ZZZ beginner priorities
Last reviewed July 31, 2026
Zenless Zone Zero rewards focusing a small roster and not capping Battery. This is a first-month Proxy checklist — not a 10,000-word wiki dump and not a fake “S+ starter tier list.”
Short answer
Push Inter-Knot to unlock events and codes (Lv. 5), level Anby + Nicole + a DPS you actually use, spend Battery on weeklies and core mats before Disk Drives, and treat Exclusive Channel as a budgeted decision (hard pity 90 · 50/50). If Version 3.1 anniversary gifts are live, claim Marcel free S-Rank before pulling new limiteds — see the 3.1 overview.
Week-one checklist
- Finish the Prologue and early Main Story until Events unlock and Inter-Knot climbs past the code gate (Lv. 5).
- Redeem ZZZ codes (in-game or official redeem page).
- Pick one on-field DPS and keep one Stun + one Support as your investment core (Anby + Nicole cover two of those roles for free).
- Spend Battery Charge on Notorious / weekly content and Agent / W-Engine materials for that trio — not random Disk farming.
- Track stamina with the Battery Charge timer so overnight regen is not wasted at cap.
- Open Signal Search → History once, note Exclusive pity / guarantee, and bookmark the pity calculator.
Who to level early
Free / early units change with story, but roles stay the same. Level the people you put in the party every commission.
Anby Demara
Electric Stun — story / early squad staple. Learn dodge and stun windows on her.
Nicole Demara
Ether Support — defense shred / grouping utility that carries far into mid-game.
Billy Kid
Physical Attack — fine early DPS while you wait for a stronger carry.
Soukaku
Ice Support — common early buff piece when you pull her from Stable / events.
Roster browser (icons + tags, not rankings): Agents index.
Combat basics that matter early
- Stun window — Stun Agents build Daze; when the enemy is stunned, swap to DPS for the damage window. Learning this is worth more than early Disk luck.
- Assist / swap — Perfect Assists and chain swaps are the combat fantasy; practice in VR / combat challenges before Hollows feel unfair.
- Attribute matching — Weakness / resistance exists. Bring a second attribute when content hard-walls one element.
- Bangboo — Equip a Bangboo that supports your squad; don’t ignore them, but don’t spend Boopons like Encrypted tapes either.
Battery vs progression (first month)
| Priority | Spend on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeklies / Notorious Hunt | Time-gated; missing them is permanent loss for that week |
| 2 | Agent + W-Engine levels for core 3 | Clears story and farming modes faster than Disk gambling |
| 3 | Core skills you press | EX / Ultimate / Assist ranks beat random substats early |
| 4 | Disk Drives (correct sets) | Only after the above stop being the bottleneck |
Full habits guide: Battery farming.
Signal Search without getting wrecked
- Exclusive Channel (limited Agents): soft ~75, hard 90, 50/50 → guarantee. 160 Polychrome per Encrypted tape.
- W-Engine Exclusive: separate pity, hard 80, 75/25 featured rules.
- Stable Channel: Master Tapes only — never “finishes” Exclusive pity.
- Budget worst-case before emotionally committing: Polychrome / tape budget.
Systems deep-dive: Signal Search & pity guide.
What to ignore early
- Spreading levels across 8+ Agents “just in case.”
- Perfect Disk Drive hunting before skills and levels are done.
- Pulling every banner because FOMO — anniversary / free selectors often patch roster holes.
- Any website selling “guaranteed S-Rank accounts” or asking for your HoYoverse password.
- Fake alphabetical tier lists with no clear date or clear criteria.
Week two → first month
- Keep Inter-Knot climbing so mid-game modes and event gates open.
- Build a second attribute team only when content requires it — not because a guide said “need 3 teams day one.”
- Convert event Polychrome into Encrypted tapes with a goal (specific Agent or hard save).
- Revisit current patch notes after each major update for free selectors and mail.