Zenless Zone Zero isn't the same game it was at launch. Honestly, if you’re still trying to brute force content with your Day 1 roster, you’ve probably noticed the struggle is getting real. The meta has shifted so hard it’s almost unrecognizable. New factions like the Angels of Delusion and the expansion of the Obol Squad have turned team building into a high-stakes puzzle.
Pulling for Zenless Zone Zero new characters is no longer just about who looks the coolest. It’s about survival in Shiyu Defense.
The Angels of Delusion: 2.6 is All About the Idols
February 5, 2026. Mark that date. That’s when Version 2.6 officially drops, and it’s bringing the "Angels of Delusion" underground idol group into the playable roster. We’ve seen them in the trailers, but the kit leaks suggest they are going to be absolute monsters for specific archetypes.
Sunna (also known as Chinatsu) is the one everyone is talking about. She’s an S-Rank Physical Support. Now, I know what you’re thinking—Support? Really? But her mechanics revolve around a feline companion named Kitty and a state called Fever. When she triggers her [Ether Veil: Idol] field, the team gets massive buffs to ATK and Stun DMG. If you're running a Physical team, she’s basically non-negotiable.
Then there’s Aria.
She’s an S-Rank Ether Anomaly agent.
Pink hair, human and robot forms—she looks like a crybaby but plays like an engine of destruction. Her whole kit is built around high-frequency Ether Anomaly triggers. She has this "Abloom" follow-up mechanic that lets her "pop" existing status effects for extra damage. Basically, she’s the Queen of Disorder teams right now.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the 2.5 Rescreening
Before we even get to the new 2.6 faces, we have the Exclusive Rescreening banner running from January 21 to February 17, 2026. This is where most players are going to mess up their accounts.
You get to choose between Alice (Physical Anomaly), Soldier 0: Anby (Electric Attack), and Astra Yao (Ether Support).
Expert Tip: Do not pull before you activate your selection token. Thousands of people wasted their pity last year by forgetting this one step. If you don't select, you're back to the 50/50 coin flip.
If you’re undecided, look at Astra Yao. She’s the safest bet for account longevity. Her ATK and DMG buffs are universal. While Soldier 0: Anby is cool with her Silver Star Mark stacking, the Electric Attack slot is getting crowded. Astra, on the other hand, fits into almost any team that needs a power boost.
The Power Creep is Real: Ye Shunguang and the New Ceiling
We have to talk about Ye Shunguang. Released in 2.5, she is currently the absolute ceiling for DPS in Zenless Zone Zero. If you have her, you’ve probably realized she destroys everything in the Deadly Assault mode.
She works perfectly with Zhao, the Ice Defense agent everyone got for free. Zhao is great, don't get me wrong, but she’s likely to be outpaced by a limited agent later this year. For now, though? That duo is the gold standard for clearing content.
Upcoming Whispers: Version 2.7 and Beyond
The roadmap for 2026 is looking dense. We’re hearing a lot about Nangong Yu. She was expected in 2.6 but it looks like she’s been pushed to 2.7. She carries a mace that switches into a flail. Reliable leakers suggest she’ll be a Physical Stunner, which is the final piece of the puzzle for a full Angels of Delusion team.
There’s also constant chatter about:
- Starlight Knight Billy: An S-Rank version of our favorite dual-pistol cyborg.
- Ye Shiyuan: Ye Shunguang’s brother. People are speculating a redemption arc story for him.
- The Void Hunters: We’re still waiting for more of these legendary figures to become playable. Names like Lady Sunbringer keep popping up in lore drops, though she’d be over 100 years old by now unless she’s found a way to cheat death.
Why Your Tier List is Probably Outdated
If your tier list still has Ellen and Jane Doe at the very top, it’s time for an update. Don’t get me wrong, they are still "A-Tier" and perfectly viable. But the new bosses in 2026 have high Anomaly Resistance or are literally unfreezable. This has pushed characters like Miyabi down slightly because she can no longer just "brute force" every single floor of Shiyu Defense.
The current "S-Tier" is dominated by Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, and Astra. These characters don't just do damage; they manipulate the game's core mechanics—like energy regeneration or anomaly ICDs—to stay ahead of the curve.
How to Plan Your Pulls
If you’re F2P or a low spender, you need a strategy. You can't catch them all.
- Check your Ether/Anomaly coverage. If you're missing a solid Ether lead, save everything for Aria in 2.6.
- Don't ignore the A-Ranks. Characters like Lucia (Rupture Support) have made certain S-Rank agents like Yixuan even more powerful. Sometimes the "support" is more important than the "carry."
- Audit your Polychrome. You need roughly 14,080 Polychrome to guarantee an S-Rank if you hit hard pity (90 pulls). Most people get lucky around pull 78-82, but don't count on it.
The game is evolving fast. Factions like the Mockingbird (with agents like Hugo and Vivian) are expanding the world beyond New Eriadu. Stay focused on building teams that can handle multiple elements rather than just one "hypercarry" team that might get countered in the next patch.
Your immediate next steps: Audit your current roster for Physical and Ether gaps. If you lack a top-tier Support, prioritize Astra Yao in the January 21 Rescreening. If your Support line is solid, hold every single Polychrome for the Sunna and Aria debut on February 5. Use the training room to test the "Fever" state mechanics as soon as the 2.6 trial stage opens—it plays very differently from standard support buffs.