Check out this guide for Zane the Operative's best builds in Borderlands 3. This guide includes detailed build breakdowns, recommended skills, leveling up guide, & more!!!
Table of Contents
More About Vault Hunters Skill & Traits
| Amara | Zane | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
| Moze | FL4K | ||
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| Skill Tree | Builds | Skill Tree | Builds |
Zane Best Build - Freeze Shut Down
Click Here for the Skills Breakdown| Action Skill | BarrierDigi Clone |
|---|---|
| Augment Skill | Nanites or Some ShiteRetaliationSchadenfreudeDigital Distribution |
| Hitman | Under Cover | Doubled Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Momentum Lvl. 4 | Adrenaline Lvl. 5 | Synchronicity Lvl. 5 |
| - | Hearty Stock Lvl. 3 | Borrowed Time Lvl. 5 |
| - | Ready for Action Lvl. 5 | Donnybrook Lvl. 5 |
| - | Brain Freeze Lvl. 1 | Quick Breather Lvl. 1 |
| - | Confident Competence Lvl. 1 | Old-U Lvl. 1 |
| - | Best Served Cold Lvl. 5 | Supersonic Man Lvl. 3 |
| - | Refreshment Lvl. 3 | - |
| - | Calm, Cool, Collected Lvl. 1 | - |
Build Overview
Freeze enemies in place with the Freeze Shot Build. Centered on Zane's Cryo and Barrier Support Skills, this build will balance your survivability and DPS! Using his Action Skills will allow you to tank as much damage as you can, while also dishing it out to enemies.
Check Out the All Skills List HerePrioritize Under Cover Skill Early On
Prioritize adding Skill Points to the Under Cover Skill Tree since most of the core skills for this build are there. Once this is done, you can start leveling up the Doubled Agent skill tree.
Build Strengths
Balance Between Support & DPS
This build can sustain players in fights with the additional buffs since it is a hybrid between a support & damage build. It's not a pure support or pure DPS build so it allows you to become more flexible in combat.
Focus on Freezing & Slowing Enemies
This whole build revolves around Zane's Cryo abilities, particularly increasing its damage and proc rate. Slowed down & frozen enemies become easy targets for players while also stopping a bit of aggro for a while.
Tips for the Build
Main a Cryo Weapon
Do not rely solely on the skills to freeze your enemies. It would be best to get a strong cryo weapon for a constant stream of freezing. You can also choose to get a cryo grenade if you want to maximize your damage.
No Need to Tweak when in Multiplayer
With the build you have, you'll give benefits for your team whenever you use your Barrier. Additional gun damage and healing are given to your whole team whenever you bring out you Barrier.
Zane Best Build - Agility & Survivability
Click Here for the Skills Breakdown| Action Skill | Digi CloneSNTL |
|---|---|
| Augment Skill | SchadenfreudeWhich One's RealBad DoseDoomsday |
| Hitman | Under Cover | Doubled Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Speed Lvl. 5 | - | Synchronicity Lvl. 5 |
| Violent Momentum Lvl. 5 | - | Borrowed Time Lvl. 5 |
| Salvation Lvl. 5 | - | Donnybrook Lvl. 5 |
| Death Follows Close Lvl. 1 | - | Old-U Lvl. 1 |
| Violent Violence Lvl. 5 | - | Supersonic Man Lvl. 3 |
| Playing Dirty Lvl. 5 | - | Quick Breather Lvl. 1 |
| Seein' Red Lvl. 1 | - | Fractal Frags Lvl. 1 |
Build Overview
Gotta go fast! This build is meant for you to be quick on your toes and even quicker on your trigger finger. As long as you keep your Action Skills up, you will gain extreme amounts of damage output!
Check Out the All Skills List HerePrioritize Hitman Skill Early On
The Hitman skill will give you high survivability through healing and damage. Max out Violent Momentum, Violent Speed and Salvation until unlocking Death Follows Close. Equip the Bad Dose augment and start investing in Doubled Agent tree from there.
Build Strengths
High Maneuverability
This build will require you to always be on the move to receive your buffs. Use weapon brand like Atlas or Tediore to hit enemies even while on the move.
Check Out the All Legendary Weapon List HereKeep Up Action Skill As Often As Possible
Keeping your Action Skills up at all times is essential to giving Zane his boost of speed and damage. He will become relatively easy target once skills are down, so learn when to time your strike and when to fall back.
Tips for the Build
Seein' Red Recommended for Late Game
Due to the enemy becoming substantially more powerful and tough to take down in end game battles, it is recommended to get the Seein' Red skills ready to be used. This skill allows you to utilize the Kill Skills when you deploy any action skills.
Use Digi-Clone When Under Heavy Fire
The Digi-Clone will act as your survivability tool when under enemy attack. Use it to distract enemies and should you ever get downed, as an instant Second Wind. With the help of some tweaks to the skill, you can use it to teleport out of pinches to help you recover.
Zane Best Build - Shield & Clone Sustain
Click Here for the Skills Breakdown| Action Skill | BarrierDigi Clone |
|---|---|
| Augment Skill | Nanites or Some ShiteRetaliationSchadenfreudeWhich One's Real |
| Hitman | Under Cover | Doubled Agent |
|---|---|---|
| - | Adrenaline Lvl. 5 | Synchronicity Lvl. 5 |
| - | Ready for Action Lvl. 4 | Praemunitus Lvl. 1 |
| - | Brain Freeze Lvl. 2 | Borrowed Time Lvl. 5 |
| - | Stiff Upper Lip Lvl. 3 | Donnybrook Lvl. 5 |
| - | Confident Competence Lvl. 1 | Quick Breather Lvl. 1 |
| - | Best Served Cold Lvl. 4 | Pocket Full of Grenades Lvl. 3 |
| - | Futility Belt Lvl. 1 | Old-U Lvl. 1 |
| - | Refreshment Lvl. 1 | Supersonic Man Lvl. 3 |
| - | Calm, Cool, Collected Lvl. 1 | Boom. Enhance Lvl. 1 |
| - | - | Double Barrel Lvl. 1 |
Build Overview
With a focus on sustaining Zane through his Digiclone and Barrier Action Skills, this build will keep your survivability at the max. Additional cryo damage and effects add to overall damage.
Check Out the All Skills List HerePrioritize Under Cover Skill Tree When Leveling
Although both trees are highly important in this build, the Under Cover Skill Tree takes more of a priority when leveling up since it gives both defensive and offensive skills.
Build Strengths
High Sustain Build
The whole point of this build is to keep Zane in the field through the use of his barrier and digiclone. It's a high survivability build that will work especially well against multiple enemies.
Additional Cryo Damage
Cryo is a powerful element in Borderlands 3 as it universally affects all enemies unless otherwise stated to be immune. This build amps up the elemental chance and damage of Cryo for Zane!
Check Out the Elemental Damage & Types HereTips for the Build
Use Cryo Weapon as Main Weapon
Take advantage of the additional Cryo damage and chance by maining a Cryo Weapon. Besides the additional damage, freezing enemies also add health regen in this build.
Check Out the All Legendary Weapon List HereEquip a High Recharge Rate Shield
Confident Competence can amp up Gun Damage to up to 20% so long as Zane's shields are active. Always go for shields with a high recharge rate when running this build.
Check Out the All Legendary Shield List HereZane - Skills & Character Overview
A member of the notorious Flynt family, Zane is a semi-retired corporate hitman who uses gadgets and trickery to get the upper hand in battle. Zane's arsenal is composed of a SNTNL drone, a Barrier Shield, and a Digi-Clone!
Check Out the Zane Character Guide HereVersatile Skills To Adapt To Any Situation
Zane's skills allow him to be flexible when in combat. He charge into the heat of battle with his drone, drop his barrier to hold his ground, or even deploy his Digi-Clone to draw the enemy's attention.
Can Equip Two Action Skills
Zane is the only Vault Hunter that can equip two action skills at a time. This allows him to control the tide of battle on the fly. He can mix and match skills for maximum DPS, or even create a balance between offense and defense!
