Nekomata Guide and Best Builds for Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ)
Introduction - Nekomata
Nekomata is an S-Rank Physical Attack Agent in Zenless Zone Zero. She specializes in dealing Slash damage, gaining an ATK buff and reducing the enemies Physical RES. Nekomata belongs to the Cunning Hares faction alongside Nicole Demara, Billy Kid, and Anby Demara.
"The best mackerel is always the one you haven't eaten yet~" — Nekomiya
Mana An extremely energetic girl whose mischievous side sees her play the
occasional trick, though only occasionally~ Incredibly curious, with a real
love for mackerel.
Get to know her, and you'll find she's hiding something
behind that cheerful exterior.
Banner Availability and How to Pull Nekomata
Nekomata is available on any Character Banner when losing the 50/50 or available as one of the Stable Channel options.
After 300 Signal Searches in the Stable Channel, Additional Recruitment will be available allowing you to guarantee Nekomata.
Nekomata Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Great Physical DPS with AoE capabilities.- Fast-paced dodge-focused gameplay that allows you to deal more damage if you are skillful with dodges.
- Low Energy costs for their EX Special Attack.
Weaknesses
While being an S-Rank DPS, there are many other Physical DPS in the game already making her a less valuable pull compared to other characters.- Core Passive Stealthy Paws requires constant use of Dodge Counters and Quick Assists due to the passive's quick cooldown.
Nekomata's Skills, Mindscapes, and Promotions
Nekomata's Skills, Mindscapes, and Promotions
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Basic Attack: Kitty Slash | Press to activate: Unleashes up to 5 slashes, dealing Physical DMG. On the last hit, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this hit 3 times. |
| Basic Attack: Crimson Blade | Hold down during the first 3 hits of Nekomata's Basic Attack to activate: Slashes enemies in front and passes through them, dealing Physical DMG. Upon activation, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this attack 3 times. |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Dodge: Can't Touch Me-wo~ | Press to activate: A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Dash Attack: Over Here! | Press during a Dodge to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. |
| Dodge Counter: Phantom Claws | Press during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Quick Assist: Cat's Paw | When the on-field character is launched, press to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Defensive Assist: Desperate Defense | When the character on field is about to be attacked, press to activate: Parries the enemy's attack, inflicting massive Daze. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Assist Follow-Up: Shadow Strike | Press after a Defensive Assist to activate: Charge and slash enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Special Attack: Suprise Attack | Press to activate: Unleashes a downward strike, dealing Physical DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill. |
| EX Special Attack: Super Surprise Attack! | With enough Energy, press to activate: Unleashes a powerful falling slash that deals massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Chain Attack: Claw Swipe | When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Unleashes a powerful slash at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Ultimate: Claw Smash | When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press to activate: Unleashes powerful slashes at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill. |
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Core Passive: Stealthy Paws | When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 30%(Lv.1) for 6s. |
| Additional Ability: Catwalk | When another character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction: After any character inflicts Assault, increases the DMG of Nekomata's next EX Special Attack by 35%, stacking up to 2 times. |
Nekomata's Best Mindscapes
Bird Hunter (M1) is an amazing Mindscape for Nekomata, this is because of both the 16% Physical RES ignore as well as every attack while an enemy is being stunned is considered a Back Attack.
| # | Mindscape | Description |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Bird Hunter | When Nekomata hits an enemy from behind, she ignores 16% of her target's Physical RES. If the enemy is Stunned, all Nekomata's attacks are considered back attacks. |
| M2 | Cat & Mouse | When there's only one enemy on the field and Nekomata is in combat, her Energy Generation Rate is increased by 25%. |
| M3 | Curious Left Tail | Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. |
| M4 | Sharpen Claws | When Nekomata uses her EX Special Attack, her CRIT Rate increases by 7% for 15s, stacking up to 2 times, with each stack's duration being calculated separately. |
| M5 | Lucky Right Tail | Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. |
| M6 | Predator Lineage | When Nekomata launches a Chain Attacl or uses her Ultimate, her CRIT DMG increases by 18%, stacking up to 3 times, and expiring when she leaves battle. This effect gains max stacks immediately on defeating an enemy. |
Nekomata's Promotion Passives
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Core Skill Enhancement A |
|
| Core Skill Enhancement B |
|
| Core Skill Enhancement C |
|
| Core Skill Enhancement D |
|
| Core Skill Enhancement E |
|
| Core Skill Enhancement F |
|
How to Play Nekomata
Nekomiya Mana (Nekomata) is a character who specialises in Dodge Counters. These are counter attacks whenever you are able to dodge an enemy attack. Nekomata benefits from these due to Stealthy Paws which increases her DMG by 30% for 6s whenever Nekomata is able to successfuly perform a Dodge Counter.
Additionally, when pressing during a Perfect Dodge, Nekomata deals Physical DMG in a wide AoE in front of Nekomata.
While Nekomata has other Physical or Cunning Hares characters in her squad. Nekomata is able to deal even more powerful EX Special Attacks after a character inflicts Assault. This makes it very important to time and use your EX Special Attacks after Assault has been inflicted.
Nekomata's DPS Build Guide
| BiS W-Engine | Steel Cushion |
| Alternative W-Engines |
|
| Best Drive Discs | 4 Piece:
2 Piece:
|
| Main Stats |
|
| Substat Priority |
|
| Skill Priority |
|
Nekomata's best W-Engine is her signature Steel Cushion providing a significant amount of Physical DMG as well as increasing DMG when attacking enemies from behind which can be important for Nekomata's build. Nekomata has a range of valid W-Engines with some options including Heartstring Nocturne, Gilded Blossom and Starlight Engine.
Puffer Electro and Woodpecker Electro are great general Disc Drives to aim for when building Nekomata. As with many other DPS, you should build her with CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK % and PEN.
Bangboo Information
Amillion is one of Nekomata's best Bangboo being both a
Physical and Cunning Hares character. 
Bagboo is a
great A-Rank option helping to deal massive Physical DMG to build up Anomaly
for Nekomata.
Nekomata's Team Comps and Synergy
Nekomata is used in teams either as more of a Burst DPS, utilising a Stun agent and dealing heavy damage during burst windows, or as more of a hypercarry and instead using 2 support agents. Either team type should also use a Cunning Hares member to activate Nekomata's passive.
Burst DPS Nekomata
| DPS | Stun | Support | Bangboo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nekomiya Mana | Trigger | Nicole Demara | Amillion |
| Nekomiya Mana | Pulchra | Nicole Demara | Amillion |
| Nekomiya Mana | Anby Demara | Lucy | Amillion |
Trigger is generally the best Stun agent available for Nekomata currently. That being said, you do need to ensure Nekomata triggers Assault so only use Trigger with Nicole Demara. Pulchra is another option as well as a Physical agent and can therefore assist in building up anomaly slightly while Anby Demara can instead be used for the faction passive.
Hypercarry DPS Nekomata
| DPS | Support | Support | Bangboo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nekomiya Mana | Astra Yao | Nicole Demara | Snap |
Astra Yao is a great supportive for Nekomata providing massive buffs, with Nicole then also providing other additional buffs on top of that.
Changelog
- 05 Jun. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 2.0.
- 05 Dec. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 1.3.
- 12 Oct. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 1.2.
- 13 Aug. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 1.1.
- 07 Jul. 2024: Full Guide Released.
- 15 Jun. 2024: Page added.
This guide has been written by Shikhu (Discord - Shikhu). A long-time player for various Hoyoverse games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail.
- Zenless Zone Zero Alice Now Needs 100% Crit Rate for Max Passive Bonus!
- Zenless Zone Zero Leaks Yuzuha and Alice Skins
- Ridu Renovation Talk: System Optimizations - 2
- Zenless Zone Zero Offers Free Summer Skins for Belle and Wise - Get Ready for the Heat!
- Alice Thymefield's Promotion and Skill Upgrade Materials
- Ukinami Yuzuha Ascension, Skill Materials and Pre-Farming Guide
- Zenless Zone Zero Reveals Another 2.1 Character and It Is Still Not the Idols!
- New Redemption Code to Celebrate Zenless Zone Zero Season Two!