Jane Doe is a mystery wrapped in a leather jacket and a lot of rat-themed motifs. When she first dropped in the 1.1 update of Zenless Zone Zero, everyone lost their minds over her design. But honestly? Most people are still playing her wrong. They treat her like a standard DPS because she’s fast and flashy, but she’s actually a surgical tool. If you aren't managing her Passion Stream or hitting that 420 Anomaly Proficiency cap, you're basically leaving half her damage on the floor of New Eridu.
She isn't just another fighter. She’s an S-Rank Physical Anomaly Agent from the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team (NEPS). Think of her as the "undercover" side of the law. While Zhu Yuan is out there doing things by the book, Jane is the one crawling through the underbelly, infiltrating gangs, and "handling" things with those bladed heels.
Why Jane Doe Scales Differently
Most characters in ZZZ want you to hunt for Crit Rate and Crit DMG substats until your eyes bleed. Jane is the exception that proves the rule. Her core passive, Sore Spot, is where the magic happens. It allows her Assault procs—that massive burst of Physical damage—to actually crit.
How do you get that crit? Not through traditional stats. It scales directly off her Anomaly Proficiency.
Basically, once you hit 420 Anomaly Proficiency, your Assaults have a 100% crit rate. If you're building her with Crit Rate discs, you're wasting slots. You want her hitting like a truck when that Physical meter fills up, not just doing "okay" chip damage with her basic pokes. Every point above 120 Proficiency also gives her a flat ATK boost, capping out at a massive 600 extra ATK. That is a huge swing in performance.
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The Flow of Passion Stream
You've probably noticed that bar under her health. That's the Passion Stream. When it fills up, she enters the Passion state, and everything changes. She moves faster. She gets a second dodge (which is honestly kind of broken for survivability). Most importantly, her Physical Anomaly buildup increases by 25%.
- Salchow Jump: This is the big spin. You get one charge when you enter Passion. Hold the basic attack button and she turns into a blender.
- The "Refill" Trick: Using a Chain Attack or Ultimate instantly refills her Passion meter and gives you another Salchow Jump charge. If you time it right, you can stay in the Passion state for almost the entire fight.
- Phantom Dodges: In her enhanced state, Jane can literally pass through enemies. It’s not just a dodge; it’s a positioning tool.
Build Path: Don't Get Distracted
If you have her signature W-Engine, Sharpened Stinger, use it. It’s custom-built for her dodge-heavy style. It gives her "Predatory Instinct" stacks whenever she does a dash attack, boosting Physical DMG and Anomaly buildup. But let's be real—not everyone wins the weapon gacha.
Fusion Compiler is a solid runner-up if you happen to have it from the standard banner. If you’re going budget, Weeping Gemini or Rainforest Gourmet are the way to go. Just make sure you're prioritizing Anomaly Proficiency.
For Drive Discs, the 4-piece Fanged Metal is the gold standard. It gives you a flat Physical DMG boost and a massive 35% damage increase for 12 seconds after anyone on the team triggers Assault. Pair that with a 2-piece Freedom Blues for the extra 30 Proficiency.
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Disc Stat Priorities:
- Slot 4: Anomaly Proficiency (Mandatory)
- Slot 5: Physical DMG% (ATK% is okay, but Physical is better)
- Slot 6: Anomaly Mastery (This makes the meter fill faster)
The "Best" Team Isn't What You Think
A lot of players try to run Jane with two other NEPS agents for the faction bonus. While Jane, Qingyi, and Seth is a very safe, "comfy" team, it isn't necessarily her highest damage ceiling.
The real power lies in Disorder teams.
When you trigger one Anomaly (like Shock or Burn) and then immediately trigger another (like Jane’s Assault), it procs Disorder. This deals a massive chunk of damage instantly based on the remaining duration of the first status.
Jane + Burnice + Caesar has become a terrifying meta pick. Burnice applies off-field Fire buildup, and Jane comes in to "detonate" it with Assault. If you don't have the Sons of Calydon crew, Jane + Grace + Seth is the classic Disorder duo. Grace stacks the electricity, Jane brings the hammer down.
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Why Seth is Almost Non-Negotiable
Even if you aren't running a full NEPS team, Seth Lowell is Jane's best friend. His shield provides a massive Anomaly Proficiency buff to the character it's passed to. Plus, his core passive reduces the enemy's Anomaly Resistance. He makes Jane’s job significantly easier.
Playing the Rat: Combat Tips
Jane is an on-field hog. She wants to be out there 90% of the time. You should be spamming her dash attacks. Since she has two dodges, you can be incredibly aggressive.
If you're fighting a boss, wait for them to start an attack, Perfect Dodge, and then immediately counter. This builds Passion Stream way faster than just clicking the basic attack button. Once you’re in Passion mode, your goal is to trigger Assault as many times as possible before the bar runs out.
Don't forget that her EX Special Attack (Aerial Sweep - Clearout) has heavy "Anti-Interrupt." If a boss is about to hit you and you don't have a dodge left, burning your energy on the EX Special can often let you tank the hit while continuing your combo.
Actionable Steps for your Jane Doe
If you want to maximize her right now, do these three things:
- Check your Proficiency: Open your stats. If you're under 420, swap whatever you need to get there. It is the single biggest jump in her DPS because of the 100% crit rate on Assaults.
- Practice the Salchow Jump Timing: Don't just tap it. Hold it until the animation finishes or you need to dodge. It generates its own Passion Stream, which helps you stay in your "buffed" state longer.
- Level her Core Skill: Many players prioritize the Basic Attack or Special. While those are good, her Core Skill determines the scaling of her Assault Crits. If that isn't leveled, your 420 Proficiency won't reach its full potential.
She's a high-skill ceiling character, but once you get the rhythm of her double-dodges and the Passion meter, she shreds through content faster than almost anyone else in New Eridu. Just remember: stop building for Crit Rate. Let the Anomaly Proficiency do the heavy lifting for you.