Chaos Zero Nightmare Nine Best Build & Teams

Greetings, players! Chaos Zero Nightmare has launched a new season. LDShop is here to provide an in-depth analysis of a character who is quite controversial in the gacha pool but whose strength should absolutely not be underestimated — Nine. Is she "one for the future" or a true "combat goddess"? Let's find out.

I. Character Role: Slow-burn Sub-DPS & Damage Buffer

Nine is a uniquely designed "Vanguard" character. Her core appeal lies in her dual-role capability: she can unleash devastating single-target bursts through a special mechanic while also providing valuable damage amplification support for "Exhaust"-type cards in the team. In short, she is a "can fight, can support" hybrid character.

However, she has a distinct characteristic, or "pain point": her damage output is not instant and requires a certain warm-up cost. She cannot enter the field and obliterate everything like some characters, but once she completes her "warm-up," the numbers from that single strike will make you feel all the waiting was worth it. In the current version, she can be considered one of the top-tier burst damage options "second only to Sereniel," with a very high floor, but her complete tactical system is still under development.

II. In-Depth Skill & Epiphany Analysis

Nine's kit revolves around her core mechanic, "Hew." Understanding its mechanics and the choice of Epiphany path is key to unlocking her full potential.

1. Core Damage - "Hew"

• Skill Analysis: This is a 3-cost Attack card with the keywords "Unique," "Initiation," "Exhaust," "Ephemeral," and the new keyword "Incinerate."
  • Exhaust: Removed from the deck cycle after use.
  • Ephemeral: Destroyed if in hand at the end of the turn.
  • Incinerate: When this card is destroyed, triggers the effect after the colon — creates a higher-level "Hew" card. After the highest-level "Hew" is destroyed, a Lv.1 "Hew" is added to hand at the start of the next turn.
  • Important Mechanic: New "Hew" cards generated via "Incinerate" or "Ephemeral" do NOT inherit any existing buffs on the original card (e.g., Narja's cost reduction, Rei's damage increase).
• Epiphany Recommendations:
  • Epiphany 1 "Hew (Ironclad)": Requires 4 actions per cycle. Its feature is providing massive shields (approx. 800% extra shield multiplier per cycle), offering strong survivability along with considerable base damage multipliers. Suitable for environments requiring steady output and self-preservation.
  • Epiphany 2 "Hew (Extreme)": Requires 6 actions per cycle. This is the optimal choice for Nine as a single-core carry, with base damage multipliers far exceeding other builds. The cost is an extremely high demand on the team's energy (AP) supply and draw/filtering capability, requiring strong teammate support.
  • Epiphany 4: Changes "Hew" to deal damage to the target and adjacent enemies. Sacrifices single-target peak damage for AoE capability. Can be chosen when dealing with multiple targets is necessary.

2. Core Synergy Skill - "Fighting Spirit"

• Skill Analysis: 1-cost Skill card. Effect: "Activate 1 highest-Cost Attack Card(s) of this unit in hand, then Exhaust those cards." This card is the key trigger for "Hew," allowing you to play "Hew" without paying its original cost while simultaneously triggering its "Incinerate" level-up effect. Nine typically needs multiple copies of this card to ensure cycle consistency.

3. Core Damage Buff - "Counterblade"

• Skill Analysis: 0-cost Unique Upgrade card. Effect: "When Shield is gained through an ability, gain 1 Honed Edge." "Honed Edge" stacks up to 3 times. Each stack provides 20% multiplicative damage increase based on Defense for one turn. This is Nine's most important independent damage multiplier zone.

• Epiphany Recommendations:
  • Epiphany 1: Changes the condition for gaining "Honed Edge" to "When a card is Exhausted." This makes it easier to stack the damage buff and is recommended when using builds like "Hew (Ironclad)."
  • Epiphany 5: Effect: "At the start of the turn, if there is a 'Hew' card in hand, activate it once." This Epiphany provides an extra action, mainly used with the cycle-intensive "Hew (Extreme)" build to compensate for the required number of actions and ease cycle pressure.

4. Utility Damage/Starter Card - "Fatal Strike"

• Skill Analysis: 1-cost Attack card. Deals damage, Exhausts the highest-Cost Attack card in your hand, and increases this card's damage based on the Exhausted card's Cost. Commonly used to actively Exhaust a high-level "Hew" to accelerate its leveling cycle.
• Epiphany Recommendations:
  • Epiphany 3: 5-cost effect "Make 'Hew' jump directly to the highest level." Seems powerful, but due to the "Ephemeral" keyword, it can be considered a 0-cost starter. Primarily used as an emergency measure to forcibly restart the "Hew" cycle when it's about to break down. Not a priority choice usually.
  • Epiphany 4: Effect: "Exhaust cards from other combatants' hands to provide up to 30% increased damage for this single card." Can be paired with teammates who have many Epiphany (Exhaust) cards (e.g., certain Sereniel builds) to develop niche playstyles.

5. Support/Survival Card - "Experienced Strike"

• Skill Analysis: 1-cost Attack card. Deals damage and grants a shield, while also providing increased damage to your own "Exhaust" cards for one turn.
• Epiphany Recommendations:
  • Epiphany 5: Effect: "Gain 1 Counterattack stack each time an Exhaust card is used." Performs well in counterattack-focused teams that utilize many Exhaust cards. If you cannot guarantee the smooth cycling of Nine's own "Hew," or if counterattack is not needed, this card can often be considered for deletion.

III. Memory Fragment & Partner Recommendations

Memory Fragment (Gear) Selection

• Best-in-Slot Set: Prioritize "Beast's Yearning." Its effects usually synergize best with Nine's mechanics.
• 2-Piece: "Executor's Tool" 2-piece is a versatile, high-quality choice for damage increase. Alternatively, "Tetra's Authority" 2-piece.

Partner Selection

• Exclusive Partner - Alcea (Optimal Choice): Effect: "After Exhausting a card, the next Attack card used gains increased damage based on Defense. If that card's Cost is ≥2, gain a 100% Shield." This partner perfectly fits Nine's cycle: it provides massive damage bonus through the Exhaust mechanic while greatly ensuring her survival with a high shield, representing a qualitative change.
• Alternatives: If the exclusive partner is not available, partners like Wilhelmina or Zeta, who provide damage increase or survival support, can serve as transitional choices. If developing a counterattack-focused playstyle, choose a partner with corresponding effects.

IV. Team Recommendations: Finding Her Best Partners

Nine needs teammates to help solve her startup, AP cost, and survival issues.

1. Nine-Centric Burst Team (T0 Composition)

• Core Idea: Rapidly stack "Hew" to max level and unleash the finishing strike centered around Nine.
• Team Examples:
  • Nine + Narja + Kalípe/Veronica: Narja provides healing, damage increase, and the crucial cost reduction, perfectly solving Nine's "AP-hungry" pain point. This is a top-tier pairing.

• • Nine + Mika + Veronica: Mika provides additional AP, allowing Nine to more freely perform high-cost operations. Also a core partner.

2. Nine as Sub-DPS/Damage Buffer

• Core Idea: Utilize Nine's damage amplification for "Exhaust" cards to support another core damage dealer.

• Teammate Recommendations:
  • Orlea: A powerful combination in the current version. Orlea herself possesses many "Exhaust"-related cards and gear, benefiting from Nine's damage buff. Simultaneously, Orlea can provide debuffs like Vulnerable, creating mutual synergy.
  • Rei: Has skills that target "Exhaust" specific cards in hand, and can precisely help Nine destroy "Hew" to accelerate its leveling, enabling efficient combos.

 

V. Summary: A Worthwhile Investment with Potential

Nine is a character with extremely distinct strengths and weaknesses.

• Strengths: Extremely high ceiling, single-target burst damage ranks at the top; possesses team support utility; complete mechanics at E0, key Manifest Ego levels (E1, E2) improve feel but are not transformative, friendly to F2P/low-spenders.
• Weaknesses: Slow-burn damage rhythm, has downtime; relies on specific teammates to optimize the experience; complete system is still under development.

Final Recommendation:

If you have core supports like Mika or Narja, then E0 Nine can already provide a top-tier burst experience "second only to Sereniel," making her highly recommended. For players who enjoy researching tactics and pursuing one-shot kills, although she may not yet rival a mechanic-monster like Sereniel, her strength is absolutely solid, and her potential is promising.

 

That concludes the in-depth analysis of Nine. If you found this character guide helpful, LDShop will continue to bring you the latest version trends and in-depth strategy analysis. Furthermore, if you wish to cultivate your favorite characters more smoothly in the game, we have also prepared a safe and reliable top-up channel for you, offering a variety of discounts and exclusive benefits to help you embark on your adventures in the dream world with greater ease.