The answer really comes down to your preference, playstyle and team needs, though some agents definitely offer more value than others.
Zenless Zone Zero’s Version 1.7 is just around the corner, and you might be wondering which character to pull, since there will be two new characters and two S-rank re-runs: Vivian, Hugo, Jane, and Lighter. To help you decide, let’s take a look at what they bring to the table and how they might fit into your team.
This is a strategic analysis to help guide your choices based on your budget and team goals. If you’re a free-to-play player, it’s worth securing at least one of these characters to strengthen your roster. However, if you’ve got more room to invest, this breakdown can help you confidently choose an additional agent that fits your setup.
Vivian (Ether Anomaly)
Vivian is the first Ether Anomaly agent, introducing a new element to the anomaly lineup. Her gameplay revolves around generating Flight Feathers through basic attacks, dodge counters, and other actions. When airborne in her Fluttering Frock state, she converts these into Guard Feathers, which are key for her off-field support.
Kit highlights:
- Feather Bloom: Consumes 2 Guard Feathers to deal off-field Ether damage when allies use EX Specials.
- Prophecy: Applies Ether DoT and contributes to anomaly triggers, kind of like Burnice’s Burn but likely with a slower buildup.
- Team Synergy: Boosts Corruption and Disorder damage when paired with other anomaly agents. May potentially work with Yanagi’s polarity disorder, but this will only be confirmed upon release.
Vivian should have some moderate field time to make a better impact in combat, rather than quick-swap DPS agents like Miyabi. She’ll have to stay in to generate feathers before switching out.
Who should pull Vivian?
- Players who have heavily invested in Anomaly agents can benefit from Vivian. However, if your Anomaly team includes Burnice, consider the playstyle you’re going for because this will push Vivian as the main DPS.
- Players who want to be friends with the president of Phaeton’s fan club!
Jane Doe (Physical Anomaly)
Jane returns as a physical anomaly hypercarry. Once a powerhouse, she's become harder to optimise in endgame as newer units demand less field time and offer stronger support.
She’s great in clearing high-difficulty content with the right investment, and has a strong synergy with Burnice due to quick off-field anomaly buildup. On the downside, she’s field-time hungry, more challenging to optimise in the current meta, and not a natural fit with Vivian unless proven otherwise, as their field times may clash. So it might be wiser to skip our rat Thiren if you already have her, or if you have a huge roster.
But if you’re a bit new to the game and just starting out your teams, frankly, it might still be better to either get Vivian or wait for Yanagi and Miyabi on a re-run. That said though, those who like her playstyle, and those who like using Burnice in their teams, can still opt to get her.
Who should pull Jane?
- Those who like Jane’s playstyle and have invested heavily in Burnice.
- Those who want a
mommystrong physical character and are willing to wait and see if 2.0 will buff her.
Hugo (Ice Attack)
Hugo joins as the game’s third Ice DPS and comes with clean combat animations and a straightforward playstyle. Hugo is a strong character, but doesn’t power creep Miyabi, who remains to be the strongest ice character to date. In fact, if you have either Ellen or Miyabi (or even both) you might consider skipping Hugo at this point.
Kit highlights:
- Basic combo ends with ranged attacks.
- EX Special includes a twirling finisher that triggers Totalize, which stuns enemies and deals a big hit without resetting their stun gauge.
- Ultimate also triggers Totalize, possibly with a higher multiplier.
Bonus Mechanic: Hugo gains attack scaling based on how many Stun agents are on your team. So with him, a double-stun team would make sense, like Lycaon, who can reduce the enemy's ice RES, and Lighter, who can buff Hugo's ice DPS.
Who should pull Hugo?
- Those who are just starting to build their teams and don’t have Ellen and/or Miyabi in their teams.
- Those who love Hugo because he’s shaping up to be an anti-hero (heh).
- If you’re into the “vampire-like" trope, why not?
Lighter (Fire Stun)
We’ve saved the best for last: Lighter! Right now, he’s easily one of the strongest investments you can make. He fits comfortably into a wide range of team compositions and doesn’t need another Son of Calydon member to unlock his potential.
He’s currently the only stun agent who reliably boosts top-tier Fire and Ice DPS characters like Miyabi, Hugo, and Evelyn. Even Ellen, who’s dipped a little in rankings, still benefits from his support. Burnice, though an anomaly agent, also gains from Lighter’s buffs. Much like Astra, he’s well on his way to becoming one of your most overworked agents, and for good reason.
If you’re thinking about upgrades, his Mindscape 2 increases his damage multiplier, Mindscape 4 improves energy regeneration for teammates who need it, and Mindscape 6 brings out the full force of his damage potential.
Some players have raised concerns about future power creep, especially given what happened with Trigger and Qingyi. Still, a double-stun meta seems to be taking shape, and Lighter looks like he’ll remain a flexible and reliable pick across many teams for a long while.
Who should pull Lighter?
- The question is: who isn’t, and why are they not pulling Lighter?
- Those who want the sweetest agent who will forever simp your Proxy.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on you. Some players enjoy collecting and might want to prioritise agents they haven’t picked up yet, while others prefer to focus on options that suit their playstyle or work well with their current roster. There are also those who pull simply because an agent is cool, funny, attractive or has a great backstory, and that’s just as valid.
That said, if your resources are limited and you're hoping to get more than one agent this cycle, it’s worth taking a moment to think about your priorities, especially with a Void Hunter-level agent like Yi Xuan coming in Version 2.0.
