Hello dear Proxies! Zenless Zone Zero is an instance-based, fast-paced action game. Players will get to enjoy maximized satisfaction after learning and mastering the ins and outs of the game's combat system!~
With that in mind, let's go through the combat system in Zenless Zone Zero with this simple guide. I hope this will help new Proxies learn the game quickly so you too can reap all that satisfaction in combat~
Step 1: Understand the Combat Interface
First let's take a look at the Agent's combat interface:
The buttons on the bottom right corner are: Basic Attack, Dodge/Dash, Special Attack, Switch Agent, Ultimate. The upper left corner shows character info, including: HP, Energy, Decibel Rating (Decibel Rating is shared by the whole squad).
- Basic Attack: Typically a multi-hit attack. Tapping (LMB Press on PC) or Holding has different effects depending on the Agent's Basic Attack skill description.
- Dodge/Dash: Depending on whether you're using the controller or not when you tap this button (RMB Press on PC), the Agent might perform a different action. Refer to the skill description of the relevant Agent for more details.
- Special Attack: This button is greyed out when the Agent doesn't have sufficient Energy, and tapping it (Press E on PC) will unleash the Special Attack. When the Agent has enough Energy, the button will light up and tapping it (Press E on PC) will unleash the EX Special Attack. EX Special Attacks typically deal more DMG and can interrupt the enemy.
- Ultimate: Ultimate: When your Decibel Rating reaches 3000, you can tap the button (Press Q on PC) to perform the Ultimate. Ultimate gives the Agent invulnerability and deals massive DMG while interrupting the enemy.
- Switch Agent: When attacked by the enemy, tap the Switch Agent button (Space Bar on PC) to trigger actions such as the Perfect Assist or Quick Assist.
Now, let's take a look at the enemy's combat interface:
Normal enemies will have their information displayed above their head, whereas Boss enemies will have their information displayed on the upper right corner of the screen. These information bars show you: Enemy HP, Enemy Daze Gauge, Enemy Stun DMG Multiplier, as well as the Attribute Anomaly Buildup Value.
Accumulating Daze on the enemy will Stun them. Accumulating Attribute Anomaly Buildup on the enemy will inflict Attribute Anomalies on them.
Step 2: Basic Mechanics
Daze and Chain Attack
When the enemy is attacked, they accumulate Daze. When the Daze Gauge lights up, the enemy will be Stunned and become vulnerable, taking increased DMG from attacks.
When there are multiple Agents in your squad, performing attacks with the "heavy attack" effect on a Stunned enemy will trigger the Chain Attack. PS: The final hit in the Basic Attack combo, Dodge Counters, Special Attacks, EX Special Attacks, Chain Attacks, and Ultimates typically have the "heavy attack" effect.
You can only trigger Chain Attacks 1 time on Normal enemies. You can trigger Chain Attacks 2 times in succession on Elite enemies and 3 times on Boss enemies (as the number of squadmates decrease, the trigger count will also decrease). In particular, some Bangboos can also join you in these Chain Attacks! The best part being that Bangboo Chain Attacks do no count towards the trigger limit mentioned above, however they will have longer CD.
When the enemy is Stunned, performing Chain Attacks in succession will deal massive burst DMG. It's one of the core combat designs of ZZZ to nuke the Stunned enemy.
Proxies who want to learn more about Daze and Stun and Chain Attacks should check out this guide below:
Attribute Anomaly & Disorder
When the Agent deals Attribute DMG (they will deal Ice/Fire/Electric/Ether/Physical DMG based on their Attribute), they accumulate the corresponding Anomaly Buildup on the enemy.
When the Anomaly Buildup is maxed out, you will inflict the corresponding Attribute Anomaly on the enemy (Physical - Assault, Ice - Shatter, Fire - Burn, Electric - Shock, Ether - Corrupted). When inflicting another type of Attribute Anomaly on an enemy already affected by one, Disorder will be triggered, dealing additional DMG and accumulating Daze.
The Attribute Anomaly itself and its follow-up effects both deal considerable DMG equivalent to a mini burst. The follow-up effects of Attribute Anomalies are also used as trigger conditions for other Agents. They allow the Agents to deal higher DMG and are intended for dealing reliable, persistent DMG.
Proxies who want to learn more about Attribute Anomaly and Disorder mechanics should check out this guide below:
Step 3: Combat Cycle
The combat cycle in Zenless Zone Zero can basically be divided into:
- Assault Phase: Trading and "doing the dance" with the enemy and accumulating Daze/Anomaly on them. You should prioritize using Stun and Anomaly Agents in this phase for their high mobility and ability to deal consistent DMG that accumulates Daze and Anomaly Buildup on the enemy.
- Burst Phase: When the enemy is Stunned/affected by Attribute Anomaly, this is your DPS window. For this phase, prioritize using Attack Agents as they have higher DPS multipliers; Support Agents can also boost your DMG with various buffs, and Defense Agents can make sure your squad makes it through the challenge.
Though we're simplifying the rotations in ZZZ down to the "Assault - Burst" cycles here, keep in mind that the combat environment will be changing in actual gameplay and you will have lots of opportunities to change your playstyle on the fly. You will also need to outfit your Agents and arrange squads in different ways to maximize combat efficiency.
Now, let's take a look at a few core combat mechanics of ZZZ, namely: Perfect Assist and Assist Follow-Up, Perfect Dodge and Dodge Counter, as well as Dash Attack and Quick Assist.
Perfect Assist
When you see a gold flash/prompt when the enemy is about to attack, press the Switch Agent button to trigger a Perfect Assist.
Perfect Assists consume Assist Points (capped at 6). Use Chain Attacks and Ultimates to regenerate Assist Points.
Depending on your Agent, there will be two types of Perfect Assist effects:
Defensive Assist: This will parry the enemy's attack and increase their Daze greatly. It will also interrupt most attacks.
Typically, this is performed by melee Agents such as Anby and Ellen.
Evasive Assist: This will evade the enemy's attack and trigger Vital View. Enemies within the View will be slowed massively ("Bullet Time").
This is typically performed by ranged Agents such as Billy and Zhu Yuan.
Why does the enemy sometimes show a red flash/prompt instead of a gold one?
When you have insufficient Assist Points, or if your backup squadmates do not meet the trigger condition of the Perfect Assist, you will see a red flash as the enemy is about to perform their attack. The red flash cannot trigger Perfect Assists.
There are also some enemies with red flash attacks that, by default, cannot be parried by Perfect Assists.
Assist Follow-Up
Performing a Basic Attack when Perfect Assist has been triggered will trigger an Assist Follow-Up, dealing massive DMG and making your Agent invulnerable during the skill. The way to perform this is to Switch Agent when you see the gold flash, then use Basic Attack.
Perfect Dodge & Dodge Counter
When you see the gold or red flash on the enemy, press the Dodge/Dash button to trigger a Perfect Dodge. After a Perfect Dodge, press Basic Attack to trigger a Dodge Counter, which deals some DMG to the enemy and turns your Agent invulnerable during the skill.
Dash Attack
After Dashing/Dodging, press Basic Attack to trigger the Dash Attack, dealing moderate DMG to the enemy.
Different Agents will have different Dash Attack effects, so remember to read the details on the Agent Skill page~
Quick Assist
When the active Agent is launched, press Switch Agent to trigger a Quick Assist, which deals moderate DMG to the enemy and turns your Agent invulnerable during the skill.
Active Support Agents can also trigger Quick Assists when their EX Special Attacks hit the enemy.
Bangboo Deployment
In combat, we can also deploy select Bangboos to help us along. Bangboos can also play a part in Chain Attacks. The following are Bangboo combat skill types:
- Active Skill: These can be used actively in combat to assist Agents.
- Passive Skill: These are bonus abilities that can be triggered under special circumstances. Typically, they boost the effects of the Active Skill or Chain Attacks.
- Chain Attack: Some Bangboos have Chain Attacks. Triggering Chain Attacks will summon the Bangboo to the field and deal massive DMG.
It makes you smile just to imagine fighting alongside one of these adorable little ones, doesn't it?~
How to quickly improve my combat proficiency?
Finally, if you want to quickly master the skills and combos of each Agent, you can go to the Agent's Skill page to initiate Cooperation Exercise of their Core Skills. You can also go to Training and dedicate practices for a specific combat mechanic.
And that concludes our guide on the combat system in Zenless Zone Zero! In the coming days I'll be bringing even more first-hand ZZZ guides for you, dear Proxies! If you enjoy my content, please remember to leave a comment, like, and follow~
PS: Newly registered Proxies get an extra Polychrome ×130 for the first 3 check-ins. Check in a total of 20 days this month to claim an extra Polychrome ×60!
