Introduction to Zenless Zone Zero
Welcome to the Zenless Zone Zero Beginner Guide! In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about this exciting game, whether you’re a complete newcomer to gacha games or a seasoned player looking to dive into the world of Zenless Zone Zero.
Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is an action RPG gacha game, developed and published by HoYoverse, the same studio responsible for popular titles like Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Honkai Star Rail. The game is set to release on July 4th, 2024, and will be available on Windows, iOS, Android, and PS5.
Setting and Story
The world of Zenless Zone Zero is set in a post-apocalyptic future where a mysterious event known as the Hollows has devastated much of humanity. The game takes place in New Eridu, a city that has managed to coexist with the Hollows thanks to its advanced technology. As the player, you will assume the role of a “Proxy”—a person tasked with guiding others through the dangerous Hollows and battling against creatures called the Ethereal.
In ZZZ, you’ll form a team of three characters to venture into the Hollows and fight off the Ethereal using a fast-paced and dynamic combat system. You’ll need to strategically use a variety of abilities, including Basic and Special Attacks, Dodges, Parrys, and Chain Attacks, to survive.
Getting Started
Before jumping into the action, it’s important to note the system requirements for Zenless Zone Zero, which will ensure you can run the game smoothly on your chosen platform.
Game Mechanics
If you’re familiar with HoYoverse’s other games like Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail, you’ll notice that many of the game mechanics in ZZZ will feel quite familiar. The game features similar character abilities, progression systems, and gameplay modes. However, ZZZ offers its own unique spin, particularly with its combat system.
Zenless Zone Zero Combat
The combat system in ZZZ is what truly sets it apart from other games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. While Honkai Star Rail uses turn-based combat and Genshin Impact has real-time action, ZZZ delivers a faster, more fluid action experience. The focus here is on dodging and parrying attacks in real-time, creating a more intense and responsive combat environment.
In ZZZ, you’ll assemble a team of three characters, and you’ll control one character at a time while switching between team members to execute various attacks. Each character has their own Health and Energy bar. Energy can be replenished through attacks and by remaining on the battlefield.
One of the core mechanics in combat is the Daze system. As you attack enemies, you’ll build up Daze, and once the enemy is fully Dazed, they will be stunned. This opens up the opportunity for powerful Chain Attacks, which involve a Quick Time Event (QTE) to switch between characters and unleash devastating combos.
Combat Moveset
Each character in ZZZ has their own unique set of moves, but they all share similar categories of attacks. Here’s a breakdown:
- Basic Attack: A series of regular attacks that can be chained together. Some characters may have special effects tied to their basic attacks.
- Special Attack: These abilities function similarly to skills in other games, but they don’t have a cooldown. You can launch an empowered version of the Special Attack if you have enough energy.
- Chain Attack: After Dazing an enemy, you can use a Heavy Attack to trigger a Chain Attack. During this, you’ll perform a QTE where you switch between characters, dealing huge damage.
- Ultimate: Unlike Genshin Impact, characters don’t charge their own individual Ultimate abilities. Instead, as you perform Chain Attacks and Dodge Counters, you fill up a gauge that lets you unleash any character’s Ultimate when it reaches the “Maximum” level.
- Dodge: A simple dodge mechanic that allows you to evade attacks. A perfect dodge will allow you to perform a follow-up attack, triggering a Dodge Counter.
- Switch: You can switch between characters during combat to take full advantage of their abilities.
- Reactive Assist: After your character gets hit, you can perform a Reactive Assist, swapping to another character for a powerful counterattack.
- Perfect Assist: Triggered by switching to another character just before an enemy’s attack lands, this results in a Perfect Assist. Some characters will inflict Daze, while others will slow down time.
- Chain Attacks: You can regenerate Assist Points during combat by performing Chain Attacks.
Gacha System
Like many other gacha games, Zenless Zone Zero has a gacha system for obtaining characters and weapons. Some characters and weapons can be earned through events, quests, or rewards, but most will come from the gacha.
The gacha system in ZZZ follows a similar pattern to Genshin Impact. There are two main character rarities: A Rank and S Rank. S Rank characters are typically more powerful, but A Rank characters can still be very useful depending on the team synergy.
Limited-time S Rank characters and weapons will be featured in banners, while the standard S Rank characters can be obtained through random pulls. It’s worth noting that S Rank characters are more difficult to acquire, so saving up for limited-time banners is a good strategy.
Agents (Characters)
In Zenless Zone Zero, characters are called Agents, and they each belong to different factions with unique abilities and playstyles. There are two primary rarities for Agents: A Rank and S Rank. While S Rank characters are typically stronger, the value of A Rank characters shouldn’t be underestimated. Some A Rank Agents pair very well with other characters, offering great synergy.
Agents come with various attributes such as Fire, Electric, Ice, Physical, and Ether, and their fighting styles can include Attack, Stun, Anomaly, Support, and Defense.
W-Engines (Weapons)
Your characters in ZZZ will use W-Engines, which are essentially weapons that enhance a character’s stats and provide additional effects. These weapons are classified by fighting style, so an “Attack” W-Engine would be best suited for an Attack-style Agent.
W-Engines are primarily obtained through the gacha system, with A Rank weapons appearing on most banners, and S Rank weapons available through specialized banners.
Disk Drives
Disk Drives function similarly to artifacts in Genshin Impact or Relics in Honkai Star Rail. These provide additional stats and set bonuses when equipped to your characters. You can collect Disk Drives through various in-game activities, and they’re key to boosting your characters’ power.
Bangboos
Bangboos are small, bunny-like robots in Zenless Zone Zero that provide various forms of support for your team. In previous betas, Bangboos could assist with Chain Attacks, increasing the duration of your combos. They may also offer passive effects, helping out your whole team. Bangboos have their own gacha system, where you’ll earn special currency to roll for them as you progress through the game.
Game Modes
Zenless Zone Zero offers a variety of game modes to keep players engaged. Early on, most of your time will be spent exploring the Hollows through the “TV” system, solving puzzles, and engaging in combat. As you progress, you’ll unlock more modes to gather resources and upgrade your characters.
- Rally Commissions: These large-scale combat encounters are focused on defeating waves of enemies. While there are rewards scattered throughout the map, the emphasis here is on combat.
- Shiyu Defense: This mode acts as ZZZ’s version of the Abyss, offering the most challenging content. You’ll face off against waves of increasingly difficult enemies, with new levels and rewards refreshing periodically.
- Hollow Zero: A roguelike mode similar to Honkai Star Rail’s Simulated Universe, where you can earn buffs and encounter tough monsters in each run.
Multiplayer and Co-op
Zenless Zone Zero includes a Co-op feature, allowing players to team up and tackle enemies together. However, as of now, the co-op content is relatively limited, with more features expected to be added in future updates.
In-Game Resources
Like most gacha games, your progression in Zenless Zone Zero will be gated by stamina, which regenerates over time. Stamina is needed to gather materials, level up your characters, and upgrade your weapons. The game will also feature various other currencies, including premium gacha currency and in-game money, which you will use to enhance your progression.
