Nekomiya Mana is an S-Rank Agent and a core member of the Cunning Hares! As the premier Physical Attack character available since the game's launch, she specializes in triggering lightning-fast Dodge Counters and shredding through enemies from behind with her twin blades. And in this Nekomata build guide, we will introduce how to fully unleash Nekomata's potential through W-Engines, Drive Discs, and team composition. Read on to understand her kit.
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Nekomata Agent Overview
Nekomata Agent Profile
| Agent Information | ||
| Rarity | S-Rank | |
| Attribute | Physical | |
| Specialty | Attack | |
| Faction | Cunning Hares | |
| Combat Role | Physical Burst DPS | |
Nekomata Overview
Nekomata's attacks deal exclusively Physical damage, specializing in lightning-fast slash combos and punishing enemies from behind. While she can build the Physical Attribute Anomaly gauge herself, she truly shines when her team triggers the Assault effect. Once Assault kicks in, enemies suffer a massive burst of damage and take increased Daze, stopping them in their tracks. Nekomata is a total nightmare for aggressive enemies, and as soon as Assault is applied, her Additional Ability opens up a massive window for her to unleash huge EX Special Attack nukes and just melt through the weakened target.
Her gameplay revolves around maintaining her Core Passive buff. By landing Dodge Counters and Quick Assists, Nekomata gains a massive DMG increase for a short duration. When casting her EX Special Attack, she unleashes a powerful falling slash to deal Physical damage. If Nekomata possesses her Core Passive buff alongside the bonus from a recent Assault trigger, the skill will utilize them to significantly boost the overall damage of her strikes. This unique mechanic allows her to weave in and out of combat fluidly, keeping enemies permanently pressured with high-speed counterattacks while maintaining unparalleled mobility.
Nekomata Skill Priority
Nekomata's gameplay revolves entirely around her Core Skill passive, which grants a massive DMG buff after executing a Dodge Counter or Quick Assist. Because her primary damage output comes from unleashing lightning-fast Basic Attacks and devastating Special Attack nukes while that buff is active, those three nodes are your highest priority. Her Chain Attack provides excellent AoE burst damage when clearing waves, making it a solid mid-priority investment. Finally, while triggering Dodge Counters is mandatory for her playstyle, upgrading the actual Dodge and Assist skill nodes only increases the raw damage multipliers of those specific utility moves, meaning they should be upgraded last. The optimal skill upgrade priority for Nekomata is as follows:
| Skill | Priority |
| Core Skill | ★★★★★ (Top) |
| Basic Attack | ★★★★★ (Top) |
| Special Attack | ★★★★ (High) |
| Chain Attack | ★★★ (Mid) |
| Dodge | ★ (Low) |
| Assist | ★ (Low) |
Nekomata Best W-Engines
To maximize Nekomata's Physical damage output, both CRIT Rate and Physical DMG are crucial. As such, it's important to equip her with weapons that enhance either her offensive stats or raw Attack. Her signature weapon, Steel Cushion, is highly recommended for optimal performance as it significantly boosts damage when attacking enemies from behind. However, if you don't have access to it, alternative weapons such as Cordis Germina, Heartstring Nocturne, or Myriad Eclipse are also excellent choices.
| W-Engine Recommendations | |
Steel cushion (S-Rank) |
|
Cordis Germina (S-Rank) |
|
Heartstring Nocturne (S-Rank) |
|
Myriad Eclipse (S-Rank) |
|
The Brimstone (S-Rank) |
|
Starlight Engine (A-Rank) |
|
Nekomata Best Disk Drives Sets
When selecting Drive Discs for Nekomata, your primary goal is to amplify her Physical damage and overall lethality on the battlefield. Because her kit relies heavily on rapid strikes, dodge counters, and critical hits, you should prioritize sets and main stats that boost CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, Physical DMG, and ATK%. The ideal Drive Disc setup will typically combine a 4-piece set that synergizes with her Physical damage output or agile playstyle, alongside a 2-piece set that provides a straightforward boost to her Critical Rate or Attack power.
| Best 4-Piece Choice | |
Puffer Electro (4-PC) |
|
Woodpecker Electro (4-PC) |
|
| Best 2-Piece Choice | |
Branch & Blade Song (2-PC) |
|
Astral Voice (2-PC) |
|
Hormone Punk (2-PC) |
|
Nekomata Best Drive Disk Stats
Here are the best Disc Drive Main Stats and Sub-Stats for Lucy:
| Drive Disk Slot | Stats |
| Slot 4 | CRIT Rate% or CRIT DMG% |
| Slot 5 | Physical DMG% or PEN Ratio% |
| Slot 6 | ATK% |
| Recommended Sub Stats | |
| CRIT RATE = CRIT DMG > ATK% > PEN = ATK | |
Nekomata Best Teams
To build the most effective team for this Physical Attack Agent, you must prioritize two main factors: activating the Additional Ability and capitalizing on the Assault anomaly. Passive damage increases significantly when paired with at least one teammate from the same faction or another Physical attribute Agent.
The ideal team structure generally includes a Stunner and a Support, or a dedicated Anomaly unit to cycle status effects. A high-synergy team often features a Stunner to create burst windows, paired with a Support for DEF shred or grouping capabilities. Alternatively, running alongside a Physical Anomaly unit is a potent strategy; these teammates can rapidly inflict the Assault status, which directly triggers a massive DMG bonus for the Agent's next EX Special Attack, stacking up to two times for devastating impact.
| Damage Dealer | Support | Off-Field Support/Stun |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Caesar (S-Rank) | Qingyi (S-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Rina (S-Rank) | Lycaon (S-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Caesar (S-Rank) | Jane Doe (S-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Lucy (A-Rank) | Koleda (S-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Nicole (A-Rank) | Qingyi (S-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Lucy (A-Rank) | Piper (A-Rank) |
Nekomata (S-Rank) | Nicole (A-Rank) | Anby (A-Rank) |
Nekomata Mindscape Cinema
Mindscape Cinema Performance
| Level | Rating | Why it’s good |
| M1 | ★★★★☆ | The "Backstab" Passive: When hitting an enemy from behind, Nekomata ignores 16% of their DEF. This is huge for Physical units who struggle against high-armor bosses and encourages her "hit-and-run" playstyle. |
| M2 | ★★★☆☆ | Energy Recharge: Helps Nekomata regain Energy when she triggers a Quick Assist or Chain Attack. It smooths out her rotation but doesn't directly increase her damage numbers as much as M1. |
| M4 | ★★★★☆ | Ultimate Burst: Her EX Special and Ultimate ignore an additional 15% of the target's Physical RES. This makes her "Redline" Ultimate hit like a truck, especially during a Stun window. |
| M6 | ★★★★★ | Crit Monster: After using her Ultimate or EX Special, her CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG are boosted significantly for a short window. This turns her into a true "nuker" who can delete elites in one rotation. |
Mindscape Cinema Effect
| Mindscape | Effect |
| M1 | ''Bird Hunter'' When Nekomata hits an enemy from behind, she ignores 16% of her target's Physical RES. If the enemy is Stunned, all Nekomata's attacks against them are considered back attacks. |
| M2 | ''Cat and Mouse'' When there's only one enemy on the field and Nekomata is in combat, her Energy Generation Rate is increased by 25%. |
| M3 | ''Curious Left Tail'' Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 |
| M4 | ''Sharpen Claws'' When Nekomata uses her EX Special Attack, her CRIT Rate increases by 7% for 15s, stacking up to 2 times, with each stack's duration being calculated separately. |
| M5 | ''Lucky Right Tail'' Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 |
| M6 | ''Predator Lineage'' When Nekomata launches a Chain Attack or uses her Ultimate, her CRIT DMG increases by 18%, stacking up to 3 times. The effect expires when she's no longer in-combat. This effect gains maximum stacks immediately on defeating an enemy. |
Conclusion
Nekomata remains the premier Physical Attack specialist for the Cunning Hares, defined by her unmatched agility and a high-frequency playstyle centered on Dodge Counters and Quick Assists. Unlike traditional heavy hitters, she thrives on maintaining her core passive, a massive 60% DMG bonus, by constantly weaving through enemy attacks and striking from the shadows. When paired with Physical Anomaly agents like Piper, her EX Special Attack transforms into a lethal finisher that punishes enemies under the Assault status. Her power curve is one of the most rewarding in the game, evolving from a high-skill maneuvering specialist at M0 into an unconditional critical powerhouse by M6, where her early Mindscapes significantly lower her difficulty floor by granting RES shred and treating all hits against stunned enemies as back-attacks.
To take your Nekomata to the next level, consider topping up Zenless Zone Zero resources through reliable platforms like LootBar. Using LootBar provides a secure, global way to efficiently secure the Monochromes needed for her signature Steel Cushion W-Engine or Mindscape upgrades, ensuring your roster is always ready for the toughest battles.
