Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Guide - Core Abilities and Best Builds

Posted by: BlueStacks Content Team

Zhao is a versatile Defense agent in Zenless Zone Zero who shatters the mold of traditional tanking. Instead of just soaking up hits, she provides accessible healing, substantial ATK buffs through her Ether Veil, and significant Ice DMG that scales with her health. In our Zhao guide for Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ), we list down her core abilities, and the best ways to build for maximum damage.

Zhao’s Abilities in Zenless Zone Zero

Zhao’s kit revolves around managing Frostbite Points and maintaining the Ether Veil: Wellspring state to buff her team. Check out her core abilities:

Shatterfrost Surge (Special Attack): Launches an Ice slash and consumes 5% of Zhao’s HP to grant all squad members HP regeneration based on her Max HP. This makes her one of the few reliable healers in the game.
Final Verdict (Basic Attack): By holding the button, Zhao charges up a massive Ice strike. If she is in Ether Veil, you can actually switch her out while she is charging, and she will continue to build power off-field.
Ether Veil (Core Passive): When Frostbite Points are maxed, Zhao triggers Ether Veil: Wellspring. This state provides a massive CRIT Rate buff to the squad (scaling with Zhao’s HP) and triggers a Quick Assist, allowing for seamless character rotations.
Frostveil Suppression (Defensive Assist) : A high-impact parry that deals massive Daze. Following this up with a Basic Attack can trigger her charge mechanics and refresh her buffs.
Bunny Barrage (Ultimate): A powerful Ice AOE that grants 20 Frostbite Points, helping her re-enter the Ether Veil state immediately to keep the team’s momentum high.

Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Guide - Core Abilities and Best Builds

Best W-Engines for Zhao in Zenless Zone Zero

As a Defense agent whose buffs and damage scale with her health, Zhao requires W-Engines that prioritize Max HP and Energy Regen. We recommend using the following W-Engines for Zhao:

Half-Sugar Bunny (S-Rank): The gold standard. It boosts Energy Regen and Max HP for the squad. Most importantly, activating an Ether Veil grants all teammates 30% CRIT DMG.
Original Transmorpher (A-Rank): A solid defensive choice that increases Max HP and rewards the player with increased Impact after being attacked.
Bunny Band (A-Rank): Provides a Max HP boost and increases Zhao’s personal ATK whenever she is shielded, making her a more formidable sub-DPS.

Best Drive Discs for Zhao in Zenless Zone Zero

To maximize the squad’s damage, Zhao needs to focus on HP thresholds (aiming for 27,000 HP) and team-wide DMG bonuses. To do so, you will need to equip her with the right Drive Discs. Check out our recommended Drive Discs for Zhao:

Astral Voice (4-Piece Set): The premier choice. Since Zhao triggers Quick Assists frequently through her kit, this set provides consistent DMG buffs to the incoming agent.
Yunkui Tales (2-Piece Set): The best secondary set to pair with any build, as it provides the stats necessary to enhance her support capabilities.
Proto Punk (4-Piece Set): A great alternative that provides a team-wide DMG buff whenever Zhao performs a Defensive or Evasive Assist.

Best Bangboo and Partners for Zhao in Zenless Zone Zero

Zhao works best when supported by agents who can group enemies or help her keep the fire burning.

Ye Shunguang (Best Partner): Zhao’s Ether Veil is perfect for Ye Shunguang, helping him accumulate Qingming Sword Force stacks more efficiently.
Sprout (Bangboo): Ideal for Attack-focused teams to help maximize the offensive uptime Zhao provides.

Players can enjoy playing Zenless Zone Zero on a bigger screen of their PC or Laptop via BlueStacks along with your keyboard and mouse.

Zenless Zone Zero - FAQs

Who is Zhao in Zenless Zone Zero?

Zhao is a Defense type agent in Zenless Zone Zero who blends tanking, team support, and Ice damage into a single versatile kit. Unlike traditional defensive characters that focus only on absorbing hits, Zhao actively supports her squad by providing healing, CRIT Rate buffs, and steady crowd control through Ice based attacks.

Is Zhao worth building in Zenless Zone Zero?

Yes, Zhao is absolutely worth building if you want a flexible Defense agent who does more than just tank. She provides reliable team healing, strong CRIT Rate buffs through Ether Veil, and respectable Ice damage that scales with her Max HP. This makes her especially valuable in teams that benefit from sustained fights and frequent character swapping.

Does Zhao need high HP to be effective?

Yes. Most of Zhao’s healing, buffs, and damage scale directly with her Max HP. Reaching key HP thresholds, such as around 27,000 HP, greatly improves her overall effectiveness and makes her Ether Veil buffs much stronger for the entire team.

What stats should I prioritize for Zhao?

Max HP is the top priority, followed by Energy Regeneration and Impact. These stats ensure Zhao can heal frequently, maintain Ether Veil uptime, and contribute Daze damage during Defensive Assists.

Can Zhao be a good healer?

In most content, yes. Zhao’s healing scales well with investment and is reliable enough to replace a dedicated healer in many team compositions. However, in extremely punishing content, pairing her with another sustain unit can offer extra safety.