Zenless Zone Zero - Game Review & Gacha Rates

Our adventure in Zenless Zone Zero begins with a TV news report about some "troublemakers" involved in a theft. These are Anby, Nicole, and Billy, a group known as "The Cunning Hares," who are trying to recover an important item stolen by the Red Fang Gang! After a failed escape attempt, our team of heroes finds themselves on top of a building from which escape seems impossible. At that moment, special forces attack both our team and the Red Fang Gang, causing the members of the Cunning Hares to scatter during a massive explosion. Unfortunately, Anby and Billy end up inside a "Hollow," a temporal distortion where only a "Proxy" can guide the unlucky ones who fall into it to find a way out. Nicole seeks help from the protagonists (Wise & Belle) to rescue her friends and get them out of the Hollow! Our adventure in Zenless Zone Zero begins here! Fast-paced action, many agents, countless enemies, and a great adventure await us in this fantastic new game!

What is Zenless Zone Zero?

Zenless Zone Zero is a new Action RPG Gacha game created by HoYoverse. This new game from HoYo features a much more mature and detailed graphic style, with characters that are distinctly unique from one another. Each character has their own element (Physical, Fire, Ice, Electric, Ether), class (Anomaly, Attack, Defense, Stun, Support), and a rank that categorizes their rarity (S and A Rank). By combining characters that are gradually added to the game, players can form a party of up to 3 Agents capable of creating devastating combos to defeat all enemies. The main strength of this title is undoubtedly its combat system. From the very first minutes of gameplay, players are taught how to execute a Dodge and a Parry to block enemy attacks, as well as a Perfect Dodge and Perfect Parry to counterattack. Numerous game modes will be available from launch. In the Main Story, players can tackle various challenges, earn rewards, and uncover the main storyline. In the Combat / Exploration Commission, players will face battle and exploration stages to earn rewards. Additionally, there will be Combat Simulations, daily Dungeons to obtain items to strengthen characters, Driver Validation, Dungeons to obtain Equipment, and Expert Challenges where players will face Bosses for materials used to ascend Agents, among many other modes. If you enjoy fast-paced combat, collecting characters, and defeating enemies, Zenless Zone Zero is the game you've been waiting for!

Game Content

Story Mode

The “Story Mode” in Zenless Zone Zero offers a rich narrative experience, immersing players in a captivating plot with diverse characters and intricate world-building. Key highlights include engaging missions, challenging boss battles, and interactive dialogues that shape the storyline. Rewards for completing story missions include valuable resources, exclusive gear, and W-Engines. Players also earn experience points (XP) to level up their Agents and unlock special abilities. Story mode costs no stamina.

Combat Simulation

The “Combat Simulation” game mode lets you fight different daily dungeons at the cost of some stamina (20 Basic cost). You have a variety of content to complete based on the rewards you need. Let’s see what you can obtain in this game mode.

Basic

• The Basic Dungeon lets you choose between 3 different stages. The Investigation Specialization where you can obtain Exp items for Agents. The W-Engines Specialization where you can obtain Exp items for W-Engines and the Bounty Specialization where you can obtain Denny (golds). 

Promotion

• The Promotion Dungeon lets you complete the Attack / Stun / Anomaly / Support and Defence Drills stage to obtain “Drills” necessary to unlock Agents Level Cap.

W-Engine Modification

• In the W-Engine Modification Dungeon you can obtain Attack Polarized / Stun Diaphragm / Anomaly Magnet / Support Frequency Splitter / Defence Coil Test necessary to unlock W-Engine Level Cap. 

Agent Skill

• Completing the Rigidity / Heating / Icing / Current or Resonance Test rewards you with Enhancing Skill’s Items. 

Hollow Zero

The “Hollow Zero” is a Rogue-like game mode in Zenless Zone Zero where players explore Hollow Zones and fight enemies for weekly rewards. Players start with one agent and can bring in more as they explore the Hollow Zone. If an agent falls in battle, they are lost for the rest of the run. During the Exploration in Hollow Zero you will accumulate “Corruption”. You can remove Corruption by interacting with specific nodes. Players can earn a variety of rewards from Hollow Zero, includinging Inter-knot Exp, Polychromes and Bangboo related Material. Exploring Hollow Zone doesn’t require Stamina. 

Agents & W-Engine

Agents

Zenless Zone Zero, offers a vibrant cast of characters and a multitude of ways to enhance their abilities. Let’s see how to upgrade your characters, make them stronger and more effective in battle.

Fighting Styles

• Anomaly = Agents with an Anomaly specialty are masters of debilitation. They excel in applying debuffs to enemies, building up Anomaly Buildup to weaken opponents and deal damage by triggering Attribute Anomalies.

• Attack = Agents specialized in Attack deliver substantial damage, excelling in quickly depleting enemy health through direct strikes. Their primary focus is on defeating foes rapidly, ensuring a swift end to combat.

• Defense = Defense-oriented agents are the tanks of the team, boasting high survivability. They excel at absorbing enemy attacks and counter attacking, helping to shift the momentum in their favor during intense battles.

• Stun = Agents with a Stun specialty excel in crowd control. They are adept at building up Daze on enemies, leading to Stuns that incapacitate foes and create windows of opportunity for the squad to inflict significant damage.

• Support = Support-specialized agents are invaluable in enhancing the performance of their teammates. They excel in buffing allied units, boosting the overall combat effectiveness of the squad through various enhancements and aid.

Leveling Up

• Characters gain XP by consuming Investigator Logs. As they accumulate XP, they level up, which increases their base stats such as health, attack, and defense.

Character Ascension

• Special items are required to break the level cap of characters, allowing them to reach higher levels and unlock new abilities. Each ascension tier increases a character's maximum level, base stats, and sometimes unlocks new skills or abilities.

Skill Upgrades

• Skills are used directly in combat. These can be upgraded to improve their damage, reduce cooldown times, or enhance their effects. There’s a total of 5 Skills. Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, Chain Attack & Core Skill.

Talents

• Obtained by consuming Character Dupes. You can unlock up to 6 passive talents this way.

W-Engines

W-Engines in Zenless Zone Zero are what we call “Weapons” in other games. They come in three rarities: S-rank, A-rank, and B-rank, and significantly boost an Agent's Attack and an additional stat that varies with the W-Engine. Each W-Engine features a passive effect that activates during combat, providing strategic advantages. Importantly, W-Engines are tied to the character's Fighting Style, meaning only specific characters can utilize their special passives. Players can level up W-Engines similarly to Agents. They are obtainable via Signal Search, the Gadget Store, or as random drops in various game modes.

Level Up & Level Cap

• You can consume Battery (W-Engine Exp Items) to increase the level of Weapons.
  You can also consume Specific Items (Ex: Stun Component for Stun oriented W-Engine) to increase the Level Cap of W-Engines (up to 60).

Upgrade

• You can consume W-Engines Dupes to increase the rarity of your weapons, upgrading the passive effect of the W-Engines. 

Gacha Rates

Mellow Waveride

The “Mellow Waveride” banner is the first Rate-Up Banner you have in the game. In this banner you can obtain both Agents (S and A Rank) and W-Engines (A and B Rank). You can summon on this banner with Encrypted Master Tape or Polychrome (160 for 1 single draw or 1600 for a x10 draws). Here’s the rates:
Agents & W-Engines

• S Rank Agents = 1.6% (50% for Rate Up)

• A Rank Agents / W-Engines = 14.4% (50% for Rate Up)

• B Rank W-Engines = 84%

Pity

• You are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 A Rank Agents / W-Engines every 10 Draws.

• You are Guaranteed to obtain 1 S Rank Agent between 90 Draws. If the S Rank Agent obtained is not the current limited S Rank Agent, then the next S Rank Agent obtained is Guaranteed to be the current limited S Rank Agent in Rate Up.

Dissonant Sonata

The “Dissonant Sonata” banner is the second Rate-Up Banner you have in the game. In this banner you can obtain both W-Engines (S, A & B Rank) and Agents (A Grade). You can summon on this banner with Encrypted Master Tape or Polychrome (160 for 1 single draw or 1600 for a x10 draws). Here’s the rates:
W-Engines & Agents

• S Rank W-Engines = 2% (75% for Rate Up)

• A Rank Agents / W-Engines = 18% (75% for Rate Up)

• B Rank W-Engines = 80%

Pity

• You are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 A Rank Agents / W-Engines every 10 Draws.

• You are Guaranteed to obtain 1 S Rank W-Engine between 80 Draws. If the S Rank W-Engine obtained is not the current limited S Rank W-Engine, then the next S Rank W-Engine obtained is Guaranteed to be the current limited S Rank W-Engine in Rate Up.

Star-Studded Cast

The “Star-Studded Cast” banner is a Special Banner you have in the game that will turn into the “Normal” Banner after 50 Draws. The first 50 Draws in this banner will be discounted. In this banner you can obtain both Agents (S and A Rank) and W-Engines (S, A and B Rank), also the first S Rank you obtain in this banner is Guaranteed to be an Agent. You can summon on this banner with Master Tape or Polychrome (160 for 1 single draw or 1600 for a x10 draws). Here’s the rates:
Agents & W-Engines

• S Rank Agents = 1.6% 

• A Rank Agents / W-Engines = 14.4% (50% for Rate Up)

• B Rank W-Engines = 84%

Pity

• You are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 A Rank Agents / W-Engines every 10 Draws.

• You are Guaranteed to obtain 1 S Rank Agent between 50 Draws (Once only). After 50 Draws the Pity will be back to 90 Draws.

An Outstanding Partner

The “An Outstanding Partner” banner is the “Bangboo” Banner. Pulling on this banner is the only way to obtain new Bangboo (except for rewards during Main Story or Event). You can summon on this banner only with Boopon. Here’s the rates:
Bangboo

• S Rank Agents = 2% 

• A Rank Agents / W-Engines = 18% (50% for Rate Up)

• B Rank W-Engines = 80%

Pity

• You are Guaranteed to obtain at least 1 A Rank Bangboo every 10 Draws.

• You are Guaranteed to obtain 1 S Rank Bangboo every 80 Draws.

Should I Play It? Pro & Cons

Pro

• AAA Graphic Quality game 

• HoYoverse-Quality Storytelling

• Great Soundtracks and fully voiced characters

• Fast Paced Combat with a lot of combo

• Guaranteed S Rank Agent at 300 Draws

Cons

• Combat can result a bit too fast sometimes

• HUD can feel a bit messy (confusing at the beginning)

• Both Agents and W-Engines are not Guaranteed to obtain at Pity (must win 50/50)