When Zenless Zone Zero first strutted onto the scene in 2024, one S-rank agent immediately stole hearts with his sharp suit and even sharper combat legs. Von Lycaon, the elegant wolf butler from Victoria Housekeeping, has somehow only grown more popular with time. Even in 2026, players still turn to him for that perfect blend of devastating Ice damage and crowd-controlling daze. Honestly, who wouldn’t want a fluffy gentleman packing a solid punch in their party?

Lycaon operates as a Stun specialist, meaning his entire kit revolves around staggering enemies and piling on daze. Once an opponent’s daze gauge fills up, they become vulnerable to a chain attack, letting the whole team unleash their ultimates. It’s a straightforward yet deeply satisfying role, and his icy combos flow so smoothly that even newcomers can look like pros. Over the past couple of years, the meta has shifted slightly, but Lycaon’s core strengths remain untouched – high Impact scaling, fast-paced strikes, and a signature W-Engine that feels tailor-made for his playstyle.

Best W-Engines for Von Lycaon

Picking the right W-Engine for Lycaon isn’t rocket science, but the gap between an optimal choice and an okay one can mean the difference between instantly breaking an elite enemy or awkwardly dancing around while waiting for cooldowns. The absolute top pick remains The Restrained, and for good reason.

This signature ball packs a whopping base ATK of 713 at max level and an Impact secondary stat of 18%. Its passive is where the magic happens: every time Lycaon lands an attack on an enemy, he gains a stacking buff that boosts Basic Attack DMG and Daze dealt. Because his combos hit multiple times per second, this buff stays active almost permanently, giving him scary uptime in prolonged fights. If you managed to pull this weapon back in 2024, you’re still set today.

But gacha luck isn’t always cooperative, right? For those who couldn’t snag The Restrained, a few alternatives keep Lycaon competitive. The Precious Fossilized Core is a standout S-rank option you can eventually craft or pull. It offers 594 base ATK and 15% Impact, with a passive that increases Daze inflicted by 10% against enemies above 50% HP, jumping to 16% if they’re above 75% HP. This makes it excellent for opening rotations when you want to trigger the first break as fast as possible.

Another solid pick is the Six Shooter. Although it has slightly lower base stats, its unique mechanic generates Charge stacks every three seconds. Each stack consumed during an EX Special Attack boosts Daze inflicted by 4% to 6.4% per stack. If you time your EX skills carefully, you can frontload a massive chunk of daze at critical moments. Meanwhile, the Steam Oven provides a more passive route: it increases Impact by 2% to 3.2% for every 10 Energy accumulated, stacking up to 8 times. Once Energy is spent, the buff lingers for eight seconds, so you’re almost always running with a noticeable Impact increase.

Optimal Drive Disc Sets

Drive Discs are where you can really fine-tune Lycaon’s lethality. As a Stun agent, he craves Impact, Ice DMG, and CRIT stats. Before diving into set bonuses, keep an eye on the main stats for drives 4 through 6 – aim for CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG on 4, Ice DMG Bonus on 5, and Impact% on 6. Substat priority should follow CRIT, ATK%, and Impact wherever possible.

For set bonuses, the gold standard remains 4-Piece Shockstar Disco. This set increases Daze from Basic Attacks, Dash Attacks, and Dodge Counters by 20%. Lycaon’s playstyle weaves these moves constantly, so the bonus feels almost like a permanent 20% daze multiplier. It enables him to lock down even bosses with annoying patterns.

When it comes to the 2-piece companion set, you have three strong paths depending on what your team needs:

• 2-Piece Polar Metal: Grants 10% Ice DMG bonus. This is the simplest and often highest damage option, directly buffing Lycaon’s primary element. If you already have a good Anomaly character in the party, this is the way to go.

• 2-Piece Freedom Blues: Boosts Anomaly Proficiency. Lycaon isn’t a pure Anomaly unit, but his Ice attacks naturally build up frostbite. Higher Anomaly Proficiency lets him trigger Freeze more often, which further disables enemies and sets up shatter combos. Pair this with another Ice ally for maximum effect.

• 2-Piece Woodpecker Electro: Provides 8% CRIT Rate. Since Lycaon’s damage spikes hard when he lands a critical hit on a dazed enemy, that flat CRIT bump helps consistency. If you’re struggling to stack enough CRIT from substats, this set smooths out the RNG.

Many players swear by Shockstar Disco + Polar Metal for general content, but don’t sleep on Freedom Blues if you enjoy watching enemies flail helplessly in a frozen state. It’s oddly satisfying, and your team will thank you for the safety window.

Leveling and Skill Priority

Though not as flashy as choosing W-Engines, investing in Lycaon’s skills correctly pays off massively. Focus on his Basic Attack and Dodge Counter first – those moves contribute most of his daze buildup. His Chain Attack and Ultimate can be leveled afterward, as they deal hefty burst damage once an enemy is stunned. His Assist skill is fine to leave at a modest level unless you regularly use him as a switch-in character. Core Passive upgrades unlock at certain ascension tiers and are always worth rushing since they directly increase Impact.

As for materials, by 2026 you’ve probably stockpiled most of the required Notorious Hunt drops and Ice Sealing Modules, but newer players should prioritize weekly boss runs and dedicated farming routes in Hollow Zero.

Why Lycaon Still Dominates in 2026

Even after several agent releases and balance patches, Lycaon’s kit has aged gracefully. His ability to deal both sustained Ice damage and crippling daze makes him a flexible fit in mono-Ice teams, freeze comps, or just as the primary stunner for any ATK-focused carry. He plays smoothly, looks fantastic, and—let’s be real—there’s something incredibly cool about a butler who literally kicks enemies into submission. If you’re building a Stun agent who can handle both mob waves and tough elites with equal elegance, Von Lycaon is still the gentleman for the job.