Version 1.4 drops December 2025 with Harumasa as a free Electric Attack agent, creating direct competition with Zhu Yuan's Ether Attack dominance. This analysis compares their SS-tier damage outputs, team synergies, and investment value. With Harumasa's 75%+ CRIT Rate builds versus Zhu Yuan's Qingyi-Nicole compositions, your pull decisions need data-backed clarity on Drive Discs, W-Engines, and Shiyu Defense performance.
1.4 Meta Overview: Where Ether Teams Stand
Version 1.4's SS Tier at C0/C1+ includes Miyabi, Yanagi, Qingyi, Harumasa, and Caesar. Ether teams face Electric and Ice dominance but remain viable through Corruption's Ether DMG over time.
Harumasa's free availability during 1.4 democratizes top-tier DPS. His Per Aspera Banner (Dec 18, 2025 - Jan 21, 2025) offers constellation opportunities. Level 60 stats: 7405 HP, 840 ATK, 600 DEF, 90 Impact, 80 Anomaly Mastery, 95 Anomaly Proficiency—optimized for sustained Electric damage.
For Polychrome acquisition, ZZZ Monochrome Top Up through BitTopup provides secure transactions with competitive pricing.
Enemy Resistance Patterns
Harumasa's M6 ignores 15% Electric RES for 12s while triggering 1500% ATK explosion after 12 Ha-Oto no Ya hits. Zhu Yuan's M4 Ether Perforation ignores 25% Ether RES—superior penetration at higher constellations. Her M6 grants 12 Enhanced Shotshells, reduces EX Special energy cost 30%, adds 220% ATK Ether Buckshot.
Shiyu Defense Floor 12 Trends
Harumasa teams:
Harumasa-Qingyi-Astra: Electric synergy, rapid stun
Yanagi-Harumasa-Qingyi: Anomaly Buildup focus
Harumasa-Anby-Nicole: F2P accessible
Zhu Yuan teams:
Zhu Yuan-Qingyi-Nicole + Resonaboo: Optimized Ether
Zhu Yuan-Anby-Nicole: Budget option
Both achieve consistent Floor 12 clears with proper builds.
Harumasa Deep Dive: Kit Analysis
Core Passive Day Break: +10.6% CRIT Rate and +6% CRIT DMG per Gleaming Edge stack (max 6 stacks = +36% CRIT DMG).
Additional Ability Overclock: +40% DMG vs. Stunned/Attribute Anomaly enemies—massive multiplier with Qingyi.
Basic Attack: 5th hit generates 2 Electro Quivers (6 needed). Dash Attack consumes 2 Electro Prison stacks.
Skill Priority & Rotation
Core Skill
Dash Attack
Special Attack
Chain Attack
Rotation: Support buffs → Harumasa Dash Attack sequence → Basic Attacks for resource regen. The 5th Basic Attack's 2 Electro Quiver generation creates predictable timing for Dash Attacks during stun windows.
Constellation Value
C0: Competitive free agent, sufficient for Shiyu Defense clears.
C1: +14 max Electro Prison stacks, 2 consecutive Ha-Oto no Ya attacks. ~20-25% burst damage increase.
C6: 15% Electric RES ignore + 1500% ATK explosion. Premium DPS tier competing with signature W-Engines.
Zhu Yuan Deep Dive: Sustained Performance
Level 60 stats: 7482 HP, 844 ATK, 600 DEF, 90 Impact, 102 Anomaly Mastery, 102 Anomaly Proficiency. Higher Anomaly stats enable superior Corruption application.
Core Passive Special Ops Ammunition: Suppressive Mode Enhanced Shotshells +20% DMG, additional +20% vs. Stunned enemies (1.44x multiplier).
Skill Priority: Basic Attack > Dodge > Special Attack > Assist > Chain Attack.
Attack Pattern Optimization
4th/5th Basic Attacks grant 1 Enhanced Shotshell each. EX Special Full Barrage provides 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Optimal pattern: accumulate 4-5 stacks via Basic Attacks → EX Special for 3 more → consume all during Special Attacks.
M1 Quick Reload: 6 Enhanced Shotshells for Chain Attacks, 9 for Ultimates—dramatically improves burst.
M6: 12 Enhanced Shotshells cap, 30% EX Special energy reduction, 220% ATK Ether Buckshot.
Positioning Advantage
Ranged attacks provide superior mobility versus melee agents. Avoid ground AoE without interrupting DPS. Criminal Investigation faction synergies limited in 1.4, constraining team options to universal supports.
Direct DPS Comparison
At equal C0M1 with signature W-Engines:
Harumasa: 15-20% higher burst damage during stun windows via CRIT scaling + Overclock. Zanshin Herb Case grants +10% CRIT Rate, +40% Dash Attack Electric DMG, additional +10% CRIT Rate for 12s.
Zhu Yuan: Sustained output narrows gap to 5-10% behind over 60s windows. Riot Suppressor Mark VI provides 15% CRIT Rate, 35% Ether DMG at 8 Charge stacks, 3.5% ATK.
Single-Target Damage
Harumasa's concentrated burst excels in 10-15s windows when buffs align. Core Passive's +36% CRIT DMG at max stacks amplifies advantage with 75%+ CRIT Rate.
Zhu Yuan's Enhanced Shotshell system delivers consistent damage across extended fights. Less dependent on perfect timing—benefits moderate skill players.
Burst vs. Sustained Profiles
Harumasa: Peaks during 10-15s vulnerability phases. M6's 1500% ATK explosion amplifies spike damage.
Zhu Yuan: Maintains output across 30-60s rotations. Suits content with extended durations and infrequent burst windows.
Skill Floor
Harumasa: Moderate floor requiring Electro Prison tracking and Dash Attack timing. Execution errors = 15-25% damage loss.
Zhu Yuan: Lower floor with visual indicators and straightforward mechanics. Errors = 10-15% damage loss. More forgiving for casual players.
Optimal Team Compositions
Best Harumasa Teams
Harumasa-Qingyi-Astra: Electric resonance + stun for Overclock activation. Qingyi enables +40% DMG bonus.
Harumasa-Anby-Nicole: F2P accessible, 85-90% of premium performance. Anby provides budget stun, Nicole delivers DEF shred + CRIT buffs.
Yanagi-Harumasa-Qingyi: Electric Anomaly synergies. Yanagi buffs Anomaly Mastery while Qingyi maintains stun uptime.
For competitive rosters, Zenless Zone Zero Recharge through BitTopup ensures fast Polychrome delivery.
Best Zhu Yuan Teams
Zhu Yuan-Qingyi-Nicole + Resonaboo: Optimized Ether composition. Qingyi triggers +20% DMG bonus, Nicole provides DEF shred/CRIT buffs, Resonaboo enhances Ether Anomaly.
Zhu Yuan-Anby-Nicole: Budget alternative, 80-85% premium performance.
Support Priority
Nicole: Highest priority universal support. DEF shred + CRIT buffs work regardless of attribute. Accessible via standard banner.
Rina: Specialized PEN Ratio scaling for high-DEF enemies. Mid-to-late game priority.
Caesar: Defensive utility + damage amplification. Shields enable aggressive rotations. Universal applicability justifies investment.
F2P Teams
Harumasa-Anby-Nicole: Zero limited banner investment. Free Harumasa + beginner Anby + standard Nicole. Achieves Floor 10-11 clears with optimized Drive Discs.
Zhu Yuan-Anby-Nicole + Amillion: Requires limited banner Zhu Yuan. 800,000 Denny promotion cost matches standard agents.
Build Optimization
Harumasa W-Engines
Best-in-Slot: Zanshin Herb Case
+10% CRIT Rate
+40% Dash Attack Electric DMG
Additional +10% CRIT Rate for 12s
Total +20% CRIT Rate reduces substat requirements
Alternatives:
The Brimstone: Premier 4-star, universal CRIT stats. ~15-20% behind signature.
Starlight Engine: F2P baseline, 60-70% of signature performance.
Zhu Yuan W-Engines
Best-in-Slot: Riot Suppressor Mark VI
15% CRIT Rate
35% Ether DMG at 8 Charge stacks
3.5% ATK
Alternatives:
The Brimstone: Top 4-star option
Starlight Engine: F2P baseline
Drive Disc Sets
Harumasa:
Shadow Harmony 4pc + Branch and Blade Song 2pc
Disc 6: ATK%
Disc 5: Electric DMG%
Disc 4: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG
Zhu Yuan:
Dawn's Bloom 4pc + Woodpecker Electro 2pc
Disc 6: ATK%
Disc 5: Ether DMG%
Disc 4: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG
Substat Priority
Harumasa: CRIT DMG > CRIT Rate > ATK% > PEN
Target 75%+ CRIT Rate
Day Break +10.6% + Zanshin +20% = 30.6% baseline
Need 44.4% from substats
Zhu Yuan: CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > ATK% > PEN
Target 60-70% CRIT Rate
Riot Suppressor 15% reduces requirement to 45-55%
Farming Efficiency: Target Disc 5/6 first (guaranteed main stats), farm Disc 4 last based on accumulated substats.
Shiyu Defense Performance
Clear Times
Harumasa-Qingyi-Astra:
Electric-neutral: 90-120s
Electric-weak: 60-90s
Zhu Yuan-Qingyi-Nicole + Resonaboo:
Ether-neutral: 100-130s
Ether-weak: 70-100s
With identical Qingyi-Nicole support, Harumasa achieves 5-15% faster clears in burst-oriented encounters. Zhu Yuan narrows gap in 180+ second sustained fights.
Boss Matchups
Harumasa excels:
Frequent stun opportunities
Short vulnerability windows
High mobility bosses (Dash Attack tracking)
Zhu Yuan excels:
Stationary/predictable bosses
Extended vulnerability phases
Dangerous melee attacks (ranged safety)
Consistency
Harumasa: 15-25% variance between optimal/suboptimal play.
Zhu Yuan: 10-15% variance. More reliable across skill levels.
Investment Analysis
Pull Costs
Harumasa: FREE at C0 during Version 1.4. C1 requires 12,000-18,000 Polychrome (guaranteed via pity).
Zhu Yuan: 12,000-18,000 Polychrome for C0, uncertain rerun timing.
Standard pity: 90 pulls for 5-star (50/50 odds). Worst case: 180 pulls (28,800 Polychrome) for guaranteed featured agent.
Constellation costs:
C1: 24,000-36,000 Polychrome average
C6: 84,000-126,000 Polychrome average
Material Requirements
Both agents: 800,000 Dennies, 2 Basic Attack Certification Seals, 32 Advanced Seals, 30 Pioneer's Seals. Standard promotion cost, 2-4 weeks farming timeline.
Long-Term Value
Harumasa: Electric attribute favored for future content. SS-tier at C0/C1+ ensures multi-patch relevance. Zero opportunity cost.
Zhu Yuan: Ether attribute faces resistance pattern uncertainty. M4's 25% RES ignore provides partial future-proofing.
Account-Specific Factors
Own Qingyi? Prioritize Harumasa for stronger Overclock synergy (+40% DMG).
Own Nicole? Both agents benefit equally—shift priority to attribute coverage gaps.
Lack Electric DPS? Choose Harumasa.
Need Ether coverage? Consider Zhu Yuan despite higher cost.
Common Misconceptions
Ether Teams Are Dead
Reality: Zhu Yuan achieves 100-130s Floor 12 clears (neutral enemies), 70-100s (Ether-weak). Competitive with Electric teams in equivalent scenarios.
The controversy stems from perception shifts, not mechanical nerfs. Version 1.4 expands options without invalidating existing agents.
Resistance Myths
Zhu Yuan's M4 ignores 25% Ether RES, Harumasa's M6 ignores 15% Electric RES. Penetration mechanics reduce resistance impact by 25-40%.
Attribute weakness provides 1.5x damage, but neutral matchup performance determines general viability. Both agents achieve competitive neutral performance.
Support Dependency
Both require stun support for damage bonuses (Harumasa's Overclock +40%, Zhu Yuan's Special Ops +20%). Equivalent support dependency eliminates this as differentiating factor.
Universal supports (Nicole, Rina) provide equal value to Electric and Ether teams—no attribute-locked requirements.
Verdict: Which Agent to Choose
Choose Harumasa If:
Prioritize burst damage
Own Qingyi for stun synergy
Want zero-cost SS-tier attacker
Comfortable with moderate execution requirements
Need Electric DPS coverage
Choose Zhu Yuan If:
Prefer sustained damage profiles
Require Ether attribute coverage
Value lower skill floor execution
Already own her with constellation investment
Want ranged positioning safety
Recommendation Matrix
F2P: Acquire free Harumasa, invest in Drive Disc optimization. C0 sufficient for Floor 10-11, Floor 12 achievable with support investment.
Light Spenders: Harumasa C1 for 20-25% burst improvement (12,000-18,000 Polychrome). Zhu Yuan M1 offers comparable value for existing owners.
Whales: Harumasa C6 for 15% RES ignore + 1500% ATK explosion. Zhu Yuan M6 for Ether team optimization.
Skip Considerations
Players with established Electric AND Ether DPS may skip both, saving for future releases. Alternative investments: W-Engine banners for existing agents or constellation pulls for current DPS options.
FAQ
Is Harumasa better than Zhu Yuan in patch 1.4?
Harumasa delivers 15-20% higher burst damage at equal C0M1 investment, excelling in short vulnerability phases. Zhu Yuan maintains competitive sustained DPS with 10-15% lower skill floor. Choose Harumasa for burst content and free acquisition, Zhu Yuan for sustained damage and execution forgiveness.
What is the best Ether team composition in 1.4?
Zhu Yuan-Qingyi-Nicole + Resonaboo achieves 100-130s Floor 12 clears. Qingyi provides stun (+20% DMG), Nicole delivers DEF shred/CRIT buffs, Resonaboo enhances Anomaly Buildup. Budget: Anby replaces Qingyi with 15-20% performance reduction.
Should I pull Harumasa or save for Zhu Yuan rerun?
Pull free Harumasa for zero-cost SS-tier acquisition. Save for Zhu Yuan only if you specifically need Ether coverage and prefer sustained profiles. Harumasa's free availability eliminates opportunity cost.
How does Ether team perform in Shiyu Defense floor 12?
Ether teams achieve 100-130s clears (neutral enemies), 70-100s (Ether-weak) using optimized Zhu Yuan-Qingyi-Nicole. Performance remains competitive with Electric teams, demonstrating continued viability despite Electric's rising prominence.
What are Harumasa's best W-Engines and Drive Discs?
Zanshin Herb Case (best-in-slot): +20% CRIT Rate, +40% Dash Attack Electric DMG. Drive Discs: Shadow Harmony 4pc + Branch and Blade Song 2pc. Disc 6 ATK%, Disc 5 Electric DMG%, Disc 4 CRIT Rate/DMG. Target 75%+ CRIT Rate with CRIT DMG/ATK%/PEN substats.
Can Zhu Yuan still clear endgame content in 1.4 meta?
Yes. Zhu Yuan maintains full viability with 100-130s Floor 12 clears using Qingyi-Nicole support. M4's 25% Ether RES ignore and sustained damage enable consistent performance. Ether teams remain competitive alternatives, contradicting dead misconceptions.