Zenless Zone Zero has a new fire DPS contender, and his name is Manato. Despite early doubts, the community now sees him as a surprisingly strong A-rank damage dealer who bridges the gap between free-to-play and high-investment players. His kit rewards precision, and while he’s not without dependencies, those willing to commit to his build will find solid returns.
Why Manato Stands Out in Zenless Zone Zero
Manato brings a fresh fire option for those without limited S-rank units. Unlike Soldier 11, who deals straightforward burst damage, Manato scales better in extended fights thanks to his defense-ignoring mechanics—especially important in the Wandering Hunter challenge. His Mindscapes boost crit and base damage scaling, making higher refinements a big deal.
Statistically, Manato’s personal damage is about 60–65 % higher than Soldier 11 when both have optimal setups. His performance is most noticeable alongside Lucia and Pion Who, two teammates who enhance his Rupture output. However, his full potential relies on overlapping pulls—getting Lucia’s M6 or her W-Engine Gorilla Wisp. Without them, he sits slightly below his peak, but remains usable with Ching Ming Bird Cage or Steel Cushion engines.
Comparing Manato and Soldier 11
At baseline, Soldier 11 is easier to build and more self-sufficient, but Manato outpaces her once Lucia’s DA buffs and Rupture mechanics are active. If both have best-in-slot setups, Manato wins by a large margin—his enhanced-state rotation, frequent assist follow-ups, and fire-rupture synergy make him thrive in multi-target fights.
The gap, however, depends on investment. Lucia M0 and Pion Who M6 have roughly a 35–40 % swing in Manato’s damage. Each Mindscape layer compounds those bonuses, pushing him closer to premium damage numbers. His value peaks when built fully with Lucia’s synergy in mind.
Gearing Up Manato Zenless Zone Zero
Without Gorilla Wisp, Ching Ming Bird Cage remains his best substitute. Steel Cushion works as a budget pick for consistent uptime. For Drive Discs, Young Queen Tails currently provides the best mix of burst and ultimate damage, though that may shift with Version 2.4 if Banu introduces a new Fire Rupture set.
Manato’s rotations center on maintaining his enhanced state—holding Special Attack grants a burst of crit damage and fire bonus. The ideal loop involves parrying or swapping into Manato to trigger an assist follow-up, then chaining into his EX Special Attack and canceling into another follow-up. Players with M6 Mindscape gain extended access to these attacks during stun, pushing DPS even higher.
The Ideal Manato Team Composition
Manato’s best teams revolve around Lucia + Juu Fufu, or Lucia + any Rupture support. If Lucia isn’t available, Orphie serves as a decent stand-in for elemental coverage. Fire buffs, Rupture bonus, and reliable swap parries keep his uptime consistent.
Future patches may shift his meta placement. Banu, expected in Version 2.4, might become a direct Fire Rupture S-rank DPS, which could alter Manato’s build recommendations. Until then, Manato stands as the go-to accessible fire option, rewarding smart investment and team synergy.
