Zenless Zone Zero's Version 2.5 introduces the Substat Tuner system, letting you enhance up to 2 substats per Drive Disc using Tuning Calibrators. This guide covers resource costs, priority optimization for HP-scaling and Physical CRIT builds, efficient farming via co-op research and Driver Validation Dungeons, and prep tactics for Version 2.6 meta shifts. Master RES PEN and CRIT DMG tuning to hit Shiyu Defense S+ rankings at 90,000 points while maximizing Polychrome investment.
What Is the Substat Tuner System in ZZZ 2.5?
Released December 30, 2026 at 11 AM UTC+8, the Substat Tuner lets you enhance up to 2 substats per Drive Disc using Tuning Calibrators. Unlike RNG farming, this provides targeted stat control.
Each enhancement costs: 1 Calibrator for single substat, 2 Calibrators for dual substats (max 2 enhanced substats per disc). Works across all disc rarities, though base stat potential varies by rank.
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Core Mechanics: How Substat Rerolling Works
Enhancement system ties to disc rarity:
S-Rank: Max level 15, 3-4 substats, highest optimization ceiling
A-Rank: Cap level 12, 2-3 substats
B-Rank: Max level 9, 1-2 substats
S-Rank substat ranges:
CRIT Rate: 2.4% to 14.4%
CRIT DMG: 4.8% to 28.8%
Slot IV HP%: 7.5% to 30%
Slot V PEN Ratio%: 6% to 24%
Slot VI Energy Regen%: 15% to 60%
Enhancement preserves existing substats while improving specific stats—far more efficient than traditional reroll systems randomizing all substats.
Unlock Requirements and Access Location
Unlock after reaching endgame Inter-Knot Level thresholds. Access via Drive Disc management menu → Bardic Needle interface. Filter by set bonuses, main stats, and substat configs to identify optimization candidates.
Requires sufficient Tuning Calibrator reserves earned through co-op research and Driver Validation Dungeons (not purchasable with Polychrome).
Key Differences from Traditional Drive Disc Farming
Traditional farming yields random stats with no control. First 10 disc rerolls cost 28,800 Polychrome (180 pulls equivalent)—massive investment with uncertain returns.
Substat Tuner eliminates RNG by enhancing existing discs with desirable main stats/set bonuses. Instead of farming dozens hoping for optimal substats, enhance 1-2 critical stats on equipped gear.
Critical for HP-scaling builds like Zhao's, where RES PEN and CRIT DMG provide disproportionate value. Tune existing discs instead of farming hundreds for natural rolls.
Complete Substat Tuner Resource Cost Breakdown
Each single-substat enhancement: 1 Calibrator. Dual-substat: 2 Calibrators. Max 2 enhanced substats per disc. Full 6-disc set optimization: 12 Calibrators minimum.
Material Requirements Per Reroll Attempt
Tuning Calibrators: Exclusive currency, cannot be purchased—must farm through gameplay.
Secondary materials:
Plating Agents from Driver Validation Dungeons (disc leveling/enhancement)
Master Copies from dismantling unwanted discs via Bardic Needle
60 Backup Battery Charge exchanges for 1 Prepaid Power Card (stamina system)
Tuning Calibrator Farming Locations and Efficiency
Co-op research (most efficient): Daze Master role using Basic > EX > Ultimate > swap rotation yields 600+ Polychrome + 1-2 Calibrators per 30-min session.
Driver Validation Dungeons (secondary): Consistent drops but lower Calibrator rates. Better for players needing both enhancement materials and base discs.
Daily activities: 300 Polychrome/day funds stamina refreshes. Shiyu Defense (5 stages, 60,000 max points/stage) rewards 720-780 Polychrome for S+ rankings at 90,000 total points.
Stamina Equivalent Analysis: Farming vs Tuning
Traditional farming: 28,800 Polychrome for first 10 rerolls = 96 days of daily income (300/day), excluding events/Shiyu rewards.
Substat Tuner: Single 30-min co-op session (1-2 Calibrators) = targeted value equivalent to potentially dozens of dungeon runs.
Efficiency gap widens for niche builds. HP-scaling Defense agents like Zhao need HP% main stats on Slots IV/V/VI with Tier 1 substats (Stun Multiplier, CRIT DMG, RES PEN). Farming naturally could take hundreds of runs; tuning guarantees desired substats within 2 Calibrators/disc.
F2P Budget Planning for Substat Optimization
Priority targets: S-Rank discs with correct main stats and set bonuses first (highest base stat potential, longest lifespan).
Slot priority: Focus Slots IV/V/VI (most impactful main stats: HP%/CRIT Rate%/CRIT DMG% on IV, PEN Ratio%/Attribute DMG% on V, Energy Regen%/Impact% on VI).
Budget: 12 Calibrators for single character's 6-disc optimization = 6-12 co-op sessions (1-2 Calibrators/session) = 3-6 hours spread across days. Achievable F2P within one version cycle.
Drive Disc Locking Priority: What to Optimize First
Priority matrix evaluates: agent role importance, main stat correctness, existing substat quality, set bonus completion. High scores across all four = prime tuning candidate. Low scores = dismantle for Master Copies.
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Priority Matrix by Agent Role
DPS agents: CRIT-focused substats + ATK%/PEN Ratio. Physical Attack agents like Ye Shunguang need 4-piece White Water Balled + 2-piece Physical bonuses, targeting 200% Stun Multiplier vs 30 DEF bosses. Tune CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG first.
Defense agents (Zhao): HP-scaling mechanics demand HP% main stats on Slots IV/V/VI. Tier 1 substats: Stun Multiplier > CRIT DMG > RES PEN. Zhao's Ultimate deals 4234.7% Ice DMG with 12s Ether Veil (+40% squad CRIT DMG).
Anomaly specialists: Anomaly Proficiency/Mastery + Attribute DMG%. Shining Aria set: 2-piece Ether DMG +10%, 4-piece Basic Attack +36 Anomaly Proficiency/8s + Stun +25% DMG/18s.
Support agents: Energy Regen% for buff uptime. Stack for 30s Ether Veil uptime (Zhao's Half-Sugar Bunny W-Engine: Base ATK 713, HP 30%, +40% squad CRIT DMG on EX/Veil).
Disc Slot Importance Ranking
Slots IV/V/VI offer exclusive main stats unavailable on I-III:
Slot IV: HP%/CRIT Rate%/CRIT DMG% (7.5-30%, 6-24%, 12-48% S-Rank ranges). Percentage-based stats scale with character level.
Slot V: PEN Ratio% (6-24%)/Attribute DMG% (7.5-30%). Multiplicative damage modifiers. RES PEN substats priority for Zhao Ice DMG.
Slot VI: Energy Regen% (15-60%)/Impact% (4.5-18%). Controls ultimate frequency/stun application.
Slots I-III roll flat ATK/HP/DEF main stats (poor endgame scaling). Lower Calibrator priority despite substat importance.
Identifying 'God Roll' Candidates Worth Locking
God rolls combine: correct main stats + optimal set bonuses + 2+ desirable substats before tuning.
Physical DPS: Slot IV White Water Balled with CRIT Rate% main + existing CRIT DMG%/ATK% substats = 2 Calibrator investment.
HP-scaling Defense: Slot V with HP% main + existing RES PEN or CRIT DMG. Zhao's Tier 1 priority (Stun Multiplier > CRIT DMG > RES PEN) makes discs with HP% main + any two immediate tuning targets.
Set bonus completion affects evaluation. Perfect substats with wrong set < slightly inferior disc completing 4-piece bonus. White Water Balled 4-piece: Ether Veil +12% CRIT Rate/15s post-Veil + +12%/30s on attack for Attack characters.
Existing substat roll quality matters less than type. Low-rolled CRIT DMG (5%) can be enhanced; perfect ATK% rolls missing CRIT stats entirely need new disc farming.
When to Skip Tuning: Diminishing Returns Threshold
Skip A/B-Rank discs unless temporary placeholders. A-Rank caps at level 12 with lower base stats—inefficient vs farming S-Rank replacements.
Avoid non-primary DPS/supports with minimal field time. Butler Bangboo provides +80% Daze without optimized discs.
Postpone when Version 2.6 changes uncertain. Leaked mechanical changes may shift substat meta. Focus universally valuable substats (CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG) maintaining value across metas.
Dismantle incorrect main stats regardless of substat quality. Bardic Needle converts to Master Copies for future crafting.
Step-by-Step: How to Use the Substat Tuner Effectively
Access Tuner via Drive Disc management menu after unlocking Bardic Needle. System displays eligible discs with current substats/enhancement status. Filter by set, main stat, substat configs.
Interface Navigation and Option Selection
Grid format with filters for set bonuses/main stats/substat types. Use filters to isolate target build requirements: 4-piece White Water Balled for Physical DPS, HP% main for Defense.
Select disc to view detailed substat info (current values, enhancement history). Interface shows enhanced substats and Calibrator investment, preventing over-investment.
Enhancement options appear as selectable substats with Calibrator cost. Single-substat: 1 Calibrator. Two substats: 2 Calibrators (2-substat max enforced).
Locking Desired Substats: Best Practices
Lock in priority order per agent role. Zhao builds: lock RES PEN first (Tier 1), then CRIT DMG (secondary).
Avoid locking minimal-value substats. Physical DPS gains nothing from Ether DMG%. Verify substat compatibility with agent damage types/scaling before committing.
Lock substats on correct main stat/set bonus discs first. White Water Balled Slot IV with CRIT Rate% main deserves CRIT DMG lock before Slot I-III discs.
Consider future flexibility. Energy Regen% provides value across agent types—safer than hyper-specialized stats like Anomaly Proficiency.
Reroll Strategy: Single vs Multiple Substat Targeting
Single-substat (1 Calibrator): Disc already has one optimal substat, needs one more for god roll. Zhao disc with existing RES PEN benefits from single-target CRIT DMG enhancement.
Dual-substat (2 Calibrators): Correct main stats/set bonuses but missing desired substats. Ye Shunguang discs lacking both CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG benefit from dual-target to reach 200% Stun Multiplier vs 30 DEF bosses.
2-substat max requires strategic planning. Prioritize two highest-impact substats. Physical DPS: CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG > ATK% + flat ATK combined.
Budget Calibrators across full 6-disc set vs perfecting individual discs. Distributing 12 Calibrators (2 substats on each of 6 discs) creates balanced stats vs investing all into 2-3 discs.
Knowing When to Stop: Statistical Optimization Points
Stop at 80% max roll values. Resource cost to push 80% → 100% exceeds performance gain. CRIT DMG at 23% (80% of 28.8% max) provides sufficient value.
Cease at Shiyu Defense S+ thresholds. 90,000-point requirement for S+ (720-780 Polychrome rewards) = practical target. Further tuning beyond S+ provides minimal rewards vs investing in additional characters.
Test in Notorious Hunt vs +40% Ice RES bosses. If clear times meet targets/community benchmarks, additional tuning = diminishing returns vs building secondary teams.
Pause near Version 2.6 release. New sets/agent kits/mechanics may invalidate priorities. Reserve Calibrators for post-2.6 adjustments.
Substat Priority Guide by Agent Archetype
CRIT-Focused DPS Agents
CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG with 1:2 ratio. Target 60-70% CRIT Rate, 120-140% CRIT DMG baseline.
Ye Shunguang: 4-piece White Water Balled (+10% Physical DMG 2-piece, Ether Veil +12% CRIT Rate/15s post-Veil + +12%/30s on attack 4-piece). Set bonus reduces required CRIT Rate substats, allows greater CRIT DMG investment.
Secondary: ATK%/PEN Ratio% for multiplicative scaling. PEN Ratio% valuable vs high-DEF Shiyu Defense upper floors.
Tertiary: Energy Regen% for ultimate uptime. Rank below CRIT stats—tune only after primary stats reach thresholds.
Anomaly Specialists
Anomaly Proficiency for faster status application. Shining Aria 4-piece: Basic Attack +36 Anomaly Proficiency/8s, synergy with Proficiency-stacked substats.
Anomaly Mastery increases status damage once applied. Balance based on enemy type: high-HP bosses benefit from Mastery (larger damage ticks), multi-enemy favors Proficiency (faster application).
Attribute DMG% amplifies direct + anomaly damage for matching elements. Ether DMG% on Shining Aria benefits from 2-piece +10% Ether DMG, creating multiplicative scaling.
Energy Regen% supports anomaly ultimates (team buffs/additional status). Tertiary priority behind Proficiency/Mastery.
Support Agents
Energy Regen% for buff uptime/ultimate frequency. Stack for 30s Ether Veil uptime (Zhao's Ultimate: 12s Veil + +40% squad CRIT DMG).
HP%/DEF% improve survivability, reduce interruption during buff application. Zhao benefits from HP% main on Slots IV/V/VI—HP% substats on other slots redundant, lower priority than utility.
Impact% accelerates stun for crowd control roles. Butler Bangboo +80% Daze, but Impact% substats complement for faster stun windows.
CRIT substats provide minimal value for pure supports with low field time. Avoid tuning CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG unless meaningful personal damage.
Defensive Agents
Zhao: HP-scaling mechanics demand HP% main on Slots IV/V/VI. Ultimate deals 4234.7% Ice DMG scaling with HP.
Tier 1 substats: Stun Multiplier > CRIT DMG > RES PEN. Despite defensive roles, HP-scaling abilities make offensive substats valuable.
Energy Regen% maintains Ether Veil uptime for squad buffs. Zhao's Veil: +40% squad CRIT DMG/12s. Stack Energy Regen% for 30s uptime via rotation optimization.
Impact% supports crowd control. Less critical than HP%/Energy Regen%, but provides utility in multi-enemy content.
Version 2.6 Build Changes: Future-Proofing Investments
Confirmed and Leaked Mechanical Changes
Version 2.6 previews suggest new modes/Drive Disc sets altering priorities. Patterns from previous cycles indicate potential CRIT vs Anomaly meta balance shifts.
New sets like expanded Shining Aria variants may provide alternative stat distributions reducing specific substat reliance. Monitor official announcements/community leaks for viable post-2.6 investments.
Ether Veil duration/buff value adjustments could impact Energy Regen% value. Extended base duration = less critical; shortened = increased importance.
How New Agent Kits Will Shift Substat Meta
New agents may introduce alternative scaling (DEF%/Anomaly Mastery), creating new optimization paths beyond HP-scaling like Zhao.
Agent synergies affect team substat priorities. If 2.6 introduces team-wide CRIT Rate buffs, individual CRIT Rate requirements decrease, allowing greater CRIT DMG investment.
Role distribution changes impact tuning priority. If 2.6 favors Anomaly specialists over CRIT DPS, reallocate Calibrators from CRIT to Anomaly Proficiency builds.
Which Current Builds Remain Viable Post-2.6
CRIT Physical DPS (White Water Balled): Likely viable regardless of changes. 4-piece bonus (+12% CRIT Rate, +12% attack) offers universal value transcending meta shifts.
HP-scaling Defense: Maintains relevance while Ether Veil remains central. Zhao's squad CRIT DMG buff supports multiple DPS archetypes—HP%/Energy Regen% investments future-proof.
Anomaly builds: Higher uncertainty due to potential mechanical adjustments. Conservative players minimize Anomaly Proficiency tuning until 2.6 patch notes confirm stability.
Strategic Substat Tuning for Upcoming Content
Prioritize universal substats: CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG/Energy Regen% providing value across agent types/content modes. Maintain relevance regardless of meta shifts.
Reserve 20-30% Calibrator reserves for post-2.6 adjustments. Buffer allows rapid optimization without extended farming.
Focus tuning on agents with confirmed roster longevity. Main DPS/versatile supports deserve investment over niche specialists potentially obsolete with new releases.
Advanced Min-Maxing Strategies
Statistical Probability: Expected Rolls to Target Substats
S-Rank 4-substat discs: 25% probability/slot for specific stat. Targeting two specific substats (CRIT Rate + CRIT DMG) = 6.25% probability for both naturally, requiring ~16 disc drops statistically.
Substat Tuner bypasses RNG, guaranteeing desired substats for 2 Calibrators/disc. Compared to farming 16 discs (significant stamina/time), tuning provides deterministic optimization at lower cost.
Opportunity Cost Analysis: Tuning vs New Disc Farming
Farming new discs: 28,800 Polychrome for first 10 rerolls = 96 days daily income. 6-12 co-op sessions (12 Calibrators) = 3-6 hours active gameplay.
Tuning provides guaranteed optimization for known costs—deterministic approach reduces variance, allows precise planning.
Farming simultaneously provides Plating Agents + potential god rolls requiring zero tuning. Balanced progression alternates between farming base discs and tuning near-optimal pieces.
Shiyu Defense Floor 100 Substat Benchmarks
S+ ranking: 90,000 points across 5 stages (60,000 max/stage). Demands optimized substats for sufficient damage/survivability within time limits.
CRIT DPS: Minimum 60% CRIT Rate, 120% CRIT DMG for consistent S+. Assumes proper main stats/set bonuses/weapons.
HP-scaling Defense: Sufficient Energy Regen% for 30s Ether Veil uptime. Combined with RES PEN/CRIT DMG, enables Zhao meaningful damage + team support.
Test in Notorious Hunt vs +40% Ice RES bosses to validate Shiyu readiness. Clear times meeting/exceeding benchmarks = practical thresholds reached.
Hybrid Build Flexibility Using Substat Tuner
Tuner enables hybrids combining offensive/defensive substats for versatile performance. Zhao builds balance HP% (survivability) with CRIT DMG (damage), creating adaptable agents.
Hybrids sacrifice peak specialization for broader utility. Pure DPS maximizes damage; hybrids provide survivability margins reducing failure rates.
Use tuning to adjust existing builds toward hybrids without farming new sets. Converting pure DPS to hybrid: tune 2-3 discs replacing ATK% with HP%/DEF%, preserving set bonuses/main stats.
Common Substat Tuner Mistakes to Avoid
Wasting Resources on Low-Potential Base Discs
A/B-Rank tuning: Minimal long-term value (lower base stats). A-Rank caps level 12 with reduced ranges—inferior to S-Rank regardless of tuning.
Incorrect main stats: Cannot salvage via substat tuning. Slot IV ATK% main < S-Rank HP% main with suboptimal substats for HP-scaling builds (main stats contribute larger total values).
Incomplete set bonuses: God roll from wrong set < mediocre disc completing 4-piece (White Water Balled Ether Veil CRIT Rate buff).
Over-Optimizing Non-Critical Agent Builds
Supports with minimal field time gain little from perfect substats. Butler Bangboo +80% Daze without optimized discs.
Secondary DPS/situational specialists receive tuning only after primary DPS/supports reach thresholds. Calibrator scarcity demands prioritization toward highest-usage agents.
Avoid tuning rarely-deployed agents. Meta shifts/playstyle preferences may render certain agents obsolete—wasted investments.
Ignoring Set Bonus Requirements During Tuning
Set bonuses often exceed individual substat values. White Water Balled 4-piece: +10% Physical DMG, Ether Veil +12% CRIT Rate, +12% attack—collectively outweighs several perfect substats.
Tuning off-set discs before completing optimal sets wastes Calibrators. Prioritize farming correct pieces before tuning, even if off-set has superior base substats.
Mixed sets require calculation ensuring substat gains exceed lost bonuses. Generally, 4-piece bonuses > perfect substats on off-set pieces.
Premature Tuning Before Understanding 2.6 Meta
Version 2.6 mechanics may invalidate current priorities. Tuning immediately before major updates risks obsolescence if new content favors different stats.
Wait for official patch notes/community testing before committing Calibrators. Early version periods reveal unexpected interactions shifting optimal priorities from theory.
Reserve Calibrator buffers for rapid post-update optimization. First weeks establish meta trends via community experimentation, providing data-driven tuning guidance.
Resource Management: Balancing Tuning with Other Progression
Weekly Material Allocation Strategy
Allocate stamina: 40% Driver Validation (base discs), 30% co-op research (Calibrators), 30% material domains (agent upgrades). Balanced split ensures steady progression without resource droughts.
Prioritize co-op during limited events offering bonus Calibrator drops. Efficiency windows justify temporarily reducing other farming.
Daily 300 Polychrome funds stamina refreshes during high-priority periods. Shiyu Defense S+ (720-780 Polychrome) creates renewable cycles supporting sustained optimization.
When to Prioritize Agent Leveling Over Disc Tuning
New acquisitions need immediate leveling before disc optimization provides value. Under-leveled agent with perfect discs < max-level with mediocre gear (base stat scaling).
Skill upgrades often provide greater gains than substat optimization. Prioritize skill breakpoints (levels 4/7/10) before heavy disc tuning—skill multipliers amplify all damage.
Weapon enhancement takes precedence for signature weapons. Zhao's Half-Sugar Bunny (Base ATK 713, HP 30%, +40% squad CRIT DMG) offers more total value than perfect disc substats.
Long-Term Account Progression Roadmap
Early (Level 1-40): Agent leveling + basic disc farming. Avoid tuning until endgame where optimization impacts clear rates.
Mid-game (40-60): Selective tuning for main DPS. Invest in highest-usage characters first, complete optimized sets before secondary agents.
Endgame (60+): Comprehensive tuning across rosters. Calibrator income from co-op/Shiyu supports ongoing optimization of multiple teams.
Version cycle planning: Reserve resources for new releases/meta shifts. Maintain 20-30% Calibrator buffers, avoid depleting Polychrome before major updates.
FAQ
What is the Substat Tuner in Zenless Zone Zero? System introduced in Version 2.5 allowing enhancement of up to 2 substats per Drive Disc using Tuning Calibrators. Provides targeted control over substat optimization without random farming.
How do I unlock the Substat Tuner in ZZZ 2.5? Unlocks via Inter-Knot Level progression milestones and accessing Bardic Needle interface in Drive Disc management menu. Requires reaching endgame content thresholds.
Which Drive Disc substats should I prioritize? Depends on role: CRIT DPS needs CRIT Rate/CRIT DMG; HP-scaling Defense (Zhao) prioritizes Stun Multiplier/CRIT DMG/RES PEN; Anomaly needs Proficiency/Mastery; Support needs Energy Regen%.
How much does it cost to use the Substat Tuner? Single-substat: 1 Calibrator. Dual-substat: 2 Calibrators (max 2 enhanced/disc). Full 6-disc set: 12 Calibrators minimum.
Should I lock Drive Discs before or after leveling? After leveling to max (15 for S-Rank) to see final substat values. Prevents wasting Calibrators on discs rolling undesirable substats during leveling.
How does the Substat Tuner compare to farming new Drive Discs? Tuner provides deterministic optimization for 2 Calibrators/disc. Farming costs significant stamina with unpredictable results. Tuning existing discs with correct main stats/sets proves more efficient than farming dozens hoping for perfect substats.
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