Zenless Zone Zero: Some Agents Face Challenges with Attribute and Specialty Combinations

As the newest entry in HoYoverse’s expanding roster of gacha games, Zenless Zone Zero is still in its early stages compared to established titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail. Since its July 2024 launch, the game has been gradually adding new agents, but it still has room to grow in terms of diversity among its characters. The current state of agent attributes and specialties reveals a notable imbalance that could impact team composition and overall game balance.

Current Banner Focus: Jane Doe and Attribute Overlap

The latest banner in Zenless Zone Zero highlights Jane Doe, a new S-Rank agent specializing in Physical Anomaly. While it's exciting to see fresh additions, Jane Doe's attribute and specialty overlap with the existing agent Piper. This pattern of reusing attributes and specialties has become a trend, with some combinations being well-represented while others, like Defense, Stun, and Anomaly agents, remain underdeveloped.

The Need for More Diverse Attributes and Specialties

Defense Agents

Currently, Defense agents are the least represented specialty in Zenless Zone Zero, with only Ben and Seth available. These agents are crucial for tanking damage during boss fights, and their limited numbers make it challenging to integrate them into varied team setups. With Caesar expected in the upcoming 1.2 banner, the situation should improve, but the limited roster still poses a challenge for creating balanced teams.

Stun Agents

The Stun specialty, like Defense and Anomaly, has only four agents at present. However, Stun and Anomaly agents are particularly in need of more variety due to attribute overlap. For instance, both Anby and Qingyi are Electric attribute Stun agents, with Qingyi being significantly stronger and rendering Anby less relevant. There’s a notable lack of Stun agents across other attributes, raising questions about HoYoverse’s decision to introduce yet another Electric Stun agent before exploring new attributes.

Anomaly Agents

Anomaly agents face a more pronounced imbalance, with only three agents available until Burnice arrives. Piper and the new Jane Doe both share the Physical attribute, and Jane Doe's superior stats overshadow Piper, making the latter less desirable. This early obsolescence of some characters is disappointing, but the presence of Piper and Anby as A-Rank agents offers players a chance to obtain them if they miss the S-Rank options.

Moving Forward: Diversifying Agent Specialties

Currently, Attack and Support agents are well-represented in Zenless Zone Zero, but there’s a clear need to address the gaps in Defense, Stun, and Anomaly specialties. Future updates should focus on introducing agents with diverse attribute combinations to enhance team-building options. Ether, for example, could benefit from representation across all three specialties to balance the roster.

As Zenless Zone Zero continues to evolve, expanding its roster with varied attributes and specialties will likely become a priority. With the introduction of new game modes, bosses, and story content, the game’s diversity issues are expected to be addressed, ensuring a more balanced and engaging experience for players.