The 2025 meta emphasizes Anomaly and Rupture mechanics, with Stun agents providing 150% damage multipliers through Daze windows. Must-pull S-Rank agents like Miyabi and Yixuan dominate, while F2P Cunning Hares teams remain viable. Master the Attack-Stun-Support trinity system with faction synergies for 20-35% damage boosts to clear endgame content efficiently.
The State of the Meta in New Eridu 2025
Version 2.0 hit on June 6th and honestly? It changed everything. We're not just talking minor tweaks here—Rupture mechanics and Disorder-focused gameplay completely flipped the script from those old DPS-centric strategies we've been running since launch.
Here's what you need to know: Stun agents aren't just nice-to-have anymore. They're absolutely essential, delivering 150% multiplicative damage boosts during vulnerability windows. That's not a typo. One-hundred-and-fifty percent.
Chain Attacks got more strategic too. You're looking at 1 point for normal enemies, 2 for elites, 3 for bosses—and that shared Ultimate gauge caps at 3000 decibels. Resource management matters now more than ever.
The real game-changer? Additional Abilities grant 20-35% damage boosts when you field 2+ matching agents with faction or attribute alignment. This isn't just min-maxing anymore—it's table stakes for competitive play. The meta's all about Anomaly and Disorder compositions with status overrides that scale multiplicatively. For those looking to optimize their pulls, Zenless Zone Zero currency recharge through BitTopup offers competitive rates and instant delivery for limited banner optimization.
What really gets me excited though? Dual Anomaly strategies. Agents like Grace and Piper can stack effects for exponential damage growth, while Rupture mechanics let you bypass defense entirely. We're in a whole new world here.
Must-Pull S-Rank Agents for 2025
Let me be blunt: if you don't have Lycaon yet, fix that immediately.
He's the premier Stun agent with +35% Stun DMG Multiplier and -25% Ice RES for 30 seconds. Universal value across every composition type. The fact that he's available through the 300-pull selector makes him the obvious choice for new players—no contest.
Miyabi sits in SS-Tier for good reason. This Frost DPS achieves +100% CRIT rate on charged attacks through Fallen Frost mechanics. Pair her with Yanagi for devastating Polarity combinations that'll make your jaw drop. I've seen sub-90 second boss clears with proper setup.
Then there's Yixuan—the Rupture revolution personified. Her Sheer Force mechanics ignore enemy defenses entirely while scaling off both Attack and Max HP. That dual Ultimate system? It absolutely demolishes high-defense bosses that traditional DPS agents struggle against. (Trust me, I've tested this extensively.)
Astra Yao brings something unique to the table: global ATK buffs, healing, and off-field invulnerability windows through Graceful Andante. She enables hypercarry strategies across every archetype. Versatility like that doesn't come around often.
Don't sleep on Rina either. Her +30% PEN Ratio team-wide buffs are essential for penetrating high-resistance enemies, and that Electric synergy ensures long-term viability regardless of where the meta shifts next.
Best F2P Teams for New Players
Here's where things get interesting for budget-conscious players.
The Cunning Hares formation—Billy (Physical ranged DPS), Anby (Electric Daze), and Nicole (Ether DEF shred/grouping)—achieves full faction synergy with Amillion Bangboo for +56% critical damage. Zero gacha required. This team clears early Shiyu Defense stages through proper rotation: Anby applies Daze, Nicole debuffs and groups, Billy capitalizes during the stun damage phase.
For Ice synergy, combine Lycaon's premium Stun with Corin's Physical damage and Soukaku's buffs. Soukaku provides +1000 ATK and +20% Ice DMG at the 2500 ATK threshold—those numbers add up fast.
Monthly F2P earnings hit 8,000-10,000 Polychromes, enabling strategic 300-pull S-Rank guarantee pulls. Pro tip: skill upgrades provide 18% better efficiency than raw level increases. Focus your resources accordingly.
Top Tier Meta Team Compositions
The Rupture Revolution team (Yixuan, Ju Fufu, Pan Yinhu) achieves sub-120 second Shiyu clears through defense-ignoring mechanics. Rotation's straightforward: Pan buffs, Ju Stuns, Yixuan bursts. Simple but devastatingly effective.
Frost Anomaly Dominance (Miyabi, Yanagi, Yuzuha) creates sub-90 second boss elimination through Disorder combinations and +600 ATK buffs. When this team clicks, it's poetry in motion.
Ice Freeze Lock (Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku) delivers sub-100 second clears with Ellen's Flash Freeze stacking, Lycaon's -25% Ice RES, and Soukaku's ATK amplification. Electric Burst (Anton, Anby, Grace) leverages 8 Zap stacks for +130% Buildup and +18% Shock damage—the numbers speak for themselves.
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Optimizing Builds: W-Engines and Drive Discs
Deep Sea Visitor provides +25-50% Ice DMG with Basic CRIT bonuses of +10-20% for 8 seconds. That 160 Encrypted Master Tape investment? Totally justified for the right team comp.
Qingming Birdcage optimizes Rupture specialists through CRIT and HP scaling with Perfect Dodge triggers. For F2P players, A-Rank Marcato Desire offers +6-9.6% EX/Chain ATK bonuses—not flashy, but reliable.
Drive Disc optimization gets tricky. You're weighing 2-piece mixed bonuses against 4-piece focused ones. Woodpecker Electro provides +8% CRIT Rate and +9% ATK on crits, while Anomaly Proficiency sets should target 70-80% CRIT Rate and 120-140% Energy Recharge.
Stat prioritization breaks down like this: DPS agents need that CRIT Rate foundation, Anomaly specialists require Mastery scaling, Support characters benefit from Energy Recharge. Pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.
Bangboo Strategy: The Fourth Team Member
Don't underestimate these little guys—they can make or break a composition.
Amillion provides +56% critical damage for Cunning Hares compositions, transforming F2P teams into legitimate competitive alternatives. Safetyboo offers +35% PEN for Belobog Heavy Industries teams. Butler Bangboo serves Victoria Housekeeping through energy regeneration, enabling frequent Ultimate usage in those extended encounters.
Here's something I've learned through extensive testing: faction-specific bonuses often outweigh elemental synergies. Mixed teams might sacrifice some benefits for role optimization, but advanced players need to evaluate overall team performance versus individual component maximization.
Combat Mechanics: Daze and Chain Attacks
Chain Attack optimization uses that 6-point cap with golden flash indicators for maximum Assist Follow-Up damage. The fundamental rotation never changes: Support buffs first, Stun agent Daze application, Attack agent vulnerability exploitation for that sweet 150% multiplicative boost.
Elemental interactions provide 20-35% damage bonuses with 2+ matching faction/attribute agents. Food buffs optimize performance too—Vegetable Noodles (+30 ATK), Pumpkin Soup (+15% HP and Physical DMG), Red Chili Meat (+15% HP and Fire DMG).
Phase Canceling enables 0.2-second vulnerability windows with +15% mobility. Slide Boost provides +15% aerial advantages. These micro-optimizations separate good players from great ones.
Resource Management for Proxies
Focus-first philosophy wins every time. Develop 3-6 characters thoroughly rather than spreading resources thin across your entire roster.
Skill upgrades provide 18% better scaling than level increases—that's huge value most players miss. The 300-pull selector system enables strategic S-Rank acquisition, with Lycaon and Rina representing the highest-value selections for most accounts.
Stamina management through HIA VR Simulations requires daily attention. Restoration options include Ether Battery or Polychrome for +60 energy when you need that extra push.
Hollow Zero provides 30,000 Denny per run with a 100 Corruption limit requiring route optimization. Endgame content demands 2 teams for Shiyu Defense (6 characters) and 3 teams for Deadly Assault—emphasizing versatile agents like Nicole and Soukaku pays dividends here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best character to pull in 2025? Lycaon for new players (that universal Stun +35% damage multiplier is unmatched), Miyabi for established players (+100% CRIT on charged attacks speaks for itself), Astra for support utility across compositions.
What is the best F2P team? Cunning Hares trio—Billy, Anby, Nicole—with Amillion Bangboo. Zero gacha required, full faction synergy, +56% critical damage. Can't beat that value proposition.
How do I build mono-ice team? Ellen (DPS), Lycaon (Stun), Soukaku (Support) for Victoria Housekeeping synergy. Prioritize Ellen's Flash Freeze, Lycaon's -25% Ice RES, Soukaku's +1000 ATK at that 2500 threshold.
Which W-Engine for Stun characters? Lycaon benefits from Impact and Energy Recharge weapons, Qingyi from multiplier-enhancing options. F2P Steam Oven provides adequate Impact and ER without breaking the bank.
Faction or Attribute synergy? Faction synergy typically stronger—those 20-35% damage boosts through Additional Abilities are no joke. Mixed teams might sacrifice some optimization for better role coverage though.
How does Anomaly buildup work? Anomaly agents stack status effects over time, with Disorder from multiple types creating multiplicative damage. Grace's 8 Zap stacks provide +130% Buildup and +18% Shock damage. The scaling gets wild with proper setup.