Neverness to Everness · S-Rank · Cosmos · Solid
Zero Guide
The only esper without a detectable Wertheimer Index: an elite Cosmos hybrid who deletes lower-level targets with a DEF-ignoring nuke, unloads through the Divide by Zero Ultimate, and — on a mono-Cosmos team — anchors the Cosmos Esper Cycle as a top-tier enabler. Burst carry and team amplifier in one slot.
Overview
Quick Stats
| Rarity | S-Rank (5★) |
| Element | Cosmos |
| Arc Type | Solid |
| Role | Hybrid DPS / Cosmos Esper-Cycle enabler |
| Playstyle | Build energy → Skill nuke → Ultimate burst |
| Rec. Arc | The Rain That Shook the World (game-recommended) |
| Rec. Set | Lost Radiance 4-piece |
Ratings
Contextual: elite as a Cosmos Esper-Cycle enabler and hybrid carry, strong but not peak as a pure single-target unit, mid on F2P (her best arc needs a pull).
Community read — ZeroLuck tier-vote, Patch 1.0 (live, n=39 votes across roles): DPS S 3.95/5 (19 votes) · Hybrid SS 4.88/5 (16) · Support A 3.00/5 (4). His real meta role is Hybrid SS (Esper-Cycle enabler), not raw DPS — both samples are strong signal (n=19, n=16), and the gap between Hybrid SS and DPS S is the community telling you to slot him next to a carry, not as one. Reading this guide as a Hybrid build is the correct lens.
Trend: no recent tier shift, stable in the current patch — he has not moved up or down in the rolling movement feed, which matches his role as the Cosmos Esper-Cycle backbone of the meta. Watch the live tier list for the current standing.
Strengths
- Huge burst ceiling — Divide by Zero + A1 DEF-ignoring nuke
- Delete button vs lower / equal level targets (A1, 75% DEF ignore)
- Clean, readable loop — no fiddly resource juggling
- Scales hard on a mono-Cosmos team (A5 self + A8 team ATK)
- Game-recommended arc + clear stat path straight from the data
Weaknesses
- Damage is concentrated in the Ultimate — weak between bursts
- Best arc (The Rain That Shook the World) has no farmable 5★ substitute
- A1 bonus line is conditional on enemy level
- Esper Cycle scaling needs Cosmos teammates to come online
Gameplay — The Burst Window
Zero is a burst carry. Her attacks and Appraise and Engrave build Ultimate energy and land a conditional DEF-ignoring nuke, then Divide by Zero cashes the window out in one multi-instance hit — so the loop is always build energy → land the Skill nuke → unload the Ultimate.
Why she also amplifies a Cosmos team
- Theopneustos (A5) — +15% self ATK for 20s after any Cosmos Esper Cycle trigger
- Zero Display (A8) — the whole team gains +7% ATK for 20s after a Cosmos Esper Cycle trigger
- Blooming Gaze (A1) — Appraise and Engrave becomes a +200% ATK, 75%-DEF-ignoring nuke on lower / equal level targets
That is the key decision with Zero: solo carry or Cosmos amplifier. Alone, the Ultimate + A1 nuke is her damage. Slotted into a mono-Cosmos line with Hotori, the Esper Cycle keeps A5 / A8 live and her team-wide ATK buff adds real value — meet that condition and she scales hard; ignore it and she is still a strong standalone burst carry, just without the buffs.
Skills
Upgrade priority
- Divide by Zero
- Appraise and Engrave
- Appraisal
- Rift Blossom
Ultimate
Divide by Zero
Zero sweeps away the Nexus lines only she can see, dealing multiple instances of Cosmos DMG in one burst. This is her payoff button and the bulk of her damage — almost every awakening on her chart exists to make this hit harder (A3 +50% CRIT Rate, A4 up to +40% from Base ATK). Build Ultimate energy, then unload.
Skill
Appraise and Engrave
Slashes at perceived weak spots for 4 instances of Cosmos DMG, with an extra instance on the nearest target that is not a higher level than her. This is her main rotation filler and energy generator — and the bonus instance is what A1 and A6 scale into a heavy DEF-ignoring nuke against lower / equal level enemies.
Normal Attack
Appraisal
Up to a 5-hit Cosmos combo with an aerial Descent plunge, plus the Flash of Inspiration Break-reducing counter after a Critical Dodge. It bridges Skill casts and keeps Ultimate energy flowing — solid, but not where her damage lives.
Chain Skill
Rift Blossom
A swap-in slash that cuts through space and detonates vulnerable Sunders for 2 instances of AoE Cosmos DMG. A cheap, clean way to keep Zero's damage ticking when rotating her in. Lowest upgrade priority.
Skill scaling — Lv 1 → Lv 11
Real damage ratios (% of ATK) from the in-game codex. Divide by Zero and Appraise and Engrave are the biggest jumps per book invested — the A1 +200% DEF-ignoring extra hit is a flat add that does not scale, so the rest of the burst window relies on those two skill levels.
| Source | Lv 1 | Lv 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate — Divide by Zero (Sunder) | 132.7% | 286.5% |
| Skill — Appraise and Engrave (Weapon Strike) | 20%+20%+125.6%+134.4% | 43.2%+43.2%+271.2%+290.2% |
| Skill — A&E Extra DMG (A1 DEF-ignore nuke) | 200% | 200% |
| Normal Attack — Appraisal (5th instance) | 68.3% ×2 + {1}% | 147.5% ×2 + {1}% |
| Chain Skill — Rift Blossom | 75.3%+124.7% | 162.6%+269.2% |
The A1 line is a flat 200% extra hit that ignores 75% DEF on lower / equal level targets — it does not scale with skill level, so do not over-invest in Appraise and Engrave thinking you are buffing the nuke. Divide by Zero is the priority every time.
Awakenings
Priority: A1 → A6 → A3 → A4 → A2 → A5 → A8, then A7. She is fully functional at A0 — awakenings raise the ceiling, they do not gate her. A1 is the biggest jump because it turns her Skill into a DEF-ignoring nuke; A6 then doubles down on that exact line.
A1
Blooming Gaze
Appraise and Engrave deals +200% ATK as additional damage to the nearest lower / equal level target, and that hit ignores 75% of the target's DEF. A massive single-target nuke that defines her rotation — by far the biggest spike on her chart.
A6
Deceptive Liberation
+100% additional DMG Ratio for Appraise and Engrave. Directly doubles down on the A1 payoff line — the single biggest follow-up multiplier once A1 is in.
A3
Anomalies Record
+50% CRIT Rate on Divide by Zero. The Ultimate is her main damage, so near-guaranteed crits on it is a large effective-DPS gain and frees sub-stats toward CRIT DMG.
A4
Undecided Factors
Divide by Zero gains +0.10% damage per point of Base ATK, up to +40%. A clean flat scaling on her biggest hit — easy to fully realise on a built ATK profile.
A2
Finding the Calling
+8 Ultimate Energy on a successful Appraise and Engrave. Smoother Ultimate uptime — quality of pacing rather than raw ceiling, but it tightens the loop.
A5
Theopneustos
+15% ATK for 20s after triggering any Cosmos Esper Cycle. Plugs her into NTE's shared Cosmos Esper Cycle world system — a strong self-buff on a mono-Cosmos team.
A8
Zero Display
Team gains +7% ATK for 20s after triggering any Cosmos Esper Cycle. Turns her into a team-wide Cosmos amplifier — niche solo, strong in a built mono-Cosmos line.
A7
Discern
+1 skill level to Appraisal, Appraise and Engrave and Divide by Zero. A flat stat-stick — unlock last.
Best Arc
These picks are grounded in her in-game cultivation data and arc-type compatibility (Zero equips Solid arcs) — not invented tier claims.
Cassette Set & Stats
- 2-piece: Cosmos DMG +10%
- 4-piece: Ignores 25% of enemies' DEF for 20s after casting Ultimate (does not stack)
Tailor-made for her: the 2-piece amplifies her element, and the 4-piece DEF ignore fires on Divide by Zero — exactly the burst it needs to magnify, on top of the A1 DEF-ignoring nuke.
- 2-piece: ATK +10%
- 4-piece: +25% ATK for 20s after casting a Skill
Generic offensive fallback. Zero casts Appraise and Engrave on cooldown, so the 4-piece uptime is reliable — a safe set while farming Lost Radiance.
Stat Priority
Best Team
Cosmos · Solid. Builds Ultimate energy, deletes lower / equal level targets with the A1 Appraise and Engrave nuke (+200% ATK, 75% DEF ignored), and triggers the Cosmos Esper Cycle for self (A5 +15% ATK) and team (A8 +7% ATK) buffs.
5★ Cosmos Main DPS that doubles as a buff anchor. Her A8 The Ultimate Treasure of Clear Understanding grants the whole team +20% ATK while she is alive, and her A5 All-Seeing adds +15% team DMG against a single-target boss — both stack directly on Zero's Divide by Zero burst. Same-element Cosmos pairing keeps the Esper Cycle live throughout the rotation.
5★ Cosmos Main DPS. Her A8 Homecoming reduces the target's Cosmos Esper damage resistance by 10% on her hits — a direct multiplier on every Divide by Zero instance. Her Hanahaki Disease passive (Charge Enhancement: +4 Ultimate Energy to the active character on each Charge trigger) also accelerates Zero's burst cadence.
4★ Cosmos Survival / Heal. His Gentle Edge passive (Charge Enhancement) hands the active character a full 120 Ultimate Energy when any teammate casts a Support Skill (30s CD) — that single line can fast-forward Zero from 0 to ready-to-burst in one swap. Free in-element sustain that keeps the mono-Cosmos identity intact so A5 / A8 stay online.
Want a same-element support to anchor the Esper Cycle? Start from the Hotori Team Guide → Or build and share your own: Team Builder →
Optimal Rotation
Open with Appraisal
Lead with the 5-hit Appraisal combo to start generating Ultimate energy and Break pressure before committing skills.
Appraise and Engrave — land the bonus instance
Cast Appraise and Engrave on the nearest lower / equal level target so the extra instance lands. With A1 + A6 this is a heavy, DEF-ignoring nuke; with A2 it also feeds +8 Ultimate energy.
Trigger the Cosmos Esper Cycle
On a Cosmos team, trigger the Esper Cycle in this window — A5 grants Zero +15% ATK and A8 grants the whole team +7% ATK for 20s, both lined up before the Ultimate.
Divide by Zero
Open Divide by Zero with the buffs active. This is the multi-instance burst and the bulk of her damage — A3 makes it near-guaranteed crit, A4 adds up to +40% from Base ATK.
Rebuild or hand off
Reset with Appraisal / Appraise and Engrave to rebuild energy and re-trigger the Esper Cycle. Solo, repeat the loop; in a rotation team, Rift Blossom is a clean swap-out before handing off.
Golden rule: never open Divide by Zero before the Esper Cycle ATK buffs are live.
Pre-Farm Materials
Stockpile these before pulling so she is combat-ready on day one. Plan your ascension →
| Material | Source |
|---|---|
| Lost Whispers | Common enemy · Ascension phases 1–2 |
| Obscure Whispers | Common enemy · Ascension phases 3–4 |
| Paradoxical Whispers | Common enemy · Ascension phases 5–6 |
| Charging Knight Spark Plug | World Boss · Ascension phases 2+ |
Highest priority: Whispers ascension line · skill books · then arc / cassette farming
Should You Pull?
Pull if…
- You want a high-ceiling Cosmos burst carry built around one big Ultimate
- You run or plan a mono-Cosmos team (Hotori / Chiz) — A5 / A8 Esper Cycle scaling
- You like a delete-the-target playstyle (A1 DEF-ignoring nuke on lower-level enemies)
- You enjoy a clean, readable burst loop rather than constant resource juggling
- Boss and add-clear content is your focus — the execute-style Skill nuke shines there
Skip if…
- You want a sustained-damage carry — her output is concentrated in the Ultimate window
- You have no Cosmos teammates — A5 / A8 Esper Cycle scaling goes mostly unused
- You are strictly F2P on arcs — her best arc needs a pull, only a 4★ is farmable
- Your content has many higher-level enemies — the A1 bonus line is conditional on level
New / casual players: Zero is a clean, readable burst carry. The A1 Appraise and Engrave nuke and the multi-instance Ultimate clear story and mid difficulty on her base kit, and the lower / equal level condition is almost always met there — a safe pull if you like her.
F2P / low-spend: the character is worth it; the signature arc is the only paywall. Run The Forgotten (4★, farmable, right arc type) while you save, and you still keep her core burst loop — though the CRIT Rate sub-stat of a 5★ Solid arc is a real upgrade later.
Invested / endgame: this is where the ceiling pays off. With A1 + A6, The Rain That Shook the World and Lost Radiance she is a top-tier Cosmos burst boss carry; slotted into a mono-Cosmos line her A8 team ATK buff adds genuine support value. The condition is keeping the Cosmos Esper Cycle live — meet it and she scales hard, ignore it and you run a pure standalone burst carry.
Bottom line: an elite SS-tier Cosmos hybrid — a high-ceiling burst carry for everyone and one of the strongest Esper-Cycle enablers for players who build mono-element. Her weakness is conditional, not fundamental.
FAQ
Is Zero a DPS or a support?
Primarily a Cosmos Burst DPS. Her damage is concentrated in the Divide by Zero Ultimate and the A1 Appraise and Engrave nuke. She has a secondary support layer through the shared Cosmos Esper Cycle — A8 grants the whole team +7% ATK after a trigger — but that only matters on a mono-Cosmos roster; she is a carry first.
What is the Cosmos Esper Cycle and does Zero need it?
It is one of NTE's shared elemental world reactions, not a Zero-only mechanic. Her A5 (+15% self ATK) and A8 (+7% team ATK) trigger off it, so she scales hardest on a Cosmos team that keeps the cycle live. Without Cosmos teammates she is still a strong standalone burst carry — she just loses those two awakening buffs.
What does the 'lower or equal level' condition mean?
Appraise and Engrave deals an extra instance to the nearest enemy that is not a higher level than Zero, and A1 turns that into a +200% ATK, 75%-DEF-ignoring nuke. Against normal and lower-level content it is a delete button; against enemies above her level the bonus line does not trigger, so keep her level current.
What is the best Arc for Zero?
The Rain That Shook the World — and that is the game's own recommendation in her cultivation data, a 5★ Solid arc with a CRIT Rate sub-stat that stacks with A3 (+50% CRIT Rate on the Ultimate). Marching Beyond Time (5★ Solid, same CRIT Rate sub-stat) is the best alternative; The Forgotten (4★ Solid) is the farmable budget pick.
What is the best Cassette Set?
Lost Radiance 4-piece. The 2-piece is Cosmos DMG +10% (her element); the 4-piece ignores 25% of enemies' DEF for 20s after casting Ultimate — which lines up exactly with her Divide by Zero burst window. Shadow Creed (ATK +10% / +25% ATK after Skill) is a solid generic alternative.
What stats should I prioritise?
Straight from her in-game recommended attributes: Cosmos DMG > CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > Universal DMG Bonus > ATK% > ATK. With A3 unlocked, the +50% CRIT Rate on the Ultimate lets you shift sub-stats off CRIT Rate and into CRIT DMG for a higher burst ceiling.
Which Awakening matters most?
A1 (Blooming Gaze) is the biggest spike — it turns Appraise and Engrave into a +200% ATK DEF-ignoring nuke. Then A6 (+100% on that line), A3 (+50% Ultimate CRIT Rate) and A4 (+40% from Base ATK). Priority: A1 → A6 → A3 → A4 → A2 → A5 → A8, with A7 last. She is fully functional at A0.
Is she worth it for casual / story play?
Yes. The A1 Appraise and Engrave nuke and the multi-instance Ultimate clear story and mid difficulty cleanly on her base kit, and the lower / equal level condition is almost always met in that content. The mono-Cosmos Esper Cycle scaling only matters when you push the hardest endgame.