Cat lovers rejoice! Nekomiya Mana, codename: Nekomata, is a playable S-rank physical DPS agent under the faction of The Cunning Hares in Zenless Zone Zero.
This playful kitten is known for her cheerful energy and “trustworthy” aura of a cat. Despite her cute cat-like appearance, Nekomata can deal massive physical damage across a large area.
In this ONE Esports guide, we cover everything you need to know about the best Nekomata build to make her the ultimate physical DPS agent in your party.
Nekomata build: Best W-Engine
Nekomata is known for her hack-and-slash gameplay, which allows her to cover a large area thanks to the range of her abilities.
Her AOE attacks deal significant physical damage, which can be further enhanced by increasing her attack percentage or physical damage increase stat.
Players who enjoy a fast-paced playstyle can remarkably benefit from using Nekomata. Her combat mechanics require her to use dodge counter and assist frequently to utilize her wide range of attacks.
| W-ENGINE | STATS |
| Steel Cushion | Base ATK: 684 Crit Rate: 24% Metal Cat Claws Increases Physical DMG by 40%. The equipper’s DMG increases by 50% when hitting the enemy from behind. |
| Housekeeper | Base ATK: 624 ATK: 25% Safe Household Saw While off-field, the equipper’s Energy Regen increases by 0.72/s. When an EX Special Attack hits an enemy, the equipper’s Physical DMG increases by 4.8%, stacking up to 15 times and lasting 1s. Repeated triggers reset the duration. |
| The Brimstone | Base ATK: 684 Attack: 30% Scorching Breath Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dash Attack, or Dodge Counter, the equipper’s ATK increases by 6% for 8s, stacking up to 8 times. This effect can trigger once every 0.5s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately. |
| Cannon Rotor | Base ATK: 594 CRIT Rate: 20% Oversized Barrel Increases ATK by 10.8%. Landing a critical hit on an enemy will inflict an additional 200% of ATK as DMG. This effect can trigger once every 6.5s. |
| Starlight Engine | Base ATK: 594 ATK: 25% Knight Pummel Launching a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist increases the equipper’s ATK by 19.2% for 12s. |
| Street Superstar | Base ATK: 594 ATK: 25% Flaming Bars Whenever a squad member launches a Chain Attack, the equipper gains 1 Charge stack, stacking up to 3 times. Upon activating their own Ultimate, the equipper consumes all Charge stacks, and each stack increases the skill’s DMG by 21.7%. |
Nekomata’s signature W-engine, Steel Cushion, is the optimal choice for her thanks to its high base attack and critical rate substat. The Metal Cat Claws passive skill further enhances her physical damage, making her attacks even more devastating, especially when hitting enemies from behind.
While the Steel Cushion is the best choice for Nekomata, several W-Engines alternative options like the Housekeeper, The Brimstone, Cannon Rotor, Starlight Engine, and Street Superstar can also provide the furry boosts she needs.
The Brimstone is an alternate S-ranked W-Engine that boosts her attack stat. The stacking ATK increase from frequent hits ensures that Nekomata’s damage remains consistently high, especially in her fast-paced gameplay, where she can rapidly accumulate stacks.
If you happen to get a bad gacha on the W-Engines, consider using an A-ranked weapon like the Cannon Rotor to enhance Nekomata’s critical rate and overall attack power. The extra damage from critical hits can deliver a powerful burst of damage, making this W-Engine especially effective against enemies with high health pools as it can quickly chip away at their HP.
Starlight Engine is a free to play option for most attack agents. It is particularly effective for players who frequently use Dodge Counters and Quick Assists. Players could heavily benefit from the range of Nekomata’s attacks during dodge counters and ultimate.
Nekomata build: Best Drive Discs
You’re wrong if you are among the 90% of players who believe that the 4-piece Woodpecker Electro is the Drive Disc set for most of the attacking agents in ZZZ. There are other Drive Discs available that offer a higher damage multiplier compared to the Woodpecker Electro.
Nekomata is a fast-paced attacker who heavily relies on her damage multiplier, which increases based on the amount of her physical damage percentage. To maximize her damage, it’s essential to equip her with the best Drive Discs that suit her stats.
| NEKOMATA DRIVE DISCS | DRIVE DISC DESCRIPTION |
| Fanged Metal | 2-Piece Increases Physical damage by 20%. 4-Piece Whenever a squad member inflicts Assault on an enemy, the equipper deals 35% additional DMG to the target for 12s. |
| Woodpecker Electro | 2-Piece Increases CRIT Rate by 8%. 4-Piece Landing a critical hit on an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dodge Counter, or EX Special Attack increases the equipper’s ATK by 9% for 6s. The buff duration for different skills are calculated separately. |
| Hormone Punk | 2-Piece Increases ATK by 10%. 4-Pieces Upon entering combat or switching in, its user’s ATK increases by 25% for 10s. This effect can trigger once every 20s. |
The 4-piece Fanged Metal set is the optimal Drive Disc for her because it significantly boosts her physical damage output. The additional 35% damage to targets inflicted with Assault ensures that she can constantly maintain the 35% damage increase, which can be triggered by any of your party members.
To ensure her constant high damage, pairing 4-piece Fanged Metal with the 2-piece Woodpecker Electro set increases CRIT Rate by 8%, giving the players more chance to land critical hits.
However, alternative setups like the 4-piece Hormone Punk paired with either the 2-piece Woodpecker Electro or the 2-piece Fanged Metal is a balanced build for players who benefit from Nekomata’s dodge counter and assists.
The 4-piece Hormone Punk set gives Nekomata an attack boost particularly at the beginning of combat or when switching in. This alternate setup ensures a balanced increase in both raw attack power and physical damage, making it a versatile choice for various combat situations.
READ MORE: After Von Lycaon, Zenless Zone Zero has a new playable furry Agent — and he looks adorable!
