Zenless Zone Zero 2.5 launches Dec 30, 2025, 11 AM UTC+8: PvE Co-Op matchmaking, Shiyu Defense stages. Prep Hollow Zero 100+ floors, 120+ Shiyu scores with Zhao S-tier Ice teams (Ellen, Lycaon, Soukaku). Target 14.4k Polychrome for 90 pulls.
Introduction to ZZZ 2.5 Hollow Zero Prep
Patch 2.5 kicks off Dec 30 and runs through Feb 17, 2026—Phase 1 spotlights Zhao from Dec 30 to Jan 21, then Phase 2 brings Ye and Ellen until Feb 17. Hollow Zero's Ice meta dominates for those 100+ floor clears, and Zhao's HP-tanking prowess shines here. Pair him with Ellen for 120+ Shiyu scores (hitting 90k S+, netting 720-780 Poly). Or go Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler for the same benchmarks—25% Ice RES shred plus +100% CRIT on Flash Freeze. Stock up on Ether Battery (60 Backup +1 Prepaid), hit Arcade and Notorious Hunt, and grab those daily 300 Poly. Zhao's Ult? A monster 4234.7% Ice DMG over 12s Ether Veil (+40% CRIT DMG, +650 Sheer Force, +30% squad DMG, full invuln). Game-changer.
Top 2.4 Agents for Zhao Ice Builds
Ellen stays S-tier. Her +100% CRIT Flash Freeze dazed 37.5% of bosses, and she pairs brutally with Zhao for hybrid damage against 60 DEF foes (-20% Ether RES). Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu pushes 120+ Shiyu easy. How? Upgrade her Freeze AoE first, slot Zhao's EX for 4s multi-hits and heals, then quick-swap after Ult.
Lycaon earns solid A+ status—25% Ice RES shred, +80% Daze multiplier, and +40% Ether/Ice shred in Co-Op. Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku shreds Hollow Zero past 100 floors no sweat. Build tip: Prioritize him over engines; core is 1 DPS + Stun + Buff. Stack Soukaku's Vortex for max output.
Soukaku delivers +1000 ATK at 3 Vortex stacks (via EX/Ult/Chain/Special). She buffs Zhao through Shiyu stage 5's three rooms. Miyabi/Lycaon/Soukaku pulls SS clears. Flex her as buffer—stack Vortex pre-Zhao Ult, slot into Zhao/Ellen/Ye comps.
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Ye rounds out S-tier: 3s stagger, 30% vuln debuff, 40% DMG up, 2000% Chain mult. Synergizes perfectly with Zhao's Veil. Zhao/Ellen/Ye nails Shiyu S+ at 90k. Rotation: Zhao EX/Ult into Ye summons/Chain; pump Hormone Punk past 3000 ATK; chain Basics into strong attacks.
Full Build Guides for Key Agents
Zhao, the S-tier Ice/HP tank. 4-hit Basic gives i-frames, EX delivers 4s multi/heals/invuln, M1 ignores 12% RES off-field—plus +0.05 ATK per HP. HP-scaling W-Engines (sword/axe/ice sword) let him tank Shiyu 30 DEF bosses with 12s stuns. Steps: Max HP. Ult for 4234.7% DMG + Veil. Rot: Basic (0-4s) > EX (4s) > Ult (12s) > swap.
Ellen thrives on Flash Freeze +100% CRIT and Daze with Zhao—hybrid DPS for Hollow Ice pen. Prioritize CRIT/ATK. Upgrade AoE skills, pair with Pan Yinhu heals, unleash post-Zhao Veil.
Lycaon shreds HP+RES (80% Daze mult); Soukaku Vortex pumps ATK buffs. Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler saves 80 Boopon energy. Lycaon stun focus; Soukaku 3-stack Vortex; sync Co-Op factions/elements.
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Drive Disc Sets & Stat Priorities
Zhao: HP gear fuels ATK/DMG/utility, prioritize RES Pen/Stun; Veil subs on HP%, CRIT DMG. HP body main stat; ATK%/RES shred subs. Test in Shiyu.
Ye: Fallen Frost 4-set (Physical/Chain); Hormone Punk (>3000 ATK Anomaly Prof); Chase (CRIT/ATK, Calibrator subs). Fanged Metal W-Eng; Basic Phys Chip 25/Adv 75/Spec 250, 3.7M Denny. 4 Fallen Frost; Calibrator CRIT; Anomaly Prof subs.
Supports like Lycaon/Soukaku? Hormone Punk for those ATK buffs.
Zhao Ice Team Comps & Rotations
Core comps: Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu (Daze/Ice/heals for 120+ Shiyu). Zhao/Ellen/Ye (Veil + summons + Daze, +40% CRIT DMG/30% vuln). Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler (AoE freeze). Always 1 DPS + Stun + Buff; faction/element sync. Rot: Zhao Basic i-frames > EX heals > Ult Veil; swap to Ye Chain (2000%) or Ellen Freeze; Quick Assist chains. Hollow Zero loves Ice pen for 100+ floors/Notorious high-DEF. Co-Op? Pan heals stage 5, Yuzuha +600 ATK/40s.
Comparisons: Zhao Ice vs Other Teams
Data shows Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler edges Zhao/Ellen, both topping Yixuan in Shiyu clears. Against Miyabi (+100% CRIT charged/Yixuan DEF ignore), Zhao holds competitive for 100+ Hollow. F2P? Lycaon/Qingyi/Jane/Soukaku beats Billy/Anby/Piper.
Shiyu Score: Zhao Ice 120+; Miyabi 100+; Yixuan 110+.
Hollow Floors: 100+; 110+; 105+.
Sustain: High (Veil/heals); Medium; Low.
(Editor's take: Zhao demands 14.4k Poly, but Miyabi feels higher priority if you're skipping.)
Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
Skipping stun/buff? Bolt in Lycaon/Soukaku (25% shred, +1000 ATK). Zhao stats: HP > DEF—don't skimp on Hormone Punk ATK. Ditch standards; hoard 28.8k Poly, save 12.8k via Butler. Fix rotations without i-frames; test Shiyu stage 5; check Side Panel teams/logs. Characters over engines, always.
Resource Planning & Pull Guide
Pull order: Miyabi > Yixuan > Zhao (1% S-Rank, 160-pull guarantee/25.6k Poly). F2P? Hoard 14.4k for Phase 1 (events + dailies). Bangboo: Butler for Ellen energy (80 Boopon save). Prep 2.4 agents; farm pre-Dec 30.
FAQ
Which 2.4 ZZZ agents are best for 2.5 Hollow Zero?
Ellen (CRIT Freeze), Lycaon (25% RES shred), Soukaku (+1000 ATK).
How to build Zhao’s Ice team?
HP-scaling Zhao + Ellen Daze + Lycaon/Soukaku stun; rot Basic > EX > Ult > swap.
Best team for Shiyu Defense 120+?
Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu or Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler (AoE freeze).
F2P options for Zhao Ice prep?
Lycaon/Qingyi/Jane/Soukaku; hoard 28.8k Poly, skip standards.
Hollow Zero rotation for Ice teams?
Zhao Veil (12s) > Ye Chain/Ellen Freeze; 1 DPS + Stun + Buff sync.
Why build 2.4 agents now for 2.5?
Ice meta; Ellen/Lycaon carry Zhao synergies for 100+ floors.