Alice Thymefield is one of the standout S-Rank Physical Anomaly DPS characters in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ), known for her elegant swordplay and explosive damage potential. As a versatile agent from the Spook Shack faction, she thrives on building Anomaly effects and triggering Disorder for massive bursts. Whether you’re running her as a main DPS or a flexible sub-DPS, Alice rewards precise timing and smart energy management. In this guide, we’ll break down her optimal builds, top teams, and strategies to help you dominate the battlefield.
Alice’s Playstyle and Kit Essentials
Alice’s kit revolves around her Blade Etiquette mechanic, where she accumulates energy through attacks to unleash powerful charged strikes like Starshine Waltz. This culminates in Polarized Assault, a unique Anomaly that doesn’t consume your Physical buildup and can trigger Disorder even with the same element. Her core passive adds DoT effects to Physical Anomalies and scales Disorder damage based on remaining Anomaly time, making her a self-sufficient powerhouse.
Key to her success is maintaining 300 Blade Etiquette for maximum output—focus on hitting enemies consistently while dodging to build it quickly. She converts excess Anomaly Mastery (over 140) into Proficiency at a 1.6:1 ratio, so balancing these stats is crucial. Prioritize her Basic Attack and Core Skill upgrades first, followed by EX Special and Chain Attack. Dodge and Assist can stay low since they’re more utility-focused.
Optimal Builds for Alice
To unleash Alice’s full potential, gear her for high Anomaly Proficiency, Physical DMG, and ATK while hitting that 140+ Anomaly Mastery threshold. Here’s how to build her effectively:
Best W-Engines
- Practiced Perfection (Signature, S-Rank): The ultimate choice, boosting ATK by 30% and Anomaly Mastery by 60. It stacks up to 40% Physical DMG on Assault triggers and starts combat with full stacks—perfect for her Assault-heavy style.
- Sharpened Stinger (S-Rank): Great alternative with 90 Anomaly Proficiency and up to 36% Physical DMG via dash attacks or perfect dodges. It also amps Anomaly buildup by 40% at max stacks.
- Fusion Compiler (S-Rank): Focuses on PEN Ratio for burst, adding 12% ATK and stacking 25% Anomaly Proficiency on EX Specials (up to three times).
- Electro-Lip Gloss (A-Rank, Battle Pass): Solid mid-tier option with 75 Anomaly Proficiency and 10% ATK, plus 15% extra damage to Anomaly-afflicted enemies.
- Weeping Gemini (A-Rank, F2P): Best free option, offering 25% ATK and stacking 30 Anomaly Proficiency (up to four times) when teammates apply debuffs.
Best Drive Discs and Stats
- 4-Piece Fanged Metal: Increases Physical DMG by 10% and adds 35% damage to Assault targets for 12 seconds—tailor-made for Alice’s rotations.
- 2-Piece Phaethon’s Melody or Freedom Blues: Boosts Anomaly Mastery by 8% or Proficiency by 30, respectively, for that extra edge in conversions.
Main Stats:
- Slot 4: Anomaly Proficiency
- Slot 5: Physical DMG Bonus or ATK%
- Slot 6: Anomaly Mastery
Substats Priority:
- Anomaly Proficiency
- ATK%
- Flat ATK or PEN
Aim for 80% Crit Rate if leaning into Mindscapes that enable crits, but focus on Anomaly stats for pure DPS. Avoid HP, DEF, or non-offensive rolls.
Top Teams for Alice
Alice shines in Anomaly-focused teams that amplify Disorder and buildup. Always include a support for buffs, and pair her with off-field Anomalies for seamless rotations. Here’s what works best:
- Premium Disorder Team: Alice + Yanagi + Yuzuha
Yuzuha is Alice’s ideal support, providing massive Anomaly buffs with minimal field time. Yanagi triggers instant Disorder on switches, letting you rotate between them for sky-high DPS. Both act as sub-DPS here, erasing enemies with constant rotations. - Off-Field Synergy: Alice + Vivian + Burnice
If Yuzuha’s unavailable, Vivian and Burnice build Anomalies passively while Alice handles the front line. This creates a Disorder barrage that overwhelms foes—perfect for sustained fights. - Balanced Option: Alice + Pulchra + Grace
Grace adds electric Anomaly for variety, while Pulchra supports with utility. Swap in Yuzuha if possible for even more buffs.
For F2P players, try Alice + Piper/Grace + Nicole/Lucy. Piper helps with Physical buildup, and Nicole/Lucy offer easy ATK buffs and grouping. These setups ensure Disorder uptime without premium pulls.
F2P Progression Tips
As a F2P player, Alice is accessible and rewarding with smart resource use:
- Farm ascension materials early to hit level 60 quickly—focus on her Core Passive for DoT and scaling boosts.
- Use Weeping Gemini as your go-to W-Engine; it’s easy to acquire and synergizes with debuff-heavy teams.
- Build around free characters like Piper and Nicole for teams—prioritize Anomaly Proficiency substats on Drive Discs to compensate for lower gear.
- Level skills moderately: Max Basic Attack first for energy gen, then Core for conversions.
- Practice timing: Stay on-field to charge Blade Etiquette fully, and use dodges to weave in buildup without losing momentum.
- Save Polychromes for her banner if pulling; her M1 (25 extra Etiquette on Polarized Assault + 20% DEF shred) is a strong early investment.
With these strategies, Alice becomes a top-tier Physical Anomaly DPS even without heavy spending. Her flexibility lets her fit into various teams, making her a must-build for endgame content.
Final Thoughts
What are your thoughts on Alice’s kit? Share in the comments, and happy slashing in ZZZ!
