HoYoverse’s urban fantasy action-RPG Zenless Zone Zero has continued to dominate the gaming scene since its launch, and as of 2026, Proxies around the globe are still diving headfirst into the Hollows to master its lightning-fast combat. At the heart of every Agent’s kit lies one of five core elements — Fire, Electric, Ice, Physical, and Ether — each packing its own unique flavor of crowd control, damage, and tactical nuance. Understanding these attributes isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the bread and butter for anyone looking to crush high-level content and teambuilding.
Agents are not simply color-coded spellcasters. The real magic happens when an Agent continuously applies their elemental damage to a target, building up an invisible meter known as the Attribute Anomaly. Once that bar fills, a powerful debuff or extra effect is unleashed, turning the tide of battle in an instant. Whether you’re running a mono-element squad or mixing it up for layered reactions, knowing these five ZZZ elements inside out is the key to turning a scuffed run into a clean sweep.
The Five Elements and Their Attribute Anomalies
The Zenless Zone Zero element system drives both the game’s moment-to-moment action and its long-term team-building meta. Here’s a quick glance at what each attribute brings to the table:
| Element | Attribute Anomaly | Core Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Fire | Burn | Continuous damage over time; immobilizes organic enemies |
| ⚡ Electric | Shock | Extra damage and action disruption, especially against robots |
| ❄️ Ice | Shatter | Freeze and slow; increased crit damage taken by the target |
| 💪 Physical | Assault | Massive burst damage, interrupts actions, increases Daze |
| 🌌 Ether | Corruption | Target takes increased damage; can interrupt energy-based foes |
🔥 Fire: Burn It All Down
Fire-wielding Agents are the undisputed kings and queens of sustained pressure. Every searing blow slowly fills the Burn gauge, and once triggered, the enemy is wreathed in flames that nibble away at their health bar with each tick. The real kicker? Organic-type enemies — think fleshy Hollow aberrations — are completely immobilized while burning, leaving them wide open for a full combo. If you want a smooth early clear, a Fire Agent is usually your best buddy.
⚡ Electric: Ride the Lightning
Agents aligned with the Electric attribute bring the speed, the flash, and the crowd control. Their gameplay often feels like a dance — dashing in, zapping a cluster of foes, and watching the Shock effect propagate like a chain reaction. Unlike Fire’s steady melt, Shock adds a spike of bonus Electric damage and plays havoc with enemy AI, making it the go-to element for dismantling robotic and mechanical threats. In the late game, a well-timed Shock proc can cancel a boss’s one-shot move, making it a true DPS window opener.
❄️ Ice: Shattered and Vulnerable
Ice Agents are the ultimate utility players. While they might not top the raw damage charts, their ability to freeze enemies solid and apply the Shatter effect is invaluable. Once the Ice Anomaly kicks in, the target not only suffers a mobility penalty but also becomes a punching bag that takes amplified critical damage for a short window. It’s the perfect setup for a Physical or Ether finisher. Many team comps revolve around an Ice support to hold the line while the carry winds up their biggest moves.
💪 Physical: No Tricks, Just Strength
When you absolutely, positively need something deleted, you call in a Physical Agent. These bruisers trade fancy elemental statuses for pure, unadulterated force. The Assault anomaly is a game-changer — it interrupts whatever the enemy was about to do and drops a nuke of Physical damage right then and there. On top of that, it cranks up the Daze value the target receives for a few seconds, making it much easier to stagger or stun them. In a game where timing is everything, a well-placed Assault can cancel a deadly attack and create a kill window in one clean motion.
🌌 Ether: The Corruption Catalyst
Ether is the wild card of the five elements. It thrives in the space between support and damage dealer, often amplifying the entire team’s output. Once the Corruption anomaly activates, the marked enemy turns into a damage sponge, taking amplified hits from all sources. But its true anti-meta strength lies in its ability to short-circuit energy-based opponents — those luminescent, barrier-spamming Hollows that usually require a specific counter. Adding an Ether Agent to your roster isn’t just about personal performance; it’s about lifting the whole squad up a tier.
Teambuilding in the Elemental Meta
Building a squad in Zenless Zone Zero in 2026 is less about picking a single OP Agent and more about weaving elemental synergy into every decision. The most successful Proxy teams often stack two elements to create consistent anomaly triggers while leaving room for a high-burst Physical or Ether Agent to round out the composition. For example, a popular setup runs an Ice breach support alongside a Fire DPS — Ice locks enemies in place, Fire stacks the Burn, and the combined anomaly procs shred even elite foes in seconds.
It’s also worth noting that Hollow environments and enemy affixes frequently shift, forcing players to adapt. A zone crawling with robots? Take an Electric Agent and watch the Shock procs fly. An area heavy on regenerating elites? The Corruption from Ether will keep their health bars from ever climbing back. Flexibility is the name of the game, and the five elements give you all the tools you need.
From casual daily runs to the sweatiest endgame modes, mastering these five Zenless Zone Zero elements remains the dividing line between a struggling Proxy and a legend of New Eridu. So charge up your attribute gauges, mix those anomalies, and show those Hollows who’s boss.