ZZZ 2.5 Zhao Guide: Best Builds for 120+ Shiyu Cle

Zhao in ZZZ 2.5: Why He's Your New Ice Tank MVP

Ice Defense Hypercarry Role

Picture this: a hybrid tank who scales ATK off max HP (+0.05 per HP point) while dishing Ice DMG, healing the squad, and dodging like a pro with i-frames on Basics, EX, Dodges, and Chains. Ether Veil? That's +40% CRIT DMG, +650 Sheer Force Rupture, and +30% squad DMG for 12s after EX or Veil activation. Off-field, his M1 shreds 12% enemy RES. Ultimate? A whopping 4234.7% Ice DMG plus 12s Veil. Stack 30k+ HP, watch 1500+ ATK pour in.

Equip Birkblick Bangboo (Lv3, needs one faction agent) for those Krampus boosts—unlocks 120+ Shiyu through pure Ice synergy. (Yeah, as an editor who's seen every meta shift, this setup feels tailor-made for endgame grind.)

Day-One Pulls and Availability

He launches Dec 30, 2025, 11 AM UTC+8—about 50 days until Phase 2 wraps on Feb 17, 2026. Snag Zhao free through events. Phase 1: Dec 30–Jan 21. Phase 2 brings Ye and Ellen: Jan 21–Feb 17.

Hoard 14,400 Polychrome (90 pulls, soft pity around 70-80) plus event rewards. How? 1) Grab daily 300 Polychrome. 2) Grind Arcade and Notorious Hunt. 3) Pop Ether Battery (60 Backup +1 Prepaid).

2.5 Buffs Shaking Up the Meta

Zhao slots straight into S-tier for the Ice meta—only the second limited S-Rank Defense after Caesar. He amps Ice teams for Shiyu and Notorious Hunt dominance. Skip Miyabi or Yixuan; prioritize him for Defense slot.

Post-launch? 1) Eye those side panel shops. 2) Farm Ice Hide and Polar Metal equivalents. Simple as that.

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Zhao's Best W-Engines, Ranked for Impact

Zenless Zone Zero Zhao signature W-Engine interface

The S-Rank Signature – No Brainer

Base ATK 713, 30% HP: +0.26 Energy Regen per second. Squad gets +10% ATK/HP Limit. EX Special or Ether Veil? +40% CRIT DMG for 35s (stackable). Perfect for Ultimate spam in Zhao/Ellen duos.

Farm it: Defense Component x4, Reinforced x32, Specialized x30, 400k Denny. Slap it on for that 10% squad ATK/HP bump. Always beats A-Ranks.

Solid A-Rank Picks

Tusks of Fury (S4): Equipper Shield +60%; squad Interrupt/Perfect Dodge +36% DMG +24% Daze (20s). Shatters Shiyu S+ at 90k scores.
Tremor Trigram Vessel (S3): EX/Ult +40% DMG; squad DMG/HP recovery hands out 3.2 Energy (once/5s).
Spring Embrace (S3): -12% DMG taken; getting hit boosts +16% Energy Gen Rate (12s, transferable).
Reel Projector (S3): Squad HP >=50%? -12% DMG taken, 16% Miasma (one per squad).

Tusks rules Shiyu. Match energy with Tremor, tankiness with Spring. Day-One? Push S4+ upgrades.

Stat Thresholds That Actually Matter

HP scales everything—aim 30% base + subs for 20k+ total HP (RES Pen, Stun, DMG focus). Test in Hollow Zero. Swap for Ye synergy later. Future-proofs your Veil game.

Drive Discs: HP Stacking for the Win

Top Sets and Why They Click

Disc 4: HP%. Disc 5: HP% or Ice DMG. Disc 6: HP%. Rock White Water Balled (2-Pc +10% Physical DMG; 4-Pc Veil +12% CRIT Rate for 15s, extend to 30s). Supercharges Zhao/Ellen against Notorious Hunt's 60 DEF Ether bosses (-20% RES).

Zenless Zone Zero Drive Discs HP set for Zhao

Farm Ice Hide/Polar Metal. Activate Veil CRIT. Calibrate max 2 subs.

Slots 4-6 Main Stats

Slot 4: HP%.
Slot 5: HP% or Ice DMG Bonus.
Slot 6: HP%.

Subs: HP% > HP > ATK%. Hit 120+ Shiyu with 40%+ Ice DMG on Disc 5. Roll HP%. Dodge DEF stats. Test on 37.5% Ice buildup bosses.

Substat Priority, Straight Up

HP% > HP > ATK% fuels heals, buffs, DMG. Reroll for 12%+ CRIT Rate under Veil; M4 adds +15% ATK (+15% Veil).

Skill Upgrades: Core First, Always

Rotation Priority

Core > EX Special > Switch > Ultimate > Basic > Dodge. Core Passive: ATK +0.05/HP; Veil pumps +40% CRIT DMG +650 Rupture +30% squad DMG. EX Special: 40 Energy, 1688.9% DMG, 1078% Daze, 4s multi-hits, heals 1% Max HP/s for 5s.

Upgrade Core passives first. EX i-frames/heals (15s CD). Basic's 5-hits end at 740.4% + Ice Point.

Mindscape Cinema Path

M1: Veil + interrupt resist (over 50% HP); off-field 12% RES ignore (30s).
M2: +10% Healing Received; full HP triggers +15% ATK (15s).
M3/M5: +2 levels to Basic/Dodge/Assist/Special/Chain.
M4: Core +15% ATK (+15% Veil).
M6: Charged Slash Crit guarantee (8s, 1501.9% DMG).

Day-One: M1/M4. Pull-farm the rest.

Extra Unlocks and Mats

EX/Veil +30% squad DMG for 12s. Mats per skill (11-12): Basic Freeze Chip 25/Advanced 75/Specialized 250, Hamster Cage Pass 5, Challenges 9, Hunt 60, 2.905M Denny. Ascension: Seals 4/32/30, 800k Denny to Lv60.

Killer Team Comps for Zhao

Hypercarry Staples

Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Ellen Ye team guide

Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu: Daze, Ice, heals—120+ Shiyu.
Zhao/Ellen/Ye: Veil +40% CRIT DMG/30% vuln for S+ 90k.
Freeze lock: Ye/Zhao/Soukaku (Ellen +100% CRIT Flash Freeze).

Zhao EX (4s heals) > Ellen Freeze > swap. Lycaon alt shreds +25% Ice RES +80% Daze.

F2P Squads with Freebies

Free Zhao + Lycaon/Qingyi/Jane/Soukaku (+1000 ATK from Soukaku). Smashes 100+ Hollow Zero. Hoard 28,800 Poly (180 pulls), skip standards. Farm Seals/Chips/Passes.

Bangboo Pairings

Birkblick (Krampus Lv3). Snap as backup. Match faction. Ice pen on bosses.

Zenless Zone Zero Birkblick Bangboo model

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Rotation and Playstyle: Burst Hard

EX Burst Flow

Basic i-frames (0-4s, 740.4% on hit 5) > EX (1688.9% DMG, full invuln, heal) > Ult (4234.7% DMG, 12s Veil) > swap DPS (Ye Chain/Ellen AoE). Quickswap EX into Ellen Freeze.

Stack Ice Points (EX/Chain). Dodge Counter for invuln Ice DMG. Quick Assist: 279% DMG.

Ice Anomaly Tips

HP gear for RES Pen/Stun. Chain hits 1119.8% DMG. Perfect Dodge +36% DMG (Tusks). Follow-Up 732.4% DMG. Sustain Shiyu stage 5 with Pan Yinhu heals across 3 rooms.

Arena Tweaks

Co-Op: 1 DPS + Stun + Buff. Tank with i-frames. Veil +60 Anomaly Proficiency. Dial in for 90k S+.

F2P vs. Whale: Data-Backed Breakdown

F2P data shows clears at 100+ Hollow Zero with free Zhao + Lycaon/Soukaku, Spring Embrace S3/Tusks S4, 28.8k Poly/events.

Whales? Pull Zhao (14.4k Poly/90 pulls), Signature (30% HP, +40% CRIT 35s), 120+ Shiyu S+ 90k, Signature mats + M6. F2P farms Seals/Chips/Passes; whales chase chars > engines.