Understanding Damage Types and Classes in Zenless Zone Zero for Optimal Team Building

As a seasoned professional in the gaming world, I often find that truly mastering a game's combat system is what separates good players from great ones. In Zenless Zone Zero, this mastery begins with a deep understanding of its foundational mechanics: character damage types and class roles. These aren't just cosmetic labels; they are the core DNA of your team's strategy and effectiveness in the Hollow. We all know that grouping agents from the same faction or type unlocks powerful passive perks, but have you ever stopped to think about why those combinations work so well? It all comes down to the intricate interplay between how you deal damage and what role each character fulfills.

Let's start by breaking down the engine of elemental chaos in ZZZ: the Anomaly system. Think of it as this game's unique take on elemental reactions, but with a more technical and build-focused twist. Every time you strike an enemy with your character's attacks, you're not just dealing direct damage; you're also passively building up a specific Anomaly on that target. This is where the strategic depth begins. The key to unlocking these powerful debuffs and damage-over-time effects lies in two crucial attributes: Anomaly Mastery and Anomaly Proficiency.

• Anomaly Mastery is your character's efficiency stat. It determines how quickly you can fill that invisible Anomaly Buildup meter on an enemy. A higher Anomaly Mastery means you trigger the anomaly's active effect faster, allowing you to control the flow of battle and apply crucial debuffs or crowd control almost on demand.

• Anomaly Proficiency, on the other hand, is your character's potency stat. Once you've successfully triggered an anomaly—say, setting an enemy on fire or shocking them with electricity—this attribute dictates how much damage that ongoing effect will deal. Stacking Anomaly Proficiency turns your debuffs into primary sources of pain.

Understanding this duality is essential. You might have a character who applies Burn incredibly fast but deals negligible tick damage, and another who applies it slowly but melts health bars once it's active. Knowing which stat your build emphasizes changes everything.

Now, let's look at the tools we have to work with. The damage types in Zenless Zone Zero are the conduits for these anomalies. Each type applies a specific, powerful condition to enemies. I've broken them down here for clarity:

Isn't it fascinating how Physical and Ice operate on a different axis? They forgo that extra interrupt power against weak enemies but grant you two potent debuffing anomalies instead. This makes them incredibly versatile for setting up big damage windows for your team.

Of course, how you deal damage is just as important as what type of damage you deal. This is where the five character classes come into play, defining each Agent's battlefield role and expertise. As of 2025, the meta has solidified around these distinct archetypes, and there's still no dedicated healer in sight—a design choice producer Zhenyu Li's team continues to evaluate, which pushes players toward more aggressive or mitigation-focused strategies.

1. ⚔️ Attack Specialists: These are your primary damage dealers (DPS). Their sole purpose is to unleash raw, direct damage onto enemies as swiftly and powerfully as possible. They are the stars of your show, and building a team often starts with choosing your Attack core.

2. 🌀 Anomaly Specialists: Masters of the debuff. These characters excel at building up Anomaly Buildup at an incredible rate. While their direct hit damage might be lower, they are indispensable for quickly applying Burn, Shock, Freeze, etc., setting the stage for massive damage or control.

3. 💫 Stun Specialists: The key to the game's most rewarding mechanic: Chain Attacks. These characters specialize in inflicting Daze and stunning enemies. Breaking an enemy's Stun bar not only incapacitates them but opens the window for your entire team to jump in for a devastating, uninterrupted Chain Attack sequence.

4. 🛡️ Support Specialists: The force multipliers. These Agents are all about buffing allies, whether it's increasing their attack, boosting their defense, or providing other combat enhancements. A well-timed support buff can turn a strong attack into a fight-ending blow.

5. 🛡️ Defense Specialists: The unwavering anchors. These characters are built to tank damage, draw enemy aggression, and create opportunities through well-timed counters and blocks. They don't just soak up hits; they turn defense into a potent offensive tool by creating openings for the rest of the team.

So, how do we put this all together? The beauty of Zenless Zone Zero's system is that it encourages hybrid thinking. You're not just building a "Fire team"; you're building a team where a Fire Anomaly specialist rapidly applies Burn, a Stun character sets up the Daze, and a Physical Attack DPS unleashes hell on a debuffed, Assault-affected, and stunned target. Or perhaps you run a Defense specialist who counters attacks to create openings, protected by a Support's shields, while your main DPS goes to work.

This framework of five damage types and five classes provides a staggering number of viable team compositions, each with a distinct rhythm and strategy. It ensures that combat in the Hollow remains dynamic and engaging, demanding not just quick reflexes but thoughtful pre-mission planning. As we move further into 2025, mastering this synergy between what your damage does and who is dealing it remains the absolute cornerstone of high-level play in Zenless Zone Zero.