ULTIMATE ZZZ 2026 NEW PLAYER GUIDE

Storyline (high level)

• The video focuses far more on progression and systems than on plot.
• The only storyline guidance given is to follow the main story quests (MSQs) and side quests as your primary way to:
  • advance early-game
  • unlock additional content (map exploration and events)

Gameplay highlights & what to do as a new player

Early progression

• Don’t overthink special routes: Do exactly what the game tells you—complete:

  1. Story quests
  2. Map exploration
  3. MSQs
  4. Side quests - After unlocking the event menu, use the in-game event schedule, which shows: - what’s active - start/end dates - patch length - future rewards

Gacha / banners (Hoyo, “90 pity, 50/50”)

• New players are encouraged to start during a strong period in ZZ 2.5.
• A major upcoming help for beginners is described as a new rerun banner that provides:
  • a guarantee on rate-up characters
  • a guarantee on their weapons
• Current rate-up banner highlighted:
  • Yuwong Gong (strong DPS)
  • supports Lucy and Nicole
• Support advice:
  • Nicole: consistently valuable as an “everlasting good.”
  • Lucy: framed as weaker “nowadays,” but still useful while building your account.

Standard banner goals

• Standard banner includes character trials and:
  • 1 pull at 50 pity (random)
  • an eventual selector at 300 pulls
• Suggested standard picks:
  • Soldier 11 as the best DPS option (especially with her potential upgrades)
  • Grace for Anomaly (less overall than Soldier 11 for account value)
  • Lyan for Stunners
  • Mentions Lychon as useful for Miyabi (a “very good” pairing)

Shops & exchange systems (important mechanics)

Collectible exchange / special invitation letter (whales/long-term)

• For accounts with many character dupes (threshold mentioned: 7th range after 6+ dupes), you can receive:
  • a special invitation letter (invite a character of choice), or
  • resonating core to choose disc sub-stats when crafting
• Framed as unlikely for most new players unless spending heavily.

W-engine exchange

• Uses residual signals; the cost is described as significant (example: “600” per purchase).
• Also mentions a 4-star selector path with high cost (example: “140”).
  • Potentially useful for pushing toward higher constellation/potential goals.

Collectible exchange using weekly boss / defense materials

• “Puzzle pieces” → converted into items (example costs mentioned: 60 per unit)

Spending event (optional, $150)

• Only for spenders.
• Offers a choice among limited options plus bonus character/weapon rewards.

Polychrome (premium currency) strategies / key tips

Core philosophy

• There are no secret methods—it’s mainly about playing efficiently.

Primary methods listed

• Daily errands
  • Do dailies (includes quick tasks like logging in and small activities).
  • Weekly “redo weekly” and routine tasks add more rewards.
• Events
  • Permanent event entries still grant rewards (but may miss limited-time bonuses).
  • One Hollow Zero-related event is called out as especially boring, but can still be worth it if you need poly quickly.
• Endgame modes
  • Shoe defense (endgame mode; stars reward polychromes)
  • Deadly Assault (resets every other week)
  • Threshold simulation (later content; new players may start with easier modes using trial characters)
  • Simulated battle tower (resets irregularly; rewards when it refreshes)
• Tactics / training
  • “Tactics” and multiple training tracks (technique/advanced/master/character-specific) grant polychromes.
  • Banner-related character training also grants polychromes.
• Hollow Zero
  • Described as a massive source.
  • Weekly Hollow Zero runs can be unlocked early and provide polychromes.
  • Rewards scale with difficulties.
  • Trial characters make it accessible without owning every character.
• Exploration & progression
  • Exploration/investigation progress gives polychromes, account EXP, and battery refreshes.
• Special operations & individual challenges
  • Shadow operation (character-based)
  • Perpetrator battle (character challenges)
  • Frontline patrol
  • “Combat potential” completion (clears a chart for polychromes)
• Achievements
  • Main achievements and general progression achievements provide polychromes.
  • Proxy archive leveling adds polychromes.
• Patch mail
  • New patch grants “300 polychromes and whatever they feel like doing.”
  • Mentions PlayStation/mail rewards could include ~2k depending on the timing window.
• Battle pass
  • Framed as easy: playing normally should complete it without special targeting.

Mentioned “extra”

• Outpost contributions and having other players help with weekly/world bosses can accelerate progress (indirectly helping you farm more rewards).
• Credits/cards spending is mentioned bluntly as “about it” beyond normal play.

Endgame shops & account growth

Logistics shop

• Resets monthly.
• Provides character potential (“silhouettes”) as buffs.
• Time-gated purchasing:
  • you can buy up to P6 silhouettes over time (“per month” is the idea).
• New buffs mentioned (examples): Ellen, Grace, Bernice, Sandy, Soldier 11.

Bangboo (side unit) advice

• Don’t overinvest early:
  • Fully leveling a bangboo is expensive (example: 500k dennies).
• General rule:
  • Use the bangboo that matches the element you’re using.
• For anomaly teams:
  • 4-star bangboos usually have better buildup than 5-star (with exceptions depending on team setup).

Team building & combat readiness

Two-team requirement for endgame farming

• To start earning polychromes in endgame modes (specifically mentioned: Deadly Assault), you need two teams “at the bare minimum.”
• It’s described as easier once teams are “fully built out.”
• Minimum star requirement is stated for entry (conflicting numbers appear, but the overall message is that clearing doesn’t require extreme power).

How to prioritize builds

• Prioritize DPS first, then supports.
• Supports don’t need “crazy investment” early—go deeper later.

Recommended early team sources (examples)

• Free/early units:
  • a “free Xiao”
  • “free labu”
  • potentially free Yuang Gong if you pull for her (treated as effectively guaranteed for new players during the described period)
• Second team:
  • build from the rerun banner roster (examples: Alice/Astra/Sandb)
• The video claims new players should be able to get at least two of those characters unless extremely unlucky.

Disc / gear system tips (Elfie store)

Unlocking crafting tiers

• When Elfie is first unlocked, crafting is limited (B/A-rank discs).
• S-rank disc crafting becomes available later at interlock level 40.
• Recommendation:
  • Don’t heavy-farm discs until later (roughly “once you’re in level 50”).
  • Craft earlier because upgrade materials come from story and commissions.

How crafting resources are used

• You get a free resonating core through tutorial progression.
• Each sub-stat craft requires a resonating core (example: double-crit needs multiple cores).
• Recommendation:
  • Save purple/or higher disc materials for when you can craft gold discs.

Disc RNG note

• Claims there’s no RNG on stat rolls in disc stat values like in some games; rolls are fixed increments.
• Still RNG exists in which piece you get / set combination.

Versatile disc sets to collect early (high priority list)

• Swing Jazz (energy regen 2-piece)
• Hormone Punk (solid 2-piece attack; good 4-piece bonus)
• Freedom Blues (Anomaly characters; anomaly red shred)
• Woodpecker Electro (generic crit rate value; good 4-piece)
• Branch and Blade Song (2-piece crit damage; includes “Miyabi set” reference)
• AstroVoice (support set)
• Moonlight Lullabi (highest priority for supports)
• King of the Summit (stunners)
• Yunkai (rupture characters)
• Feton’s melody is mentioned as decent but lower priority.

Use the in-game “recommend” button

• The “recommend” feature is suggested as generally accurate for main stats and disc choices, even if not perfectly meta.

Sources / gamers featured (as stated or named in the subtitles)

• ZZ / Zenless (named brand/system): Hoyoverse (Hoyo)
• Gamers / YouTube channels mentioned (by name in subtitles):
  • Dom (referenced as “Is it pronounced… / Is this the same guy I watch… Potentially, Dom”)
• Characters mentioned (not necessarily “sources,” but named individuals):
  • Yuwong Gong, Lucy, Nicole, Soldier 11, Grace, Lyan, Miyabi
  • Caesar King, Elfie (NPC)
  • Alice, Astra, Sandb
  • Bernice, Ellen, Yan/“Jane” (spelled inconsistently), Chingi
  • Robin, Devil Boo, Rocket Boo, Bellian Boo, Night Boo, Lucky Boo
  • Plus many disc/gear names (e.g., Swing Jazz, Hormone Punk, Moonlight Lullabi)