Case File #zero
A TierZero Build Guide
Zero is a Cosmos Sub-DPS who frontloads damage into their Ultimate and Redirect Skill, giving them strong burst potential as Awakening effects accumulate over time. Because that burst window is also their main source of damage, they shine as a carry through most of the game but fall off in endgame content, which lands them in A tier.
Strengths
- Ultimate and Skill carry the bulk of their damage, making them a very effective burst Sub-DPS
- Naturally scales well as more Awakening effects are unlocked
- Skill instantly fills Cycle Energy, so Esper Cycles can be triggered right away
- Can be slotted as a flex Sub-DPS alongside many different Main DPS options
- Skill deals bonus damage to lower-level enemies, rewarding keeping them level-capped
Weaknesses
- Damage is heavily tied to Ultimate and Skill uptime
- Not strong enough to be a top-tier Main DPS for endgame content
- Best-in-slot Arc is a paid store purchase
- Needs Lakshana or Anima teammates to reach their full Esper Cycle potential
Best Arcs
Hypervortex: Deals 30% increased Cosmos DMG with the wearer's Redirect Skill and Ultimate. Increases the wearer's Cycle Intensity by 36 for 15s after casting a Redirect Skill. Resets the duration when triggered again.
Eclipse: Increases wearer's ATK by 30%. Unlocks Arc: Eclipse — the wearer creates a 40s Eclipse. During the Eclipse, each enemy defeated restores 6 Ultimate Energy, up to 5 times (cooldown: 300s).
Picture Frame: Increases ATK by 20% when the wearer's HP is above 50%; increases DEF by 20% when HP is below 50%.
Best Cartridge
Epic (2): Cosmos DMG +10%. Legendary (4): Ignores 25% of enemies' DEF for 20s after the wearer casts Ultimate. Effect does not stack.
Best Main Stat: CRIT Rate or Cycle Intensity
- CRIT Rate is the default pick because Zero's damage happens in short burst windows and benefits from consistency.
- Choose Cycle Intensity if Zero is placed in a full quickswap team, where enough cycles occur for Zero to trigger Esper Cycles too.
- Priority substats: CRIT DMG, CRIT Rate, Cycle Intensity, DMG, ATK%.
Module Layout
Required Modules
Bonus: Type III (+10% ATK)
Total Bonus: +40% Attack
Substat Priority
- This layout activates Lost Radiance's 4-piece effect while maximizing the bonus Module.
- Prioritize modules that roll the substats above to push Zero's burst damage higher.
Best Teams
A Blossom-based quickswap team where Zero and Jiuyuan support the Main DPS, and Sakiri provides crowd control and ATK buffs. The combination also unlocks the Hexed Esper Cycle for extra damage.
Zero
Sub-DPS
Burst Sub-DPS who frontloads damage through their Skill and Ultimate.
Nanally
Main DPS (Flex)
Primary damage dealer; swap in Mint if Nanally is unavailable.
Jiuyuan
Sub-DPS
Adds damage and empowers the Blossom Esper Cycle triggered by the trio.
Sakiri
Support (Flex)
Provides crowd control plus ATK buffs and enables the Hexed Esper Cycle; Adler works if you want a defensive support.
Alternatives
Zero handles burst damage while Jiuyuan contributes sustained damage next to the Main DPS.
Zero, Jiuyuan and the Main DPS easily trigger Blossom, which Jiuyuan can empower for more damage.
Sakiri supplies crowd control and ATK buffs and opens up the Hexed Esper Cycle as another damage source.
Swap between all three damage dealers to keep Esper Cycles and buffs rolling.
- If you lack Nanally, Mint fills the Main DPS slot with the same rotation.
- Sakiri can be replaced by Adler for a more defensive setup.
Skill Priority
Appraisal (Basic Attack)
Can be delayed for a pure burst build, but worth leveling alongside the Skill if Zero is played as the Main DPS.
Rift Blossom (Support Skill)
Nice bonus DMG but leveled last, since most of Zero's damage comes from other sources.
Appraise and Engrave (Skill)
Level second since it is used nearly as frequently as the Ultimate and instantly fills Cycle Energy.
Divice by Zero (Ultimate)
Max this first — most of Zero's damage comes from using the Ultimate as often as possible.
Awakening Priority
Anomalies Record
Top priority Awakening: the extra CRIT Rate sets up the Ultimate to deal significantly more damage.
Undecided Factors
Second priority, directly improving the damage of Zero's Ultimate.
Deceptive Liberation
Boosts Skill damage, making Zero's burst combos more reliable.
Finding the Calling
Helps Zero use their Ultimate more often by improving energy flow.
Theopneustos
Grants bonus ATK whenever the Support Skill is triggered — a solid quality-of-life pickup.
Blooming Gaze
Adds damage against low-level enemies; fine to have but low priority.
How to Play
Zero is a quickswap burst Sub-DPS. Start with a Lakshana or Anima teammate holding full Cycle Energy, swap to Zero to trigger Remora or Bloom, use their Skill to instantly refill Cycle Energy, then fire the Ultimate before handing the field back to your Main DPS.
Rotations
- 1Jiuyuan Skill → Sakiri Hold Skill → Sakiri Ultimate → Zero Skill → Zero Ultimate → Swap to Nanally (Blossom trigger) → Nanally Skill → Nanally Ultimate → Spam Normal Attacks → Jiuyuan Ultimate
- 2With Mint instead of Nanally: same rotation, but spam Mint's Skill during her field time thanks to its low cooldown.
- 3Opening: start on a Lakshana or Anima character with full Cycle Energy → swap to Zero to trigger Remora or Bloom → Zero Skill → Zero Ultimate.
- 4If you have both a Lakshana and an Anima ally, trigger one reaction on entry and then the other to activate Charge and gain Ultimate Energy.
Tips
- Use Appraise and Engrave to instantly fill Cycle Energy so Zero can trigger an Esper Cycle right after swapping in.
- Always keep Zero level-capped: their Skill deals extra damage to enemies below their level.
- Team Zero with Lakshana characters to apply Remora (lowering enemy movement and attack speed).
- Team Zero with Anima characters to trigger Blossom, which places Vita Buds that fire Vita Pistils at enemies for damage.
- Run both Lakshana and Anima allies to unlock Charge, which restores Ultimate Energy whenever Vita Pistils hit Remora-afflicted enemies.
- Save the Ultimate for the buff window from Lost Radiance and the relevant Awakening effects.