Best W-Engine in Zenless Zone Zero Full Selector Guide (Ver. 2.0)

Choosing your free Standard S-Rank W-Engine (Wenjun) in Zenless Zone Zero can be one of the most nerve-wracking decisions if you’re serious about optimizing your agents. With version 2.0 offering a selector ticket, many players are asking the same question: “Did I pick the right one?” If you’ve already used your ticket—or are still thinking it over—this guide will help you assess whether your choice holds up, and which W-Engines are worth it based on current meta, team synergy, and future usability.

The selector ticket for your free S-Rank W-Engine lasts until around July 12, giving you time to test banners, explore your agents, and avoid rushed decisions. Set a reminder before it expires. Also, don’t rush refinements unless you’re sure about dupes. Some players regret refining standard W-Engines, especially Brimstone, because they want to use them across multiple teams in modes like Shiyu Defense or Deadly Assault.

W-Engine Selector Breakdown by Class

1. Best Overall Pick: Brimstone (Attack Class)

• Stats: 30% ATK secondary, stackable 3.5% ATK bonus up to 8 times
• Use Cases: Excellent on agents that spam basic attacks—Soldier 11, Harumasa, Anton, Ellen, Zu Yuan
• Performance: Refined Brimstone can come close to or even surpass some signature W-Engines
• Verdict: Best generalist option for DPS-focused players; refinable and flexible

2. Hellfire Gears (Stun Class)

• Strengths: Grants 6 energy/sec off-field, solid utility
• Weaknesses: Requires quick EX chains to fully activate; lacks strong performance boost
• Comparison: Slightly weaker than Steam Oven or Fossilized Core (both free-to-play accessible)
• Verdict: Usable but outclassed by easier-to-get options

3. The Restraint (Stun Class)

• Strengths: Lyon’s signature; boosts basic attacks and Daze
• Weaknesses: Low value in team scenarios, negligible DPS improvement
• Verdict: Weakest among stun class options. Only consider if you’re a Lyon main.

4. Steel Cushion (Attack Class)

• Stats: 24% Crit Rate; conditional bonus if attacking from behind
• Good On: Nikkamada, Billy, Korn, Ellen, Hugo, Yishuan (for crit)
• Issue: Behind-the-back bonus is unreliable in many fights
• Verdict: Underrated but inconsistent; strong if you can meet its conditions consistently

5. Fusion Compiler (Anomaly Class)

• Stats: 21.1% Pen Ratio; boosts ATK and Anomaly Mastery
• Great For: Grace, Piper, Yanagi, Bernice
• Issues: Most anomaly agents don’t spam skills enough to keep its passive active; beaten by Weeping Gemini in harder content
• Verdict: Good option, but limited by character kit synergy and less reliable for long fights

6. Weeping Cradle (Support / Penetration)

• Stats: 24% Pen Ratio + energy regen
• Best For: Reena (her best-in-slot), situational for Astra Yao or Nicole
• Issue: Short buff window (3 seconds), hard to track, situational at best
• Verdict: Great if you use Reena often. For others, many A-Rank Gacha Wenjuns are better.

The Brimstone is the safest and most versatile option—especially if you’re focusing on DPS units. With the right characters and a few refinements, it can rival signature W-Engines in performance. If you’re using Reena, the Weeping Cradle is your best bet. Steel Cushion is great for physical units—just be prepared to play around its positioning conditions. Avoid Hellfire Gears and The Restraint unless you’re desperate or love their visuals. Fusion Compiler sits in an odd spot, but may be worthwhile for anomaly-heavy builds. Choose wisely based on your current and future agent roster—this decision can save you Primogems, time, and frustration down the road.