Zenless Zone Zero 2.5 drops December 30, 2025, at 11 AM UTC+8. We're talking F2P-friendly 28.8k Polychrome—enough for Zhao and Ye pulls, plus a complete Drive Disc build. Dailies net you 14.4k by Phase 1 pity; events fill the gap. Zhao's HP-scaling kit, boosted by the new Substat Tuner, shreds Shiyu Defense at 120+ with Ice teams. Yeah, it's that good.
Your ZZZ 2.5 F2P Roadmap
Version 2.5 runs December 30, 2025, to February 17, 2026—50 days of Zhao (S-Rank Ice tank), Ye (Ice hypercarry), Substat Tuner drops, and PvE co-op goodness. F2P grabs 28.8k Polychrome from events and logins, translating to 180 pulls for Ye and Drive Discs. Phase 1 Zhao banner: Dec 30–Jan 21. Phase 2 follows Jan 21–Feb 17. That 28.8k breaks down to 90-pull pity (14.4k from 300/day dailies over 48 days) plus a 180-pull guarantee.
Pre-2.5? Audit your pity counters. Farm Arcade and Notorious Hunt hard. Hoard 60 Ether Batteries and that Prepaid Power Card.
Launch day: Snag free Zhao from events and logins.
By Jan 21? You've hit 14.4k for Phase 1. Easy.
Polychrome Farming Breakdown
Dailies dish out 300 Polychrome from Arcade and Notorious Hunt. Toss in events and commissions at 600+, and you're at 28.8k over 48 days—180 pulls total. Straight math: 300 x 48 = 14.4k (90 pulls). Shiyu S+ clears? 720-780. Co-op sites add 600+ more.
Hit dailies daily: Arcade/Notorious Hunt (300 Polychrome), auto-clear with Ether Batteries.
Events shine in Shiyu Defense—aim S+ for 90k points across 5 stages (stage 5's 3-room speed multiplier is key).
Stockpile smart: 60 Backup Charges +1 Prepaid Power Card each day. Hollow Zero first clears? Extra goodies.
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Smart Banner Pull Plan
Dump 28.8k into Phase 1 Zhao (14.4k gets your 90 pulls). Skip standards and other Ice agents. Soft pity kicks in at 70-80 pulls; W-Engines need 12.8k for 80 pulls (1% S-Rank odds). Free Zhao from events seals it—guaranteeing Zhao + Ye + Drive Discs before Phase 1 wraps Jan 21.
Audit pity before launch.
Pull Phase 1 Zhao hard (90 single pity).
Save the rest for Ye in Phase 2. Prioritize characters over W-Engines—grab that HP sword, axe, or Ice sword.
Zhao's Full Build Guide
Zhao scales off HP like a beast: HP% on sands, body, feet. Hunt CRIT DMG or RES Pen subs. Pair with HP%/CRIT Discs. Module 1 ignores 12% RES off-field. His Ultimate? 4234.7% Ice DMG over 12s Ether Veil (+40% CRIT DMG, +650 Sheer Force, +30% squad DMG, invuln, and heals). Basics give 0-4s i-frames. EX Special? 4s of multi-hits, heals, invuln.
Equip HP W-Engines (sword or axe).
Use Substat Tuner on your top 2 subs (Stun Multiplier, CRIT DMG, RES Pen).
Rotation's simple: Basic for i-frames > EX for heals > Ult Veil > swap out. Snag Tuner mats from co-op.
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Slotting Ye In—Synergies That Slap
Ye drops 2000% Chain multipliers +40% DMG, 3s stagger, and 30% vuln. Perfect hypercarry pair for Zhao or Ellen. Teams? Ye + Zhao/Ellen for that +40% CRIT DMG Veil boost. Ye summons skyborne swords; Zhao's Veil triggers Ye's bursts.
Build Ye with Zhao's sustain: CRIT/Chain subs via Tuner.
Rotation: Zhao Veil up > Ye summons > Chain burst.
F2P path: Post-Zhao, your 28.8k pulls guarantee Ye.
Drive Discs Perfected with Substat Tuner
Tuner's a game-changer—one sub-stat per point (max 2 Discs), farmed via co-op materials. HP-scaling trumps ATK here. F2P? One full 6-piece set from 28.8k.
For Zhao: HP%/CRIT Discs, RES Pen for +40% vs Ice RES bosses. Dismantle junk post-Tuner.
Access co-op materials menu.
Prioritize top 2: Stun Multiplier/CRIT DMG/RES Pen.
Test in Notorious Hunt—funnel DEF into RES Pen.
Killer Team Comps and Rotations
Ice meta dominates: Zhao/Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku + Butler Bangboo (+80% Daze with Lycaon). F2P flex: Lycaon edges Soukaku/Ellen. Rotation: Soukaku's 3 Vortex (+1000 ATK) > Zhao Basic/EX/Ult > Ellen Flash Freeze (+100% CRIT). Zhao + Ellen? 37.5% Daze. Lycaon shreds 25% RES.
Stun crew: Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler.
Sustain: Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu.
Hypercarry: Ye + Zhao/Ellen (Veil > summons > 2000% Chain).
Crushing Shiyu Defense and Hollow Zero
Shiyu S+ hits 90k points (5 stages/60k max, 720-780 Polychrome). Zhao squads push 120+. Hollow Zero? 100+ clears. Bosses take 30 DEF shred, 200% Stun mult, 37.5% Daze, -20% Phys RES. Stage 5: Speed mult on 3 rooms.
Rotation: Zhao Basic i-frames > EX heals > Ult > swap to DPS + Lycaon/Pan Yinhu.
Hollow Zero: Soukaku Vortex > Zhao > Ellen.
Co-op Daze Master: 30-min Ropesmith runs—Basic > EX > Ult for 600+ Polychrome (8 stages/20 levels).
Pitfalls to Dodge (And Fixes)
Don't ATK-stack on Zhao—HP > DEF always. Characters beat W-Engines. Hit at least 14.4k before pulling.
Stun or buffs lacking? Add Lycaon/Soukaku.
Skip dailies? Ether Batteries auto-clear 'em.
Pulling standards? Hoard for Ice banners instead. (Editor note: I've wasted pulls here—don't.)
Dismantle non-meta Discs after Tuner.
Farm Arcade pre-2.5.
Test builds in Notorious Hunt.
Next Steps Post-Build
Zhao and Ye locked, Drive Discs tuned? Farm co-op materials. Eye Lycaon/Soukaku next.
Co-op rewards: Polychrome, research items. Leaderboards love Zhao teams in Shiyu/Hollow.
Queue co-op Daze Master with Zhao.
Farm 80 Boopon for Butler energy.
Prep for 2.6: Keep that 28.8k farming grind alive.
FAQ
How much Polychrome for Zhao in ZZZ 2.5 F2P?
14.4k for 90-pull Phase 1 (Dec 30–Jan 21); events cut it down.
Best Drive Disc set for Ye F2P?
HP%/CRIT via Tuner for Chain mult/CRIT DMG; full 6-piece off 28.8k.
Can F2P get full Drive Disc for Zhao in one go?
Yep—28.8k covers pulls + Tuner mats for one optimized set.
ZZZ 2.5 Polychrome farming events list?
Shiyu S+ (720-780), co-op sites (600+), dailies (300), commissions (600+).
Zhao and Ye team comp guide?
Ye + Zhao/Ellen: Veil > summons > Chain (2000% mult, 3s stagger, +40% CRIT).
Is 28.8k Polychrome enough for Zhao + Ye?
Absolutely—guarantees both + Drive Discs across Phase 1/2.