Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Tier List (March 2026) BEST Agents
Looking for the most comprehensive Zenless Zone Zero tier list? You’ve come to the right place! As an experienced ZZZ player who has spent countless hours testing every agent in both Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault, I’m here to break down exactly which characters are worth your investment and why.
Zenless Zone Zero tier lists rank characters based on their performance in endgame content, particularly Shiyu Defense (which tests both single-target and AoE capabilities) and Deadly Assault (pure boss encounters). The rankings consider damage output, team flexibility, stun capabilities, and overall impact on team composition.
Whether you’re a free-to-play player or a whale, this tier list will help you make informed decisions about which agents to prioritize for your roster. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about the current meta!
Character Ranking Factors
Before diving into the rankings, it’s important to understand how I evaluate each agent:
- Damage Output: Raw DPS potential in optimal conditions
- Team Flexibility: How well they work with different team compositions
- Stun/Daze Application: Ability to control enemies and create damage windows
- Support Capabilities: Buffs, debuffs, and utility provided to the team
- Ease of Use: Skill floor and ceiling requirements
- Elemental Synergy: How well they work with specific element teams
Check out our complete ZZZ Anomaly characters guide for more detailed element-specific analysis!
S-Tier Characters – The Meta Definers
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ye Shunguang | DPS | Physical | Ultimate spam, easy to build |
| Miyabi | DPS | Ice | Frostburn damage, high burst |
| Yixuan | DPS | Physical | Ignores DEF, high skill ceiling |
| Astra Yao | Support | Ether | ATK/DMG buffs, healing |
| Yuzuha | Support | Ice | Best Anomaly support |
| Sunna | Support | Ether | Stun DMG multiplier, flexible |
| Dialyn | Stun | Fire | Free ultimate, stun extension |
| Ju Fufu | Stun | Ice | CRIT DMG buff, off-field |
| Trigger | Stun | Physical | Long-range, aftershocks |
| Vivian | DPS | Ether | Off-field Anomaly damage |
| Soldier 0 Anby | DPS | Physical | White Thunder stacks |
| Yidhari | DPS | Ice | High damage when <50% HP |
| Lucia | Support | Ether | Multiple buffs, healing |
| Zhao | Support | Fire | Free S-rank, versatile |
A-Tier Characters – Strong Contenders
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evelyn | DPS | Fire | Chain attack specialist |
| Alice | DPS | Physical | Assault trigger, Disorder |
| Seed | DPS | Physical | Basic attack focused |
| Banyue | DPS | Fire | Wrathful Fire mechanic |
| Yanagi | DPS | Electric | Disorder damage boost |
| Orphie & Magus | DPS/Support | Fire | Off-field damage, DEF ignore |
| Lighter | Stun | Fire | Fire/Ice buffs, high daze |
| Hugo | DPS | Physical | Stunned enemy damage |
| Burnice | DPS | Fire | Burning specialist |
| Zhao | Support | Fire | Free character, versatile |
| Von Lycaon | Stun | Ice | Ice team specialist |
| Nicole | Support | Ether | Enemy debuffs |
| Soukaku | Support | Ice | Ice damage boost |
| Zhu Yuan | DPS | Electric | Shotshell mechanic |
| Jane Doe | DPS | Physical | High mobility |
| Caesar | Stun | Physical | Tanky stun agent |
| Qingyi | Stun | Electric | Electric team synergy |
B-Tier Characters – Situational Picks
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen | DPS | Ice | Ice damage dealer |
| Anby | Stun | Physical | Basic attack stun |
| Koleda | Stun | Fire | Fire team stun |
| Rina | Support | Electric | Electric support |
| Lucy | Support | Fire | Fire healing support |
| Piper | DPS | Physical | Mobility damage |
| Harumasa | DPS | Electric | Rupture specialist |
| Pulchra | Stun | Ice | Ice stun agent |
| Pan Yinhu | Support | Physical | Physical support |
| Manato | DPS | Physical | Rupture damage |
C-Tier Characters – Niche Uses
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grace | DPS | Electric | Electric Anomaly |
| Nekomata | DPS | Physical | Physical damage |
| Soldier 11 | DPS | Fire | Fire damage dealer |
| Seth | Support | Physical | Physical support |
D-Tier Characters – Early Game Only
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anton | DPS | Fire | Basic fire damage |
| Ben | Support | Physical | Tank support |
| Billy | DPS | Physical | Ranged physical |
| Corin | DPS | Physical | Physical damage |
Detailed Character Analysis
Ye Shunguang (S-Tier DPS)
Ye Shunguang is currently the best DPS agent in Zenless Zone Zero, and for good reason. Her Enlightened Mind state allows her to dish out incredible damage, and her innate CRIT Rate stat makes her one of the easiest DPS units to build. What really sets her apart is her ultimate ability – she can spam it frequently, especially when paired with Dialyn who provides free ultimate attacks. Her physical element means she works well with most ATK and CRIT boosting supports, making her incredibly flexible for team building.
Miyabi (S-Tier DPS)
Miyabi is a powerhouse Anomaly unit who specializes in Frostburn damage. Her Basic Attack – Shimotsuki can deal massive amounts of damage, and when paired with the Hailstorm Shrine W-Engine, her damage output becomes absolutely insane. She excels in both single-target and AoE scenarios, making her versatile for different content types. While she requires some setup to maximize her Frostburn procs, the damage payoff is well worth the investment.
Yixuan (S-Tier DPS)
Yixuan is a technical Rupture agent who can deal Sheer Force DMG, which ignores enemy DEF – a incredibly valuable mechanic in high-end content. While she has a high skill ceiling and requires precise timing with her Special Attack and Ultimate, when played correctly, she can output damage that rivals even the best S-tier agents. Her main drawback is the complexity of her kit, but master her combos and you’ll be rewarded with incredible damage numbers.
Astra Yao (S-Tier Support)
Astra Yao is arguably the most versatile support character in the game. She provides both ATK and DMG buffs to the entire team, can allow other units to use their Chain Attacks as Assists, and even offers healing through her Ultimate. What makes her truly special is her flexibility – she can fit into almost any team composition and provide significant value. Whether you’re running a physical, ice, or fire team, Astra Yao will enhance your damage output substantially.
Yuzuha (S-Tier Support)
When it comes to Anomaly teams, Yuzuha is the undisputed queen of supports. She buffs the party’s ATK, Anomaly DMG, and Anomaly Buildup Rate – essentially everything an Anomaly DPS could want. She’s the best support unit for Anomaly-focused teams, especially when paired with characters like Miyabi or Yanagi. Her ability to accelerate Anomaly buildup makes her essential for any serious Anomaly team composition.
Looking for more specific character builds? Check out our Zhao best build guide for detailed optimization strategies!
Sunna (S-Tier Support)
Sunna is an excellent Support Agent who increases team damage by inflicting Cat’s Gaze on enemies. She can also enhance the squad’s ATK by activating her Ether Veil, making her particularly valuable for characters like Ye Shunguang. While she has some restrictive Additional Ability requirements and focuses on Stun DMG Multiplier, her flexibility allows her to fit into many different team compositions. She’s especially valuable in teams that can make use of her Ether Veil mechanic.
Dialyn (S-Tier Stun)
Dialyn revolutionized the stun meta with her unique ability to provide one of your agents with a free Ultimate attack that doesn’t consume Decibel. This is game-changing for characters like Zhu Yuan or Miyabi who have enhanced ultimate states. On top of this, she increases Stun multiplier and extends stun duration, giving your DPS agents more time to dish out damage during stun windows. She’s become the go-to stun agent for most high-end team compositions.
Ju Fufu (S-Tier Stun)
Ju Fufu is a highly capable off-field Stun agent who buffs the entire team’s CRIT DMG while also stunning enemies. What makes her special is her ability to increase the whole team’s decibels by 1000 while refunding 300 decibels to Attack or Rupture agents when they use their Ultimate. This makes her incredibly valuable for teams that rely on ultimate abilities for their damage output.
Evelyn (A-Tier DPS)
Evelyn is a powerful Attack unit who specializes in Chain Attack damage. Her kit excels at both grouping mobs of enemies and taking down bosses, making her versatile for different content types. While she doesn’t quite reach the damage output of S-tier DPS agents, her consistency and ease of use make her a solid choice for players who want reliable performance without the technical requirements of some higher-tier characters.
Lighter (A-Tier Stun)
Lighter is a fantastic Stun character who can inflict massive amounts of Daze while providing Fire and Ice DMG buffs to the party. He’s best used on Fire and Ice teams, where his elemental buffs provide maximum value. While he doesn’t have the unique utility of Dialyn or Ju Fufu, his raw stun capability and team buffs make him a solid choice for many compositions.
Burnice (A-Tier DPS)
Burnice is an Anomaly unit who specializes in Burning enemies. She works particularly well in fire-focused teams where she can maximize her Burning procs. While she requires some setup to really shine, her sustained damage through Burning can be quite impressive, especially in longer fights where the Burning damage has time to accumulate.
For more team composition ideas, check out our best Zhao teams guide for premium and F2P options!
Harumasa (B-Tier DPS)
Harumasa received some buffs that made him more fluid to play, no longer requiring charged basic attacks to unload his damage. However, he still struggles to compete with higher-tier DPS agents in terms of raw damage output. While he can be fun to play and has his moments, he generally requires more investment for less return compared to other options.
Ellen (B-Tier DPS)
Ellen is an Ice damage dealer who can perform well in the right team composition. However, she struggles to compete with other Ice DPS options like Miyabi or Yidhari in terms of damage output. While she can be effective, especially for players who enjoy her playstyle, she’s generally not worth heavy investment unless you specifically want to use her.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this Zenless Zone Zero tier list updated?
I update this tier list monthly with each new patch and character release. The ZZZ meta evolves quickly with new agents and balance changes, so I regularly test all characters in both Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault to ensure accuracy.
Should I only use S-tier characters?
Not necessarily! While S-tier characters offer the best performance, you should also consider your playstyle and team composition needs. Some A-tier characters might actually perform better for you depending on your roster and preferred playstyle. Fun factor matters too!
What’s the difference between DPS, Stun, and Support roles?
DPS characters focus on dealing damage, Stun characters specialize in dazing enemies to create damage windows, and Support characters provide buffs, debuffs, or utility to enhance team performance. A balanced team typically includes one of each role.
Are free characters worth investing in?
Absolutely! Characters like Zhao are free S-rank agents who can compete with many limited-time characters. Don’t underestimate free agents – they often provide incredible value, especially for F2P players.
How important are element synergies in team building?
Element synergies are very important in ZZZ! Matching elements between your DPS and supports can provide significant damage bonuses and enable powerful elemental reactions. Always consider element compatibility when building teams.
What’s the best team composition for beginners?
For beginners, I recommend a balanced team with one DPS, one Stun, and one Support character. Characters like Ye Shunguang (DPS), Lighter (Stun), and Astra Yao (Support) form an excellent beginner-friendly team that can handle most content.
Conclusion
The most comprehensive Zenless Zone Zero tier list you’ll find anywhere! I’ve personally tested every agent in this guide across countless Shiyu Defense runs and Deadly Assault challenges to bring you rankings you can actually trust.
The key takeaway? Focus on building a balanced team with one solid DPS, one reliable Stun agent, and one versatile Support. S-tier characters like Ye Shunguang, Miyabi, and Astra Yao will carry you far, but don’t sleep on those A-tier gems that might fit your playstyle perfectly.
Remember, tier lists are guides, not gospel. The best team is the one you enjoy playing and have invested in properly. Whether you’re free-to-play or a whale, there’s a path to clearing endgame content with smart team building and proper character investment.