Introduction to the game

Zenless Zone Zero is an upcoming roguelike ARPG game developed by HoYoverse. The Equalizing Test for the game will started on 24.11.2023, but we have no information about the official launch - most likely it won't happen in 2023 though considering the ET timing. The game will be available on both Windows and mobile phones (Android & Apple).

Here's the official blurb about the game:

Zenless Zone Zero is a brand new action game. The story takes place in the near future, where a mysterious natural disaster known as the "Hollows" has occurred. A new kind of city has emerged in this disaster-ridden world known as "New Eridu". This last 'oasis' has mastered the technology to co-exist with the Hollows, and is home to a whole host of chaotic, boisterous, dangerous and very active factions. As a professional 'Proxy', you will play a crucial role in linking the city with the Hollows. Your story awaits you.

And here's the official trailer for the game that was revealed last year:

Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is an Action Combat RPG similar to Genshin Impact. The game is split into two modes: Story and Hollows.

• In the Story, you move through areas following along the main plot while defeating enemies and bosses.
• Hollows are the primary game mode of ZZZ and where you’ll be spending most of your time after you’re up to date on the current story. Hollows are a roguelike experience that sees you play through randomized dungeons with a team of your choice for rewards.

Overall, the game focuses on exploring Hollow’s using the HDD system which is very similar to a top down roguelike dungeon. The gameplay consists of navigating the HDD game board to interact with events and complete combat encounters handled by your team of Agents.

Basic info

Agents are playable units in ZZZ. You are given 3 agents for free (Anby, Nicole and Billy):

Anby

Nicole

Billy

To gain more you’ll need to engage with the game’s Gacha System Signal Warp:

Agents are split into two rarities - S and A, with S rank Agents being more powerful and harder to get on average.

Stats

Here are all the combat stats agents can gain and what they do.

Agent Stats

• HP - How much damage an Agent can take before falling in combat
• ATK - How much damage an Agent deals
• DEF - Reduces the damage an Agent takes
• Impact - Attacking enemies increases their Daze. A higher Impact stat allows more Daze to accumulate with each attack.
• Crit Rate - How likely it is for the Agent to land a critical hit
• Crit DMG - Determines the damage multiplier when landing a critical hit
• PEN - Ignores a set amount of the target’s DEF based on the PEN stat when attacking an enemy.
• Pen Ratio - Ignores a percentage of the target’s DEF based on the PEN Ratio stat when attacking an enemy.
• Attribute Mastery - Increases the damage dealt by Attribute Anomalies
• Energy Regen - After entering combat, Agents passively generate Energy every second. The higher this value is, the more Energy gained per second.
• Energy Generation Rate - Energy Generation Rate will increase the Energy generated through Energy Regen, and attacking enemies.
• Anomaly Rate Bonus - An Anomaly Rate Bonus increases the Anomaly Buildup dealt by Attribute attacks. When an enemy’s Anomaly Buildup reaches a certain level, an Attribute Anomaly will be triggered.

Character Attributes

• All agents are categorized into one of five Attributes:
• Fire
• Electric
• Ice
• Physical
• Ether
• In addition Agents can specialize in three different fighting styles:
• Slash
• Strike
• Pierce
• Combining Agents with specific Attributes and Fighting styles in the same squad allows you to activate their additional abilities and grants them extra buffs. Each character gains different additional abilities so correct team building is key!
• When an agent deals attribute damage, they inflict a certain amount of Anomaly Buildup. Once a certain level of buildup is reached, the enemy will be afflicted with an attribute anomaly debuff of the corresponding attribute. Additionally, exploiting enemies’ weakness to certain Attributes to trigger Attribute Anomaly will intensify the Anomaly effect.

Here are the Anomaly Debuffs we know of currently:

Enemy Types

Enemies come in different types and are vulnerable to different elemental damage:

• Ethereal are vulnerable to Ether-Type Attacks.
• Organic are vulnerable to Fire-Type Attacks.
• Machine are vulnerable to Electric-Type Attacks.

Currently we are unaware of enemies vulnerable to Ice and Physical.

Agent Training

If you want to learn more about how to make your Agents stronger, check this guide:

Agents Progression

Before battle you must assemble a team of up to 3 Agents. You can only control one Agent at a time but you can freely swap between them to access each of their abilities and combine them.

Combat UI Elements

HP

• When all your Agents HP is depleted you will be evacuated from the current combat zone or hollow.

Energy

• Agents gain energy over time when they are on the field based on their Energy Regen stat.
• Basic attacks, dodge counters, and dash attacks also generate energy for agents.
• Breaking supply chests and picking up energy matter dropped by defeated enemies increases energy for the entire squad.
• Each Agent has their own energy bar, cycling between each of them to ensure you make use of each of their energy is advised.

Daze

• When enemies are hit, they accumulate Daze. When Daze reaches 100%, enemies become stunned, rendering them unable to move and more susceptible to damage.
• While enemies are dazed they can be inflicted with your team's powerful chain attacks you’ll learn about below.

Basic Attack

• Press, tap and hold the appropriate key or button to launch a basic attack consisting of a number of strikes (usually 3-5). Some agents unleash alternative moves by holding the basic attack during a basic attack combo.
• The Basic attack is your primary means of consistent damage on most characters and executing full basic attack chains will yield the most energy recharge and damage in most cases.

Special Attack

• Special attacks are normally the defining feature of an Agent and can be used at any time without any cooldown but can be used in a special enhanced state (EX Skill Variant) after accumulating enough energy. Special attacks have a heavy attack effect which when used on a fully dazed enemy will allow for a chain attack.
• Normal special attacks are very rarely worth using, they do low damage and do not regenerate energy and can mostly be ignored. The empowered EX Special attack is always worth using and should be prioritized as soon as it’s available but can be saved in preparation for stronger enemies or for specific character synergies.

Chain Attack

• If there are two or more Agents in your squad, hitting a stunned enemy after their daze reaches 100% with a heavy attack will trigger a chain attack.
• Pressing an Agent’s avatar on the left or right before the countdown at the bottom of the screen ends will trigger the Agent’s Chain Attack.
• These attacks do tremendous damage and can be used in quick succession while an enemy is stunned combining them is advised.

Ultimate

• Hitting enemies, using chain attacks, dodge Counters, and triggering Assist Follow-Ups builds up Decibel Rating gauge.
• When your Decibel Rating reaches 3,000, the Ultimate button will light up, signaling you may press the Ultimate key to clear the decibel rating and unleash an ultimate.
• You can check how close to the Ultimate using the tracker that has 3 stages, once it says “Maximum” it’s ready:

Your entire team seems to share the Decibel Rating Gauge so be sure to use the ultimate on the character that will have the most impact in combat!

Dodge

• Press the appropriate key or button to Dodge.
• Using a Basic Attack while dodging will launch a Dash Attack.
• Dodging when your Agent is about to be hit can trigger a “Perfect Dodge”.
• Quickly using a Basic Attack right after a Perfect Dodge will launch a Dodge Counter with a Heavy Attack effect.

Switching Agents

• When there are 2 or more Agents in the squad, pressing the agent switch key will replace the agent on the field with the next Agent to its right on the Agent bar in the top-left corner.

Assist Attack

• When the Agent on the field is knocked back, another Agent’s Assist Attack window will trigger. Switch Agents during this window trigger a reactive assist.
• Reactive Assists have a Heavy Attack effect and can quickly turn the tides of battle back in your favour.

Special: Perfect Assist

• If you switch Agents right before some enemy attacks (those that flash gold) hit, the Agent switching in will consume an Assist Point to active a Defensive Assist or Evasive Assist.
• You can activate up to 3 Perfect Assists in a row within a certain period.
• You can trigger Chain Attacks to regenerate Assist Points.
• When you do not have Assist Points, the Agent Switching in will automatically Perfect Dodge instead.
• Pressing the Basic Attack or Special Attack button when a Perfect Assist is triggered will launch an Assist Follow-Up.