Despite the storyline shifting focus to other factions like Section 6 in the version 1.3 update of Zenless Zone Zero, players are introduced to yet another Sons of Calydon character who becomes playable: Lighter. Unlike any of characters in his faction, Lighter assumes the role of a Fire Stun unit, sharing his element with Burnice and Lucy but differing significantly in playstyle.
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Lighter is particularly notable for being a direct upgrade to Koleda, another Fire Stun unit, as he offers faster gameplay, greater versatility, and enhanced synergy with a wider range of team compositions. In addition to providing buffs for Fire team members, Lighter uniquely supports Ice characters, even though there are currently no Ice units in the Sons of Calydon faction. This opens up exciting possibilities for team compositions, potentially with future Ice characters like Miyabi, but also for some already existing ones.
Here are some of Lighter’s best team compositions in ZZZ, focusing on his synergies with Ice and Fire units, despite him being quite flexible to complement most Attack DPS units.
Lighter + Ellen + Soukaku
For players who don’t have Lycaon or prefer not to use him, Lighter serves as an excellent alternative in the Stun spot for teams featuring Ellen. This is due to Lighter’s impressive utility, including his Core Passive, which reduces enemy Fire and Ice RES by 15%, enhancing Ellen’s Ice DMG output. Moreover, Lighter brings a unique buffing capability through his Morale Boost state, granting the team an Elation buff. This buff, activated when there’s an Attack character (like Ellen) or a member of Sons of Calydon on the team, increases Fire and Ice DMG for all team members by up to 75%—a significant boost that can dramatically improve team performance.
For the third team slot, players have many options, but Soukaku is one of the best picks for Ellen-focused compositions. Soukaku’s Ice-specific buffs, universal ATK boost, and her ability to Freeze enemies more efficiently make her a fantastic addition. This crowd control is particularly valuable, as it interrupts enemies, improving both survivability and DPS potential. Without Lycaon, building Ice anomaly is otherwise more challenging, making Soukaku even more essential in this setup – however other options like Lucy or Caesar will still work, despite them potentially being more necessary for other team compositions. Ultimately, for players seeking an alternative Ellen team composition, Lighter offers a strong and versatile option, even without being an Ice unit himself.
Lighter + Yanagi + Burnice
Lighter is a viable option for the third spot in a Yanagi and Burnice Disorder team, particularly for players who lack access to a character like Caesar. While Lighter’s buffs aren’t directly impactful for Yanagi, they can still significantly enhance Burnice’s off-field DMG potential. Additionally, Lighter can assist in building Fire Anomaly more quickly, helping Yanagi activate Disorder more efficiently.
That said, it’s important to acknowledge that this team composition is quite premium, consistent of only 5-star limited characters. For players who have both Yanagi and Burnice, alternative options like Lucy might provide better overall synergy, especially if Lighter is needed for a different team composition where his buffs and utility can be maximized.
Lighter + Soldier 11 + Caesar
Speaking of teams that can fully capitalize on Lighter, Soldier 11 comes to mind as an excellent pairing. While Soldier 11 currently lacks faction-specific teammates, she has consistently received synergistic units from other factions, making her a strong option for a mono-Fire DPS team.
Although Caesar doesn’t make the team mono-Fire, she remains one of the best partners for Soldier 11 due to her versatile buffs, defensive utility, and Daze generation, which is further complemented by Lighter’s kit. Together, they allow for more frequent chain attacks, ensuring that Lighter’s buffs also have higher uptime. Additionally, Caesar’s defensive capabilities provide stability, allowing players to focus more on offensive rotations. Lighter also aids with Fire Anomaly build-up, enabling Burn Anomaly for further buffing Soldier 11’s DMG output.
For players who lack Caesar or specifically want a mono-Fire team, Burnice is an excellent alternative. She enhances Fire DPS potential, increases Burn uptime, and synergizes well with Lighter’s buffs. For a more accessible option, Lucy provides solid support for Soldier 11 by buffing and aiding Anomaly build-up, albeit less effectively than Burnice for anomaly build up. However, a team composition of Soldier 11, Lighter, and Lucy will stand out as a F2P-friendly yet high-performing option. With Soldier 11 being a non-limited 5-star character, this setup is far more accessible than those featuring limited units like Ellen or Yanagi, while still delivering high DPS that can match the requirements for end-game content.
- Released
- July 4, 2024
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse
- Engine
- Unity
- ESRB
- T (Teen) – Suggestive Themes & Violence
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong