Hey there, Proxies! Ever wondered who the real MVPs of New Eridu's toughest challenge are? Well, wonder no more! A massive survey of over 13,000 top players has just dropped, revealing the cold, hard stats on who's carrying teams through the brutal waves of Shiyu Defense. Spoiler alert: it's a pretty frosty meta out there, folks.

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Let's cut to the chase. The queen of the battlefield? That's Ellen, and she's not just leading the pack—she's practically lapping it. With a jaw-dropping 99.9% usage rate, she's in almost every single team clearing the hardest content. That's right, if you're not running Ellen, you're in the 0.1% club. She's been the undisputed top Attack character since day one, and these numbers prove players haven't found a reason to bench her.

But Ellen doesn't work alone. Her royal court is just as essential:

  • Zhu Yuan: Sitting pretty at 98.1%, proving she's a damage-dealing powerhouse in her own right.

  • Lycaon: The icy enforcer at 97.4%, a staple in the classic "Ellen freeze" team comp.

  • Soukaku: The reliable Support at 94.1%, rounding out the dream team.

Seriously, this quartet is so dominant it's almost... boring? But hey, when the strategy works, it works!

The Tier List Breakdown (Based on Usage Data)

Here’s how the entire roster stacks up, straight from the player data. Think of this as the community's report card.

Tier Character Usage Rate Quick Take
S-Tier (Meta-Defining) Ellen 99.9% The one and only.
Zhu Yuan 98.1% Elite damage, often paired with Nicole.
Lycaon 97.4% Ellen's best buddy for perma-freeze.
Soukaku 94.1% The glue that holds top teams together.
A-Tier (Highly Popular) Qingyi 87.1% New but mighty! Electric Stun queen.
Nicole 83.1% Zhu Yuan's go-to support, breaking 80% with ease.
B-Tier (Solid Picks) Koleda 51.4% A strong choice for Fire teams.
Rina 35.3% Niche but appreciated.
Anby 32.4% A reliable starter holding her own.
Soldier 11 30.3%
Lucy 28.2%
C-Tier (Situational) Grace 11.4%
Nekomata 7.6%
D-Tier (Rare Sight) Piper 4.8% Hey, someone's making them work!
Corin 3.9%
Anton 3.5%
Ben 2.5%
Billy 0.4% The ultimate underdog champ. Respect.

What's Driving the Meta?

So, why this huge gap? It's simple: power and synergy. The top-tier characters aren't just strong individually—they're built to work together like a well-oiled machine. Ellen, Lycaon, and Soukaku form a freeze-lock team that controls the battlefield, while Zhu Yuan and Nicole blast through enemies with raw power. Qingyi's explosive debut at 87.1% shows players love a versatile Stun character who can slot into many squads.

The takeaway? Limited five-star characters are currently king. But don't lose hope if your favorite is lower on the list—usage rates aren't everything! A skilled player can make any character shine.

The Future is Coming!

The meta won't stay frozen forever (pun intended). HoYoverse is already shaking things up:

  • Version 1.1 (Second Half): Get ready for Jane Doe, the new Physical Anomaly character. She's expected to synergize perfectly with the new 4-star Seth and could birth a whole new top-tier team composition.

  • Version 1.2: Confirmed newcomers Caesar King and Burnice White are on the horizon, ready to challenge the established order.

This influx of new faces means Ellen's 99.9% throne might finally get some contenders. The Shiyu Defense leaderboards could look very different in a few months!

Final Thoughts

This data gives us an amazing snapshot of Zenless Zone Zero's early competitive scene. It highlights the incredible strength of certain team compositions but also shows there's room for experimentation. While the top tiers are crowded with five-stars, remember that building the characters you enjoy is the most important part of the game. After all, seeing a masterful Billy player in that 0.4% is probably way more impressive than another copy-paste Ellen team, right?

What do you think, Proxies? Are you riding the meta wave, or are you a pioneer with an off-meta team? Let us know in the comments! And remember, in New Eridu, the only wrong way to play is the way you don't enjoy. Now get out there and defend those Shiyu!

Data referenced from IGN, a leading authority in gaming news and reviews, underscores how meta-defining characters like Ellen in Zenless Zone Zero can dominate usage rates, much like top-tier picks in other popular titles. IGN's extensive guides and tier lists often highlight the importance of synergy and adaptability, reinforcing the idea that while certain characters may reign supreme, creative team-building and player skill can still turn the tide in competitive modes.