Nikolai Stampfer-Djukic
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9 Min read Welcome to our Zenless Zone Zero Ellen guide. We’ll cover everything you need to know about Ellen, like her kit, stat priority, skill priority, teams, and more!
Ellen Joe is an S-Rank Agent from the Victoria Housekeeping Faction, with the Ice Attribute and Attack Specialty. She is a Limited Agent, meaning you can only get her from her specific character Banner, available from July 4th to July 24th, 2024.
Ellen is an extremely strong DPS character (among ZZZ best agents) and, as the first limited character to be available on release of the game, she is a perfect addition to your roster. Her single-target output is excellent and, with a heavy emphasis on her dodge mechanics, she has a solid learning curve to maximizing her potential.
Ellen |
Victoria Housekeeping |
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S Rank |
Ice |
Attack |
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Basic Attack: Saw Teeth Trimming
Press Basic Attack to activate. Unleashes up to 3 slashes, dealing Physical DMG. Hold or Repeatedly press Basic Attack during the 3rd attack to extend the attack duration.
Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming
While Flash Freeze is in effect, press Basic Attack to activate. Launch 3 attacks at enemies in front, dealing Ice DMG. Each attack consumes 1 point of Flash Freeze Charge. Hold or continuously tap Basic Attack during the 3rd attack to extend the attack duration.
Dodge: Vortex
Press Dodge to activate. A rapid dash dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
When Perfect Dodge is triggered, Ellen gains the Quick Charge effect, reducing the charge time of Dash Attack: Arctic Ambus, lasting up to 5 seconds or until it triggers.
Dash: Roaming Hunt
Hold or double-tap Dodge to activate. Enter the Roaming state, allowing dashing movement. In the Roaming state, drag the joystick to control Ellen’s direction, and release to stop. Ellen is invulnerable for a brief time after activation.
When Ellen has Flash Freeze Charges, the Flash Freeze effect is activated. Once Flash Freeze activates, Basic Attacks and Dash Attacks expend Flash Freeze Charges, dealing massive Ice DMG. Ellen can have up to a maximum of 6 Flash Freeze Charges.
While in the Roaming state, press Basic Attack to activate. Delivers a spinning slash to enemies before opening her scissors for a swift scissor attack, dealing Ice DMG. Gain 1 point of Flash Freeze Charge when the swift scissor attack hits.
While in the Roaming state, hold Basic Attack to activate. Perform a spinning slash against the enemy, then pull apart the scissors to unleash a charged scissor strike, dealing massive Ice DMG. Gain 3 points of Flash Freeze Charge when the charged scissor attack hits.
If the enemy is Frozen, it always triggers Shatter. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while charging the skill, and DMG taken is reduced by 40%. Ellen becomes briefly invulnerable during the skill.
Dash Attack: Monstrous Wave
Press Basic Attack during a dodge to activate. Launches a dashing slash attack at enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG.
Dash Attack: Cold Snap
While Flash Freeze is in effect, press Basic Attack during a dodge to activate. Launches a dashing slash attack at enemies in front, dealing Ice DMG. Consumes 1 point of Flash Freeze Charge.
Dodge Counter: Reef Rock
Press Basic Attack during a Perfect Dodge to activate. Rapidly move through enemies with open scissors for a cutting strike, dealing Ice DMG. Character is invulnerable during the attack.
When the character on the field is knocked back, press Assist to activate. Speedily move through the enemy with open scissors for a cutting strike, dealing Ice damage. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
When the character on the field is knocked back, drag Moving and press Assist to activate. Enter the Roaming state, allowing for dashing movement. While roaming, use the joystick to change directions and release to stop. Character is invulnerable briefly when triggering the skill.
Upon triggering a Quick Assist, Ellen gains the Quick Charge effect, shortening the charging time of Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, lasting up to 5s or until it triggers once.
When the character on field is about to be attacked, press Assist to activate. Parries the enemy’s attack, dealing massive Daze. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Press Special Attack after a Defensive Assist to activate. Charge and slash enemies in front, dealing Ice DMG. Rapid tap or hold Basic Attack during the attack to extend the duration of the skill. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Special Attack: Drift
Press Special Attack to activate. Use a quick tail sweep attack in front, dealing Ice DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
EX Special Attack: Tail Swipe
When Ellen has enough Energy, press Special Attack to activate. Perform a forceful tail whip attack that deals massive Ice DMG. Gain 1 Flash Freeze Charge upon striking an enemy. After executing the move, you can directly follow up with the 3rd-hit of a Basic Attack. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
EX Special Attack: Sharknami
After activating EX Special Attack: Tail Swipe, press Special Attack when Ellen has enough Energy to activate a series of powerful slashes forward, dealing massive Ice DMG. Gain 1 Flash Freeze Charge upon hitting an enemy. After executing the move, you can directly follow up with the 3rd-hit of a Basic Attack. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Chain Attack: Avalanche
When a Chain Attack is triggered, press the character icon to activate. Crash down from above and unleash an ice storm, dealing massive Ice DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Ultimate: Endless Winter
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press Ultimate to activate. Crash down from above and unleash an ice storm before a powerful scissor strike, dealing massive Ice DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
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 50%.
Additional Ability: Rising Storm
When any other character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction:
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.
| M1 | Glacial Omen: Upon hitting an enemy with a Swift Scissors during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges are increased to 3. Upon hitting an enemy with a Charged Scissor Strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges are increased to 6. For each point of Flash Freeze Charge consumed, Ellen’s CRIT Rate is increased by 2% for 15s, stacking up to 6 times. The duration of each stack is calculated separately. |
| M2 | Arctic Ocean Predator: The 3rd hit of Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming can be directly followed up with EX Special Attack: Sharknami. When using an EX Special Attack, each Flash Freeze Charge increases the current attack’s CRIT DMG by 20%, up to a max of 60%. |
| M3 | Overtime-Intolerant: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 |
| M4 | Endless Hoarfrost: Whenever a squad member Freezes or Stuns an enemy, Ellen gains 6 Flash Freeze Charges and the Quick Charge effect. She also recovers 4 Energy. The Energy recovery effect can trigger once per 10s. |
| M5 | Adequate Sleep: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 |
| M6 | The Feast Begins: When Ellen uses an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or gains Quick Charge, her PEN Ratio increases by 20% for 6s. She also gains 1 stack of The Feast Begins, up to a maximum of 3 stacks. With 3 stacks of The Feast Begins, using a Charge Scissor Strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush consumes all stacks, increasing the DMG of the current attack by 250%. |
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| W-Engine | Drive Disc | ||
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| Main Stat | Substats | ||
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Building Ellen as an Attack Agent is pretty straight forward. You want to simply maximize her personal damage with offensive stats like Crit, ATK, and PEN. Energy Regen in Partition VI is a consideration over ATK% if you want to charge your EX Special faster, providing some quality of life.
But in general, damage stats are the way to go.
Deep Sea Visitor |
ATK: 55/713 | Crit Rate: 9.6%/24%
Increases Ice DMG by 25/31.5/38/44.5/50%. Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, the equipper’s CRIT Rate increases by 10/12.5.15/17.5/20% for 8s. When dealing Ice DMG with a Dash Attack, the equipper’s CRIT Rate increases by an additional 10/12.5.15/17.5/20%for 15s. The duration of each effect is calculated separately. |
The Brimstone |
ATK: 53/684 | ATK: 12%/30%
Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dash Attack, or Dodge Counter, the equipper’s ATK increases by 3.5/4.4/5.2/6/7% for 8s, stacking up to 8 times. This effect can trigger once every 0.5s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately. |
When it comes to W-Engines, Ellen’s signature weapon will definitely be best. This W-Engine is also a limited weapon, so you’ll need to pull for it on the W-Engine banner.
The Brimstone is Soldier 11’s signature, and a solid alternative. While you won’t get the massive passive from Deep Sea Visitor, The Brimstone provides a solid passive that is applicable to Ellen.
Outside of these two, you can look to use whatever A-Rank Engine you have. Cannon Rotor is obtained from the paid Battle Pass, but other W-Engines will work as well, you’ll just lose approx 20% when compared to the S-Rank Engines.
Woodpecker Electro |
(2): Increases CRIT Rate by 8%. (4): Triggering a critical hit with a Basic Attack, Dodge Counter or EX Special Attack increases the equippers ATK by 9% for 6s. The buff duration for different skills are calculated separately. |
Puffer Electro |
(2): Increases PEN Ratio by 8%. (4): Ultimate DMG increases by 20%. Launching an Ultimate increases the equippers ATK by 15% for 12s. |
Polar Metal |
(2): Increases Ice damage dealt by 10%. (4): Increases the DMG of Basic Attack and Dash Attack by 20%. When any squad member inflicts Freeze or Shatter, this effect increases by an additional 20% for 12s. |
When considering Drive Discs, there are a few options you can go. Woodpecker Electro, Puffer Electro, and Polar Metal are all strong options, but require slightly different playstyles.
Woodpecker Electro wants Ellen to stay on-field, triggering Crits with all aspects of her kit to maintain the ATK% buff. Puffer Electro turns Ellen into a Burst DPS. When the enemy is stunned, you can launch Ellen’s Ultimate and have 12 seconds of an ATK% buff. Lastly, Polar Metal wants you to run an Ice team to frequently Freeze/Shatter enemies, giving her up to 40% DMG buff on her Basic and Dash Attacks.
Pick the set that synergizes best with how you play and what team you have around Ellen.
Ellen’s reason for existing in a team is to output damage and her stats are built as such – we simply want to stack as many damage-increasing stats as we can.
Main Stats
Sub-stats
As with all Agents, Talents (Core Passive) takes priority to upgrade. This upgrades the Core Passive and provides extra base stats.
When it comes to Skills, almost all of Ellen’s kit contributes to her damage. If you’re using Puffer Electro (4), you will want to prioritize Chain Attack/Ultimate. In general, Assist levels are the lowest priority for Ellen.
Core Passive > Ultimate = Special = Dodge = Basic > Assist
The ideal setup for Ellen revolves around a combination of Ice agents, in this case Soukaku and another Housekeeper, Lycaon. Her Core Skill Additional Ability grants her a damage bonus by having Ice agents in the team.
Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku
In Version 1.0, this Mono Ice team is seen as the strongest team. You have Ellen who is a top DPS, Lycaon who is a top Stun Agent, and Soukaku, a great support.
All three synergize together very well, making up the strongest team for 1.0. If you don’t have Lycaon, your next best would be to run another Stun Agent like Anby/Koleda. While they won’t have their AA (Additional Ability) active, they still will provide the Stun role for the team.
Since Soukaku is a free Agent from Shiyu Defense, every account should obtain at least one copy even if you get unlucky on Ellen’s Banner.
This wraps up our all-in-one Zenless Zone Zero Ellen guide. Ellen has quite a bit going for her kit compared to other Agents in the game, which can make her more rewarding to play.
Furthermore, she currently boasts some of the best damage in the game. As time passes, Ellen may be powercrept, but her value right now is unquestionable.
If ZZZ incentivizes accounts to have wide attribute coverage for Hollow Zero/Shiyu Defense, then Ellen will likely be safe from powercreep for a good while.
Thanks for Reading! For more resources, check out our other Zenless Zone Zero Guides.
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