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Zhu Yuan build | Zenless Zone Zero

Dive into our best Zenless Zone Zero Zhu Yuan build so you can get to grips with the powerful S-rank agent's attacks, equipment, and more.

a custom image showing Zenless Zone Zero Zhu Yuan readying her gun

Zenless Zone Zero’s Zhu Yuan is an S-rank attack agent, and the leader of the New Eridu Public Security’s Criminal Investigation Response Team – quite the mouthful, huh? Well, you’d better behave yourself, because you don’t want to get in the way of her powerful ether pistol. So let’s work out how to stay on her good side with our best ZZZ Zhu Yuan build, featuring her skills, best drive discs and W-Engines, and more.

If you’re wondering whether you should pull for Zhu Yuan or save for a different Zenless Zone Zero banner, be sure to check out our Zenless Zone Zero tier list. We’ve also got some great goodies on offer with our Zenless Zone Zero codes list, as well as an up-to-date Zenless Zone Zero events schedule for your perusal.

Here’s everything you need to know about Zenless Zone Zero’s Zhu Yuan.

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What is the best Zhu Yuan build?

Zenless Zone Zero’s Zhu Yuan is an S-rank agent who deals ether anomaly damage with powerful piercing attacks. She has the attack specialty, meaning she’s skilled at dealing massive damage directly through her attacks, using her formidable damage output to take down her enemies as quickly as possible.

Zhu Yuan’s best W-Engine is her signature S-rank, Riot Suppressor Mark VI, which gives her a very valuable boost to her crit rate and damage, while also enhancing her attack damage. As for her drive discs, we recommend going with a full set of Chaotic Metal with two pieces of Woodpecker Electro to push her crit even higher and really make the most of her powerful ether damage.

Here’s a brief overview of our best Zhu Yuan build:

Best W-Engine Riot Suppressor Mark VI
Best drive discs 4pc Chaotic Metal and 2pc Woodpecker Electro
Main stats Crit (rate or damage) > attack ratio, pen ratio, or ether damage > anomaly mastery
Sub-stats Crit (rate or damage) > pen > attack ratio > anomaly proficiency

Zhu Yuan’s special ability boosts her crit rate after she uses her special attack, chain attack, or ultimate, which is very valuable to her kit. You can activate this ability by pairing her up with at least one other character from her faction (N.E.P.S.), or by putting a support character on her team.

Zenless Zone Zero’s Nicole is a brilliant support for Zhu Yuan. She offers some decent crowd control with her EX special attack, deals additional ether damage to help build up ether anomaly quicker, and she restores energy for her allies with her ultimate. Additionally, her passive allows her to shred enemy defense when she uses her enhanced bullets or energy field, which gives Zhu Yuan a great opportunity to hop in and dish out even more damage. And, if you manage to get her sixth mindscape cinema, her energy fields also provide squad members with a crit rate boost.

Alternatively, Zenless Zone Zero’s Lucy is also a strong support for Zhu Yuan. She can boost Zhu Yuan’s attack quite a bit and, if you have Lucy’s fourth Mindscape Cinema, she also provides Zhu Yuan with a 10% boost to her crit, which is a welcome bonus. 

What are Zhu Yuan’s best W-Engines?

Zhu Yuan’s best W-Engine is her signature S-rank, Riot Suppressor Mark VI. Not only does it give her a flat boost to both her crit rate and damage without any prerequisites, but it also enhances her damage through easy-to-obtain charge stacks.

If you don’t have Riot Suppressor Mark VI, The Brimstone is a decent all-rounder S-rank W-Engine for Zhu Yuan. It’s a strong option for any character who uses a lot of basic attacks, offering a substantial unconditional attack boost as well as a stacking buff whenever Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with her basic attack, dash attack, or dodge counter. Due to her kit, it’s pretty easy to maintain full stacks – just make sure that you build up stacks before using her ultimate in order to make the most of the buff.

The best A-rank W-Engine for Zhu Yuan is Starlight Engine, especially at S5. It’s a solid all-rounder and a great F2P option, granding an unconditional boost to her attack and a further attack buff after she performs a dodge counter or quick assist. Again, her kit makes it pretty easy to keep this buff up – you just need to ensure that you weave in at least one dodge counter every 12 seconds when she’s on the field. We also recommend ensuring that your support is in your team’s last slot so you can perform a quick assist to switch to Zhu Yuan right after.

Here are Zhu Yuan’s best W-engines:

W-Engine Effect
Riot Suppressor Mark VI Increases crit rate. Launching an EX special attack grants Zhu Yuan eight charge stacks, up to a maximum of eight stacks. Whenever Zhu Yuan’s basic attack deals ether damage, she consumes a charge stack and her skill’s damage increases
The Brimstone Upon hitting an enemy with a basic attack, dash attack, or dodge counter, Zhu Yuan’s attack ratio increases for eight seconds, stacking up to eight times. This effect can trigger once every 0.5 seconds. The duration of each stack is calculated separately
Starlight Engine Launching a dodge counter or quick assist increases Zhu Yuan’s attack for 12 seconds

What are the best drive discs for Zhu Yuan?

The best drive disc sets for Zhu Yuan are four pieces of Chaotic Metal with two pieces of Woodpecker Electro. This gives her a nice boost to her ether damage, while also boosting both her crit rate and damage.

Alternatively, you can equip Zhu Yuan with four pieces of Woodpecker Electro and two pieces of Chaotic Metal to boost her ether damage, crit rate, and attack ratio – though to make the most of this set’s effect, we recommend really prioritizing crit stats and sub-stats.

Here are the best drive discs for Zhu Yuan:

Drive disc set Effect
Chaotic Metal Two pieces: increases ether damage by 10%
Four pieces: increases crit damage by 20%. When any character in the squad triggers corruption’s additional damage, this effect further increases by 5.5% for eight seconds, stacking up to six times. Repeated triggers reset the duration
Woodpecker Electro Two pieces: increases crit rate by 8%
Four pieces: triggering a critical hit with a basic attack, dodge counter, or EX special attack increases Zhu Yuan’s attack by 9% for six seconds. The buff duration for different skills is calculated separately

Zhu Yuan stat recommendations

When picking disc drives for Zhu Yuan, we recommend prioritizing the following stats.

Main stats:

  • Crit (rate or damage)
  • Attack ratio, pen ratio, or ether damage
  • Anomaly mastery

Sub-stats:

  • Crit (rate or damage)
  • Pen
  • Attack ratio
  • Anomaly proficiency

What are Zhu Yuan’s skills?

Here are all of Zhu Yuan’s skills and passives so you can get to grips with her kit.

Zhu Yuan’s attacks:

Skill Effect
Basic attack – Don’t Move! [Assault Mode] Unleash a flurry of martial arts, bullets, and ether buckshots in a series of up to five attacks, dealing physical damage and ether damage. When the fourth or fifth hits strike an enemy, obtain one enhanced shotshell (max one per skill use). While using this skill, drag the joystick and press the attack button to activate dash attack Firepower Offensive and readjust to face the selected direction. While under Assault Mode, hold the attack button to switch to Suppressive Mode
Basic attack – Please Do Not Move [Suppressive Mode] Hold the attack button to unleash up to three shotshell-piercing attacks, dealing physical damage. If Zhu Yuan has enhanced shotshells upon firing, she consumes one enhanced shotshell, dealing massive ether damage. 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 the attack button to return to Assault Mode
Special attack – Buckshot Blast Shoot ether buckshots that deal ether damage. You can repeat this up to three times by repeatedly pressing the special attack button. Anti-interrupt level is increased during this skill
EX special attack – Full Barrage With enough energy, press the special attack button to shoot a series of ether buckshots that explode and deal massive ether damage. Upon activation, gain three enhanced shotshells. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable while using this skill

Zhu Yuan’s dodges:

Skill Effect
Dodge – Tactical Detour Perform a rapid dodge and become invulnerable
Dash attack – Firepower Offensive [Assault Mode] Press the attack button during a dodge to use Zhu Yuan’s handgun, dealing physical damage
Dash attack – Overwhelming Firepower [Suppressive Mode] Drag the joystick during basic attack Please Do Not Resist to unleash a shotshell piercing attack, dealing physical damage. If Zhu Yuan has enhanced shotshells when firing, she consumes one enhanced shotshell to deal massive ether damage
Dodge counter – Fire Blast Press the attack button during a perfect dodge to shoot enemies in front with an ether buckshot, dealing ether damage. Gain one enhanced shotshell on use. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable while using this skill

Promotional art showing Zenless Zone Zero's Zhu Yuan tucking her hair behind her ear

Zhu Yuan’s combo attacks:

Skill Effect
Quick assist – Covering Shot When an enemy launches the active character, switch to Zhu Yuan to shoot enemies in front with an ether buckshot, dealing ether damage. Gain one enhanced shotshell on use. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable while using this skill
Evasive assist – Guarded Backup When an enemy is about to attack the active character, switch to Zhu Yuan to dodge the enemy’s attack and activate Vital View. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable while using this skill
Assist follow-up – Defensive Counter Press the attack button after an evasive assist to attack with a combination of martial arts and shotshells, dealing physical damage and ether damage. Upon activation, gain three enhanced shotshells. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable during this skill
Chain attack – Eradication Mode When a chain attack triggers, switch to Zhu Yuan to use Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive ether damage. Upon activation, gain three enhanced shotshells. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable during this skill
Chain attack ultimate – Max Eradication Mode Zhu Yuan uses Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive ether damage. Upon activation, gain three enhanced shotshells. Zhu Yuan is invulnerable while using this skill

Zhu Yuan’s passives:

Skill Effect
Core passive – Special Ops Ammunition When Zhu Yuan is in Suppressive Mode, using enhanced shotshells increases her damage. When attacking stunned enemies, this damage buff increases further. When Zhu Yuan enters the battlefield, she immediately gains six enhanced shotshells
Additional ability – Tactical Coordination When another support character in your squad shares the same attribute or faction, Zhu Yuan’s crit rate increases by 30% for ten seconds after she uses her EX special attack, chain attack, or ultimate

What are Zhu Yuan’s promotion materials?

If you want to level Zhu Yuan up, you need to promote her at certain intervals using denny and offense certification seals. You can earn offense certification seals via the combat simulation – agent promotion combat challenges.

Here are all of Zhu Yuan’s promotion materials:

Level Denny and materials
20 24k denny and four basic offense certification seals
30 56k denny and 12 advanced offense certification seals
40 120k denny and 20 advanced offense certification seals
50 200k denny and ten pioneer’s certification seals
60 400k denny and 20 pioneer’s certification seals

What are Zhu Yuan’s mindscape cinemas?

Mindscape cinemas are special bonuses that you can unlock by pulling a duplicate of a character on a banner, similar to Honkai Star Rail’s eidolons and Genshin Impact’s constellations.

Here are all of Zhu Yuan’s mindscape cinemas:

Mindscape cinema Effect
01: Quick Reload When Zhu Yuan activates a chain attack or ultimate, she gains the quick reload effect. When Zhu Yuan has this effect and uses all enhanced shotshells, she consumes the quick reload effect to instantly gain 6/9 enhanced shotshells
02: Ether Ember In Suppressive Mode, Zhu Yuan’s anti-interrupt level is increased and her damage taken is reduced by 10%. When Zhu Yuan hits an enemy with enhanced shotshells, the target takes 10% more damage from her basic attack Please Do Not Resist and her dash attack Overwhelming Firepower, stacking up to five times and lasting five seconds. Each shot adds one stack of this effect and repeated triggers reset the duration
03: Public Security Special Training Increases the level of Zhu Yuan’s basic attack, dodge, assist, special attack, and chain attack by two
04: 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
05: Special Ops Experience Increases the level of Zhu Yuan’s basic attack, dodge, assist, special attack, and chain attack by two
06: Expanded Energy Pack III When Zhu Yuan consumes a total of 12 enhanced shotshells, she receives the ether afterglow effect, and the energy cost of her next EX special attack is reduced by 30. Launching an EX special attack consumes ether afterglow and shoots an additional four-bullet ether buckshot. Each extra bullet deals damage equal to 220% of her attack

A screenshot of Zenless Zone Zero's Zhu Yuan in combat

What are Zhu Yuan’s core skill enhancement materials?

You can boost Zhu Yuan’s core passive by increasing her core skill enhancement level. To do this, you need three materials: denny, higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit, and living drives.

You can obtain higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit by taking on the Expert Challenge gameplay mode, and you get the living drives through the Notorious Hunt gameplay mode.

Here are all of Zhu Yuan’s core skill enhancement materials:

Required level Denny and materials
15 5k denny
25 12k denny and two higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit
35 28k denny and four higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit
45 60k denny, nine higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit, and two living drives
55 100k denny, 15 higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit, and three living drives
60 200k denny, 30 higher dimensional data: ethereal pursuit, and four living drives

What are Zhu Yuan’s skill enhancement materials?

If you want to boost Zhu Yuan’s power even further, you can also upgrade each of her individual skills.

To do this, you need to gather plenty of ether chips, which you can obtain via the combat simulation – agent skills challenge, along with plenty of denny. Additionally, if you want to get any of Zhu Yuan’s skills to max level, you also need a hamster cage pass (similar to Genshin’s crowns), which you can earn through events or the New Eridu City Fund.

Here are all of Zhu Yuanr’s skill enhancement materials:

Required level Denny and materials
15 2k denny and two basic ether chips
15 3k denny and three basic ether chips
25 6k denny and two advanced ether chips
25 9k denny and three advanced ether chips
35 12k denny and four advanced ether chips
35 18k denny and six advanced ether chips
45 45k denny and five specialized ether chips
45 67.5k denny and eight specialized ether chips
55 90k denny and ten specialized ether chips
55 112.5k denny and 12 specialized ether chips
60 135k denny, 15 specialized ether chips, and one hamster cage pass

That’s everything in our best Zenless Zone Zero Zhu Yuan build. If you’re looking for more Hoyo-flavored gacha game goodness, be sure to check out our Genshin Impact tier list and Honkai Star Rail tier list, then snap up some freebies with our Genshin Impact codes and Honkai Star Rail codes.