Zenless Zone Zero Von Lycaon Build Guide: Best Soundquakes, Drive Discs, Teams & Playstyle

Von Lycaon, the S-rank Ice Break Specialist in Zenless Zone Zero, dominates as a frontline Imbalance enabler and sustained DPS, leveraging his high-impact combos to stagger enemies and enable team burst windows. This guide covers optimal builds, team synergies, and strategies to maximize his potential as a top-tier breaker.  

1. Skill Priority & Talent Breakdown  

- Normal Attack (NA) > Enhanced Special Skill > Core Passive > Ultimate/Evasion   

  - Normal Attack: Lycaon’s primary source of Imbalance buildup. Charged attacks (hold NA) deal Ice DMG and rapidly accumulate stagger values. Prioritize leveling this first.  

  - Enhanced Special Skill: Unleashes a high-damage Ice AoE and boosts Imbalance efficiency. Essential for boss fights and burst phases.  

  - Core Passive: Grants Ice DMG and Imbalance bonuses after using Enhanced Special Skill. Upgrade for sustained output.  

  - Ultimate/Evasion: Lower priority; upgrade last unless using Lycaon as a sub-DPS.  

Key Mechanics  

- Imbalance Acceleration: Charged attacks and Enhanced Special Skills apply Frostbite, reducing enemy stagger resistance.  

- Break Efficiency: Lycaon’s kit synergizes with Ice/Physical teams to exploit staggered enemies.  

2. Soundquake (Weapon) Recommendations  

Best-in-Slot  

- Restrictor  (S-Rank): Signature weapon, boosting Imbalance efficiency and NA/Charged Attack DMG by 30%. Perfect for maximizing stagger output.  

- Rotary Cylinder  (A-Rank): Battle Pass option. Enhances Imbalance after using Enhanced Special Skill, ideal for F2P players.  

Alternatives  

- Human as Prey  (A-Rank): Purchasable in the Toy Shop. Boosts Energy Regen and Imbalance scaling.  

- Noble Bone  (A-Rank): Situational pick for enemies above 50% HP.  

3. Drive Disc (Artifact) Builds  

Optimal Sets  

- 4pc Stardust Disco + 2pc Free Blues

  - 4pc Stardust: Boosts NA/Charged Attack DMG by 15% and Imbalance efficiency by 25%.  

  - 2pc Free Blues: Reduces enemy debuff resistance by 12%, amplifying team synergy.  

Alternative Set  

- 4pc Stardust Disco + 2pc Polar Heavy Metal : Increases Ice DMG by 10% for hypercarry builds.  

Main Stats  

- Slot 4: CRIT Rate/DMG (prioritize 1:2 ratio).  

- Slot 5: Ice DMG Bonus.  

- Slot 6: Imbalance Rate (aim for 30%+).  

- Substats: Imbalance Rate > CRIT > ATK% > PEN.  

4. Team Compositions  

Lycaon excels in teams that capitalize on staggered enemies:  

Meta Ice Team  

- Lycaon + Ellen + Corin   

  - Ellen: Ice DPS who benefits from Lycaon’s Imbalance setup.  

  - Corin: Applies Burn for dual-element stagger and RES shred.  

Physical Break Team  

- Lycaon + Koshka + Koleda   

  - Koshka: Physical DPS for burst phases.  

  - Koleda: Shields and enhances team survivability.  

F2P-Friendly Team  

- Lycaon + Anby + Ben   

  - Anby: Budget Imbalance enabler.  

  - Ben: Provides shields and healing.  

5. Eidolon (Constellation) Highlights  

- E1: Enhances Imbalance efficiency by 30% after using Enhanced Special Skill, critical for boss fights.  

- E2: Energy regeneration on Imbalance triggers, improving rotation fluidity.  

- E6: Grants 50% Ice DMG Bonus during Ultimate, transforming Lycaon into a hybrid DPS.  

6. Playstyle & Rotation Tips  

1. Imbalance Setup: Use Charged NA → Enhanced Special Skill to apply Frostbite.  

2. Burst Phase: Swap to DPS (e.g., Ellen) after staggering enemies for maximum damage.  

3. Energy Management: Pair with Rotary Cylinder or Energy Regen substats for Ultimate uptime.  

4. Animation Cancels: Dash after Charged NA to reduce downtime.  

7. Ascension & Trace Materials  

- Ascension (Lv. 60):  

  - Extinguished Core ×12  

  - Luminescent Pollen ×54  

  - Suppressing Edict ×36.  

- Trace Upgrades: Prioritize Normal Attack and Core Passive nodes.