Zhao Build Guide leaks: Best W-Engine, Teams & Kit Explained (ZZZ 2.5)
2025-12-22
Zhao is a highly flexible support-oriented agent coming in Zenless Zone Zero 2.5, valued for her HP-scaling buffs and team utility. This Zhao build guide covers her leaked kit, best W-Engines, Drive Discs, team comps, and Zhao Materials, helping players prepare efficiently for her release.
Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Release Date
Zhao is an upcoming S-Rank Ice Defense Agent in Zenless Zone Zero and a member of the Krampus Compliance Authority.
She is officially set to release with Version 2.5 on December 30, 2025, a date confirmed during the Version 2.5 livestream on December 19, 2025. If you’d like to learn more about Zhao, feel free to check out the Zenless Zone Zero 2.5 banner for additional details.
 300*315 | Model Type | Size 00 Female | Species | Thiren (Rabbit) |
| Rarity |  | Attribute |  | |
| Specialty |  | Faction |  | |
| Affiliation | TOPS | ExclusiveW-Engine | Half-Suger Bunny |
An Overview of Zenless Zone Zero Zhao Kit
In Zenless Zone Zero, Zhao is an S-Rank Ice Defense Support who excels at team buffs, healing, and HP management.
Her Core Skill grants elemental buffs through Ether Veil, turns excess healing into bonus team ATK, and provides RES Ignore when she switches out - making her a flexible frontliner who converts strong defense into reliable offense, especially when paired with her signature W-Engine.
Here’s a breakdown of her kit:
- Role: S-Rank, Ice Element, Defense/Support.
- Core Mechanic: HP consumption for powerful buffs and healing.
- Core Skill: Heals allies and applies buffs based on their elemental types (Ether Veil).
- Talent (Passive): Converts excess healing into team ATK, grants Attribute RES Ignore on switch-out.
- Ultimate: Strong Ice damage, scales with HP.
- Signature W-Engine: Boosts team ATK, CRIT DMG, and Attribute RES Ignore.
- Build Focus: Max HP (for healing, buffs, and damage), ATK% (for her Ice skills).
Best W-Engine for Zhao
For Zenless Zone Zero’s (ZZZ) Support character, Zhao, her Signature W-Engine, “Half-Sugar Hail,” is best for massive team buffs (ATK, HP, Crit DMG) and Energy Regen.
But if unavailable, Original Transmorpher (Free-to-Play/Defense) or Kaboom the Cannon (A-Rank Support) are excellent alternatives for HP scaling and team support, with focus on HP/Energy substats for Zhao.
Zhao’s Signature W-Engine - Half-Sugar Snow Rabbit
This effect increases the wearer’s automatic Energy regeneration by 0.46 per second and boosts the entire team’s ATK and Max HP by 10% (this bonus does not stack). When the wearer activates or extends Ether Veil, the whole team also gains 30% Crit DMG for 60 seconds, and triggering it again simply refreshes the duration.
Alternative W-Engine Options
These alternatives work well for players building a Zenless Zone Zero trigger build or looking for flexible options before obtaining Zhao’s signature W-Engine.
 Tusks of Fury (S-Rank) | This effect increases the wearer’s shield strength by 30%. Whenever any squad member performs an Interrupt or Perfect Dodge, the entire team gains 18% increased damage and 12% more Daze for 20 seconds. Bonuses with the same name don’t stack. |
 Tremor Trigram Vessel (A-Rank) | This effect boosts the wearer’s EX Special Attack and Ultimate damage by 25%. In addition, whenever any squad member takes damage or recovers HP, the wearer gains 2 Energy, with this effect triggering once every 5 seconds. |
 Original Transmorpher (A-Rank) | For characters with the Defense Specialty, equipping this grants bonus effects based on refinement. It increases Max HP by around 9%–12.5%, and whenever the wearer is attacked, their Impact is boosted by roughly 11.5%–16% for 12 seconds. These effects help Defense characters stay durable while contributing more Impact during combat. |
Best Drive Discs for Zhao
Drive Discs play a major role in defining Zhao’s effectiveness as a support character. The right Drive Disc setup enhances her HP scaling, improves Energy recovery, and ensures stable buff uptime, making it essential for players who want to maximize Zhao’s value in both early and late-game content.
Recommended Drive Disc Stats:
- Main Stats: HP% (top priority), Energy Regen
- Sub Stats: HP%, DEF, Energy Regen
Best Drive Disc Set Types:
- HP-scaling support sets to increase healing and buff strength.
- Team utility sets that boost squad damage or reduce incoming damage.
If needed, you can check the following Drive Siscs selection form.
 | 2-Piece Bonus: Increases Max HP by 10%.4-Piece Bonus: Using an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate grants 4% CRIT Rate for 15 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. Triggering it again refreshes the duration, and at three stacks, Sheer DMG is increased by 10%. |
 | 2-Piece Set: Increases shield effectiveness by 15%.4-Piece Set: When any squad member performs a Defensive Assist or Evasive Assist, the entire team gains 15% increased damage for 10 seconds. Effects with the same name do not stack. |
Players can farm Drive Discs through routine combat stages and targeted disc domains. Focusing on HP-oriented main stats early will provide the most immediate value when building Zhao.
Best Zhao Teams
Because of her flexibility, Zhao fits naturally into many of the best teams in ZZZ and pairs well with various DPS units, including those commonly compared in Zenless Zone Zero Caesar build discussions.
Recommended Team Archetypes:
- Main DPS + Zhao + Flex Support: Maximizes buff uptime and team safety.
- Sustained DPS teams: Zhao excels in long fights where her buffs remain active.
- Mixed utility comps: Great for players experimenting with different rotations.
Below is a sample team setup showcasing one of the best team compositions for Zhao.
Zhao build guide 1:
| DPS | Sub-DPS | Suport |
 Ye Shuanguang |  Dialyn (One of thebest ZZZ 2.4 tier list characters) |  Zhao |
Zhao build guide 2:
| DPS | Support | Support |
 Yidhari |  Dialyn |  Zhao |
Zhao build guide 3:
| DPS | Sub-DPS | Suport |
 Miyabi |  Yuzuha |  Zhao |
Conclusion
Based on current leaks, Zenless Zone Zero Zhao is shaping up to be a high-value support with excellent team synergy and long-term utility. Her HP-scaling kit, strong buff uptime, and compatibility with top DPS units make her a smart investment for players focused on efficient team building in ZZZ 2.5.
FAQs
1. Is Zhao a DPS or support character in ZZZ?
Zhao is primarily a support character who enhances allies through HP-scaling buffs, healing, and utility.
2. What is the best W-Engine for Zhao?
Her signature W-Engine is the best option, offering HP, Energy regeneration, and teamwide damage bonuses.
3. Is Zhao a bunny ZZZ?
Zhao is a Bunny Thiren who holds a respected position within both Krampus and TOPS. Known for her wealth and influence, she frequently appears alongside fellow Krampus members Dialyn and Banyue in the Version 2.3 main story, where the trio works closely together.
4. Should I pre-farm Zhao Materials before ZZZ 2.5?
The answer is yes. Pre-farming Zhao Materials allows you to upgrade her immediately and test builds as soon as her banner goes live.
5. What materials are needed to upgrade Zhao in ZZZ 2.5?
To upgrade Zhao efficiently after pulling her, players should pre-farm key materials used for ascension, skill upgrades, and W-Engine enhancement. Preparing these materials in advance ensures that Zhao is battle-ready immediately in Zenless Zone Zero 2.5.
Required materials include:
- Defense / Ice skill chips (basic to advanced)
- Agent certification seals
- Core skill enhancement items
- W-Engine upgrade materials
- Denny for ascension and skill upgrades
