Nekomata Guide and Best Builds (2024)

Last updated Yesterday at 17:27by Shikhu

T2 Rating

Physical

Attack

Cunning Hares

Alice Himora EN Voice Actor

Hara Sayuri JP Voice Actor

Introduction - Nekomata

Nekomata is an S-Rank Physical Attack Agent in Zenless Zone Zero.She specializes in dealing Slash damage, gaining an ATK buff and reducingthe enemies Physical RES. Nekomata belongs to the Cunning Haresfaction alongside Nicole Demara, Billy Kid, and Anby Demara.

"The best mackerel is always the one you haven't eaten yet~" — NekomiyaMana An extremely energetic girl whose mischievous side sees her play theoccasional trick, though only occasionally~ Incredibly curious, with a reallove for mackerel.
Get to know her, and you'll find she's hiding somethingbehind that cheerful exterior.

How to Pull Nekomata

Nekomata can be pulled at a regular rate from all Channels, excluding theBangboo Channel. After a total of 300 Signal Searches in the Stable Channel,you may recruit an additional S-Rank Agent of your choice from the options given. This recruitoption is only available once per account. These characters include Grace Howard, Alexandrina Sebastiane, Koleda Belobog, Soldier 11,and Von Lycaon.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Great Physical DPS with AoE capabilities.
Fast-paced dodge-focused gameplay that allows you to deal more damage if you are skillful with dodges.
Low Energy costs for their EX Special Attack.

Weaknesses

While being an S-Rank DPS, there are many other Physical DPS in the game already making her a less valuable pull compared to other characters.
Core Passive Stealthy Paws requires constant use of Dodge Counters and Quick Assists due to the passive's quick cooldown.

Skills, Mindscapes, and Promotions

Skill	Description
Basic Attack: Kitty Slash	Press to activate: Unleashes up to 5 slashes, dealing Physical DMG. On the last hit, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this hit 3 times.
Basic Attack: Crimson Blade	Hold down during the first 3 hits of Nekomata's Basic Attack to activate: Slashes enemies in front and passes through them, dealing Physical DMG. Upon activation, there is a 33.33% chance to repeat this attack 3 times.

Skill	Description
Dodge: Can't Touch Me-wo~	Press to activate: A rapid dodge. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Dash Attack: Over Here!	Press during a Dodge to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG.
Dodge Counter: Phantom Claws	Press during a Perfect Dodge to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Skill	Description
Quick Assist: Cat's Paw	When the on-field character is launched, press to activate: Slashes enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Defensive Assist: Desperate Defense	When the character on field is about to be attacked, press to activate: Parries the enemy's attack, inflicting massive Daze. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Assist Follow-Up: Shadow Strike	Press after a Defensive Assist to activate: Charge and slash enemies in front, dealing Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Skill	Description
Special Attack: Suprise Attack	Press to activate: Unleashes a downward strike, dealing Physical DMG. Anti-Interrupt level is increased while using this skill.
EX Special Attack: Super Surprise Attack!	With enough Energy, press to activate: Unleashes a powerful falling slash that deals massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Skill	Description
Chain Attack: Claw Swipe	When a Chain Attack is triggered, select the character to activate: Unleashes a powerful slash at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
Ultimate: Claw Smash	When Decibel Rating is at Maximum, press to activate: Unleashes powerful slashes at enemies ahead in a large area, dealing massive Physical DMG. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.

Skill	Description
Core Passive: Stealthy Paws	When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 30%(Lv.1) for 6s.
Additional Ability: Catwalk	When another character in your squad shares the same Attribute or Faction: After any character inflicts Assault, increases the DMG of Nekomata's next EX Special Attack by 35%, stacking up to 2 times.

Nekomata's Best Mindscapes

Bird Hunter (M1) is an amazing Mindscape for Nekomata, this is because ofboth the 16% Physical RES ignore as well as every attack while an enemy isbeing stunned is considered a Back Attack.

#	Mindscape	Description
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 are considered back attacks.
M2	Cat & 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, Assist, 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, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2.
M6	Predator Lineage	When Nekomata launches a Chain Attacl or uses her Ultimate, her CRIT DMG increases by 18%, stacking up to 3 times, and expiring when she leaves battle. This effect gains max stacks immediately on defeating an enemy.

4.2.

Nekomata's Promotion Passives

Skill	Description
Core Skill Enhancement A	CRIT Rate increases by 4.8% Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 35% for 6s.
Core Skill Enhancement B	Base ATK increased by 25 Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 40% for 6s.
Core Skill Enhancement C	CRIT Rate increases by 4.8% Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 45% for 6s.
Core Skill Enhancement D	Base ATK increased by 25 Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 50% for 6s.
Core Skill Enhancement E	CRIT Rate increases by 4.8% Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 55% for 6s.
Core Skill Enhancement F	Base ATK increased by 25 Core Passive: Stealthy Paws Skill Lv.+1 When Nekomata's Dodge Counter or Quick Assist hits an enemy, her DMG increases by 60% for 6s.

How to Play Nekomata

Nekomata is a character who specialises in Dodge Counters.These are counter attacks whenever you are able to dodge an enemy attack.Nekomata benefits from these due to Stealthy Paws whichincreases her DMG by 30% for 6s whenever Nekomata is able to successfulyperform a Dodge Counter.

Additionally, when pressing during a Perfect Dodge,Nekomata deals Physical DMG in a wide AoE in frontof Nekomata.

While Nekomata has other Physical or Cunning Hares characters in her squad.Nekomata is able to deal even more powerfulEX Special Attacks after a character inflicts Assault. Thismakes it very important to time and use your EX Special Attacksafter Assault has been inflicted.

Nekomata's DPS Build

BiS W-Engine	Steel Cushion
Alternative W-Engines	The Brimstone Starlight Engine Gilded Blossom Cannon Rotor Street Superstar
Best Drive Discs	4 Piece: Fanged Metal Woodpecker Electro Puffer Electro 2 Piece: Puffer Electro Woodpecker Electro Hormone Punk Fanged Metal
Main Stats	Disc 4: CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG Disc 5: ATK % / Physical DMG Disc 6: ATK %
Substat Priority	CRIT Rate / CRIT DMG ATK % PEN ATK
Skill Priority	Core Skill EX Special Attack Ultimate Basic Attack Dodge Assist

Nekomata's best W-Engine is her signature Steel Cushion providinga significant amount of Physical DMG as well as increasing DMG whenattacking enemies from behind which can be important for Nekomata. Otheroptions include The Brimstone, Gilded Blossom, Starlight Engine and Street Superstar.

Puffer Electro and Woodpecker Electro are great general Disc Drives to aimfor when building Nekomata. As with many other DPS, you should build herwith CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK % and PEN.

6.1.

Bangboo Information

Amillion is one of Nekomata's best Bangboo being both a Physical and Cunning Hares character. Bagboo is agreat A-Rank option helping to deal massive Physical DMG to build up Anomalyfor Nekomata.

Nekomata's Team Comps and Synergy

DPS	Stun	Support	Bangboo
Nekomiya Mana	Anby Demara	Lucy Soukaku	Amillion

This first team uses Anby Demara as the main Stuncharacter while also being from the Cunning Hares faction totrigger the Core Passive. Because of this, the support slot can be usedby other powerful supports such as Lucy or Soukaku.

DPS	Stun	Support	Bangboo
Nekomiya Mana	Qingyi Koleda Belobog	Nicole Demara	Amillion
DPS	Support	Support	Bangboo
Nekomiya Mana	Caesar King	Nicole Demara	Amillion

Other teams instead use the Cunning Hares member Nicole Demara as a support to provide crowd controlmaking it easier for Nekomata to attack grouped up enemies.Stun Supports include Koleda Belobog and Qingyi while more offensive options include Caesar King who provides both defensive utility and ATK buffs.

7.1.

Changelog

12 Oct. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 1.2.
13 Aug. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 1.1.
07 Jul. 2024: Full Guide Released.
15 Jun. 2024: Page added.

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