Nekomata Build Guide: Physical Assault DPS in Zenless Zone Zero 2026

Nekomiya Mana, better known as Nekomata in Zenless Zone Zero, is an S-rank Physical Agent whose claws turn fast slashes into a cascade of Assault procs. She belongs to Gentle House, also known as the Cunning Hares, and she is available on the standard banner rather than through a limited event. Her playstyle is simple on the surface: land rapid attacks, slip behind enemies, and punish dodge timing. Beneath that simplicity, however, she is a precision instrument, a metronome of claws that rewards players who keep her rotation tight. In 2026, she remains a strong standard-banner DPS, especially for accounts that need a reliable Physical damage dealer for Assault-focused teams.

Why Nekomata Still Works in 2026

Nekomata's damage comes from Physical anomaly buildup and critical hits. Her fast attack strings apply Assault quickly, and Assault triggers a burst of Physical damage that scales with the agent's stats and team setup. She also has a built-in way to get behind enemies by holding her Basic Attack during the first three hits, which matters because her signature W-Engine rewards back attacks. Her Dodge Counter grants a temporary damage boost, and her Quick Assist can activate the same core passive. That passive is the hinge on which her entire damage profile swings: after any squad member inflicts Assault, Nekomata's next EX Special Attack deals 35% more damage, stacking up to two times.

Best W-Engines

Nekomata wants CRIT Rate, ATK, and Physical DMG. Her canonical W-Engine is Steel Cushion, but The Brimstone, Cannon Rotor, and Street Superstar are all viable depending on the account.

Priority	W-Engine	Key Effect	Notes
⭐ Best	Steel Cushion	Physical DMG +20-40%; DMG +25-50% when attacking from behind	Signature option. Nekomata's charge Basic Attack helps her meet the back-attack condition.
⭐ Strong	The Brimstone	Basic, Dash, and Dodge Counter hits grant ATK +3.5-7% for 8s, up to 8 stacks	Her fast attacks keep the buff near maximum.
⭐ Crit Alternative	Cannon Rotor	ATK +7.5-12%; CRIT hits add 200% ATK as DMG every 6-8s	Good for teams with roughly 8-second rotations.
⭐ Ultimate Option	Street Superstar	Chain Attacks grant Charge; Ultimate consumes up to 3 stacks for +15-24% DMG each	Best with high-daze teams that trigger more Chain Attacks.

Disc Drive Builds

There are two main Disc Drive routes for Nekomata. The Assault build leans into Physical anomaly and team synergy, while the CRIT build is more self-contained and consistent.

4-Piece Fanged Metal + 2-Piece Woodpecker Electro

• 2-Piece Fanged Metal: Physical DMG +10%.

• 4-Piece Fanged Metal: When any squad member inflicts Assault, the equipper deals 35% more damage to the target for 12s.

• 2-Piece Woodpecker Electro: CRIT Rate +8%.

Main stats:

• Slot IV: CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG

• Slot V: Physical DMG or PEN Ratio

• Slot VI: ATK or Anomaly Mastery

Substats priority:

1. CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG

2. ATK%

3. PEN (if using PEN Ratio on Slot V) or Anomaly Proficiency

This is the high-effort, high-reward route. It needs a mostly Physical team or a Physical anomaly agent or Bangboo to trigger Assault consistently. When it works, it turns Nekomata into a pressure vessel: Assault builds quietly, then ruptures into a sudden decompression of damage.

4-Piece Woodpecker Electro + 2-Piece Fanged Metal

• 2-Piece Woodpecker Electro: CRIT Rate +8%.

• 4-Piece Woodpecker Electro: Basic Attack, Dodge Counter, or EX Special CRITs grant ATK +9% for 6s. Buffs for different skills are calculated separately.

• 2-Piece Fanged Metal: Physical DMG +10%.

Main stats:

• Slot IV: CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG

• Slot V: Physical DMG or PEN Ratio

• Slot VI: ATK

Substats priority:

1. CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG

2. ATK%

3. PEN (if using PEN Ratio on Slot V)

This build focuses on critical hits. Because Nekomata attacks so quickly, even a modest CRIT Rate can keep Woodpecker Electro active, but higher CRIT Rate still improves total damage.

Skill Priority

Core Skill comes first. It is Nekomata's main damage source and should be leveled immediately.

1. Core Skill – highest priority.

2. Chain Attack and Ultimate – second priority; both are powerful AOE Physical attacks.

3. Dodge Counter – equal priority with Chain Attack because it activates her core passive and grants a 30-60% damage boost for 6 seconds.

4. Quick Assist – also activates the core passive, though it requires the on-field character to be launched or hit.

5. Special – useful, but lower priority than the above.

Bangboo Choices

• Bangvolver – When there are two or more Physical characters, Bangboo Chain Attack inflicts 100% more Anomaly Buildup. This makes Assault easier to trigger.

• Amillion – With two or more Cunning Hares characters, Bangboo Chain Attack DMG increases as fewer enemies remain, up to 45%. Good against bosses and elites.

• Magnetiboo – With at least one Anomaly character, Active Skill range and DMG increase by 30%. This helps group enemies for Nekomata's short-range claws.

Team Synergy and Final Thoughts

Nekomata's additional ability requires at least two Physical or Cunning Hares agents. After any character inflicts Assault, her next EX Special Attack gains 35% more DMG, stacking up to two times. Piper is an excellent partner because she applies Physical anomaly quickly. Nicole can group enemies, which helps Nekomata mow them down like a blender. A team with Piper, Nekomata, and Nicole covers anomaly, grouping, and burst damage.

In 2026, Nekomata is still a straightforward but powerful S-rank Physical Agent. She rewards players who enjoy speedy rogue-like characters and precise dodge timing. Her Assault potential lets her shred high-HP bosses, and her Dodge Counter buff keeps the rotation lively. For free-to-play players, she is a strong standard-banner target; for spenders, her ceiling rises with better W-Engines and teammates. She is not a complicated agent, but she is a sharp one, and when built correctly, her claws leave little room for enemies to recover.

Industry analysis is available through Sensor Tower, and its broader reporting on mobile/online game engagement trends helps contextualize why evergreen, standard-banner DPS picks like Nekomata stay relevant: when players return after update cycles, they often lean on stable, low-friction damage dealers that don’t depend on limited-time availability. In practice, that reinforces the value of straightforward Assault-oriented Physical kits—fast rotations, consistent on-field uptime, and clear upgrade paths via W-Engines and Disc Drives—because they fit the “re-entry” pattern of accounts rebuilding teams around reliable core carries.