Though the Cunning Hares help you ease into the game, they are more than capable of taking down the most threatening foes inside Hollows. By following this Zenless Zone Zero Nicole build guide, you’ll be giving the faction’s leader more opportunities for Hollow-based commissions.
Nicole Demara is an A-Rank Ether Agent in Zenless Zone Zero, one of the rarer elements you’ll find in the game right now. Building the Cunning Hares leader will require a bit of an investment but at least you won’t need to spend any Polychromes to recruit her. Nicole is one of the ZZZ characters you get for free at the start of the game so everyone will have a chance to try her out.
Best Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Build
The best Zenless Zone Zero Nicole build is:
- Best W-Engine: Weeping Cradle
- Best Drive Discs: Swing Jazz (4pc), Chaotic Metal (2pc)
- Best Bangboo: Butler
- Best Team: Nicole, Zhu Yuan, Nekomata
- Stat Priority: Energy Regen
You may not have everything listed above, but the game does offer plenty of substitutes that will allow you to clear most if not all of the content in Zenless Zone Zero.
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+ 2Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Best W-Engine
The best W-Engine to put on Nicole is Weeping Cradle since it helps her generate more Energy, allowing the leader of the Cunning Hares to use her support abilities more often. It is an S-Rank W-Engine though, so here’s a closer look at some other options in case you don’t have it.
| W-Engine | Rarity | Stats | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeping Cradle | S | Base ATK:684 / PEN Ratio: 24% | The user will have their Energy Regen enhanced while off-field. Attacks from the wearer will increase the damage dealt by the entire squad to the target for 3 seconds. |
| The Vault | A | Base ATK: 624 / Energy Regen: 50% | Dealing Ether DMG with an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate will increase the damage done by all party members to a target. The wearer's Energy Regen will also be enhanced. |
| Kaboom the Cannon | A | Base ATK: 624 / Energy Regen: 50% | All friendly units' ATK is increased by 2.5% for 8 seconds after an ally hits an enemy. This can stack up to four times. |
Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Best Drive Discs
The leader of the Cunning Hares is best suited for the Swing Jazze Drive Disc set. Let’s take a closer look at Chaotic Metal along with some other Drive Discs so that you can fill out all six slots for Nicole.
| Disc Drive Set | 2-pc Effect | 4-pc Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Chaotic Metal | Increase Ether DMG by 10% | When an ally inflicts Corruption on an enemy, that target will receive 18% more damage for 12 seconds. |
| Swing Jazz | Increases Energy Regen by 20% | Using a Chain Attack or Ultimate will increase the damage dealt by all squad members by 15% for 12 seconds. |
| Freedom Blues | Increases Anomaly Proficiency by 30. | Hitting an enemy with EX Special Attack will reduce their Anomaly Buildup RES to the user's Attribute by 20% for 8 seconds. |
Zenless Zone Zero Best Nicole Teams
Nicole is a great Support who can boost a team's damage output but she works best with her fellow Cunning Hares or other Ether Attribute Agents.
| Team | Character 1 | Character 2 | Character 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicole (Support) | Zhu Yuan (Attack) | Nekomata (Attack) |
| 2 | Nicole (Support) | Zhu Yuan (Attack) | Anby (Stun) |
| 3 | Nicole (Support) | Nekomata (Attack) | Anby (Stun) |
Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Best Bangboo
With the Butler as Nicole’s Bangboo, she’ll be able to get some nice Energy regeneration. Here’s a more detailed look at what this android bunny can do along with some substitutes in case you haven’t been able to pull Butler yet.
| Bangboo | Rarity | Active Skill | Passive Skill | Chain Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | S | Create a snack that will regenerate an Agent's Energy. | Active Skill will generate 20% more Energy if there is at least one member of Victoria Housekeeping on your team. | Long-ranged attack with a frying pan and pancakes that deals Physical damage. |
| Resonaboo | S | Conjure a black hole that pulls enemies toward it while dealing Ether DMG and inflicting Ether Anomaly Buildup. | Bangboo Chain Attack will inflict 100% more Anomaly Buildup when there are at least two Ether Agents on the squad. | Throw an Ether bomb at a target to deal Ether DMG and inflict Ether Anomaly Buildup. |
| Devilboo | A | Enters the flying state and shoots homing projectiles that deal Ether DMG and inflicts Ether Anomaly Buildup. | When there are at least 2 Ether Attribute Agents on the team, enhances Bangboo Chain attack by inflicting 40% more Anomaly Buildup, extending coordination state by 5 seconds, and allowing 4 more activations. | Fires 3 homing projectiles that deal Ether DMG and Ether Anomaly Buildup then enters coordination state. In this state, more projectiles will be fired in coordination with the on-field character's attacks for 30 seconds or 10 activations. |
Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Abilities
For a better idea of how Nicole can help you in battle, let’s dive into the specifics of her kit.
| Skill Name | Skill Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cunning Combo | Basic Attack | Three strikes that deal Physical DMG. |
| Do As I Please | Basic Attack | Nicole's weapon fires off bullets for increased damage output. |
| Sugarcoated Bullet | Special Attack | Ranged attack that deals Ether DMG. Using this will cause Nicole to reload, enhancing her Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Stuffed Sugarcoated Bullet | EX Special Attack | Ranged attack that creates an energy field which pulls enemies towards its center while dealing Ether DMG. Hold down the Special Attack button to charge the attack and deal more damage. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Speed Demon | Dodge | A rapid dash that renders Nicole invulnerable. Hold the dodge button to enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Jack in the Box | Dash Attack | A swift attack that deals Physical DMG while dodging. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Diverted Bombard | Dodge Counter | Activated by pressing the Attack button during a perfect dodge. Nicole will move back while firing off ranged attacks that deal Ether DMG. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Ether Shellacking | Chain Attack | Create an energy field that pulls enemies towards its center while dealing Ether DMG. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Ether Grenade | Ultimate | Create an energy field that pulls enemies towards its center while dealing Ether DMG. Targets caught in the field will have 10% increased Anomaly Buildup. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Mechanical Case | Core Passive | Using Special Attack, EX Special Attack, or Ultimate will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack, increasing damage dealt by 8% and generating additional Energy. |
| Hare of Many Burrows | Additional Ability | With at least 2 Ether Agents in your squad, the Stun DMG multiplier on Nicole's Chain Attack is increased by 22% when attacking stunned enemies. Nicole's Assist Follow-Up inflicts 20% more Daze when on a team with at least 1 Strike and 1 Pierce Agent. |
| Emergency Bombard | Reactive Assist | Deal Ether DMG while dodging backwards. Using this skill will enhance Nicole's Basic Attack and Dash Attack. |
| Lucky Rabbit's Foot | Evasive Assist | Dodge enemy attack and trigger Vital View. |
| Window of Opportunity | Assist Follow-Up | Charge forward and deal Ether DMG after a Defensive Assist. |
Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Mindscape Cinema
Mindscape Cinema levels provide great enhancements to an Agent’s overall kit though they do require duplicate copies to be unlocked. But since Nicole is an A-Rank character that you get for free, accessing her Mindscape Cinema will be easier than most other Agents.
| Mindscape Cinema Level | Title | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supercharged Bomb | Damage and Anomaly Buildup from Nicole's EX Special Attack is increased. |
| 2 | Charging Device | Energy Regeneration from hitting enemies with Basic Attack or Dash Attack is increased by 25%. |
| 3 | A Hare's Cunning | Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack levels are increased by 2. |
| 4 | Field Expansion | Increase the radius of the energy field created by Nicole's EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate. |
| 5 | Industry Star | Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack levels are increased by 2. |
| 6 | Corrupting Energy Field | Nicole's energy field will reduce target's Attribute Anomaly RES 2.5%. This effect lasts for 12 seconds and can stack up to 20 times. |
Zenless Zone Zero Nicole Materials
On top of equipping Nicole with the right gear, you’ll also need to raise her level and upgrade her abilities in order to take on some of the harder content in the Zenless Zone Zero endgame. Here are the items you’ll need to stock up to get that done.
- Ether Chips (skill enhancement material)
- Support Seals (character ascension material)
The most reliable way to get these items is through Combat Simulation Training at the HIA Club. However, the 141 Store on Sixth Street may also have them up for sale since they restock their shelves when the weekly reset rolls around.
click to enlarge + 2How to Get Nicole in Zenless Zone Zero
Nicole is one of the free ZZZ starter characters so you'll be able to play as her shortly after logging in for the first time. If you're looking for copies of Nicole to unlock her Mindscape Cinema levels, there's always a chance to get her through the limited and standard banners.
And that brings us to the end of our Zenless Zone Zero Nicole build guide. For more on the post-apocalyptic gacha game, check out our Zenless Zone Zero tier list and see which agents are featured in the current and next Zenless Zone Zero banners.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Zenless Zone Zero page.