I've been playing Zenless Zone Zero on and off since launch, and Billy Kid is still one of those characters I can't help but return to. He's an A-rank attack specialty agent who deals physical damage, which means you get him for free without needing insane luck on the signal search banners. While he won't always out-damage limited S-rank units in 2026, he's incredibly comfortable for clearing story stages, Hollow Zero runs, and even some endgame challenge modes if you invest in him properly.

The big appeal of Billy is his ranged combat style. Unlike melee-focused attackers, he can keep a safe distance and fire at packs of enemies, switch to focused single-target shots, or just keep constant pressure with his pistols. His kit includes regular attacks, dodges, combo attacks, and passive skills that gain extra buffs when paired with specific teammate types—usually another physical damage dealer or a fellow Cunning Hares member.

How I Pick Billy's W-Engine

In true Billy Kid fashion, his signature A-rank W-Engine, Starlight Engine Replica, is usually my go-to. It boosts physical damage by a nice chunk and works from long range, so you don't have to hug enemies to get the buff. That fits his mobile gunslinger identity perfectly.

However, there's a catch. If you've unlocked Billy's fourth mindscape cinema, you need to be close to an enemy to trigger that extra effect. The Starlight Engine Replica buff wants you far away, or at least not point-blank, so combining both buffs can feel awkward. In that case I often swap to the Gilded Blossom, which gives attack-focused benefits without forcing me to manage distance. If you happen to have a spare Steel Cushion—Nekomata's signature—it also works on Billy, but the extra damage only kicks in when you attack from behind the target. So it rewards a more positional playstyle. Honestly, the best engine depends on what you have lying around and how you like to move him in combat.

Drive Disc Recommendations

Billy can equip six drive discs, and the setup I personally recommend is a two-piece Woodpecker Electro plus a four-piece Dawn's Bloom. That combination pumps up his crit stats and physical damage output, which are exactly what he needs for consistent ranged pressure. If your substat luck isn't great, you can also mix and match three two-piece sets focused on crit rate, crit damage, and attack to smooth things out.

When it comes to main stats, look for:

• Crit rate or crit damage on disc four

• Physical damage bonus on disc five

• Pen ratio on disc six

For substats, I prioritize crit rate, crit damage, attack percentage, and penetration. Don't sleep on pen ratio because it helps his bullets cut through tougher elite enemies in later content.

Team Comps That Feel Great

Billy gets extra passive value when he's in a squad with another physical agent or another member of the Cunning Hares. That makes Nicole and Nekomata very natural partners. Nicole can group enemies and apply defense debuffs, which lets Billy unload his burst safely. Nekomata adds more physical synergy and can cover his downtime.

One team I've had excellent fun with is Billy, Piper, and Lucy from the Sons of Calydon. All three passives activate together, creating a comfortable physical assault lineup. Lucy's buffs help the whole squad, while Piper handles spinning AoE damage, leaving Billy free to pick off stragglers or focus down bosses. You can also use Lycaon as a stunner if you want heavier interrupt pressure, though including him may not activate his passive core skill unless you meet the right faction or element conditions.

Billy's Skills and Mindscape Cinemas

Billy has a pretty straightforward toolkit. His basic attack chain sprays bullets at multiple targets, his dodge lets him reposition quickly, and his combo attacks help when you swap him in to cover other agents with an evasive assist. If his Decibel Rating is high enough, his ultimate-style ability can rain a huge shower of bullets on enemies—very satisfying.

Pulling duplicate copies of Billy unlocks mindscape cinemas, which work like constellations or eidolons if you're familiar with other Hoyoverse games. The fourth cinema is the one that changes his W-Engine preferences the most, as I mentioned earlier, because it wants close-range combat.

Leveling and Promotion Materials

To get Billy to max level in 2026, you'll promote him every ten levels. You can earn offense certification seals through the combat simulation—agent promotion combat challenges. It's a reliable daily source, so I usually farm those stages a few times each week if I'm actively raising him.

Core Skill Materials

Enhancing Billy's core skills requires ferocious grips, higher dimensional data items, and a stack of denny. Here's where I get them:

Those weekly bosses can be stingy, so I'd recommend planning ahead before you run out of stamina.

Combat Skill Materials

You also need to upgrade his regular combat skills, which means farming physical chips and spending some denny. To cap out his abilities completely, you'll need hamster cage passes.

I always save my hamster cage passes for characters I really enjoy, and Billy has definitely earned a few from me over the years.

Final Thoughts

Billy Kid may not be the shiniest S-rank carry, but he's a reliable free physical attacker who can carry you through a lot of Zenless Zone Zero if you give him the right tools. With Starlight Engine Replica or Gilded Blossom, a solid crit-focused disc setup, and teammates like Nicole, Nekomata, Piper, or Lucy, he still feels great to play in 2026. If you're looking for a comfy ranged option that doesn't demand perfect mechanics, Billy is absolutely worth building.