Hugo Build Guide ZZZ 2.4: Best Disks & Teams for Abyss

Hugo Character Analysis and Role in ZZZ 2.4 Meta

Here's what makes Hugo interesting: he transforms his briefcase into a scythe for melee and ranged attacks, functioning as a specialized burst DPS in stun-focused compositions. His effectiveness centers entirely on his Dark Abyss Reverb state and Totalize mechanic—which differentiates him pretty significantly from sustained damage dealers like Ellen or Jane.

At Level 60, you're looking at 7940 HP, 844-919 ATK, 616 DEF, 19.4% CRIT Rate, and 50% CRIT DMG. But for competitive Abyss performance, you'll want to hit these endgame targets: 2600-3000+ ATK, 70-88% CRIT Rate, and 160-200%+ CRIT DMG.

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Combat Mechanics

His Core Passive Terminating Verdict activates Dark Abyss Reverb for 6 seconds when executing Chain Attack: Trick of Fate or when enemies enter stun. This grants +12% CRIT Rate, +25% CRIT DMG, and +25/75 ATK with one or two Stun squadmates respectively.

Now here's where it gets spicy—Totalize on stunned enemies provides a base +500-1000% damage multiplier plus +140% per second for stuns lasting 5 seconds or less, and +50% per second for 5-15 second stuns. Do the math on a maximum 15-second stun and you're looking at 1700-3400% total multiplier. That's not a typo.

Key multipliers at Level 1:

• Basic Attack: 43.1-169.6% across combo
• Charged Shot: 118% DMG, 95.7% Daze, 40% damage reduction while charging
• EX Special: 373.2% DMG, 455.2% Daze (40 Energy)
• Chain Attack: 701.1% DMG, 262.2% Daze
• Ultimate: 1527.1% DMG, 264.2% Daze

His Additional Ability adds +15% Chain Attack DMG (+35% against normal enemies) when paired with Stun or Ice squadmates, +40% Totalize effectiveness, and +20 Energy on normal Totalize every 30 seconds. At M4, Charged Shots ignore 12% Ice RES for 15 seconds.

Hugo ranks Tier 1+ (S+) in Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault. He excels against small enemy groups where burst damage can eliminate threats before stun expiration. Does he require more setup than Tier 0 options like Miyabi? Absolutely. But in his specialty niche with proper execution, he delivers competitive damage that's honestly satisfying to pull off.

Essential Disk Sets for Hugo Optimization

Top-Tier Combinations

Primary: Woodpecker Electro 4pc + Branch and Blade Song 2pc

Woodpecker provides +8% CRIT Rate after landing crits with Basic/Special/Dodge Counter/EX Specials, plus +9% ATK for 6 seconds. Branch and Blade adds +16% CRIT DMG, directly amplifying your Totalize burst. Alternative 2pc option: Polar Metal for +10% Ice DMG (higher ceiling, less flexibility).

Alternative 1: Hormone Punk 4pc + Woodpecker Electro 2pc

Hormone Punk delivers +10% ATK on swap-in, increasing to +25% ATK when triggering twice within 20 seconds (10-second cooldown). This excels in Duet Night Abyss and double-stun compositions with frequent swaps. Community testing consistently identifies this as the top choice for Abyss clears due to swap-heavy strategies maximizing ATK buff uptime.

Alternative 2: Puffer Electro 4pc + Situational 2pc

Grants +8% PEN and after Ultimate, +20% Ultimate DMG plus +15% ATK for 12 seconds. Prioritizes Ultimate-focused rotations where that 1527.1% base multiplier serves as your primary Totalize trigger.

Stat Priority

Main Stats:

• Disk 4: CRIT DMG% (primary) or CRIT Rate% (if you're sitting below 60% total)
• Disk 5: Ice DMG% > ATK% > PEN%
• Disk 6: ATK%

Achieving 70-88% CRIT Rate is non-negotiable for endgame. Prioritize CRIT Rate until you hit 75-80%, then shift focus to CRIT DMG scaling.

Substats: CRIT Rate% = CRIT DMG% > ATK% > Flat ATK = PEN% = Energy Regen

Competitive thresholds: 50-60% CRIT Rate baseline (before buffs), 100-150% CRIT DMG minimum. Advanced targets: 160-200%+ CRIT DMG with 75%+ CRIT Rate.

Here's something experienced players know: Hormone Punk's swap ATK buff applies before Totalize calculation—so 25% ATK on a 3000 ATK Hugo adds 750 ATK, which then gets multiplied by that 3400% Totalize for substantial gains. Woodpecker's +12% CRIT Rate stacks with Reverb's +12% and M1 bonuses, enabling 80%+ CRIT Rate during burst windows with moderate substats.

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Duet Night Abyss Clear Strategies

Hugo's performance scales directly with enemy stun duration. 12-15 second stun windows allow maximum Totalize exploitation; 5-8 second timers require faster execution and potentially different disk sets favoring immediate burst.

The advanced double Chain technique works like this: trigger stun → Hugo Chain → cancel/swap → second squadmate Chain → Hugo Chain → immediate EX Special/Ultimate for Totalize. This maximizes Reverb uptime and damage within limited stun windows, but it requires precise timing—mess up and you'll watch that stun expire before you land your damage.

Hugo excels against 2-4 target clusters where burst eliminates threats before stun regeneration is even needed. Physical/Ice weak enemies like Ye Shiyuan (Deadly Assault Stage 2) represent ideal matchups. M4 Charged Shot's -12% Ice RES combined with Lycaon's -20% Ice RES totals -32% RES reduction.

Optimal Totalize timing? Delay execution until 13-14 seconds remain on 15-second stun windows to capture that peak multiplier (+50% per second for the 5-15 second range). EX Special on non-stunned enemies generates +20% Daze for stun regeneration between burst windo

ws. Energy management centers on that +20 Energy refund from normal Totalize (30-second cooldown)—plan your Ultimate usage around this cycle.

Complete Hugo Build Progression

Early Game (Level 1-40)

1. Equip Cannon Rotor (CRIT Rate +7.5%, +200% ATK on crits every 8 seconds)
2. Farm Woodpecker Electro 4pc with ATK% main stats
3. Level Core Skill to 6+ for baseline Totalize
4. Pair with any Stun agent (Anby works fine as F2P)

He'll function adequately with 40-50% CRIT Rate and 80-100% CRIT DMG. Prioritize Core Skill (★★★★★) and Special Attack (★★★★★).

Mid-Game (Level 40-60)

1. Achieve 60%+ CRIT Rate through disk substats/main stats
2. Upgrade to Hormone Punk 4pc for double-stun compositions
3. Max Core Skill, Special Attack, and Chain Attack to level 12
4. Acquire Deep Sea Visitor (Ice DMG +25%, CRIT Rate +10-20%)

Materials needed: Basic Attack Cert Seal x2, Advanced x32, Pioneer's x30, Basic Freeze Chip x5, Advanced x15, Specialized x50, Finale Dance Shoes x9, Higher Dimensional Data x60, and 1.7M Denny. Budget 2-3 weeks of focused farming.

Endgame Targets

• ATK: 2600-3000+
• CRIT Rate: 75-88%
• CRIT DMG: 160-200%+
• Ice DMG: 30-40%+

Myriad Eclipse (his signature W-Engine) provides CRIT DMG +45-72%, and EX/Chain/Ultimate Ice DMG ignores 25-40% DEF for 3 seconds. That DEF ignore multiplicatively scales with Totalize for the highest ceiling.

Alternatives include Heartstring Nocturne (CRIT DMG +30-80%), Severed Innocence, and Marcato Desire.

Disk substat perfection requires CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG double rolls on all six disks with ATK% tertiary. Expect 4-6 weeks of dedicated farming—and yes, it's as tedious as it sounds.

Team Composition Mastery

Optimal Compositions

Premium Double-Stun:

• Hugo (Attack/DPS)
• Lighter (Stun/Daze)
• Lycaon (Stun/Ice synergy)
• Dialyn or Sharkboo/Penguinboo (Bangboo)

This provides two Stun squadmates for +75 ATK from Core Passive, consistent stun cycling, and Ice resonance. Dialyn buffs Attack agents and extends stun duration at M2+. Lighter contributes DEF shred, Lycaon provides Ice RES reduction. This enables those sweet 12-15 second stun windows.

F2P Accessible:

• Hugo (Attack/DPS)
• Anby (Stun/F2P)
• Nicole (Stun/Debuff)
• Bagboo (alternatives: Booressure, Avocaboo, Knightboo)

Maintains double-stun functionality with free agents. Nicole provides DEF debuffs that multiplicatively scale with burst damage.

Synergy Options

Ice synergy math: Lycaon's -20% Ice RES + Hugo M4 Charged Shot's -12% Ice RES = -32% total. Adding Soukaku provides ATK% buffs and Ice DMG amplification but sacrifices that second Stun squadmate, reducing Core Passive from +75 to +25 ATK.

Viable Alternatives:

• Stun: Qingyi (Electric, fast Daze), Pulchra, Trigger
• Support: Astra Yao (universal DMG amplification, SS-Tier), Soukaku (ATK%/Ice DMG), Nicole (DEF shred)

Astra Yao provides meta-defining universal support applicable across all compositions, making her higher long-term value than Hugo for account progression. But Hugo fills an Ice burst DPS niche Astra can't replace—they're complementary investments.

Combat Mechanics and Rotations

Standard Stun Window

1. Stun agent generates Daze until enemy stun
2. Swap to Hugo (triggers Hormone Punk if equipped)
3. Chain Attack: Trick of Fate (701.1% DMG, triggers Reverb)
4. EX Special: Soul Hunter for Totalize (373.2% base + up to 3400% multiplier)
5. If stun remains, extend with Basic combos or second EX Special
6. Swap out before stun expiration

Advanced Double-Chain

1. Trigger stun
2. Hugo Chain (triggers Reverb)
3. Quick cancel/swap to second squadmate
4. Second squadmate Chain
5. Swap back to Hugo for second Chain (Reverb refresh)
6. Immediate EX Special/Ultimate for maximum Totalize
7. Skip second Chain if stun has less than 8 seconds remaining

This requires precise timing to avoid stun expiration before Totalize execution. Practice makes perfect.

Resource Management

40 Energy cost for EX Special, +20 Energy refund from normal Totalize (30-second cooldown) creates a net -20 Energy per rotation. You'll need 2-3 full rotations for Ultimate from empty. Prioritize EX Special for Totalize over Ultimate when stun is under 10 seconds (faster animation). Reserve Ultimate for 12-15 second stun windows where that 1527.1% base multiplier capitalizes on maximum Totalize scaling.

The Additional Ability's +20 Energy enables approximately one extra Ultimate per 90-second encounter. Charged Shot provides 40% damage reduction while charging for defensive windows during unavoidable attacks—don't sleep on this utility.

Hugo vs Alternative DPS Analysis

Hugo vs Ellen: Hugo delivers higher burst during stun windows (3400% Totalize vs Ellen's sustained scaling), while Ellen provides consistent damage outside stun. Hugo outperforms in Deadly Assault/Shiyu Defense with frequent stun opportunities; Ellen has advantages in sustained DPS checks without stun mechanics.

Hugo vs Jane: Jane operates on Anomaly buildup versus direct damage. Hugo's burst windows exceed Jane's Anomaly proc damage, but Jane contributes more during stun downtime. Jane offers team flexibility for mixed elements; Hugo demands Ice/Stun synergy.

Hugo vs Miyabi: Miyabi occupies Tier 0 due to universal applicability and lower team dependency. Hugo's specialized niche creates a higher ceiling in optimal conditions (double-stun, long stun windows), but Miyabi's consistent performance makes her the safer general investment.

Investment Requirements

Minimum: 70%+ CRIT Rate, 2600+ ATK, one Stun squadmate, Woodpecker 4pc

Optimal: 80%+ CRIT Rate, 3000+ ATK, two Stun squadmates, Hormone Punk 4pc, Myriad Eclipse

Whale: M2 (Ultimate Totalize keeps Stun, ignores 15% DEF, +67.5% damage), M6 (all shots trigger Reverb, Totalize/EX Special +60% DMG)

M2 represents a critical breakpoint—that +67.5% damage through DEF ignore and stun preservation enables re-stun cycling, changing the damage profile from single-burst to sustained-burst hybrid.

Hugo Excels: Deadly Assault, Shiyu Defense, Duet Night Abyss, Physical/Ice weak matchups

Hugo Struggles: Sustained DPS checks without stun, highly mobile enemies with short stun windows, content requiring defensive utility, multi-element resistance

Resource Investment and Priorities

Skill Leveling Order

Priority 1 (Max First): Core Skill (Totalize multiplier), Special Attack (primary Totalize trigger, Daze), Chain Attack (entry damage, Reverb activation)

Priority 2 (Level 9-10): Basic Attack (filler damage)

Priority 3 (Level 6 or skip): Assist, Dodge (minimal value)

Equipment Enhancement

W-Engine Priority:

1. Myriad Eclipse (signature, highest ceiling)
2. Deep Sea Visitor (Ice DMG +25%, CRIT Rate +10-20%, standard pulls)
3. Cannon Rotor (CRIT Rate +7.5%, Battle Pass)

Level your W-Engine to 60 for full stat scaling. Prioritize Disks 4/5/6 to +15 for main stat maximization. Upgrade Disks 1/2/3 to +12 for substat unlocks, then +15 only with double CRIT rolls.

Cost-Benefit

Full optimization costs: 2.5M Denny (1.7M skills/promotion + 800k disks), 2,400+ Stamina (disk farming), 14,400 Polychromes (90-pull signature guarantee). Myriad Eclipse provides roughly 25-30% damage increase over F2P alternatives but costs the equivalent of a full character guarantee.

In practice, budget players should prioritize character acquisition over signature, using Deep Sea Visitor or Cannon Rotor while investing saved Polychromes in supports like Astra Yao.

Advanced Tips and Common Mistakes

Expert Techniques

Totalize Timing: Maximum multiplier at 15 seconds stun remaining. Delay execution 1-2 seconds after stun trigger, execute at the 13-14 second timer for optimal damage.

Hormone Punk Cycling: The 10-second cooldown enables double-proc within 20 seconds. Hugo swap (first proc) → burst → swap out → wait 10 seconds → Hugo swap (second proc) → burst maintains that 25% ATK buff for both windows.

Energy Refund Exploitation: +20 Energy on normal Totalize (30-second cooldown) occurs even if Hugo swaps immediately after. Execute Totalize → immediate swap preserves field time for stun regeneration while capturing the refund.

M4 Integration: Charged Shot → Chain Attack → EX Special Totalize applies 12% Ice RES shred before burst damage lands. The 15-second duration covers your full rotation.

Troubleshooting

Inconsistent Crits: CRIT Rate below 70%. Prioritize CRIT Rate main stat on Disk 4 over CRIT DMG until you hit 75%+ total. Verify Woodpecker buff activation before Totalize.

Low Damage Despite High CRIT: Missing ATK buffs (insufficient Stun squadmates) or poor Totalize timing. Ensure two Stun squadmates for +75 ATK. Delay Totalize to the 13-14 second stun timer.

Energy Starvation: Not capturing +20 Energy refund or excessive EX Special spam. Track that 30-second cooldown on Additional Ability refund. Limit EX Special to stun windows and Daze phases.

Stun Expiring Before Totalize: Excessive Ultimate animation or poor positioning. Prioritize EX Special for stun windows under 10 seconds (faster animation). Pre-position Hugo in melee range before stun trigger.

Future-Proofing

Version 2.4 introduces Dialyn as a premium Stun support directly benefiting Hugo. Future updates may introduce additional Stun/Ice supports optimizing Hugo teams. Invest in flexible disk sets (Hormone Punk, Woodpecker) that adapt to evolving compositions.

M2 remains a critical future-proofing investment—stun preservation (+67.5% damage) maintains relevance even if base stun windows shorten in future content.

FAQ

What are the best disk sets for Hugo in ZZZ 2.4?

Woodpecker Electro 4pc + Branch and Blade Song 2pc for CRIT consistency. Hormone Punk 4pc + Woodpecker Electro 2pc for Duet Night Abyss and quick-swap rotations delivers superior burst through swap ATK buffs. Main stats: CRIT DMG% Disk 4, Ice DMG% Disk 5, ATK% Disk 6.

How much CRIT Rate does Hugo need?

Minimum 70%, recommended 75-80% for reliable Totalize crits. Factor in Woodpecker's +8% and Reverb's +12% when calculating from disk stats. Hugo's burst concentration makes CRIT Rate more critical than for sustained DPS characters who can tolerate 60-65%.

Is Hugo worth pulling compared to Astra Yao?

Astra Yao provides universal SS-Tier support value across all compositions—higher priority for account progression. Hugo fills a specialized Ice burst DPS niche excelling in stun-focused content. Pull Hugo if you have strong Stun agents (Lighter, Lycaon, Dialyn) and lack Ice DPS; prioritize Astra for broader improvement.

What team works best with Hugo?

Premium: Hugo + Lighter + Lycaon + Dialyn/Sharkboo provides maximum ATK buffs (+75 Core Passive), consistent stun cycling, and Ice synergy. F2P: Hugo + Anby + Nicole + Bagboo maintains double-stun with accessible agents. Ensure two Stun squadmates for optimal Core Passive scaling.

How does Totalize work?

Activates when executing Finishing Moves (EX Special/Ultimate) on stunned enemies. Grants +500-1000% base multiplier plus +140% per second for stuns lasting 5 seconds or less, +50% per second for 5-15 second stuns. Maximum 3400% at 15 seconds stun. Totalize ends stun but refunds 5% Daze per remaining second (max 25%).

What skill leveling priority?

Max Core Skill first (Totalize scaling), then Special Attack (EX damage/Daze), then Chain Attack (entry damage/Reverb). Level Basic Attack to 9-10. Deprioritize Assist and Dodge—minimal value for burst rotation. This maximizes damage per skill point invested.