It’s been a year since Zenless Zone Zero turned heads with flashy, fast-paced combat inspired by Street Fighter, snazzy character designs, and an intriguing post-apocalyptic story, and the urban fantasy world has grown a fair bit since.
From exploring the starting district of Sixth Street to finding allies in the Cunning Hares, Belobog Heavy Industries, and Victoria Housekeeping Co., players have crossed paths with more characters from other factions as the story progressed, which also saw some tweaks to the formula – most notably, the total overhaul of the game’s TV Mode in Update 1.2.
Coinciding with the game’s first anniversary, Version 2.0 promises to be a significant patch that offers a wealth of new content, including a continuation of the overarching narrative, a new S-rank agent, a new map area, various quality-of-life improvements, and more. This time, Proxies will be whisked away to a fresh part of New Eridu called Waifi Peninsula, where an encounter with High Preceptor Yixuan awaits.
Here’s what to expect from the next checkpoint in their journey.
Version 2.0 Story Details
Following the conclusion of the first chapter in Phaethon’s story, the 2.0 update turns the spotlight away from Janus Quarter to Throne Quarter’s Waifei Peninsula, situated near the dangerous Lemnian Hollow. The former Hollow monitoring outpost is valued for its abundance of Porcelume, an Ether Corruption-resistant material that drives the mining industry.
Between the capitalistic ways of the TOP Alliance leadership and the abuse of Porcelume by Hollow-worshipping Exaltist cultists, who contain its power deep underground, the locale faces the looming threat of a disaster. Yixuan, one of the new central figures, enlists the player’s help to uncover a conspiracy involving faction conflicts in the main quest, “Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn”, as Sarah’s plans and the secrets of the Phaethon siblings unravel on the side.
New Areas
Waifei Peninsula is home to several key locations in Version 2.0: Failume Heights, a bustling cliffside city with plenty of sun, sea, and good food; Suibian Temple, the rest zone where the Proxy undergoes their training with Yixuan and her disciple, Ju Fufu; and Aerospace City, the site of the Porcelume mining operation in Lemnian Hollow.
The introduction of Suibian Temple, now a shadow of its former glory, adds a new management element to the core gameplay. As part of the restoration process, players have to craft items for sale, send Bangboo out to explore and adventure, and upgrade their Management Level. Doing so grants various rewards, including exclusive Proxy outfits and accessories.
Elsewhere, Aerospace City brings new exploration and combat mechanics. Fissure Beacons allow for teleportation to specific locations, while Perception Techniques – comprising Disintegration, Revelation, and Insight – are used to identify hidden paths, highlight specific items, or break Miasma Tumours in rapid succession. There’s also Marcel Files, where Star Anchor Data is collected by controlling Eous, who gains a new hammer attack that can break objects and trigger special mechanisms, as well as Ether Tuning, requiring a ball to pass through all the control points on a curve.
Speaking of Miasma, some enemies in Lemnian Hollow inflict Miasma Corruption upon landing a strike to build up Miasma Containment, denoted by a pink-coloured bar at the bottom of the screen. When it reaches the threshold, all agents in the team receive damage based on a percentage of their current HP, with some enemy skills generating a special substance called Miasma Pool, causing additional effects.
More powerful foes can also activate the Miasmic Field and gain a Miasmic Shield, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Exalting Hymnist in Twilight state, who will continue summoning Ethereal beings from Miasma creatures until defeated.
New Factions and Faces
Taking centrestage in Season 2 of Zenless Zone Zero is the faction of Yunkui Summit, led by Yixuan. The yellow-caped Wayfarer is joined by Ju Fufu and Pan Yinhu, stepping into the main story alongside another new faction: Angels of Delusion.
First teased pre-launch, the virtual idol group currently has three known members and shares a connection with Astra Yao. The Defense Force’s Obol Squad will join in on the action, marking the return of Soldier 11 and Trigger.
Agent and W-Engine Channels
Phase 1 kicks off with Yixuan, who carries the Auric Ink attribute and Rupture specialty. Her channel, titled “Lonely Wayfarer Beyond”, runs till 25 June alongside the rerun for Astra Yao (Ether, Support), with increased rates for A-Rank agents Pan Yihu (Physical, Defense) and Pulchra Fellini (Physical, Stun).
The full lowdown of Yixuan’s kit is as follows:
- Basic Attack: Cirrus Strike (tap) – Perform up to five attacks forward, dealing Auric Ink damage. This skill’s Anti-Interrupt Level increases during the 3rd and 4th hit.
- Basic Attack: Ink – Veil Cloud Coalescence (hold) – Deploy a Grand Tai Chi Formation, dealing Auric Ink damage. When the skill ends, automatically launch the 5th hit of Basic Attack: Cirrus Strike.
- Basic Attack: Auric Attack – With Auric Ink Point, activate Dodge: Nimbus Step, then tap or hold for the basic attack, which deploys an array that continuously deals Auric Ink damage. When the skill ends, it automatically triggers Basic Attack: Qingming Eruption.
- Basic Attack: Qingming Eruption – Spreads her wings to launch an explosive attack, dealing massive Auric Ink damage. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
- Dodge: Nimbus Step – Enter a high-speed Light as Air state. When activated in Investigation Zone Mode, automatically collect from all resource pickup points within range. While in the Light as Air state, use the joystick to steer and release to stop. Character is invulnerable at the moment this skill activates.
- Dodge Counter: Banishing Blow – Launch a series of attacks on enemies ahead, dealing Auric Ink damage. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
- Defensive Assist: Clear Sky Surge – Parries the enemy’s attack, dealing massive Daze.
- Special Attack: Shadow-Ignition – Swiftly retreat, then attack forward, dealing Auric Ink damage. While retreating, a Perfect Dodge can be triggered, but cannot be followed up with a Dodge Counter. Anti-Interrupt Level is increased while using this skill.
- EX Special Attack: Ink Manifestation (condensed) – Charge continuously, and release key to launch an upward wing attack, dealing massive Auric Ink damage. While charging, incoming attacks are automatically blocked and will activate the upward wing attack.
- EX Special Attack: Cloud-Shaper – Continuously charge up, channelling energy around enemies to deal damage over time, up to a max of 2s, dealing massive Auric Ink damage. Once fully charged or if interrupted, automatically trigger EX Special Attack: Ashen Ink Becomes Shadow. At the moment the skill is activated, a Perfect Dodge can be triggered. After the Perfect Dodge, enter the Vital View state. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
- EX Special Attack: Ashen Ink Becomes Shadow – When the energy orb appears and contracts, it deals Auric Ink damage. Character is invulnerable while using this skill.
- Ultimate: Qingming Skyshade – Launch a barrage of wing attacks, then guide countless talismans to attack, dealing massive Auric Ink damage. Upon activating this skill, Yixuan evenly redistributes the squad’s HP.
Phase 2 spotlights Ju Fufu, an S-rank agent with Fire and Stun alignment. Caesar King (Physical, Defense) is due for a rerun during this window, with A-rankers Ben Bigger (Fire, Defense) and Corin Wickes (Physical, Attack) enjoying a drop-rate boost.
Corresponding with the above runs are the first phase of W-Engine rollouts Qingming Birdcage and Elegant Vanity, designed exclusively for Yixuan and Astra Yao, respectively. Phase 2 features Roaring Fur-nance and Tusks of Fury, optimised for Ju Fufu and Caesar.
The Rupture effect tagged to Qingming Birdcage reads:
“Crit Rate increases 20%. When the equipper launches an EX Special Attack, the character gains the Qingming Companion effect, stacking up to 2 times and lasting 15s. On entering combat, immediately gain 2 stacks. Repeated triggers reset the duration. Each stack of the Qingming Companion effect increases the equipper’s Ether DMG by 8% and increases Ultimate or EX Special Attack Ether Sheer DMG by 10%.”
Other new W-Engines include Tremor Trigram Vessel (A-rank Defense), Radiowave Journey (A-rank Rupture), Puzzle Sphere (A-rank Rupture), Reel Projector (A-rank Defense), and [Cinder] Cobalt (B-Rank Rupture).
New Bangboo and Cosmetics
Belion is the newest addition to the S-Rank Bangboo roster in Version 2.0. Taking after Chinese guardian lions, the Yunkui Summit member will be a permanent fixture in Signal Search, aligned to the Physical attribute. The robot’s active skill, Phoenix Ball Dance, hurls a stone ball at the enemy that bounces between them, dealing massive Physical damage to all enemies hit.
When there are two or more Yunkui Summit characters in the player’s squad, the Way of Clouds additional ability increases Belion’s damage by 25 percent, and reduces the cooldown of its Active Skill by four seconds upon the activation of an agent’s Ultimate. Lastly, Silver Lion Crash sees Belion performing a spinning, ramming attack on enemies ahead that inflicts massive Physical damage.
Additionally, players can expect new cosmetics for Yixuan, Belle, and Wise. While Yixuan’s Trails of Ink outfit is only purchasable from the in-game store, the latter two can be obtained for free after completing specific commissions in Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn.
New Events
Rounding out the Version 2.0 experience is a series of new events, scenarios, alternate game modes, and more. Festival Channel is an anniversary special that rewards players with their choice of a standard S-rank agent and W-Engine, on top of 1,600 Polychromes and an exclusive title and avatar, while the Legend of the Tiger Warrior agent story reveals more about Ju Fufu.
Alongside check-in bonuses, other notable highlights include Failume Heights Sightseeing Guide, Gravitational Attraction, Soul of Steel: Golden Bond, Holographic Onslaught Arena, Operation Yum, Golden Proxy Awards: Annual Ceremony, Hollow Zero: Phantom Paths, Hollow Zero: Lost Void, and triple yield for Combat Training and Special Cleanup.
Version 2.0 was previously touted as “a significant update and milestone moment” during its dedicated deep-dive livestream, and the content array is certainly proof of that. With major lore drops, new areas and characters to explore, and a slew of quality-of-life changes, Zenless Zone Zero is starting its second year on a strong note.
Happy anniversary, fellow Proxies!
Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.0 is now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Android, and iOS.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
