Nekomata Agent Zenless Zone Zero

Agent	Attribute	Rank	Fighting Style	Faction	Role	Weapon
	Physical	S	Attack	Gentle House AKA Cunning Hares	Damage Dealer	Claws

Nekomata is an S-Rank character in Zenless Zone Zero, known for her Physical attribute and Attack fighting style. As a member of the Gentle House faction, also known as the Cunning Hares, she combines agility and cunning to excel in combat. Spirited and mischievous, Nekomata loves playing tricks and has a fondness for fish. Despite her playful nature, she’s a formidable fighter. Read on to explore Nekomata’s skills, strengths, weaknesses, and best builds.

Nekomata’s Skills

Nekomata excels in delivering swift Physical attacks and maintaining high mobility. Her skill set allows her to deal significant damage while dodging and countering enemy attacks.

Basic Attacks	Skill Name	Description
	Kitty Slash	Press to activate. Unleashes up to 5 slashes, dealing Physical DMG. On the last hit, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this hit 3 times.
	Crimson Blade	Hold down during the first 3 hits of Nekomata’s Basic Attack to activate. Slashes enemies in front and passes through them, dealing Physical DMG. Upon activation, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this attack 3 times.

Dodge Skills	Skill Name	Description
	Can’t Touch Me-ow~	Press to activate. A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
	Over Here!	Press during a dodge to activate. Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG.
	Phantom Claws	Press during a Perfect Dodge to activate. Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Assist Skills	Skill Name	Description
	Cat’s Paw	When the on-field character is launched, press to activate. Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
	Desperate Defense	When the character on field is about to be attacked, press to activate. Parries the enemy’s attack, inflicting massive Daze. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
	Shadow Strike	Press after a Defensive Assist to activate. Charge and slash enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Special Attacks	Skill Name	Description
	Surprise Attack	Press to activate. Unleashes a downward strike, dealing Physical DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
	Super Surprise Attack!	When Nekomata has enough Energy, press to activate. Unleashes a powerful falling slash that deals massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Chain Attack	Skill Name	Description
	Claw Swipe	When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate. Unleashes a powerful slash at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
	Claw Smash	When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press to activate. Unleashes powerful slashes at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Nekomata Pros & Cons

Understanding Nekomata’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial to using her effectively in Zenless Zone Zero. Here’s a detailed look at what makes her shine and where she falls short.

Pros

Has great AoE coverage on her Ultimate, Chain, and Dodge Counter allowing for easy cleanup of weaker enemies.
Multiple team synergies among free-to-play characters even if they aren’t as strong as other characters’ best teams.
Incredible mobility with a Dash Attack that is a borderline teleport.
Fast attacking and dodge-based kit perfect for those who enjoy a fast-paced playstyle.
Incredibly cheap EX Special meaning it will be available far more frequently than other characters.

Cons

Requires constant use of Dodge Counters or Quick Assists in order to keep her Core passive ability active whereas many other characters get theirs permanently active for free.
During Stun damage windows when the enemy cannot attack, Nekomata must rely on her Support to grant her a Quick Assist or go without a large damage bonus.
Is a Physical damage dealer and there are three A-Rank characters from this element – one of which is free – meaning she has by far the most competition for her role within her element, making her relative value compared to other elemental S-Rank drop.
Has incredibly limited team synergy options. There is no Physical support or Stun characters and the characters from her faction Cunning Hares only have mediocre synergy with her at best. This results in lower endgame potential for her at the time of her release.

Nekomata’s Mindscapes

Mindscapes are special abilities that enhance Nekomata’s performance in combat. These abilities can be unlocked and leveled up to increase her effectiveness on the battlefield. Here’s a look at Nekomata’s Mindscapes:

Mindscape	Description
M1: Bird Hunter	When Nekomata hits an enemy from behind, she ignores 16% of the target’s Physical RES. If the enemy is Stunned, all Nekomata’s attacks are considered back attacks.
M2: Cat & Mouse	When there’s only one enemy on the field and Nekomata is in combat, her Energy Generation Rate is increased by 25%.
M3: Curious Left Tail	Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
M4: Sharpen Claws	When Nekomata uses her EX Special Attack, her CRIT Rate increases by 7% for 15s, stacking up to 2 times, with each stack’s duration being calculated separately.
M5: Lucky Right Tail	Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
M6: Predator Lineage	When Nekomata launches a Chain Attack or uses her Ultimate, her CRIT DMG increases by 18%, stacking up to 3 times, and expiring when she’s no longer in-combat. This effect gains maximum stacks immediately on defeating an enemy.

Nekomata Detailed Stats (Level 60)

Nekomata’s stats at max level provide insight into her combat capabilities. These stats determine her effectiveness in battle and help players understand how to best utilize her skills.

Stat	Value
HP	7561.5
DEF	586.6
ATK	910.6
CRIT Rate	19.4%
CRIT DMG	50%
PEN Ratio	0%
Impact	92
Anomaly Mastery	97
Anomaly Proficiency	96
Energy Regen	1.2

Nekomata Best Builds

Building Nekomata to her full potential involves selecting the right W-Engines and Disk Drive sets. Here’s a look at the best options for maximizing her performance.

Best W-Engines

W-Engines are essential for enhancing Nekomata’s abilities, providing unique passive effects and stat boosts. Here are the top choices for Nekomata:

	W-Engine	Description
	Steel Cushion	Increases Physical DMG by 20/25/30/35/40%. The equipper’s DMG increases by 25/31.5/38/44/50% when attacking the enemy from behind.
	The Brimstone	Upon hitting an enemy with a Basic Attack, Dash Attack, or Dodge Counter, the equipper’s ATK increases by 3.5/4.4/5.2/6/7% for 8s, stacking up to 8 times. This effect can trigger once every 0.5s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.
	Starlight Engine	Launching a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist increases the equipper’s ATK by 12/13.8/15.6/17.4/19.2% for 12s.
	Street Superstar	Whenever a squad member launches a Chain Attack, the equipper gains a Charge stack, stacking up to 3 times. Upon activating their own Ultimate, the equipper consumes all Charge stacks, and each stack increases the skill’s DMG by 15/17.2/19.5/21.7/24%.
	Cannon Rotor	Increases ATK by 7.5/8.6/9.7/10.8/12%. Attacks that land a CRIT on an enemy will inflict an additional 200% of ATK as DMG. This effect can only be triggered once every 8/7.5/7/6.5/6s.

Best Disk Drives Sets

Disk Drives are critical for boosting Nekomata’s stats and abilities. Combining the right sets can significantly enhance her performance:

	Disk Drive Set	Description
	Puffer Electro (4-PC)	(2) Increases PEN Ratio by 8%. (4) Ultimate DMG increases by 20%. Launching an Ultimate increases the equipper’s ATK by 15% for 12s.
	Woodpecker Electro	(2) Increases CRIT Rate by 8%. (4) Triggering a critical hit with a Basic Attack, Dodge Counter or EX Special Attack increases the equipper’s ATK by 9% for 6s. The buff duration for different skills are calculated separately.
	Fanged Metal	Competitive option for direct and Anomaly-based Physical damage dealers granting 10% permanent Physical DMG% from the 2-PC and 35% increased DMG against enemies inflicted by Assault by any party member for 12 seconds. DMG% bonus against enemies will be up the majority of most fights against boss-type enemies thanks to its long duration and ability to trigger from any team member allowing a Physical based Bangboo/teammate to assist with uptime via their own Assaults.

Nekomata’s Team Synergy

Nekomata’s synergy with other characters can greatly enhance team performance. Here are some of the best characters to pair with Nekomata:

Nicole

Nicole and Nekomata enable each other’s Additional Ability, opening up the last slot of a team member to your choice. Nicole also provides Nekomata an incredibly impactful Defense Shred debuff on enemies which when timed right can significantly increase Nekomata’s total damage output.

Anby

Nekomata has incredibly limited complimentary team mate options when it comes to enabling her Additional Ability, Anby can fill that role while also providing Neko and her team an excellent amount of Daze.

Nekomata is a versatile and dynamic character, bringing a mix of Physical damage and effective attacks to the team. While she may require some timing to play optimally, her unique abilities and synergy with other characters make her an invaluable asset in Zenless Zone Zero. Build her right, and Nekomata will be a powerhouse in your lineup!