This ZZZ tier list ranks the current Zenless Zone Zero roster for Version 3.1, The Long Goodbye, as checked on September 6, 2026. The ranking focuses on practical account value across Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault: damage ceiling matters, but so do team flexibility, field time, investment cost, and whether an Agent still performs when the stage does not perfectly favor them.
Quick answer: The safest top investments in Version 3.1 are Astra Yao, Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, Miyabi, Remielle, Yuzuha, Aria, Dialyn, Nangong Yu, Promeia, Lucia, and Sunna. New players should not simply build three S+ damage dealers: a functional ZZZ squad has three slots, and one strong carry plus compatible Stun, Support, Defense, or Anomaly partners usually beats a collection of individually powerful Agents with no rotation. Version 3.2 launches on September 9, but Claret and Roxy remain unranked until they are playable and tested on live endgame stages.
Who are the best Agents in Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1?
The best Agents are the ones that either set the damage ceiling or make several teams substantially better. Astra Yao remains the cleanest account-wide Support investment because she contributes without demanding long field time. Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, Miyabi, Aria, and Promeia represent different premium damage cores. Remielle and Yuzuha sharply improve Anomaly-oriented accounts, while Dialyn and Nangong Yu create high-value Stun windows for the teams that fit them.
This is an overall ranking, not a claim that one Agent wins every encounter. Enemy weakness, resistance, stage bonuses, team completeness, W-Engine quality, Drive Discs, and execution can move a character by a full tier in your account. A community discussion that prompted this update made the problem clear: players with premium units were still missing endgame targets because important Core Skills, team rotations, and matchup coverage were unfinished. Tier position is a ceiling and consistency estimate, not a substitute for building the character.
What is the current ZZZ tier list for September 2026?
The table uses four settled tiers plus a provisional group. It synthesizes current Version 3.1 endgame lists from Game8, Prydwen, GameVika, and other active ZZZ guide databases, then favors Agents with broad account value over characters who need one exact premium composition. Rankings assume reasonable investment rather than maximum Mindscapes and signature equipment.
| Tier | Agents | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| S+ | Aria, Astra Yao, Dialyn, Lucia, Miyabi, Nangong Yu, Promeia, Remielle, Sunna, Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, Yuzuha | Meta pillars, elite carries, or supports that raise several teams |
| S | Alice, Banyue, Cissia, Grace, Ju Fufu, Lighter, Nicole, Norma, Orphie & Magus, Pulchra, Pyrois, Seed, Soldier 0 - Anby, Starlight - Billy, Velina, Yidhari, Zhao | Excellent endgame picks with narrower teams, higher execution demands, or less universal value |
| A | Burnice, Caesar, Ellen, Evelyn, Harumasa, Hugo, Koleda, Lucy, Lycaon, Manato, Nekomata, Pan Yinhu, Piper, Qingyi, Rina, Soldier 11, Soukaku, Vivian, Yanagi, Zhu Yuan | Strong and fully usable, but more replaceable or stage-dependent than the top groups |
| B | Anby, Anton, Ben, Billy, Corin, Seth | Capable in story and properly supported teams, but generally require more investment for the same endgame result |
| Provisional | Sigrid | Current Version 3.1 newcomer; useful early impressions exist, but the ranking should settle only after broader live endgame testing |
There are no unusable Agents here. B tier does not mean a character cannot clear difficult content. It means the same account resources usually buy more consistency when invested into a higher-tier alternative in the same role. Conversely, a completed B- or A-tier team can outperform an S+ Agent carrying an under-leveled W-Engine, unfinished Core Skill, and mismatched teammates.
Why are these Agents in S+ tier?
Which damage dealers have the highest current ceiling?
Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, Miyabi, Aria, and Promeia are the headline carry group, but they win in different structures.
- Ye Shunguang is a premium on-field Attack carry with strong mobility and a very high ceiling when her team supports her intended resource loop.
- Yixuan is a self-sufficient Rupture core whose survivability and damage profile make her comfortable across difficult stages.
- Miyabi remains an elite Frost Anomaly damage dealer. Newer releases have created more alternatives, but that does not erase her area damage or mature team options.
- Aria is a powerful Ether Anomaly core with strong Disorder potential and a relatively direct damage plan.
- Promeia offers large Ice Anomaly burst and high payoff, although her teams and execution are less forgiving than the most universal carries.
Do not read the order as a five-way damage spreadsheet. Shiyu Defense rewards fast wave clears and clean rotations, while Deadly Assault also exposes matchup, survival, and boss-mechanic weaknesses. The best carry for your account is the one whose full team you can actually finish.
Which supports and Stun Agents are safest to build?
Astra Yao is the most broadly useful top-tier investment because she supports many different damage archetypes. Yuzuha and Remielle are more specialized toward Anomaly structures, but their value inside those teams is exceptional. Lucia is the dedicated top-end partner for Rupture accounts, while Sunna remains an important flexible enabler for several modern carries.
Dialyn and Nangong Yu reach S+ for a different reason: they compress Stun, team amplification, and rotation value. Nangong Yu is especially valuable in Anomaly teams. Dialyn is the broader Stun investment, but her performance still depends on build quality and executing the team around the actual Stun window.
That distinction matters. A Support can remain useful through several DPS releases, while a damage dealer competes directly with every future carry. If you are choosing your first premium investment, the Agent who completes two teams is often better than a slightly stronger carry who replaces someone already built.
Which S-tier ZZZ Agents are closest to the top?
S tier is where most efficient accounts should spend time. These Agents are powerful enough for endgame, but each has a constraint that keeps them below the universal or ceiling-setting group.
Alice, Yidhari, Pyrois, Seed, Soldier 0 - Anby, and Starlight - Billy can anchor serious damage teams. Lighter, Ju Fufu, Nicole, Zhao, and Velina provide valuable setup or amplification. Grace, Cissia, Pulchra, and Orphie & Magus fit more specific damage and status plans. Banyue and Norma can be excellent when their intended partners are present.
Nicole deserves special attention for free-to-play accounts. She is easier to obtain than limited S-Rank supports and brings grouping plus useful team utility. She does not have the same universal ceiling as Astra Yao, but she can solve an actual roster problem now instead of waiting months for a perfect banner.
The practical rule is to promote an S-tier Agent in your personal ranking when all three conditions are true:
- The current stage favors their damage or utility.
- You own the teammates that activate their full kit.
- Their levels, W-Engine, Core Skill, and key Drive Disc stats are finished.
If one of those conditions is missing, the tier label will not carry the run.
Are A- and B-tier Agents worth building?
Yes, especially when they complete an elemental or role gap. Caesar remains a comfortable defensive option with useful team value. Burnice and Yanagi continue to function in established Anomaly structures. Ellen, Hugo, Harumasa, Zhu Yuan, and Soldier 11 can still clear with proper setup even though newer damage dealers have raised the ceiling. Qingyi, Lycaon, Koleda, Rina, Lucy, Soukaku, Vivian, and Pan Yinhu remain relevant when their buffs, Stun profile, or faction synergy match the carry.
A tier is also where account context matters most. An already-built Ellen team is usually a better short-term investment than abandoning it for an S+ character whose two premium partners you do not own. Replacing a functional team should produce a meaningful new matchup or second endgame side, not just a prettier tier badge.
B-tier Agents are reasonable early progression choices and can still be used by dedicated players. The cost is efficiency: they often need stronger discs, more precise execution, or better teammates to match a modern premium unit. Build them because they solve a real need or because you enjoy them, not because you assume every launch Agent must eventually become top meta.
How should F2P players use this Zenless Zone Zero tier list?
Treat the list as a resource-allocation map. A free-to-play account should build complete teams in sequence instead of spreading materials across every new Agent.
- Finish one main carry. Raise the Agent, W-Engine, relevant skills, and Core Skill before chasing small substat gains.
- Add the correct enabler. Use Stun for burst-window teams, a second Anomaly Agent for Disorder structures, or the dedicated Support for Rupture.
- Complete the third slot. A lower-rarity Support with real synergy is better than an unrelated S+ unit.
- Build a second damage profile. Endgame requires coverage; avoid making both sides dependent on the same Support or damage type.
- Farm Drive Discs last. Guaranteed upgrades should come before weeks of chasing perfect substats.
A fresh Reddit discussion on endgame progression repeatedly returned to the same misconception: saving materials by skipping the final Core Skill can leave a premium Agent performing far below expectations. The exact priority varies by kit, but guaranteed levels and core passives should be checked before blaming the tier list or spending for a signature W-Engine.
A three-slot team also creates opportunity cost. Pulling a fourth on-field carry may add less account value than obtaining one flexible Support, Stun, or Defense Agent who improves two existing teams.
How will Version 3.2 change the ZZZ tier list?
Version 3.2, Their Secret Histories, is officially scheduled for September 9, 2026. HoYoverse's official announcement says it introduces the Armorer Specialty, with Claret in the first half and Roxy in the second. Nangong Yu returns in the first half, while Promeia returns in the second.
HoYoverse describes the release directly: “Version 3.2 ‘Their Secret Histories’ will officially launch on September 9.” The same official press release identifies Claret as an S-Rank Electric Armorer Agent and Roxy as an S-Rank Wind Stun Agent. Those are confirmed roles, not leaks.
Claret and Roxy are intentionally not placed into S+, S, or A before launch. Preview footage can show mechanics, but it cannot prove live clear consistency, energy economy, team dependency, or how a character performs against the actual endgame rotation. Claret's new Armorer mechanics could also raise the value of partners that support her DEF, CRIT, Laceration, or Stun windows. Roxy may alter Wind teams and grouping value. Both claims need live testing.
The first post-launch refresh should therefore do three things: rank Claret after real Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault data appears, keep Roxy provisional until her second-half release, and revisit Koleda because HoYoverse has announced an enhancement for her in Version 3.2.
For the current promotional rewards while you prepare for the patch, use the separate Zenless Zone Zero codes page. It maintains active and expired codes as a dated list rather than mixing them into this tier guide.
FAQ
Who is the best character in ZZZ right now? There is no single winner for every account, but Ye Shunguang, Yixuan, Miyabi, Aria, and Promeia are among the strongest carry cores in Version 3.1. Astra Yao is the safest broad Support investment because she fits many teams.
What version does this ZZZ tier list cover? It covers Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.1, The Long Goodbye, and was checked on September 6, 2026. Version 3.2 launches on September 9, so the page is designed to be refreshed after Claret has real live data.
Are Claret and Roxy ranked yet? No. HoYoverse has confirmed Claret for the first half of Version 3.2 and Roxy for the second, but preview footage is not enough to assign a reliable endgame tier before release.
Is Sigrid top tier in Version 3.1? Sigrid remains provisional in this list because current live impressions are newer and less settled than the evidence for established Agents. Build and team fit matter more than forcing a premature letter grade.
Can A-tier Agents clear Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault? Yes. A-tier Agents can clear endgame when their team, build, and matchup are strong. The tier measures efficiency and consistency relative to current top options, not whether a character is usable.
Should F2P players pull a DPS or Support first? Pull the role that completes a team. If you already have a viable carry, a flexible Support, Stun, or Defense Agent usually creates more account value than a second carry competing for the same field time.
Do you need signature W-Engines for S+ Agents? Not automatically. Many top Agents work with strong substitutes, but signature value varies by kit. Finish guaranteed Agent, skill, Core Skill, and W-Engine levels before deciding that a signature is the only missing upgrade.
Sources checked September 6, 2026: Zenless Zone Zero official site, official Version 3.1 Special Program, official Version 3.2 Special Program, HoYoverse Version 3.2 press release, Game8 current tier list, Prydwen tier methodology, and GameVika Version 3.1 tier list. Official artwork was sourced from the Version 3.1 and Version 3.2 videos linked above.
