As I guide my shark-human hybrid Ellen through the neon-lit chaos of New Eridu, her icy blades slice through enemies like a katana through butter. This Victoria Housekeeping Agent has redefined my combat experience in Zenless Zone Zero since her July 2024 debut, combining the precision of a Swiss watchmaker with the destructive force of an avalanche. While substitute Ice Agents like Soukaku can temporarily fill her fins, nothing compares to Ellen's dual threat of Frostbite and Critical Strikes that turns Hollow Zero's toughest challenges into frozen playgrounds.

❄️ The Deep Sea Visitor W-Engine: Ellen's Arctic Arsenal

mastering-ellen-s-ice-dominance-in-zenless-zone-zero-image-0

Ellen's signature Deep Sea Visitor W-Engine isn't just equipment—it's a symbiotic extension of her frostbitten fury. The 25% Ice DMG boost transforms her basic attacks into glacial torrents, while the cascading CRIT Rate bonuses (10% → 20%) make every dash attack feel like rolling double sixes in backgammon. For players who haven't hit the gacha jackpot, the Cannon Rotor serves as an excellent plan B, its 7.5% ATK boost and critical hit explosions working like popcorn kernels in hot oil—small packages creating big impacts.

🧊 Drive Discs: Polar Metal Meets Woodpecker Electro

Crafting Ellen's endgame build requires farming two specific Drive Disc sets:

Set Pieces Effect
Polar Metal 4 +10% Ice DMG → +20% Basic/Dash DMG → Additional 20% DMG for 12s
Woodpecker Electro 2 +8% CRIT Rate

These discs turn Ellen into what I call a "Frostbite Matryoshka"—each layer of bonuses nesting perfectly within the next. Farming them through Sharp Fang and Blunt Axe missions at Scott Outpost feels like solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded—frustrating at first, but immensely satisfying when the pieces click.

🌪️ Team Synergy: The Ice Trinity Combo

Ellen's squad composition works like a three-stage rocket:

  1. Lycaon (DPS/Support Hybrid):

  2. Applies 25% Ice Resistance reduction

  3. Stun locks enemies like a broken elevator button

  4. Soukaku (Support):

  5. 20% team-wide Ice DMG boost

  6. Functions as Ellen's personal hype-man

  7. Sharkboo (Bangoo):

  8. Extra Ice DMG seasoning

This trio activates Ellen's Rising Storm passive (+3% Ice DMG per same Attribute/Faction ally), creating a feedback loop colder than liquid nitrogen.

🧐 People Also Ask

  • Why prioritize CRIT Rate over pure ATK?

Ellen's scaling makes critical hits act like compound interest—small early investments yield massive late-game returns.

  • Can Ellen solo endgame content?

While possible, it's like eating soup with a fork—doable but inefficient compared to team play.

  • Best rotation for maximizing DPS?

Dash Attack → EX Special → Chain Attack → Repeat (The "Blizzard Waltz" combo)

❓ Open Question to the Community

With the upcoming 1.3 update rumored to introduce Cryo-resistant enemies, how would you adapt Ellen's build while maintaining her frost queen identity?

Through months of testing, I've found Ellen's build to be as meticulously balanced as a sushi chef's knife set. Whether you're facing the Twin Marionettes or climbing the Hollow Zero leaderboards, this icy dominatrix of destruction proves that in Zenless Zone Zero, winter isn't coming—it's already here.