HoYoverse just delivered a massive balance patch that’s reshaping how players approach combat in this stylish action RPG.
Zenless Zone Zero Buff Revolution
Zenless Zone Zero just received significant character buffs that have veteran players reconsidering their team compositions. Two characters in particular—Soldier 0 and Anby Zapata—received improvements that transform them from solid choices into competitive powerhouses.
According to HoYoverse’s official patch notes, these buffs weren’t minor tweaks. They represent fundamental improvements to how these characters function in high-level combat, making them viable alternatives to meta-dominating selections.
Soldier 0: From Overlooked to Overpowered
| Change Area | Previous State | After Buff | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Scaling | Standard multipliers | +15% damage boost | Higher DPS ceiling |
| Crit Rate | 12% base | 18% base | Better consistency |
| Skill Cooldown | 8 seconds | 6 seconds | More frequent abilities |
| Ultimate Energy | Slower generation | +20% faster | More ultimate uptime |
| Support Effect | Minimal team bonus | +12% ATK to allies | True support role |
Soldier 0 was previously seen as a decent but unremarkable character. Players often benched him in favor of flashier damage dealers or more specialized supports.
The buffs addressed his core weaknesses: damage output felt underwhelming compared to other attackers, skill rotations felt clunky with long cooldowns, and his support capabilities were practically nonexistent.
Now? Soldier 0 can maintain nearly permanent skill uptime while providing meaningful team-wide attack bonuses. This transformation makes him invaluable for squad compositions focusing on sustained damage rather than burst windows.
For detailed character analysis, explore our Zenless Zone Zero meta guide.
Anby Zapata: The Electric Awakening
Anby received equally dramatic improvements to her Electric damage capabilities:
Enhanced Chainsaw Mechanics: Her signature chainsaw attacks now generate bonus energy on successful hits, creating an explosive damage loop that punishes defensive opponents.
Improved Anomaly Application: Electric anomaly status builds faster and lasts longer, making her crowd control capabilities far more reliable in challenging encounters.
Superior Mobility: Animation cancellation windows expanded, allowing skilled players to chain attacks more fluidly and maintain offensive pressure.
Defensive Utility: Her interrupt resistance increased, meaning she won’t get knocked around helplessly during important combo sequences.
The combined effect transforms Anby from a “fun but niche” character into a legitimate DPS option comparable to established meta picks. Players who invested in her early now feel vindicated.
Why These Buffs Matter
HoYoverse’s approach to balance differs from typical gacha games. Rather than exclusively nerfing overpowered units—which frustrates invested players—they’re selectively buffing underperformers, expanding viable team compositions.
Roster Diversity: With more characters occupying competitive viability ranges, players have genuine choices based on personal preference rather than forced meta slavery.
Fresh Strategies: Old team compositions suddenly become obsolete overnight. This forces meta theorycrafters back to drawing boards, generating excitement around team building.
F2P Accessibility: New and free-to-play players who pulled these characters feel less punished for missing premium gacha units.
Check our analysis of gacha balance philosophy for deeper insights into these design choices.
Team Building Implications
Soldier 0 Synergies: Works exceptionally well with high-attack characters like Ellen Joe or Ren. His buff essentially turns them into supercharged versions of themselves.
Anby Chains: Pairs perfectly with other Electric anomaly characters or supports that enhance elemental damage. Her crowd control enables aggressive playstyles previously impossible.
Dungeon Flexibility: These characters address different role requirements, meaning most endgame dungeons now have multiple viable solutions rather than one “correct” team.
The buffs fundamentally shift how experienced players approach team selection. What was previously a solved puzzle suddenly offers multiple valid answers.
Future Balance Implications
If HoYoverse continues this selective buffing approach, we should expect:
Regular character revivals keeping old units relevant beyond release hype cycles. Seasonal metas that shift as new buffs rotate through different characters. Community engagement increasing as players debate optimal compositions.
This philosophy mirrors successful live-service games like Valorant and Overwatch 2, where balance patches create strategic upheaval rather than stagnation.
The Verdict
These buffs represent HoYoverse’s confidence in their character design philosophy. Rather than abandoning characters players invested in, they’re giving everyone a path to relevance.
Whether you’re a Soldier 0 or Anby specialist, these changes reward your loyalty. Now’s the perfect time to dust off underutilized characters and experience their newfound potential.
FAQs
Q: Are Soldier 0 and Anby now the meta picks?
A: They’re now competitive options in their respective roles rather than auto-includes. The buffs make them viable alternatives to established meta characters, but team composition still depends on specific dungeon mechanics and enemy types.
Q: Will these buffs get reverted if they become too strong?
A: HoYoverse typically avoids reverting buffs, instead adding counterplay mechanics or adjusting enemy encounters. They prefer buffing underperformers over nerfing strong units to avoid alienating invested players.
