Ellen Joe Build Overview: The Ice Queen of ZZZ
Here's the thing about Ellen Joe – she's not just another S-Rank Ice DPS. She's the Ice DPS that makes other damage dealers look like they're throwing snowballs.
Her entire kit revolves around Flash Freeze Charges (you can stack up to 6), and honestly? Once you get the hang of managing these charges, you'll wonder how you ever played without her. The Sharp-Toothed core passive alone gives you +20% CRIT DMG on enhanced Arctic Ambush or Flash Freeze Trimming attacks. That's free damage, folks.
What makes Ellen truly special is her Roaming state. Hold dodge, double dodge, or use Quick Assist – boom, you're in. From there, it's all about building those charges: Basic Attacks give you +1, Charged Attacks net you +3, and EX Specials add another +1 each. Hit that sweet spot of maximum charges and Flash Freeze mode kicks in. Suddenly you're dealing enhanced Ice attacks with invulnerability frames and taking 40% less damage during Charged Scissors.
Pretty neat, right?
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Character Role & Playstyle
Ellen thrives in that sweet spot between precision and chaos. She's all about fast-paced combat where timing matters – miss your charge windows and you're basically playing with half a character.
Her Slash specialty paired with Ice element? Chef's kiss for AoE freeze combinations. I've seen players clear entire Shiyu Defense floors just by getting their freeze-lock timing down. The key mechanics you need to master are Arctic Ambush (that spinning slash into Swift Scissors dealing Ice DMG with +1 charge, or go Charged for +3), Flash Freeze Trimming (three Ice DMG attacks that consume 1 charge each), and those beautiful EX Special combinations like Tail Swipe into Sharknami.
Why Ellen rocks: S-Tier AoE DPS that can clear Shiyu Defense in under 100 seconds when played right. High mobility through Roaming state with those clutch invulnerability frames. Excellent freeze synergy with Ice supports. Plus, Victoria Housekeeping faction bonuses can pump your damage by 20-35%.
The catch? You need precise charge management. Freeze-immune enemies will make you cry. And she's absolutely dependent on proper team composition – this isn't a solo carry situation.
Best W-Engines for Ellen Joe
Best in Slot: Deep Sea Visitor
Look, if you're serious about Ellen, Deep Sea Visitor isn't optional – it's mandatory.
This weapon gives you Ice DMG +25-50% at max refinement, but here's where it gets spicy: Basic Attack hits grant CRIT Rate +10-20% for 8 seconds, while Dash Attack Ice DMG gets an additional CRIT Rate +10-20% for 15 seconds. Since Ellen's constantly weaving Basic and Dash Attacks, you're basically getting permanent CRIT Rate buffs.
At R5? You're looking at the holy grail of 100% CRIT Rate when combined with decent substats. That's the threshold where Ellen transforms from good to absolutely broken.
Best A-Rank Alternatives
Marcato Desire (Event-Exclusive): EX Special/Chain hits give you ATK +6-9.6% for 8 seconds, with another +6-9.6% when Anomaly effects are active. Solid if you managed to snag it during the event.
Cannon Rotor (Best Non-Event A-Rank): ATK +7.5-12% baseline, plus critical hits trigger +200% ATK as damage once every 6-8 seconds. It's reliable, accessible, and gets the job done.
The Brimstone (Top S-Rank Alternative): At R5, this thing provides superior Ice DMG and PEN Ratio boosts. If you can't get Deep Sea Visitor, this is your next best bet.
Housekeeper: Victoria Housekeeping faction synergy bonuses of +20-35% DMG when you pair Ellen with Lycaon. Sometimes faction bonuses beat raw stats – just saying.
Best Disk Drive Sets for Ellen Joe
Top Choice: 4-Piece Woodpecker Electro
This is where most Ellen builds live, and for good reason.
Woodpecker Electro gives you that perfect balance Ellen craves. 2-piece bonus nets you CRIT Rate +8%, while the 4-piece effect delivers ATK +9% for 6 seconds on Basic/Dodge Counter/EX Special critical hits. Here's the kicker – each skill type stacks separately. That's potentially three different ATK buffs running simultaneously.
You can also mix and match: 2-piece Woodpecker with Puffer Electro (+8% PEN Ratio), Branch & Blade Song, Astral Voice, or Polar Metal depending on what substats you're working with.
Alternative: 4-Piece Polar Metal
Now this set? This is for the freeze-lock enthusiasts.
Polar Metal gives you Ice DMG +10% from the 2-piece and Basic/Dash Attack DMG +20% from the 4-piece. But when squad members inflict Freeze or Shatter effects, that bonus jumps to +40% for 12 seconds. With Lycaon and Soukaku keeping enemies permanently frozen, you're basically running around with a permanent 40% damage buff.
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Pro tip: Don't get too hung up on set bonuses if you've got god-tier substats on random pieces. Sometimes a broken set with perfect CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, and ATK% rolls will outperform any complete set.
Stats & Substats Guide
Main Stats for Slots 4, 5, and 6
Disk 4: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG – depends on what you're working with. Got Deep Sea Visitor? Go CRIT DMG since the weapon's handling your CRIT Rate needs.
Disk 5: Ice DMG Bonus. No contest here. You're looking at 30-40% total Ice damage increase when properly optimized.
Disk 6: ATK% for consistent scaling across everything Ellen does. PEN Ratio becomes interesting with newer teammates like Astra Yao and Lighter, but ATK% is the safe bet.
Substat Priority Ranking
What you absolutely need: CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG = ATK%. Target 70-80% CRIT Rate from substats and W-Engine combinations, then let Deep Sea Visitor carry you to that magical 100%.
Secondary priorities: PEN Ratio (20-30% for newer team comps) equals Flat ATK for hitting Soukaku's 2500 ATK threshold. Energy Regen to 120-140% keeps those EX Specials flowing.
The sweet spot? 150-200% CRIT DMG while maintaining 100% CRIT Rate. S-Rank Discs upgrade every 3 levels up to level 15, giving you 5 chances to hit those perfect substats.
Skill Priority & Kit Explanation
Roaming State & Flash Freeze Mechanics
Ellen's entire identity revolves around this dance between Roaming state and Flash Freeze charges. It's like playing a rhythm game where the reward is massive Ice damage.
Getting into Roaming is simple: hold Dodge, double Dodge, or Quick Assist. Once you're in, you get directional dashes with brief invulnerability – use them. Charge generation follows a pattern: Basic Attacks in Roaming (+1), Charged Attacks in Roaming (+3), EX Special Tail Swipe/Sharknami (+1 each). Hit that 6-charge maximum and Flash Freeze activates, giving you enhanced Ice attacks with better multipliers and defensive benefits.
Your bread and butter combo: Hold Dash Attack (Arctic Ambush) → Basic: Glacial Blade Wave → Flash Freeze Trimming → Icy Blade. Generates and spends 3 charges efficiently.
When enemies are stunned: Manual cancel Chain Attack → EX Tail Swipe → EX Sharknami. This maximizes damage during those precious Daze windows for a 150% multiplicative boost.
Talent Leveling Order
Core Skill first. Always. This affects everything Ellen does and gives you the biggest bang for your buck.
Basic Attack second – enhances charge generation and Flash Freeze Trimming damage.
Ultimate and EX Special Attack tie for third – both are crucial for burst damage during stuns.
Aim for levels 11-12 across the board for endgame content. Core Skill gets priority because multiplicative scaling is king.
Mindscape Cinema Analysis
M1: Glacial Omen Value
M1 is where Ellen goes from really good to why would I play anyone else?
This Mindscape gives Arctic Ambush Swift Scissors +3 charges and Charged +6 charges. But here's the real prize: each consumed charge grants +2% CRIT Rate for 15 seconds, stacking up to 6 times for 12% maximum CRIT Rate. That's essentially free CRIT Rate that makes hitting 100% way easier without perfect substats.
M2: Arctic Ocean Predator lets Flash Freeze Trimming's 3rd hit chain into Sharknami automatically, plus +20% CRIT DMG per charge on EX Specials (maximum 60%). Nice, but not essential.
M4: Endless Hoarfrost gives you 6 charges + Quick Charge +4 Energy when squad applies Freeze/Stun effects, once every 10 seconds. Quality of life improvement.
M6: The Feast Begins provides EX Special/Chain/Quick Charge +20% PEN Ratio for 6 seconds, stacking to 3 times. At max stacks, Charged Scissors gets +250% DMG. Whale territory.
Honestly? M1 is the sweet spot for most players. Everything else is luxury.
Best Team Compositions for Ellen Joe
Premium Mono-Ice Team (Lycaon & Soukaku)
This is the team that makes Ellen mains insufferable in co-op. Ellen, Lycaon, and Soukaku achieve what the community calls T0 God Tier performance against anything that can be frozen.
Lycaon brings +80% Daze capabilities with -25% Ice RES for 30 seconds. Soukaku scales to +1000 ATK and +20% Ice DMG once you hit that 2500 ATK threshold. Add in Victoria Housekeeping synergy between Ellen and Lycaon for another +20-35% DMG, and you've got a recipe for sub-100 second Shiyu Defense clears.
The rotation: Lycaon sets up Daze → Ellen goes nuclear → Soukaku keeps the buffs flowing.
F2P Friendly Team (Anby & Soukaku)
Don't have Lycaon? Anby's got your back.
Ellen, Anby, and Soukaku won't break any speed records, but it's accessible and functional. Anby handles Stun duties for those crucial Daze windows, while Soukaku maintains the ATK transfer and Ice DMG bonuses that Ellen needs to function.
Disorder Teams
Ellen, Lycaon, and Rina create interesting mixed-element compositions for Electric support integration. You can also try Ellen, Lycaon, and Astra Yao for global ATK buffs and off-field invulnerability. These teams trade pure Ice synergy for utility and flexibility.
Recommended Bangboos
Sharkboo is the obvious choice – Ice element synergy that enhances Freeze application and team DMG during crowd control windows.
Butler Bangboo focuses on energy regeneration, perfect for sustained encounters where you need frequent Ultimates and EX Specials.
Penguinboo serves as your backup Ice option when Sharkboo isn't available. Not optimal, but it'll do the job.
Summary: How to Master Ellen Joe
Ellen's all about rhythm and timing. Master Roaming state entry, build those 6 Flash Freeze charges through the right attack patterns, then unleash critical-enhanced Ice bursts that make enemies question their life choices.
Your core loop: Enter Roaming via dodges → build 6 charges through Basics/Chargeds/EX Specials → spend in Flash Freeze for maximum damage. Pair with Ice Stun/Support for Daze windows and buffs. Target 100% CRIT Rate, high ATK, and Ice DMG via Woodpecker/Polar sets and Deep Sea Visitor.
Practice this combo until it's muscle memory: Arctic Ambush hold → Glacial Wave → Trimming → Icy Blade. Extend with Tail Swipe when you need maximum efficiency.
Investment priorities? Skills to 11-12, S-Rank Discs with god-tier substats, and that signature W-Engine for true SS-Tier performance.
FAQ
What is the best W-Engine for Ellen Joe in ZZZ? Deep Sea Visitor is non-negotiable if you're serious about Ellen. Ice DMG +25-50% plus CRIT Rate stacks up to +40% from Basic and Dash Attacks. Budget option? Cannon Rotor with ATK +7.5-12% and crit-triggered burst damage.
Which Disk Drive set is best for Ellen Joe? 4-piece Woodpecker Electro for balanced builds – CRIT Rate +8% and ATK +9% on critical hits. Want to go all-in on freeze teams? 4-piece Polar Metal gives Ice DMG +10% and +20-40% Basic/Dash damage when Freeze effects are active.
What stats should I focus on for Ellen Joe? The holy trinity: 100% CRIT Rate, 150-200% CRIT DMG, and 2500+ ATK for Soukaku synergy. Main stats are Disk 4 CRIT Rate/DMG, Disk 5 Ice DMG, Disk 6 ATK%. No compromises.
How do you play Ellen Joe effectively? It's all about the flow: Enter Roaming state via hold/double Dodge → build 6 Flash Freeze charges through Basic Attacks (+1) and Charged Attacks (+3) → spend charges in Flash Freeze mode for enhanced Ice damage. Rinse and repeat.
Who is the best support for Ellen Joe? Lycaon and Soukaku, hands down. Lycaon provides +80% Daze and -25% Ice RES, Soukaku offers +1000 ATK and +20% Ice DMG. This trio can clear Shiyu Defense in under 100 seconds through pure freeze-lock dominance.
Is Ellen Joe's M1 Mindscape worth it? Absolutely. M1 grants +3-6 charges on Arctic Ambush and +2% CRIT Rate per consumed charge (max 12%). It's the difference between struggling to hit 100% CRIT Rate and having it handed to you on a silver platter. Perfect stopping point for budget-conscious players.
