Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Beginner’s Guide: Start Strong, Master Basics & Avoid Common Mistakes

Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is a fast-paced action RPG from Hoyoverse that blends stylish combat, strategic team-building, and a vibrant post-apocalyptic story set in New Eridu. As a new player, navigating its unique mechanics—like Hollow exploration, agent synergies, and resource management—can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down everything you need to start your journey as a Proxy, from core combat basics to team-building and progression tips, all tailored for beginners.

Core Game Basics: Understand the World & Key Systems

Before diving into battles, get familiar with ZZZ’s foundational concepts to avoid confusion later.

What You Need to Know First

● Your Role: You play as a Proxy—someone who guides others through Hollows, dangerous anomalous spaces teeming with Ethereals (monsters) and valuable resources. You’ll lead a team of three Agents (playable characters) to complete missions and explore.

● Game Modes Overview: Story Mode: The main campaign, unlocking new features and free Agents as you progress—prioritize this first.

○ Hollows: Roguelike dungeons with random events, enemies, and rewards. Use the HDD system (top-down map) to navigate and interact with events.

○ Shiyu Defense: Endgame content unlocked later, offering rare materials and Polychrome (gacha currency)—focus on basics before tackling this.

● Key Currencies: Polychrome: Used for pulling Agents/weapons (W-Engines) via banners—save this for priority picks.

○ Dennies: Common currency for upgrading skills and crafting.

○ Monochrome: Premium currency for shop purchases, gear upgrades, and speeding up progression—earn free via events or secure Monochrome purchases if you want to boost your start.

 Combat Fundamentals: Master Fast-Paced Fights

ZZZ’s combat is dynamic and skill-based, but mastering a few key mechanics will turn you from a novice to a capable Proxy quickly.

Essential Combat Mechanics

● Agent Switching: You control three Agents in battle—switch freely to chain attacks. Use this to cover weaknesses (e.g., swap to a Fire Agent to counter Ice Ethereals).

● Basic & Special Attacks: Light/heavy attacks form simple combos.

○ Special Skills cost Ether (passively regenerates or from attacking) for boosted damage or utility.

● Dodge & Perfect Evade: Timing a dodge just before an enemy attack triggers a Perfect Evade—this stuns enemies briefly and lets you counter with high-damage attacks.

● Stun & Linked Attacks: Hit enemies to build their Stun Gauge—once full, they’re stunned. Use heavy attacks on stunned foes to trigger Linked Attacks, which deal massive damage and fill the Resonance Gauge.

● Ultimate Skills: Build Decibel (DB) by attacking, dodging, and chaining combos. When DB is maxed, any Agent can unleash an unbreakable Ultimate—save this for tough bosses or crowds.

Anomaly & Element Synergy

Enemies have elemental weaknesses (Fire, Ice, Electric, Physical, Ether). Hitting them with their weak element triggers Anomalies (e.g., Frostburn for Ice, Rupture for Physical), increasing damage taken by 35%—always exploit this!

Team Building for Beginners: Balanced Squads Win

A well-rounded team beats a group of random powerful Agents. Focus on three core roles to handle any challenge.

Must-Have Roles & Starter Picks

Every team needs these three roles—here are easy-to-obtain Agents for each:

● DPS (Damage Dealer): Main source of damage. Starter Pick: Anby (free at launch) – Physical DPS with solid combos and easy-to-use skills.

● Stun/Control: Fills enemy Stun Gauges to enable Linked Attacks. Starter Pick: Billy (free at launch) – Uses explosives to stun groups of enemies.

● Support/Buff: Heals, boosts team stats, or amplifies Anomalies. Starter Pick: Nicole (free at launch) – Provides attack buffs and minor healing—perfect for beginners.

Starter Team Recommendation (Free & Powerful)

● Anby (DPS) + Billy (Stun) + Nicole (Support): All free, easy to upgrade, and covers all core roles. This squad will carry you through early story and Hollows.

Agent & Gear Progression: Upgrade Wisely

Avoid wasting resources by focusing on the right upgrades—prioritize these steps for efficient growth.

Agent Upgrades (Order of Priority)

1. Level Up: Use VR Training materials from story/Hollows to raise Agent levels (max 60). Focus on your main DPS first.

2. Skill Upgrades: Use Dennies to upgrade Basic Attack, Special Skill, and Ultimate. Prioritize your DPS’s Special Skill and Ultimate—these have the biggest impact.

3. Potential Reflection (2.5 Version): Unlock this system later for older Agents. For beginners, upgrade free Agents like Anby or Billy first—materials are easy to farm via weekly tasks and trials.

Gear Basics

● W-Engines (Weapons): Equip Agents with role-specific W-Engines (e.g., Attack W-Engines for DPS). Earn free ones via story and events—no need to pull for them early.

● Drive Disks (Armor): Equip up to six per Agent for stats like HP, ATK, and Crit Rate. Aim for 2-piece or 4-piece set bonuses (e.g., Crit Rate sets for DPS). Farm them from Hollows and story missions.

● Bangboo: Small companions that grant passive buffs (e.g., attack boosts) or active skills (healing). Use the free starter Bangboo first—upgrade it as you progress.

Smart Resource Management for Beginners

● Save Polychrome: Don’t pull on every banner—wait for meta-defining S-rank Agents (like Zhao, free via 2.5 login rewards) or characters that fit your playstyle.

● Prioritize Daily/Weekly Tasks: They’re a steady source of Polychrome, Dennies, and upgrade materials—never miss them.

● Efficient Monochrome Use: If you choose to top up, cheap Monochrome from buffget is a safe, fast option. Spend it on key upgrades (e.g., Drive Disk enhancements for your DPS) instead of unnecessary items.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

● Wasting Polychrome on Early Banners: Stick to free starter Agents first—they’re strong enough for early content.

● Over-Upgrading Too Many Agents: Focus on 1-2 teams max—spreading resources thin slows progress.

● Ignoring Story Mode: It unlocks key features (like Hollows) and free rewards—don’t rush to endgame.

● Neglecting Stun/Anomalies: These mechanics are game-changers—always build Stun Gauges and hit elemental weaknesses.

● Overlooking Bangboo: They provide valuable buffs—upgrade your starter Bangboo regularly.

Final Tips for a Strong Start

● Use VR Training: Test Agents and practice combos here for free—great for mastering Perfect Evades and Linked Attacks.

● Participate in Events: Limited-time events offer tons of free resources (Polychrome, materials, even free Agents)—they’re perfect for beginners looking to catch up.

● Take It Slow: ZZZ is meant to be enjoyed—don’t stress about endgame right away. Focus on learning mechanics and exploring New Eridu’s story.

With this guide, you’ll avoid common pitfalls, build a powerful starter team, and progress efficiently as a new Proxy. Remember, mastering ZZZ takes practice—but with the right basics and resource management, you’ll be dominating Hollows and impressing other Proxies in no time!

Would you like me to create a Starter Agent Upgrade Checklist? It will outline exactly which skills and gear to prioritize for Anby, Billy, and Nicole, so you can progress even faster without wasting resources.