Zhu Yuan
An Ether Attack DPS who piles on damage with Basic Attack bullet volleys after EX Special, exploding especially hard while the enemy is stunned.
Tier S · Attack · Ether. BiS: Cordis Germina. An Ether Attack DPS who piles on damage with Basic Attack bullet volleys after EX Special, exploding especially hard while the enemy is stunned.
Best W-Engines
Nicole.
Recommended Drive Discs
Chaotic Metal boosts Ether DMG + CRIT DMG, paired with 2pc 
Woodpecker Electro for CRIT Rate.
The Sky Ablaze gives CRIT DMG + ATK% — a strong replacement if you lack Chaotic Metal discs.4: CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG · 5: Ether DMG · 6: ATK%
CRIT Rate/DMG > ATK% > flat ATK
Skill priority: Basic Attack → Special Attack → Core Skill → Assist → Dodge
Zhu Yuan is still a heavy-hitting Ether burst DPS with a stunner + Nicole by her side — the stun window is when she tears everything apart. She's been slightly power-crept and is very team-dependent (needs stun + DEF shred), so she falls off solo or in the wrong team. With Nicole, she's very much worth investing in.
Level 60 endgame targets per prydwen (Core included): ATK 3000+, HP 9500+, DEF 800+, CRIT Rate 60-70% (her Additional Ability pushes this to 90-100% with a Support/same-faction ally; with Nicole M6 you only need to build to ~55%), CRIT DMG 160-180%+ (before the Chaotic Metal set buff). Base Lv60 stats per prydwen/mintparm: ATK 919, base CRIT DMG 78.8%, base CRIT Rate 5%. Balance CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG first, then stack ATK%.
Combat rotation (Nicole team example): 1) Open with EX Special to build to ~8 shells and drop straight into Suppressive Mode. 2) Swap to Nicole for her EX to group enemies + shred DEF; when the Stun starts, Quick Assist back to Zhu Yuan (to 9 shells) and Dash Attack to skip her Suppressive entry flip. 3) Dump loop: Suppressive B1 -> B2 -> Suppressive Dash Attack -> B3 (P3 eats 3 shells for triple damage, her hardest hit). 4) Weave in Nicole Ultimate then Zhu Yuan Chain Attack to refill 3 shells and repeat the Suppressive chain. 5) Close the Stun window with Zhu Yuan's EX Special + Ultimate to unload her full burst. Manual Chain must be ON so you don't waste shells.
Quick Reload: activating Chain/Ultimate grants Quick Reload; once she burns through all Enhanced Shotshells, Quick Reload is consumed to instantly refill 6/9 shells. Best value copy — it fixes her core ammo-management weakness and keeps her burst flowing. If you only pull extra copies, STOP AT M1 (highest value per copy); grab M2 only if you have spare pulls.
Ether Ember: in Suppressive Mode she takes 10% less damage and gains anti-interrupt; each Enhanced Shotshell hit makes the target take 10% more Ether DMG, stacking 5x for 5s. Adds both damage and survivability while on-field.
Public Security Special Training: +2 levels to Basic/Assist/Dodge/Special/Chain. Pure numeric level-up, no playstyle change.
Ether Perforation: her Enhanced Shotshell Basic and Dash Attacks ignore 25% of the target's Ether RES. A real damage bump worth it if you're already committing to deep copies.
Special Ops Experience: +2 levels to Basic/Assist/Dodge/Special/Chain. Another pure level-up, low value.
Expanded Energy Pack III: consuming 12 Enhanced Shotshells grants Ether Afterglow, cutting the next EX Special's Energy cost by 30; the EX then consumes Afterglow to fire 4 extra Ether bullets at 220% ATK each. A big damage spike at full mindscape, but only worth it for heavy spenders.
- F2P-friendly: no need for her signature W-Engine, accessible options like Starlight Engine or Brimstone still perform well (prydwen).
- Enormous single-target burst in the Stun window — her Core Passive grants up to +80% damage to Stunned enemies (40% base + 40% vs Stunned).
- High mobility with Dash Attacks that weave in invulnerability frames, letting her dodge mid-combo without losing damage tempo.
- Flexible team building: Double Support and Stun + Support comps perform nearly equally, making her easy to slot in (prydwen).
- Combo-heavy with a steep learning curve: you must manage shells, time swaps precisely and use Manual Chain to reach her full damage (prydwen).
- Power-crept in the Ether DMG department at high investment (e.g. outclassed by Yixuan); prydwen now rates her endgame T1.5.
- Very team-dependent: needs a Stunner + DEF shred/Nicole to shine; solo or in makeshift teams her damage drops noticeably.
Not a strong Shiyu Defense pick: the mode has multiple waves and often crowds of enemies, whereas Zhu Yuan is purely single-target — prydwen currently lists NO Zhu Yuan team clearing Shiyu Defense this cycle. Playable on single-boss floors but not optimal.
A better fit for Deadly Assault since it favors large single bosses, matching her single-target burst. Still, usage is very low (prydwen ~0.05-0.07%, avg score ~21000-22000) — she clears it but isn't a meta pick.
Basic Attack2
Basic Attack: Don't Move!
[Assault Mode] Press to activate: Unleash a flurry of martial arts, bullets, and Ether Buckshots in a series of up to 5 attacks, dealing Physical DMG and Ether DMG. When the 4th or 5th hits strike an enemy, obtain 1 Enhanced Shotshell. A max of 1 can be obtained per activation of this Basic Attack. While using this skill, drag the and press to activate Dash Attack: Firepower Offensive and readjust to face the selected direction. While under Assault Mode, hold to switch to Suppressive Mode.
Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist
[Suppressive Mode] Hold to activate: Unleash up to 3 Shotshell piercing attacks, dealing Physical DMG. If Zhu Yuan has Enhanced Shotshells upon firing, 1 Enhanced Shotshell will be consumed, dealing massive Ether DMG. While using this skill, drag the to activate her Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower and readjust to face the selected direction. While in Suppressive Mode, release to return to Assault Mode.
Dodge4
Dodge: Tactical Detour
Press to activate: A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Dash Attack: Firepower Offensive
[Assault Mode] Press during a dodge to activate: Uses handgun to attack, dealing Physical DMG.
Dash Attack: Overwhelming Firepower
[Suppressive Mode] Drag the during Basic Attack: Please Do Not Resist to activate: Unleashes a Shotshell piercing attack, dealing Physical DMG. If Zhu Yuan has Enhanced Shotshells when firing, 1 Enhanced Shotshell will be consumed, dealing massive Ether DMG.
Dodge Counter: Fire Blast
Press during a Perfect Dodge to activate:Shoots enemies in front with an Ether Buckshot, dealing Ether DMG. Gain 1 Enhanced Shotshell on skill use.Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Assist3
Quick Assist: Covering Shot
When the on-field character is launched, press to activate:Shoots enemies in front with an Ether Buckshot, dealing Ether DMG.Gain 1 Enhanced Shotshell on skill use.Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Evasive Assist: Guarded Backup
When the character on field is about to be attacked, press to activate: Dodges the enemy's attack and activates Vital View. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Assist Follow-Up: Defensive Counter
Press after an Evasive Assist to activate: Attack with a combination of martial arts and shotshells, dealing Physical DMG and Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Special Attack2
Special Attack: Buckshot Blast
Press to activate: Shoots Ether Buckshots that deal Ether DMG. This can be repeated 3 times by repeatedly pressing . Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
EX Special Attack: Full Barrage
With enough Energy, press to activate: Shoots a series of Ether Buckshots, that explode and deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Chain Attack2
Chain Attack: Eradication Mode
When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Uses Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Ultimate: Max Eradication Mode
When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press to activate: Uses Modified Master Firearm to execute a saturated attack, firing lasers and seeking missiles to deal massive Ether DMG. Upon activation, gain 3 Enhanced Shotshells. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Core Skill2
Core Passive: Special Ops Ammunition
When Zhu Yuan is under Suppressive Mode, using Enhanced Shotshells increases her DMG by 20%. When attacking Stunned enemies, this DMG buff is increased by an additional 20%. When Zhu Yuan enters the battlefield, she immediately gains 6 Enhanced Shotshells.
Additional Ability: Tactical Coordination
When another character in your squad is a Support character or shares the same Faction: Zhu Yuan's CRIT Rate is increased by 30% 10s after using an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or Ultimate.
What is the best W-Engine for Zhu Yuan?
Zhu Yuan performs best with Cordis Germina. See alternatives and required stats in the Gear section above.
Is Zhu Yuan worth pulling?
Zhu Yuan is still a heavy-hitting Ether burst DPS with a stunner + Nicole by her side — the stun window is when she tears everything apart. She's been slightly power-crept and is very team-dependent (needs stun + DEF shred), so she falls off solo or in the wrong team. With Nicole, she's very much worth investing in.
What is the best team for Zhu Yuan?
Zhu Yuan works best in the Standard Police team. Full members and rotation are in the Teams section.
Understand the mechanics behind this
Teams→
Drive Disc Scorer→