ZZZ Tier List 2.8: Best Characters Ranked & Meta Picks

Curious about the best characters in Zenless Zone Zero, and what makes them good? Check out this Zenless Zone Zero Tier List for Version 2.8!

Zenless Zone Zero's roster is ever-growing, and each patch gives birth to new agents boasting unique playstyles and mechanics. Of course, not every agent is created equal, and some of them will rise, while others remain at the bottom of the meta. But with over 50 characters in Zenless Zone Zero, it's hard to point out who the best characters are, so if that's what you're looking for, we've got you covered!

Here’s our Zenless Zone Zero Tier List (v2.8) ranking characters based on overall meta strength, viability, and performance in endgame modes, helping players identify the most efficient units to build and invest in.

Zenless Zone Zero Tier List (Overview Table)

Check out our Zenless Zone Zero Tier List for version 2.8!

T0 characters are the strongest meta-defining units, followed by T0.5 as near-top tiers with minor limitations. T1 units are solid and reliable, while T2 characters are situational and often need more investment or specific teams to perform well.

ZZZ Tier Explanation

This breakdown explains what each tier means in this Zenless Zone Zero tier list, along with the factors that determine where an agent ranks in the current meta.

T0

These agents are the absolute best picks in the current meta. They offer insane value through damage, utility, flexibility, or team synergy, and can consistently dominate endgame content with minimal drawbacks. T0 agents usually shape the meta around them and remain relevant regardless of shifting team trends or future releases.

T0.5

T0.5 agents are extremely powerful and can perform almost on the same level as T0 units, but they may require more specific teams, rotations, or investment to fully shine. They are still considered top-tier picks and can easily carry content when properly optimized.

T1

T1 agents are strong and reliable units that can comfortably clear endgame content without major issues. While they may not completely redefine the meta, they provide solid performance, good team value, and flexibility across multiple compositions.

T2

T2 agents are more niche or situational picks that may struggle to keep up with higher-tier units in terms of efficiency, damage, or consistency. They can still work well with enough investment or in the right setups, but they often require more effort to achieve similar results compared to stronger meta agents.

You can prepare for upcoming banners and characters advance and buy ZZZ Monochrome here at U7BUY!

S-Tier

Listed below are all of the S-tier characters in Zenless Zone Zero, an overview of their kit, and why they're strong.

Aria

Aria is an Ether Anomaly DPS whose main schtick involves downward plunge attacks, dealing Ether anomaly damage, and Abloom. She has a fairly easy and fun playstyle, perfect for everyone who's trying to learn the game, and clear endgame content. When built right and with teammates who can activate Ether Veil and stun windows, she can easily decimate enemies with ease due to her high damage ceiling.

Pros

• High damage ceiling
• Simple gameplay
• Fun playstyle

Cons

• Dependent on stun windows
• Dependent on Ether Veils

Astra Yao

Astra Yao is the very first S-rank Limited support in Zenless Zone Zero, and even up to now, her power still hasn't died down. As an Ether support that applies universal utility and buffs with very minimal downsides, she provides damage and crit damage increase, and healing without needing to hog field time. Her universal teamwide buffs also extend their value to both attack and anomaly-based teams, making her flexible and possibly future-proof.

Pros

• Simple and straightforward gameplay
• Strongest universal support thanks to buffs
• Can heal teammates
• Low field time
• Enables Quick assists

Cons

• Very passive playstyle

Dialyn

Like Astra Yao, we cannot speak about flexible and versatile characters without including Dialyn in the conversation. Dialyn is a Physical Stun agent with an ultimate conversion mechanic, converting Chain Attacks into Ultimates, which many agents may find game-breaking for their rotations. She also doubles down by providing up to 40% damage bonus and 30% stun damage multiplier, and she's also capable of extending the stun duration. That's on top of her massive daze output and being able to slot herself in most team compositions as a universal stunner, which only cements her spot as one of the best characters in our Zenless Zone Zero tier list.

Pros

• Best stunner in the game right now
• Has high daze output
• Can convert chain attacks into ultimates
• Provides 40% damage bonus and 30% stun damage multiplier
• Extends stun duration
• Can synergize with most DPS characters

Cons

• Reliant on her signature W-Engine
• Requires players to build Crit Rate on her

Lucia

Rupture agents such as Yixuan will need someone like Lucia on their team. Lucia is an Ether Support agent, and she may not be as flexible as Astra Yao as a support; she is the best option and the dedicated support for Rupture teams. She offers damage, crit damage, Sheer, and max HP increase, and healing, which makes her fit into rupture teams like a puzzle. Lucia also has a low skill floor and is free-to-play friendly.

Pros

• Best Rupture support
• Easy to build
• Free-to-play friendly
• Provides healing

Cons

• Can only be used in Rupture teams

Miyabi

Between the release of strong Void Hunters and anti-shill mechanics meant to curb her power levels, Miyabi remains to hold her ground and secure her spot at the top of our Zenless Zone Zero tier list. Miyabi is a Frost Anomaly agent with ludicrous damage potential that only a handful of agents can match. With the right setup and a fully charged Shimotsuki, Miyabi can easily wipe out enemies, dealing wide-area AoE damage with this attack. Not to mention, Miyabi also boasts one of the most satisfying play styles in ZZZ.

Pros

• Deals high damage output in massive AoE
• One of the best DPS characters in the game
• Has plenty of strong team options
• Straightforward playstyle

Cons

• Limited W-Engine options
• Requires 80% Crit rate
• Long attack animations

Miyabi can also function in multiple team compositions, including Disorder and Stun-based teams. She may require significant stat investment, especially in Crit Rate, but the payoff is well worth the grind.

Nangong Yu

Nangong Yu may be locked into anomaly teams, but she can bring plenty of things to the table. She has impressive personal damage, has high daze output, and provides a bunch of anomaly-based buffs.

Nangong Yu is an Ether Stun agent who can provide and apply these:

• 30% Stun damage multiplier
• 3-second stun extension
• 20% damage increase
• Ether Veil (ATK boost)
• 30% Anomaly buildup increase
• Can apply Polarity disorder and abloom
• Trigger quick assist

She's an all-rounder, being able to function as a stunner, sub-DPS, buffer, and enabler. She comes with a massive package, with her being heavily reliant on her signature weapon as her only weakness.

Pros

• Hands down the best stunner for anomaly teams
• Provides plenty of buffs, extends and increase stun duration and multiplier, respectively, applies Ether Veil for an ATK boost, can apply polarity disorder
• Can trigger quick assist

Cons

• Heavily reliant on her signature W-engine

Promeia

Promeia is the newest DPS character to come out in version 2.8, and she does not disappoint.

Promeia is an S-rank Ice Anomaly agent who dishes out massive burst damage through Abloom and even buffs them. Her kit may be a bit tough to understand, but once you get the hang of it, you'll start dealing big damage numbers with her.

Pros

• Deals high damage output
• Versatile team building
• Fast-paced gameplay
• Applies teamwide abloom buffs

Cons

• Has high skill floor, and is pretty complex to play
• Very reliant on teammates

Ye Shunguang

Like Miyabi, Ye Shunguang is a Void Hunter, and in Zenless Zone Zero, Void Hunters are generally regarded as the strongest characters in the game.

Ye Shunguang is a Honed Edge Attack-specialty DPS in Zenless Zone Zero who can enter the Enlightened Mind State. She uses a resource called Qingming Sword Force to enter this state, and when she does, she gain access to a whole new set of skills where she can cast AoE attacks while mid-air.

There's so much to love about Ye Shunguang. This Void Hunter arguably has the most ethereal-looking ultimate, and attack animations, incredible damage output, and she also has a very simple gameplay loop perfect for new players. Not to mention, Ye Shunguang is a DPS that's easy to build with her low crit rate needs. All you have to do is build a team that can activate Ether Veil such as Zhao, and Sunna.

Pros

• One of the zzz meta characters due to her high damage output
• Has high mobility
• High survivability due to I-frames
• Simple gameplay loop

Cons

• Repetitive gameplay
• Resource dependency. She requires characters with Ether Veil for her Qingming Sword stacks
• High investment requirement

If you want to pull for the best zzz characters such as Ye Shunguang, you can use cheap ZZZ top up options to secure more pulls.

Yixuan

The Queen of Rupture, Yixuan. Yixuan is unofficially a Void Hunter, and her raw power levels match that of Miyabi's and Ye Shunguang's.

Yixuan mainly deals Sheer Force damage, which scales with her ATK and HP. This damage penetrates through the defense of the enemies, making her exceptionally good. Scaling with HP also means she's a lot more tankier than the rest of the characters, lowering the chances of her dying.

Pros

• High survivability as she scales with HP
• One of the best characters zzz
• Versatile and fun gameplay
• Free-to-play friendly
• High mobility

Cons

• Requires high investment
• Signature weapon dependent
• Reliant on rupture-based teammates

Yuzuha

For the last agent in our Zenless Zone Zero tier list, meet Yuzuha. Yuzuha is a Physical support, and if you love anomaly teams, she is a must-pull for you.

Yuzuha is the best anomaly support that exists in Zenless Zone Zero. She supports the team by providing attack, anomaly, and team damage buff, perfect for Miyabi, Promeia, and Aria teams. With a buff that's equally useful for all anomaly agents, we can also consider her as future-proof unless a better agent of the same niche comes out. By pulling Yuzuha, as long as you're running anomaly teams, she's less likely to be benched and will certainly increase your account value.

Pros

• Best support for anomaly teams
• One of the best zzz units for the support role
• Easy to play
• Free-to-play friendly
• Second-best universal support as she buffs both ATK and Anomaly damage

Cons

• Long animations

A-tier Characters

This list features A-tier characters or agents that are great and almost top-tier, but fall slightly short compared to those at the very top.

Cissia

Cissia is a good Electric DPS who can function as a dual DPS, while being able to provide self and team-wide buffs.

Lighter

Lighter is one of the great stunners out there with plenty of front loaded combos. He can also trigger Quick Assists. Since he buffs Ice and Fire damage, he's basically locked into these teams, unlike Dialyn.

Nicole

Without a doubt, she is the best A-rank character in ZZZ. She has a grouping ability on her elemental skill, and has a Defense shred debuff. At M6, she can provide crit rate increase against an enemy. She's almost always the best support agent for F2P builds.

But due to her being an A-rank character, she has weaker scalings and defense shred, making her an A-tier unit only.

Vivian

Best Ether sub-DPS for agents that rely on Abloom and Disorder damage such as Promeia, Miyabi, Alice, Jane, Burnice and Yanagi. Very flexible agent, but requires the other DPS to have a proper build in order to be useful.

Yidhari

Yidhari is a high-skill ceiling DPS who can deal impressive Ice damage with proper team synergy, and gameplay.

What Changed in ZZZ Version 2.8?

In Version 2.8, not much has changed meta-wise despite the addition of new agents like Promeia and Starlight Billy.

The tier list has largely remained the same, with many familiar faces still dominating the top ranks. Anomaly agents such as Miyabi and Aria continue to lead the meta, alongside Rupture-focused agents like Yixuan and Lucia, as well as Attack carries such as Ye Shunguang. Meanwhile, universal Stun and Support agents like Dialyn and Astra Yao remain incredibly valuable and have yet to be powercrept.

With the release of Promeia and Starlight Billy, permanent endgame modes have also shifted to favor these newer agents by introducing buffs tailored toward Anomaly, Abloom, and Rupture-based teams.

Version 2.8 appears to be more of a transitional patch, as Version 3.0 is expected to bring a much larger shake-up to the meta and potentially redefine the current tier list entirely.

Author Insights & Recommendations

In this Zenless Zone Zero tier list, the goal is to help players understand which agents are currently in the meta and what makes them stand out from the rest. However, this tier list is not absolute. While it reflects performance in a controlled environment, actual gameplay is heavily influenced by team synergy, investment level, and player execution. Some agents may feel stronger or weaker depending on how well their kits are understood and supported.

How to Choose Characters in Zenless Zone Zero

Looking at this list, you may wonder which are the right characters for you. While T0-tier agents are usually the answer, the decision often comes down to account needs rather than raw power. Characters at the top of this list are mostly S-rank agents with expensive team requirements, which may not be ideal for new players. In this case, lower-tier units can still perform well in optimized setups or niche scenarios. It is generally better to prioritize covering all roles first over chasing top-tier picks, unless the account is already in the endgame and focused on leaderboard competition.

Player Type Recommendations

• Casual Players: Comfort picks tend to matter more here. Units that feel smooth to use and can slot into different teams will usually bring more value than chasing the highest damage ceilings. You can resort to good A-rank characters first while grinding your way up.
• Competitive / Endgame Players: If you're a competitive one, you're the type of person who'll look for meta characters such as Ye Shunguang, Yixuan and Miyabi, and understandably so. These agents are what you might need if you're struggling to beat endgame content such as Deadly Assault. At this stage, Top-tier agents with strong scaling and tight synergy usually take priority, especially those that fit neatly into the current meta.

Frequently Asked Questions for ZZZ Tier List

Conclusion

This wraps up our Zenless Zone Zero tier list for version 2.8! Top-tier agents such as Yixuan, Aria, Yuzuha, and Miyabi dominate through strong scaling, good synergy with other units, and consistent performance in endgame content. While agents below T0 are still usable, they do take a great investment and effort to make them work, or match the level of those at the top. At the end of the day, the best approach is to use this list as a guide, then adjust based on available units and preferred playstyle. Feel free to experiment with different team setups, and watch out for the results!

Now, if you've managed to make your decision and decide to get premium units at T0, there are Zenless Zone Zero Top Up options available for anyone looking to skip the grind for Polychromes.