In the rain-slicked alleys of New Eridu, Grace Howard is a flash of violet light and cold calculation. The Belobog Industries engineer does not simply fight; she rewires the battlefield. As an S-rank Electric agent in Zenless Zone Zero, she deals ranged pierce damage, hurls electric grenades, and applies the Shock anomaly faster than almost anyone. In 2026, her kit remains a gold standard for anomaly teams. Whether she is built as a supportive shock applicator or a damage-focused anomaly DPS, Grace turns robots and Ethereals alike into twitching heaps of scrap.
Why Grace Still Sparks in 2026
Grace can weave dodges and special attacks into her basic combo without interrupting it. That versatility makes her one of the best anomaly buildup characters in the game. Her rifle fire and electric grenades cover wide areas, so she can spread Shock to entire packs. She has two main paths: a support anomaly unit who applies Shock and tags out, or a DPS anomaly unit who capitalizes on shocked enemies.
Best W-Engines for Grace
| W-Engine | Type | Key Effect | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Compiler | PEN Ratio | ATK +12–24%. Special or EX Special increases Anomaly Proficiency by 25–50 for 8s, stacking 3 times. | Best in slot. Turns Grace into a deadlier Shock applicator. |
| Roaring Ride | Attack | EX Special triggers one of three buffs for 5s: ATK +8–12.8%, Anomaly Proficiency +40–64, or Anomaly Buildup Rate +25–40%. | Grace spams EX Special, so she can keep multiple buffs active. |
| Weeping Gemini | Attack | When a squad member triggers an anomaly, gain Anomaly Proficiency +30–46, stacking 4 times. Expires when target recovers from Stun or is defeated. | Excellent in mono-Electric teams where anomalies proc constantly. |
| Electro-Lip Gloss | Anomaly Proficiency | Enemies with an anomaly grant ATK +10–16% and 15–25% more DMG. | Strong battle pass option for any anomaly damage dealer. |
Disc Drive Builds: Two Paths
4-Piece Thunder Metal + 2-Piece Swing Jazz
This is the DPS anomaly setup. Thunder Metal gives 10% Electric DMG and, while an enemy is Shocked, 28% ATK. Swing Jazz adds 20% Energy Regen. Grace applies Shock so reliably that she can skip Freedom Blues here.
Main stats: IV. Anomaly Proficiency | V. Electric DMG or PEN Ratio | VI. ATK or Anomaly Mastery.
Substats priority: 1. Anomaly Proficiency | 2. ATK% | 3. PEN (if using PEN Ratio) | 4. Crit Rate or Crit DMG.
4-Piece Freedom Blues + 2-Piece Swing Jazz
This is the support anomaly setup. Freedom Blues gives 30 Anomaly Proficiency, and its 4-piece effect reduces the target’s Anomaly Buildup RES to Grace’s attribute by 20% for 8s after an EX Special hits. Swing Jazz adds Energy Regen.
Main stats: IV. Anomaly Proficiency | V. Electric DMG or PEN Ratio | VI. Anomaly Mastery.
Substats priority: same as above. With this build, Grace stands as the number one Shock applicator in the game. Robots stand no chance.
Skill Priority: Core Skill First
Always prioritize Grace’s Core Skill first. It powers her EX Special and makes Shock application trivial. After that:
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Core Skill – Max it as soon as possible. It is the engine of her Electric damage and Shock uptime.
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Ultimate and Chain Attack – Deals solid Electric damage over a wide area, spreading Shock to multiple enemies.
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Basic Attack – You will use it often to build Zap, so it earns third priority.
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Dodge – Grace gets little damage return from dodging, so this is low priority.
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Assist – Mostly a damage upgrade, so it shares the same low priority as Dodge.
Bangboo Choices
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Plugboo 🐾 – With 2+ Electric characters, Bangboo Chain Attack inflicts 100% more Anomaly Buildup. This makes Shock uptime nearly 100%.
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Safety 🛡️ – With 2+ Belobog Heavy Industries characters, Chain Attack DMG increases by 20%. If the target is Burning or Shocked, it gains another 20%, for a 40% total boost. Grace keeps enemies Shocked, so this is great on bosses.
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Electroboo ⚡ – With 2+ Electric characters, Chain Attack inflicts 60% more Anomaly Buildup. A weaker Plugboo, but still excellent with Grace.
Team Synergy: Mono Electric
The classic team of Grace, Rina, and Anton unlocks everyone’s additional abilities. Grace’s additional ability triggers when there are at least two Electric agents or two Belobog Industries agents, increasing the Shock damage enemies suffer by 25%. That means the whole team deals more Electric damage.
Grace shines best as a support anomaly DPS. Pop her in when she has Energy, apply Shock, then swap her back to reserves while Anton or another main DPS takes over. Against robotic trash mobs, however, Grace can clear the room herself.
Final Thoughts
In 2026, Grace Howard remains a brilliant, versatile, and slightly terrifying agent. Her Shock application is still elite, her AOE pressure is still relentless, and her build options let her fit into both support and DPS roles. Prioritize her Core Skill, stack Anomaly Proficiency, and pair her with Electric allies. When the lightning stops crackling, the battlefield is already won.