Best Nekomata build in Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero lets players try many of its characters before pulling for them, and Nekomata is one of the first ones you meet in action.

Here’s how to build Nekomata in Zenless Zone Zero using the best W-Engine, Disc Drives, teammates, and more.

Nekomata abilities explained

• Kitty Slash (Basic Attack) – Unleashes up to five slashes, dealing Physical DMG. On the last hit, there is a chance to repeat this hit three times.
• Crimson Blade (Basic Attack) – Slashes enemies in front and passes through them, dealing Physical damage. There’s also a chance to repeat this attack three times.
• Surprise Attack (Special Attack) – Unleashes a downward strike, dealing Physical DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
  • Super Surprise Attack! (EX Special Attack) – Unleashes a powerful falling slash that deals massive Physical DMG.
• Can’t Touch Me-ow~ (Dodge) – A rapid dodge that makes Nekomata invulnerable.
  • Over Here! (Dash Attack) – Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG.
  • Phantom Claws (Dodge Counter) – Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Nekomata is invulnerable during this skill.
• Claw Swipe (Chain Attack) – Unleashes a powerful slash at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG.
• Claw Smash (Ultimate) – Unleashes powerful slashes at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG.

While Nekomata’s kit is pretty straightforward, you’ll need to consider her speed when fighting alongside her. She’s one of the fastest Agents in Zenless Zone Zero, which can be a great advantage but also quite confusing if it doesn’t match your playstyle.

Nekomata is a Physical Attack character, and as an S-Rank unit, she can deal lots of damage with her moveset. Additionally, dodging incoming attacks can trigger her Core Skill to do even more, so it’s always a good strategy to rely on her speed.

Best W-Engines for Nekomata

Steel Cushion

Increases Physical DMG by 20%. The equipper’s DMG increases by 25% when hitting the enemy from behind.

Nekomata’s signature W-Engine is called Steel Cushion and it’s the perfect option for her at launch. While increasing her Physical DMG is great, triggering the second effect is very easy thanks to her kit, so you’ll be destroying enemies in no time.

The Brimstone

Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dash Attack, or Dodge Counter, the equipper’s ATK increases by 3.5% for 8 seconds, stacking up to eight times. This effect can trigger once every 0.5 seconds. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

Nekomata relies on her Basic Attack and Dodges to make the most out of her DMG output, so her playstyle goes well with this W-Engine.

Starlight Engine

Launching a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist increases the equipper’s ATK by 12% for 12 seconds.

Mastering Nekomata’s playstyle requires you to use these two skills very often, and Starlight Engine is a very easy W-Engine to get early in the game.

Drive Disc for Nekomata

Fanged Metal

• Two-piece set effect: Increases Physical DMG by 10%.
• Four-piece set effect: Whenever a squad member inflicts Assault on an enemy, the equipper deals 35% additional DMG to the target for 12 seconds.

Fanged Metal is the go-to Drive Disc for Physical units, although you’ll only want a two-piece set in this case. Increasing her DMG output is always welcome, but the effect that comes with the four-piece set is better left for when Zenless Zone Zero adds Physical Support or Stun units.

Woodpecker Electro

• Two-piece set effect: Increases CRIT Rate by 8%.
• Four-piece set effect: Triggering a critical hit with a Basic Attack, Dodge Counter, or EX Special Attack increases the equipper’s ATK by 9% for 6 seconds. The buff duration for different skills is calculated separately.

Nekomata has great CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG stats, so enhancing those can make her even more powerful.

Hormone Punk

• Two-piece set effect: Increases ATK by 10%.
• Four-piece set effect: Upon entering combat or switching in, its user’s ATK increases by 25% for 10 seconds. This effect can trigger once every 20 seconds.

Hormone Punk is another great alternative, as you’ll increase her ATK with either a two-piece or a full set. You can install six Drive Discs to improve her skills, so make sure you find the right combination for your playstyle.

Best Zenless Zone Zero teams for Nekomata

Nekomata is a DPS unit in ZZZ, so you should pair her with a Stun Agent and a Support character to get a balanced team. If you’re going for a free-to-play composition, you can pair her with Anby and Nicole. If you pulled Lycaon, you can replace Anby with him to build Daze faster.

However, you can also try a mono-Physical team with Piper and Corin. You’ll be relying on dealing damage constantly, which won’t be too hard since all Core Skills will be active. While Piper builds Anomaly and Nekomata deals constant DMG with her quick moves, Corin can finish enemies with her kit.

Nekomata Materials in ZZZ

LEVEL	MATERIALS	DENNIES
10	4x Basic Offense Certification Seal	24,000
20	12x Advanced Offense Certification Seal	56,000
30	20x Advanced Offense Certification Seal	120,000
40	10x Pioneer’s Certification Seal	200,000
50	20x Pioneer’s Certification Seal	400,000

To Promote Nekomata in Zenless Zone Zero, you’ll need all the materials listed above. On the other hand, these are the materials required to level all her skills up:

• 25x Basic Physical Chip
• 9x Ferocious Grip
• 75x Advanced Physical Chip
• 60x Higher Dimensional Data: Crimson Awe
• 250x Specialized Physical Chip
• 2x Hamster Cage Pass
• 2,900,000 Dennies

Mindscape Cinema

• Bird Hunter (C1) – When Nekomata hits an enemy from behind, she ignores 16% of her target’s Physical RES. If the enemy is Stunned, All Nekomata’s attacks are considered back attacks.
• Cat & Mouse (C2) – When there’s only one enemy on the field and Nekomata is in combat, her Energy Generation Rate is increased by 25%.
• Curious Left Tail (C3) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
• Sharpen Claws (C4) – When Nekomata uses her EX Special Attack, her CRIT Rate increases by 7% for 15 seconds, stacking up to two times, with each stack’s duration being calculated separately.
• Lucky Right Tail (C5) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
• Predator Lineage (C6) – When Nekomata launches a Chain Attack or uses her Ultimate, her CRIT DMG increases by 18%, stacking up to three times. The effect expires when she’s no longer in-combat. This effect gains maximum stacks immediately on defeating an enemy.

Zenless Zone Zero features redeemable codes and plenty of events that reward useful items, so make sure you’re up to date with the banner schedule to get the best characters, W-Engines, and Bangboos.