Zenless Zone Zero 2.5 hits December 30, 2025, 11 AM UTC+8. We're talking Substat Tuner for tweaking 2 Drive Disc substats, spotlighting Zhao Gongming (Ice Defense) and Ye Ellen Joe (Physical Attack). For those first 10 rerolls? Hammer Stun Multiplier, CRIT DMG, RES PEN on Zhao's HP% discs and Ye's White Water Balled sets. F2P folks, you're looking at 28.8k Polychrome – enough for 180 pulls.
Quick Dive into Substat Tuner – ZZZ 2.5's Game-Changer
So, What's This Substat Tuner Thing?
It lets you boost up to 2 sub-stats on Drive Discs, one Tuning Calibrator per sub-stat. S-rank discs (Lv15 max, 3-4 subs) crush A-rank (Lv12, 2-3 subs). Dumps old ATK-stacking builds; Zhao thrives on HP-scaling now. —Pro tip from the edit desk: Test your tuned discs in Notorious Hunt against those +40% Ice RES bosses. You'll see the difference.
Here's the play: 1) Farm co-op as Daze Master (Basic > EX > Ult > swap); 2) Chase Stun Multiplier/CRIT DMG/RES PEN; 3) Dismantle anything non-meta after tuning.
Version 2.5 Shake-Ups You Need to Know
Patch lasts 50 days, through February 17, 2026. Zhao drops Phase 1 (Dec 30–Jan 21), Ye in Phase 2 (Jan 21–Feb 17). Zhao's Ultimate? A whopping 4234.7% Ice DMG, plus 12s Ether Veil (+40% squad CRIT DMG, +650 Sheer Force). Core Passive gives +0.05 ATK per HP point; M1 ignores 12% RES off-field for 30s.
Get ahead: 1) Hoard Ether Batteries with auto-clears; 2) Stack Energy Regen% on Partition VI for that 30s Veil uptime; 3) Prove it in Shiyu Defense S+ (90k points, 720-780 Polychrome).
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Dialing in Drive Discs for Zhao Gongming
Prime Sets: 4pc Zhao Breakdown
HP% mains on Partition IV (sands), V (body), VI (feet). Pair 'em with CRIT discs. His W-Engine (Base ATK 713, HP 30%) throws in +40% squad CRIT DMG on EX/Veil. EX Special packs 1688.9% Ice DMG +1078% Daze (4s invuln/heals, 6% Max HP cost). Basic chain? 147.1%-740.4% Ice DMG across 5 hits (Daze 83.7%-421%).
Your moves: 1) Slot HP%/CRIT Rate/DMG mains; 2) Tune RES PEN/CRIT DMG first; 3) Grind Driver Validation Dungeons or Elfy’s Tuning.
Zhao Gongming Full Build Guide
Substat Tier List – The Real MVPs
Tier 1: Stun Multiplier > CRIT DMG > RES PEN (especially vs +40% Ice RES). Fillers: CRIT Rate%, PEN Ratio, HP%, Energy Regen%, Impact%. Veil pumps +30% squad DMG; M4 Core Passive adds +15% ATK in Veil. Squads? They're clearing 120+ Shiyu Defense S+ (60k/stage max).
Do this: 1) Scan for HP% + Tier 1 subs; 2) Burn 1-2 Calibrators per disc; 3) Run Soukaku Vortex > Zhao Basic/EX/Ult > Ellen to test.
Ye's Drive Disc Overhaul – Don't Sleep on This
Killer 2pc/4pc Mixes
White Water Balled: 2pc nets +10% Physical DMG; 4pc gives +12% Ether Veil CRIT Rate (15s post-Veil), +12% for 30s on attack. Ye's kit scales to 2000% Chain multiplier, +40% DMG; 3s stagger, 30% vuln. She's a hypercarry beast with Zhao/Ellen; Veil CRIT Rate stacks to 24%.
Sequence: 1) Full 4pc White Water Balled on Ye; 2) Blend 2pc Physical with Zhao; 3) Tune those CRIT Rate discs.
Ye Ellen Joe Team Comps
Ye's Must-Tune Substats
CRIT DMG/RES PEN/Stun Multiplier shine under Veil. Mains: HP%/ATK%/Ice DMG% on V; Energy Regen%/Impact% on VI. Pairs perfectly with Zhao's Veil for Physical meta; +40% DMG boost. Bosses with 30 DEF? You want 200% Stun mult.
Hit these: 1) Hunt White Water Balled CRIT subs; 2) Reroll RES PEN for Veil; 3) Jump into co-op DPS queues.
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Zhao vs Ye: Substat Showdown
Tier 1 Face-Off
Zhao: CRIT DMG (Veil +40%) > RES PEN (M1 12% ignore + boss RES) > Stun Multiplier.
Ye: CRIT Rate (White Water +12-24%) > CRIT DMG > RES PEN.
Both: Energy Regen% for 30s Veil uptime.
Zhao rocks HP%/CRIT 4pc, HP-scaling (+0.05 ATK/HP). Ye? White Water Balled 4pc. Zhao squads push 120+ Shiyu; Ye unleashes 2000% chains.
DPS Breakdown – Numbers Don't Lie
Tuned Zhao dishes +40% CRIT DMG squad-wide. Ye refreshes +12% CRIT Rate. Benchmark: 90k Shiyu S+ (720 Polychrome).
Test it: 1) Sim Notorious Hunt; 2) Stack pre/post-tune Daze; 3) Tweak for Ice meta (Lycaon 25% RES shred).
Your First 10 Rerolls: No-BS Plan
Zhao Reroll Roadmap
Check pity (28.8k Polychrome, 180 pulls).
Grind dailies (300 Polychrome/day x48=14.4k).
Snag HP% discs with Stun Multiplier/CRIT DMG/RES PEN.
One Calib per disc for 10 total; scrap the rest.
Snag free Zhao from events; W-Engine at 12.8k (80 pulls).
Ye Reroll Roadmap
Bank pulls post-Zhao banner.
White Water Balled + CRIT Rate/RES PEN.
Co-op farm 600+ Polychrome per site.
Drill hypercarry rotations.
Resource Crunch: Costs and Smart Farms
Tuner Breakdown
1 Calibrator = 1 sub-stat; 2 per disc from 30-min co-op research. F2P's 28.8k handles pulls + mats. Play Daze Master Zhao. Pull 600+ Polychrome; Shiyu S+ yields 720-780.
Pro Hacks
Auto-clear Ether Batteries. Butler Bangboo amps +80% Daze. Chase S-rank (3-4 subs) only.
Pitfalls to Dodge
Don't Over-Reroll Junk
B-rank (Lv9, 1-2 subs)? Pass. S/A only. ATK% is dead post-2.5.
Fix it: 1) Lock HP% mains; 2) Tune Tier 1 subs; 3) Tuner's permanent – no take-backs.
Main Stat Blunders
Partition IV: HP%; V: HP%/Ice DMG%/PEN; VI: HP%/Energy Regen%.
Player Tools & Calcs
In-game sims for CRIT/RES forecasts. Leaderboards show Zhao at 120+ Shiyu.
Run: 1) Plug in tuned subs; 2) Match top 0.1%; 3) Monitor Veil uptime.
Real Runs & Benchmarks
Top Zhao Ult: 4234.7% in Veil. Ye: 2000% chains post-stagger. Tuned RES PEN clears Shiyu S+ at 90k.
FAQ
Best substats for Zhao Gongming in ZZZ 2.5?
CRIT DMG > RES PEN > Stun Multiplier on HP% discs (Veil +40% CRIT, M1 12% RES ignore).
Substat Tuner mechanics?
Boosts 1-2 sub-stats per disc with Tuning Calibrators from co-op; max 2 total, permanent.
Priority Drive Discs?
Zhao HP%/CRIT; Ye White Water Balled with Stun Multiplier/CRIT DMG/RES PEN.
Ye's 4pc worth the grind?
Hell yes: 2pc +10% Physical DMG, 4pc +12-24% CRIT Rate under Veil (2000% chain DPS).
Cost for 10 Tuner rerolls?
10 Calibrators (1/disc); farm via 30-min co-op (+600 Polychrome).
Material farm spots?
Co-op research as Daze Master; dailies 300 Polychrome/day; Shiyu S+ 720 rewards.
ZZZ 2.5 Patch Overview