Summary:
Zenless Zone Zero has entered a fascinating stage of its character balance cycle. After multiple Standard Agents and older favorites received buffs, players are now asking which characters could be next. Several older Agents are beginning to feel outdated, while newer releases continue to raise the standard for damage, utility, Zenless Zone Zero Top Up, and team flexibility.
Zenless Zone Zero Has Already Buffed Many Older Characters
HoYoverse has spent considerable time improving older characters in Zenless Zone Zero. The Standard Agents have received meaningful adjustments, while popular characters such as Jane and Bernice have also benefited from improvements or indirect team buffs.
These changes have made several previously weaker characters much more competitive. Rina, Soldier 11, Grace, Lycaon, and Ellen, for example, have all received changes that improved their overall performance.
Soldier 11 is an especially interesting example. With her Potential upgrades, she can compete surprisingly well with newer DPS characters even at lower investment. Grace has also benefited from her adjustments, while Rina remains a highly flexible support option.
However, bringing older characters up to modern standards creates another question: which Agents still need attention?
Ellen May Need Another Buff
Ellen has already received multiple improvements, including changes connected to her kit and Potential system. These adjustments helped her become more comfortable to play and improved her overall usability.
However, the current Ice-focused environment gives Ellen some additional opportunities to perform well. Despite that, her overall position has changed as newer DPS characters have entered the game.
Ellen is not unusable by any means, but she may benefit from another improvement if HoYoverse continues its long-term approach to older characters.
The Three Characters Most in Need of Buffs
Among the older roster, three characters stand out as particularly interesting candidates for future improvements: Guan, Caesar, and Hugo.
Guan has fallen behind Pyrois in many situations. Unless players have significant Mindscape investment, Pyrois can often provide a more effective option for similar team requirements.
The situation becomes even more complicated because Guan has entered the Lost Pool. This raises the question of whether being added to the general pool makes her more or less likely to receive a future rework.
Caesar faces a different problem. Her defensive utility and shielding were valuable when survivability was more important, but the modern endgame environment increasingly rewards offensive pressure and specialized buffs.
A future Caesar adjustment could potentially improve the offensive value of her kit without completely removing her identity as a defensive support.
Hugo is another obvious candidate. As an older DPS, he has struggled to maintain the same level of relevance as newer damage dealers. A direct damage increase, improved mechanics, or stronger team interactions could potentially give him a new role in the current meta.
Qingyi May Need a Buff, But Could Be Overlooked
Qingyi is one of the more complicated cases.
Her Stun mechanics can provide strong bonuses, but they require considerably more field time and player input compared with some newer Stun Agents. Modern characters can often deliver their important multipliers with fewer steps.
Qingyi therefore has a strange position: her potential output is still useful, but her gameplay requirements make her feel less efficient.
She is also the only character in the relevant shop category who has not received the same level of attention as some other older favorites.
Popularity could become an important factor. Characters with large player communities may naturally receive more attention when balance changes are considered, while less frequently discussed Agents could remain untouched.
Yanagi and Lighter Are Also Falling Behind
Yanagi is another character whose performance is heavily connected to the current state of Disorder teams.
Her kit itself is not necessarily the fundamental problem. Instead, the broader meta has moved in directions that have reduced the impact of her preferred playstyle.
Rather than receiving a direct buff, Yanagi could potentially benefit from an indirect improvement if Disorder teams become more important again.
Lighter has a similar problem involving team restrictions. He was once a strong Stun choice for Fire and Ice teams, but newer Stun Agents have provided more flexible options.
As team compositions have expanded beyond traditional Attack-based setups, Lighter's restrictions have become more noticeable. Even if he remains functional, there are now several situations where another Stun Agent may provide more value.
Some Recent Characters Are Fine for Now
Not every character needs an immediate buff.
Astra remains a highly flexible support because she provides valuable buffs and additional Chain Attack utility. Miyabi also continues to receive indirect support from new characters and team mechanics, keeping her relevant.
Vivian sits somewhere in the middle. She is not necessarily the strongest option for every team, but she remains usable and can still contribute effectively under the right conditions.
The same applies to many newer characters. Recent Rupture DPS Agents may not currently dominate the meta, but that does not automatically mean their individual kits require buffs.
Rupture and Future Meta Changes
Rupture as a broader archetype currently appears less dominant than some other team styles. However, that does not mean every Rupture character needs direct improvements.
Meta shifts can dramatically change a character's value without changing their kit. A future enemy lineup, support character, or new equipment set could suddenly make an older archetype much stronger.
This is particularly relevant to Yanagi and Disorder. If HoYoverse introduces mechanics that encourage Disorder teams again, Yanagi could naturally regain relevance without requiring a major direct rework.
Which Zenless Zone Zero Characters Could Be Buffed Next?
The current discussion highlights several different categories of characters. Guan, Caesar, and Hugo stand out as strong candidates for direct improvements, while Qingyi, Yanagi, Lighter, and Orphy could also benefit from future changes.
At the same time, characters such as Astra, Miyabi, and many newer Rupture Agents appear to be in a more stable position.
Ultimately, Zenless Zone Zero's balance landscape is constantly changing. New Agents, equipment, enemy mechanics, and team archetypes can completely redefine an older character's value. For that reason, cheap Zenless Zone Zero Top Up players should not assume that a character who feels weak today will remain weak forever.
The biggest question now is whether HoYoverse will continue directly buffing older Agents or instead use new characters and mechanics to indirectly bring them back into the meta. Either way, the next round of Zenless Zone Zero balance changes could have a major impact on team building.
