Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.3 Virtual Revenge dropped November 6, 2024, bringing Tsukishiro Yanagi and Lighter into the mix—and honestly? They're shaking up team comps in ways I didn't expect. This guide breaks down optimal builds, W-Engine picks, Drive Disc setups, and strategies for tackling Shiyu Defense and Hollow Zero.
ZZZ 1.3 Virtual Revenge Meta Overview
Here's the thing about Version 1.3—it's completely flipped the competitive scene. Tsukishiro Yanagi steps in as your new on-field Electric DPS powerhouse, while Lighter brings this versatile support kit that's... well, it's more flexible than I initially gave it credit for. The 7GB update (yeah, it's chunky) pushes elemental variety over perfect synergy for endgame stuff like Deadly Assault.
The Virtual Revenge special episode? You'll need Main Story Chapter 4 and Leisurely Lull: Unexpected New Customer wrapped up first. Takes about an hour to clear, but here's the kicker—it gives you fixed teams with Yanagi as your main carry. Perfect for testing her out before you commit resources.
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Agent Tier List & Meta Rankings
Tier 0 Meta Dominators:
Astra Yao: This agent is absolutely broken in the best way. ATK/DMG buffs, ally chain attacks, ultimate heals—she excels in Shiyu Defense clears like nobody's business
Yuzuha: Party ATK boosts, Anomaly DMG amplification, buildup rate enhancement. If you're running anomaly squads, she's non-negotiable
Tsukishiro Yanagi: S-Rank Electric DPS with her Timeweaver W-Engine. Here's what makes her special—she triggers disorder on non-electric anomalies, which opens up some wild team possibilities
Tier 1+ Strong Picks:
Caesar: Your go-to defense specialist. Shields, Impact stuns, shield-granted ATK boosts—solid all around
Ellen Joe: Ice DPS with Flash Freeze mechanics. Fair warning though—she really needs M2 for optimal Hollow Zero performance
Hoshimi Miyabi: Ice DPS with Frost anomaly buildup via Freedom Blues Drive Disc (more on that setup later)
Tier 1 Solid Options:
Soukaku: Team-wide ATK/Ice DMG buffs with freezing capabilities on Ice teams
Rina: Boosts team PEN Ratio, handles off-field Shock application for Shock-focused teams
Lighter: S-Rank with Blazing Laurel signature. Provides on-field morale buffs and burn support—honestly more versatile than his kit initially suggests
Optimal Team Compositions
Ice Dominance Teams:
Ellen Joe + Von Lycaon + Soukaku: Classic Ice DMG buffs, enemy Ice RES reduction, ATK boosts with Butler Bangboo synergy. This comp just works.
Hoshimi Miyabi + Von Lycaon + Soukaku: Ice/Frost anomaly buildup with mutual Additional Abilities activation—the synergy here is chef's kiss
Ellen Joe + Lighter + Soukaku: Lighter provides those on-field morale buffs, reducing your dependency on traditional stunners
Anomaly Powerhouse Teams:
Hoshimi Miyabi + Tsukishiro Yanagi + Soukaku: Here's where it gets spicy. Yanagi triggers disorder on non-electric anomalies while Miyabi's off-field spirit builds freeze for shatter/disorder/shock combinations. It's chaos in the best way.
Yanagi + Burnice + Caesar: Burnice's off-field Shock synergizes beautifully with Yanagi's on-field play style
Jane Doe + Burnice + Astra: Strong anomaly foundation with versatile support—can't go wrong here
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Flexible Meta Teams:
Hoshimi Miyabi + Astra Yao + Soukaku: Astra provides ATK/DMG buffs, healing, chain attacks for that Tier 0 support synergy
Ellen Joe + Caesar + Soukaku: Ellen absolutely melts enemies in Hollow Zero via M2 double attack buff with Caesar handling stunner duties
W-Engine Tier List & Recommendations
S-Rank Signature Weapons:
Deep Sea Visitor (Ellen Joe): Ice DMG +25-50%, Basic Attack CRIT Rate +10-20% (8s), Dash Attack adds +10-20% CRIT Rate (15s). If you're maining Ellen, this is your endgame weapon.
Timeweaver (Tsukishiro Yanagi): Amplifies Skills/specialties for on-field DPS with electric damage optimization—perfectly tailored for her kit
Blazing Laurel (Lighter): Stat boosts for burn support and on-field morale buffs
Premium Alternatives:
The Brimstone: Best non-signature at R5 for Ellen Joe with CRIT/ATK boosts. Solid investment if you miss her signature.
Myriad Eclipse: CRIT DMG +45-72% and DEF ignore for various DPS agents—versatile pick
Budget-Friendly Options:
Marcato Desire (A-Rank): Best A-Rank for Ellen with EX Special/Chain ATK +6-9.6% (8s), additional +6-9.6% versus Anomalied enemies. Don't sleep on A-rank weapons.
Cannon Rotor: ATK +7.5-12% alternative for budget builds when you're still building up resources
Drive Disc Sets & Optimization
Primary Meta Sets:
Woodpecker Electro (Ellen Primary): 2pc CRIT Rate +8%, 4pc Basic/Dodge Counter/EX Special crits boost ATK +9% (6s, separate per skill). This is Ellen's bread and butter.
Polar Metal (Ellen Secondary): 2pc Ice DMG +10%, 4pc Basic/Dash DMG +20% (+20% more for 12s on Freeze/Shatter by squad)
Freedom Blues: Enhances Ice/Frost anomaly buildup for Miyabi-focused teams—essential for anomaly builds
Stat Priority Guidelines:
Ellen Joe: Disc 4: CRIT Rate/DMG > ATK%, Disc 5: PEN > Ice DMG > ATK%, Disc 6: ATK%
Substat Priorities: CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG = ATK% > PEN = ATK (aim for around 100% CRIT Rate—yes, really)
PEN Optimization: Works best with Astra Yao/Lighter teams for maximum effectiveness
Character Build Guides
Ellen Joe Complete Build:
Skill Priority: Core Skill > Basic Attack > Ultimate = EX Special Attack > Dodge > Switch
Flash Freeze Management: Basic (+1), Charged (+3), EX Special (+1); max 6 stacks. Managing these stacks is crucial for her damage output.
Default Combo: Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush (hold) → Basic Attack: Glacial Blade Wave → Flash Freeze Trimming → Icy Blade
Stun Combo: Cancel Chain into EX Tail Swipe → EX Sharknami at stun start
Tsukishiro Yanagi Optimization:
Electric Focus: Build for electric damage to maximize anomaly set synergy—this is where she really shines
Disorder Specialization: Triggers disorder on non-electric anomalies for team-wide damage amplification
Team Integration: Pairs beautifully with Rina for off-field Shock application and Miyabi for freeze/shatter combinations
Resource Management & Progression
Upgrade Priority Framework:
Core DPS Agent: Max level, signature W-Engine, optimal Drive Disc sets—no compromises here
Primary Support: Essential skills and adequate W-Engine
Secondary Support: Functional build with budget equipment
Situational Agents: Minimal investment until content actually requires enhancement
Gacha Resource Strategy: Save 160 Encrypted Master Tapes for S-Rank guarantee. Pity guarantees S-Rank at 80 pulls with 75% chance for featured rate-up. Focus on Yanagi/Lighter banners for immediate 1.3 meta optimization—trust me on this one.
Endgame Content Strategies
Shiyu Defense Optimization:
Team Flexibility: Prioritize elemental variance over synergy for weakness coverage. I know it feels wrong, but the content rewards adaptability.
Astra Yao Teams: Excel in versatile buffing/healing for consistent clears
Ice Teams: Ellen + Soukaku + Astra provide freezing/buffs for Electric boss encounters
Hollow Zero Mastery:
Ellen Joe Dominance: Requires M2 for optimal double attack buff performance—she's a different beast with that constellation
Lighter Integration: Reduces stun character needs while providing self-auto-assist for enhanced DPS
Resource Efficiency: Focus on agents excelling across multiple Hollow Zero scenarios rather than specialists
Common Mistakes & Optimization Tips
Critical Build Mistakes:
Yanagi On-Field Focus: Avoid building purely on-field with new anomaly set. Electric damage suits it better with off-field Shock like Rina—learned this the hard way during testing.
Stunner Neglect: Skipping stunners like Lycaon/Qingyi severely limits attacker teams (Eve/S11/Ellen/Zhu Yuan). Don't make this mistake.
Mindscape Overinvestment: Prioritize supports over Mindscapes for larger gains in meta teams
Team Composition Errors:
Synergy Over-Emphasis: Endgame content rewards elemental coverage more than perfect synergy. Counterintuitive but true.
Single-Element Focus: Build diverse teams for Deadly Assault weakness coverage
Support Undervaluation: Nicole excels as multi-team support despite Astra's superiority—don't bench her completely
FAQ
Q: What are the strongest teams in ZZZ 1.3? Ellen Joe + Von Lycaon + Soukaku for Ice dominance, Hoshimi Miyabi + Tsukishiro Yanagi + Soukaku for anomaly synergy, and Astra Yao compositions for versatile endgame support. These three cover most content effectively.
Q: Which W-Engines should I prioritize? Signature weapons first: Deep Sea Visitor (Ellen), Timeweaver (Yanagi), Blazing Laurel (Lighter). Budget alternatives include Marcato Desire for Ellen and The Brimstone as a universal DPS option.
Q: How do I optimize Drive Disc builds? Woodpecker Electro + Polar Metal for Ellen Joe works wonders. Prioritize CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG = ATK% > PEN substats. Aim for around 100% CRIT Rate with PEN optimization for Astra Yao/Lighter teams.
Q: What changed most in Virtual Revenge update? The meta shifted toward elemental variance over pure synergy for endgame content. Introduced powerful anomaly teams with Yanagi leading the charge. Established Astra Yao and Yuzuha as Tier 0 support options—they're game-changers.
Q: How should I manage resources? Save 160 Encrypted Master Tapes for guaranteed S-Rank pulls. Prioritize core DPS investment before supports. Focus on Yanagi/Lighter banners for immediate meta relevance—these banners offer the best value right now.
Q: What mistakes should I avoid? Don't build Yanagi purely on-field with new anomaly sets. Don't skip essential stunners like Lycaon/Qingyi—they're more important than they seem. Prioritize support investment over DPS Mindscapes for better team-wide performance. Your supports carry teams more than you'd think.