The winds of New Eridu are shifting once again, and the cacophony of Rupture explosions has never sounded so sweet. Version 2.3 of Zenless Zone Zero has arrived in 2026, bringing with it two fresh faces\u2014Komano Manato and Lucia\u2014and a surprising glow-up for a familiar electric warrior. Any Hollow raider worth their Dennies knows that new Agents mean new meta puzzles, and boy, has this patch delivered some brain teasers. But the real question on everyone\u2019s mind: are these newcomers worth draining your tape stash, or should you just cozy up with your old favorites until the next big thing?

Before any Proxy starts panic-pulling, a quick reality check is in order. Building the perfect squad isn\u2019t just about snatching the flashiest S-Rank agent and calling it a day. Synergy, rotation fluidity, and team cohesion are the secret sauce that turns a good comp into a Hollow-clearing machine. So let\u2019s dive deep into what Lucia and Manato actually bring to the table, how the revamped Soldier 0 Anby fits into the chaos, and where everybody lands on the ever-important tier list.

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Lucia \u2013 The Tiny Support with Titanic Power

If Zenless Zone Zero had a prom night, Lucia would definitely be crowned the Rupture Queen. She struts into the Support role with the confidence of someone who knows she\u2019s about to redefine an entire damage archetype, and honestly, she\u2019s not wrong. This pint-sized powerhouse doesn\u2019t just buff her teammates; she injects their attacks with so much Rupture potency that even a lowly A-Rank DPS starts eyeing S-Rank territory.

What exactly does she do? Imagine a walking cornucopia of buffs that tick every box a Rupture DPS could ever want. Increased Rupture application, bonus damage against afflicted enemies, faster Decibel generation\u2014Lucia has it all. Her kit triggers a chain reaction of debuffs and multipliers that makes your main damage dealer feel like they\u2019ve just chugged a whole energy drink. The community has quickly realized that pairing her with Yixuan, the already stellar Rupture queen, is like adding rocket fuel to a meteor. Yixuan was already shredding enemy defenses before, but with Lucia dancing behind her, Ethereal armor might as well be tissue paper.

Is she a must-pull? For any Proxy who owns Yixuan, the answer is an ear-splitting yes. The two form a symbiotic duo so future-proof that even the next three patches might struggle to dethrone them. And even if Yixuan isn\u2019t on your roster yet, Lucia sets the stage perfectly for any Rupture-focused DPS that comes down the pipeline. She\u2019s not just a support; she\u2019s an investment that keeps on giving.

But wait, can a support really be that impactful? Let\u2019s look at the evidence. Before Lucia, Rupture teams struggled to compete with the raw numbers of traditional Attack comps. Now, with her buffs active, an A-Rank like Manato can out-damage some Standard S-Rank DPS units like Soldier 11\u2014a feat that would have sounded like a joke just a few months ago. The sheer scaling she provides forces everyone to reconsider the pecking order. If you\u2019re the type who loves watching giant, satisfying damage numbers pop up on screen, Lucia is your newest best friend.

Manato \u2013 The Underdog That Almost Made It

Speaking of Komano Manato, let\u2019s not leave the first A-Rank Rupture DPS out in the cold. He occupies a weird spot in the meta: not quite a dark horse, but definitely not a benchwarmer. When he\u2019s on his own, Manato\u2019s performance is decent at best. His base multipliers are reasonable, his animations are flashy, and he fulfills the Rupture condition reliably enough\u2014but \u201creliable\u201d doesn\u2019t win speed-clearing contests. The problem is that Rupture-centric team options are still limited, so without a specialized support, Manato often feels like a fish flopping on land.

Enter Lucia. With her backing, Manato transforms from a scrappy contender into a genuine threat. Suddenly, his combos land with the weight of a freight train, triggering Rupture after Rupture that melts elite mobs. The difference is so stark that many players joke Manato should come with a warning label: \u201cRequires Lucia to function at full potential.\u201d Is that a flaw? Perhaps, but it also makes him a fascinating puzzle piece for budget-conscious Proxies who managed to snag Lucia. Together, they form a duo that can clear content usually reserved for high-investment S-Rank squads.

Should you build him if you don\u2019t have Lucia? That\u2019s the million-Denny question. If your account lacks Rupture coverage and you\u2019ve got some spare resources, Manato can serve as a stopgap. But be prepared for him to feel underwhelming without the right support system. His ceiling is directly tied to how well you can buff his Rupture application, which means Lucia is practically his other half. Without her, he\u2019s more of a \u201cuse in a pinch\u201d agent than a cornerstone of your lineup.

Soldier 0 Anby\u2019s Glorious Comeback

Just when everyone thought they\u2019d seen the last meta shake-up, HoYoverse dropped a surprise: Soldier 0 Anby got retooled, and she\u2019s back with a vengeance. For veteran players, this is a nostalgic treat. For newcomers, it\u2019s a chance to grab an Electric DPS that now hits harder, synergizes better, and no longer suffers from the clunkiness of her original kit.

The changes aren\u2019t just number tweaks. Her core mechanics have been streamlined so that her burst windows feel more natural and less punishing. She now builds stacks faster, her special attacks flow smoothly into dodge cancels, and her ultimate now carries a juicy damage bonus that scales with enemy debuffs. It\u2019s like watching a classic car get a modern engine\u2014familiar on the outside, but a beast under the hood.

How does she stack up against the new Rupture overlords? Surprisingly well, but in a different niche. While Lucia and Yixuan dominate single-target Rupture scenarios, Soldier 0 Anby provides consistent Electric damage that can handle multiple enemies with ease. She pairs beautifully with traditional Stun agents, reclaiming her spot as a reliable clearing force. Her renewed presence means that even if you skip the Rupture hype, you\u2019re not left out in the cold.

The Big Picture: Version 2.3 Tier List Breakdown

With so many moving parts, where do all these agents land? The updated tier list paints a clear picture, and it\u2019s time to dissect the rankings with the same scrutiny a Proxy gives a suspicious Hollow map.

Tier Agents
SSS Yixuan + Lucia (blessed duo), Astra Yao
SS Soldier 0 Anby (post-buff), Ukinami Yuzuha
S Manato (with Lucia), Soldier 11 (as comparison)
A Manato (without Lucia), other standard A-Ranks

The table tells a simple story: synergy is king, and Lucia is the queen who makes other pieces move. Yixuan and Lucia together occupy a tier of their own because their combined output trivializes most endgame content. Astra Yao remains a staple for Attack comps, holding her ground against the new hotness. Soldier 0 Anby\u2019s resurgence pushes her into SS-tier, proving that a good rework can breathe life into old favorites. Meanwhile, Manato\u2019s dual placement\u2014jumping from A to S depending on Lucia\u2019s presence\u2014highlights just how pivotal the right support can be.

What does this mean for your pull plans? If you have Yixuan and lack Lucia, stop reading and go pull. Seriously. The pair elevates your account to a whole new dimension. If you\u2019re missing both, consider whether you enjoy the Rupture playstyle. It\u2019s a high-investment, high-reward path, but the returns are undeniable. If you\u2019re more of an Electric enjoyer, the reborn Soldier 0 Anby is a fantastic choice that doesn\u2019t demand a luxury support, though she still appreciates good teammates.

Quick Tips for Team Building in 2.3

  • \ud83d\udca5 For the Meta Chaser: Yixuan, Lucia, and a flex Stunner. This team obliterates anything with a health bar.

  • \u26a1 For the Electric Enthusiast: Soldier 0 Anby, Anby (regular), and Nicole. Solid, accessible, and now much smoother.

  • \ud83c\udf31 For the Budget Raider: Manato, Lucia, and a defensive Support like Ben. Requires some skill, but the damage ceiling is surprisingly high.

  • \ud83d\udeab Avoid: Running Manato without any dedicated Rupture support. Your clear times will thank you.

Version 2.3 is a buffet of options, and the devs have done a commendable job making both the new and the old feel relevant. Yet, as always, tier lists are a guide, not a law. The best team is the one you enjoy piloting\u2014though if that team happens to include Lucia, well, you\u2019ll enjoy it a whole lot faster.

So, Proxies, the Hollow calls. Check the tier list image above one more time, plan your tape strategies, and remember: in Zenless Zone Zero, the only constant is the sweet, sweet sound of Rupture procs echoing through the ether.