In the ever-evolving world of Zenless Zone Zero, few characters have captured the community's attention quite like Billy Kid. As we move deeper into 2025, this A-rank Physical Attack agent continues to be a formidable force in the New Eridu meta. Whether you're a veteran player looking to optimize your Billy gameplay or a newcomer wondering if he's worth investing in, this comprehensive guide has you covered.

Who is Billy Kid in Zenless Zone Zero?

Billy Kid is an A-rank Physical Attack agent and a proud member of the Cunning Hares faction. Despite his A-rank status, Billy has proven himself to be a reliable DPS option that can compete with some S-rank characters when properly built and supported. What makes Billy zzz particularly appealing is that he's available for free by completing the Prologue Chapter of Phaethon's Story: Business x Strangeness x Justness.

Billy ZZZ Gameplay Mechanics

The core of Billy's gameplay revolves around his unique Crouching Shot mechanic. When you hold his Basic Attack, Billy enters Crouching Shot mode, which significantly boosts his damage output thanks to his Core Passive "Steady Shot" that increases damage by 25% in this state.

What truly sets Billy zenless zone zero team build apart is his Additional Ability "Team Starlight." After using a Chain Attack, the damage of his next Ultimate increases by 50%, stacking up to 2 times. This creates a powerful burst damage cycle that can devastate enemies when properly executed.

Key Combat Techniques

1. Crouching Shot Mastery: Learn to position Billy safely before entering Crouching Shot, as movement will cancel the damage boost.

2. Chain Attack → Ultimate Combo: Always try to use your Ultimate after a Chain Attack to take advantage of the 50% damage boost.

3. Rolling Shot Dodging: With his Mindscape Cinema unlocked, Rolling Shots during Basic Attacks count as dodges, making Billy invulnerable during this animation.

Optimal Billy Build for 2025 Meta

Best Drive Discs

The meta for Billy has evolved since his release, with these disc sets now considered optimal:

• 4-piece Dawn's Bloom + 2-piece Woodpecker: This combination maximizes Billy's Basic Attack damage while providing crucial CRIT Rate.

• Alternative: 4-piece Fanged Metal + 2-piece Woodpecker for teams that can consistently apply Assault status.

W-Engine Recommendations

• Starlight Engine Replica (A-rank): Increases Physical DMG when hitting enemies from a distance, perfectly complementing Billy's ranged playstyle.

• Premium Option: Knight Beam: Change provides a massive 36% Physical DMG boost when hitting enemies from at least 6 meters away.

Stat Priorities

• Main Stats: ATK% (Slot 6), Physical DMG (Slot 5), CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG (Slot 4)

• Substats: CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG > ATK% > Energy Regen

Team Compositions

F2P Team: Billy + Nicole + Anby

This accessible team provides excellent synergy with:

• Billy: Main DPS

• Nicole: DEF reduction and enemy gathering

• Anby: Daze application and Shock enabler

Premium Team: Billy + Lycaon + Support

For those with more agents available:

• Billy: Main DPS

• Lycaon: Stun enabler and Physical support

• Flexible support slot: Characters like Ellen or Corin work well

Mindscape Cinema Priorities

Billy's Mindscape Cinema unlocks significantly enhance his capabilities. Here are the most impactful ones to prioritize:

1. M6 - Starlight Hero: Provides stacking DMG increase (up to 30%) after accumulating hits or Perfect Dodges

2. M2 - Roaming Gunslinger: Makes Rolling Shots count as dodges and boosts Dodge Counter DMG

3. M4 - Starlight Ballistics: Increases EX Special Attack CRIT Rate when close to enemies

Advanced Techniques for Billy Mains

What separates good Billy players from great ones is mastery of these advanced techniques:

1. Distance Management: Billy performs best at medium range where he can safely maintain Crouching Shot while avoiding enemy attacks.

2. Perfect Dodge Timing: With M2 unlocked, perfect dodges during Rolling Shot automatically convert to Dodge Counters for extra damage.

3. Energy Management: Time your skills to ensure you have energy for Chain Attack → Ultimate combos when needed.

Billy's Performance in Current Content

In the latest 2025 content, Billy continues to perform admirably:

• Hollow Zero: Excellent for single-target focused stages

• Dimensional Trials: Strong performer with proper team support

• Bangboo Arena: Can achieve competitive clear times with investment

Is Billy Worth Building in 2025?

Absolutely! Billy zzz remains one of the most accessible yet powerful DPS options in the game. His free availability, straightforward playstyle, and impressive damage ceiling make him an excellent investment for both new and veteran players. While he may not have the raw power of the newest limited S-rank characters, his consistent performance and F2P-friendly status keep him relevant in the meta.

Conclusion

Billy Kid may not be the flashiest character in Zenless Zone Zero, but his reliable damage output, unique playstyle, and accessibility make him a standout option in the 2025 meta. By mastering his Crouching Shot mechanics and optimizing his Chain Attack → Ultimate combo, you can turn this humble A-rank agent into a formidable DPS powerhouse.

Whether you're running him in a budget team or with premium supports, Billy's starlight will continue to shine bright in New Eridu for the foreseeable future.

Have you built Billy for your team? Share your experiences and team compositions in the comments below!

Critical reviews are presented by Kotaku, a globally respected source for gaming news and in-depth commentary. Kotaku's coverage often delves into character balance and evolving metas in action RPGs, providing valuable context for understanding how agents like Billy Kid maintain their relevance in competitive environments, even as new content and characters are introduced.