The streets of New Eridu are buzzing, and for good reason – the Version 2.1 Phase 2 update for Zenless Zone Zero dropped a bombshell that has every Proxy talking. Alice Thymefield has stepped out of the shadows and into our rosters, and let me tell you, she didn't come to just look pretty. Her entrance has flipped the Anomaly DPS conversation on its head, and I've been grinding the new content non-stop to figure out exactly where she lands in the meta.

Now, if you've been keeping up with the scene, you know Alice was already turning heads before her release. There was this air of mystery around her, like that one reserved but insanely talented classmate who finally gets the spotlight. And boy, does she deliver – her fluid, rapier-like strikes are a dance of destruction, every hit laced with a kind of elegance that makes other Physical fighters look like they’re just throwing wild hooks. But beneath that grace is a character who demands a lot: from your resources, your build decisions, and most of all, your team.

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Alice Thymefield: The Elegant Enigma

I've spent hours with Alice, both in controlled testing grounds and in the chaos of Hollow Zero, and here's the thing – she feels like a finely tuned instrument. Her kit went through a ton of changes during the beta (believe me, we were all refreshing those datamine threads), and what we got in the final version is a high-ceiling powerhouse. She's labeled an Anomaly DPS, right up there with the likes of Jane Doe and Hoshimi Miyabi, but the comparison doesn't stop at just labels.

Jane has been the undisputed queen of Physical Anomaly since she dropped, with her ferocious, up-close pressure and ability to build Assault like nobody’s business. So the big question on everyone's mind is: does Alice dethrone her? Well… it's complicated. In pure, isolated damage-per-screenshot scenarios with perfect setups, Alice can edge ahead. She applies her unique "Thorn" anomaly effect that, when triggered by a Disorder reaction, explodes for absolutely ludicrous numbers. But – and this is a big but – she leans really hard on her signature W-Engine and the exact right teammates to reach that peak.

If you try to slap on a budget engine and pair her with random A-ranks, her performance tanks harder than a bad Hollow dive. She's a bit of a diva in that sense. As for Jane, she remains incredibly self-sufficient and slots into far more teams, which is a massive advantage that tier lists often struggle to capture.

Why Our Tier List Updates Matter More Than Ever

Listen, I know tier lists can sometimes feel like a popularity contest or just a bunch of numbers on a screen. But in Zenless Zone Zero, a good ranking needs to look deeper. With Alice’s arrival, our updated tier list doesn't just shuffle some portraits – it recontextualizes what powers a Proxy should be chasing.

What we’ve done differently this time around:

  • Anomaly Agent reshuffling: Every Anomaly character has been re-evaluated based on how they contribute to Disorder chains, Assault triggers, and Shock uptime. Alice’s Thorn mechanic introduces a new layer of burst that demands you play around cooldowns and energy management.

  • Synergy over solo strength: We focused heavily on core ability interactions. For instance, characters that buff Anomaly Proficiency or increase Disorder damage now have a lot more weight, because Alice’s ideal squads are built around enabling her to proc that enhanced Disorder explosion.

  • Element and role diversity: It’s not just about slapping three S-ranks together and calling it a day. The new rankings highlight why elemental resonance and combat role coverage (DPS, Stun, Support) can make or break your clear times in Shiyu Defense or the latest Hollow Zero stages.

Building Around the Thorn Queen

I’ve cooked up a few team templates that really make Alice shine, and here's the kicker – they all require you to think like a conductor, not just a button masher. Her ideal partner? A fast Stun agent who can reliably trigger Daze and help set up chain attacks for Disorder windows. Characters like Qingyi or the newly buffed Lycaon work wonders. Then you need a Support or Anomaly applicator that can throw down another element (Electric or Fire work best) to set up that Disorder detonation. Think Rina or Koleda if you’re lucky – or even Seth if you're resourceful.

A common mistake I'm seeing is players trying to run Alice with another Physical DPS and expecting her to carry. That’s just asking for a bad time. She craves quick-swap, multi-element setups where she can pop in, unload her Thorn stacks, and vanish before the enemies know what hit them. If you master that rhythm, she becomes a monster. If you don't… well, let’s just say you’ll be restarting a lot of stages.

The good news is that once you invest in her core skill levels and the right W-Engine (her own is called "Rosethorn Sonata", and honestly, the flavor text alone is worth the pulls), she becomes one of the most satisfying units to pilot. There’s a rhythm to weaving her basic attacks into her enhanced special that makes you feel like you’re actually mastering a duelist’s footwork.

Remember the Human Element

Here’s a little tough love: a tier list can’t account for your own two hands. I’ve seen Piper mains clear content faster than poorly played Miyabis simply because they’ve perfected their timing. Alice demands a similar level of dedication. You might have the perfect team on paper, but if you don’t enjoy her dodge-then-riposte playstyle, you’re going to burn out fast. And isn’t having fun kind of the whole point?

So when you scroll through our updated rankings, take them as guidelines, not gospel. A well-loved A-rank like Billy or Soukaku can still carry you through the hardest content if you’ve got the skill – and honestly, sometimes showing up with an underdog feels way better than just dominating with the meta pick.

The Verdict So Far

I’m placing Alice firmly in the S-tier for players who are willing to invest. For free-to-play or casual Proxy, she hovers around high A-tier due to her gear dependency. Jane stays as the safer, more flexible Physical Anomaly pick. But that gap? It’s closing faster than a Thanatos lunges. And with future content potentially catering to Thorn-based Detonation teams, Alice might just be that investment you thank yourself for later.

We’re keeping a close eye on how she performs in the upcoming Shiyu Defense rotations and any new boss mechanics. For now, though, I’m having an absolute blast parrying attacks with her and watching those Disorder numbers paint the screen. Our full, updated Zenless Zone Zero Tier List is live and ready for you to dig into – check it out, share it, and feel free to tell me how wrong I am about your favorite Agent. I’m always down for a healthy debate.

What’s your experience with Alice so far? Hit the comments – whether you’re struggling to get her engine or you’ve already hit a new personal best with her squad, I want to hear it all.