Nekomata has always had a reputation as one of Zenless Zone Zero‘s (ZZZ) more forgotten Standard Agents. That reputation is getting harder to maintain, however, following the recent set of buffs she received at the beginning of 3.1. Her damage has skyrocketed, and the community has started asking a rather surprising question: is Nekomata actually competitive with Ye Shunguang?
Yes, it sounds utterly absurd at first, but there’s merit to it. No, Nekomata hasn’t suddenly become the undisputed queen of Physical damage. At equal Mindscape levels, Ye Shunguang (YSG) is still the clear winner in raw damage, but that’s not really what has made this comparison interesting. Nekomata can perform incredibly well by 3.0 standards without demanding a highly specific team, making her an increasingly attractive option for players who want a powerful Physical DPS without rebuilding their entire roster around her.
Nekomata Is Suddenly Standing Beside Ye Shunguang
The biggest reason this comparison is happening is Nekomata’s sheer flexibility. She isn’t hamstrung by team requirements or a narrow list of characters she needs beside her to function. Give Nekomata almost any Stunner and Support, and she’ll make it work. Her wide range of viable teammates means players can build around the characters they already have rather than chasing a very specific composition.
Ye Shunguang doesn’t have that same freedom. Her damage ceiling is considerably higher when everything is set up correctly, but reaching that ceiling means giving her the right limited teammates and building a premium team that can properly support her. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially for players who already have the pieces needed to make YSG shine, but it does create a meaningful distinction between the two.
There’s another wrinkle here, too. Nekomata is a Standard Agent, meaning players are naturally more likely to accumulate additional Mindscapes for her simply by pulling on the game’s various banners. Ye Shunguang, meanwhile, is a limited Agent, making additional Mindscapes considerably more difficult and expensive to obtain. At equal Mindscape levels, YSG wins the damage race, but the reality of what players actually have on their accounts can make the comparison considerably more interesting.
Nekomata Has Become a Serious Physical DPS Option
A properly built YSG team can still produce some absolutely ridiculous damage, and limited Agents are limited for a reason. Nekomata’s recent improvements haven’t changed that. What they have changed is her place in the conversation.
Nekomata is no longer simply an Agent that players use because they don’t have a better Physical DPS. She is no longer the fodder she has been for most of ZZZ’s lifespan. Her enormous motion values (MVs), combined with her improved kit and exceptional team flexibility, have made her genuinely competitive to the point of even being preferable to YSG for some players.
The ZZZ community sees this as impressive for a Standard Agent, and for good reason. Zenless Zone Zero has introduced some extremely powerful limited characters throughout Season 3, yet Nekomata is now strong enough that players are putting her performance under the microscope alongside one of the game’s premier limited Attackers: a Void Hunter who shares the same element and role. That’s nothing to scoff at.
Nekomata may not beat Ye Shunguang in a straight damage comparison, but she doesn’t need to. Her flexibility, accessibility, and potential Mindscape advantage give her a different kind of value, and that’s enough to make the comparison worth having in the first place. Before, Nekomata, even at M6, was not comparable to an M0 YSG. Now, she is the clear winner, maybe even before reaching M6 herself. That’s just how much of a glow-up Nekomata has received.