Quick heads up: Shiyu Defense resets November 14, 2025, and those limited banners wrap up November 25 at 3:00 PM UTC. Don't sleep on these dates.
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What Actually Changed This Patch
Here's where things get interesting. Sheer Force mechanics now completely bypass enemy defenses. Not reduce them—bypass them entirely.
Yixuan's Rupture capabilities ignore defense scaling altogether, but here's the catch: you absolutely need high-CRIT builds with the Qingming Birdcage W-Engine to make it work. Grace got a massive boost too—her enhanced Zap system builds 8 stacks for +130% Buildup and +18% Shock damage, but only with faction allies.
Then there's Miyabi. +100% critical hit rate on charged attacks through Flash Freeze Charges? That's not a typo. Yuzuha brings Sugar Points that enable +600 ATK buffs lasting a full 40 seconds, plus an off-field +15% damage boost. You'll want Hormone Punk Drive Discs to hit that crucial 3000+ ATK threshold.
How I'm Ranking These Agents
Look, I've been testing agents across Shiyu Defense Critical Nodes (Level 50-70) because that's where the rubber meets the road. Hollow Zero corruption management and F2P resource efficiency matter just as much as raw damage numbers—maybe more.
The phase patterns break down like this: Phase I demands burst damage, Phase II requires sustained DPS, and Phase III rewards versatile compositions. Critical Nodes? You're gonna need SS/S-Tier agents. Stable Nodes are more forgiving with A-Rank teams.
Here's something most guides won't tell you: skills scale 18% more efficiently than levels. And those 4-piece Drive Disc bonuses? They consistently outperform even perfectly optimized substats on mixed sets. Monthly F2P earnings sit around 8,000-10,000 Polychromes through dailies, events, and Shiyu Defense—plan accordingly.
The Tier List That Actually Matters
SS-Tier (These Define the Meta):
- Miyabi (Frost DPS) - That +100% CRIT rate translates to 90-second boss clears
- Yixuan (Rupture DPS) - Defense-ignoring Sheer Force is genuinely broken
- Yuzuha (Support) - +600 ATK buffs with Anomaly amplification
- Astra (Support) - Global ATK buffs plus off-field invulnerability
S-Tier (Exceptional, No Questions Asked):
- Ellen (Ice DPS) - AoE freeze specialist with +100% CRIT via Flash Freeze
- Zhu Yuan (Ether DPS) - Enhanced Shotshells bring +20% damage against stunned enemies
- Caesar King (Defense/Support) - Radiant Aegis shields with +1000 ATK boosts
A+ Tier (Strong in Their Niche):
- Lycaon (Stun/Impact) - 25% Ice RES reduction, +80% Daze effectiveness
- Qingyi (Stun/Ether) - +80% Stun multiplier through 10 Subjugation stacks
- Jane (Physical Anomaly) - Passion Stream mobility with reliable Disorder triggers
A-Tier (Solid, Dependable Choices):
- Soukaku (Ice Support) - +1000 ATK through Fly the Flag
- Nicole (Utility Tank) - -40% defense vortex, +25% Ether damage
- Yanagi (Disorder) - Polarity Disorder with Shinrabanshou loops
Deep Dive: The S-Tier Powerhouses
Miyabi has set a new DPS ceiling that honestly makes other agents look quaint.
Flash Freeze Charges grant +100% critical hit rate on charged attacks, dashes, and Ultimate. The optimal team comp? Lycaon for that 25% Ice resistance reduction paired with Soukaku's +1000 ATK boost. Victoria Housekeeping faction synergy with Butler Bangboo creates sustained freeze control that's borderline unfair.
Ellen remains the AoE queen, especially with Flash Freeze Charges delivering +100% critical hit rate. Team her with Rina/Soukaku for buffs and Lycaon for stunning—this balances single-target and area damage beautifully. Just make sure you've got SSR Drive Discs focused on Flash Freeze mechanics.
Zhu Yuan operates through Assault/Suppressive modes, building shotshells for Enhanced Shotshells with +20% damage against stunned enemies. Her EX Special generates 3 Shells for consistent burst cycles that rival Ellen's output. Different playstyle, similar results.
Lycaon dominates the stunning game with the highest HP among stunners. His charged attacks reduce Ice resistance by 25% while providing +80% Daze effectiveness. Essential for Ellen compositions—he's your tank and resistance reducer rolled into one.
Yuzuha brings those game-changing +600 ATK buffs lasting 40 seconds via Tanuki Wish, plus an off-field +15% damage boost. You absolutely need Hormone Punk Drive Discs for 3000+ ATK and maximum Anomaly Proficiency. She's essential for Hyper Carry, Stun, and Disorder compositions alike.
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The A-Tier Workhorses
Billy, Anby, Piper form the cornerstone F2P composition following that classic 1 DPS + Stun + Buff formula. Billy handles Physical DPS, Anby manages stunning, and Piper provides +18% team damage via Power stacks. Cunning Hare faction bonuses with Amillion Bangboo CRIT support make this trio surprisingly viable for Stable Nodes.
Soukaku actually reaches S-Tier within Ellen/Lycaon teams through that +1000 ATK via Fly the Flag (3 Vortex stacks from EX, Ultimate, Chain attacks). Her conditional effectiveness really drives home how important team synergy is in this game.
Grace builds 8 Zap stacks for +130% Buildup and +18% Shock damage with faction allies. You'll want 4-piece Anomaly Proficiency Drive Discs. Electric synergy creates substantial damage through Power stacks—don't underestimate this setup.
Team Compositions That Actually Work
Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku represents the pinnacle of Ice compositions.
Victoria Housekeeping synergy with Butler Bangboo unlocks faction passives for sustained freeze control. The rotation flows like this: Flash Freeze Charges (+100% CRIT), +80% Daze with -25% Ice resistance, +1000 ATK via Vortex stacks. It's beautiful when it all comes together.
Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Nicole delivers Ether burst through coordinated stunning and defense reduction. Zhu Yuan's 3 Enhanced Shotshells provide +20% damage against stunned enemies while Nicole's Vortex creates +25% Ether damage and -40% defense reduction. The synergy here is chef's kiss.
Grace, Piper, Lucia creates sustained Electric damage through Zap accumulation and Power synergy. Grace builds those Zap stacks (+130% Buildup, +18% Shock), Piper contributes +18% team damage, and Lucia provides 25% Ether damage via chains.
Bangboo Rankings (Yes, They Matter)
Butler Bangboo leads through energy regeneration for Victoria Housekeeping teams
—perfect synergy with Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku. Amillion Bangboo provides CRIT support for Cunning Hare teams with 45% Chain damage increases. Rocketboo offers Fire synergy with +100% Anomaly for teams running 2+ Fire agents.
Pull Strategy That Won't Drain Your Wallet
Immediate Priority: Miyabi for that highest DPS ceiling and 90-second boss clears. Support Priority: Yuzuha if you've already got established DPS and want team amplification.
F2P Strategy: Focus on Billy, Anby, Piper while accumulating 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls) for guaranteed S-Rank. Patience pays off here.
Looking Ahead: Lucia and Yidhari drop in Version 2.4 with Ether Support and Ice Rupture respectively. Lucia's versatility might provide better long-term value than Yidhari's specialized hypercarry role—just my take based on current patterns.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Who's the absolute best DPS in ZZZ 2.3? Miyabi, hands down. That +100% critical hit rate mechanic with 90-second boss clears speaks for itself. Flash Freeze Charges on charged attacks, dashes, and Ultimate create unmatched burst potential when paired with Lycaon and Soukaku.
Are the new 2.3 agents worth pulling? Miyabi provides the highest DPS ceiling we've seen, and Yuzuha's +600 ATK buffs enhance multiple compositions. Both justify endgame investment if you've got the resources.
What's the best team for Shiyu Defense November 2025? Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku with Butler Bangboo dominates Critical Nodes through sustained freeze control. Alternative option: Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Nicole for pure Ether burst damage.
Which A-Rank agents punch above their weight? Soukaku reaches S-Tier within Ice teams through those +1000 ATK buffs. Billy, Anby, Piper form competitive F2P compositions for Stable Nodes—don't sleep on them.
How does Stun actually work in endgame content? Stun creates damage windows with increased damage and enemy immobilization. Lycaon provides +80% Daze with 25% Ice resistance reduction; Qingyi offers +80% Stun multiplier via 10 Subjugation stacks. It's all about timing those windows.
What Drive Discs should I prioritize for Attack agents? 4-piece sets consistently outperform mixed configurations. Ellen requires SSR for Flash Freeze optimization; Grace needs 4-piece Anomaly Proficiency; Yuzuha uses Hormone Punk to hit that crucial 3000+ ATK threshold.
