Zenless Zone Zero Tier List: Best Agents Ranked for Version 2.8 (June 2026)
With over 40 agents in the roster as of Version 2.8, knowing which characters are worth pulling and investing in is critical for making progress in Zenless Zone Zero's endgame modes. This tier list ranks agents based on their performance in Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault, their team synergy, and how accessible they are to free-to-play players. Tier placements reflect the current meta as of June 2026.
T0: The Absolute Best Agents
Ye Shunguang sits at the very top of the current meta as the strongest DPS agent in the game. Her Enlightened Mind state enables sustained burst damage, and her innate CRIT Rate stat makes her significantly easier to build to the critical thresholds needed for endgame. She pairs beautifully with Dialyn (Stun) and Sunna (Support) for what many players consider the single strongest team in Version 2.8. Hoshimi Miyabi (Ice Anomaly) also occupies a T0 position — her Fallen Frost passive accumulates damage stacks on every hit, and she benefits enormously from teammates who apply additional attribute anomalies, making her the queen of Anomaly team compositions.
T0.5–T1: Near-Meta Picks Worth Pulling
Nangong Yu is a top-tier Ether Stun agent who uniquely bridges Daze and Anomaly mechanics, enabling Disorder team strategies that rival the dedicated DPS squads. Aria (Ether Anomaly, added in Version 2.6) delivers sustained carry damage through Abloom explosions that scale with Anomaly Proficiency, and her synergy with Sunna provides a 25–30% team damage increase over generic compositions. Soldier 0 - Anby (the awakened version) remains a T1 Electric DPS who pairs with almost any support, making her a strong pull for players who want versatility. Yanagi is Miyabi's best teammate, generating Disorders that amplify Fallen Frost stacks, but she is valuable in any Electric Anomaly team even without Miyabi.
Best Free and A-Rank Agents
Not every strong agent requires a limited banner pull. Nicole Demara (Ether Stun, free from the starter pool) enables effective DEF-shred for Ether DPS teams and remains genuinely useful in Shiyu Defense well into the late game. Soukaku (Ice Support, A-Rank permanent banner) is Miyabi's second-best support and a top-five support in the game at the right investment level. Lucy (Physical Support, A-Rank) buffs the entire team's ATK and is essential for Cunning Hares faction teams. Anby Demara (Electric Stun, starter A-Rank) is the training-wheels Stun agent new players will rely on while saving for limited pulls.
Roles Explained: Why Role Matters More Than Rating
ZZZ's tier list is inherently contextual because the same agent can jump or drop two tiers depending on their team. A T1 DPS paired with the wrong support will underperform a T2 DPS in their ideal team. The most important thing to optimize is role coverage: you want one agent who generates Daze efficiently (Stun), one who deals the bulk of damage (Attacker or Anomaly), and one who buffs the team or sustains HP (Support or Healer). Running two DPS agents without a Stun means you never capitalize on the 50% damage bonus from stunned enemies, which is a larger loss than the raw stats of the extra DPS.
Version 3.0 Newcomers: Pyrois, Velina, and Norma
Version 3.0 (June 2026) introduced three new agents: Pyrois, Velina, and Norma. Early community testing places Pyrois in the T1 range as a Fire DPS with strong self-sustain, Velina as a promising A-Rank Stun agent with multi-hit chains, and Norma as a niche but powerful support for faction-specific teams. Tier placements for 3.0 agents are still settling as players optimize their builds; check updated community tier lists on Prydwen.gg or Game8 as more data becomes available in the weeks following patch release.
FAQ
Does a T0 agent guarantee endgame clear?
No. Agent tier is one factor, but Drive Disc quality, W-Engine choice, team composition, and player skill with dodge and assist mechanics all contribute. A well-built T1 team piloted skillfully will out-clear a poorly built T0 team in Shiyu Defense.
How often does the tier list change?
The meta shifts meaningfully with each major patch (every six weeks), when new agents introduce new synergies or power creep. Balance patches within a version can also reorder individual agents. The overall framework — Stun + DPS + Support — has remained stable since launch.
Are limited S-Rank agents mandatory for endgame?
No. Players clear Shiyu Defense with well-built A-Rank rosters regularly. Limited S-Ranks accelerate progression and make some floors significantly easier, but the game is balanced to be completable without them.
What is the best starter agent to pull on the Stable Channel?
Nicole Demara for her DEF-shred utility, or Soukaku if you plan to pull Miyabi on a limited banner. Both are permanent A-Ranks who remain useful at all stages of the game.