Zhu Yuan is a new Zenless Zone Zero character that will be released in Phase 2 of the 1.0 update, so here’s everything we know – including her element, abilities, and gameplay.
Zenless Zone Zero’s roster of characters is constantly expanding, and Phase 2 of the 1.0 update will see the arrival of Zhu Yuan. This highly anticipated S-rank character is known for her deadly martial arts and marksmanship skills, making her a great choice for any player looking to increase their team’s damage.
So, if you’re aiming to roll on the Zhu Yuan banner or simply wish to know more about her, then our hub has everything you need to know.
Best Zhu Yuan build in Zenless Zone Zero
| W-Engine | Drive Disc | Stat Preference | Team Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Suppressor Mark VI | Chaotic Metal (4-pc)Woodpecker Electro (2-pc) | Slot 4: Crit Rate or Crit DMGSlot 5: Ether DMGSlot 6: ATKSubstats: Crit Rate, Crit DMG, ATK%, PEN | Zhu Yuan, Lycaon, Rina |
While this is the best build for Zhu Yuan, if you are interested in learning about the individual components in the setup, we have discussed those in detail in the following section.
Best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan
Riot Suppressor Mark VI
This is the best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero. Upon using, it increases the wearer’s Crit Rate by 15%. Additionally, the wielder will gain 8 Charged Stacks upon launching an EX Special ATK. Once the equipper’s Basic ATK deal’s Ether DMG, a Charged Stack gets consumed providing a 35% boost to Skill DMG.
Overall, this W-Engine is quite straightforward as it provides a stats boost and enhances DMG, benefiting Zhu Yuan in combat.
The Brimstone
This is another S-rank W-Engine that can be considered a decent alternative for Zhu Yuan. This weapon provides a 3.5% ATK boost to the wearer and can stack up to 8 times in total. The ATK boost comes in handy for Zhu Yuan, though the lack of Crit stats means, you need to have very good Drive Discs.
Best Drive Disc for Zhu Yuan
The best Drive Disc for Zhu Yuan is Chaotic Metal. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows:
| Set-piece | Set Bonus |
|---|---|
| 2-pc | Increases Ether DMG by 10%. |
| 4-pc | The equipper’s CRIT DMG increases by 20%. When any character in the squad triggers Corruption’s additional DMG, this effect further increases by 5.5% for 8s, stacking up to 6 times. Repeated triggers reset the duration. |
Woodpecker Electro can fill the final two Drive Disc slots. The set bonus is as follows:
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
| Set piece | Set Bonus |
|---|---|
| 2-pc | Increases CRIT Rate by 8%. |
This combination of Chaotic Metal and Woodpecker Electro provides a stat boost and damage boost to Zhu Yuan. This ensures there is a balance between consistency and damage.
Zhu Yuan Promotion and Skill level-up materials
Promotion
Zhu Yuan needs Basic Offense Certification Seal, Advanced Offense Certification Seal, and Pioneer’s Certification Seal. The exact number of materials she needs is as follows:
- Basic Offense Certification Seal x4
- Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32
- Pioneer’s Certification Seal x30
Skill level-up
Zhu Yuan’s skills in Zenless Zone Zero need Basic Ether Chip, Advanced Ether Chip, Specialized Ether Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Living Drive, and Higher Dimensional Data-Ethereal Pursuit. The exact number of materials she needs is as follows:
- Basic Ether Chip x5
- Advanced Ether Chip x15
- Specialized Ether Chip x50
- Hamster Cage Pass x1
- Living Drive x9
- Higher Dimensional Data-Ethereal Pursuit x60
Best Zhu Yuan team comp
Being an attack unit, Zhu Yuan needs a debuffer and support in the team. In the current state, the best units you can pair her with are Lycaon and Rina. In this team, Lycaon is the Stun unit that will make it easy for Zhu Yuan to hit the targets, while Rina can provide PEN boosts.
If you do not have Lycaon and Rina, you can go for a team of Zhu Yuan, Anby, and Nicole. In this team, Anby plays the role of a Stun unit, while Nicole helps with damage as well as crowd control.
Zhu Yuan abilities
Basic Attack
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Don’t Move! | Unleashes a flurry of martial arts, bullets, and Ether Buckshots in a series of up to 5 attacks, dealing Physical DMG and Ether DMG. When the 4th or 5th hits strike an enemy, obtain 1 Enhanced Shotshell. A max of 1 can be obtained per activation of this Basic Attack. While using this skill, drag the joystick and press Basic Attack to activate Dash Attack: Firepower Offensive and readjust to face the selected direction. While under Assault Mode, hold Basic Attack to switch to Suppressive Mode. |
| Please Do Not Resist | Hold Basic Attack to activate: Unleash up to 3 Shotshell piercing attacks, dealing Physical DMG. If Zhu Yuan has Enhanced Shotshells upon firing, 1 Enhanced Shotshell will be consumed, dealing massive Ether DMG. While using this skill, drag the joystick to activate her Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower and readjust to face the selected direction.While in Suppressive Mode, release Basic Attack to return to Assault Mode. |
Dodge
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Tactical Detour | Press Dodge to dodge: A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Firepower Offensive | Assault Mode — Press Basic Attack during a dodge to activate: Uses handgun to attack, dealing Physical DMG. |
| Overwhelming Firepower | Suppressive Mode — Drag the joystick during Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist to activate: Unleashes a Shotshell piercing attack, dealign Physical DMG. If Zhu Yuan has Enhanced Shotshells when firing, 1 Enhanced Shotshell will be consumed, dealing massive Ether DMG. |
| Fire Blast | Press Basic Attack during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Shoots enemies in front with an Ether Buckshot, dealing Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
Assist
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Covering Shot | When the on-field character is launched in the air, press Assist Attack to activate:Shoots enemies in front with an Ether Buckshot, dealing Ether DMG.Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Guarded Backup | When the character on field is about to be attacked, press Assist to activate: Dodges the enemy’s attack and activates Vital View. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Defensive Counter | Press Basic Attack after an Evasive Assist to activate: Attack with a combination of martial arts and shotshells, dealing Physical DMG and Ether DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
Special Attack
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Buckshot Blast | Press Special Attack to activate: Shoots Ether Buckshots that deal Ether DMG. This can be repeated 3 times by repeatedly pressing Special Attack. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill. |
| Full Barrage | With enough Energy, press EX Special Attack to activate: Shoots a series of Ether Buckshots, that explode and deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
Chain Attack
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Eradication Mode | When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate:Uses Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells.Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Max Eradication Mode | When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press Ultimate Colored to activate: Uses Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
Core Skill
| ABILITY NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Special Ops Ammunition | When Zhu Yuan is under Suppressive Mode, using Enhanced Shotshells increases her DMG by X%. When attacking Stunned enemies, this DMG buff is increased by an additional X%. When Zhu Yuan enters the battlefield, she immediately gains 6 Enhanced Shotshells. |
| Tactical Coordination | When another character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction:Zhu Yuan’s CRIT Rate is increased by 30% 10s after using an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate. |
Core Skill Enhancements
| ABILITY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| A | CRIT DMG increases by 9.6%Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
| B | Base ATK increases by 25Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
| C | CRIT DMG increases by 9.6%Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
| D | Base ATK increases by 25Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
| E | CRIT DMG increases by 9.6%Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
| F | Base ATK increases by 25Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition Skill Lv. +1 |
Mindscape Cinema
- Level 1 — Quick Reload: When Zhu Yuan activates a Chain Attack/Ultimate, she gains the Quick Reload effect. When Zhu Yuan has the Quick Reload effect and uses up all Enhanced Shotshells, the Quick Reload effect will be consumed to instantly gain 6/9 Enhanced Shotshells.
- Level 2 — Ether Ember: In Suppressive Mode, Zhu Yuan’s Anti-Interrupt level is increased and DMG taken reduced by 10%. When Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with Enhanced Shotshells, the target takes 10% more Ether DMG from Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist and Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower, stacking up to five times and lasting for 5 seconds. Each shot adds one stack of this effect, and repeated triggers reset the duration.
- Level 3 — Public Security Special Training: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
- Level 4 — Ether Perforation: When Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with Enhanced Shotshells, her Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist and Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower ignore 25% of the target’s Ether RES.
- Level 5 — Special Ops Experience: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
- Level 6 — Expanded Energy Pack III (C6): When Zhu Yuan consumes a total of 12 Enhanced Shotshells, she receives the Ether Afterglow effect, and the Energy cost of the next EX Special Attack is reduced by 30. Launching an EX Special Attack will consume Ether Afterglow and shoot an additional 4-bullet Ether Buckshot. Each extra bullet deals DMG equal to 220% of Zhu Yuan’s ATK.
Zhu Yuan pros and cons
While Zhu Yuan is exceptionally strong, she comes with a few weaknesses. Here are the pros and cons of Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ranged attacks makes her easy to use | Must have Stun unit in the team for optimal damage |
| Deals additional damage to Stunned enemies | |
| Easy to use and F2P-friendly |
Zhu Yuan trailer
Now that you know about Zhu Yuan, be sure to check out leaks for her companions Jane Doe and Qingyi, who will be coming in the 1.1 update. There have also been new details surrounding the upcoming Virtual Idol faction, which you can read about here.