Proxies, thanks for waiting!

With the release of the Zenless Zone Zero 2.5.1 test server update, our cute bunny girl — Zhao — has finally appeared in real gameplay!

Are you looking forward to Zhao’s debut? How should you build her after pulling her?

This guide will answer all your questions.

Enough talk—let’s dive into even more leaked info about the new character, Zhao!

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Zhao Overview

>Who is Zhao in Zenless Zone Zero?

Rarity: S-rank | Attribute: Ice | Specialty: Defense

Zhao is an Ice Defense Agent from the Krampus Compliance Authority, capable of providing teammates with various basic stat boosts and damage increases, while also restoring additional HP every second.

Zhao made her first appearance in the Season 2 Preview video, then she was introduced as an NPC in 2.2 banner. As a member of the Krampus Compliance Authority in the TOPS, she traveled to Waifei Peninsula to investigate the operational violations of Porcelumek Company and Lucro's own misconduct.

In the latest 2.3 storyline, Zhao joins the operation as support from TOPS and uses the device she provided to save many civilians. However, certain details suggest that Zhao may have a deeper objective. For example, both she and Dialyn refer to Banyue as “Purge Unit Type Zero,” which may serve as a narrative foreshadowing.

Additionally, Miss Zhao is remarkably generous. At Yum Cha Sin, she books a room for the main team to use as their meeting spot and provides unlimited food. Who could possibly turn down such a gentle, adorable, and generous bunny lady?

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Release Date

Zhao’s banner will be released on December 30 and will be available simultaneously with Ye Shunguang’s banner.

>Will Zhao Be FREE?

According to reliable leaks, just like Version 1.4 last year, Version 2.5 of Zenless Zone Zero will be giving Zhao to all players for FREE!

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Skill Priority

You can check the detailed information about Zhao’s Kit in this article:

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Leak: Kit, W-Engine, Mindscape Cinema & Material

Overall, Zhao’s main role in combat is to accumulate Ice Points and activate Ether Veil, providing various buffs to the team.

There are four ways for Zhao to gain Ice Points:

• EX Special Attack

• Chain Attack

• Assist Follow-Up

• Entry Skill

In practice, accumulating Ice Points and activating Ether Veil is not particularly difficult, which allows Zhao to provide buffs with relatively high uptime.

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Materials

>ASCENSION MATERIALS

• Denny x800000

• Basic Defense Certification Sea x4

• Advanced Defense Certification Sea x32

• Defender Certification Sea x30

>Talent Level-up Materials

• Denny x2905000

• Basic Freeze Chip x25

• Advanced Freeze Chip x75

• Specialized Freeze Chip x250

• Hamster Cage Pass x5

• New Boss Materia x9

• New Material x60

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Recommended W-Engine

>Signature W-Engine (V2.5.1)

Half-Sugar Hail

Rarity: S / Type: Defense / Base ATK: 713 / HP: 30%

-Effect:

The equipper’s Energy Regen increases by 0.26 per second; all team members gain 10% ATK and 10% HP Limit. This effect is unique for the team. When the equipper uses an [EX Special Attack] or activates [Ether Veil], all team members gain 40% CRIT DMG for 35 seconds; repeated triggers extend the duration.

> Alternative:

Original Transmorpher

Rarity: A / Type: Defense / Base ATK: 594 / HP: 25%

-Effect:

Starlight Knight Flying Kick

Increases Max HP by 8/9/10/11/12/13%. When attacked, the equipper's Impact is increased by 10/11.5/13/14.5/16% for 12s.

At the moment, aside from Zhao’s Signature W-Engine, the only suitable option for her is the A-rank Original Transmorpher. However, datamining shows that another A-rank Defense-type W-Engine is expected to be added in Version 2.5.

Zhao’s Signature W-Engine offers powerful support capabilities. It not only alleviates Zhao’s Energy Regen but also provides her teammates with buffs to ATK, Max HP, and Crit DMG. Since Zhao is very likely to be given for FREE, using your saved pulls to obtain her Signature W-Engine is a solid choice.

ZZZ 2.5-Best Drive Disc Set For Zhao

Version 2.5 will also introduce two new Drive Disk Sets, though their exact effects are still unknown. Their English names translate to “Canglang Ballad” and “Luminant Aria.”

My guess is that these sets are specially designed for Ye Shunguang and Zhao, so Proxies, be sure to start saving Battery Charge to farm them early.

Some leaks suggest that:

2-Pc: increases Max HP

4-Pc: bonus grants Penetration to the on-field character

At the moment, this information has not been confirmed, so please take it with caution.

That said, I still recommend saving some Battery Charge. The other new Drive Disc set is reportedly for Ye Shunguang, so you can farm both Zhao’s and Ye Shunguang’s sets at the same time once the update arrives.

Regardless of whether you use the new or existing Drive Discs, the main and substats Zhao needs remain the same. Let’s take a look!

>Recommended Drive Disc Set( V2.3):

>Main Stats & Sub Stats

Sub Stats: Percent HP>HP>ATK

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Recommended Mindscape Cinema

1. To Be Updated

When under Ether Veil: Health, all team members whose HP is above 50% of their Max HP gain increased interruption resistance.
When Zhao leaves the field, all team members’ damage ignores 12% of the target’s corresponding Attribute RES for 30 seconds.

2. To Be Updated

Increases the entire team’s HP restoration received by 10%.
When a team member restores HP, if their HP is already full, their ATK is increased by 15% for 15 seconds.

3. To Be Updated

Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2

4. To Be Updated

Zhao’s Core Passive ATK bonus is increased by 15%.
While under Ether Veil, this bonus is further increased by an additional 15%.

5. To Be Updated

Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2

6. To Be Updated

Normal Attack: Charged Slash always crits, and its charge duration can accumulate up to 8 seconds without being consumed during attacks.

Compared to M0S0 Astra Yao and M0S0 Lucia, Zhao’s performance in her Version 1 state is not particularly impressive. This may be due to the fact that she is given for free, and her support capabilities are closer to an A-rank unit. Even so, Zhao offers exceptional flexibility and can fit into almost any team composition.

From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, I recommend pulling for M1S1, which significantly improves her support capabilities and helps alleviate her Energy issues.

That said, there’s no need to feel discouraged. This is only Zhao’s V1 version, and she may receive buffs in future updates. I’ll continue providing updates and bring you the latest information as it becomes available.

ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Team Compositions

Zhao is a fairly versatile character, but this also means she doesn’t particularly excel in any one area. However, for players with fewer characters, Zhao can partially fill the role of Lucia or Astra Yao, allowing them to be used in other team compositions where they perform even better.

At the same time, Zhao’s overall strength is perfectly acceptable, making her a worthwhile investment for all Proxies. You won’t regret building her.

The current meta team compositions for Zhao are shown above. Of course, you can also try putting Zhao into other teams, such as Soldier 11 + Nico + Zhao.

Conclusion

Zhao is a FREE S-rank Ice Defense Agent who offers strong, consistent team buffs through Ether Veil. Though her V1 tuning is modest, she’s highly versatile and fits almost any team. With M1 and her Signature W-Engine, her support power rises sharply. Overall, Zhao is a valuable, cost-effective unit worth building and likely to improve in future updates.

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