Zen Zero Combat Mechanics Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Breakdown of video into parts:
  • Info Panels
  • Skills and Decibels
  • Days and Chain Attacks
  • Dash and Dodge
  • Perfect Assist and Assist Followup
  • Attribute Anomaly
  • Agent Specialty
  • Combat Phases
  • Agent Stats
  • Combat Bang Boost
  • Combat Showcase

Info Panels

• Each agent has abilities: Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attacks, Ultimate, Passive Core Skill.
• For detailed guides on agents, check other guides by the presenter.
• Top left screen: Agent's HP bar, Energy bar (below HP), and Decibel (energy for ultimates).
• Enemy info panel: HP and Days bar (below HP), Attribute Anomaly build-up.
• Bottom right icons:
  • Basic attacks
  • Dodge
  • Special attacks (normal and EX)
  • Switch character/trigger perfect assist
  • Ultimate (requires enough Decibels)

Combat Mechanics

• Characters generate energy over time and by attacking/dodging.
• EX Special Attack requires energy (indicated by red threshold).
• Decibels accumulate through combat actions; 3000 Decibels needed for ultimate.
• Decibels are shared across the squad.
• Days bar: Stun enemies when full, making them take extra damage.
• Heavy attack (last hit of combo, special attacks, ultimate, etc.) needed to trigger Chain Attacks on stunned enemies.
• Chain Attacks vary by enemy type (one for small, two for elite, three for bosses).
• Enemy Days bar turns gray during stun.

Dash and Dodge System

• Dashing: Running for some time, then pressing attack triggers dash attack.
• Dodging: Makes characters invulnerable but has a cooldown.
• Perfect Dodge: Timed dodge that allows counterattack (Dodge counter).
• Quick Assist: Triggered during stagger/knockback by switching characters.

Perfect Assist and Assist Followup

• Flashing prompt indicates timing for Perfect Assist (press switch button).
• Types of assists:
  • Defensive (parries attack, accumulates data)
  • Evasive (dodges attack, slows down time, bullet time effect)
• Follow-up attack can be triggered after a perfect assist.
  • Certain enemy attacks show red prompt (cannot trigger Perfect Assist).
  • Assist points: Recharged through chain attacks and ultimates.

Attribute Anomaly

• Attributes: Elements in the game (Physical, Fire, Ice, Electric, Ether).
• Agents inflict attribute damage which accumulates anomaly build-up.
• Attribute Anomaly is influenced by contribution from each agent.
• Effects of anomalies:
  • Physical: Assault (interrupts and deals damage), Flinch (increases Days accumulation)
  • Fire: Burn (one-time and continuous damage)
  • Ice: Freeze (immobilizes), Frostbite (increases crit damage taken)
  • Electric: Shock (additional damage when attacked, interrupts machines)
  • Ether: Corruption (additional damage when attacked, interrupts energy enemies)
• Disorder: Triggered by applying different anomaly to already affected enemy.

Agent Specialty

• Roles: Attack, Stun, Support, Anomaly, Defense.
  • Attack: High damage output
  • Stun: High control abilities
  • Support: Buffs friendly units
  • Anomaly: Applies debuffs
  • Defense: High survivability

Combat Phases

• Two phases: Days Phase and DPS Phase.
  • Days Phase: Use agents to stun the enemy.
  • DPS Phase: Switch to DPS agents to deal massive damage during stun.
• Preparation: Buffs/debuffs should be applied before enemy is stunned.

Agent Stats

• Key statistics: HP, Attack, Defense.
• Impact: Influences Days accumulation rate.
• Critical stats: Crit rate and crit damage.
• Anomaly stats:
  • Mastery: Efficiency of anomaly build-up
  • Proficiency: Damage dealt by anomaly
• Penetration stats: Ignore enemy defense (Ratio and Flat).
• Energy stats: Regeneration and rate during attacks.

Combat Bang Boost

• Bangs: Have active and passive skills, and sometimes chain attacks.
  • Active skills: Automatically used, can attack, buff, or heal.
  • Passive skills: Provide buffs.
  • Chain attacks: Used as first chain attack, does not consume chain attack counts.

Combat Showcase

• Example Squad: Ellen (Attack), Lyon (Stun), Saku (Support).
• Days Phase: Use Lyon to stun enemy, perfect dodge and defensive assist.
• DPS Phase: Use Saku's chain attack to buff, switch to Ellen for damage.
• Repeat phases to optimize damage output.