Zenless Zone Zero: 8 Best DPS Characters

Zenless Zone Zero places a strong emphasis on combat, with minimal focus on exploration or puzzles. Unlike lore-rich HoYoverse games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, the story in ZZZ can be easily skipped, allowing players to dive straight into action-packed battles. To truly enjoy and excel in Zenless Zone Zero, mastering combat mechanics and understanding the strengths of the available Agents is essential.

When building a squad, most players opt for a Damage Dealer (DPS), a Support, and a versatile third slot. One standout feature in ZZZ’s DPS system is the flexibility to focus on raw power using Critical stats or exploit the unique Anomaly mechanic, which triggers massive damage after accumulating Attribute hits. Whether you prefer sheer force or strategic Anomaly builds, we’ve compiled a list of the 8 best DPS characters in Zenless Zone Zero to help you dominate the battlefield.

#8: Piper Wheel

Piper Wheel is a powerhouse as a Physical-Anomaly DPS, excelling at triggering the Physical Anomaly effect, Assault. This not only deals significant damage but also inflicts the Flinch debuff on enemies. Flinch increases their vulnerability to Daze effects, making them much easier to Stun, adding a layer of crowd control to her kit.

What sets Piper apart is her synergy with a wide range of teammates. She fits seamlessly into teams featuring fellow Sons of Calydon Agents like Lucy and Caesar, while also pairing effectively with Support characters like Seth. Additionally, Piper can take on the role of a sub-DPS, enabling Nekomata’s Additional Ability to maximize team performance. Her versatility and ability to trigger powerful effects quickly make her a solid choice for any squad.

#7: Soldier 11

Soldier 11 is a powerful Fire-Attack Agent, perfect for carrying players through the early stages of Zenless Zone Zero. Despite being the sole member of her faction at launch, Soldier 11 doesn’t struggle to find strong team compositions. She pairs seamlessly with other Agents such as Lucy and Koleda, Koleda and Ben, Lucy and Piper, or even Koleda and Grace, offering versatility in team-building.

What sets Soldier 11 apart is her ability to deal Fire Damage instead of Physical when activating Fire Suppression. This move can be triggered in several ways, including using Chain Attacks, her Ultimate, or EX Special Attacks. Interestingly, it’s also possible to activate Fire Suppression simply by timing her Basic Attack perfectly. Mastering this rhythm can lead to an endless chain of Fire Suppression, drastically enhancing Soldier 11’s performance and making her a top-tier DPS choice.

#6: Nekomata

Nekomata delivers impressive personal damage, standing toe-to-toe with other top-tier DPS. However, her potential is limited by a significant drawback: the lack of ideal teammates to fully support her kit. This shortfall prevents her from achieving her maximum impact on the battlefield.

To truly shine, Nekomata requires either another Physical damage dealer or a teammate from the Cunning Hares faction to activate her Additional Ability. Unfortunately, the only feasible choice from Cunning Hares is Nicole, who doesn’t fully synergize with Nekomata’s playstyle. A more effective team composition might include combinations like Caesar and Piper, Lucy and Piper, or Jane Doe paired with Nicole, offering some flexibility to make Nekomata a more viable option.

#5: Burnice

Burnice is an exceptional damage dealer, though her strength lies more in a sub-DPS role than as a primary carry. Her optimal strategy involves building up enough Energy to unleash her devastating EX Special Attack, setting enemies ablaze with chaos. Once her Energy is spent, players can switch her out and let the fiery aftermath wreak havoc on the battlefield.

Burnice shines brightest when paired with another Anomaly character, as her synergy allows her to activate her Additional Ability effectively. She performs particularly well with fellow members of the Sons of Calydon, making combos like Caesar + Lucy, Lucy + Grace, or Caesar + Jane Doe excellent team setups for maximizing her potential.

#4: Grace

Grace shines as an Electric-Anomaly DPS, offering immense utility for players who understand the intricacies of Anomaly mechanics. While Anomaly-based characters might be overshadowed by traditional Attack types early on, mastering their potential is crucial for tackling challenging end-game content.

Grace’s Electric Anomaly inflicts Shock on enemies, dealing persistent Electric damage over time and disrupting enemy actions. This effect is especially effective against machine-type foes, often immobilizing them and, in some cases, instantly stripping their shields. Grace’s ability to control the battlefield and deliver consistent damage makes her an indispensable asset in high-stakes combat scenarios.

#3: Jane Doe

Jane Doe stands out as one of the premier limited Anomaly characters in Zenless Zone Zero, debuting before Burnice and Yanagi. She can be considered an upgraded version of Piper Wheel, as both rely on spinning to trigger the Physical Anomaly effect, Assault. However, Jane’s strength lies in her Core Passive, which significantly amplifies her Assault damage and even allows it to Crit, making her an exceptional damage dealer.

Additionally, Jane’s team-building flexibility is a huge advantage. Her Additional Ability is less restrictive, enabling players to pair her with either someone from the same Faction or another Anomaly-based Agent. Running a second Anomaly unit alongside Jane is particularly effective, as it facilitates triggering Disorder, a powerful team-wide synergy. Alternatively, focusing entirely on Physical Assault with team setups like Caesar and Seth or Qingyi and Seth proves highly effective, showcasing Jane’s incredible versatility and damage potential.

#2: Zhu Yuan

Zhu Yuan is a top-tier Attack-Ether Agent whose strength largely depends on the synergy with other Agents in your roster. Her effectiveness shines when paired with key teammates like MC6 Nicole and Qingyi, making her an excellent DPS option. However, if your lineup includes Agents like MC6 Lycaon and Soukaku, other choices like Ellen might surpass her. For players fortunate enough to have multiple powerful Agents, Zhu Yuan’s performance can also vary based on her W-Engine and Drive Discs setup.

What sets Zhu Yuan apart is her ability to grow stronger with her Shotshells stacks, which significantly amplify her damage output. There are numerous ways to accumulate these stacks, and mastering her mechanics is essential to maximizing her potential. As a member of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, Zhu Yuan combines precision and power, making her a formidable choice for any Proxy seeking a consistent and impactful DPS.

#1: Ellen

Ellen stands out as an Attack-focused Agent who maximizes her potential through Critical stats. Her Core Passive increases her Crit DMG, while her Additional Ability grants a boost to Ice DMG Bonus, making her a formidable Ice DPS.

Unlike Zhu Yuan and Jane Doe, Ellen benefits from more accessible teammates, making her a great option for F2P players. Lycaon, available in the Standard Banner, and Soukaku, a free early-game character, synergize perfectly with her playstyle. Building a mono-Ice team centered around Ellen enables frequent activation of the Ice Anomaly, Freeze. Frozen enemies gain the Frostbite debuff, increasing the Crit DMG they take from allies, further enhancing Ellen’s damage output.

Conclusion

Zenless Zone Zero offers a dynamic combat system where choosing the right DPS character can make all the difference. Each DPS Agent brings unique strengths, whether through raw attack power or leveraging the strategic Anomaly mechanic. From versatile builds to specialized abilities, these characters allow players to adapt to different challenges and maximize their team’s potential. With the right choice of DPS, you’ll be well-equipped to dominate battles and fully immerse yourself in the fast-paced world of Zenless Zone Zero.