Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.0 Beginner Catch-Up Guide

Starting Zenless Zone Zero in Version 3.0 is accessible for new players. Story missions and campaign chapters are permanently available, and major narrative battles provide built-in trial agents that let you progress without an optimized roster. Your immediate goal is unlocking your daily stamina loop and raising your Inter-Knot reputation level to access higher-tier material farming nodes.

Early Banner Currency Strategy

Spend standard Master Tapes on the beginner banner until you trigger your guaranteed S-Rank agent. The beginner banner offers a discount, requiring 40 standard Master Tapes across five ten-pulls to secure a random standard S-Rank character.

Never convert Polychromes into standard Master Tapes. Save all Polychromes exclusively for Encrypted Master Tapes to use on limited-time Exclusive Channels. Because limited banner pity carries over between rotational cycles, saving your one-time progression Polychromes ensures you reach soft pity (around 75 to 80 pulls) on a targeted featured character. Skip the limited W-Engine channel early on until you have two fully formed combat teams.

Building the Starter Team

You do not need to replace your free prologue roster immediately. The default Cunning Hares team—Anby Demara, Nicole Demara, and Billy Kid—covers the core combat loop required for early and mid-game content:

• Anby Demara (Stun): Chain basic attacks into her EX Special Attack to fill the enemy Daze gauge and trigger Chain Attacks.
• Nicole Demara (Support): Group enemies with her EX Special energy field while applying defense reduction to heavy targets.
• Billy Kid (Attack): Deal sustained Physical damage during Stun windows by entering his crouched firing stance or executing Chain Attacks.

Once the beginner banner yields your first S-Rank agent, replace the starter who shares that role. If you pull an S-Rank Stunner, replace Anby; if you pull a primary DPS, replace Billy. Ensure at least two agents in your active lineup share an attribute (such as Electric, Ether, or Physical) or a faction (such as Cunning Hares) to activate their core passive abilities.

Daily Battery Charge and Routine Cleanup

Spend your daily Battery Charge on guaranteed character progression rather than Drive Disc farming nodes. Early Drive Disc stages drop B-Rank and A-Rank equipment that quickly becomes obsolete. Sinking stamina into early equipment domains depletes your Dennies and slows character leveling.

1. Spend Battery Charge: Farm Agent Promotion certifications, basic character leveling logs, and Skill enhancement chips.
2. Visit Sixth Street Coffee: Consume coffee once per day to restore 60 Battery Charge and gain targeted drop bonuses.
3. Scratch the Newsstand Card: Check the Sixth Street newsstand daily for a chance at free Dennies or Polychromes.
4. Collect Store Revenue: Open the video store management interface to claim passive Dennies generated while offline.

Approaching Hollow Zero and Shiyu Defense

Hollow Zero and Shiyu Defense serve as your permanent and recurring challenge modes. Unlock and approach them using different priorities:

• Hollow Zero: Prioritize this mode early. Because runs provide internal Resonium buffs that grant massive combat bonuses, you can clear runs and claim weekly rewards—including Bangboo recruitment tickets—even if your personal agent gear is underleveled.
• Shiyu Defense: Treat this mode as a strict gear check. Focus only on the non-resetting Stable Nodes as your primary team reaches levels 40 and 50. Postpone the rotating Critical Nodes until you have two distinct, functional three-agent squads with leveled skills and upgraded W-Engines.