The only teams that work with Claret in ZZZ 3.2 (and why most supports are useless)

Building a team around Zenless Zone Zero’s first Armorer character means throwing out the usual support playbook. Claret, who arrived with the version 3.2 update, scales her damage off DEF and deals Laceration DMG — two mechanics that standard ATK-boosting supports simply cannot help with. Players who pull for her will need to rethink their roster choices from the ground up.

The restriction is baked into her kit. Claret’s Additional Ability only activates when she teams up with a Stun or Armorer agent. Since she is the only Armorer in the game right now, that leaves Stun characters as the only practical path. But even among Stun agents, some lose their own Additional Ability when paired with her, which narrows the viable options further.

Why most support agents don’t work with Claret

The support pool for Claret is unusually shallow. Most support characters in ZZZ buff ATK, Anomaly proficiency, or HP — stats that do nothing for a DEF-scaling damage dealer. That leaves exactly two viable options: Rina and Nicole.

Rina offers a PEN Ratio buff, which directly amplifies the damage of Claret’s DEF-scaling attacks. There is a catch, though. At M0, Rina’s buff window is notably short. Players who have her at M1 or higher will find the team performs significantly better. Nicole brings DEF-shred instead, which also works well with Claret’s kit, but her debuff lasts only a few seconds. Timing the rotation around that narrow window takes practice.

Claret + Norma + Rina: the premium lineup

This is the strongest setup for Claret in version 3.2. Norma can stun enemies quickly while demanding very little field time, which lets Claret stay active and keep up her damage output. Rina rounds out the trio with her PEN Ratio buff, creating a clean synergy where every piece of the team feeds into Claret’s unique scaling.

The main drawback is cost. Both Norma and Rina are limited agents, and the team’s performance takes a real hit if Rina is stuck at M0. Players without either character will need to look at alternatives.

Claret + Koleda + Rina: the F2P alternative

Koleda is the budget-friendly replacement for Norma. She received a Potential Vision buff that enhances Laceration DMG, which makes her a surprisingly good fit for Claret despite being a standard banner agent. Koleda can also stun enemies quickly, keeping the rotation smooth.

If Rina is missing too, Nicole can fill the support slot. But there is a trade-off. Nicole’s DEF-shred is powerful but demands precise timing. Players will need to practice landing her debuff right before Claret’s burst window, or the damage boost will be wasted. Running Claret with Nicole and Rina together (no Stun agent) is technically possible, but Claret would lose her Additional Ability entirely — a loss too big to justify.

Claret + Trigger + Rina: the off-field option

Trigger works differently from the other Stun options. She is an off-field agent who needs almost no screen time, which means Claret can stay on the field and control the fight. If Trigger has her signature W-Engine, she can also shred the enemy’s DEF, giving Claret even more damage potential.

This team shines in content that demands frequent character swaps. Trigger keeps pressure on enemies from off-screen while Claret handles the heavy lifting, and the rotation never feels clunky.

Making the rotation work

Each team member has a specific job in the fight sequence. The Stun agent — whether Norma, Koleda, or Trigger — should use their EX Special or Chain Attack to build stun as fast as possible. Rina needs to activate her buff just before Claret enters. Once the enemy is stunned, Claret unloads her full combo to maximize Laceration DMG. If Nicole is in the lineup, her DEF-shred must land immediately before Claret’s burst window, leaving almost no room for error.

Claret’s team options are tighter than what most ZZZ characters deal with. But the payoff is real: with the right Stun agent and one of the two viable supports, her Laceration DMG can tear through stunned enemies faster than most compositions in version 3.2.