Best Zhu Yuan build in Zenless Zone Zero – Best Drive Discs, W-Engines, and teams

A DPS capable of dealing unmatched amounts of Ether DMG through her Ultimate, Chain Attack, and by performing Ether-infused shots, Zhu Yuan is a sure pick for all looking to blast the opposition to smithereens in Zenless Zone Zero.

But although the leader of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team can excel even in solo missions, she can only showcase her true potential when paired with the right build and team. Here’s the best Zhu Yuan build in Zenless Zone Zero, as well as her best team.

• Table of Contents:
  • Best W-Engines for Zhu Yuan
  • Best F2P W-Engine
  • Best Drive Discs
  • Best teams for Zhu Yuan in ZZZ

The best W-Engines for Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero

As expected, the best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero is her signature Riot Suppressor Mark VI. The best pick for her by a mile, the S-Ranker will offer one of the most overpowered stat combinations in the game by pairing its 713 base attack and 48% CRIT DMG (at level 60) with an innate 15% Crit Rate boost.

To make it an even bigger must-pull, using it will also allow Zhu Yuan to get eight stacks of Charge after performing her EX Special Attack. Upon performing a basic attack (which includes her Please Do Not Resist enhanced shots), she will then consume a stack and increase the skill’s damage by 35%. All of the values above are related to the engine at one star.

If you are like me and have yet to pull her signature, my main pick will be Soldier 11’s The Brimstone. Although lacking a Crit substat, the engine will bring a lot to the table through its 684 base attack, 30% ATK, and by allowing her to further boost the stat by up to 16% (at one star) by performing Basic/Dash Attacks and Dodge Counters. Using Steel Cushion or the BP-Exclusive A-Ranker Cannon Rotor can also work given their Crit Rate substats and passives.

Best F2P W-Engine for Zhu Yuan

The best F2P W-Engine for Zhu Yuan in ZZZ is Starlight Engine. Even if not a game changer in any shape or form (even at five stars), the A-Ranker will offer a very similar combo as The Brimstone at one star by pairing its 595 base ATK and 25% ATK substat at level 60 with a handy and easy-to-trigger 12% Attack boost.

If you are looking for a more substantial damage infusion and don’t mind the loss in ATK, Street Superstar will be my main pick. At one star, the engine will offer the same level 60 base and ATK% values as Starlight Engine, all while also increasing Zhu Yuan’s Ultimate DMG by 15% per chain attack performed by the party before its activation (to a maximum of three stacks).

Best Drive Discs for Zhu Yuan

A must for all Ether DPSs, the best drive disc composition for Zhu Yuan in Zenless Zone Zero is a 4-piece Chaotic Metal paired with a 2-piece Woodpecker Electro. While the latter is an obvious pick given her lack of Crit Rate, Chaotic Metal will provide Zhu Yuan with a 10% boost in Ether DMG and a 20% increase in CRIT DMG. Using it will also allow her to further enhance her CRIT DMG by 5.5% after dealing Ether DMG to enemies afflicted with Corruption. The extra buff can stack six times for a 33% boost. Each stack will last for 8 seconds if not refreshed.

Best stats and substats

I recommend that you go with CRIT DMG for the fourth drive disc (pick CRIT Rate if not using her signature or a CRIT Rate W-Engine), Ether DMG Bonus for the fifth, and ATK for the sixth. For substats, focus on CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK%.

Thanks to how Tactical Coordination (her Additional Ability) will allow Zhu Yuan to get a temporary 30% boost in Crit Rate after performing her EX Special, Chain Attack, or Ultimate, I don’t recommend investing in Crit Rate after reaching 50%. For Crit DMG, the sky is your limit.

Best teams for Zhu Yuan in ZZZ

As her biggest strength lies in her ability to deal massive AoE damage at mid-range and obliterate stunned enemies, the best team for Zhu Yuan in ZZZ will feature her as its main DPS, Anby as its stun agent, and Nicole as its support.

While Nicole’s presence here is a given thanks to her ability to provide significant buffs (even more so if using The Vault), apply Ether-specific debuffs, and enable Zhu Yuan’s Tactical Coordination, Anby’s ability to spam her EX Special will allow you to easily build up Daze. Please remember to place Nicole in the final member slot when using this team, as its rotation will rely heavily on using her EX Special Skill to trigger Zhu Yuan’s Quick Assist.

If her kit is not changed, Qingyi will replace Anby as the best stun support for Zhu Yuan once she debuts in 1.1. Using a team featuring Koleda and Lucy can also work for those looking for a more straightforward approach, as while Koleda will offer a massive amount of Daze and a great Chain Attack DMG boost, Lucy‘s substantial ATK buff will allow you to take your damage to the stars.

Now that you know how to build Zhu Yuan, don’t forget to also check out Zenless Zone Zero‘s latest codes so that you can get a few always-welcome Polychromes.