Zwei Analysis and Theorycraft – Should You Pull?

Zwei Analysis and Theorycraft – Should You Pull?

Zwei Analysis and Theorycraft – Should You Pull?

Hey there, fellow Arknights enthusiasts! As someone who’s spent countless hours in the Tartarus Labyrinth, I must say that Zwei has been quite the enigma for me. She’s not your typical top-tier Operator, but she does have her unique charm and potential.


Note: This was made first day of release of Zwei. Inaccuracies will be fixed after more testing.

Overview

  • Great DPS buffer for pierce Nikkes, unfortunately Zwei is a burst I slot, which is usually reserved for Cooldown reduction Nikkes. This Forces teams with Zwei to run Dolla in content that require multiple teams, and the miniscule buffs Dolla gives has shown its age. This is due to Amazing Burst 2 supports being released.
  • A bit of her buffs are not tied to bursting, so a 2-1-2 formation can be used in game modes that don’t require multiple teams (Campaign, Special Interception), however this is not recommended outside of Snow White Teams as the values are not impactful enough
  • Strong team cover repair, which equates to around 33%~ cover repair for the team every 15s when continuously firing. Compared to liters’ 52.5% every 15s for 2 allies. This may allow teams to run without healers in prevalent game modes (Solo Raid, Union Raid, Special Interception)
  • Useless outside of pierce teams
  • Wish-List

Newbie/Incomplete Box Section

Two serves effectively as a buffer for piercing Nikkes, but she’s linked to Burst I, a role typically filled by Nikkes for cooldown reduction. Consequently, Dolla or another character must fill the Burst I slot for cooldown reduction, which could be a significant disadvantage if the commander employs top-tier support duos like Blanc/Noir, Crown (Tia)/Naga, as it requires adjustments in team composition.

If the Commander lacks Meta Burst II supports, Zwei could be an effective addition to Pierce teams until reinforcements arrive. Essentially, Zwei serves as a backup for Bunny/Crown (Tia) and Naga-led teams when it comes to supporting most Pierce teams.

Basic Information

  • Skill 1: Pierce Equation
  • Skill 2: Frame Analysis
  • Burst: Overcharge Formula
  • Cooldown: 20s
  • Rarity: SSR
  • Burst: I
  • Weapon: SG
  • Class: Supporter
  • Element: Electric
  • Manufacturer: Elysion
  • Squad: School Circle
  • Weapon Name: President JR

Basic Attack Information

In a somewhat amusing contrast, her standard attack multiplier is quite low (101%), while typical Shotgun attacks have a higher value (over 200%). Interestingly, Zwei, like Soline, Crown, and Noah, is depicted with dual shotguns. This mirrors their ability to generate twice the normal burst when they strike, hitting targets more frequently than usual.

In a team setting where burst generation is needed, Zwei, despite being a full-load shotgun that generates less burst compared to clip shotguns, can still deliver a reasonable amount of burst fire.

Skills

Zwei Analysis and Theorycraft – Should You Pull?

Skill 1: Pierce Equation

Triggers upon going into Full Burst mode, benefiting all companions. Increases Piercing Damage by 20.13% for one shot, and continues to boost it by 10.06% over a duration of 10 seconds.

As a gamer, I’ve got a nifty ability up my sleeve: it amplifies any harm labeled with the word “pierce” after damage is inflicted. This covers regular attacks, bursts, temporary enhancements that provide Nikke with pierce, and more!

The single-shot piercing damage is specifically designed for either Maxwell or Snow White, characters we’ll discuss further ahead.

Notable Pierce Nikkes

Alice,Red Hood,Snow white,Maxwell

Pierce Damage ▲ in the damage formula

As a fan, I’d like to explain that when damage has the “Pierce” attribute, it amplifies the damage. Yet, take note that Pierce damage ▲ falls under the same category as Buffed Attack damage ▲ (not to be mixed up with regular attack boosts). Similarly, Part Damage ▲ is included in this group too.

If the team has both an increase (boost) in Pierce Damage (▲) and Attack Damage (▲) simultaneously, it will appear as follows:

Damage x (ATK damage ▲ + Pierce Damage ▲) x other multipliers = Final Damage

Skill 2: Frame Analysis

After I successfully land five normal attacks, I trigger a powerful ability that benefits my entire team. This ability restores approximately 7.52% of the Cover’s health.

A talent that ensures a reasonable level of survival in various situations, especially when used effectively. Her ability to mend covers is quite impressive, offering consistent healing for all team members and boasting roughly 20% more potency compared to Naga’s equivalent skill.

In certain synchronized content, teams might manage to operate independently of healers under specific conditions, such as boss attack patterns and luck of the draw. Particularly noteworthy is that she possesses a ‘repair’ ability, which means Tia could team up with Zwei for solo raids, potentially making them an exceptional duo. Now, let the creative artwork flow!

Burst: Overcharge Formula

Actions impact the user and their allies.

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent honing my skills in various battle arenas, I can confidently say that Zwei’s burst ability doesn’t seem to pack much of a punch. Regular attacks from most opponents can deal similar or even more damage than her burst, unless multiple parts are involved. The only time I’d find myself using Zwei’s burst is for the 15% Pierce Damage bonus it provides. But in most situations, the standard attacks seem to be more effective and reliable.

Campaign

If a player has meta-piercing Nikkes in their squad, they may find Nikke in this campaign intriguing. However, without meta-piercing Nikkes, Zwei isn’t effective in any other team composition.

If a player lacks D:Killer Wife or Liter, but possesses both Dolla and the enhanced Pierce Nikkes (Alice, Red Hood), this setup could potentially lead to diverse team compositions.

  • Zwei, Dolla, Red Hood, Alice, Tia
  • Zwei, Dolla, Red Hood, Alice, Flex Burst III
  • Zwei, Dolla, Alice/Red Hood, Maxwell/Snow White, Flex Burst III
  • Zwei, Crown, Alice/Red Hood, Maxwell/Snow White, Dolla (Burst with Crown) – Best team out of this list

Red Hood Tech (Best possible team for Zwei)

  • Zwei, Crown, Red Hood, Alice, Naga

If a Commander already has Liter, D:killer wife, or another high-performing DPS character like Maxwell or Modernia available to fill the role, this team might not be the best choice as they could surpass Zwei in terms of performance. Additionally, the playstyle is somewhat limiting. While it’s still a viable option, it’s not recommended for defense missions or rounds that may extend beyond three full bursts.

Rotation would be as follows:

  1. Zwei -> Crown -> Alice – 1st burst rotation (Interchangeable)
  2. Red hood -> Naga/wait for Crown CD if possible -> Red hood – 2nd burst Rotation (Interchangeable)
  3. Stall for final wave/Reset CD by living one harmless rapture alive on the field before boss wave
  4. Red hood/Zwei -> Crown -> Red Hood/Alice – Boss Wave

Arena

Two’s burst output is abysmal. In Arena, Pierce teams typically have invincibility Nikkles (like Biscuit and Noah) which makes their counters immune to damage. Therefore, Two’s pierce damage enhancements are not particularly beneficial. Despite the fact that her burst might be twice as much as a full reload from a shotgun, it still falls short compared to a clip shotgun.

Special Interception | Solo Raid | Union Raid

Special Interception

In the role of Special Interception, Zwei is an ideal choice for penetration squads. If the commander manages their cover regeneration effectively, a healer might not be necessary. Zwei, therefore, serves as an excellent alternative to Crown/Bunny Team and School Girls in most situations.

As a fan, if my character possesses the Meta Pierce Nikkes that Zwei can enhance, I won’t have trouble with Special Interception since I’ll primarily be part of teams where such an ability becomes virtually effortless due to the team composition itself.

Solo Raid | Union Raid

As a fan, I find her team placement intriguing – placing her in Red Hood | Alice teams seems fitting. However, the scarcity of efficient Cooldown reduction Nikkes in the burst II slot (Dolla, Helm: Aquamarine, except in iron weak stages) puts her at a disadvantage. This indirectly limits her options, as she tends to lock out Crown/Bunny Team/School girl supports. Her buffs aren’t as overpowering as those in pierce teams, but the problem arises when these Pierce Nikkes are responsible for most of the damage in solo raid attempts. If only said Pierce Nikkes didn’t deal such a significant amount of damage during solo raid attempts!

However, Zwei just manages to squeeze through one team, and that is Snow white/Maxwell Team

Snow White Team (Iron Weak)

tia,zwei,helm: aquamarine,snow white,maxwell

Because Zwei is capable of handling repairs, Tia can team up with Zwei without any problems. This way, Crown can be together with Naga, freeing Tia from being idle.

Given the excessive amount of ATK damage (boosting by about 77% during burst) compared to ATK buffs (only 43%), Snow White and Maxwell would benefit significantly from increased ATK damage rolls. Additionally, Helm: Aquamarine reduces damage taken, which stacks multiplicatively with both ATK damage and ATK increases.

Essentially, this team could inflict significant harm during iron-weak raid battles. It adds diversity or flexibility to the existing teams as well.

Snow White Team (Neutral Element)

zwei,Dolla,snow white,maxwell,yulha

The iron-weak team can still be employed, though the Software team might not deliver optimally, making it questionable if they should take Tia along. If so, a viable substitute may be adding Yulha instead, and relying on mutual aid and repairs to keep the team functioning.

Miranda may offer stronger boosts for Snow White (SW), but Zwei offers a slot that’s typically used for a helmet for healing purposes. Additionally, Zwei can buff Maxwell instead of solely focusing on SW. This could potentially enhance the overall damage output of the team, provided the team can sustain itself through cover repair, as compared to using Miranda.

Dolla sucks. give us another burst II Nikke pls.

Closing Thoughts/ Should you pull

Two, while not a standout choice, can function as a special replacement for more desirable units like Nikkes in campaign/boss fights that focus on pierce teams. Her primary advantage lies in her compatibility with Tia in Solo raids, particularly for those who have exhausted their options with all available Nikkes. However, it’s important to note that Nikkes remain highly wish-listable due to their versatility across various battle scenarios.

Her value may increase if a strong B2 CDR is released in the future.

Another Collab and Anniversary is coming soon, wish-list and save for future banners.

Expected Skill Priority

NikkeBudget Skill InvestmentsRecommended Skill InvestmentsSkill PriorityNotesInvestment Priority
ZweiSkill 1: 7
Skill 2 : 4
Burst : 4
Skill 1: 10
Skill 2 : 7
Burst : 7+
S1 >= S2Skill 1 Is strong when paired with Maxwell/Snow white, as their bursts are massive, one shot hits. Less effective with Alice and Red hood due to the limit of one of the buffs only lasting a hit.

Skill 2 can be upgraded as needed for survivability.

Burst mats are scarce, so only upgrade beyond 7 if needed, the values are not high enough to warrant spending gold books.

Mid

Expected Ratings

Rather rough estimations of ratings for Zwei

CategoryRating
Overall (PvE)A-S
StoryA (For Pierce Teams Strictly)
BossesS (For Pierce Teams Strictly part 2)
ArenaB-A (Burst Gen)

Read More

2024-08-08 12:35

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