Zenless Zone Zero: Evaluating Peloise for Your Main DPS Roster

Peloise has emerged as a standout free-to-play main DPS option in Zenless Zone Zero. For players looking to maximize their roster without exhausting premium resources, she offers a consistent, reliable damage profile that can carry teams through the mid-game and deep into endgame content. However, the difference between a "passable" Peloise and an "efficient" one lies in your understanding of her resource economy and tactical positioning. This guide breaks down exactly how to build Peloise to bridge the power gap between her and premium S-Rank agents.

Understanding Peloise’s Combat Potential and Scaling

Peloise excels as a consistent damage dealer, provided you master her active rotations. Her primary strength is her high damage uptime; unlike burst-reliant characters who suffer when their cooldowns are down, Peloise maintains steady pressure. This makes her an ideal anchor for teams facing challenging, multi-wave encounters.

To maximize her potential, stop spreading your resources thin. Focus exclusively on:

• Core Passive: This is the heart of her kit. Scaling this increases the efficiency of her primary combat mechanics.
• Chain Attack Skills: Because Peloise relies on frequent transitions, her Chain Attack damage is where the bulk of your investment should go.
• Basic Attacks: As a sustained damage dealer, these are your "filler" between rotations. Leveling these provides the necessary baseline damage to clear shields and mobs efficiently.

By concentrating your skill materials here, you ensure Peloise hits harder during her "on-field" windows, which is more impactful than leveling secondary utility skills that offer diminishing returns.

Engine Refinement: Why "Full Refinement" is a Trap

A common point of confusion for Zenless Zone Zero players is whether to chase high refinement ranks (R5) on engines. For Peloise, the data is clear: pushing an engine to "Full Refinement" offers only a marginal performance boost, often totaling a mere 6% increase in output.

In the context of long-term account growth, this 6% is rarely worth the specialized materials required. Instead, follow this "Value-First" strategy:

1. Unlock the Passive: Ensure your engine is at a level that enables its primary passive effect. This is where 90% of the engine’s value lies.
2. Level for Base Stats: Focus on the character level and engine level for raw attack power.
3. Redirect Resources: Save the materials you would have spent on refinement for your support agents. A well-supported Peloise with a base-level engine will always outperform an unsupported Peloise with a max-refinement engine.

Optimal Team Compositions for Peloise

Peloise functions best in a "hyper-carry" configuration where the other two slots are dedicated to amplifying her damage output or keeping her alive during long attack animations. Because she is often stationary during her high-damage sequences, you must pair her with agents that provide stability.

• The Stun Enabler: Pair Peloise with a high-impact Stun agent. Since Peloise isn't a dedicated breaker, having a stunner prime the enemy for a "Daze" state allows her to enter her optimal rotation without fear of interruption.
• The Support Amplifier: A support agent who can provide elemental resistance shred or attack buffs is mandatory. Peloise’s damage scales significantly when her target's defense is lowered, allowing her consistent hits to hit much harder.
• Faction Synergy: Whenever possible, prioritize agents that trigger faction bonuses. Even if a character is slightly lower tier, the passive stat bonuses from faction alignment often outweigh the raw power of an un-synergized S-Rank unit.

Drive Disc and Stat Prioritization

Equipping the right Drive Discs is the final step in finalizing your build. Many players make the mistake of over-investing in defensive sub-stats. As a main DPS, Peloise requires a hyper-offensive focus.

Prioritize these stats in order:

1. Attack Percentage (Main Stat): This is the foundation of her damage.
2. Critical Rate/Damage: Aim for a 1:2 ratio. You want her to crit consistently during her sustained attack phases.
3. Energy Regeneration: Peloise’s ultimate is a vital "reset" button. Higher energy regeneration ensures she is never without her biggest damage tool when you need to burst down a boss.

Avoid "HP" or "Defense" rolls on your Drive Discs. If you find yourself dying, use movement and perfect dodges to survive, rather than sacrificing your DPS potential for defensive stats.

Managing Your Investment Trade-offs

Deciding to "main" Peloise means acknowledging the reality of a changing meta. She is a powerhouse for early and mid-game, and she is incredibly efficient at clearing content that rewards the currency needed for future pulls.

The Expert Strategy: Use Peloise to "clear the bank." By investing in her just enough to clear standard challenges, you preserve your premium resources for the future. Avoid "Shadows" (constellations) for Peloise unless you are absolutely committed to her as your permanent main. If you treat her as an efficient bridge agent, you will find that you have significantly more resources saved when the next top-tier meta-defining S-Rank agent arrives on a limited banner.

By following this disciplined approach, you ensure your Zenless Zone Zero account remains flexible and powerful, allowing you to adapt to any new challenge the game throws your way without hitting a "resource wall."