What is Miasma?
The 2.0 update of Zenless Zone Zero introduced a new mechanic known as Miasma, a hazardous element that significantly alters gameplay. Essentially, Miasma is like Ether but in gas form, affecting both your team and enemies in various ways during combat and exploration.
Effects on Enemies
During battles, Miasma introduces a new layer of complexity, particularly regarding enemy interactions:
- Miasma Shields: When enemies are exposed to Miasma, they gain a protective shield. This shield appears as a red or purple bar that blocks damage and prevents enemies from being stunned.
- Damage Reduction: The Miasma Shield enhances the enemy's damage resistance, making standard attack strategies ineffective.
- Purification Bonus: Once the shield is broken through specific damage types, the enemy becomes purified, receiving substantial bonus damage, allowing your team to unleash powerful follow-up attacks.
Effects on Players
Your team's encounter with Miasma is equally impactful:
- Miasma Meter: When characters come into contact with Miasma, a purple meter appears at the bottom of the screen. This meter accumulates damage as it fills up, based on your team's current health.
- Health Impact: If the Miasma Meter reaches its limit, all team members will take significant damage, which can quickly turn the tide in combat if not monitored.
Strategies to Cope
To counter the challenges posed by Miasma, players need to adjust their tactics:
- Utilize Special Abilities: Employ Dodge Counters, Defensive Assists, and Ultimates since they deliver bonus damage against Miasma Shields.
- Save for Shield Breaks: Reserve your EX Specials and Ultimates for battles where Miasma Shields are present, ensuring quick shield removal.
- Change Team Composition: Switch from Stun/Impact-focused teams to ATK or CRIT-oriented squads for enhanced shield damage capability.
- Off-Field Attackers: Use characters who can consistently chip away at Miasma Shields from an off-field position, keeping your main DPS agile during combat.
- Employ Rupture Agents: Characters like Yixuan are particularly effective against Miasma Shields as they can bypass defenses, directly targeting the enemy's health.
Exploration Hazards
Miasma isn't limited to battles; it also affects exploration. In areas such as the Aerospace City in the Lemnian Hollow, Miasma forms hazardous blocks that impede your path. During the storyline, players will learn techniques like Disintegration to clear these obstructions.
Additional devices and Fissure Beacons can be found throughout the game which help remove Miasma buildup. Make sure to utilize these devices when your Miasma Meter becomes critically high, as they can also teleport you within the Hollow, providing healing in the process.
For those looking to optimize their gaming experience, you can enhance your Zenless Zone Zero gameplay by considering effective top-up options which can help you gear up and enhance your team for battling Miasma more effectively.