Overview
Zhu Yuan is an S-Rank Ether Attack agent who serves as a Public Security officer in New Eridu. She wields dual pistols and specializes in rapid-fire Ether damage that can shred through enemy defenses with relentless aggression. Her playstyle revolves around her Enhanced Shotshell mechanic — after using her EX Special or a Dodge Counter, Zhu Yuan loads special ammunition that deals massively amplified damage on her next several Basic Attacks. This makes her one of the most dynamic and satisfying DPS characters to pilot.
As one of the few Ether-element DPS agents in the game, Zhu Yuan holds a unique niche. Ether is rarely resisted by enemies in current content, and many elite enemies and bosses in Shiyu Defense are weak to Ether. This gives Zhu Yuan exceptional versatility — she can be deployed against almost any enemy lineup without worrying about elemental resistance penalties. Her ranged attack pattern also gives her inherent safety advantages over melee DPS characters, allowing her to maintain uptime even against aggressive bosses.
Zhu Yuan's Additional Ability grants her increased CRIT DMG against enemies affected by any Anomaly, which means she benefits enormously from Anomaly-focused teammates. Combined with her high base CRIT stats and Ether application rate, Zhu Yuan can consistently trigger Corruption — the Ether anomaly effect — which deals damage over time and further amplifies her output. For players seeking a flexible, high-damage main DPS who can handle virtually any content, Zhu Yuan is a top-tier investment.
Skill Priority
| Priority | Skill | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Basic Attack: Rapid Pursuit | Core damage loop. Zhu Yuan's Enhanced Shotshell Basic Attacks deal the majority of her sustained damage. Leveling this directly improves every combat scenario. |
| 2nd | EX Special: Suppressive Fire | Loads 6 Enhanced Shotshells and deals significant AoE Ether damage. This is your primary cycle initiator and a major damage source. |
| 3rd | Ultimate: Justice Rain | Wide-area Ether bombardment that applies Corruption and reloads all Shotshells. Extremely high total multiplier across its multi-hit sequence. |
| 4th | Chain Attack | Used during Stun windows to extend burst combos. Reloads Shotshells on the final hit. |
| 5th | Dodge Counter | Tactical dodge that also loads 3 Shotshells on successful counter. Important for maintaining ammo uptime during aggressive fights. |
| 6th | Core Passive | Increases CRIT DMG against anomaly-affected targets. Unlock as Agent rank permits. |
Best W-Engines
| Rank | W-Engine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | Riot Suppressor Mark VI (Signature) | Best-in-slot. Ether DMG Bonus main stat, CRIT Rate substat, and an effect that grants stacking CRIT DMG every time Zhu Yuan deals damage (up to 6 stacks). The stacking mechanic is perfectly aligned with her rapid-fire playstyle. |
| A-Tier | The Brimstone | Premium alternative. ATK% main stat and a stacking ATK buff on hit, which Zhu Yuan triggers rapidly due to her high attack frequency. |
| B-Tier | Cannon Rotor (Battle Pass) | CRIT Rate main stat with additional ATK-scaling damage procs. Affordable performance upgrade for low spenders. |
| C-Tier | Starlight Engine (Craftable) | Best F2P option. ATK% main stat and provides a 12% ATK buff after Dodge Counter or Assist, which Zhu Yuan triggers naturally in her rotation. |
| Budget | Lunar Pleniluna | Serviceable ATK stat stick. The decaying DMG buff works adequately for Zhu Yuan's short burst cycles. |
Best Drive Discs
| Setup | Discs | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal | 4-Chaotic Metal + 2-Woodpecker Electro | General purpose. Chaotic Metal provides 10% Ether DMG Bonus (2-piece) and 20% CRIT DMG against anomaly-affected enemies (4-piece). Woodpecker Electro adds 8% CRIT Rate. This is the recommended setup for all content. |
| High Investment | 4-Chaotic Metal + 2-Branch & Blade Song | Use when you have 55%+ CRIT Rate from substats. The extra 16% CRIT DMG from Branch & Blade Song pushes damage ceilings higher but demands excellent relic quality. |
| Budget | 4-Chaotic Metal + 2-Hormone Punk | Placeholder while farming Woodpecker pieces. 10% ATK is a simple, unconditional damage boost. |
Main Stat Recommendations
- Disc 4: CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG — prioritize whichever brings you closer to a 1:2 ratio. With Riot Suppressor, lean toward CRIT DMG.
- Disc 5: Ether DMG Bonus — mandatory. Zhu Yuan deals exclusively Ether damage, and this is her largest single multiplier source.
- Disc 6: ATK% — Zhu Yuan has no Energy or PEN scaling needs; ATK% is the clear best option for consistent damage.
Best Team Compositions
Premium Ether Core
- Zhu Yuan (DPS) — Primary on-field damage dealer
- Qingyi (Stun) — Fastest Stun application in the game, increases Stun DMG multiplier on enemies
- Nicole (Support) — Ether RES shred, enemy grouping via black hole, and DEF reduction on her EX Special
This is Zhu Yuan's definitive team. Qingyi builds Daze at unmatched speed, Nicole groups enemies and shreds their Ether RES by 40% with her Core Passive, and Zhu Yuan capitalizes on the Stun window with her Enhanced Shotshell burst. The triple Ether synergy means Nicole's Additional Ability is always active, providing a further 25% Ether DMG Bonus to the entire team.
Budget-Friendly Team
- Zhu Yuan (DPS)
- Anby (Stun) — Free starter Stun agent; reliable and easy to use
- Nicole (Support) — Also free; her Ether RES shred alone makes her irreplaceable for Zhu Yuan
Anomaly Hybrid Team
- Zhu Yuan (DPS)
- Grace (Anomaly) — Applies Shock for extra Anomaly procs, keeping Zhu Yuan's CRIT DMG passive active
- Rina (Support) — PEN Ratio buffs and extends Shock duration for more sustained Anomaly uptime
Combat Rotation & Tips
- Opener: Begin with Nicole to deploy her energy field (EX Special), grouping enemies and applying Ether RES shred.
- Daze Phase: Swap to Qingyi or Anby. Spam Basic Attacks and use EX Special on cooldown to build Daze. Qingyi's charged Basic (hold) applies significantly more Daze than her tap combo.
- Stun Window: As soon as the enemy enters Stun, trigger Nicole's Chain Attack (or Quick Assist) to refresh Ether RES shred.
- Zhu Yuan Burst: Swap into Zhu Yuan → immediately EX Special to load 6 Enhanced Shotshells → dump all Shotshells with rapid Basic Attacks → if Ultimate is available, use it after exhausting Shotshells to reload and continue the cycle.
- Dodge Weaving: Zhu Yuan's Dodge Counter loads 3 Shotshells on a successful counter. Against aggressive bosses, intentionally dodge into attacks to maintain ammo uptime between EX Special cooldowns.
- Ultimate Timing: Always use Zhu Yuan's Ultimate during a Stun window if possible. The Stun damage multiplier (150% base) applies to her entire Ultimate sequence, effectively multiplying its already high damage output.
Pro Tips: Zhu Yuan's Basic Attack has a slight recoil that pushes her backward after the final shot — animation-cancel this with a Dodge or EX Special to stay in optimal range. Her ranged attacks have damage falloff at extreme distances; maintain mid-range positioning for full damage. When fighting multiple enemies, use Nicole's grouping ability before Zhu Yuan's burst to maximize the AoE splash damage from her Enhanced Shotshells.
Mindscape Cinema Value
- M1: Increases Enhanced Shotshell capacity from 6 to 8 and grants 15% CRIT Rate to Shotshell attacks. Roughly 18% overall damage increase. Excellent value.
- M2: EX Special reloads 2 additional Shotshells after a Chain Attack. Improves burst rotation consistency. ~12% DPS gain.
- M4: Ultimate applies a stacking Ether RES debuff (max 3 stacks, 5% each). Strong for prolonged fights. ~10% team damage increase.
- M6: Every Shotshell hit has a 40% chance to fire an additional bullet dealing 50% damage. Effectively a 20% total damage multiplier. Game-changing for sustained DPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Zhu Yuan's best W-Engine?
Riot Suppressor Mark VI is Zhu Yuan's signature W-Engine and her best-in-slot option, providing Ether DMG Bonus and a stacking CRIT DMG buff on hitting enemies. The Battle Pass W-Engine Cannon Rotor and craftable Starlight Engine serve as strong F2P alternatives that still deliver solid performance.
Q: Which Drive Disc set is best for Zhu Yuan?
The optimal setup is 4-piece Chaotic Metal and 2-piece Woodpecker Electro. Chaotic Metal provides Ether DMG Bonus and increases CRIT DMG against enemies affected by Corruption or any other Anomaly, which Zhu Yuan can trigger with her high Ether application rate.
Q: Who are Zhu Yuan's best team members?
Zhu Yuan thrives alongside Nicole for Ether RES shred and grouping, and Qingyi or Anby for fast Stun application. A core team of Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Qingyi is widely considered her strongest composition. Grace and Rina form a strong Anomaly-focused alternative team.
Q: Is Zhu Yuan better than Ellen Joe?
They serve different elemental roles and are both excellent DPS. Zhu Yuan has the advantage of being an Ether DPS (rarely resisted) and having ranged attacks for safer positioning. Ellen deals higher burst damage in Ice-weak content. Having both gives you excellent elemental coverage.
Q: How much CRIT Rate should Zhu Yuan have?
Aim for 55-65% CRIT Rate as a baseline. Because Zhu Yuan attacks rapidly with many smaller hits (unlike Miyabi's fewer large hits), missing individual crits is less punishing. CRIT DMG should target 130%+ for optimal results.
Q: Can Zhu Yuan work without Nicole?
Zhu Yuan can function without Nicole, but Nicole's 40% Ether RES shred is such a massive damage multiplier that it is strongly recommended to pair them together. If you absolutely cannot use Nicole, Rina or Soukaku are serviceable alternatives, but expect a noticeable DPS decrease.