The fire is burning bright for Zenless Zone Zero players in 2025, as Lighter continues to dominate the meta with his unique Morale system and devastating Fire damage capabilities. As one of the premier S-Rank Stun agents from the Sons of Calydon faction, Lighter has established himself as an essential addition to many competitive team compositions. Let's dive into what makes Zenless Zone Zero's most fiery champion so effective.

zenless-zone-zero-mastering-lighter-in-2025-image-0

Who is Lighter?

Lighter serves as the Champion of the Sons of Calydon, bringing his fiery fighting style to New Eridu's Hollow. With his distinctive red scarf and sunglasses, this S-Rank Fire Stun agent has become a fan-favorite since his initial release in Version 1.3. His combat style revolves around a unique Morale system that allows him to enter powerful burst states while reducing enemy resistances.

His base stats at maximum promotion (Level 60) include 8,253 HP, 722 ATK, and 612 DEF, making him one of the more durable Stun agents in the game.

Lighter's Core Mechanics

The heart of Lighter's kit is his Core Passive: Accelerant. This passive allows him to automatically gain Morale over time at a rate of 2.9 points per second. Additionally, for each point of Energy consumed by any squad member, Lighter recovers an additional 0.26 Morale, up to a maximum of 100.

zenless-zone-zero-mastering-lighter-in-2025-image-1

When his Morale reaches 80, the next time Lighter switches into battle, he immediately launches a Quick Assist. Once Morale is 80 or higher, executing the 5th hit of his Basic Attack puts him in the Morale Burst state, enhancing the power of his attacks.

During the Morale Burst state, Lighter's attacks reduce enemies' Ice RES and Fire RES by 15%, lasting 30s. This makes him an incredible support for both Fire and Ice DPS characters - a versatility that's hard to match.

"You've gotta roll with the punches," as they say in the ring, and Lighter certainly delivers on this American boxing adage with his combo-heavy playstyle.

Best Builds for Lighter in 2025

After several balance patches throughout 2024, the meta has settled on a few optimal builds for Lighter:

Impact-Focused Stun Build

  • W-Engine: Blazing Laurel

  • Drive Discs: 4-piece King of the Summit + 2-piece Swing Jazz

  • Main Stats: Impact (6), Fire DMG (5), CRIT DMG (4)

This build maximizes Lighter's ability to apply Daze and Stun while also providing significant Fire damage output. The recent buffs to Impact scaling in Version 2.3 have made this build particularly effective.

Optimal Teams

Lighter shines brightest in teams where he can support high-damage dealers. His ability to reduce both Fire and Ice RES makes him incredibly versatile.

Premium Fire Team

  • Lighter (Stun)

  • Evelyn (Attack)

  • Astra (Support)

In this composition, Lighter provides Fire RES reduction while Evelyn deals massive Fire damage. Astra amplifies the entire team's damage output.

zenless-zone-zero-mastering-lighter-in-2025-image-2

Ice Synergy Team

  • Lighter (Stun)

  • Ellen (Attack)

  • Soukaku (Support)

Despite being a Fire character himself, Lighter's Ice RES reduction makes him an excellent support for Ice DPS characters like Ellen. This team has become increasingly popular in the current meta.

Mindscape Cinema Recommendations

For players looking to invest in Lighter's Mindscape Cinema in 2025, the priority order should be:

  1. M1 (The Champion): Increases Stun duration by 5s and further reduces Ice RES and Fire RES by 10%.

  2. M2 (Red Scarf): Increases Stun DMG Multiplier by 25% and boosts the Ice DMG and Fire DMG provided by Elation.

  3. M4 (Sunglasses): Provides Energy regeneration benefits.

  4. M6 (Survivor): Transforms Lighter into a viable DPS with the Blazing Impact effect.

M3 and M5 are primarily skill level enhancements and can be considered lower priority.

Recent Updates and Meta Shifts

With the release of Version 2.5 in early 2025, Lighter received several quality-of-life improvements. His dodge animations were optimized, and the Blazing Impact effect from his M6 Mindscape Cinema was buffed to scale better with Impact.

Additionally, the May 2025 Signal Search featured Lighter alongside Anton and Soukaku, making him more accessible to newer players who missed his earlier banners.

The Bottom Line

As we move through 2025, Zenless Zone Zero's Lighter remains a top-tier choice for players looking for a versatile Stun agent who can support both Fire and Ice teams. His unique Morale system, combined with his resistance reduction capabilities, ensures he'll stay relevant in the meta for the foreseeable future.

Whether you're a new player just picking up Zenless Zone Zero or a veteran looking to optimize your teams, investing in Lighter is a decision you won't regret. As they say in New Eridu, "Make way for the Undefeated Champion!"