New Eridu is a mess. If you’ve spent any time diving into Hollows, you already know that the Zenless Zone Zero enemies aren't just there to be your personal punching bags. They’re aggressive. They’re loud. Honestly, some of them are just plain annoying if you don’t understand how the daze gauge works. Most players jump in, mash the attack button, and wonder why a generic Thug just took out half their health bar with a single pipe swing. It’s because the combat rhythm in this game is less about "killing things fast" and more about managing the pressure you put on the various factions roaming the HIA VR simulations and the street levels.
You’ve got Ethereals, Corrupted, and those pesky human factions like the Hollow Raiders. Each group has a distinct "flavor" of pain they like to dish out.
The Reality of Fighting Ethereals
Ethereals are the poster children for Zenless Zone Zero enemies. They look like geometric nightmares mixed with glass and static. The big ones, like the Dullahan or the Thanatos, are the ones that actually force you to learn the game’s mechanics. Thanatos is a nightmare. It teleports. You try to initiate a chain attack, and it’s suddenly thirty feet behind you, charging up a bow shot that hits like a freight train.
The trick with Ethereals is realizing they are mostly telegraph-heavy. You see that golden flash? That’s your cue to parry or dodge. If you miss the window, you aren't just taking damage; you're losing your offensive momentum.
When you’re staring down a boss like the Nineveh or even a standard Grudge-Faced Ethereal, the goal is the Daze Gauge. You see that bar under their health? Fill it. Use an Impact-focused character like Anby or Lycaon. Once they hit 100% Daze, the enemy stops moving. They become vulnerable. This is the only time you should be dumping your heavy damage dealers like Ellen or Zhu Yuan onto the field. If you’re trying to DPS a "living" Ethereal, you’re basically fighting an uphill battle against hyper-armor.
Why the Thanatos is actually the hardest "regular" mob
Everyone complains about bosses, but the Thanatos is the real skill check. It punishes greedy players. You want to finish your basic attack string? Too bad. It’s gone. It’s invisible now. To beat it, you have to stay patient. Wait for the dash. The moment it reappears, you need to use a defensive assist.
Switching characters at the exact moment of an incoming hit triggers a parry that deals massive daze damage. It’s the fastest way to shut these things down. Most people forget the assist points are a resource—don’t hoard them. Use them.
Hollow Raiders and the Human Element
Human enemies feel different. They’re squishier, sure, but they come in packs. The Hollow Raiders and the construction-themed enemies from Belobog Heavy Industries chapters rely on sheer chaos. You’ll have one guy with a shield blocking your front, while three others are lobbing grenades or firing shotguns from the perimeter.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the visual noise.
When dealing with these Zenless Zone Zero enemies, target priority is everything. Kill the snipers first. They have low poise. A single EX Special attack usually knocks them off their feet. If you leave them alone, they’ll interrupt your combos while you’re trying to deal with the big "Chop" units or the heavy shield-bearers.
- Shielded enemies: Don't hit the shield. It's a waste of time. Dodge through them and hit the back.
- Melee thugs: These guys are parry bait. Wait for the yellow flash and swap.
- Mechanical units: These are weak to Electric damage. If you have Anton or Anby, use them here.
The game uses an elemental system that isn't just for show. If you apply "Shock" to a robot, it flinches. It stops attacking. It’s basically free crowd control. Use it.
The Dreaded Boss Mechanics: Beyond the Health Bar
Bosses in this game, like the Twin Marionettes or the Ballet Twins, are where things get weird. The Ballet Twins are a perfect example of why you can't just "unga bunga" your way to victory. They share a health pool, sort of, but they move independently. If you focus on one, the other is off-screen preparing a spinning attack that covers half the arena.
It’s frustrating.
But it’s also fair. The game gives you audio cues. If you hear a high-pitched chime, someone is attacking from off-camera. You don't even need to see them to dodge. Just hit the button.
Understanding the "Rage" State
Most elite Zenless Zone Zero enemies have a phase where they turn red and get faster. During this time, they are much harder to stun. I see a lot of players try to "power through" this phase. Don't. This is your time to play defensively. Focus on dodging and building up your Energy for a Chain Attack once the rage wears off.
Also, pay attention to the environment. In some stages, there are explosive barrels or ether-corrupted zones. You can bait enemies into these. It feels cheap, but in the higher levels of the Shiyu Defense, you need every bit of extra damage you can get.
How to Optimize Your Approach
If you want to actually survive the endgame, you need a team that makes sense for the enemies you’re facing.
- Check the Weakness: Before you enter a stage, look at the enemy icons. If they are weak to Fire, bring Ben or Koleda. It’s not just about more damage; it’s about faster Daze build-up.
- The 1-2-3 Punch: Your team should always have a Breaker (to stun), a Support (to buff), and a DPS (to kill).
- Learn the Assist Window: Some attacks have a red flash instead of a gold one. You can't parry those. You HAVE to dodge. If you try to swap-parry a red attack, your character will just take the hit. It's a subtle difference, but it's the difference between an S-Rank and a failed run.
The Zenless Zone Zero enemies are designed to catch you being lazy. They want you to stick to one character. They want you to ignore the swap mechanic. The moment you start treating your three characters as a single, rotating unit, the game becomes significantly easier.
Stop looking at the health bars and start looking at the feet of the enemies. Watch their stances. Every single one of them, from the tiniest Ethereal larva to the massive construction mechs, has a tell. Find the tell, hit the parry, and watch the daze meter climb.
Actions to Take Right Now
Go into the VR training mode. Don't just do the rewards. Pick the "Advanced Combat" tab and practice against the Thanatos specifically. Learn the timing of its three-hit teleport combo. Once you can parry that consistently, the rest of the game's mob encounters will feel like they're moving in slow motion.
Next, check your Disc Drives. If you’re struggling to stun enemies, make sure your "Breaker" character has an Impact-main stat on their sixth slot. It changes everything. Without high Impact, you’re just tickling the enemies while they gear up to one-shot your squishy attackers.
Lastly, stop dodging early. The dodge-counter in this game is incredibly generous with its invincibility frames, but only if you trigger it at the last possible second. Practice "perfect dodges" against the smaller mobs in the city streets before you take on the weekly bosses.
