Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.6 drops February 6, 2026, bringing Sunna (Ice Support), Aria (Ether Anomaly), and Nangong Yu (Physical Stunner) across two banner phases. Smart pre-patch prep means building six core agents that synergize with new characters while staying endgame-viable. This guide covers role priorities, resource allocation, and team frameworks to maximize Day 1 performance without wasting 11 million Dennies.
Why Pre-2.6 Agent Prep Determines Day 1 Success
Version 2.6 launches February 6, 2026 at 11 AM UTC+8. Phase 1 runs February 6-27 (Sunna/Aria banners), Phase 2 extends February 27-March 20 (Nangong Yu). Players entering with fully built supports immediately capitalize on new S-Ranks, while unprepared accounts face 3-4 week material bottlenecks.
The Angels of Delusion faction introduces three distinct roles requiring specific team comps. Sunna's Ice Support needs established DPS partners, Aria's Ether Anomaly scales with coordinated Anomaly teams, Nangong Yu's Physical Stunner role needs damage dealers for stun windows. Without foundational agents, you waste the 14,400 Polychrome investment (90-pull hard pity) fielding incomplete teams.
For efficient resource acquisition, Zenless Zone Zero monochrome top up through BitTopup provides instant delivery with competitive pricing for guaranteed S-Rank pulls. Each S-Rank needs 800,000 Dennies plus Certification Seals for level 0-60 ascension, before factoring skill upgrades demanding 2,905,000 Dennies and 350 Attribute Chips. Building three new 2.6 agents simultaneously drains 11 million Dennies—pre-farmed supports maintain combat effectiveness during shortages.
Understanding 'Instant Value' in Version Updates
Instant value agents deliver max performance with minimal investment while synergizing with multiple archetypes. They function at Cinema 0 (base mindscape), use accessible F2P W-Engines, and slot into diverse factions. The 0.6% base S-Rank rate with soft pity at 75-80 pulls means most players secure one guaranteed new agent per patch using 8,000-12,000 Polychrome earned through dailies (60 Polychrome) and weeklies (300 Polychrome).
Agents providing universal buffs, consistent stun, or flexible role coverage maintain relevance across updates. Supports amplifying team damage through debuffs/buffs scale with new DPS releases. Stunners enabling burst windows stay meta-critical regardless of elemental shifts. Anomaly specialists with high uptime adapt to changing resistances better than single-target burst dealers.
2.6 meta emphasizes coordinated Anomaly detonations and sustained damage windows. Sunna's Mesmerized marks last 12 seconds with 500% ATK damage detonations at Cinema 2, rewarding consistent field presence. Aria's Charge Attack priority (★★★★★) and Special Attack focus (★★★★☆) demand supports extending rotation time. Nangong Yu's Physical Stunner classification requires dealers capitalizing on extended stun durations.
Resource Bottlenecks Slowing Progression
Material acquisition gates progression more than skill. Each agent's skill upgrades consume 25 Basic + 75 Advanced + 250 Specialized Attribute Chips plus 5 Hamster Cage Passes—Version 2.5 provides only 30-40 passes total. W-Engine enhancement to level 60 demands 400,000 Dennies plus 4 Basic + 32 Reinforced + 30 Specialized Components, competing with ascension for limited Dennies.
Drive Disc farming through VR Device Routine Cleanup operates on RNG drops, requiring weeks for optimal main stats (Slot 4 Anomaly Mastery, Slot 5 Element DMG, Slot 6 Anomaly Proficiency for Anomaly agents). Entering 2.6 without pre-farmed disc sets sacrifices 20-30% damage output. 2-piece and 4-piece set bonuses from Swing Jazz, Freedom Blues, Shockstar Disco, and Puffer Electro provide non-negotiable performance thresholds.
Dennies scarcity is the most underestimated bottleneck. Fully building one S-Rank from level 0 to combat-ready consumes 3,705,000 Dennies (800,000 ascension + 2,905,000 skills). Three simultaneous 2.6 builds drain 11 million Dennies—approximately 4-6 weeks farming through dailies and material conversion. Pre-built supports eliminate this competition, allowing focused investment in new characters.
Agent Selection: The 3-Pillar Framework
Strategic selection balances immediate combat effectiveness against long-term account development. The three-pillar framework evaluates universal synergy (team flexibility), resource efficiency (investment-to-performance ratio), and future-proofing (compatibility with leaked mechanics).
Pillar 1: Universal Synergy Across Teams
Universal synergy measures compatibility with diverse faction comps and role combinations. Supports providing team-wide buffs regardless of element (damage amp, defense reduction, energy regen) slot into any comp. Stunners with fast daze buildup enable burst windows for multiple DPS archetypes. Anomaly specialists applying status effects that stack create multiplicative damage scaling.
Nicole Demara exemplifies universal synergy through faction-agnostic debuffs amplifying all damage types. Her kit works equally well supporting Ether DPS (Zhu Yuan), Fire attackers (Soldier 11), or Ice specialists (Ellen). Nicole investments never become obsolete—she transitions seamlessly between comps as new agents release. Building Nicole before 2.6 immediately pairs her with Aria (Ether Anomaly) or supports Sunna's Ice damage amp.
Anby Demara's Stun Support hybrid provides budget-friendly universal synergy. Her Electric element doesn't conflict with team comps, stun application enables burst windows for any DPS, and F2P accessibility through guaranteed A-Rank acquisition makes Cinema 6 achievable without Polychrome investment.
Pillar 2: Resource Efficiency vs Performance
Resource efficiency calculates performance gains per Dennies/material investment. A-Ranks reaching 80% of S-Rank effectiveness at 40% resource cost demonstrate superior efficiency for F2P accounts. S-Rank supports providing 30-50% team damage increases justify their 3.7 million Dennies cost better than S-Rank DPS offering marginal upgrades over built A-Rank alternatives.
Support and Stunner roles achieve performance thresholds at lower investment than DPS. Supports function effectively with level 50 ascension and skill level 6-8, while DPS needs level 60 ascension and skill level 10-12 for competitive output. This 40% resource difference allows building two supports for one fully optimized DPS cost, creating roster depth for multi-team endgame modes.
W-Engine pairing dramatically impacts efficiency. Signature S-Rank W-Engines like Sunna's (713 base ATK, 60% Energy Regen, stacking 20% DMG + 12.5% ATK) provide 25-35% performance increases but require separate banner pulls. A-Rank alternatives delivering 70-80% of signature performance at zero additional Polychrome cost represent superior efficiency for budget players.
Pillar 3: Future-Proofing Against 2.6 Mechanics
Future-proofing evaluates agent compatibility with confirmed 2.6 mechanics and rumored patterns. Sunna's Ice Support suggests increased Ice-weak enemies in Phase 1, rewarding pre-built Ice DPS partners. Aria's Ether Anomaly kit with 30% Anomaly Mastery and 30% Anomaly Control indicates Anomaly-focused endgame modifiers. Nangong Yu's Physical Stunner role implies stun-dependent boss mechanics requiring coordinated burst windows.
Angels of Delusion faction introduces coordinated team mechanics rewarding synergistic builds. Sunna's Mesmerized marks detonating for 500% ATK at Cinema 2 scale with team Anomaly application rates. Aria's Charge Attack priority (★★★★★) benefits from supports extending field time and energy regen. Pre-built agents filling complementary roles unlock full 2.6 team potential immediately.
Historical patterns show supports and utility agents maintaining relevance across 3-4 updates, while DPS faces power creep within 2-3 patches. Investing in supports like Nicole or stunners like Koleda provides 6-8 month value windows, while hyper-investing in current DPS risks obsolescence when 2.7-2.8 introduce stronger alternatives.
Support Priority: Nicole Demara (Universal Amplifier)
Nicole represents highest-value support investment for 2.6 prep. Her faction-agnostic debuffs amplify all damage types, making her compatible with Aria's Ether Anomaly, Sunna's Ice Support synergies, and Nangong Yu's Physical Stunner teams. Nicole's A-Rank accessibility means F2P players achieve Cinema 6 through standard banner pulls and selector tickets, maximizing performance without Polychrome expenditure.
Optimal skill leveling: Core Skill (team damage amp) to level 10-12, Basic Attack to level 8 (energy generation), Special Attack to level 6-8 (debuff application). This costs approximately 2.1 million Dennies and 200 Attribute Chips—60% less than S-Rank full builds. Performance return justifies early investment: Nicole's debuffs provide 25-35% team damage increases scaling with every DPS upgrade.
W-Engine Pairings and Drive Disc Configs
Nicole functions with multiple W-Engine options across rarity tiers. Signature S-Rank provides optimal energy regen and buff potency, but A-Rank alternatives like Weeping Gemini deliver 75% effectiveness at zero cost. Investing in Nicole's W-Engine provides universal team value, while DPS-specific W-Engines risk obsolescence with roster changes.
Drive Disc optimization prioritizes Swing Jazz 4-piece (energy regen and buff duration) or Freedom Blues 4-piece (support-specific bonuses). Main stat priorities: Slot 4 Energy Regen, Slot 5 Element DMG matching primary DPS, Slot 6 ATK% for scaling buff potency. Substats emphasizing Energy Regen, ATK%, and Effect Hit Rate maximize uptime on debuffs and buffs.
Farming Drive Discs requires 2-3 weeks for complete sets with acceptable substats. Begin Nicole disc farming immediately, prioritizing main stat correctness over perfect substats. Nicole with correct main stats and mediocre substats outperforms perfectly built DPS lacking support amp—the 25-35% team damage increase exceeds individual character optimization gains.
Team Slot Flexibility Across Factions
Nicole's universal compatibility creates immediate 2.6 synergies. Nicole + Aria + Anby forms budget-friendly Ether Anomaly core: Aria applies Ether Anomaly, Nicole amplifies damage through debuffs, Anby provides stun windows. This costs minimal Polychrome (Aria banner only) while delivering competitive Shiyu Defense performance.
Nicole + Sunna combinations enable Ice-focused teams with Ellen or future Ice DPS. Sunna's Ice Support stacks multiplicatively with Nicole's universal debuffs, creating 50-60% combined damage amp. Nicole + Zhu Yuan + Sunna forms balanced Ether/Ice hybrid exploiting both agents' support capabilities.
For Nangong Yu Physical teams, Nicole provides damage amp during stun windows. Nangong Yu + Soldier 11 + Nicole creates Physical/Fire hybrid exploiting stun phases with burst damage. This flexibility means Nicole investments never become stranded—she transitions seamlessly between archetypes as roster expands.
Stun Priority: Koleda Belobog (Fire Faction Enabler)
Koleda delivers specialized value for Fire-focused comps while maintaining broader utility through consistent stun application. Her S-Rank status requires Polychrome investment, but Koleda's dual role as faction leader (Belobog Heavy Industries) and premium stunner justifies the 14,400 Polychrome cost for players building Fire teams. 2.6 content patterns suggesting Fire-weak enemies in specific Shiyu Defense floors increase Koleda's immediate value.
Cinema investment breakpoints impact Koleda's performance. Cinema 0 provides functional stun application, while Cinema 1 unlocks enhanced daze buildup reducing time-to-stun by 15-20%. Cinema 2+ enters diminishing returns—resource cost (duplicate pulls requiring 14,400 Polychrome each) exceeds performance gains unless building dedicated Fire mains. F2P players should target Cinema 0-1, reserving Polychrome for new 2.6 agents.
Stun Multiplier Optimization
Koleda's stun multiplier mechanics reward coordinated rotations. Her daze buildup scales with Impact stat from Drive Discs and W-Engine bonuses, while stun duration extensions from Cinema levels create longer burst windows. Optimal play: Koleda applies daze through Basic Attack chains, swap to DPS during stun windows, rotate back for daze maintenance. This rhythm requires pre-built DPS partners ready to capitalize on 6-8 second stun phases.
Drive Disc optimization prioritizes Shockstar Disco 4-piece (Impact and stun bonuses) or Puffer Electro 4-piece (energy and daze buildup). Main stats: Slot 4 Impact, Slot 5 Fire DMG (if building hybrid damage), Slot 6 ATK% for scaling stun damage contribution. Substats target Impact, ATK%, and Crit Rate if using Koleda for supplementary damage.
W-Engine selection balances stun efficiency against damage contribution. Signature maximizes daze buildup speed, reducing rotation time and increasing stun window frequency. A-Rank alternatives sacrifice 20-25% stun efficiency but remain viable for budget builds—performance gap matters most in high-level Shiyu Defense where faster stuns enable additional burst cycles within time limits.
Material Farming for Fire Agents
Pre-farming Fire-specific materials positions players for immediate Koleda optimization and future Fire releases. Koleda's ascension requires Specialized Stun Seals farmed through specific Combat Commission stages on rotation schedules. Stockpile 4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Superior Stun Seals (800,000 Dennies total) before 2.6 launches, eliminating ascension bottlenecks.
Skill material farming follows standard 25 Basic + 75 Advanced + 250 Specialized Attribute Chips pattern, but Fire-specific chips drop from designated stages. Coordinate farming schedules with energy regen (240 energy daily cap) and stage availability. Complete Koleda's skill upgrades to level 8-10 before 2.6, reserving final 10-12 pushes for post-launch when testing confirms optimal priorities.
Koleda teams with Soldier 11 (Fire DPS) and Nicole (universal support) create Fire core for 2.6 content. This exploits Fire-weak enemies while maintaining flexibility through Nicole's faction-agnostic buffs. Adding Nangong Yu post-Phase 2 creates Physical/Fire hybrid with dual stun options, though resource constraints may limit simultaneous development for F2P accounts.
Attack Priority: Zhu Yuan (Consistent DPS)
Zhu Yuan represents Attack role priority through Ether damage consistency and proven Shiyu Defense performance. Her S-Rank Ether DPS classification synergizes immediately with Aria's Ether Anomaly mechanics—Zhu Yuan provides sustained damage while Aria applies Anomaly stacks, creating multiplicative scaling. Ether element maintains meta relevance across updates due to fewer enemy resistances versus Physical or Fire.
Skill priority: Core Skill upgrades to level 10-12 provide largest DPS increases (30-40% damage scaling), followed by Special Attack to level 8-10 (burst window optimization), Basic Attack to level 6-8 (filler damage and energy generation). This costs approximately 2.9 million Dennies and 350 Attribute Chips—standard S-Rank DPS investment.
Optimal Rotation Patterns
Zhu Yuan's rotation patterns prioritize maximizing Special Attack usage during support buff windows. Optimal sequences: Nicole applies debuffs, Zhu Yuan executes Special Attack burst, then maintains Basic Attack chains during cooldowns. Stun windows from Anby or Lycaon enable extended Special Attack sequences, increasing damage-per-rotation by 40-50% versus non-stunned rotations.
Drive Disc optimization follows standard DPS priorities: Slot 4 Crit Rate or Crit DMG (targeting 60% Crit Rate / 120% Crit DMG ratios), Slot 5 Ether DMG (20-30% damage increase), Slot 6 ATK% (scaling all damage sources). Set bonuses from Hormone Punk 4-piece (Crit-focused) or Woodpecker Electro 4-piece (ATK-scaling) provide 15-25% damage increases. Substat priorities: Crit Rate, Crit DMG, ATK%, Ether DMG%.
Team comps leverage Ether specialization. Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Lycaon creates balanced Ether team with stun support and universal buffs. Zhu Yuan + Aria + Sunna (post-2.6) forms Ether Anomaly hybrid exploiting Aria's Anomaly application and Sunna's support capabilities. Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Anby provides F2P alternative, sacrificing premium stun efficiency for zero additional Polychrome cost.
Budget W-Engine Alternatives
W-Engine selection impacts total investment cost. Signature S-Rank provides 30-35% damage increases through optimized stats and passives, but requires separate banner pulls (14,400 Polychrome for guarantee). A-Rank alternatives like Starlight Engine deliver 70-75% of signature performance at zero Polychrome cost, representing superior resource efficiency for F2P players.
The 4-duplicate Limit Break system creates additional resource sinks. Fully breaking Zhu Yuan's signature requires five total copies (57,600 Polychrome worst-case), providing 15-20% additional damage over base version. This investment only makes sense for dedicated mains—most players achieve better account value spreading Polychrome across multiple agents.
Pre-farm W-Engine enhancement materials (400,000 Dennies + 4 Basic + 32 Reinforced + 30 Specialized Components per W-Engine to level 60) for 2-3 W-Engines before 2.6, allowing flexible allocation based on banner results. Zhu Yuan's W-Engine enhancement should complete before 2.6 launches, eliminating competition with new agent material demands.
Anomaly Priority: Grace Howard (DoT Dominance)
Grace establishes Anomaly foundation through Electric element damage-over-time mechanics and consistent Shock application. Her S-Rank Anomaly specialization creates immediate synergy potential with Aria's Ether Anomaly kit—dual Anomaly teams stack status effects for multiplicative damage scaling. Grace's Electric element avoids overlap with Aria's Ether, enabling both agents in same comp without elemental redundancy.
Electric Anomaly synergy with rumored 2.6 agents extends beyond Aria. Leaked info suggests increased Anomaly-focused endgame modifiers rewarding teams maintaining multiple simultaneous status effects. Grace applying Shock while Aria stacks Ether Anomaly creates 40-50% damage increases through combined DoT ticks and Anomaly detonation bonuses.
Shock Application Rate Optimization
Grace's Shock application rate determines team contribution ceiling. Optimal builds prioritize Anomaly Mastery (increasing Shock damage) and Anomaly Proficiency (accelerating Shock application speed). Drive Disc main stats: Slot 4 Anomaly Mastery, Slot 5 Electric DMG, Slot 6 Anomaly Proficiency—this maximizes both Shock damage and application frequency.
Skill priority: Special Attack upgrades to level 10-12 provide largest Anomaly buildup increases, followed by Core Skill to level 8-10 (Shock damage scaling), Basic Attack to level 6-8 (filler application during cooldowns). This costs standard S-Rank investment (2.9 million Dennies, 350 Attribute Chips) but delivers specialized Anomaly performance.
Drive Disc set comparison weighs Freedom Blues 4-piece (Anomaly-specific bonuses) against Chaos Jazz 4-piece (Electric DMG amp). Freedom Blues provides 15-20% higher Anomaly buildup rates, accelerating Shock application by 2-3 seconds per rotation. Chaos Jazz offers 20-25% increased Shock tick damage but slower application. Most favor Freedom Blues for consistent uptime.
Team Composition Templates
Grace team comps prioritize maintaining Shock uptime while layering additional damage sources. Grace + Aria + Nicole creates dual-Anomaly core: Grace applies Shock, Aria stacks Ether Anomaly, Nicole amplifies all damage through debuffs. This achieves 90%+ combined Anomaly uptime, creating consistent DoT damage scaling with enemy HP pools in endgame content.
Grace + Anton + Sunna forms Electric-focused alternative exploiting Sunna's support capabilities (post-2.6). Anton provides supplementary Electric damage during Grace's cooldowns, while Sunna's buffs amplify both agents' output. This sacrifices dual-Anomaly synergy for higher burst damage during Sunna's buff windows.
For F2P players, Grace + Anby + Nicole provides budget-friendly Anomaly access. Anby's stun windows enable extended Grace field time for Shock application, while Nicole's debuffs amplify Shock tick damage. This costs only Grace's banner Polychrome (14,400 for guarantee), making it most accessible Anomaly team for 2.6 prep.
Defense Priority: Lycaon (Sustain and Stun Hybrid)
Lycaon delivers dual-role value through Defense classification with practical Stun application, creating resource efficiency for accounts unable to build separate Defense and Stun specialists. His S-Rank Ice element synergizes with Sunna's Ice Support mechanics (post-2.6), while hybrid capabilities enable flexible team slotting. Lycaon investments provide immediate returns through Shiyu Defense survival improvements and long-term value through Ice faction team building.
Ice faction team building around Lycaon positions players for Sunna synergies. Lycaon + Ellen + Sunna creates premium Ice core exploiting Sunna's support buffs, Ellen's Ice DPS, and Lycaon's stun/sustain hybrid role. This requires significant Polychrome investment (two S-Rank agents minimum) but delivers top-tier performance in Ice-favorable content.
Survival Mechanics for Floor 10+ Shiyu Defense
Lycaon's Defense role becomes critical in Floor 10+ Shiyu Defense where enemy damage threatens team survival. His shield generation and damage mitigation enable aggressive DPS rotations without interruption from enemy attacks. This sustain allows DPS agents to complete full rotation cycles, increasing overall damage output by 20-30% versus comps requiring defensive dodging and rotation interruptions.
Drive Disc optimization balances Defense stats with Stun efficiency. Slot 4 should prioritize Impact (stun buildup) or DEF% (survival), Slot 5 Ice DMG (if building hybrid damage), Slot 6 DEF% or HP% (sustain scaling). Set bonuses from Shockstar Disco 4-piece (stun-focused) or Swing Jazz 4-piece (support-oriented) provide 15-20% performance increases.
W-Engine selection determines primary role emphasis. Signature W-Engines maximizing Defense stats create pure sustain builds, while Impact-focused alternatives shift toward Stun specialist territory. Most favor balanced approaches using A-Rank W-Engines providing moderate Defense and Impact, creating flexible hybrid performance at reduced Polychrome cost.
Investment Threshold for Endgame Viability
Lycaon reaches endgame viability thresholds at lower investment than pure DPS agents. Level 50 ascension with skill levels 6-8 provides functional sustain and stun application for Floor 8-9 Shiyu Defense. Pushing to level 60 with skill levels 10-12 enables Floor 10+ progression, but the resource gap (approximately 1.5 million Dennies and 150 Attribute Chips) can be deferred until after 2.6 launch when testing confirms team comp priorities.
Cinema investment follows similar efficiency curves as Koleda—Cinema 0 provides baseline functionality, Cinema 1 unlocks meaningful performance increases (15-20% improved sustain/stun), Cinema 2+ enters diminishing returns. F2P players should target Cinema 0-1, allocating additional Polychrome toward new 2.6 agents rather than Lycaon duplicates.
Lycaon teams demonstrate immediate 2.6 value. Lycaon + Zhu Yuan + Nicole creates balanced Ether team with sustain and support, enabling consistent Shiyu Defense clears. Lycaon + Sunna + Ellen (post-2.6) forms premium Ice comp exploiting all three agents' synergies. Lycaon + Aria + Nicole provides alternative Ether Anomaly team with added survivability.
Flex Pick: Anby Demara (F2P Accessibility King)
Anby represents ultimate F2P investment through guaranteed A-Rank acquisition and zero-Polychrome Cinema 6 accessibility. Every player receives Anby through tutorial rewards, while standard banner pulls and selector tickets provide mindscape duplicates without rate-up banner pulls. This accessibility makes Anby the foundation for budget team comps, enabling competitive performance without Polychrome expenditure beyond new S-Rank acquisitions.
Cinema 6 Anby achieves 70-80% of premium S-Rank stunner performance at zero additional cost. Each mindscape unlock provides meaningful power increases: Cinema 1 improves stun buildup, Cinema 2 enhances energy regen, Cinema 4 boosts damage contribution, Cinema 6 maximizes stun efficiency. F2P players naturally accumulate Anby duplicates through 6-8 months of standard banner pulls.
Zero-Cost Mindscape Acquisition
Anby's mindscape acquisition follows predictable patterns through standard banner mechanics and selector ticket events. Standard banner pulls (using free Master Tapes from events and battle pass) provide 0.6% S-Rank rates with A-Rank pity at 10 pulls. Over 6-month periods, F2P players accumulate 60-80 standard pulls, generating 6-8 A-Rank acquisitions—statistically providing 2-3 Anby duplicates.
Selector ticket events (typically 1-2 per major version) allow targeted A-Rank acquisition, enabling guaranteed Anby mindscape progression. Prioritize Anby selections until reaching Cinema 4-6, as her performance scaling justifies early investment over diversifying A-Rank roster. Zero-Polychrome cost means Anby investments never compete with limited banner pulls for new S-Rank agents.
Skill priority: Special Attack upgrades to level 10-12 maximize daze buildup, Core Skill to level 8-10 improves stun window duration, Basic Attack to level 6-8 provides filler application. Total investment costs approximately 2.1 million Dennies and 200 Attribute Chips—40% less than S-Rank agents while delivering 70-80% of premium stunner performance.
Stun Support Hybrid in Budget Teams
Anby's Stun Support hybrid classification creates flexible team slotting. Her Electric element avoids overlap with most DPS agents, stun application enables burst windows, and energy generation supports team rotation flow. This versatility means Anby functions in virtually any comp lacking dedicated stunners—she fills gaps in roster coverage without forcing specific archetypes.
Drive Disc optimization follows stunner priorities: Slot 4 Impact, Slot 5 Electric DMG (if building hybrid damage), Slot 6 ATK% or Energy Regen. Set bonuses from Shockstar Disco 4-piece (stun-focused) or Swing Jazz 4-piece (support energy) provide 15-20% performance increases. Anby's lower stat scaling makes correct main stats more impactful than perfect substats—prioritize main stat correctness over substat optimization.
W-Engine selection emphasizes accessibility. Her signature A-Rank W-Engine (available through standard banner and crafting) provides optimal stun efficiency at zero Polychrome cost. Alternative A-Rank options sacrifice 10-15% stun performance but remain viable. Avoid investing Polychrome in premium W-Engines for Anby, reserving resources for S-Rank agent optimization.
Comparison with Premium Stunners
Anby versus premium stunners (Koleda, Lycaon, Nangong Yu) reveals clear trade-offs. Premium stunners provide 20-30% faster stun buildup, enabling additional burst cycles within Shiyu Defense time limits. This performance gap matters most in Floor 10+ content where seconds determine clear success. However, Anby's zero-Polychrome cost allows allocating 14,400+ Polychrome toward additional S-Rank DPS or support agents, creating net account value exceeding single premium stunner acquisitions.
For 2.6 prep, Anby enables immediate team functionality while saving Polychrome for Sunna, Aria, or Nangong Yu acquisitions. Anby + Aria + Nicole costs only Aria's banner Polychrome (14,400 for guarantee), leaving 14,400+ Polychrome reserves for Phase 2 Nangong Yu or Sunna pulls. This resource efficiency accelerates roster development versus investing in premium stunners before securing new 2.6 agents.
Anby teams demonstrate competitive performance across content tiers. Anby + Zhu Yuan + Nicole clears Floor 8-9 Shiyu Defense consistently, while Anby + Aria + Nicole (post-2.6) provides budget-friendly Anomaly access. Anby + Billy + Sunna creates F2P Physical/Ice hybrid exploiting Sunna's support capabilities.
Resource Allocation: 4-Week Prep Roadmap
Strategic resource allocation across four weeks before February 6, 2026 maximizes Day 1 readiness. This timeline balances material farming, Dennies accumulation, skill upgrades, and Drive Disc optimization while maintaining daily commission completion for Polychrome income.
Week 1-2: Material Farming and Dennies
Weeks 1-2 prioritize stockpiling Certification Seals, Attribute Chips, and Dennies through focused farming. Daily energy allocation (240 energy cap) should target Combat Commission stages dropping materials for priority agents. Rotation schedules determine stage availability—track weekly resets to farm specific material types when accessible.
Dennies farming through material conversion and commission rewards generates 500,000-700,000 Dennies weekly. Players need 11 million Dennies for three new 2.6 agents (3.7 million each), requiring 16-22 weeks of pure Dennies farming. Pre-building six support agents consumes 12-15 million Dennies total, but this investment eliminates resource competition when new agents release.
Material farming priorities follow agent selection: Nicole requires Support-specific Seals and Chips, Koleda needs Stun Seals, Zhu Yuan demands Attack Seals, Grace requires Anomaly Seals, Lycaon uses Defense Seals, Anby needs Stun Seals. Complete ascension material farming (4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Superior Seals per agent) during Weeks 1-2, deferring skill materials to Week 3.
Week 3: Skill Upgrades and W-Engine Enhancement
Week 3 shifts focus to skill upgrades and W-Engine enhancement using materials farmed during Weeks 1-2. Skill priority follows role-specific patterns: Supports prioritize Core Skills (team buffs), DPS agents maximize Special Attacks (burst damage), Stunners emphasize stun-related abilities, Anomaly specialists upgrade Anomaly application skills.
W-Engine enhancement to level 60 requires 400,000 Dennies plus components per W-Engine. Complete enhancements for priority agents (Nicole, primary DPS, primary stunner) during Week 3, deferring secondary agent W-Engines to post-2.6 when testing confirms team comps. The 4-duplicate Limit Break system remains low priority for F2P players—base W-Engine performance suffices for Day 1 content.
Skill level targets for Week 3 completion: Core Skills to level 8-10 (major breakpoints), Special Attacks to level 8-10 (damage scaling), Basic Attacks to level 6-8 (filler optimization). Pushing skills to level 11-12 enters diminishing returns—material cost (50+ Specialized Chips per level) exceeds performance gains. Reserve level 11-12 upgrades for post-2.6 when Polychrome income resumes and material stockpiles rebuild.
Week 4: Drive Disc Optimization and Testing
Week 4 dedicates energy to Drive Disc farming through VR Device Routine Cleanup and team comp testing in Shiyu Defense. Drive Disc optimization provides 20-30% performance increases over unoptimized sets. Correct main stats matter more than perfect substats—accept mediocre substats on correct main stat discs rather than pursuing perfect rolls.
Team testing in current Shiyu Defense content validates prep effectiveness. Clear Floor 8-10 using planned 2.6 team comps (substituting placeholder agents for unreleased characters). Successful clears confirm readiness, while failures identify weak points requiring additional investment.
Drive Disc farming priorities target sets for priority agents: Nicole needs Swing Jazz or Freedom Blues, Koleda requires Shockstar Disco or Puffer Electro, Zhu Yuan uses Hormone Punk or Woodpecker Electro, Grace needs Freedom Blues or Chaos Jazz, Lycaon uses Shockstar Disco or Swing Jazz, Anby requires Shockstar Disco. Farm 2-3 complete sets with correct main stats during Week 4, with substat improvements deferred to ongoing farming post-2.6.
Daily Task Optimization
Daily task optimization throughout 4-week period maintains Polychrome income and material acquisition. Daily commissions provide 60 Polychrome (1,680 weekly, 6,720 monthly), while weekly tasks add 300 Polychrome (1,200 monthly). Combined with event rewards and battle pass, F2P players generate 8,000-12,000 Polychrome per 42-day patch cycle—sufficient for one guaranteed S-Rank agent (14,400 Polychrome) every 1.5 patches.
Energy management determines farming efficiency. The 240 daily energy cap regenerates at 1 energy per 6 minutes (240 energy per 24 hours). Spend energy twice daily to avoid cap overflow, prioritizing Combat Commission stages during material farming weeks and VR Device during Drive Disc farming weeks. Energy overflow represents lost progression.
Event participation during prep period provides supplementary resources. Version 2.5 events offer 30-40 Hamster Cage Passes (skill upgrade materials), 2,000-3,000 Polychrome, and various Dennies/material rewards. Completing all event content adds 15-20% to total resource accumulation, accelerating prep timelines.
Common Prep Mistakes That Waste Resources
Resource waste through suboptimal prep decisions delays 2.6 readiness by weeks. Understanding common mistakes prevents Dennies/Polychrome misallocation.
Over-Investing in Single-Role Specialists
Single-role specialists with narrow team compatibility represent high-risk investments before version updates. Hyper-investing in niche DPS agents lacking universal synergy creates stranded resources when new content favors different elements or mechanics. The 3.7 million Dennies cost for fully building one S-Rank agent equals 50% of resources needed for three partially built agents—diversified investment provides greater roster flexibility.
Players frequently over-invest in signature W-Engines and Cinema levels for single agents, consuming Polychrome better allocated across multiple agents. A Cinema 2 agent with signature W-Engine costs 43,200+ Polychrome (three guaranteed S-Rank pulls), while three Cinema 0 agents with A-Rank W-Engines cost 43,200 Polychrome total. The latter creates three functional team cores versus one optimized character.
Balanced roster development prioritizes breadth over depth until reaching endgame content requiring hyper-optimization. Build 6-8 agents to functional levels (level 50, skill 6-8, correct Drive Discs) before pushing any single agent to maximum investment (level 60, skill 10-12, optimized substats).
Ignoring Supports for Flashy DPS
Support agent neglect represents the most common prep mistake. DPS agents deliver visible damage numbers creating psychological satisfaction, while supports provide invisible 25-35% team damage increases through buffs and debuffs. Players instinctively invest in DPS characters, creating rosters with multiple damage dealers but insufficient support infrastructure.
The mathematical reality favors support investment: A 30% team damage buff from Nicole increases all three team members' output, while a 30% personal damage increase on one DPS affects only that character. Support investments scale multiplicatively with roster expansion—each new DPS benefits from existing support infrastructure, while new supports amplify all existing dealers.
For 2.6 prep, ensure at least two built supports (Nicole + one specialist) before investing in third DPS agents. Nicole's universal compatibility provides baseline team amp, while specialist supports (Sunna for Ice, Rina for Electric) enable element-focused comps. This support foundation ensures new 2.6 agents immediately function at high performance levels.
Premature W-Engine Upgrades Without Synergy
W-Engine investments without confirmed agent synergy waste Polychrome and materials. Signature W-Engines require separate banner pulls (14,400 Polychrome for guarantee) and only provide optimal performance when paired with specific agents. Players frequently pull signature W-Engines before securing corresponding agents, creating stranded investments if banner luck fails or priorities shift.
Optimal W-Engine acquisition sequence pulls agents first, then evaluates W-Engine necessity based on performance testing. Many agents function at 70-80% effectiveness with A-Rank W-Engines, making signature pulls optional rather than mandatory. Test agents with accessible W-Engines before committing 14,400 Polychrome to signatures—performance gap often doesn't justify resource cost for F2P accounts.
W-Engine enhancement materials (400,000 Dennies + components per W-Engine to level 60) represent additional resource sinks. Complete enhancements for actively used W-Engines only, avoiding speculative upgrades for unused equipment. Pre-farm enhancement materials for 2-3 W-Engines before 2.6, providing flexibility for immediate optimization based on banner results.
Neglecting Drive Disc Substats
Drive Disc substat neglect during pre-farming creates hidden performance losses. Correct main stats provide 60-70% of optimal Drive Disc performance, while optimized substats add remaining 30-40%. Players frequently accept first-drop discs with correct main stats but terrible substats, sacrificing significant damage output. Balance requires accepting good-enough substats rather than pursuing perfect rolls, but completely ignoring substat quality wastes farming efficiency.
Substat priorities vary by role: DPS agents need Crit Rate, Crit DMG, ATK%, Element DMG%; Supports prioritize Energy Regen, ATK%, Effect Hit Rate; Stunners require Impact, ATK%, Energy Regen; Anomaly specialists need Anomaly Mastery, Anomaly Proficiency, Element DMG%. Farm until securing discs with 2-3 desired substats, then move to next agent rather than pursuing 4-substat perfect rolls requiring weeks of additional farming.
Opportunity cost of perfect Drive Disc farming exceeds performance gains. Spending 3 weeks farming perfect discs for one agent versus 1 week each farming good discs for three agents creates net account value loss—three functional agents outperform one perfectly optimized character in multi-team content. Target good enough disc quality (correct main stats, 2-3 good substats) across roster before pursuing perfect optimization.
Team Composition Templates Using These 6 Agents
Pre-built team templates using six priority agents provide immediate 2.6 functionality. These comps balance role coverage, elemental synergy, and resource efficiency while maintaining flexibility for new agent integration.
Electric Anomaly Core (Grace + Nicole + Anby)
Grace + Nicole + Anby creates budget-friendly Anomaly foundation requiring only Grace's banner Polychrome (14,400 for guarantee). Grace applies Electric Shock for sustained DoT damage, Nicole amplifies all damage through universal debuffs, Anby provides stun windows enabling extended Grace field time. This costs minimal resources while delivering competitive Floor 8-9 Shiyu Defense performance.
Rotation patterns prioritize maintaining Shock uptime. Anby opens with stun buildup, Grace applies Shock during stun windows, Nicole maintains debuffs throughout, then cycle repeats. The 12-second Shock duration aligns with typical rotation cycles, creating 80-90% uptime on DoT damage. Nicole's debuffs amplify both Shock tick damage and Grace's direct damage, generating 25-35% team damage increases.
Post-2.6 integration adds Aria for dual-Anomaly synergy. Replacing Anby with Aria creates Grace + Nicole + Aria, stacking Electric Shock and Ether Anomaly simultaneously. This achieves 90%+ combined Anomaly uptime with multiplicative damage scaling—Shock provides sustained DoT while Ether Anomaly adds burst detonation damage.
Fire Burst Rotation (Koleda + Soldier 11 + Support)
Koleda + Soldier 11 + Nicole forms Fire-focused burst comp exploiting stun windows for max damage. Koleda applies daze buildup, Soldier 11 executes burst damage during stun phases, Nicole amplifies all damage through debuffs. This team excels in Fire-weak content while maintaining flexibility through Nicole's universal support capabilities.
Rotation optimization emphasizes coordinating Soldier 11's highest damage abilities with Koleda's stun windows. Koleda opens with daze buildup (6-8 seconds), triggers stun, Soldier 11 executes full burst rotation during 6-8 second stun duration, then cycle repeats. Nicole maintains debuffs throughout, ensuring max damage during critical burst phases.
Post-2.6 variations replace Nicole with Sunna for Ice/Fire hybrid teams. Koleda + Soldier 11 + Sunna maintains Fire focus while adding Sunna's Ice Support capabilities. This works best when content features mixed elemental weaknesses, allowing flexible damage type exploitation.
Ether Balanced Comp (Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Lycaon)
Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Lycaon creates balanced Ether team with sustain, support, and consistent DPS. Zhu Yuan provides sustained Ether damage, Nicole amplifies through debuffs, Lycaon offers stun windows and survival utility. This comp handles diverse content types through role coverage—sustain enables aggressive rotations, stun windows boost burst damage, support amplifies all output.
Team synergy leverages Lycaon's dual role. His stun application creates burst windows for Zhu Yuan's Special Attack, while Defense capabilities prevent rotation interruptions from enemy damage. Nicole's debuffs amplify both Zhu Yuan's direct damage and Lycaon's supplementary damage contribution, creating 30-40% team damage increases.
Post-2.6 integration adds Aria for Ether Anomaly layering. Replacing Lycaon with Aria creates Zhu Yuan + Nicole + Aria, stacking Ether direct damage with Ether Anomaly DoT. This sacrifices sustain for higher damage ceiling, working best in content where player skill mitigates survival needs.
F2P All-Rounder Team
Anby + Nicole + [Flex DPS] represents ultimate F2P template using zero-Polychrome agents (Anby, Nicole from standard banner) plus one banner DPS. This costs only the DPS agent's banner Polychrome (14,400 for guarantee), making it accessible for new players and budget accounts. Role coverage includes stun (Anby), support (Nicole), and damage (flex slot).
Flex DPS options determine team specialization. Billy (Physical A-Rank) creates zero-additional-cost comp, Zhu Yuan (Ether S-Rank) adds premium damage, Grace (Electric S-Rank) enables Anomaly focus, or Soldier 11 (Fire S-Rank) provides burst damage. The template adapts to player roster and content requirements.
Post-2.6 flexibility allows inserting any new agent into flex slot. Anby + Nicole + Aria costs only Aria's banner Polychrome, Anby + Nicole + Sunna requires only Sunna's pull, creating immediate 2.6 team functionality. This template proves the value of pre-built support infrastructure—new agents immediately reach high performance through existing support amp.
Maximize Investment: Top-Up Strategy for 2.6
Strategic Polychrome acquisition accelerates 2.6 prep through guaranteed banner pulls and resource conversion. The 180-pull guarantee system requires 28,800 Polychrome for worst-case S-Rank acquisition, while 90-pull hard pity demands 14,400 Polychrome. F2P income (8,000-12,000 per patch) covers one guaranteed agent every 1.5-2 patches.
Polychrome Requirements for Banner Pity
Version 2.6 features three S-Rank agents across two phases: Phase 1 (February 6-27) offers Sunna and Aria, Phase 2 (February 27-March 20) features Nangong Yu. Players targeting all three agents need 43,200-86,400 Polychrome depending on luck (90-pull hard pity versus 180-pull guarantee per agent). This exceeds F2P income by 30,000-75,000 Polychrome, necessitating either selective targeting or supplementary acquisition.
Selective targeting strategies prioritize agents by account needs. Players lacking Ice Support should prioritize Sunna (Phase 1), Anomaly-focused accounts target Aria (Phase 1), Physical team builders wait for Nangong Yu (Phase 2). The two-phase structure allows earning 4,000-6,000 Polychrome between phases through daily/weekly tasks, partially offsetting multi-agent acquisition costs.
Pity system mechanics reward strategic banner pulling. Soft pity begins at 75-80 pulls (increasing S-Rank rates from 0.6% to escalating percentages), while hard pity guarantees S-Rank at 90 pulls. The 50/50 system on first S-Rank acquisition (50% chance for rate-up agent, 50% for standard pool) requires 180-pull guarantee for worst-case targeting. Track pity counts across banners, timing pulls to maximize soft pity benefits while maintaining guarantee reserves.
Master Tape Conversion Efficiency
Master Tape acquisition through Polychrome conversion (160 Polychrome per pull) represents primary resource sink. Players earn Master Tapes through events (5-10 per patch), battle pass (5-8 per month), and shop exchanges (limited monthly), supplementing Polychrome pulls. Efficient resource management prioritizes free Master Tape acquisition before Polychrome conversion, maximizing pull count per resource invested.
Event participation provides 15-25% of total pull count through free Master Tapes and Polychrome rewards. Version 2.5 events offer 2,000-3,000 Polychrome plus 5-10 Master Tapes, equivalent to 20-30 total pulls. Complete all event content before 2.6 launches, maximizing resource accumulation for banner pulls.
Battle pass systems (free and premium tiers) provide consistent Master Tape income. Free battle pass offers 5-8 Master Tapes per month, while premium adds 10-15 additional tapes. Premium battle pass costs vary by region but typically equal 10-15 pulls worth of Polychrome, creating net positive value for players completing battle pass levels.
Exclusive BitTopup Benefits
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BitTopup's wide game coverage and excellent customer service provide additional value beyond transaction efficiency. Players experiencing delivery issues or account questions receive responsive support, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth resource acquisition. High user ratings across the platform demonstrate consistent service quality.
Strategic top-up timing maximizes value through promotional periods and bonus offers. Monitor BitTopup for limited-time promotions coinciding with version launches, often providing 10-20% bonus Polychrome on package purchases. Timing top-ups to these promotional windows increases pull count per dollar spent, accelerating 2.6 agent acquisition while maintaining budget efficiency.
FAQ
Which ZZZ agents should I prioritize building before version 2.6?
Prioritize Nicole Demara (universal support), Anby Demara (F2P stunner), and one DPS matching your preferred playstyle (Zhu Yuan for Ether, Grace for Anomaly, or Soldier 11 for Fire). These three cost minimal Polychrome while providing complete role coverage. Add Koleda or Lycaon if building specialized Fire or Ice teams, but defer until confirming 2.6 content requirements.
How much resources do I need to fully build an agent?
Each S-Rank requires 3,705,000 Dennies total: 800,000 for level 0-60 ascension (4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Superior Certification Seals) and 2,905,000 for skill upgrades (25 Basic + 75 Advanced + 250 Specialized Attribute Chips + 5 Hamster Cage Passes). Add 400,000 Dennies for W-Engine enhancement to level 60. Budget 4-6 weeks farming for complete builds, or 2-3 weeks for functional level 50 with skill level 6-8.
Should I max out agent skills or focus on cinema levels first?
Prioritize skill levels 8-10 before Cinema investments. Skills provide guaranteed performance increases (30-40% damage scaling from level 1 to 10), while Cinema levels require duplicate pulls costing 14,400 Polychrome each with variable returns. Most agents function effectively at Cinema 0 with proper skill investment. Reserve Cinema upgrades for dedicated mains after confirming team comps.
What team compositions will dominate 2.6 endgame content?
Aria + Billy + Sunna creates accessible Ether Anomaly team exploiting Sunna's support buffs and Aria's Anomaly mechanics. Nangong Yu + Ellen + Sunna forms premium Physical/Ice comp with dual stun and Ice amp. Grace + Aria + Nicole provides budget-friendly dual-Anomaly synergy stacking Electric Shock and Ether Anomaly. All comps benefit from pre-built support infrastructure amplifying new agent performance immediately.
Can I clear 2.6 Shiyu Defense with A-Rank agents only?
Floor 8-9 Shiyu Defense remains clearable with optimized A-Rank teams (Anby + Nicole + Billy), but Floor 10+ typically requires at least one S-Rank DPS for damage thresholds. A-Rank agents reach 70-80% of S-Rank performance at 40% resource cost, making them viable for mid-tier content. Budget players should target one S-Rank DPS (Aria, Zhu Yuan, or Grace) supplemented by A-Rank supports for optimal resource efficiency.
How many polychromes should I save for 2.6 banners?
Target 28,800 Polychrome for one guaranteed S-Rank agent (180-pull worst-case), or 14,400 for 90-pull hard pity if accepting 50/50 risk. Players targeting multiple agents need 43,200-86,400 Polychrome for two-three acquisitions. F2P income provides 8,000-12,000 per 42-day patch, requiring 2-3 patches saving for single guarantee or 4-6 patches for multiple agents. Supplement with event rewards (2,000-3,000 per patch) and strategic top-up during promotional periods.
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