Zenless Zone Zero 2.1 Must-Build A-Rank Characters

The recent Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.1 updates introduced impactful characters like Yuzuha and Alice, significantly shifting the meta. Among the current A-Rank roster, several stand out as exceptionally powerful, even becoming essential builds for most players, offering incredible value for your resources. Today, we break down the top A-Rank characters you should prioritize building in Version 2.1.

TOP 6: Pulchra (A-rank, Physical Attribute, Stun)

Pulchra is an A-Rank Stun character focused on the Follow-Up system. While her general versatility is somewhat limited, unlocking her M6 slot transforms her functionality from Follow-Up enhancement to boosting all damage types, freeing her from being exclusive to Follow-Up teams. Operating purely as an off-field Sub-DPS, Pulchra synergizes well with nearly any on-field Main DPS, making her an excellent choice for Proxies lacking limited S-Rank Anomaly characters.

Best W-Engine
Box Cutter
F2P Team
Pulchra	Nicole	Corin	Booressure
Rupture Team
Pulchra	Yixuan	Pan Yinhu	Belion
Generalist Team
Pulchra	Astra	Soldier 0 Anby	Knightboo

 

TOP 5: Lucy (A-rank, Fire Attribute, Support)

Lucy's buff values aren't the highest, providing a flat 600 ATK boost to the whole team. However, her smooth skill animations made her extremely popular early on, allowing her to fit painlessly into almost any squad with top-tier versatility. The consecutive releases of Astra and Yuzuha have diminished the appeal of pure ATK buffers like Lucy, as their superior functionality overshadows her. Furthermore, Lucy's signature weapon, due to its outstanding versatility, is frequently "borrowed" by the S-Rank Support characters Astra and Yuzuha, leaving many Proxies unable to equip Lucy with her own W-Engine, further impacting her performance.

Best W-Engine
Kaboom the Cannon
Rupture Team
Lucy	Yixuan	Pan Yinhu	Belion
Disorder Team
Lucy	Burnice	Yanagi	Rocketboo
Stun Team
Lucy	Soldier 11	Lighter	Rocketboo

 

TOP 4: Piper (Physical Attribute, Anomaly)

Version 2.1 heavily favors Physical Anomaly teams, making Piper exceptionally strong right now. For Proxies who missed out on Jane or Alice, Piper often serves as the top counter against tough enemies like Miasma Spawn. She boasts incredibly high Anomaly Buildup efficiency, capable of delivering top-tier burst buildup when she has Energy. Even outside her ideal niche, she remains a very solid Physical DPS and is currently the only readily effective A-Rank Main DPS option.

Best W-Engine
Roaring Ride
F2P EX Attack Team
Piper	Anby	Nicole	Avocaboo
Premium Team
Piper	Vivian	Yuzuha	Belion

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TOP 3: Soukaku (Ice Attribute, Support)

As the dedicated support for Ice teams, Soukaku's numerical buffs aren't far behind limited S-Rank Supports. She provides a hefty 1000 flat ATK boost to a single target and a 20% Ice DMG Bonus. Unlocking her M4 slot adds a 10% Ice RES Reduction. This makes her a solid support choice in teams featuring Ellen or Miyabi. The arrival of Yuzuha in 2.1 has officially upgraded the notoriously tricky Miyabi-Lycaon-Soukaku team into the much more stable and potent Miyabi-Yuzuha-Soukaku, a top-tier squad with fantastic value. Consequently, Soukaku's build priority has risen significantly this patch and she's well worth the investment.

Best W-Engine
Bashful Demon
F2P Team
Soukaku	Billy	Anby	Penguinboo
Ice Team
Soukaku	Ellen	Lighter	Sharkboo
Disorder Team
Soukaku	Miyabi	Yanagi	Agent Gulliver

 

TOP 2: Pan Yinhu (Physical Attribute, Defense)

Pan Yinhu is currently the only dedicated Rupture Support Specialist. He provides a substantial 720 Sheer Force boost and a 30% DMG boost, offering a huge upgrade for Yixuan, while also possessing the relatively rare ability to heal. In terms of versatility, Pan Yinhu only supports Rupture characters. However, Yixuan's explosive power as the flagship 2.0 DPS, combined with Pan Yinhu's buffs for her rivaling even Astra's, gives him immense overall value. Riding on Yixuan's dominance as the premier Rupture Main DPS, Pan Yinhu's status remains high. As long as Yixuan stays strong, Pan Yinhu is an essential Support to build until a new limited S-Rank Rupture Support arrives.

Best W-Engine
Tremor Trigram Vessel
Generalist Team
Pan Yinhu	Astra	Yixuan	Belion

 

TOP 1: Nicole (Ether Attribute, Support)

Zenless Zone Zero's starter trio is arguably among the strongest in any gacha game. Nicole, the de facto leader of this trio, maintains formidable overall strength even into Version 2.1. Numerically, her 40% DEF Reduction isn't the absolute peak, but unlocking her M6 slot adds a frequently active 15% CRIT Rate boost. Her signature weapon further provides a potent 24% team-wide DMG boost. Combined, these make Nicole's buff values highly competitive. Her strength lies in exceptional quick-swap capabilities, incredibly useful AoE grouping, and Anomaly Buildup supplementation. She finds a place in numerous team compositions and stands as the single most worthwhile A-Rank character to invest in overall.

Best W-Engine
The Vault
F2P Early Game Team
Nicole	Anby	Billy	Avocaboo
Ether Team
Nicole	Zhu Yuan	Qingyi	Resonaboo

 

Conclusion

These are the most valuable A-Rank characters to build currently. Nicole is universally recommended, fitting into almost any team. Pan Yinhu and Soukaku are more team-dependent but highly recommended if you want to play their respective Defense or Ice squads. Piper, Lucy, and Pulchra shine brightest when you lack their higher-tier alternatives (S-Rank equivalents), serving as incredibly effective budget-friendly powerhouses in those situations.

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