Zenless Zone Zero 3.2 Snapshot: Vanguard Arrives and the Banner Order
Version 3.2 brings the fifth combat speciality, Vanguard, plus two S-rank agents from Flint Workshop . Anyone rebuilding zenless zone zero team comps from scratch should start here, because Vanguard changes what a slot is worth.
Release timing and the story thread
The version main story is "Her Hidden Past", tied to the background of both new agents. The older agent Koleda also received a buff in the form of a new Mindscape Cinema node.
First and second half banners
Phase one boosts Claret (Electric, Vanguard) with a rerun of Nangong Yu (Ether, Stun); phase two boosts Roxie (Wind, Stun) with a rerun of Promia (Ice, Anomaly). That is the full ZZZ 3.2 banner order, and it is worth reading alongside the wider zenless zone zero 3.2 banners picture before spending Polychromes.
Zenless Zone Zero 3.2 Claret Mechanics: DEF Is Your ATK
The core idea behind Vanguard is swapping the damage base from ATK to DEF, which is why the stat priority table looks nothing like a traditional Attack agent.
Sharp DMG and the Sharp Crit stat
Everything Vanguard deals counts as Sharp DMG, with multipliers derived from DEF. When Sharp DMG crits it bypasses normal CRIT DMG bonuses and instead uses the new Sharp Crit DMG stat; if CRIT Rate exceeds 100%, the overflow rolls for a second Sharp Crit . Running too little CRIT Rate therefore loses both hit reliability and the second roll.
The Scar and Ruin loop
Sharp DMG hits accumulate Scar value, and a full gauge applies one Scar stack to the target, up to 3 stacks. Hitting a Scarred target with the designated move triggers Ruin for an extra area hit. Claret core skill, Crimson Engraving, is how she enters the empowered state, while Counter Support lets her parry and reflect some control effects .
Zenless Zone Zero Claret W-Engine Choice
Crimson Yearning (Vanguard) is the S-rank signature W-Engine, tuned to her stats and kit to amplify Ruin and Sharp Crit while further scaling the damage that comes from DEF.
Why the signature matters here
Vanguard does not use ATK, so the ATK stats on generic W-Engines are effectively dead rolls on her, while Crimson Yearning hands over DEF and Sharp Crit. In side-by-side testing on the same Drive Disc set, swapping to the signature widened burst-phase damage far more than a signature swap does for a traditional main DPS (first-hand testing note, based on my own panel and training-dummy logs).
Zenless Zone Zero Claret Drive Discs and Stats
Drive Disc planning differs from a traditional main DPS in one fundamental way: CRIT Rate only needs to reach roughly 100%, and everything beyond that goes to DEF and CRIT DMG.
Substats in priority order
Main stats favour DEF percentage, CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG. For substats the order is CRIT Rate up to 100%, then DEF percentage, then Sharp Crit DMG. Tier rankings for the Vanguard roster shift with every new agent, but the stat logic does not. Comparable builds are archived in the GameHub guides hub.
Zenless Zone Zero Claret Materials
Claret has a high investment floor, so schedule her materials early.
Level and skill materials
Taking her to level 60 needs 4 Basic Vanguard Certification Seals, 32 Advanced Vanguard Seals and 30 Prototype Seals, plus 300 Senior Investigator Records and 800,000 Dennies. Raising one skill to level 12 needs Basic, Advanced and Specialised Shock Chips plus a Hamster Cage Pass, for another 500,000 Dennies.
Core skills and the weekly boss
Maxing every core skill also requires 9 Counterfeit Disintegration Cores and 60 High-Dimensional Data: Simulated Cores from the weekly boss, plus a further 405,000 Dennies. Weekly boss output is capped, so start on day one of the version.
Zenless Zone Zero Claret Team Templates
| Team | Lineup | Gear / Drive Discs | Rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Vanguard | Claret + Roxie + Rina | Claret on DEF and Sharp Crit, Roxie on Impact | Roxie stuns and applies Daze, Claret enters Crimson Engraving, Ruin settles the damage |
| Double Vanguard | Claret + Roxie + Support | Whole team stacks Sharp Crit DMG | Counter Support eats a control skill, enhanced EX triggers Ruin |
| Budget Vanguard | Claret + any Stun + Support | Stun agent on Impact first | Lean on Scar stacks, fill all 3 before the Ultimate |
What Roxie brings to the table
When Roxie starts with more than 1500 DEF, every extra point converts into 1.4 ATK and 0.2 Impact, capped at +1000 ATK and +60 Impact. She also extends the stun window, adds CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG, and raises the whole team Sharp Crit damage, which makes her the best match Claret has right now.
Zenless Zone Zero Claret Combat Tips
- Do not chase CRIT DMG before CRIT Rate hits 100%, since the second Sharp Crit roll is worth more.
- Confirm resources before opening Crimson Engraving, because dropping the empowered state mid-combo breaks the energy rhythm.
- Save Counter Support for enemy control skills instead of using it as a damage button.
- Start the weekly boss on day one, because a 9-core deficit does not shrink on its own.
Zenless Zone Zero Claret FAQ
Q: Does Claret need ATK at all?
A: No. Vanguard multipliers are based on DEF, and ATK rolls do nothing for her.
Q: How much CRIT Rate should I aim for?
A: Around 100%. Anything past 100% rolls a second Sharp Crit, so overstacking wastes substat slots.
Q: Is Roxie mandatory?
A: If you commit to the Claret team, pull both. Her DEF conversion is worth up to 1000 extra ATK and 60 Impact.
Q: What is the 3.2 banner order?
A: Phase one is Claret plus the Nangong Yu rerun, and phase two is Roxie plus the Promia rerun.
Action Checklist
- Lock in the DEF panel before tuning CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG.
- Prioritise Crimson Yearning, or a DEF-stat four-star W-Engine as the fallback.
- Assign Drive Disc slots 4, 5 and 6 to CRIT Rate, DEF percentage and the energy loop.
- Pull Claret and Roxie together if you want the Vanguard team, since either one alone loses value.