Ah, the Dead End Butcher—Zenless Zone Zero's glorified meat cleaver on legs that transforms new players' excitement into sheer panic faster than you can scream 'parry!' This hulking monstrosity isn't just a boss; it’s a culinary-themed nightmare that’ll have you questioning your life choices during its two-phase onslaught. Why two phases? Because one helping of pain wasn’t enough, apparently. And while it’s weak to Ice and Ether damage, the real challenge lies in dancing around its telegraphed-but-deadly moves. Fail to upgrade your squad? Prepare for a slapstick comedy of errors ending in a game-over screen. But fear not! By mastering dodges, parries, and team synergy, you’ll turn this butcher into minced meat. Just remember: it’s not personal—it’s just violently territorial about its kitchen arena.

🔪 Phase One Attacks: The Appetizer Before the Main Course

Phase one feels like a warm-up… if warm-ups involved dodging spears the size of tree trunks. The Butcher’s moves here are slower but still pack a punch—perfect for practicing those panic dodges. People Also Ask: Can you brute-force Phase One? Technically yes, but good luck surviving Phase Two without learning these patterns! Below is the cheat sheet to avoid becoming kebab:

Attack	Parry?	Description	Counter Strategy
Jumping Thrust & Sweep	First hit	Leaps across arena, stabs spear, then sweeps behind.	Dodge sideways twice—like avoiding a clumsy waiter with soup.
Three Hit Combo & Slam	First hit	Two wide swings followed by an explosive ground slam.	Parry the opener, then backflip away like it’s hot lava.
Spinning Four-Hit	1st/3rd	A dizzying spin attack after a wind-up.	Parry what you can, but dodge twice unless you enjoy tornadoes.
Stomp	Yes	Rare but annoying leg-stomp with tiny AoE.	Step back casually—no rush, it’s barely a puddle.

Phase One’s rhythm? Predictable. But get cocky, and you’ll miss the memo: this is just the tutorial. That spear isn’t for show—it’s a preview of the chaos ahead.

💥 Phase Two Attacks: When the Butcher Gets Serious (and Extra Arms)

Enter Phase Two, where the Butcher grows two extra arms and an attitude problem. Attacks are faster, hit harder, and include lasers—because why not? Suddenly, parrying feels like juggling chainsaws. People Also Ask: Why is Phase Two so brutal? Imagine a chef who skipped coffee, tripled their espresso intake, and now views you as the main course. Dodging becomes your best friend here. Key moves:

Attack	Parry?	Description	Counter Strategy
Jumping Slam	No	Launches across the arena like a ballistic missile.	Dodge toward it—yes, INTO the danger zone. Madness works.
Charge & Claws	Charge only	Charges forward, then swipes with claws.	Double dodge sideways—pretend you’re in a salsa competition.
Six-Hit Ground Swipe	1st/3rd/5th	A flurry of swipes and slams.	Skip parrying; dodge laterally like your life depends on it (it does).
Laser Sweep & Rising Laser	No	Eye-beams—one horizontal, one vertical.	Dodge into the sweep; for the riser, juke last-second. Lasers hate sudden moves.
Gore (Rip Attack)	Yes	A grab-and-tear move that’s personal.	Parry or sidestep—unless you fancy being tenderized.

Phase Two’s golden rule? Stay behind the butcher. Most attacks whiff if you’re glued to its backside like an overzealous sous-chef. And those 3-5 second vulnerability windows after big moves? That’s your cue to unleash hell.

🧊 Best Teams & Strategies: Ice, Ether, and Pure Savagery

Exploiting the Butcher’s Ice/Ether weakness is key, but team composition turns this fight from grueling to glorious. People Also Ask: Is dodging better than parrying in Phase Two? Absolutely—those multi-hit combos eat parry tokens for breakfast. General tips:

• 🧊 Ice units dominate—no resistance means freeze away!

• 🕺 Positioning > Damage: Circle-strafing beats face-tanking.

• ⏱️ Capitalize on stuns: After big attacks, go ALL IN.

💎 Premium Team: The ‘Pay-to-Slay’ Dream

This squad turns the Butcher into a joke. Miyabi isn’t just S-rank—she’s a cheat code with her mobility and ice spikes. Pair her with Yanagi (Fallen Frost stacker) and Astra Yao (buffer/healer), and you’ll melt the boss faster than butter on a hot pan.

Character	Rank	Role	Why They Shine
Miyabi	S-Rank	Main DPS	Dodge counters + massive AoE = butcher puree.
Yanagi	S-Rank	Sub-DPS	Freezes enemies while feeding Miyabi’s damage.
Astra Yao	S-Rank	Support	Buffs, heals, and makes everyone hit harder.

Strategy: Buff with Astra, swap to Miyabi, and watch health bars vanish. Easy mode activated.

❄️ S-Rank Team: Freeze Squad on a Budget

No Miyabi? No problem. Ellen Joe’s ice damage and agility make her Phase Two’s worst nightmare. Lycaon stuns and shreds ice resistance, while Soukaku buffs attack stats. It’s not premium, but it’s brutally efficient.

Character	Rank	Role	Why They Shine
Ellen Joe	S-Rank	Main DPS	Constant movement + ice stacks = chef’s kiss.
Lycaon	S-Rank	Sub-DPS	Stun king who makes windows longer and deadlier.
Soukaku	A-Rank	Support	+1,000 attack? Yes, please!

Strategy: Use Lycaon to stun, swap to Ellen, and unload. Simple, savage, satisfying.

🆓 Free-to-Play Team: Scrappy Underdogs Unite!

No S-ranks? Enter Anton, Anby, and Nicole—the A-rank Avengers. People Also Ask: Can F2P teams really win? With grit and perfect timing, absolutely. It’s like cooking gourmet with instant noodles.

Character	Rank	Role	Why They Shine
Anton	A-Rank	Main DPS	Charge skill → repeat. No frills, all fury.
Anby	A-Rank	Stun	Queen of accessibility—reliable and mobile.
Nicole	A-Rank	Support	Defense debuffs + faction bonus = sneaky good.

Strategy: Build Anton’s gauge, stun with Anby, debuff with Nicole, then nuke. Clunky? Maybe. Effective? Surprisingly yes.

🤔 Final Thoughts: Butcher Today, Butchered Tomorrow?

As 2025 rolls on, Zenless Zone Zero evolves—new characters, balance tweaks, and meta shifts. Will the Dead End Butcher remain this terrifying gatekeeper, or will power creep turn it into a nostalgic punching bag? Perhaps future updates will introduce… sous-chef minions? Dynamic arenas? A ‘kitchen nightmare’ mode? Whatever comes, one truth endures: mastering this fight teaches fundamentals that’ll serve you against even fiercer foes. So, sharpen those blades, agents. After all, what’s a hero without a little trauma bonding over a mutant butcher?