The bustling, chaotic streets of New Eridu have seen many Proxies rise and fall, but few agents have left as versatile and lasting an impression as Zhao. By 2026, this free-to-play Anomaly support unit has solidified her reputation as the ultimate flexible teammate in Zenless Zone Zero. Her ability to passively generate Ether Veil and buff her allies' ATK and DMG based on her own substantial HP pool allows her to seamlessly integrate into a vast array of squad compositions. While specialized, top-tier supports might outperform her in their niche roles, Zhao's universal utility makes her an invaluable asset, especially for players navigating the game's myriad challenges without relying on a deep roster of premium characters. Her true strength lies not in being the singular best, but in being the reliable cornerstone upon which many powerful, and sometimes surprising, team synergies are built.
🏆 The Premier Team: Unleashing Ye Shunguang's Full Potential
This composition is engineered with a singular, devastating purpose: to transform Ye Shunguang into an unstoppable engine of destruction. The synergy here is a masterclass in focused support.
Team Core: Zhao + Ye Shunguang (Main DPS) + Dialyn (Support)
Why It Works:
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Dialyn's Role: As a premier Stun specialist, Dialyn does two critical things. She provides a massive Stun DMG multiplier, making it easier to stagger formidable foes. More importantly for Ye Shunguang, she generates copious amounts of Energy, allowing the swordmaster to trigger her Ultimate ability far more frequently. This near-constant uptime on her Ultimate is the key to maintaining her powerful Enlightened Mind State.
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Zhao's Contribution: Operating almost entirely off-field, Zhao's passive generation of Ether Veil dovetails perfectly with Ye Shunguang's mechanics. This veil directly fuels the generation of Ye Shunguang's Qingming Sword Force, the resource needed for her most powerful attacks. Furthermore, Zhao's HP-scaling buffs provide a significant and persistent boost to Ye Shunguang's ATK and overall damage output.
The beauty of this team lies in its efficiency. Neither Zhao nor Dialyn demands significant time on the field. This leaves Ye Shunguang free to dominate the entire combat sequence, cycling through her enhanced states with relentless grace, backed by a duo of supports who empower her from the shadows.
❄️ The Frostbite Symphony: A Premium Anomaly Ensemble
For players who have assembled some of Hollow's most elegant and deadly fighters, Zhao serves as the perfect conductor for their icy symphony.
Team Core: Zhao + Miyabi (Anomaly DPS) + Yanagi (Sub-DPS/Support)
Why It Works:
This team leverages the already potent synergy between the elegant Miyabi and the swift Yanagi, with Zhao amplifying their strengths to new heights.
| Agent | Primary Role | Key Synergy with Zhao & Team |
|---|---|---|
| Miyabi | Anomaly & Crit DPS | Builds Frostbite; her crit-focused kit benefits immensely from Zhao's ATK/DMG buffs. |
| Yanagi | Sub-DPS & Anomaly Enabler | Triggers Shatter; her EX Special Attacks synergize perfectly with Miyabi's Frostburn. |
| Zhao | Universal Buffer & Enabler | Collects Frostbite stacks to buff team ATK/DMG, setting the stage for massive bursts. |
As Miyabi and Yanagi work in tandem to layer and detonate Frost-related anomalies on enemies, Zhao works behind the scenes. She gathers the Frostbite stacks they generate, converting this buildup into a powerful, team-wide offensive buff. This is particularly crucial for Miyabi, who, despite being an Anomaly agent, relies heavily on Critical Hit values to maximize her damage. Zhao's buffs ensure every one of Miyabi's elegant, freezing strikes hits with devastating force.
💎 The F2P Special: Maximizing Accessibility
True to her origins, Zhao forms the heart of a highly effective and entirely accessible team, proving that strategic composition can rival raw rarity.
Team Core: Zhao + Harumasa (Main DPS) + Pulchra (Stun Support)
Why It Works:
This team is built on clear, executable rotations that reward player skill.
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Pulchra's Opening: As a reliable A-Rank Stun agent, Pulchra requires minimal field time. She swiftly applies Stun accumulation to enemies, setting them up for a follow-up assault. While she naturally pairs best with Aftershock agents, her stun utility is universally valuable.
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Zhao's Setup: Zhao lays down her long-duration buffs, providing Harumasa with both a flat ATK increase and a percentage-based DMG buff scaled from her HP.
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Harumasa's Burst: Harumasa operates as a classic burst DPS. The damage he unleashes is directly proportional to how well a player can execute his rotation within the windows provided by Pulchra's stuns and Zhao's buffs. Mastering the timing is key to unlocking his full potential.
While this squad may not reach the astronomical damage ceilings of premium teams, its consistency, ease of acquisition, and clear gameplay loop make it more than capable of conquering the vast majority of Zenless Zone Zero's content. It stands as a testament to smart, resource-friendly team building.
🔮 The Ever-Evolving Meta
As Zenless Zone Zero continues to expand in 2026, the role of versatile supports like Zhao only becomes more critical. New agents and mechanics constantly shift the combat landscape, but a foundational understanding of synergy, buff timing, and role compression remains paramount. Whether enabling a hyperscale carry like Ye Shunguang, amplifying the elemental waltz of Miyabi and Yanagi, or leading a budget-friendly squad to victory, Zhao demonstrates that true support isn't about flashy moves—it's about making everyone else on the team shine brighter. For Proxies willing to master her rhythms, she remains one of the most rewarding and future-proof investments in all of New Eridu.