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.
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 using a 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.
Currently, there are no other characters that share her faction. However, through drip marketing, we believe that the following characters are coming in version 1.1:
Luckily, there are some great support characters to pair Zhu Yuan up with. Zenless Zone Zero’s Nicole is a brilliant support for Zhu Yuan. She offers some decent crowd control with her EX special attack, additional ether damage to help build up ether anomaly quicker, and restoring 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, offering her a brilliant boost to her attack. Additionally, 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, offering a substantial boost to her attack ratio. Or, for an easier-to-obtain option, we recommend equipping Zhu Yuan with the A-rank Street Superstar, which offers extra attack ratio as well as a charge stack system that boosts her ultimate skill’s damage.
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 |
| Street Superstar | Whenever a squad member launches a chain attack, Zhu Yuan gains one charge stack, stacking up to three times. Upon activating their own ultimate, Zhu Yuan consumes all charge stacks, and each stack increases the skill’s damage by 15% |
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 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Public Security Special Training | Increases the level of Zhu Yuan’s basic attack, dodge, assist, special attack, and chain attack by two |
| 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 |
| Special Ops Experience | Increases the level of Zhu Yuan’s basic attack, dodge, assist, special attack, and chain attack by two |
| 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 |
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.