Evelyn’s kit in Zenless Zone Zero is finally here, and we’re about to dive deep into what makes her such a firepower-packed S-rank character! Whether you’re looking for a solid DPS or someone who can switch between close combat and ranged attacks, Evelyn’s got you covered. She’s a fire-based attack unit that excels in both CQC (close-quarters combat) and ranged strikes, making her super versatile and valuable no matter what kind of team you’re running. Her ability to adapt to almost any situation on the battlefield making sure she’s always relevant. Let’s break her down!
Evelyn Chevalier Pre-Release Build Guide
First things first, Evelyn’s bread and butter attack is her Qualified Martial Technique, a powerful close-range hand-to-hand physical attack. You’re going to be spamming this a lot, but what makes it even better is the ability to transition into several variations depending on the situation. Here’s what you need to know:
- Air Kick: Evelyn leaps into the air, delivering a powerful kick that’s perfect for close-range and anti-air attacks. Nail this, and you can follow up with even more attacks.
- Spirit Backstab: A slick repositioning move that allows Evelyn to strike from behind, dealing solid physical damage. It opens up some nasty combo opportunities, making her deadly in combat.
- Shooting: When you need a ranged attack, Evelyn’s got it. She draws a firearm and delivers a precise shot, perfect for picking off enemies at a distance.
Unique Mechanic: Rope State
Evelyn’s core passive increases her critical rate by 24% when she enters the Rope State. Now, you might be wondering how she enters this state—there are multiple ways to trigger it. What’s really cool is that when Evelyn exits the Rope State, she retains the buff for an additional 10 seconds. Plus, if she exits while in Rope State, she releases an additional special skill, Wig Bind, which pulls enemies in and deals fire damage while also exiting the Rope State.
What’s important here is that even after triggering Wig Bind, Evelyn maintains her buffs for 10 seconds, allowing her to avoid attacks. Think of it as a dynamic, mobile damage-dealing mechanic, similar to Chingi where you can attack and dodge at the same time.
Understanding Branch Skill Points
As you perform actions during the Rope State, you’ll accumulate Branch Skill Points, which act like a special bar for Evelyn. Certain moves fill this bar faster than others. Once you have enough points (16 max), you can perform special attacks. To use a Branch Attack, you need 8 points—50% of the maximum. This special attack deals significant damage and is triggered by holding down the normal attack button while in Rope State.
Ascension Points, Branch Attacks & Chain Attack Synergy
Whenever Evelyn lands two hits with Branch Skill Branch One or Branch Skill Branch Two, she accumulates one Ascension Point. These Ascension Points are crucial for triggering her powerful chain attacks. By consuming these points, you can chain Branch One and Branch Two together, dealing even more damage.
Evelyn is all about chain attack damage. Her Chain Attack and Ultimate damage are increased by 25% when there’s a stun or support character in the team. If Evelyn’s critical rate is above 80%, this bonus jumps to 50%. So, not only does she shine in Rope State (where she gets that 80% CR rate boost), but she also becomes a powerhouse with chain and ultimate damage.
Perfect Dodge Counter
Another cool way to enter the Rope State is through a Perfect Dodge Counter. By triggering a perfect dodge, Evelyn enters the Rope State and gains a solid chunk of Branch Skill Points (4 points!). This makes dodging even more important for Evelyn’s flow. The highest Branch Skill Point gains come from her X Special Attack, which, if not at full capacity, will continuously generate Branch Skill Points at the cost of energy.
Evelyn’s Special Attacks
Evelyn’s special moves take her gameplay to the next level, adding crowd control, extra utility, and some serious damage buffs. Here’s what you need to watch out for:
- Dancing Blade: A beautiful spinning slash that not only deals physical damage but can also break through enemy guards and apply debuffs in certain situations. You’ll want to use this when you need to dish out some serious damage or break through tough enemies.
- Overflowing Charm (X Special Attack): Upgrading Dancing Blade, this one amplifies damage and applies confusion or weakens enemies’ defenses. It’s great for crowd control and making enemies pay for getting too close.
- Speaking of X Special Attack, it’s here that you can accumulate up to 8 Branch Skill Points by consuming energy (up to 82 points). This is where Astra Yao’s energy generation will be invaluable, allowing Evelyn to perform more powerful X attacks and make better use of her Branch Skill Points.
- Sharp Thorn: This attack pierces through enemy defenses, potentially inflicting bleed or disrupting their actions. Use this to keep enemies on their toes!
Mobility & Dodge Abilities: Evade, Strike, Repeat
What makes Evelyn truly stand out is her mobility. She can dodge and counter very well, making her hard to hit while also setting up devastating counterattacks.
- Aade: A quick dodge that negates incoming damage if you time it just right, allowing you to set up a counterattack.
- Divine Flash Attack: Perfectly dodging an attack lets Evelyn flash-step, leaving behind an afterimage while landing a powerful counterstrike. It’s flashy and effective!
- Instant Stab: After a successful dodge, Evelyn performs a rapid stab to interrupt enemies, while also giving you a great chance to reposition and control the battlefield.
Team Support & Assist Skills: Evelyn’s Not Just About Damage
Evelyn’s not just a one-woman army—she can also provide support to your team, making sure that everyone gets in on the action:
- Rapid Replacement: Instantly switch places with an ally, offering buffs or dishing out some supportive damage.
- Variation: Evelyn can change up her attack patterns, helping reposition allies or granting useful buffs.
- Guard Support: Whether it’s parrying an attack or taking a defensive stance, Evelyn can reduce damage for her teammates and create opportunities for counterattacks.
Evelyn’s Chain Attacks & Ultimate
Evelyn’s Chain Attack deals explosive frontal-area damage. You’ll want to position enemies together to maximize the effect. As for her Ultimate, she has two versions:
- The first version deals massive fire damage and, importantly, removes her coat, allowing her to enter the Full Throttle State. This state boosts her Ascension Points, accelerating her damage output.
- After her first Ultimate, Evelyn always has at least one Ascension Point, making it easier to ramp up for more attacks.
Best Gear & Stats for Evelyn
To get the best performance out of Evelyn, you’ll need to focus on the right stats and gear combinations. Here’s what you should prioritize:
- Recommended Stats (Level 60):
- Attack: 3,000
- HP: 9,600
- Defense: 800
- Critical Rate: 80%
- Critical Damage: 160%
- Ability Level Priority:
- Basic Attack
- Chain Attack
- Special Attack
- Dodge or Assist
- Best W-Engines:
- Signature W-Engine: Brimstone Soldier – Boosts critical damage and enhances fire-based attacks, making Evelyn’s abilities even more deadly.
- Alternative Engines: Steel Cushion, Starlight Engine, Street Superstar (especially for team synergy).
- Drive Disk & Bangoo Recommendations:
- Drive Disk:
- Inferno Metal – Boosts fire damage and critical rate.
- Woodpecker Electro – Enhances critical damage and attack.
- Puffer Electro – Great for increasing penetration and ultimate damage.
- Banboo:
- Rocket Boo (S-Rank) – Deals fire damage and inflicts anomaly buildup.
- Cryboo (A-Rank) – Similar benefits but with slightly lower stats.
- Drive Disk:
Team Compositions: Who To Pair Evelyn With
Evelyn is great on her own, but she really shines when paired with the right team. She pairs best with Astra Yao, Lighter, Lucy, Kaleda, and Ben. Here are some of the best team compositions to bring out her full potential:
- Best Team: Evelyn, Bernice, Caesar—This trio can cover all bases, from damage to support.
- Free-to-Play Team: Evelyn, Ben, Lucy—A solid, accessible team for those on a budget.
- Specialized Synergy: Evelyn, Lucy, Ker—Perfect for stun-based strategies and keeping enemies locked down.
Evelyn shines as a burst damage dealer focused on chain attacks and ultimate skills. Her Rope State mechanics, paired with her unique synergies with Ascension and Branch Skill Points, make her a versatile and deadly attacker. If you’ve got Astra Yao to support her energy needs, she’ll be even more unstoppable.
For sustained damage, characters like Lighter will complement her well. Managing Branch Skill Points is key to maximizing her burst potential during stun windows, making her a strong pick for high-damage roles.
Final Thoughts
Evelyn isn’t just another fire character—she’s a powerhouse who can be both a sustained DPS and a burst damage dealer. Her versatility allows you to use her in a wide variety of team compositions, and when you focus on effective BR point management, chain attacks, and timing your dodges, you’ll see just how strong she can be.
That’s it for my breakdown! If you enjoyed it, let me hear from you in the comments below. I’d love to hear what team compositions you’re thinking of running with Evelyn, and if you have any other tips or tricks for playing her.
