cause slowdown. To mitigate this, we recommend pairing her up with a highly aggressive DPS unit like Jane or Soldier 11 that can tear through enemies once she’s exhausted her rotation.

Ellen

Ellen was the headline S-Rank character at launch, so it should be no surprise that she’s flown straight to the top of our ZZZ tier list. Ellen’s high crit rate and damage allow her to shred enemies to pieces with a barrage of multi-attack slashes built into her basic and dodge attacks. As an Ice character, she can also inflict Freeze and Shatter effects to incapacitate enemies. Her Roaming state imbues her with lightning speed that grants her mastery over the battlefield, as she weaves in and out of enemy attacks before they can land.

Ellen racks up Flash Freeze charges to inflict massive Ice damage on enemies, so it’s important to expend a full stack as soon as possible if you want to reach her damage ceiling. Her enhanced basic attack also requires a short pause to charge it, so awareness of your positioning is key to avoid getting hit in these moments. Ellen is a fantastic character, but button-mashing will only get you so far with her kit. Take a look at the best Zenless Zone Zero Ellen build to take a bite out of the competition.

Grace

Grace has already established herself as a fan favorite, and we’re pleased to report her kit is as good as her character design. If you’re looking for a long-range Pierce unit that’s a huge step up from Billy, Grace is the ideal candidate. Grace operates at medium range, flinging her grenades to inflict AoE damage to foes directly ahead of her. She’s also very nimble, and many of her attack animations incorporate leaps and somersaults to keep space between her and hostile mobs.

Grace’s kit comes with a unique but pretty straightforward gimmick whereby she builds up stacks of Zap to net an Electric anomaly buildup buff once she unleashes her special. This does demand more awareness to ensure you’re using Grace optimally, but it’s well worth the effort. Her flurry of Electric grenades leaves enemies vulnerable to recurring Shock effects that immobilize them entirely, especially when paired with other Electric units. The best Zenless Zone Zero Grace build will help you unleash this Belobog Heavy Industries engineer.

Jane Doe

Jane Doe is a powerful Physical/Anomaly unit that’s as fast as she is deadly. Her staggering mobility lends itself perfectly to the fast pace of ZZZ’s combat, and her double-dodge is ideal for building her Passion Stream during hectic encounters. Her Salchow Jump attack turns her into an uninterruptable whirling dervish, complete with a damage reduction bonus for its duration. This enhanced basic attack shreds tough enemies by inflicting critical strikes with Assault. It’s crucial to sustain the uptime of her Passion state for as long as possible, and hitting her sky-high damage ceiling requires mastery over her attack rotation and passive buffs.

Jane demands on-field time to make the most of Passion Stream, alleviating the need for an on-field Stun unit to serve as the driving force. While Jane Doe has excellent synergy with A-Rank character Seth, her overall best team comps demand premium units like Grace, Qingyi, and Rina, making her less F2P-friendly than other characters. However, she’s versatile enough to find a home on your team sooner rather than later. Check out the best Zenless Zone Zero Jane Doe build if you’re partial to a game of cat-and-mouse.

Lycaon

Lycaon has one of the highest health stats of any character in the anime game thus far, so while he can’t soak up hits like Ben, he’s still an incredibly robust unit. He’s also got a formidable Impact base stat, granting him exceptional Daze application that makes him the ideal frontrunner of any team comp that would benefit from a Stun character.

Lycaon is a close-range melee fighter, though he’s nimble enough to dash between enemies on the field – just be careful of your positioning when executing his ultimate. Every single one of his basic attacks can be charged at no cost beyond a brief pause; similarly, his special can be extended simply by holding down the corresponding input. This makes him staggeringly straightforward to use optimally, capable of triggering a run of chain attacks in a matter of moments. Check out the best Zenless Zone Zero Lycaon build for a howling good time.

Qingyi

It shouldn’t come as a shock (ahem) that Qingyi’s performance has earned her a top spot on our tier list. The Electric Stun character maintains order in New Eridu with her patented three-section staff – a weapon capable of pulling together long combos with devastating finishers. Qingyi’s Subjugation stacks are accrued through perfectly dodging attacks and executing finishers and offer up a stun multiplier that can reach double Lycaon’s – sheesh.

Another core component of Qingyi’s kit is her Flash Connect Voltage, which is charged up every time she deals Electric damage with a skill. At 75% charge, Qingyi enters the Flash Connect state, allowing her to expunge her charged voltage with an empowered basic attack, Enchanted Moonlit Blossoms. As such, you’re going to need to keep Qingyi on the field for a long time to maximize her potential damage output. The good news is Qingyi can fit into most teams as her additional ability has modest requirements – just make sure you partner her up with characters who won’t eat into her on-field time too much.

Zhu Yuan

Zhu Yuan is a versatile DPS unit that can switch between close-range melee attacks and a ranged burst, making her capable of tackling most combat encounters without breaking a sweat. Her EX special bestows Enhanced Shotshell charges that she can expend at will, unleashing a devastating nuke of Ether damage that can be extended until all charges are expended. She’s also incredibly agile, dodging around enemies with ease thanks to her basic attack’s built-in dash attack.

Zhu Yuan is the second Ether character to enter the ZZZ roster, which means she has restricted her versatility in team comps; however, we’ll likely see more flexibility as more Ether-aligned units and N.E.P.S faction members enter the roster. However, this also means she has a unique synergy with Nicole. Together, they can inflict Corruption and induce enemies to attack their allies, giving them unprecedented control over the battlefield. Take a look at the best Zenless Zone Zero Zhu Yuan build to really lay down the law.

A-Tier

Anby

Anby might be the ‘starter’ Zenless Zone Zero character, but don’t be fooled. This capable fighter can go up with the very best of them – she shares the same Impact stat as Lycaon, making her a go-to character for Daze application in any F2p-friendly team comp. She’s also a great option to pair alongside other Electric and Slash agents when built thanks to her talents and additional abilities, which grant energy regeneration and attack bonuses depending on her allies.

Anby’s kit is very beginner-friendly and overwhelmingly hinges upon her basic attack. Ensure you hold down her basic attack at the culmination of the third hit in her attack string to trigger Thunderbolt to net bonus Daze and an easy chain into her special. If you’re still trying to wrap your head around ZZZ’s fast-paced combat, Anby can steer you to victory. Take a look at the best Zenless Zone Zero Anby build for a spark of inspiration.

Lucy

Lucy is an excellent blend of attack and support, and her Physical/Fire kit makes her viable in team comps that need assistance with Fire anomaly buildup or Daze application. Her core passive allows her to summon Guard Boars to the field whenever she uses her special attack. These little guys might be small, but they’re also mighty. Not only do they fight alongside your team, but you can also sacrifice them to send a burst of Fire damage directly at any enemy via Lucy’s special attack. Lucy’s guard boars also inherit her ATK and Impact stat, so invest in the corresponding Drive Discs to bolster their strength on the battlefield.

As explosive as her moveset may be, Lucy’s kit extends beyond damage support. Her core passive ensures that all allies, Bangboo, and guard boars receive an ATK buff every time she uses her EX special, while her ultimate grants energy regeneration to her teammates. Unfortunately, this energy regeneration doesn’t extend to herself but you can sidestep this issue by pairing her with dedicated Daze applicators like Lycaon who can rapidly trigger chain attacks and help Lucy reach her energy thresholds. She might stall as a frontline unit, but Lucy’s on-field and off-field support is almost second to none.

Nicole

Nicole might not top the damage-dealing charts, but she’s more than worthwhile thanks to her unique ability to displace enemies by pulling them into a black hole, leaving them vulnerable to close-range AoE attacks from the likes of Soukaku, Anton, or Grace. Enemies caught in her energy fields also take continuous damage for the duration they’re trapped, which quickly stacks up – especially given Nicole’s capacity to ignore the DEF stat of her foes. However, her middling-to-low DEF and HP make her a glass cannon who we wouldn’t recommend leaving on the field for long.

Nicole is one of very few characters with the Ether attribute in Zenless Zone Zero. She has unique synergy with Zhu Yuan, helping her drive Corruption and even Disorder on enemies – be sure to pair her with Devilboo for some assistance in that department. We expect Nicole’s team comp viability to open up as more characters enter the roster, though she may end up outclassed by new Ether units further down the line.

Seth

Seth is an Electro/Defense unit that provides unparalleled support for Anomaly characters. He builds Resolve via chain attacks and EX specials to inflict burst damage that triggers a quick assist. However, unlike every other quick assist, Seth chains into the character that came before him in the team composition. He applies an anomaly proficiency bonus and supplementary shield to his teammate, making this the ideal slot for an Anomaly damager dealer to bring the pain. As you might expect, Seth is an excellent supporting unit for Jane Doe, and this synergy alone boosts his standing on our tier list.

Seth’s shield capabilities can mean the difference between life and death in challenge modes like Hollow Zero and Shiyu Defense. However, as a defensive unit, he is a little slow. While he’s not as sluggish as Ben, his EX special’s animation time leaves him wide open to interrupts, which can cause frustration given how integral it is to building Resolve. However, he doesn’t require much on-field time overall – his entire attack rotation relies on him getting out of the way of your DPS characters – and the anomaly buildup resistance debuff he inflicts via his additional ability is the cherry on the cake for your Anomaly units.

Soukaku

Soukaku’s special attack is the jewel of her kit thanks to her Fly the Flag ability. The efficacy of Fly the Flag depends on the stacks of Vortex she’s accumulated from her special, chain, or ultimate attacks – with three stacks, she enters the Frosted Banner state, allowing her to inflict Ice damage using a flurry of basic attacks. This sequence of conditional damage is a bit more complicated than other units in ZZZ, but it’s more than worthwhile. However, her flat damage output is fairly underwhelming, so don’t expect to get far wailing on enemies with her regular basic attack. Soukaku can’t reach the top of our tier list based on her kit alone, but she’s an excellent AoE unit to pair with Ice or high-Impact characters such as Lycaon or Ellen.

B-Tier

Koleda

This pint-sized firebomb doubles as a tank and Daze applicator, which is perfect to pair with units that benefit from chain attacks. She’s a force to be reckoned with at close range thanks to her massive hammer, which she wields to devastating effect for both single-target and AoE damage. Her EX Special, chain, and ultimate imbue her with the Furnace Fire effect, and we recommend triggering it as early as possible to enhance her Fire-based basic attacks and apply DoT (damage over time) via Burn application.

Koleda has a wealth of unique synergy with Ben hardwired into her kit, and you can expect damage and Daze buffs for her basic, chain, and ultimate attacks while her fellow Belobogian on the team. However, this synergy elevates Ben more than Koleda, and she has the same issue as Billy whereby other characters can perform better in her role. While she currently boasts unique value as a Stun unit that can slot into a mono-Fire comp, we might see her drop a tier as the roster expands.

Nekomata

If you’re looking for good old-fashioned damage per second without worrying about attributes or PEN ratios, then Nekomata is the one for you. This feisty feline comes with a high base ATK (Attack) stat, making her more than capable of slashing through entire waves of enemies before you even factor in the bonus crit rate and damage buffs bundled into her talents. Nekomata is also devastatingly fast, capable of racking up a hefty damage bonus with every successful dodge counter and quick assist.

The only major drawback to her kit is that it demands a reactive player with enough field awareness to prevent her from getting swarmed. Nekomata works particularly well when paired with Physical characters she can bounce between to trigger Assault and inflict burst damage, but she can hit a ceiling if there’s not enough Daze application for her to chain. Check out the best Zenless Zone Zero Nekomata build if you can’t get enough of this pretty kitty.

Piper

Piper is a Physical AoE unit that offers solid support to high-Impact characters like Anby, Koleda, and Lycaon. She attacks enemies using her EX special or ultimate to stack Power and increase her Physical anomaly buildup rate, eventually inflicting Assault and leaving her targets susceptible to Daze application. Her Tire Spin special is a close-range spinning slash with a wide AoE that can capture multiple enemies in its path, with anti-interrupt and damage reduction to help her ignore any stragglers.

Piper is only liable to stall against larger enemies less likely to be affected by her moveset’s anti-interrupt effects, but her high health pool means that she can tank a hit or two. She’s also quick to cancel out of her spinning animation for a dodge counter, leaving enemies vulnerable to a Power Draft downward smash. Piper also boasts high anomaly proficiency to increase attribute anomaly damage, making her great to pair with Physical units like Jane Doe and Nekomata as well.

Rina

While the majority of ZZZ characters demand you to get up close and personal with enemies to defeat them, Rina can stay at a distance and use her Bangboo companions to do the dirty work for her. She’s a highly mobile unit, able to reposition and establish distance if any enemies come near. Rina employs Electric and Strike damage, making her super effective against mechanical foes, and the teamwide PEN ratio buff built into her core skill ensures she’s a strong pick when delving into Hollows populated by armored Ethereals.

Rina has plenty of AoE and single-target attacks bundled into her moveset thanks to her Bangboo allies, making her incredibly versatile and able to respond to foes at all ranges. However, her attacks are a little on the slow side, and her overall standing is harmed by the sheer number of powerful Electric units that have debuted since launch. Nevertheless, the best Zenless Zone Zero Rina build will help this dutiful housemaid take out the trash.

Soldier 11

Soldier 11 is a model soldier in many respects – not only is she a great damage dealer, but she’s also a robust unit in her own right. Her health pool makes her capable of assuming the role of pseudo-tank against heavy hitters. Soldier 11 is a great character to place in second position on your team comp thanks to her powerful chain attack, which inflicts a burst of Fire damage to all enemies in the immediate vicinity. She’s also an exceptional Burn applicator, boasting a high base ATK complimented by a high crit rate.

You can push her damage output further by learning the timing of her Fire Suppression ability; neglecting it means leaving her core skill’s damage buff on the table, but it does demand familiarity with her animations. All in all, Soldier 11 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a front-line offensive Fire unit to shred single targets – just don’t expect her to function as a Daze applicator any time soon.

C-Tier

Anton

Anton is a great option if you’re looking for a chain attacker that deals close-range AoE damage. He can effectively pin down enemies clustered together using his special, which boosts his anti-interrupt level high enough for a barrage of follow-up basic attacks. That said, it’s worth holding out for his EX special to activate Burst Mode, which inflicts a continuous burst of Electric damage at the expense of his energy.

Anton has a decent health pool, but we don’t recommend keeping him on the field for long. Like Soukaku, it’s best keep him in second or third position in your team, so you can chain into that EX Special. However, this makes him incredibly energy-reliant for an A-Rank character, and he’s liable to stall your rotation when going up against higher foes. You can pair him with at least one other Electric user like Grace or Qingyi for consistent Shock application to offset it, but this hampers his versatility in team comps.

Corin

Corin is a close-range fighter, concentrating on the enemies directly ahead of her with some close-range AoE at her disposal. Corin funnels her damage through a high crit rate, and many of her attacks come furnished with anti-interrupt or temporary invulnerability. Unfortunately, Corin is fairly one-note in terms of her kit. True to her character, she’s also unbelievably fragile, so we don’t recommend leaving her on the field for long.

Corin’s capacity to inflict continuous Physical damage means she can rapidly trigger the Assault debuff once she has an enemy pinned down. However, her single-target attacks leave her vulnerable in a crowd, and often demand you to cancel out to switch. Again, while Corin is by no means a bad character, her overall lack of versatility is stark when compared to the rest of the Zenless Zone Zero roster. She does work well alongside Jane Doe and Nekomata in a mono-Physical team, but her value is set to wane as more Physical units enter the roster.

D-Tier

Ben

Ben is proof positive that size really does matter, for better and for worse. This ursine tank boasts the highest DEF stat in the action-adventure game, making him a boon on any team populated by glass cannons – and if you’re lucky enough to pull the right Zenless Zone Zero weapons, you can convert a portion of that DEF into raw damage. However, his comparatively slow movement demands high-speed teammates outfitted with powerful chain attacks to avoid a stall in combat.

Ben’s shielding capabilities can stop a boss rampage in its tracks with ease, and he’s a great unit to keep you alive when plumbing the depths of the Infinite Abyss or testing your luck against the roguelike game variables of Hollow Zero. However, in a combat system all about staying on the offensive, Ben comes with too many caveats to reach the top of our tier list. That said, the best Zenless Zone Zero Ben build can certainly help this gentle giant hold his own.

Billy

Billy joins Anby and Nicole as a starter character who’s as useful as he is easy to use. This is largely thanks to his sheer versatility. With his twin revolvers, Billy fits into any team comp that demands a dedicated long-range AoE damage dealer. While Billy is a purely Physical character, his ultimate compliments elemental attributes by boosting Anomaly Buildup by 10%. His chain attack is the focal point of his kit, allowing him to deal damage to a sizeable chunk of the battlefield in one fell swoop.

However, like Corin, Billy is also quite fragile, and his low HP and DEF make him vulnerable when left on the field. His damage output is outclassed by characters in higher tiers, many of whom can fulfill his role as an AoE, long-range, or Physical unit. Billy might not be a bona fide Starlight Knight, but all that being said, he’s still the cyborg in shining armor for almost any beginner’s team comp. The best Zenless Zone Zero Billy build is sure to keep the bullets flying.

Now that you’re all set with our ZZZ tier list, take a look at all the easy ways to grab free Zenless Zone Zero Polychrome film and increase your chances of pulling an S-tier character. You can also pick up gacha currency in limited-time Zenless Zone Zero events, as well as the latest Zenless Zone Zero codes released by HoYoverse.