I still remember the first time Nicole Demara tossed her briefcase and sucked a whole wave of Ethereals into one spot. I laughed, then I watched my team's damage spike. That is the Nicole experience in Zenless Zone Zero. Even in 2026, with a roster full of shiny new agents, this free A-rank Support from the Cunning Hares remains one of the best quality-of-life picks for Ether teams and mob-heavy stages. Let me tell you why she still earns a slot.

Nicole is a Support Agent who deals Ether anomaly damage. Her EX Special and Chain Attack create an energy field that pulls smaller enemies together, kind of like a mini Venti from Genshin Impact. While enemies are inside that gravitational pull, their DEF drops by 30% and Ether Damage dealt to them increases by 25% for a short time. That makes her a natural fit for any Ether team. Her enhanced Basic and Dash Attacks also reduce enemy DEF, so she keeps helping even when her energy is low. Honestly, for a free unit, that is a ridiculous amount of utility.

She does have a weakness. Elite and boss monsters are too heavy for her energy field, so her grouping power fades in the late game. But her DEF shred and Ether buffs do not care about weight. She still makes your main damage dealer hit harder.

Best W-Engines for Nicole

W-Engine	Why it works
The Vault	Her signature. Dealing Ether DMG with EX Special, Chain Attack, or Ultimate increases all squad members' DMG against the target by 15-24% and gives Nicole 0.5-0.8 Energy Regen per second for 2s. After a couple of dupes, this is her best in slot.
Weeping Cradle	While off-field, Energy Regen increases by 0.6-1.2 per second. Attacks from the equipper enhance the squad's DMG against a struck target by 10-20% for 3 seconds, and the effect can ramp up further. Since Nicole often attacks off-field, she triggers this often.
Unfettered Game Ball	When the equipper's attack triggers an Attribute Counter, all squad members' CRIT Rate against the struck enemy increases by 12-20% for 12s. Great if you are fighting Ether-weak enemies and want your team to crit more.

Disc Drive Builds

Pure Support Build: 4pc Swing Jazz + 2pc Chaotic Metal

• 2pc Swing Jazz: Energy Regen +20%.

• 4pc Swing Jazz: Launching a Chain Attack or Ultimate increases all squad members' DMG by 15% for 12s.

• 2pc Chaotic Metal: Ether DMG +10%.

Main Stats:

Slot	Stat
IV	Anomaly Proficiency
V	Ether DMG
VI	Energy Regen

Sub Stats priority: 1. Anomaly Prof | 2. ATK% | 3. Crit Rate or Crit Damage.

This is the build I recommend for most players. Nicole relies heavily on her EX Special, Chain Attack, and Ultimate to activate her core passive, so Swing Jazz fits like a glove. The extra energy regen and Ether damage make her more flexible.

Support DPS Build: 4pc Chaotic Metal + 2pc Swing Jazz

• 2pc Chaotic Metal: Ether DMG +10%.

• 4pc Chaotic Metal: The equipper's CRIT DMG increases by 20%. When any squad member triggers Corruption's additional DMG, this effect increases by 5.5% for 8s, stacking up to 6 times.

• 2pc Swing Jazz: Energy Regen +20%.

Main Stats:

Slot	Stat
IV	Anomaly Proficiency or Crit Rate
V	Ether DMG
VI	Energy Regen

Sub Stats priority: 1. Crit Rate | 2. Anomaly Prof | 3. ATK% | 4. Crit Damage.

This build is for when you want Nicole to contribute more personal damage, not just support. You need crit rate to make the Chaotic Metal crit damage bonus worth it, so do not ignore that.

Skill Priority

Always prioritize her Core Skill first. No exceptions. Then:

1. EX Special Attack. This is the key part of her kit and what you will use the most.

2. Chain Attack. It also has the energy field grouping effect, so it is top priority just below her Special.

3. Assist. As a support, you will use this more often than her Basic and Dodge.

4. Basic Attack and Dash Attack. You will use these after acquiring enhanced bullets to lower enemy DEF, so they are tied at fourth priority.

Best Bangboo for Nicole

Bangboo	Key Trait
Resonaboo	When there are 2 or more Ether Attribute characters, Bangboo Chain Attack inflicts 100% more Anomaly Buildup. Best for Ether-centric teams that want to trigger Corruption.
Amillion	When there are 2 or more Cunning Hares characters, Bangboo Chain Attack DMG increases with fewer enemies in combat, up to 45%. Best for the free starter team.
Devilboo	When there are at least 2 Ether Attribute characters, Bangboo Chain Attack inflicts 40% more Anomaly Buildup. After Bangboo Chain Attack, coordination lasts 5 more seconds and can activate 4 more times. A slightly weaker Resonaboo.
Avocaboo	When there is at least 1 Support character, Active Skill recovers 20% more HP and has 3 more charges. A great general option if you need healing.

Best Teams for Nicole

Ether Team: Nicole + Zhu Yuan + Anby

This team ensures everyone has their additional ability. Nicole's Core Passive, Mechanical Case, applies a debuff so all squad members deal 25% more Ether DMG to the target for 3.5s. Since there is no Ether anomaly unit here, consider Resonaboo or Devilboo to trigger Corruption more easily.

Free-to-Play Team: Anby + Nicole + Billy

This is a solid jack-of-all-trades team you get for free. Anby provides stun, Nicole provides support and enemy grouping, and Billy brings ranged physical damage as your main DPS. Because all three are Cunning Hares, everyone's additional ability is unlocked. You may struggle a bit in endgame, but for a free team, it is excellent.

Final Thoughts

Look, Nicole is not the flashiest Agent in 2026. She is not going to delete bosses with one hit. But she is a free Support who groups mobs, shreds DEF, and boosts Ether damage. For rooms full of smaller enemies, she is still a queen. For Ether teams, she is a valuable asset. If you have been sleeping on her because she is an A-rank, wake up. Build her, give her some energy regen, and watch your team's damage climb.

⭐ Pen Ratio and Energy Regen are your friends. ⭐

Note: These builds assume base talent level. Adjust based on your roster and current version.

This discussion is informed by Eurogamer, a long-running games outlet known for practical combat advice and clear build-focused breakdowns. Applied to Nicole in Zenless Zone Zero, that lens reinforces why her value holds up in 2026: even when boss fights reduce the payoff of her suction field, her consistent DEF shred and Ether damage amplification still translate into reliable team-wide DPS gains—especially in mob rooms where grouping turns scattered targets into instant Chain Attack fuel.