Zhao Best Full Build Guide for ZZZ 2.5

If you want Zhao to excel in ZZZ 2.5, refer to the Best Full Build Guide and choose his best W-Engine. This selection provides him with increased HP, ATK, and CRIT DMG. Pair it with a Drive Disc set that enhances the team's survivability. When selecting stats, prioritize HP%. Zhao shines in teams that require off-field buffs and frostbite, performing exceptionally well in challenging boss encounters. He is also valuable when support is crucial. To get the resources needed for his best gear, consider checking the Zenless Zone Zero Top Up page on ManaBuy.

Equipment Type	Effect on Zhao's Abilities	Role Enhancement
W-Engines	Boosts HP, ATK, CRIT DMG	Hybrid support and damage dealer
Drive Discs	Maximizes buffs, survivability	Team comp flexibility
HP% Investment	Raises DPS, support value	Essential for Zhao's kit

Zhao Best Full Build Guide

Top W-Engine Choice

When you want Zhao to shine, you need to pick the right W-Engine. The top choice for him in ZZZ 2.5 is "Polar Front." This W-Engine boosts Zhao’s HP and gives him a big bump in his off-field support power. You get more frostbite damage and better buffs for your team. If you want to follow the Best Full Build Guide, always start with Polar Front. It fits Zhao’s kit perfectly because it scales with his HP and helps him trigger frostbite more often. You will notice your team survives longer and deals more damage when you use this W-Engine.

Tip: If you don’t have Polar Front, you can try "Frostbite Core" as a backup. It still works well with Zhao’s HP scaling and frostbite skills.

Best Drive Disc Set

The Best Full Build Guide recommends the Polar Metal Drive Disc set for Zhao. This set increases his HP and boosts his frostbite application. You want to use a 4-piece Polar Metal set to get the full bonus. This set makes Zhao’s off-field buffs stronger and helps your team stay alive during tough fights. If you want more flexibility, you can mix 2-piece Polar Metal with 2-piece Vitality for extra HP. This combo works great if you need more survivability.

4-piece Polar Metal: Best for maximizing frostbite and HP.
2-piece Polar Metal + 2-piece Vitality: Good for extra HP and balanced support.

You will see the difference right away. Zhao’s buffs last longer, and your team takes less damage. That’s why this set is the top pick in the Best Full Build Guide.

Stat Priorities

You want Zhao to have high HP because his skills scale with it. Focus on HP% for main stats and substats. After HP, look for RES Pen and Stun. These stats help Zhao break enemy defenses and control the fight. DMG Focus is also important if you want Zhao to add more damage while supporting the team.

Here’s a quick table to help you remember the recommended stat thresholds for Zhao:

Stat Type	Recommended Threshold
HP	Aim for 30% base + subs for 20k+ total HP
RES Pen	Focus on RES Pen
Stun	Include Stun in build
DMG Focus	Prioritize DMG focus

If you follow these stat priorities, you will get the most out of Zhao’s off-field buffer and HP-scaling frostbite role. The Best Full Build Guide makes it easy to boost Zhao’s support and damage at the same time. You can use him in many team comps and always see great results.

Zhao Overview

Role & Strengths

Zhao helps your team in many ways. She is great at boosting damage and keeping everyone safe. Her Ice DMG is very high, so she fits well in Ice teams. Zhao gives your squad more CRIT DMG, so attacks do more damage. She can heal your team during hard battles. Zhao also lowers enemy resistance, so your hits are stronger.

Here are the things that make Zhao different from other buffers in ZZZ 2.5:

She does lots of Ice DMG for Ice teams.
She gives big CRIT DMG boosts to everyone.
She heals your team to keep them alive.
She ignores some enemy resistance for better hits.
She works well with Ellen and Lycaon.
She uses HP% and CRIT sets for high damage.
She helps teams get Shiyu scores over 120. Check our End Game Guide for tips on high scores.

If you want a buffer who does more than just support, pick Zhao. She gives your team both help and damage. That is why she is a top choice in the Best Full Build Guide.

Key Mechanics

Zhao’s skills changed a lot in the ZZZ 2.5 update. Now, she is an S-tier limited Defense unit. Her skills get stronger with more HP and Ice damage. You should use gear with HP% for her. Zhao helps your team by healing, activating Ether Veil, and giving elemental buffs. Her talent turns extra healing into ATK for the whole team. Zhao also gets past enemy resistances, which helps in boss fights.

Look at this table to see how Zhao got better after the update:

Aspect	Before Update	After Update
Unit Tier	Not specified	S-tier limited Defense unit
Damage Scaling	Not specified	Max-HP scaling and Ice damage
Team Support	Limited utility	Healing, Ether Veil, elemental buffs
Talent Effect	Not specified	Overheal converts to teamwide ATK
Versatility	Less versatile	Tanky, supportive, and versatile

If you build Zhao the right way, she is tanky and helps your team a lot. Her skills let you control fights and make your whole squad stronger.

Skill Order & Materials

Skill Priority

If you want Zhao to help your team the most, you should focus on leveling up her skills in the right order. Start with her Ultimate. This skill gives your team the biggest buffs and helps you survive tough fights. Next, work on her Talent. The Talent boosts healing and turns extra HP into attack power for everyone. After that, upgrade her Basic Attack. This skill lets Zhao deal more damage when she is on the field. Last, put points into her Special Attack. You will use this less often, so it does not need to be maxed right away.

Here is a simple order to follow:

Ultimate
Talent
Basic Attack
Special Attack

Tip: If you want Zhao to support your team better, always keep her Ultimate and Talent ahead of the other skills. You will notice your team gets stronger and stays alive longer.

Upgrade Materials

You need special materials to make Zhao stronger. These items help you level up her skills and ascend her to higher ranks. Most of these materials come from Combat Simulation modes. You unlock these modes after you finish the "Explosive Last Train" commission in Chapter 1: Cat's Lost and Found. You can get all the seals you need by playing these battles.

Here is a table that shows what you need for each ascension level:

Ascension Level	Materials Required
Level 10	Basic Defense Certification Seal x4, Denny x24,000
Level 20	Advanced Defense Certification Seal x12, Denny x56,000
Level 30	Advanced Defense Certification Seal x20, Denny x120,000
Level 40	Defender Certification Seal x10, Denny x200,000
Level 50	Defender Certification Seal x20, Denny x400,000

You will need these items:

Basic Defense Certification Seal
Advanced Defense Certification Seal
Defender Certification Seal

You can earn these seals by joining Combat Simulation battles. The total cost for Zhao’s upgrades is 800,000 Denny, so make sure you save up. If you keep playing and collecting seals, you will have everything you need to make Zhao a top-tier support for your team.

W-Engine Alternatives

Signature W-Engine

If you want Zhao to reach his full potential, you should use his signature W-Engine. This gear gives you a huge boost in every area that matters for Zhao. You get more Crit Rate, higher Crit Damage, and a strong Defense Ignore effect. These stats make Zhao’s frostbite attacks hit harder and help your team break through tough enemies. You will notice your damage numbers jump when you equip this W-Engine.

Here’s a quick look at what you get:

Effect	Value
Crit Rate Increase	24%
Crit Damage Boost	45%
Defense Ignore	25%

You can see that this W-Engine gives you everything you need for both support and damage. The Crit Rate and Crit Damage help Zhao trigger frostbite more often. The Defense Ignore lets you punch through bosses and elite mobs. If you want Zhao to shine in every fight, this is the gear you want.

Tip: If you have Zhao’s signature W-Engine, you should always use it. You will get the best results in boss battles and high-level content.

Other Options

Don’t worry if you don’t have Zhao’s signature W-Engine yet. You still have good choices. You can use "Polar Front" for strong HP scaling and frostbite support. This W-Engine works well with Zhao’s kit and helps your team stay alive. "Frostbite Core" is another solid pick. It boosts your HP and frostbite effects, so you can keep supporting your team.

Here are some alternatives you can try:

Polar Front: Best for HP scaling and off-field buffs.
Frostbite Core: Good for frostbite application and survivability.
Vitality Drive: Decent for extra HP and basic support.

You can mix and match these options based on what you have. You will still get strong support and decent damage. Zhao works well with any of these W-Engines, so you don’t have to worry about falling behind.

If you want to push Zhao’s support role, focus on HP-based W-Engines. If you want more damage, look for Crit and Defense Ignore effects.

Drive Disc Details

Main Stats

When you build Zhao, you want to focus on the right main stats for his Drive Discs. These stats make a huge difference in how strong and helpful Zhao becomes for your team. If you pick the best stats, you boost his HP, damage, and support power. Take a look at this table to see which stats matter most:

Stat Type	Importance Level
HP%	Top Priority
HP	High Value
ATK%	High Value

You should always go for HP% as your main stat. This stat increases Zhao’s Max HP, which means he gives better buffs and deals more damage with his Final Judgment skill. HP also helps you reach passive thresholds and makes Zhao tougher in battle. ATK% is another good choice. It boosts Zhao’s base damage and helps him hit harder during burst moments.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

HP% gives you more Max HP, better CRIT Rate, and stronger team buffs.
HP helps you get higher Max HP and makes Zhao harder to defeat.
ATK% raises your damage and keeps your burst skills consistent.

Substats

Substats can push Zhao’s performance even higher. You want to look for HP%, HP, and ATK% in your substats too. These stats stack with your main stats and make Zhao’s support and damage even better. If you see substats like RES Pen or Stun, grab those as well. They help Zhao break enemy defenses and control the fight.

Here’s what you should look for:

HP%: Always valuable for more health and stronger buffs.
HP: Adds to survivability and helps with passive skills.
ATK%: Good for extra damage.
RES Pen: Useful for breaking through enemy shields.
Stun: Helps control tough enemies.

If you focus on these stats, you make Zhao a top-tier buffer and damage dealer. Your team will stay alive longer and hit harder in every battle.

Pull Recommendation

Should You Pull?

Thinking about pulling for Zhao in ZZZ 2.5? You might want to check a few things first. Zhao’s banner runs from December 30, 2025, to January 21, 2026. During this time, you get the best chance to add him to your team. Zhao brings high damage and strong team buffs, so he fits well if you want a support who also deals good damage.

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know before you pull:

Phase	Dates	Details
1	Dec 30, 2025 - Jan 21, 2026	Zhao drops with high damage and team buffs.
2	Jan 21 - Feb 17, 2026	Ellen rolls, offering a different playstyle.

You might need up to 90 pulls (about 14,400 Poly) for a worst-case scenario. If you want a full guarantee, you need 180 pulls (28,800 Poly). Many players can save up 80-92 pulls from earlier events, so you may already be close. To ensure you don't miss out, secure your pulls via ManaBuy.

Here are some steps to help you get ready:

Pre-farm Zhao’s upgrade materials.
Reach Level 60 before the banner starts.
Try to use most of your pulls during Phase 1.

Tip: After you get Zhao, think about saving your resources for future banners. Some new characters, like Ellen, might work well with Zhao and help you build a balanced team.

Meta Value

Zhao stands out in the current meta. He gives your team strong buffs and helps you survive tough fights. His frostbite and HP scaling make him a top pick for boss battles and high-level content. If you want a support who can also deal damage, Zhao is a great choice.

You should pull for Zhao if:

You need a strong off-field buffer.
You want to boost your team’s survivability.
You plan to build Ice or HP-scaling teams.

If you already have a solid support, you might want to wait for the next banner. But if you want to keep up with the meta, Zhao will not let you down.

Team Comps

Meta Teams

You want Zhao to shine in the strongest teams. Try pairing Zhao with Ellen and Lycaon. Ellen brings huge Ice damage. Lycaon helps with crowd control and adds more Ice support. Zhao boosts both of them with his buffs and frostbite. This team works great for boss fights and high-level content. You can also swap Lycaon for Nicole if you need more healing or shields. Nicole gives your team extra safety, which helps in tough battles.

Here’s a quick meta team example:

Slot	Character
Main DPS	Ellen
Sub DPS	Lycaon
Support	Zhao

You get strong Ice synergy and lots of buffs. Your team will break enemy shields fast and survive longer.

F2P Teams

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the top units. You can still build a strong team with free or easy-to-get characters. Try using Anton as your main DPS. He deals good damage and works well with Zhao’s buffs. Add Billy as your sub DPS for more hits and energy. Zhao keeps everyone alive and boosts their damage.

Sample F2P team:

Anton (Main DPS)
Billy (Sub DPS)
Zhao (Support)

This setup lets you clear story content and events without rare pulls. You can swap Billy for Grace if you want more healing.

Synergy Tips

You want to get the most from Zhao’s off-field buffs and frostbite. Keep Zhao off the field after using his skills. Let your main DPS take over while Zhao’s buffs stay active. Use Drive Discs that boost HP and frostbite. Try to trigger Zhao’s Ultimate right before your DPS uses their big attacks. This timing gives your team the biggest damage boost.

Tip: Follow the Best Full Build Guide for gear and stat choices. You’ll see Zhao’s support power go up fast.

You can mix and match teams, but always focus on Ice synergy and HP scaling. That’s how you get the best results with Zhao.

You get great results with Zhao when you use his best W-Engine. Pick Polar Metal Drive Discs and focus on HP stats. Put Zhao with burst DPS agents for strong buffs and better team safety. Look at the table below to see why this build is good:

Reason for Zhao Build and Team Composition	Description
Defensive Support Role	Helps the team stay safe and keeps buffs active.
Ice-Defense Hybrid Agent	Gives less damage taken, shields, more HP, and strong buffs.
Buffs Allies	Makes allies stronger by using his HP.

Try out different teams and gear. You could find new ways to play. Want more advice? Stay tuned to ManaBuy for the latest guides!

FAQ

What stats should I focus on for Zhao?

You want to stack HP% first. After that, grab RES Pen and Stun. These stats help Zhao boost your team and break enemy defenses. HP makes his buffs stronger.

Can Zhao work in non-Ice teams?

Yes! Zhao supports any team with his buffs and healing. You get the best results in Ice teams, but he still helps Fire or Physical squads stay alive and deal more damage.

Is Zhao hard to build for beginners?

No, you can build Zhao easily. Just use HP% gear and Drive Discs. You don’t need rare W-Engines to see results. Zhao fits well in starter and advanced teams.

How do I use Zhao’s Ultimate for max buffs?

Use Zhao’s Ultimate right before your main DPS attacks. This timing gives your team the biggest damage boost. Try to keep Zhao off-field after activating his skills.

Should I pull for Zhao if I already have a strong support?

If you want more Ice synergy or HP scaling, Zhao is a great pick. He brings unique buffs and frostbite. You can skip him if your team already survives and deals enough damage.