As players dive into the Anomaly DPS meta of Zenless Zone Zero, Harumasa stands out with a unique combo-centric playstyle. When constructed effectively, he can still thrive in this environment, despite Attack units not currently dominating the landscape. Recent releases of Anomaly units that synergize well together have unfortunately overshadowed him slightly. Additionally, Harumasa faces tough competition from Miyabi, a highly anticipated character who has taken the spotlight as one of the game’s strongest.
Harumasa is designed as a critical-focused unit that utilizes an augmented dash attack. After completing his fifth basic attack, activating an EX Special, or having a teammate trigger an Anomaly, he summons six Electro Quiver orbs onto the battlefield. Using his targeted ranged attack, Harumasa can attach these orbs to an enemy, marking them with a maximum stack of eight. Once an enemy is marked, his dash attack switches to a special mode, where he can unleash sword strikes, consuming two stacks each time to amplify his damage and inflict daze status.
Optimal W-Engine for Harumasa
Diverse Options Available
As is common with character builds, Harumasa’s optimal engine is his signature, the Zanshin Herb Case. This W-Engine grants a base 10% critical rate, plus an additional 10% for 15 seconds whenever a team member stuns an enemy or triggers an Anomaly. Furthermore, when fully leveled to 60, it amplifies critical damage by 48% and boosts Electric damage from dash attacks by 40%.
The next best engine for Harumasa is Soldier 11’s signature, The Brimstone. This W-Engine is one of the most robust across Zenless Zone Zero and provides essential buffs. At level 60, it adds an extra 30% Attack, increasing up to 27% based on successful hits from basic attacks, dodge counters, or dash attacks. Although not as tailored as Harumasa’s signature option, it remains effective when built appropriately.
For those seeking a 4-star alternative, the easily accessible Starlight Engine can be substituted, but the new 1.4 event engine, Marcato Desire, proves to be the best free-to-play selection. At level 60, it offers a 20% critical rate boost, an asset for a 4-Star unit. However, the Attack buff from using an EX Special or Chain Attack is capped at 9.6% at S5, increasing by another 9.6% if the target is marked by an Anomaly. With its event status, reaching maximum level should be attainable.
Top Drive Discs for Harumasa
Opting for Reliable Choices
Despite the release of two new disc sets in the 1.4 update, Harumasa does not directly utilize these options. Instead, he thrives with the Thunder Metal set, which boosts Electric damage significantly with both two-piece and four-piece bonuses, especially when facing Shocked enemies. This synergy makes it easy to maintain a steady Shock effect, particularly when paired with Anomaly characters.
The second-best option is the Woodpecker Electro set. This versatile set has become the go-to for DPS units due to its enhancements to critical rate and attack levels upon landing critical hits. Given its few downsides, it’s an excellent choice for players with spare discs. Additionally, it pairs well, either as a two-piece with Thunder Metal or vice versa.
To optimize Harumasa’s performance, ideal main stats for Discs 4, 5, and 6 include critical damage, Electric damage, and Attack%. Essential substats for Attack characters should focus on critical damage, critical rate, and overall Attack%. Supplementing these with flat Attack or Penetration will further balance his stats.
|
Disk |
Stat |
|
Disk 4 |
Critical Damage |
|
Disk 5 |
Electro Damage Bonus |
|
Disk 6 |
Attack% |
Ideal Teams for Harumasa
Synergistic Yet Limited Options
While Harumasa benefits from Anomaly characters, the ideal team composition combines him with a stunner and a support unit. The best combination includes Qingyi and Rina, who provide substantial Shock capabilities and stunning benefits with their optimal builds. If a substitute for Qingyi is necessary, Anby provides some utility, albeit with fewer enhancements for Harumasa.
For players interested in utilizing an Anomaly character, Burnice or Grace surfaces as top choices. Burnice excels as an off-field Anomaly character, inflicting burn on enemies before switching off for reapplied effects later. Grace, while slightly requiring more time on the field, offers better Electric damage synergy for Harumasa’s build. While this setup doesn’t boast the same speed as his premium team, it promotes flexibility and fun gameplay.
Looking forward, Harumasa will likely need additional support characters. Although his ideal team is competent, it doesn’t completely match the fluidity that maximizes his potential. He would significantly benefit from an Electro character that applies substantial Anomaly damage while being able to operate off-field.
Ideal Bangboo selections include either Plugboo or Electroboo, particularly effective when paired with multiple Electric units.
In a meta that has somewhat sidelined Attack units, Harumasa enters the game as a robust choice for a free unit. With accessible build options, he can demonstrate his potential effectively, even if he faces challenges in meeting critical thresholds. While his free-to-play team dynamics may not match the power of others, they still allow him to shine in Zenless Zone Zero.