Zenless Zone Zero: Best Astra Yao Build (W-Engine, Teams & Drive Discs)

Astra Yao is primed to take over as the top Ether support unit in Zenless Zone Zero, but how and where does she shine best? Astra Yao is the second 5-Star Ether agent to join ZZZ, and will likely kick Nicole out of her role. Though their kits differ, the benefits a 5-Star will bring over 4-Stars will always be evident. However, Nicole will still be a viable pick for secondary teams, or if players choose to skip over Astra.

Astra's kit revolves around, Quick Assists, Chain Attacks, and her Idyllic Cadenza state. This state, which she enters through her EX Special, Ultimate, or Chain Attack, allows her to increase her team's damage, attack, and critical damage. Also, if Astra has any Chords, which are made up of 25 energy, she can allow teammates to trigger Quick Asists early. This all culminates with an extremely helpful Ultimate that allows Astra to heal her team and deal an initial blast of Ether damage.

Best W-Engine For Astra Yao In ZZZ

Limited But Still Helpful Options

Grace Howard from Zenless Zone Zero with The Gilded Blossom W-Engine-1

As usual, Astra's signature W-Engine, Elegant Vanity, will be her best option. First, this engine gives flat Attack and Attack%, which is crucial for her since her Attack buffs scale off her stats. For the ability, the first part grants the user 5 energy whenever a teammate enters through an Assist or Chain Attack. This is then combined with whenever the user consumes 25 energy or more, which is exactly what Astra's Chord consumes, it will give the team a 10% damage buff, stacking twice.

The rest of her options are unfortunately limited since the only other S-Rank engine doesn't suit her. Bashful Demon is a good alternative as it gives her 10% Attack, and a Damage buffing passive. However, the Ice Damage bonus will be completely wasted. Other options for those who don't care about having the most Attack are Kaboom The Cannon, which gives energy regeneration with some Attack buffs, or The Vault, which gives energy regeneration and a damage buff when dealing Ether damage.

Best Drive Discs For Astra Yao

Designed For The Star Herself

Astral Voice Zenless Zone Zero Drive Disc with description.

The best Disc set for Astra Yao was released in Zenless's 1.4 update with Astral Voice. The two-piece gives 10% Attack, which helps to boost her buffs, while the four-piece grants a teamwide stacking damage buff whenever Quick Assists are triggered. Even though it is outside the usual for a set designed for a character to release early, this set is perfect for how Astra's kit works and what she wants to do to have the most success.

For personal damage, Hormone Punk or Chaotic Metal would be the best bet. These both offer 10% Attack buffs at two pieces, which helps her deal damage and buff the rest of the team. For Hormone Punk, four pieces give another 25% Attack buff, but only for ten seconds. Chaotic Metal's four-piece helps with the critical and Corruption damage, which won't help Astra fulfill her role as a support as well as other options. Either of these sets' two-piece bonus can be used as the extra slots for Astra Yao regardless of which of these three sets is chosen.

Disc 4	ATK%, (Crit If Desired)
Disc 5	ATK%
Disc 6	ATK% or Energy Regeneration

Stat-wise, the best option for Astra Yao is to raise her Attack as high as possible. This means that critical stats can largely be ignored, but it wouldn't hurt to have some effort put into them to help boost her damage. The sub-stats are more of a matter of preference for Astra Yao. Critical options can be used again for personal damage, whereas HP or Defense can be used to help keep Astra Yao on the field longer.

Best Teams For Astra Yao In ZZZ

A Flexible Agent With Future Potential

Though she has her best spots, Astra Yao is rather flexible. Her first, and best, option will come in the second half of 1.5 with her bodyguard Evelyn. This Fire Attack character specializes in Assist and Chain attacks and dominates field time if needed. This is perfect for Astra, who does not require much field time and can remain on the field in a stasis-like state with some of her buffing abilities. However, this is the most expensive option as it requires pulling for both updated characters.

A second great option for Astra Yao is Zhu Yuan and her best builds. Being the premier Ether DPS she is, Zhu Yuan works well with Astra Yao to receive more buffs than what Nicole offers, while still completing her core passive. Astra's Quick Assist playstyle is also beneficial to Zhu Yuan as it will help her get her Enhanced Shotshells quicker. Overall, if Evelyn was not set to be released, Zhu Yuan would be the top option for Astra teams.

Which Stun agent is used will depend on the choice of DPS and who works best with them.

After these two, there is a more significant dropoff, but any unit that scales off Attack can work with Astra Yao. The buffs she offers in this regard just make her too strong to pass up. There are some teams that other units will be more synergistic with, but using Astra in their place if preferred would not be a serious downgrade if any. Some good options to consider here are Harumasa and Miyabi. Lastly, due to how strong her kit is, Astra Yao is likely to be as close to a future-proof character as there is in Zenless.

Overall, Astra Yao is designed to be a game-breaking new Support unit for Zenless. HoYoverse has a track record for making their support units strong and rather resistant to power creep, as evident by the best Harmony units in Honkai: Star Rail. Thus, even if there isn't a spot for her immediately, Astra Yao is a good agent to have for the future. Whenever she is acquired, this is the best way to build and use Astra Yao in Zenless Zone Zero.