ZZGB: The Complete Guide to Zenless Zone Zero Monochromes, Polychromes & Proxy Progression

Introduction & Quick Facts

Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is HoYoverse's stylish urban-fantasy action RPG, and ZZGB — shorthand for the Monochromes premium currency bundles — is the lifeblood that fuels its gacha-driven progression. Monochromes are the paid currency that converts one-to-one into Polychromes, the resource you spend on Signal Searches to recruit S-Rank Agents, signature W-Engines, and elite Bangboo companions. For Proxies grinding Hollow Zero, Shiyu Defense, and Deadly Assault, ZZGB packages are the single most efficient way to keep pace with banner cycles without burning months of free pulls.

Set in the neon-soaked, post-apocalyptic metropolis of New Eridu, ZZZ blends fast-paced character-action combat, roguelite TV-grid exploration, and a deep faction-based roster spanning Cunning Hares, Belobog Heavy Industries, Victoria Housekeeping Co., Section 6, Sons of Calydon, Obol Squad, and more. Whether you are a casual player chasing a favorite Agent or a hardcore Proxy preparing for endgame Disorder rotations, understanding how Monochromes flow through the economy — and when to spend them — is the difference between a comfortable account and constant resource anxiety.

This guide breaks down every meaningful aspect of ZZGB: what Monochromes do, how the Signal Search pity system works, the most effective spending priorities, Inter-Knot Membership math, combat fundamentals, team-building, and a deep tip list that scales from your first login to endgame optimization.

What is ZZGB?

ZZGB refers to the Monochromes top-up packages offered for Zenless Zone Zero. Monochromes are the directly-purchased premium currency, and the moment you buy them they can be converted at a 1:1 rate into Polychromes, the universal currency used for nearly everything that matters in the gacha economy: Standard Channel pulls, Exclusive Channel (limited Agent) pulls, W-Engine Channel pulls, and Bangboo Channel pulls. Each Signal Search (single pull) costs 160 Polychromes, and a ten-pull costs 1,600 Polychromes.

Players seek ZZGB for one core reason: banner timing. ZZZ runs limited-time Agent banners on roughly three-week cycles, and missing a rate-up means waiting six months or more for a rerun. When a desired S-Rank like Zhu Yuan, Ellen Joe, Jane Doe, Qingyi, Caesar, Burnice, Yanagi, Miyabi, Harumasa, Evelyn, or a new release drops, having a Monochromes reserve means you can guarantee the Agent within the hard pity of 90 pulls and still chase their signature W-Engine within 80 W-Engine pulls. Free Polychromes accrue steadily from dailies, events, Hollow Zero clears, and version mail — but they rarely cover two consecutive limited banners back-to-back.

ZZGB is for three player profiles. Collectors who want every Agent for completion and Trust Event story content. Meta players who chase optimal Disorder, Anomaly, or Stun teams for Shiyu Defense and Deadly Assault leaderboards. Casual whales who simply enjoy the combat and want to play their favorite character at full power (M6 W1 — six dupes plus signature W-Engine) without grinding selectors for half a year. In all three cases, Monochromes are the most reliable lever you can pull.

Core Gameplay & Features

Zenless Zone Zero's design fuses three loops: street-level life-sim in New Eridu's Sixth Street, TV-grid Hollow exploration that frames combat as bite-sized roguelite scenarios, and a real-time character-action combat system with parries, dodges, chain attacks, and Decibel-fueled Ultimates. ZZGB sits at the center of these loops because every meaningful power spike — a new S-Rank Agent, a signature W-Engine, an A-Rank Bangboo with the perfect skill — runs through Polychromes.

• Three-Agent squad combat with seamless Switch Assists, Quick Assists, Defensive Assists (perfect parries), and Chain Attacks that trigger when an enemy is Stunned.
• Six damage attributes: Physical, Fire, Ice, Electric, Ether, and the upcoming/rotating elements interacting with the Anomaly system (Burn, Shock, Freeze/Shatter, Assault, Corruption, Frostbite).
• Five specialty roles: Attack, Stun, Anomaly, Support, Defense — every viable endgame team is built from a combination of these.
• W-Engines (weapons) with main and substats plus a unique passive, with a dedicated W-Engine Signal Search channel at 80-pull pity and 75% rate-up.
• Drive Discs — six-slot artifact system across two two-piece set bonuses or one four-piece set, farmed from Drive Disc challenges.
• Bangboo companions — robotic pets with elemental affinities, Chain Attack triggers, and team-supporting passives, pulled on their own dedicated channel.
• Hollow Zero — the roguelite endgame mode with Resonia buffs, Bangboo Caravan paths, and Withering Garden / Lost Void difficulty branches.
• Shiyu Defense — the biweekly bossing endgame: Critical Node final stage rewards Polychromes for clearing both halves within a strict time limit.
• Deadly Assault — a monthly endgame mode requiring three different teams against three rotating bosses with mechanic-specific scoring.
• TV mode (legacy) and direct exploration (post 1.4) — Hollow content has been streamlined; many older TV puzzles were converted to direct 3D commissions.
• Inter-Knot Membership and Monthly Pass equivalents — the daily Polychrome trickle and the larger one-time top-up bonuses.

Combat fundamentals worth your attention

Combat rewards timing over button mashing. Every Agent has a basic combo, an EX Special (consumes Energy), a Dodge Counter (window after a perfect dodge, indicated by a slow-motion screen flash), a Chain Attack triggered when an enemy's Daze bar fills and they enter the Stunned state, and an Ultimate that costs 3,000 Decibels. The Stun role exists specifically to fill that Daze bar quickly — characters like Anby, Lycaon, Qingyi, Koleda, and Soldier 0/Anby (Soldier 0 Anby) excel at it, with each Stun applying a damage-amplification multiplier during the Stunned window.

Anomaly is the parallel damage path. Instead of stacking crit on a single attacker, Anomaly teams apply elemental status (Burn, Shock, Frostbite, Assault, Corruption) and trigger massive proc damage when the Anomaly bar fills. Disorder occurs when a second different Anomaly is applied while one is active — it consumes the original Anomaly and deals significant burst damage. Teams built around Jane Doe (Assault), Burnice (Burn), Yanagi (Shock/Polarity Disorder), Piper, Grace, or the upcoming Anomaly DPS units thrive on Disorder rotations.

Why Polychromes matter so much

Each banner's hard pity is 90 Agent pulls = 14,400 Polychromes for guaranteed S-Rank. The soft pity ramps up around pull 65–74. Even with the 50/50 system on the Exclusive Channel (where losing means a Standard S-Rank instead of the rate-up), the next limited S-Rank is guaranteed — there is no losing two 50/50s in a row. Realistically, 180 pulls = 28,800 Polychromes secures any limited Agent worst-case. W-Engine pity is 80 pulls at 75% rate-up, with a guarantee on the second pull if the first lost. Monochromes purchases are calibrated to hit these breakpoints.

Pro Tips & Strategy

Beginner (Day 1 – Inter-Knot Level 30)

1. Finish the Prologue and Chapter 1 main story immediately. It unlocks Hollow Zero, the Signal Search channels, Drive Disc challenges, and the Senior Investigator Log — your single biggest source of starter Polychromes (1,600+ Polychromes plus a Standard S-Rank Agent selector after 14 days of login).
2. Pick your Standard S-Rank selector carefully. The free A-Rank selector after starter pulls and the 14-day Standard S-Rank selector (Soldier 11, Lycaon, Koleda, Rina, Grace, or Nekomata) are permanent account decisions. Lycaon (Ice Stun) and Rina (Electric Support) have the longest meta tails. Soldier 11 is a strong free Fire DPS if you skip Burnice/Soukaku teams.
3. Do not pull on the Standard Channel beyond the first ~50 pulls. Save Polychromes for limited Exclusive banners. Standard pulls are mainly value during the early "first 300 pulls = guaranteed S-Rank choice" milestone, then taper off in priority.
4. Spend Battery Charge daily. Battery Charge (stamina) refills 1 per 6 minutes, capping at 240. Burn it on Combat Commissions, then later on Drive Disc and W-Engine ascension dungeons. Missed Battery = missed Polychrome-equivalent value.
5. Complete every Hollow Zero weekly clear. Each Withering Garden run nets Polychromes, Senior Investigator Logs, and Encryption Master investigation rewards. Skip a week, lose ~600+ Polychromes.
6. Set up your dispatch (Hollow Zero Bangboo Caravan / Investigation). Dispatching idle Agents on hourly missions earns Dennies, EXP, and crafting materials passively — never let the slots sit empty.

Intermediate (IK Level 30 – 50, building your first endgame team)

7. Build a single team first to a clear damage ceiling before diversifying. Endgame requires two teams for Shiyu Defense and three for Deadly Assault, but a half-built second team is worse than one fully-built team plus a placeholder. Get your main DPS to Level 60, talents to 9/9/9, W-Engine to Level 60, and full Rank 5 Drive Discs before splitting resources.
8. Drive Disc mainstats matter more than substats early. Disc 4 = Crit Rate or Crit DMG, Disc 5 = ATK% or elemental DMG bonus, Disc 6 = ATK% / Anomaly Mastery / Anomaly Proficiency / PEN Ratio depending on role. Stop farming if mainstats are wrong, even if substats look juicy.
9. Learn the Quick Assist > Chain Attack chain. When an Anomaly procs or a basic Stagger lands, you can field-swap to your second Agent with a damage buff. Then when Daze fills and Chain Attack triggers, order the Chain Attack into your highest-damage carrier last to maximize the final Ultimate.
10. Use the correct Bangboo for your team. Avocaboo (Fire), Electroboo (Electric), Sharkboo (Ice), Penguinboo (universal CC), Butler (universal premium), Amilion (Anomaly teams), Magus (universal support). Bangboos chain off your Chain Attacks, so element-matching multiplies team damage by a real percentage.
11. Plan banners two patches ahead. HoYoverse drip-feeds the next two patches via Special Program livestreams. Decide whether you are pulling now or saving — pulling on every banner is the fastest way to end up with three half-built Agents and zero finished teams.
12. Don't waste Master Tapes / Encrypted Master Tapes outside priority channels. Encrypted Master Tapes only work on limited Exclusive Channel — save them for the Agent you actually want, not the current banner just because it's there.

Advanced (IK 55+, Shiyu Critical Node and Deadly Assault optimization)

13. Run a Stun + DPS + Support core or a double-Anomaly Disorder core. The two highest-ceiling team archetypes in current ZZZ: (a) Stun (Lycaon/Qingyi/Soldier 0 Anby) + DPS (Zhu Yuan / Ellen / Miyabi / Evelyn / Harumasa) + Support (Nicole / Rina / Astra Yao / Caesar); (b) two Anomaly units of different elements (Yanagi + Burnice, Jane + Burnice, Miyabi + Yanagi) + a flex (Lucy, Soukaku, Astra Yao).
14. Anomaly Proficiency vs Anomaly Mastery. Proficiency multiplies the damage of the Anomaly proc; Mastery multiplies how fast you build the Anomaly bar. Yanagi-style off-field appliers want both, but Mastery on the main applier and Proficiency on the trigger is the standard split.
15. PEN Ratio and Anomaly DMG% from Disc 6 are bossing stats. Against high-DEF endgame bosses (Notorius Hunt, Deadly Assault elite bosses), PEN Ratio outscales raw ATK%. Recalibrate Disc 6 specifically for the boss rotation.
16. Energy Regen on supports is non-negotiable. Nicole, Rina, Caesar, Lucy, Soukaku, Seth, and Astra Yao all run Disc 4 = Energy Regen so they can spam EX Specials for their team buffs. ATK%-stat supports are a beginner mistake.
17. Pre-rotate before the buff window. In Shiyu Critical Node, the Stun window typically lasts 8–10 seconds. Burn one Ultimate first to set the buff, then Chain Attack into the carrier, then EX Special spam during the Stunned window. Wasted Ultimates outside Stun is the #1 reason players miss S-rank clears.
18. Don't M6 unless the Agent is your forever main. Mindscape 6 (six dupes) is enormous Polychrome investment. The damage jump from M0 → M2 → M6 is real but rarely matches the value of building a complementary unit at M0W1 instead. Exceptions: hyper-carries you play every patch.

Characters & Roles

Below is a non-exhaustive snapshot of currently-released S-Rank Agents and their primary archetype as of the patch cycle most players will encounter. Use it to plan which limited banners are worth ZZGB investment.

A-Rank Agents like Nicole, Anby, Soukaku, Lucy, Piper, Seth, Ben, Corin, Anton, Billy, and Pulchra remain meta-relevant: Nicole, Lucy (Fire buff), Soukaku (Ice buff), Piper (Physical Anomaly), and Seth (Electric Defense) appear in best-in-slot teams alongside S-Ranks. Do not ignore A-Rank investment.

Currency & Resource Economy

Understanding how each resource flows clarifies exactly what ZZGB unlocks and what it cannot replace.

Polychromes are the only currency that scales linearly with money via Monochromes. Boopons (Bangboo) and Battery Charge (stamina) are time-gated — no amount of ZZGB accelerates them, which is why Bangboo banners are considered the gentlest pull priority and Battery Charge management is the true F2P bottleneck.

Editions, Tiers & Bonus Math

Top-ups in ZZZ come in two flavors: one-time bonus Monochrome packs (each tier gives a large first-purchase doubled bonus) and the Inter-Knot Membership (a 30-day daily Polychrome drip plus an upfront chunk). The Inter-Knot Membership is universally regarded as the single highest-value top-up per dollar in the game's economy, comparable to Genshin's Welkin Moon or HSR's Express Supply Pass. Buying it consistently before every limited banner cycle compounds enormously over a year.

A few math notes that matter for ZZGB planning. The Inter-Knot Membership pays out roughly 300 Polychromes upfront plus 90 Polychromes per day for 30 days, totaling around 3,000 Polychromes equivalent — for a tier price typically equivalent to less than the 980 Monochromes pack. Stacking it patch over patch is the F2P-adjacent player's biggest force multiplier. The first-time doubled bonus on every tier resets only when a major content milestone is reached (HoYoverse periodically refreshes first-time bonuses with major versions), making the initial wave of purchases far more efficient than subsequent ones.

Game Modes Deep Dive

Hollow Zero (Withering Garden, Lost Void, Operation initiatives)

Hollow Zero is the roguelite engine room of ZZZ. Each run, you pick a starting Resonium (a buff card), navigate a branching path of nodes (combat, shops, events, mini-bosses), accumulate more Resonia and Bangboo Caravan crew, then face the final boss. Higher difficulty tiers reward more Investigator Logs, Encrypted Master Tapes (limited!), and Polychromes per weekly cap. Withering Garden is the long-form deep dive (40+ minute runs); Lost Void / quick versions are shorter daily fits.

Optimization here is its own meta: building synergies between Resonium card types (Beast, Combat, Survival, Strategy, Sacrifice), exploiting Curio interactions, and choosing the right path through dangerous-but-rewarding branches. The Encrypted Master Tape rewards from Hollow Zero are the single best "free pull on limited banner" income stream in the game.

Shiyu Defense

The biweekly two-team gauntlet. Each rotation features two halves with distinct elemental resistances and disruption mechanics, forcing you to bring two different teams. Critical Node is the hardest tier — three stars require clearing both halves within ~3 minutes each. Rewards: ~600 Polychromes per cycle for full clears, plus Investigator-track currency. Failing to S-rank Critical Node is the most common Polychrome leak for mid-game accounts.

Deadly Assault

Monthly mode against three boss encounters with scoring mechanics — special debuffs that reward specific playstyles (e.g., bonus score for triggering Disorder, or for maintaining Stun uptime). Requires three separate teams. Highest endgame Polychrome payout, but only available to accounts deep into roster-building. Plan ZZGB pulls so that by month 4–6 you can field three viable teams.

Notorious Hunt

Weekly bossing for W-Engine and Drive Disc upgrade materials. Higher difficulty = more Senior Investigator-track currency. Three weekly clears, each with optimal team composition against a single elite boss. This is where character investment (Talents 9/9/9, Disc set bonuses) pays off most clearly.

Combat Commissions, Trust Events, Agent Stories

The character-progression side. Trust Events unlock at certain Trust levels per Agent (raised by gifting items + completing Investigator-related interludes), revealing personal storylines that often dwarf the main story in writing quality. These are the "why" you pull beyond pure meta — the story content behind each S-Rank is the reason ZZZ retention is so high.

Top-Up & Recharge

For most players, the practical path to topping up ZZGB Monochromes is straightforward. In-game, the Inter-Knot menu opens a Monochromes purchase screen tied to your platform's payment method — Apple App Store on iOS, Google Play on Android, the HoYoverse launcher / web shop on PC, and the PlayStation Store on PS5. The web shop occasionally offers slightly better bonus structures than mobile platforms because it bypasses storefront cuts. Cross-saved accounts can receive Monochromes purchased on any linked platform, since the inventory is account-bound, not device-bound. For convenience, our site offers fast top-up / recharge service for Zenless Zone Zero Monochromes via the official ZZZ portal account ID, with regional flexibility for Global players. Always double-check your HoYoverse UID before submitting any top-up so that Monochromes are credited to the correct account.

FAQ

Q1: What is the conversion rate between Monochromes and Polychromes? 1 Monochrome converts directly to 1 Polychrome inside the game's currency menu. There is no fee, no daily cap, and no time gate on the conversion.

Q2: How many Polychromes does one Signal Search (pull) cost? 160 Polychromes for a single pull, 1,600 Polychromes for a ten-pull. Master Tapes (Standard) and Encrypted Master Tapes (limited) substitute 1:1 for the Polychrome cost on their respective channels.

Q3: What is the pity system on the limited Exclusive Channel? Hard pity is 90 pulls for a guaranteed S-Rank Agent. The 50/50 system applies to the rate-up — if you lose, the next S-Rank from that channel is the guaranteed rate-up Agent. There is no consecutive-loss possibility.

Q4: Does Monochromes pity carry over between banners? Yes. Pity count and the 50/50 guarantee flag carry between Exclusive Channel banners. Standard, W-Engine, and Bangboo channels each track their own independent pity.

Q5: Is the Inter-Knot Membership worth it for free-to-play-adjacent players? Yes — it is widely considered the single best value purchase in the game. The combination of upfront Polychromes plus the 30-day daily Polychrome trickle yields more pulls-per-dollar than any single Monochrome pack.

Q6: Can I refund unused Monochromes? No. Once purchased, Monochromes are non-refundable through HoYoverse. Storefront refunds (Apple, Google, PSN) follow each platform's own refund policy and are not guaranteed.

Q7: Are Monochromes shared across platforms? The Polychromes converted from Monochromes are shared across all platforms tied to the same HoYoverse account. However, purchased Monochromes themselves are sometimes platform-segmented at the purchase point depending on storefront — once converted, the Polychromes are universal.

Q8: What should a new player pull on first? The current rate-up limited Agent only if they fit a role you lack. Otherwise, save 90+ pulls of Polychromes to guarantee a future Agent. Skipping early banners is rarely a mistake; FOMO-pulling on three banners in a row almost always is.

Q9: Is M6W1 (six dupes + signature W-Engine) necessary for endgame? No. M0W1 (one copy + signature W-Engine) clears all current endgame content with appropriate team building and Disc rolls. M2 (second copy) is the most popular "stop point" because it adds a significant kit improvement on most S-Ranks.

Q10: What's the difference between Anomaly Proficiency and Anomaly Mastery? Proficiency multiplies the damage of Anomaly procs (Shock, Burn, Assault, etc.). Mastery determines how fast the Anomaly bar fills. Trigger units want both; appliers prioritize Mastery.

Q11: How often do limited banners run? Roughly every three weeks, with each patch (six-week cycle) containing two banner phases. Reruns of older S-Ranks typically occur every 4–8 patches.

Q12: Can ZZGB top-ups be done while a banner is active? Yes. Purchase Monochromes mid-banner, convert to Polychromes immediately, pull on the active rate-up. Just be aware of banner end times — limited Encrypted Master Tapes left over at banner end convert into Master Tapes or a related substitute.

Verdict

ZZGB Monochromes are essential currency for any player who wants to play Zenless Zone Zero on their terms rather than the gacha rate's terms. If you have one or two Agents in mind per patch, value clean endgame clears, or simply want to enjoy ZZZ's exceptional character writing without missing reruns, structured Monochromes purchases — especially the Inter-Knot Membership stacked patch over patch — provide the single most efficient return per dollar in the game's economy.

Players who should skip heavy ZZGB investment: those who enjoy the slow F2P grind for its own sake, players who haven't yet decided which roles their account needs, and anyone who hasn't finished Chapter 1 (where the bulk of starter Polychromes and the free Standard S-Rank selector live). In those cases, free Polychromes from Hollow Zero, Shiyu Defense, Deadly Assault, and event mail are more than enough to land a few S-Ranks across the first three patches.

For everyone else — Proxies serious about New Eridu, collectors filling the Inter-Knot roster, or meta players chasing Critical Node clears — ZZGB top-ups are how you keep your account competitive across HoYoverse's relentless six-week patch cadence. Time your purchases to first-time bonuses, prioritize the Inter-Knot Membership, save pulls for guaranteed Agents, and you will spend less while pulling more than any unplanned FOMO buyer. The HoYoverse official site at zenless.hoyoverse.com remains the authoritative source for upcoming Special Programs, banner schedules, and version content — pair that intel with disciplined ZZGB spending, and your Phaethon Proxy account will run circles through every Hollow that New Eridu can throw at you.