Ye Shunguang arrived in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.5 as an S-Rank Attack Agent belonging to the Yunkui Summit faction. Known as the Void Hunter: Qingming Arbiter, she introduces a sophisticated combat style centered around her unique Honed Edge attribute. This guide covers her lore, skill mechanics, best equipment, and the most effective team compositions to maximize her high-damage potential.

Who Is Ye Shunguang in Zenless Zone Zero

Ye Shunguang is the current Sword Keeper of the Qingming Sword, a legendary and mysterious weapon stored within the Yunkui Summit. Her character design, often compared to a "shrine maiden" by the community, masks a tragic history and a burden of immense responsibility.

Born on January 20th, her childhood was cut short by the fall of the Old Capital, where her parents perished while saving others. Alongside her older brother, Ye Shiyuan, she was taken in by Master Yixuan. Her selection as the Sword Keeper granted her the power of a Void Hunter, but it came with a heavy price: the Qingming Sword's favor is a curse that slowly extracts the keeper's memories and five senses. To mitigate these side effects, she carries a specialized sword case crafted by Yixuan, though its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.

In combat, she is an Attack specialist with a "Slash" damage type, standing at 162 cm. Her English voice is provided by Kristen McGuire, while M.A.O voices her in the Japanese version.

Core Mechanics: Honed Edge and Enlightened Mind State

The defining feature of Ye Shunguang is the Honed Edge attribute. While technically categorized under the Physical damage umbrella for the purposes of triggering "Assault" and "Flinch," Honed Edge functions with its own independent build-up system. This allows her to bypass certain standard Physical resistances and scale uniquely with specific gear.

Qingming Sword Force

To unlock her full potential, players must manage "Qingming Sword Force" points. She can hold up to 6 points. These are accumulated through:

  • Completing full Basic Attack strings to fill the secondary gauge.
  • Using EX Special Attacks (Gale Suppression).
  • Synergizing with teammates: gaining 3 points when a Support or Defense teammate activates an "Ether Veil."

Enlightened Mind State

Upon reaching 6 points of Qingming Sword Force, Ye Shunguang can enter the Enlightened Mind State by holding the Basic Attack button or switching in via a Quick Assist. In this state:

  1. She activates Ether Veil: Verdict, dealing massive Physical area-of-effect (AoE) damage.
  2. All Physical damage is converted into Honed Edge damage.
  3. She gains access to enhanced skill versions and unique combo paths.

Ye Shunguang Skill Breakdown

Basic Attack: Sword Stance Transitions

Ye Shunguang's Basic Attack is not a simple repeating loop. It features two distinct stances: Earth and Heaven.

  • Earth Stance: Focused on rapid, single-target strikes. This stance is ideal for generating Qingming Sword Force quickly against boss enemies.
  • Heaven Stance: Features wider swings and better AoE coverage. It is generally used during the Enlightened Mind State to clear waves of smaller enemies.

Special Attack and EX Special: Gale Suppression

Her Special Attack is a forward thrust that provides minor invulnerability frames. However, the EX Special: Gale Suppression is the core of her rotation. It consumes Energy to strike multiple times, providing a point of Qingming Sword Force and allowing for a fluid transition directly into the third hit of her Basic Attack string.

Dodge and Assist

Her dodge is incredibly responsive. A successful Dodge Counter in the Enlightened Mind State deals Honed Edge damage and can be followed up with an immediate stance swap. Her Quick Assist is particularly powerful, as it allows her to enter her burst state without wasting field time for setup.

Ultimate: Chasing Storms vs. Cleaving Heavens

Unlike most agents, Ye Shunguang effectively has a two-stage Ultimate system:

  1. Chasing Storms: Consumes 3000 Decibels. This deals high AoE damage and forces her into the Enlightened Mind State regardless of her current Sword Force points.
  2. Cleaving Heavens: Accessible only while already in the Enlightened Mind State after using Chasing Storms. By pressing the Chain Attack button again, she unleashes a final, devastating blow to exit the state. This second stage does not consume additional Decibels but acts as the ultimate finisher for her burst window.

Best Build for Ye Shunguang: W-Engines and Drive Discs

To make the most of her Honed Edge damage, focus on Critical stats and ATK.

Top Tier W-Engines

  1. Cloud Cleave Radiance (S-Rank): Her signature W-Engine. It provides a significant boost to Crit DMG and allows her damage to ignore 20% to 28% of the target's Physical RES. Its passive trigger is perfectly timed with her Ether Veil activation.
  2. Severed Innocence (S-Rank): A strong alternative that ramps up Crit DMG through Basic and Special attacks. At 3 stacks, it provides an additional damage type buff, making it highly versatile.
  3. The Brimstone (S-Rank): While a generalist Attack engine, the stacking ATK buff is easily maintained by Ye Shunguang’s high hit-rate in the Earth Stance.
  4. Cannon Rotor (A-Rank): The best budget option. It provides Crit Rate and a flat ATK proc on critical hits, which helps bridge the gap for F2P players.
  5. Starlight Engine (A-Rank): Highly effective if you frequently use Quick Assists and Dodge Counters.

Best Drive Disc Sets

  • 4-Piece White Water Ballad + 2-Piece Branch and Blade Song: This is the "Gold Standard" for Ye Shunguang.
    • White Water Ballad: Provides Physical DMG and a massive Crit Rate/ATK buff whenever she is within an Ether Veil. Since she generates her own veil upon entering her burst state, the uptime is nearly 100% during her damage windows.
    • Branch and Blade Song: A simple 16% Crit DMG boost to round out her stats.
  • Alternative: 4-Piece White Water Ballad + 2-Piece Puffer Electro: Use this if you find yourself struggling with Penetration against high-defense bosses in the Shiyu Defense.

Main and Sub-Stat Priority

  • Disc 4: Crit DMG (aim for a 1:2 ratio with Crit Rate, though she gets 30% Crit Rate from her Core Skill).
  • Disc 5: Physical DMG Bonus or PEN Ratio.
  • Disc 6: ATK%.
  • Sub-stats: Crit DMG > Crit Rate > ATK% > PEN.

Target Stats: Aim for over 2300 ATK, 40% base Crit Rate (which reaches 90% in battle with buffs), and 220%+ Crit DMG.

Best Team Compositions for Ye Shunguang

Ye Shunguang is a "Hypercarry." She requires teammates who can stun enemies quickly or provide massive offensive buffs while she prepares her Sword Force.

The Premium Team: Ye Shunguang + Lycaon + Soukaku

  • Lycaon (Stunner): Provides fast Daze accumulation and reduces enemy Ice RES (which is less relevant here) but more importantly increases the Stun DMG Multiplier, which Ye Shunguang exploits during her Enlightened Mind State.
  • Soukaku (Support): Provides a significant ATK transfer. Since Ye Shunguang scales heavily off flat ATK, Soukaku’s buff is invaluable.

The F2P Friendly Team: Ye Shunguang + Anby + Zhao

  • Anby (Stunner): The reliable starter stunner. She keeps the enemy immobilized while Ye Shunguang builds her 6 points of Sword Force.
  • Zhao (Support): A free character that pairs exceptionally well with Shunguang. Zhao can trigger Ether Veils, which instantly grants Ye Shunguang 3 points of Qingming Sword Force, cutting her setup time in half.

The Defensive Team: Ye Shunguang + Seth + Nicole

  • Seth (Defense): Provides shields and Anomaly Buildup Res, allowing Shunguang to stay on field and complete her Heaven Stance combos without getting interrupted.
  • Nicole (Support): Her black hole clusters enemies for Shunguang’s AoE burst and provides DEF shred.

Advanced Rotation and Combat Tips

To maximize DPS, do not just spam buttons. Follow this optimized rotation:

  1. Start with your Stunner to build Daze.
  2. Switch to your Support (like Zhao) to activate an Ether Veil. This will jump-start Ye Shunguang's Sword Force.
  3. Switch to Ye Shunguang via Quick Assist to enter the Enlightened Mind State.
  4. Combo: 3 Basic Attacks -> EX Special Attack -> 2 Basic Attacks.
  5. If the enemy is stunned and your Decibels are full, use Ultimate: Chasing Storms.
  6. Immediately follow up with Ultimate: Cleaving Heavens before the Enlightened Mind State ends.

Pro Tip: You can "overflow" Sword Force. Each point gained beyond the limit of 6 is converted into "Bearer" stacks. When you exit your burst state, these stacks return as fresh Sword Force, allowing you to re-enter the Enlightened Mind State almost immediately.

Mindscape Cinema (Duplicates) Analysis

If you are looking to pull for duplicates, here are the key milestones:

  • M1 (Memory Fragments): Increases the duration of the Enlightened Mind State and provides a small DMG boost to Honed Edge attacks.
  • M2 (Sword Heart): Significantly increases Energy Generation, allowing for more frequent EX Special Attacks.
  • M4 (Void Harmony): When activating Ether Veil: Verdict, the entire team gains a PEN Ratio boost. This turns her into a semi-supportive carry.
  • M6 (Qingming Arbiter): The ultimate power spike. Basic Attacks in the Enlightened Mind State ignore a portion of the enemy's DEF, and Cleaving Heavens deals 50% more damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between Physical and Honed Edge damage?

Honed Edge is a specialized version of Physical damage. It benefits from Physical DMG bonuses but has its own internal resistance check. In most scenarios, Honed Edge is superior because it deals more "Flinch" damage to enemies.

Is Ye Shunguang's signature weapon necessary?

While Cloud Cleave Radiance is her best-in-slot by about 15-20% compared to A-Rank options, she is perfectly viable with Cannon Rotor or Starlight Engine. Her core strength lies in her mechanics rather than just raw weapon stats.

How do I get more Qingming Sword Force quickly?

The fastest way is using a teammate who can trigger Ether Veils. Zhao is currently the best free partner for this. Without Zhao, you must rely on landing the final hit of her Basic Attack string or using her EX Special.

When should I use Heaven Stance vs Earth Stance?

Use Earth Stance for building resources and fighting single bosses. Switch to Heaven Stance (usually automatic in burst) when you need to hit multiple enemies or when the boss is in a stunned state for maximum AoE coverage.

Summary

Ye Shunguang is a top-tier S-Rank Attack Agent who excels in burst damage and tactical flexibility. By mastering her stance transitions and managing her Qingming Sword Force, you can dismantle the toughest bosses in Zenless Zone Zero.

For the best results, equip her with the Cloud Cleave Radiance W-Engine and the White Water Ballad drive disc set. Pair her with a strong stunner like Anby or Lycaon and a supportive teammate like Zhao to ensure she spends as much time as possible in her Enlightened Mind State. As you progress through Version 2.5 and beyond, Ye Shunguang will remain a cornerstone of high-performance teams due to her unique Honed Edge attribute and devastating dual-ultimate combo.