Zenless Zone Zero releases A-rank characters at a relatively slow pace, but among the current roster, several A-rank characters offer outstanding performance. For most players, they’re must-build options thanks to their excellent value and utility. Today, let’s go over the top A-rank characters worth building in version 2.0.
TOP 6: Piper (Physical Anomaly)
With the dual support from Koleda and Ben Bigger, Piper’s weakness—her long downtime—is well covered. Ben provides strong initial charge buildup, while Piper quickly spins to unleash heavy hits and inflict Disorder. This synergy smooths out the team’s damage curve and boosts overall output. Piper is currently the best-performing A-rank main DPS. For players without Jianxin and seeking a physical-type damage dealer for niche content, Piper is a highly recommended investment.
TOP 5: Soukaku (Ice Support)
Soukaku is a dedicated support for ice teams. Although she suffers from noticeable skill startup lag, her stats are excellent—offering 1000 flat ATK to a single target and 20% Ice DMG bonus. After unlocking Mindscape Cinema 4, she also provides an additional 10% Ice RES shred. In most cases, this compensates for the casting delay.
Currently, among the three Ice DPS characters, Hoshimi Miyabi and Ellen often use Soukaku, though Hugo relies on dual break and isn't compatible. Especially in the budget-friendly high-performance lineup “Miyabi + Lycaon + Soukaku,” Soukaku is the key support—offering strength comparable to full-limited S-tier lineups when played well.
TOP 4: Pokopang (Physical Stun)
Pokopang is an A-rank Stun-type character in pursuit-focused comps. Generally, her utility is limited unless you unlock Mindscape Cinema 6, at which point her stun buffs change from "pursuit-only" to "universal" damage buffs, increasing her overall viability. Since she operates from the backline, she fits well into most stay-on-field DPS teams. For players lacking an S-rank Stun unit, Pokopang is a strong and practical choice.
TOP 3: Lucy (Fire Support)
Lucy is only fully functional after unlocking Mindscape Cinema 2; otherwise, her buffs rely heavily on skill use, making her clunky. While her ATK bonus (600 flat ATK to the whole team) isn’t extremely high, her main advantage is the smooth gameplay—almost no startup delay, easily slotting into any comp. Her top-tier versatility is unmatched. With Mindscape Cinema 6, her buff duration can extend to 30 seconds for near-full uptime, and she gains additional fire charge damage and anomaly support. Definitely a profitable character to invest in.
TOP 2: Von Lycaon (Physical DEF Support)
A Break-type dedicated buffer, Lycaon provides 720 Penetration and 30% DMG bonus, along with rare healing capabilities. Though limited to Break-type teams, his stats make him one of the best support options for Ellen—nearly rivaling Yao and Jiyuan in terms of overall synergy and performance.
Since Ellen is one of the most popular main DPS characters in the game right now, Lycaon’s importance also rises. If you pulled Ellen in the first half of version 2.0, Lycaon is essentially a must-build support.
TOP 1: Nicole (Ether Support)
As one of the starting trio, Nicole is currently the highest value A-rank character in the game. Her 40% DEF reduction isn’t the highest tier in raw numbers, but paired with her ultra-fast swap-in and wide-area grouping ability, she can significantly reduce clear times by eliminating the need to manually group enemies.
In addition, Nicole’s A-rank signature weapon is also quite powerful, granting a 24% team-wide DMG bonus. With Mindscape Cinema 6 unlocked, she also gains a 15% Crit Rate buff with high uptime. Her overall performance is solid and she fits easily into many team comps. High value across the board.
Conclusion
Currently, the most worthwhile A-rank characters to build are Nicole and Lycaon. Nicole offers unmatched general-purpose value, while Lycaon shines due to his synergy with Ellen. Beyond that, Lucy, Pokopang, Soukaku, and Piper are also very strong options. Depending on your roster and team needs, consider investing in the corresponding A-rank units!