When I first stepped into the chaotic Hollows of Zenless Zone Zero, I knew I needed a reliable frontliner who could freeze enemies in their tracks while dancing across the battlefield. That agent turned out to be Ellen Joe — the shark-tailed S-Rank Ice attacker from Victoria Housekeeping Co. Her elegant yet ferocious fighting style immediately reminded me of a classic horror film predator, but with a housekeeping twist. As of 2026, she remains one of the most sought-after limited S-Rank agents, and I’ve spent countless hours perfecting her build. Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned about Ellen, from pulling her to powering up her flash-freeze devastation.

Who Is Ellen Joe? 🧊🦈

Ellen is a Slash-type Attack specialist who wields the Ice element with deadly precision. She belongs to the Victoria Housekeeping Co. faction — a bizarre household service agency with a dark, Victorian-era horror aesthetic. Don’t let the maid outfit fool you; Ellen is the faction’s primary combat operative, using her enormous scissor-like blades to carve through Ethereals. Her playstyle revolves around hyper-mobility and burst Ice damage, making her a top-tier DPS choice for both story progression and Challenger Mode stages.

I vividly remember the first “Mellow Waveride” Exclusive Channel back in version 1.0. That’s where I secured my copy of Ellen after a tense 76-pull grind. Since then, she’s had a couple of reruns — the most recent one during this year’s anniversary celebration. If you’re reading this in 2026, you might still find her featured in a rotating Exclusive Channel, so keep an eye on the Signal Search schedule.

The Art of Flash Freeze ❄️

Ellen’s combat philosophy centers on one core mechanic: Flash Freeze charges. By entering her unique Roaming state — activated by a well-timed dodge or sprint — she dashes across the arena with a spectral afterimage. While in Roaming, holding her attack button unleashes a Charged Scissor Strike, which not only hits like a truck but also generates Flash Freeze charges. These charges stack up to six and are consumed by her next Basic Attack string or EX Special Attack, massively amplifying their damage. The beauty of this loop is how seamlessly mobility and offense merge: I’m never just repositioning; I’m always building up my next devastating strike.

Both her Special and Ultimate attacks grant brief invincibility frames, which I’ve used countless times to phase through boss attacks and counter with a flurry of icy slashes. Her Ultimate, in particular, freezes groups of enemies solid, setting up perfect Chain Attack sequences with my other agents.

Building Materials You’ll Need 🔨

Getting Ellen to her peak requires a dedicated farming plan. Based on my experience from level 1 to 60, here’s the breakdown of what you must hoard:

• Agent Promotion Materials: Ice-affinity seals and high-grade certification tokens dropped by Monday/Thursday domain challenges. You’ll also need polished metallic chips found in Hollow Zero excavations, which serve as the universal ascension resource for Attack agents.

• Skill Upgrade Materials: Ellen’s talents demand basic Blade Dancer manuscripts from the HIA Research Institute dispatch, transitioning into advanced versions at higher talent levels. Weekly boss materials — the Frozen Core Crystals from the “Shrouded Marionette” fight — are essential for her higher-level skill breakthroughs.

• Money & Experience: Dennies and Investigator Logs. I always underestimated Dennies until I hit a wall upgrading Ellen’s Engine and skills simultaneously. Farm the HDD treasure stages daily!

• W-Engine Enhancement: If you’re lucky enough to pull her signature W-Engine, or even use the battle pass alternative, expect to stockpile Etheric Components from dismantling lower-rarity engines and grinding seasonal events.

The grind can feel relentless, but seeing Ellen’s damage jump by 30% after a promotion is worth every resin drop. Pro tip: prioritize her EX Special and Ultimate skills first, as they receive the biggest multipliers from Flash Freeze.

Team Synergies & Combat Flow 🔄

While Ellen is a self-sufficient killing machine, she truly shines when paired with agents who can exploit Ice weakness or provide energy regeneration. Victoria Housekeeping teammates like Lycaon and Rina create a classic Ice-focused comp, with Lycaon applying DEF shred and Rina providing critical boosts. Outside her faction, I’ve had great success slotting her with Lucy and Nicole — their quick assists and grouping abilities let Ellen trigger multiple Roaming dashes without interruption.

One advanced tactic I refined: initiating combat with a Support agent’s Assist Follow-up, immediately swapping to Ellen to enter Roaming, then executing a Charged Scissor Strike into her full Basic combo. If timed during an enemy’s attack, the dodge counter generates double Flash Freeze charges, letting me follow up with an instant EX Special for maximum burst. This rotation melts through elite enemies in the Simulated Battle Tower without even needing her Ultimate.

Final Thoughts from a Seasoned Proxy 🎯

After three years of daily play, Ellen Joe has never left my main team. Whether I’m speedrunning the latest weekly boss or tackling the New Eridu Open World added in version 3.2, her blend of grace and raw power remains unmatched. Her reliance on manual dodging and charge management rewards skillful play — I still feel a rush every time I perfectly chain six Flash Freeze stacks into a boss’s stunned phase.

If you’re considering pulling for her current re-run, I’d say go for it without hesitation. Invest in her core skills, farm the right materials, and soon you’ll be commanding the most elegant predator on the battlefield. Just remember: a shark is deadliest when it never stops moving.