Here's the thing about Version 1.5 – it's basically reshaping everything we thought we knew about ZZZ's meta. We're getting our first S-Rank Support agent in Astra Yao alongside Fire specialist Evelyn, and honestly? The timing couldn't be more interesting.
Running from January 22 to March 4, 2025, this banner cycle is massive. Astra's bringing universal team buffs that are frankly ridiculous (+20% DMG, +25% Crit DMG, plus a 1200 ATK boost), making her the top priority for... well, everyone. Evelyn's here to resurrect the Fire meta with her Chain Attack focus and Stun synergies.
If you're F2P, let me save you some time: prioritize Astra's Phase One banner. Trust me on this one.
ZZZ 1.5 Banner Overview and Schedule
Phase One: Thousand Melodies Banner
Duration: January 22 - February 12, 2025
Featured S-Ranks: Astra Yao (new Ether Support), Ellen (Ice Attack rerun)
Rate-up A-Ranks: Corin (Physical Attack), Anby (Electric Stun)
Phase Two: Web of Light and Shadow Banner
Duration: February 12 - March 4, 2025
Featured S-Ranks: Evelyn (new Fire Attack), Qingyi (Electric Stun rerun)
Rate-up A-Ranks: Anton (Physical Attack), Nicole (Ether Support)
Standard pity mechanics apply here – S-Rank guarantee at 90 pulls with that dreaded 50/50 chance, guaranteed on second pity (so maximum 180 pulls if luck abandons you). Good news? Pity carries over between limited banners.
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Astra Complete Analysis
Okay, let's talk about why Astra is absolutely game-changing. She's not just ZZZ's first limited Support agent – she's rewriting the rulebook entirely. Her Idyllic Cadenza state? It's basically invulnerability with continuous teammate buffs.
Core Abilities
+20% team damage increase (this alone is nuts)
+25% Crit Damage boost for all allies
Up to 1200 ATK buff (that's 35% of her initial ATK)
2950 HP restoration through Ultimate at Level 12
Damage reduction (-40%) and enhanced Anti-Interrupt
The Chord mechanic is where things get spicy. Every 25 Energy consumption generates Quick Assists. In Cadenza state, assists trigger once per second for heavy attacks, once per 3 seconds for regular hits. It's like having a personal cheerleader who also happens to be incredibly deadly.
Optimal Team Compositions
Here's where I get excited about the possibilities:
Hyper Carry: Astra + Lucy/Seth/Rina + Ellen/Zhu Yuan – maximizes single DPS output in ways that honestly feel unfair
Stun Teams: Astra + Qingyi + Ellen – the synergy with Ellen's uptime requirements is chef's kiss
Disorder Teams: Supports Anomaly agents like Jane Doe, plus that healing utility we've all been desperately needing
Build Priority
Target 3430 ATK on Astra for maximum buff potential. Drive Discs: 4-Piece Astral Voice + 2-Piece Swing Jazz. Main Stats: ATK% (Slot 4), ATK%/Ether DMG (Slot 5), ATK%/Energy Regen (Slot 6).
Her M1 is exceptional value – All-Attribute RES reduction (-6% per stack, maximum 3 stacks). I'd argue it's more impactful than most signature weapons.
Evelyn In-Depth Review
Evelyn's a different beast entirely. She's ZZZ's premier Fire Attack specialist, but she demands precision. Her kit revolves around Chain Attack optimization and Binding Seal mechanics with timing requirements that'll separate the casual players from the dedicated ones.
Core Mechanics
Binding Seal State: +25% Crit Rate, retained for 10 seconds after exit
Burning Tether Points: Maximum 3 points enable solo Chain Attacks (yes, solo!)
Dance of Awakened Fire: Ultimate enhancement lasting the entire battle
Additional Ability: +30% Chain/Ultimate DMG with Stun/Support teammates, scaling to +125% at 80%+ Crit Rate
The Garrote system consumes 50% Burning Embers for enhanced attacks. Each one generates a Tether Point, and at three points? Garrote triggers Chain Attack: Lunalux Snare with reduced Interrupt Level. It's satisfying when you nail the timing.
Best Team Setup: Evelyn + Lighter + Astra Yao
This trio is where Evelyn truly shines. Lighter provides Fire DMG buffs, RES shred, and stun extension. Astra amplifies everything through those universal buffs. The key strategy? Save Embers/Tethers for stun windows to maximize burst potential.
Build Requirements
Signature W-Engine: Heartstring Nocturne (+24% Crit Rate, +50% Crit DMG, Fire RES ignore). Drive Discs: 4-Piece Woodpecker Electro (+8% Crit Rate, +9% ATK on Crit). Main Stats: Crit DMG% (Slot 4), PEN Ratio/Fire DMG% (Slot 5), ATK% (Slot 6).
Pull Priority Rankings
Universal Priority: Astra Yao (SS-Tier)
I cannot stress this enough – Astra is the highest value investment regardless of your spending level. Universal applicability, meta-defining support capabilities, and she's our first real sustain option while boosting damage across every team archetype.
F2P Strategy: Prioritize Astra in Phase One with 180 pulls saved (because let's be realistic about that 50/50). Skip Evelyn unless you're specifically building Fire teams.
Light Spender Strategy: Secure Astra first, then evaluate Evelyn based on remaining resources. Consider Astra M1 over her signature W-Engine – that RES shred value is incredible.
Whale Optimization: Pull both with signature W-Engines. Target Astra M1 + M6 for maximum support potential, though honestly, M1 gives you most of what you need.
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Meta Impact Assessment
Version 1.5 is shifting ZZZ's meta from Anomaly dominance toward Support-centered compositions. Both agents achieve SS-Tier status, but for different reasons.
Performance Metrics
Astra demonstrates consistent value across all content. Shiyu Defense? She enables Limited Attack/Anomaly team flexibility. Deadly Assault? That healing becomes crucial for sustained encounters. Evelyn excels in burst scenarios with peak damage during stun windows – competitive with Ellen/Zhu Yuan in optimal conditions.
Future Viability
Here's my take: Astra's support role ensures long-term relevance regardless of DPS power creep. She's future-proof in ways that pure damage dealers simply aren't. Evelyn's position depends on Fire meta development and potential Rupture mechanic introductions in Version 2.0+.
Resource Management Strategy
Each S-Rank guarantee costs 14,400 Monochromes (approximately $222 USD). Featured agent guarantee? Up to 28,800 Monochromes ($444 USD). Plan for 180 pulls per desired agent, though soft pity usually kicks in around 70-80 pulls.
Key Strategies
Never build pity on unwanted banners – I've seen too many accidental S-Ranks ruin pull plans
Carry pity between limited banners for strategic advantage
Farm Monochromes through daily missions, events, and exploration (every bit counts)
Utilize first-time purchase bonuses for maximum value
Team Building with 1.5 Agents
Astra-Centered Compositions
Astra + Lucy + Ellen: Ice damage focus with ATK stacking synergy
Astra + Seth + Zhu Yuan: Electric synergy with shield utility
Astra + Rina + Jane Doe: Anomaly enhancement with PEN Ratio buffs
Evelyn Support Setups
Evelyn + Lighter + Astra: Optimal Fire team with universal buffs
Evelyn + Caesar + Nicole: Defensive option with DEF shred
Build Burning Embers through Basic/Special Attack rotations. Save those Tether Points for stun windows or high-value targets – patience pays off.
FAQ
Is Astra worth pulling for F2P players in ZZZ 1.5?
Absolutely. Astra is the highest priority for F2P due to universal team utility, healing capabilities, and long-term meta relevance. Those +20% DMG and +25% Crit DMG buffs enhance literally every team composition you can think of.
Should I skip Evelyn's banner to save for future agents?
Skip Evelyn unless you specifically want Fire teams or have abundant resources after securing Astra. Her specialized role makes her less essential than Astra's universal support utility – though she's incredibly fun to play if you enjoy precise timing mechanics.
How much does it cost to guarantee both Astra and Evelyn?
Maximum cost is 57,600 Monochromes (approximately $888 USD) for both agents, assuming worst-case 180 pulls each. Soft pity around 70-80 pulls typically reduces actual costs, but budget for the worst-case scenario.
Which teams work best with the new 1.5 agents?
Astra excels in Hyper Carry setups (Astra + Lucy + Ellen) and Stun teams. Evelyn performs best in Fire compositions (Evelyn + Lighter + Astra) or Double Support setups with Nicole. The versatility is honestly refreshing.
When do the ZZZ 1.5 banners end?
Phase One (Astra) ends February 12, 2025, while Phase Two (Evelyn) concludes March 4, 2025. That's six weeks to plan your resource allocation – use them wisely.
Should I pull for signatures or focus on getting both agents?
Prioritize getting both agents first, then consider signatures. Astra's M1 Mindscape often provides better value than her signature W-Engine due to that RES shred utility. Characters first, weapons second – that's the golden rule.