Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Build Guide: Best W-Engines, Drive Discs, skills, and teams

Zhao is a free S-Rank Ice Defense Agent introduced in version 2.5. As a member of the Krampus Compliance Authority, she excels as an off-field support buffer, providing team-wide HP buffs, flat ATK increases, massive DMG boosts scaling with her Max HP, healing, and some personal damage via charged slashes.

Zhao is versatile for any team comp, shining in hypercarry setups where her buffs amplify DPS. She's F2P-friendly and ideal for beginners, enabling 120+ Shiyu Defense clears.

Skill Overview

Core Passive: Ideal Colleague - Entry gives 100 Frostbite Points (180s CD in combat zones). Off-field: +6 Points per hit (3s CD). Max Points trigger Entry Skill on swap-in, activating Ether Veil.
Entry Skill: Burst of Frost - Massive Ice DMG, consumes Points for Ether Veil, enables Quick Assist + auto Final Verdict charge.
Basic Attack: Final Verdict (Hold) - Charged slash (up to 5s), deals % Max HP extra DMG (24% per sec). Continues charging off-field in Ether Veil.
Special/EX Special: Shatterfrost Surge/Frostflow Tundra - Ice DMG + HoT; EX gives +20 Points.
Ultimate/Chain: Bunny Barrage/Temporary Alliance - Massive Ice DMG +20/5 Points.
Additional: Crystallization - In Ether Veil, squad DMG +10% +1% per 400 HP over 15k (max 40% at 27k HP).

Best W-Engine

Stack HP and ER for buffs and uptime. Signature is BiS.

W-Engine	Rarity	Bonus Stat	Key Effect	Priority
Half-Sugar Bunny	S	HP 30%	Squad +10% ATK/HP; Ether Veil +30% CRIT DMG (60s)	BiS
Original Transmorpher	A	HP %	+HP%; Attacked: +Impact (F2P)	Best F2P
Spring Embrace	A	-	DMG Reduct; ER on hit, transfers off-swap	Good ER
Bunny Band	A	HP %	+ATK when shielded	Budget

Best Drive Discs and Stats

Full HP mains to hit 27k for max buffs, then ER. Swing Jazz for team DMG amp.

4-Pc: Swing Jazz (+20% ER; Chain/Ult +15% squad DMG 12s)
2-Pc Alt: Yunkui Tales (+10% HP) or Moonlight Lullaby (ER)

Slot	Main Stat
4	HP %
5	HP %
6	HP %

Substats: HP% > ER > ATK%

Skill Upgrade Priority

Skill	Priority
Core Passive	★★★★★
Basic Attack	★★★★☆
Chain Attack	★★★★☆
Ultimate	★★★★☆
Special Attack	★★★☆☆
Assist/Dodge	★★☆☆☆

Ascension and Skill Materials

Pre-farm these for Lv.60/10:

Ascension (Total):

Basic Freeze Chip: x5
Advanced Freeze Chip: x15
Specialized Freeze Chip: x50
Hamster Cage Pass: x1 (partial; full ~x5-12)
Denny: 500k+

Skills (Total to 10):

Advanced Freeze Chip: x75
Specialized Freeze Chip: x250
Hamster Cage Pass: x5
Turbid Crystal: x9 (new Hollow Zero material?)

Farm Freeze Chips from Expert Challenge (Ice), Hamster Cage from Shiyu Defense, Crystals from Hollow Zero.

Best Teams

Zhao fits hypercarries. Pair with DPS that benefit from ATK/HP/DMG buffs. Bangboo: Resonaboo (ER) or Frostbite boosters like Sharkboo.

Team	Main DPS	Sub-DPS/Support	Bangboo	Notes
Premium Ice	Ye Shunguang	Dialyn	Frosty	Buffs Ye's Physical; Dialyn control/Frostbite
Hypercarry	Yidhari	Dialyn	Resonaboo	Single-target focus; Zhao safety/buffs
Ice Shred	Miyabi	Yuzuha	Sharkboo	Ice synergy; ER/control
F2P	Ellen	Lycaon	Rocketboo	Universal buffs; Lycaon shatter
Budget	Anby	Nicole	Bangvolver	Stun/Ether; easy access