Zenless Zone Zero Details Ellen Gameplay Buffs

Summary

Zenless Zone Zero's first limited character is set to receive some major buffs during Version 2.0, with Ellen's skills seeing plenty of upgrades.
Ellen will see multiple new Basic Attacks added, dishing out big Ice damage, alongside boosts to her passives and Additional Ability.
Ellen's buffs could look to make her more versatile with her team compositions, as well as provide more powerful uses for her Flash Freeze charges.

Zenless Zone Zero has officially revealed the suite of buffs coming to the game's first-ever limited character, with Ellen set to receive a plethora of helpful changes in Version 2.0. The next update to the urban action RPG is set to be one of its biggest yet, as the developer prepares to introduce the first major new district. Waifei Peninsula will not only feature more "open world"-like areas for players to explore, but also kick off the second major arc of Zenless Zone Zero's main story. Now, one of the game's most beloved characters is getting some big buffs.

Ellen has been one of Zenless Zone Zero's most popular characters since the game first debuted in July 2024. The shark Thiren quickly became one of the game's most powerful DPS characters on launch and remained a dominant unit for several updates following her release. However, recent updates to the game have largely seen her pushed out of the meta by stronger options in both her Attribute and Specialty, outpaced by characters like Miyabi and Hugo However, Ellen may now have a renewed chance to return to the spotlight.

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By Diana Velásquez Vargas

A new update shared by Zenless Zone Zero is showing off the array of different buffs coming to multiple parts of Ellen's kit. Ellen's Basic Attacks will see a major upgrade with two new moves, with Icy Blade dealing heavy Ice damage after different attacks and Glacial Blade Wave consuming Flash Freeze charges to dish out big damage. Ellen's Dash Attack is also gaining a new invulnerability mechanic, while her Core Passive is adding a boost to her Crit DMG. Ellen's Additional Ability is even getting a nice change, now triggering if Ellen has a Stun character on her team.

Zenless Zone Zero Reveals New Ellen Buffs

Basic Attack: Icy Blade
- On the 3rd hit of Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming, EX Special Attack: Sharknami, Dodge Counter: Reef Rock, and Assist Follow-Up, automatically launch Basic Attack: Icy Blade, dealing multiple instances of Ice DMG to all enemies in a large area ahead. It inflicts additional instances of Ice DMG against Medium and Large foes.
- Upon triggering the skill, Ellen gains the Quick Charge effect, reducing the charge time of Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush. Basic Attack: Ice Blade does not affect the branch or form of the original skill. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Basic Attack: Glacial Blade Wave
- After the 3rd hit of Basic Attack Flash Freeze Trimming, Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush's Charged Scissor Strike, Dodge Counter: Reef Rock, and Quick Assist, if Ellen has Flash Freeze Charges, pressing Basic Attack will launch Basic Attack: Glacial Blade Wave, dealing Ice DMG. This skill consumes 2 points of Flash Freeze Charge.
- After use, it can link straight into the 3rd hit of her Basic Attack. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush
- After unlocking her potential, when Ellen is charging Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush and gets hit by an enemy, she becomes immune to that DMG and instantly completes the charge.
Core Passive: Sharp-Toothed
- When Ellen launches a Charged Scissor Strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, or consumes a Flash Freeze Charge to activate Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming, the skill's CRIT DMG is increased by 100%.
- This effect also applies to Chain Attacks, Ultimates, Basic Attack: Icy Blade, and Basic Attack: Glacial Blade Wave
Additional Ability: Rising Storm
- After unlocking Ellen's potential, and when another character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction, or is a Stun Agent: When Ellen deals Ice DMG, subsequent Ice DMG increases by 3% for 10s. This effect can stack up to 10 times, and repeated triggers reset the duration.

Ellen's array of changes looks to significantly boost her damage output and bring her in line with Zenless Zone Zero's recent releases. The adjustment to Ellen's Additional ability could cause major shifts in her preferred teams, potentially making her work better with non-Ice Stun characters like Qingyi and Lighter. Her new combat tricks should also help Ellen dish out more damage in fights, making her passive Flash Freeze stacks easier to manage and more devastating when unleashed.

Ellen's popularity in Zenless Zone Zero goes far beyond just her status as one of the premiere DPS units of Zenless Zone Zero's early days. Ellen was one of the first Zenless Zone Zero characters to receive a skin, adding her school uniform to the game as an alternate outfit for players to purchase. She also received her own focused Agent Story during the Version 1.5 update, serving as the first time Zenless Zone Zero had added a new Agent Story for an older character. Ellen's new buffs should look to make her an enticing option for teambuilding once again.

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