Best Ellen build in Zenless Zone Zero

Zenless Zone Zero features a cast of characters that will continue to grow with future updates. Ellen Joe is the first Agent featured in a limited-time banner, which means players are quickly adding her to their teams.

Here’s how to build Ellen with the best W-Engines and teammates, alongside everything you need to know about her abilities and materials.

Ellen abilities explained

• Saw Teeth Trimming (Basic Attack) – Unleashes up to three attacks, dealing Physical DMG.
• Flash Freeze Trimming (Basic Attack) – Launch up to three attacks at enemies in front, dealing Ice DMG when Flash Freeze is in effect. Each attack consumes one point of Flash Freeze Charge.
• Drift (Special Attack) – Use a quick tail sweep attack in front, dealing Ice DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
  • Tail Swipe (EX Special Attack) – Perform a forceful tail whip attack that deals massive Ice DMG. Gain one Flash Freeze Charge upon striking an enemy. After executing the move, you can directly follow up with the 3rd-hit of a Basic Attack.
  • Sharknami (EX Special Attack) – After activating EX Special Attack: Tail Swipe, press Special Attack when Ellen has enough Energy to activate a series of powerful slashes forward, dealing massive Ice DMG. Gain one Flash Freeze Charge upon hitting an enemy.
• Vortex (Dodge) – A rapid dodge that makes Ellen invulnerable. When Perfect Dodge is triggered, Ellen gains the Quick Charge effect, reducing the charge time of Dash Attack: Arctic Ambus, lasting up to five seconds or until it triggers.
• Roaming Hunt (Dash) – Double tapping or holding the Dash button, enter the Roaming state, allowing dash movement. In the Roaming state, use the joystick to control Ellen’s direction, and release to stop. Ellen is invulnerable for a brief time after activation.
  • Arctic Ambush (Dash Attack) – Delivers a spinning slash to enemies before opening her scissors for a swift scissor attack, dealing Ice DMG. Gain one point of Flash Freeze Charge. Alternatively, holding the Basic Attack will make Ellen perform a spinning slash against the enemy, then pull apart the scissors to unleash a charged scissor strike, dealing massive Ice DMG. This version gains three points of Flash Freeze Charge when the charged scissor attack hits. If the enemy is Frozen, it always triggers Shatter. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while charging the skill, and DMG taken is reduced by 40%.
  • Monstrous Wave (Dash Attack) – When Flash Freeze is active, launches a dashing slash attack at enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG.
  • Cold Snap (Dash Attack) – While Flash Freeze is in effect, launches a dashing slash attack at enemies in front, dealing Ice DMG. Consumes one point of Flash Freeze Charge.
  • Reef Rock (Dodge Counter) – Rapidly move through enemies with open scissors for a cutting strike, dealing Ice DMG.
• Flash Freeze – When Ellen has Flash Freeze Charges, the Flash Freeze effect is activated. Basic Attacks and Dash Attacks expend Flash Freeze Charges, dealing massive Ice DMG. Ellen can have up to a maximum of six Flash Freeze Charges.
• Avalanche (Chain Attack) – Crash down from above and unleash an ice storm, dealing massive Ice DMG.
• Endless Winter (Ultimate) – Crash down from above and unleash an ice storm before a powerful scissor strike, dealing massive Ice DMG.

Ellen is a very powerful Ice character, and while she has an Attack Fighting Style, many of her abilities are great for crowd control as well.

As an S-Rank Agent, she has an expanded kit with additional abilities that make a huge difference in battle. Her Dashes are particularly important, as they can reposition her while also providing buffs.

Best W-Engines

Deep Sea Visitor

Increases Ice DMG by 25%. Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, the equipper’s CRIT Rate increases by 10% for 8 seconds. When dealing Ice DMG with a Dash Attack, the equipper’s CRIT Rate increases by an additional 10% for 15 seconds. The duration of each effect is calculated separately.

This is Ellen’s signature W-Engine, so it enhances her kit in all the right places. Enhancing her Ice DMG is key, and as we mentioned, her Dash attack is a central part of her kit as well.

Starlight Engine

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

Ellen has great mobility, which allows her to easily dodge enemy attacks in battle. Considering her kit, you’ll be dodging a lot to make the most out of her abilities, so this W-Engine can work very well with her.

Bashful Demon

Increases Ice DMG by 15%. When launching an EX Special Attack, all squad members’ ATK increases by 2% for 12 seconds, stacking up to four times. Repeated triggers refresh the duration. Passive effects of the same name do not stack.

If you can’t pull for Ellen’s W-Engine, Soukaku’s might be the next best thing in terms of Ice DMG output.

Drive Disc

Polar Metal

• Two-piece set effect: Increases Ice DMG by 10%.
• Four-piece set effect: Increase the DMG of Basic Attack and Dash Attack by 20%. When any squad member inflicts Freeze or Shatter, this effect increases by an additional 20% for 12 seconds.

This is the best Drive Disc for Ellen, as she can trigger the Shatter effect on enemies. However, you can also consider combining a two-piece set with another one to get different results.

Puffer Electro

• Two-piece set effect: Increases ATK by 10%.
• Four-piece set effect: Ultimate DMG increases by 20%. Launching an Ultimate increases the equipper’s ATK by 15% for 12 seconds.

Puffer Electro is a pretty straightforward option for DPS characters. Ellen can do a lot of damage with her Ultimate, so getting a DMG increase and a buff out of it can make her unstoppable.

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.

Enhancing Ellen’s CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG is a good strategy, so Woodpecker Electro is a viable alternative. However, we recommend going for a two-piece set combined with another.

Best Zenless Zone Zero teams for Ellen

The best strategy to maximize Ellen’s abilities in ZZZ is to pair her with two other Ice characters like Soukaku and Lycaon. Having characters with the same Attribute activates these Agents’ passive abilities, increasing the overall DMG they can dish out.

If you’re going for a free-to-play team, you can replace Lycaon with Anby to have a valuable Stun unit.

Ellen 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

These are the materials you’ll need to Promote Ellen. On the other hand, here are the materials required to level her skills up:

• 10x Basic Freeze Chip
• 30x Advanced Freeze Chip
• 100x Specialized Freeze Chip
• 1x Hamster Cage Pass
• 1,000,000 Dennies

Mindscape Cinema

• Glacial Omen (C1) – Upon hitting an enemy with a quick scissor strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges are increased to 3. Upon hitting an enemy with a Charged Scissors strike, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges are increased to 6. For each point of Flash Freeze Charge consumed, Ellen’s CRIT Rate is increased by 2% for 15 seconds, stacking up to six times. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.
• Arctic Ocean Predator (C2) – The 3rd hit of Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming can be directly followed up with EX Special Attack: Sharknami. When using an EX Special Attack, each Flash Freeze Charge increases the current attack’s CRIT DMG by 20%, up to a maximum of 60%.
• Overtime-Intolerant (C3) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2
• Endless Hoarfrost (C4) – Whenever a squad member Freezes or Stuns an enemy, Ellen gains 6 Flash Freeze Charges and the Quick Charge effect. She also recovers 4 Energy. The Energy recovery effect can trigger once per 10 seconds.
• Adequate Sleep (C5) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2
• The Feast Begins (C6) – When Ellen uses an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or gains Quick Charge, her PEN Ratio increases by 20% for six seconds. She also gains one stack of The Feast Begins, up to a maximum of three stacks. With three stacks, using a Charged Scissors strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush consumes all stacks, increasing the DMG of the current attack by 250%.

Zenless Zone Zero features redeemable codes to get useful items and many free Agents so you can build stronger teams. Make sure you know everything about its multiplayer and co-op features to enjoy what it has to offer.