What to know
- Zhao is an Ice-element Defense Agent introduced in Version 2.5
- She specializes in shielding, damage mitigation, and crowd control
- Works best in sustained fights and boss-focused content
- Scales strongly with DEF, Impact, and supportive Drive Disc sets
You encounter Zhao as a stabilizing frontline Agent in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5, designed to protect your squad while still contributing meaningful Ice damage and utility. Below is a complete, clean breakdown of her kit, builds, and best team synergies, structured for quick reference and deeper understanding.
Best overall Zhao build
| Build aspect | Best overall choice |
|---|---|
| Role | Support / Buffer (off-field) |
| Element | Ice |
| Best W-Engine | Half-Sugar Bunny |
| Alternative W-Engines | Original Transmorpher, Bunny Band |
| Best Drive Disc set | Astral Voice (4-pc) + Yunkui Tales (2-pc) |
| Disc main stats | Slot 6: HP% or Energy Regen · Slot 5: HP% · Slot 4: HP% or CRIT DMG |
| Disc substats | HP% > Flat HP > CRIT DMG > Energy Regen |
| Target Max HP | 27,000 (optimal, not mandatory) |
| Core strength | Converts HP into CRIT Rate, ATK, and DMG buffs |
| Best team type | Attack-focused or Anomaly (Disorder) teams |
| Playstyle | Accumulate Frostbite off-field, swap in at full gauge, activate Ether Veil, enable Quick Assists |
Zhao’s combat kit explained
Core Passive – Burst of Frost
- Gains CRIT Rate based on initial Max HP
- Generates Frostbite when allies deal damage
- At max Frostbite, switching Zhao in activates Entry Skill: Burst of Frost
- Consumes Frostbite to trigger Ether Veil: Wellspring, granting:
- Max HP bonus
- Flat ATK increase
- Teamwide buffs with refreshed duration on re-trigger
At max Core upgrades, the CRIT Rate scaling and ATK bonus increase dramatically, making HP stacking even more valuable.
Additional Ability – Crystallization
- Activates when paired with an Attack, Anomaly, or Support Agent
- While Ether Veil is active, the entire squad gains DMG
- Bonus scales with Max HP, capping at 40% DMG at 27,000 HP
Skill priority for Zhao
| Priority | Skill |
|---|---|
| 1 | EX Special Attack |
| 2 | Core Passive |
| 3 | Ultimate |
| 4 | Special Attack |
| 5 | Dodge |
| 6 | Basic Attack |
Recommended Zhao W-Engines
Zhao benefits most from W-Engines that enhance Energy regeneration, survivability, and team-wide buffs. Since her value comes from frequent shielding and assists, supportive effects often outperform raw stats.
Best W-Engines for Zhao
| Rank | W-Engine | Key Effects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half-Sugar Bunny | Increases Energy Regen by 0.46/s. Grants the entire squad 10% ATK and 10% Max HP (only one instance per team). When Zhao activates or extends an Ether Veil, all squad members gain 30% CRIT DMG for 60 seconds. Re-triggering refreshes the duration. |
| 2 | Original Transmorpher | Increases Max HP by 8%. When Zhao is attacked, her Impact increases by 10% for 12 seconds, improving her Stun contribution during enemy pressure. |
| 3 | Bunny Band | Increases Max HP by 8%. While shielded, Zhao gains 10% ATK, offering a small offensive boost without sacrificing defense. |
Best Drive Discs for Zhao
| Drive Disc | Rating & merits |
|---|---|
| Astral Voice (4-pc) + Yunkui Tales (2-pc) | ★★★ – Best set. Astral Voice provides strong damage buffs through Quick Assist, which Zhao can trigger frequently. Even though the ATK stat itself is minor for her, the team-wide damage increase makes this her strongest overall option. |
| Proto Punk (4-pc) + Yunkui Tales (2-pc) | ★★★ – Second best. Proto Punk offers damage buffs when using Defensive or Evasive Assists, fitting Zhao’s natural playstyle and still delivering consistent team value. |
Main stat priority
| Slot | Recommended Stat |
|---|---|
| Slot 4 | DEF% |
| Slot 5 | Ice DMG Bonus or DEF% |
| Slot 6 | Energy Regen or Impact |
Substat priority
DEF% > Impact > Energy Regen > HP%
Best team compositions for Zhao
Zhao excels as an off-field support who boosts damage, enables Quick Assists, and keeps rotations smooth through Ether Veil: Wellspring. Her best teams are built around strong damage dealers or Anomaly synergy that can fully exploit her long-lasting buffs.
Attack-focused core team (best overall)
Zhao pairs exceptionally well with Ye Shunguang and Dialyn.
This is Zhao’s strongest composition. Ether Veil directly supports Ye Shunguang by accelerating Qingming Sword Force generation and amplifying her burst windows. Dialyn supplies consistent Stun pressure, allowing the team to convert Zhao’s ATK, CRIT, and DMG buffs into reliable boss damage.
Recommended Bangboo: Sprout
Alternative Bangboo options include Luckyboo, Bangvolver, Brawlerboo, Overtimeboo, and Birkblick.
Free-to-play friendly team
A strong and accessible option uses Zhao alongside Billy and Anby.
Zhao’s buffs significantly raise Billy’s sustained damage output, while Anby provides dependable Stun and safe swap opportunities. This team performs well early on and scales naturally as Zhao’s HP increases.
Recommended Bangboo: Sumoboo
Alternative Bangboo options include Bagboo, Brawlerboo, and Overtimeboo.
Anomaly Disorder team
Zhao also works well in Anomaly-focused setups with Vivian and Alice.
Her ATK and DMG buffs increase Disorder damage, making double-Anomaly teams more consistent over long fights. Because Anomaly damage ramps over time, Zhao’s extended Ether Veil duration fits this playstyle perfectly.
Recommended Bangboo: Robin
Alternative Bangboo options include Knightboo and Brawlerboo.
Flexible mixed-role teams
Zhao can slot into most lineups as long as the squad includes at least one Attack, Anomaly, or Support Agent to activate her Additional Ability. This flexibility makes her easy to integrate into evolving rosters without strict composition requirements.
Balanced boss-focused team
- Zhao (Defense, Ice)
- Ether or Electric Attack Agent
- Support Agent (ATK or Energy buffs)
This setup excels in long boss encounters where shields and interruption resistance matter most.
Ice synergy control team
- Zhao
- Ice Attack Agent
- Stun-focused Support
You gain faster Freeze buildup, strong Daze control, and excellent survivability.
Zhao total promotion materials
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Defense Certification Seal | x4 |
| Advanced Defense Certification Seal | x32 |
| Defender Certification Seal | x30 |
| Denny | 800,000 |
Zhao total skill upgrade materials
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Freeze Chip | x5 |
| Advanced Freeze Chip | x15 |
| Specialized Freeze Chip | x50 |
| Hamster Cage Pass | x1 |
| Denny | 500,000 |
Zhao total Core Skill upgrade materials
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clouded Crystalline Substance | x9 |
| Higher Dimensional Data – Spiked Corruption Core | x60 |
| Denny | 400,000 |
Zhao Mindscape Cinema recommendations
| Cinema | Rating | Why it’s good |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | ★★★★★ | Huge power spike; team ignores enemy RES after Zhao swaps out |
| M2 | ★★★★☆ | Strong ATK buffs tied to Zhao’s healing |
| M4 | ★★★☆☆ | Improves Decibel generation and CRIT DMG on key attacks |
| M6 | ★★★★☆ | Major CRIT and Basic Attack scaling upgrade |
Is Zhao worth building?
Zhao is not a damage carry, but she is one of the most reliable defensive Agents available. If you value consistency, survivability, and smoother clears in high-difficulty content, she earns her slot easily.
Zhao shines as a defensive cornerstone who turns chaotic fights into controlled engagements. With proper investment, she enables safer rotations, stronger Stun setups, and stress-free boss clears—making her a long-term value pick in Zenless Zone Zero.
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