When Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Version 3.1 launched, most eyes were understandably on Remielle, the game’s newest Void Hunter — not to mention the many anniversary rewards. Tucked away in the update, however, was one of the biggest gameplay overhauls HoYoverse has ever given an existing Agent, and players are already taking notice.
Players have long considered Nekomata as one of ZZZ’s weakest S-Rank characters since the game’s release. While she can still clear content in the right hands, her kit often felt dated compared to more recent releases. It was also filled with bloat and unwieldly animations that actively hurt her performance. Version 3.1 changed that in a big way, and many players now believe she finally feels like a modern Agent worthy of her S-Rank.
Nekomata Received More Than a Buff
Unlike Jane Doe or Rina, whose updates primarily refine their existing gameplay, Nekomata received an entirely new mechanic in the form of Purr Energy. This new resource system rewards players for staying active in combat and unlocks two brand-new attacks: Disappearing Tail and Fluffy Piercing Claw. These attacks give her access to a familiar but still far more engaging combat loop than before.
Her Additional Ability also received a meaningful upgrade, making it significantly easier to capitalize. It also rewards players with stronger EX Special Attacks and Dodge Counters. Meanwhile, her old Basic Attack (Hold), previously one of the more awkward and rarely used parts of her kit, was reworked to give players direct control over her pass-through movement. This makes repositioning far more reliable during combat.
The result is a character who doesn’t simply hit harder, but also plays differently. Now she is smooth as silk to play, and offers a very active playstyle.
Is Nekomata Now a Meta Agent?
Despite what new advantages Nekomata has now… Eh? Probably not? Nekomata’s buff did a lot of heavy lifting, but she isn’t exactly the new face of the meta.
It’s more that she’s been brought up to speed after being left down in the trenches for so long. What Version 3.1 has done is dramatically improve her damage output and modernize her gameplay to the point of true viability. According the ZZZ community, she’s a good option now!
Combined with her already massive motion values, the result is a Physical DPS who can genuinely keep pace with far newer characters under the right conditions. Early testing has even shown a fully invested Nekomata capable of competing with a low-Mindscape Ye Shunguang, which is an impressive feat for a Version 1.0 launch Standard Agent. More importantly, the community is beginning to view her as a genuinely worthwhile investment, rather than a character left behind by ZZZ’s power curve.