Hey there, Proxies! It’s 2026, and I’m still absolutely hooked on Zenless Zone Zero. Over the last couple of years, I’ve tried every agent under the Hollow’s twisted sun, but one character has become a permanent staple in my squad—Seth Lowell. I know, I know: a Defense agent who actually plays like an offensive powerhouse? That’s exactly what makes him so fun. Today I’m going to walk you through my personal Seth build, the one that keeps my team shielded, buffed, and melting enemies with Anomaly procs. Grab a coffee, and let’s dive in.
Seth might be labeled a Defense agent, but let’s be real—he’s a support assassin with a riot shield. His whole playstyle revolves around the Resolve meter. Every time Seth parries, dodges, or uses his EX Special, he builds Resolve. Once it’s full, his Charged Hold Basic Attack becomes a game-changer: it triggers a special Quick Assist that not only grants a solid shield to your chosen ally but also buffs their Attribute Anomaly buildup while shredding enemy resistance. That means Seth barely needs to hog field time—he pops in, delivers a shield and buff, and swaps out so your main DPS (looking at you, Jane Doe) goes absolutely wild. In 2026, this loop is still one of the most efficient ways to turbocharge Anomaly teams.
Of course, none of this works without the right gear. Over the years, I’ve experimented with dozens of W-Engines, and a few have emerged as clear winners. Let me break them down for you.
The Peacekeeper – Specialized is his signature W-Engine, and it’s almost tailor-made for the way I play him. The key here is energy regeneration—it gives you more frequent EX Specials, which means more Resolve and more shields. Plus, while shielded, you get a massive 36% Anomaly Buildup bonus. If you’re running an Anomaly team with someone like Grace or Piper, this W-Engine turns Seth into a consistent proc-machine.
If you grabbed the battle pass, Spring Embrace is a sleeper hit. At first glance its damage reduction looks defensive, but the real magic is the buff transfer on switch-out. Seth applies his shield, triggers Quick Assist, and the next agent inherits the energy regen buff. It synergizes so smoothly with his quick-swap style that I sometimes prefer it over The Peacekeeper when I need my main DPS to spam EX abilities.
For free-to-play players, Bunny Band is an absolute gem. It gives Seth an ATK boost while shielded, which directly scales his Core Passive—stronger ATK% means thicker shields for the whole team. The attack passive doesn’t buff the shield itself, but the extra punch helps Seth chip in damage while he’s on screen, and it’s super accessible. I’ve used this to clear endgame Shiyu Defense floors without a hitch.
Now, a couple of alternatives if you’re really strapped for options. Big Cylinder scales with DEF and can occasionally nuke on a crit if you build for it, but honestly, Seth loves ATK% too much. It’s a decent placeholder until you get something better. Similarly, The Original Transmorpher offers Max HP and Impact, which helps him daze enemies, but it doesn’t mesh well with his Resolve-shield-ATK loop. Use it only if you have nothing else, and even then, I’d recommend farming for Bunny Band as soon as possible.
Alright, W-Engines are only half the story. The real granular tuning comes from Drive Discs, and Seth’s versatility means you’ve got a few strong combinations. Here’s a quick reference I’ve put together from my own tests—and yes, these sets still dominate the 2026 meta thanks to HoYoverse’s careful balancing.
| Drive Disc Setup | Main Stat Priority | Why I Use It |
|---|---|---|
| 4-piece Swing Jazz + 2-piece Hormone Punk | Energy Regen, ATK% | My personal favorite. Swing Jazz’s team-wide damage buff after a Chain Attack or Ultimate is perfect for Seth’s quick assist rotations. The 2-piece Hormone Punk’s 10% ATK boost directly strengthens his shield, making everyone tankier. |
| 4-piece Swing Jazz + 2-piece Freedom Blues | Energy Regen, Anomaly Proficiency | If your team relies heavily on Anomaly reactions, the extra Anomaly Proficiency from Freedom Blues makes Seth an even better enabler. He’ll stack Shock or Corruption faster, pushing enemies into disorder chaos. |
| 4-piece Freedom Blues + 2-piece Hormone Punk | Anomaly Proficiency, ATK% | A hybrid approach. The 4-piece Freedom Blues keeps your Anomaly buildup high, while the ATK% bonus still beefs up the shield. Great if you already have another dedicated support on the team. |
| 4-piece Freedom Blues + 2-piece Shockstar Disco | Anomaly Proficiency, Impact | This one’s for when you want Seth to lean more into dazing enemies. His Basic Attacks and Dash Attacks will flinch foes faster, and you still keep strong Anomaly buildup. A niche but fun setup for double-Anomaly squads. |
I always aim for Energy Regen on Slot 6, ATK% on Slot 4 and 5, and as much Anomaly Proficiency in substats as I can find. Seth’s shields scale with ATK, so you never want to sacrifice that. In 2026, we have even more Hollow Zero modifiers that reward quick assists, so a 4-piece Swing Jazz setup feels better than ever. Just last week I paired him with a hyper-invested Jane Doe, and the synergy was disgusting—permanent shields, perpetual Elec Anomaly, and sub-30-second boss clears.
A quick tip: don’t sleep on Seth’s Mindscape Cinema if you’ve pulled duplicates. His M2, for example, increases the Anomaly Buildup Rate of shielded allies even further, which stacks beautifully with the builds above. If you’re really committed to maining him, it’s a worthwhile investment.
So there you have it—my tried-and-true Seth Lowell build for 2026. Whether you’re protecting your team in Shiyu Defense or speedrunning Notorious Hunt, these W-Engines and Drive Discs will turn him into the shield-slinging anomaly machine he was born to be. Give it a spin, and let me know how quickly your clears get. Until next time, stay safe in the Hollows! ✨