Zenless Zone Zero: Best Astra Yao Build

Astra Yao joins Zenless Zone Zero in Version 1.5 as the first-ever limited S-Rank Support, bringing an entirely new level of utility and team buffs to the game. While she excels at enhancing DMG and ATK, what truly sets her apart is her healing ability, making her the first unit in ZZZ capable of restoring HP.

In this guide, we’ll break down Astra Yao’s strengths, abilities, and optimal build, ensuring you get the most out of her game-changing support kit.

Astra Yao Overview

• Name: Astra Yao
• Rarity: S-Rank
• Attribute: Ether
• Specialty: Support
• Faction: Stars of Lyra
• JP VA: Endo Aya

Level 60 Stats:
• HP: 8609
• DEF: 600
• ATK: 715
• Crit Rate: 5%
• Crit DMG: 50%
• PEN Ratio: 0%
• Impact: 83
• Anomaly Mastery: 93
• Anomaly Proficiency: 92
• Energy Regen: 1.56%

Astra Yao is a top-tier support who provides a wide range of powerful buffs to her team. When played correctly, she grants Bonus DMG, CRIT DMG, and a massive 1200 ATK boost, making her one of the strongest support units in Zenless Zone Zero.

The best part? She’s incredibly easy to use. To activate all her buffs, you simply need to use her EX Special, which puts her into [Idyllic Cadenza State]—or her singing state, where she continuously enhances her teammates. While in this state, she not only provides buffs but also enables constant Quick Assists, making her a fantastic choice for double DPS compositions, such as Jane Doe Disorder teams.

Beyond her offensive buffs, Astra Yao is also the only unit in ZZZ capable of healing, thanks to her Ultimate. Each time she casts her Ultimate, she restores HP to the entire team, making her an invaluable asset in longer fights. With recent Ultimate adjustments, her healing is now a crucial support tool, providing extra sustainability when needed.

In short, Astra Yao is a game-changing support, offering massive buffs, seamless synergy with Quick Assists, and teamwide healing—all while being incredibly easy to use. Just activate her EX Special and let her do the rest!

Best W-Engines for Astra Yao

When choosing a W-Engine for Astra Yao, her signature weapon, Elegant Vanity, is by far the best option. It significantly boosts her ATK, making it easier to reach the threshold for her ATK buff, while also resolving some of her energy issues. On top of that, it enhances the entire team’s damage by up to 20%, making it an incredible support weapon that amplifies her already powerful buffs.

However, if you’re not planning to pull for Elegant Vanity, there are other viable alternatives that can still work well with Astra Yao’s supportive playstyle.

Top W-Engines for Astra Yao:
1. Elegant Vanity (Best-in-Slot) – When any squad member enters the field through a Quick Assist, Chain Attack, Defensive Assist, or Evasive Assist, Astra Yao gains 5 Energy (triggering once every 5 seconds). Additionally, when she consumes 25 or more Energy, the entire team’s damage increases by 10%, stacking twice for a total 20% boost that lasts 20 seconds. Repeated triggers refresh the duration. This weapon perfectly complements Astra Yao’s role, improving energy management and providing a teamwide damage boost.
2. Bashful Demon (Alternative Option) – Increases Ice DMG by 15% and boosts ATK for all squad members by 2% for 12 seconds when using an EX Special Attack. This effect stacks up to four times, allowing for a maximum of 8% ATK increase. While not as impactful as Elegant Vanity, it still provides a moderate buff to team damage.
3. Slice of Time (Best F2P Option) – Generates additional Decibels and Energy when squad members perform Dodge Counters, EX Special Attacks, Assist Attacks, or Chain Attacks. Each action grants between 20-35 Decibels and 0.7 Energy, with each type of attack having an independent 12-second cooldown. This W-Engine is a decent free-to-play alternative, helping with Energy regeneration, though it lacks the strong offensive buffs provided by other options.

If you want to maximize Astra Yao’s potential, Elegant Vanity is the clear winner, providing teamwide damage buffs and solving her energy issues. However, if you’re looking for budget-friendly options, Bashful Demon and Slice of Time can still work as passable alternatives, though they won’t bring out her full capabilities.

Best Drive Discs for Astra Yao

The best Drive Disc set for Astra Yao is undoubtedly the 4-piece Astral Voice, introduced in Version 1.4. This set provides a massive 24% DMG boost to DPS units, and thanks to Astra Yao’s kit, this buff remains active almost constantly, making it the perfect choice for her. No other set comes close in terms of synergy and effectiveness.

Recommended Drive Disc Setup:
• 4-piece Astral Voice – Provides a continuous 24% DMG boost for your DPS units, maximizing teamwide damage output.
• 2-piece Swing Jazz – Further enhances Astra Yao’s support capabilities, making her buffs even more impactful.

Optimal Main Stats:
• Disk 4: ATK%
• Disk 5: ATK%
• Disk 6: ATK%

Substat Priority:

ATK% (until 3430) > Flat ATK > PEN

With Astral Voice, Astra Yao becomes an even stronger enabler, ensuring your DPS characters deal significantly more damage throughout a fight. Given how easily she activates the set bonus, this is by far the best Drive Disc setup for her, with no real competition.

Skill Priority for Astra Yao

To maximize Astra Yao’s impact, prioritize upgrading her core skills first, as they directly enhance her buffing and support abilities. After that, focus on her EX Special and Ultimate, which play key roles in her teamwide buffs and healing. The remaining skills are less critical and can be upgraded later.

Optimal Skill Leveling Order:
1. Special – The most important skill, as it activates Astra Yao’s key buffs, making it the top priority.
2. Chain Attack – Boosts damage output and helps with energy generation, making it the second priority.
3. Basic Attack, Assist, and Dodge – These skills have a lower impact on her overall performance and can be leveled at your own pace.

By following this skill priority, you’ll ensure Astra Yao reaches her full potential, providing maximum buffs, support, and healing to her team.

Conclusion

Astra Yao is a top-tier S-Rank support in Zenless Zone Zero, offering game-changing buffs, energy generation, and the game’s first healing ability. To maximize her potential, equipping her with Elegant Vanity, a 4-piece Astral Voice + 2-piece Swing Jazz Drive Disc set, and prioritizing her Special and Chain Attack will allow her to provide unmatched team support.

Her ability to boost DMG, CRIT DMG, and ATK, while also enabling Quick Assists and double DPS teams, makes her one of the most valuable units in the game. Whether you’re running a Disorder team or a traditional Attack-based setup, Astra Yao’s support capabilities will elevate your team’s performance, making her a must-have for any player looking to optimize their squad.