Version 1.5 launches January 22, 2025, offering F2P players 120-150 free pulls per patch, new agents Astra Yao and Evelyn, enhanced events, and optimized progression systems. This guide covers daily routines, event maximization, team building with free agents, and strategic resource management for competitive F2P teams.
The F2P Landscape Just Got Better (And More Complex)
What's Actually Changing for Free Players
Look, I've been covering gacha games for years, and version 1.5 feels different. HoYoverse isn't just throwing us scraps anymore—they're genuinely trying to make F2P viable. The January 22 launch brings two S-Rank agents that actually matter: Astra Yao's team-wide buffs through her Idyllic Cadenza state, and Evelyn's Burning Tether mechanics that make Fire teams scary good.
Here's the timeline that matters: Phase 1 runs January 22 through February 12 (Astra + Ellen rerun), then Phase 2 takes us from February 12 to March 11 (Evelyn + Qingyi rerun). Nine major events sounds overwhelming, but honestly? Most are pretty straightforward if you know what to prioritize.
The quality-of-life changes hit different too. Notorious Hunt finally feels less clunky, Custom Special Training gives us actual choices, and the Drive Disc system... well, it's still a grind, but at least it's a more efficient grind. New areas like Starloop Tower aren't just eye candy—they're hiding serious Polychrome if you're thorough about exploration.
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The New Math on Free Rewards
This is where things get interesting. Version 1.5 doesn't just add events—it restructures how F2P players accumulate resources. The 120-150 pulls per patch isn't theoretical anymore; it's achievable if you're systematic about it.
Breaking down the real numbers: 48 pulls from daily/weekly grinding (this is your bread and butter), 30-40 from Hollow Zero if you're consistent, another 30-40 from events if you participate fully, plus 10-20 from achievements and milestones. That's not counting the front-loaded rewards new players get.
Events like Godfinger Ultimate Showdown and Elpis Ultimate Angler Championship aren't just filler content. They're offering substantial Polychrome pools—we're talking 500-800 per major event if you complete everything. The 141 Going Green battery trading system is particularly clever; it lets you convert stamina into materials without the usual Polychrome tax.
Here's what I'm watching: the 7-day login cycles for Encrypted Master Tapes. These add up faster than you'd think, especially when stacked with event completion bonuses.
Resource Economy Reality Check
The monthly Polychrome ceiling sits around 2,400+ from core activities, but events can push that to 4,400+ during active periods. That's real money we're talking about—roughly $30-40 worth of premium currency monthly just for playing consistently.
Battery management remains crucial. 240 max capacity, 1 per 6 minutes regeneration rate. The coffee purchase timing trick (use full stamina first, then buy coffee for 60 recovery plus drop boosts) is still the most efficient approach. Never—and I mean never—use Polychrome for stamina refills unless you're whaling.
The HIA Coins system (18 daily via NPC interactions) provides a nice side hustle for materials without touching your main resources. It's tedious, sure, but free is free.
Daily Grind That Actually Works
The 400-Point Formula
Daily Errands unlock after Chapter 1's 'Earlybird Ticket to Safety'—about 3-4 hours if you're not skipping cutscenes. The 400-point daily cap isn't just a suggestion; it's your F2P lifeline. Here's the breakdown that matters:
100 points = 10 Polychrome. 200 points adds another 10 plus Bangboo modules. 300 points gives you 20 more plus Investigator Logs. Hit 400 and you're looking at another 20 Polychrome plus W-Engine supplies.
The fastest route? HoYoLAB login (100), coffee purchase (100), newsstand scratch card (100), video store interaction (100). Done. Four activities, maybe five minutes total, 400 points secured.
But here's the thing—timing matters. Always burn your battery before buying coffee. That 60 recovery bonus plus the drop rate improvement makes the coffee purchase pull double duty.
Trust Events (unlocked after Chapter 2 Interlude) let you invite up to 3 agents daily. Combined with Agent Meetups, you're looking at consistent progression without stamina costs. It's not exciting, but it's reliable.
Weekly Content That Pays
Weekly progression is where F2P players separate themselves from casual spenders. Hollow Zero Commissions alone provide 24 Master Tapes and 960 Polychrome weekly—that's equivalent to 4,800 Polychrome value if you're converting.
Shiyu Defense runs bi-weekly with timed elimination challenges. The rewards scale with difficulty, but consistency beats heroics here. Better to clear lower tiers reliably than fail higher ones.
The Weekly Ridu Challenge gives 60 Polychrome for what amounts to a few minutes of gameplay. Notorious Hunt allows 3 weekly boss kills—not glamorous, but the materials add up. Custom Schedule lets you pick 2 missions (I recommend Noodle/Arcade for efficiency) for 300 Inter-Knot Credit and other goodies.
New Eridu City Fund functions like a free battle pass. It advances through daily/weekly completion and provides EXP materials plus Master Tapes. No reason not to max this out.
Resource Collection Without the Tedium
Daily Polychrome sources are predictable: 60 from missions, battery consumption rewards, event claims. The HIA Coins collection involves talking to 18 NPCs scattered around New Eridu. Ellis at General Chop's is only available afternoons, and Sage in Barrel gives daily hints about locations.
Video Store operations require matching 3 trending genres for Denny and Errands points. The scratch cards at the newsstand opposite guarantee either Polychrome or Denny—small amounts, but it's literally free money.
Monthly HoYoLAB check-ins and redemption codes provide periodic boosts. The recent ASTRANOMICAL code (expired January 10) gave 300 Polychrome plus materials. These codes usually last 1-2 weeks, so stay alert.
Event Strategy That Actually Matters
Version 1.5's Event Lineup Breakdown
Nine events sounds overwhelming until you realize most follow similar reward structures. Ellen's Agent Story provides character development plus progression rewards—standard fare, but the Polychrome adds up. The Day of Brilliant Wishes beauty contest featuring Astra delivers substantial currency through milestone completion.
Elpis Ultimate Angler Championship combines fishing mechanics with Qingyi appearances. Godfinger Ultimate Showdown offers both Polychrome and exclusive titles (if you care about cosmetics). The revamped Hollow Zero: Cleanse Humanity mode increases challenge difficulty with proportional reward bumps.
Click Click Hollow Reporter lets you capture moments with Shiela for achievement-based progression. 141 Going Green facilitates that battery-to-item trading I mentioned earlier. Endless Tower: The Last Stand introduces wave-based Ethereal combat—think of it as a skill check with material rewards.
Priority Framework That Makes Sense
Login bonuses rank highest for efficiency—30 seconds daily for guaranteed Master Tapes or Boopons. Seven-day cycles typically provide 10 Encrypted Master Tapes, which is substantial value for minimal effort.
Mission completion ranks second. Most events offer 300-600 Polychrome for structured participation over 1-2 weeks. That's 15-30 minutes daily for 50-100 Polychrome yields—solid efficiency ratios.
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Full exploration activities rank third. These demand 1-2 hours for complete area coverage but provide 200-500 Polychrome plus achievement bonuses. Events offering free agents (like Manato) receive absolute priority regardless of time investment.
Time vs Reward Reality
Login events provide the best efficiency at roughly 30 seconds daily for guaranteed pulls. Mission-based events require 15-30 minutes daily but maintain strong Polychrome-per-hour ratios.
Exploration events are time sinks—1-2 hours for completion—but the 200-500 Polychrome plus achievements justify the investment. Combat events like Endless Tower require skill development, but they offer repeatable rewards through wave progression.
The Brilliant Overture event exemplifies optimal F2P engagement: 480 Polychrome for structured participation over two weeks. All-New Program delivers 10 Encrypted Master Tapes through stamp collection—requires daily engagement but guarantees valuable pulls.
Banner Strategy for the Resource-Conscious
The Real Income Numbers
Monthly Polychrome sources break down like this: ~1,800 from daily missions, ~1,600 from weekly content, 500-2,000 from events (highly variable), up to 1,200 from Hollow Zero exploration, plus miscellaneous achievements. Total: 5,100-6,600 monthly, or 31-41 pulls.
Launch players got spoiled with 180 free pulls through version 1.0: 100 standard pulls (70 Master Tapes, 20 Encrypted event tapes, 1,600 Polychrome conversion) plus 80 Boopons for Bangboo participation. Pre-registration added 20 Master Tapes and 5 Boopons.
The Road to Proxy milestone system delivers 40 Master Tapes, 1,600 Polychrome, and 65 Boopons at Inter-Knot Level 30. Combined with Passport rewards (10 Encrypted Tapes over 7 days), new players accumulate serious pulling power for 1.5 participation.
Banner Decision Matrix
Here's where F2P strategy gets interesting. The Star-Studded Cast banner offers guaranteed S-Rank selection after 300 pulls—expensive, but it lets you target meta supports like Grace, Rina, or Koleda without RNG.
Phase 1 (January 22 - February 12) features Astra Yao's team buffs alongside Ellen's AoE Ice damage. F2P players should evaluate team composition gaps first. If you're lacking synergy, Astra's global buff mechanics provide universal enhancement. If you need raw damage and have support covered, Ellen's your pick.
Phase 2 (February 12 - March 11) presents Evelyn's Fire specialization and Qingyi's Electric Stun utility. Players with established DPS should consider Qingyi for crowd control. Those lacking primary damage dealers might prioritize Evelyn, but honestly? Support agents usually provide better long-term value for F2P accounts.
Signal Search Optimization
The 160 Polychrome to 1 Master Tape conversion rate establishes baseline value calculations. Direct Polychrome spending on standard banner pulls is inefficient—use earned Master Tapes instead.
Limited banner participation requires 90-pull pity consideration, with 180 pulls guaranteeing featured agent acquisition. F2P players earning 120-150 pulls per patch can secure one featured agent every 1.5 patches through disciplined saving. That's actually pretty reasonable for a gacha game.
Bangboo banner strategy involves accumulating 80 Boopons for guaranteed S-Rank acquisition. Events like En-Nah provide 10 Boopons over 7-day periods, making this achievable without major resource diversion.
Team Building Without Breaking the Bank
The Starter Trinity
The optimal F2P starting team uses Cunning Hares faction synergy: Anby (Electric Stun), Billy (Physical Attack), and Nicole (Ether Support). This isn't just convenient—it's genuinely effective. The +25% Ether damage enhancement plus defensive reduction capabilities create a foundation that scales well into endgame content.
Corin (Physical Attack) can replace Billy for boss-focused encounters while maintaining Anby's stun utility and Nicole's support framework. The Demara Battery Mark II W-Engine enhances Anby's Electric output, while 4-piece Shockstar Disco plus 2-piece Thunder Metal Drive Disc sets optimize her Anomaly Buildup.
Advanced F2P teams incorporate S-Rank acquisitions strategically. Ellen/Lycaon/Rina provides freeze-focused AoE with PEN buffs, but Ellen/Anby/Nicole maintains F2P accessibility with near-meta performance. Sometimes the budget option is 90% as effective for 50% of the cost.
Free Agent Synergy Deep Dive
Free agent acquisition follows a structured path: Anby and Billy unlock immediately, Nicole joins during Prologue completion, Corin arrives via pre-registration mail. Ben (Fire Defense) unlocks through Chapter 2 progression, while Soukaku (Ice Support) requires Third Shiyu Defense completion after Chapter 2.
Faction synergies activate Additional Abilities when fielding agents sharing faction or attribute alignment. Cunning Hares provides beginner-friendly controls with established upgrade paths. Electric attribute synergy (Anby/Rina) enables specialized team building around shock-based damage amplification.
Soukaku's Ice Support capabilities enhance Ellen teams through ATK buffs and elemental resonance. Her S-Tier rating reflects universal applicability across Ice-focused compositions—she's genuinely good, not just good for free.
Role Coverage That Works
Attack agents like Billy and Corin provide primary damage output. Billy offers ranged Physical damage with decent AoE, while Corin specializes in close-range boss encounters with higher single-target potential. Upgrade priority should focus on Attack agents first for immediate progression impact.
Stun agents enable crowd control and damage amplification through debuff application. Anby's Electric Stun capabilities trigger Shock status for team damage enhancement, while her skill rotation enables smooth unit switching for combo execution. She's not flashy, but she's reliable.
Support agents multiply team effectiveness through buffs, healing, and utility provision. Nicole's DEF shredding and enemy grouping provide universal team enhancement, while Soukaku's ATK buffs specialize in damage amplification. The difference between having proper support and not is night and day.
Resource Management Without the Stress
Polychrome vs Master Tapes Strategy
Resource allocation centers on Polychrome preservation for banner pulls while utilizing Master Tapes for immediate progression needs. That 160 Polychrome to 1 Master Tape conversion rate makes direct spending inefficient except for guaranteed banner participation.
Event-earned Encrypted Master Tapes should target limited banners exclusively, maximizing value through featured agent acquisition. Those 10 Encrypted Tapes from All-New Program events provide substantial limited banner progress without touching your Polychrome reserves.
Emergency Polychrome spending should only occur for critical banner deadlines when you're close to pity thresholds. Maintain 14,400 Polychrome reserves (90 pulls) for emergency banner participation while spending excess on guaranteed value opportunities.
Equipment Strategy for F2P
W-Engine acquisition focuses on event rewards and standard banner luck. Demara Battery Mark II provides optimal Anby enhancement through Electric damage amplification, while Housekeeper offers A-Rank accessibility through events.
Drive Disc farming through Routine Cleanup (60 battery cost) enables set completion for team optimization. The 4-piece Shockstar Disco plus 2-piece Thunder Metal combination enhances Electric agents through damage and ATK bonuses—it's not exciting, but it works.
Equipment upgrade priority emphasizes primary DPS agents first, followed by Support agents enabling team-wide benefits. W-Engine progression requires materials from Expert Challenge (40 battery cost), while Drive Disc enhancement utilizes Routine Cleanup rewards.
Material Farming Efficiency
Material acquisition requires systematic battery consumption and mode selection. Combat Simulation (20-100 battery variable cost) provides agent upgrade materials through difficulty scaling. Higher levels offer superior efficiency ratios, but consistency beats optimization here.
Routine Cleanup (60 battery cost) serves dual purposes through Drive Disc acquisition and enhancement materials. Expert Challenge (40 battery cost) delivers Core Skill materials for W-Engine progression. Both modes provide predictable returns on stamina investment.
Denny farming through daily activities, Combat Pass completion, and Commission participation supports upgrade costs and coffee purchases. Weekly 141 Store purchases offer enhancement materials for Inter-Knot Credit, providing alternative acquisition methods without battery expenditure.
Core Content Progression
Hollow Zero Mastery
Hollow Zero represents the cornerstone of F2P progression through substantial weekly rewards and exploration opportunities. Unlocked after Chapter 1 Interlude completion, the mode provides 24 Master Tapes and 960 Polychrome weekly when you hit commission caps.
Battlefront Purge in Lost Void offers thousands of monthly Polychrome through systematic exploration and objective completion. F2P players should prioritize efficiency over difficulty—consistent completion beats heroic failures every time.
Commission completion strategy involves balancing weekly caps with daily progression needs. That 24 Master Tape weekly reward equals 3,840 Polychrome value, making Hollow Zero the highest-efficiency weekly activity by a significant margin.
Shiyu Defense Preparation
Shiyu Defense unlocks after Chapter 2 completion and provides bi-weekly rewards through timed combat challenges. The mode requires eliminating enemy waves within time constraints, emphasizing team damage output and efficient rotation execution.
Preparation involves optimizing team compositions for specific enemy types and resistance patterns. Electric-resistant enemies require alternative damage sources, making Corin's Physical damage valuable for diverse encounter preparation. It's not glamorous, but versatility wins here.
Reward cycles provide consistent progression materials and Polychrome, with higher difficulty tiers offering enhanced yields. Focus on consistent completion of achievable difficulty levels rather than attempting maximum challenges that might fail.
Daily Content Optimization
Commission Board activities provide daily progression opportunities through diverse objective completion. Daily commission completion should integrate with battery consumption planning for optimal efficiency—don't waste stamina on suboptimal activities.
Routine Cleanup serves multiple progression functions through Drive Disc acquisition, enhancement materials, and daily objective completion. That 60 battery cost provides guaranteed progression without RNG dependency.
Custom Schedule system enables mission selection for 300 Inter-Knot Credit, 2 Ether Plating Agents, and 7,000 Denny through convenient task choices. Noodle/Arcade interactions are generally the most time-efficient options.
Advanced F2P Techniques
Long-term Banner Planning
Strategic banner planning requires understanding patch cycles and agent release patterns for optimal resource allocation. Version 1.5's January 22 release establishes the timeline, with Phase 1 and Phase 2 providing distinct pulling opportunities. F2P players earning 120-150 pulls per patch can secure featured agents every 1.5 patches through disciplined saving—that's actually sustainable.
Meta analysis reveals support agents like Astra Yao providing universal team enhancement, making them higher priority than specialized DPS agents. Rerun banners featuring Ellen and Qingyi offer established meta options with known performance metrics. Sometimes waiting for the rerun is smarter than chasing the new hotness.
Future patch speculation suggests 6-week cycles with dual-phase banner structures. F2P players should maintain pulling schedules aligned with team building needs rather than immediate gratification. FOMO is the enemy of good resource management.
Resource Hoarding That Makes Sense
Systematic resource accumulation enables strategic opportunity capitalization without compromising daily progression. Polychrome hoarding should target specific banner deadlines, with excess allocation supporting guaranteed value activities like standard banner pity building.
Master Tape accumulation through daily/weekly activities, event participation, and milestone achievements creates pulling flexibility without Polychrome expenditure. Standard banner pulls build toward guaranteed S-Rank acquisition while preserving limited banner resources.
Material hoarding should focus on versatile upgrade resources applicable across multiple agents. Core Skill materials from Expert Challenge support W-Engine progression for any team composition—they're always useful.
Account Progression Milestones
Inter-Knot Level 30 represents the primary early milestone, providing 40 Master Tapes, 1,600 Polychrome, and 65 Boopons through Road to Proxy completion. This milestone should be prioritized through story progression and daily activity completion—it's front-loaded value.
Team building milestones include first S-Rank acquisition, complete role coverage achievement, and faction synergy activation. The free S-Rank guarantee through Star-Studded Cast banner provides guaranteed progression toward team completion.
Content progression milestones encompass Hollow Zero weekly cap achievement, Shiyu Defense consistent completion, and event participation maximization. Monthly Polychrome income targets of 5,000+ indicate healthy progression rates for sustained F2P advancement.
Avoiding Common F2P Traps
Resource Waste Prevention
Battery overflow represents the most common F2P efficiency loss. With 240 maximum capacity regenerating continuously at 1 per 6 minutes, players should consume full battery before coffee purchases to maximize that 60 recovery bonus and drop rate improvements.
Polychrome spending on battery replenishment constitutes critical resource waste, diverting limited banner currency toward renewable resources. That 40 Polychrome battery refill cost equals 25% of a Master Tape—extremely inefficient for F2P players.
Event reward expiration causes irreversible progression loss through inadequate claim timing. The 30-day claim window for completed events requires systematic tracking and prompt collection. Set reminders if you have to.
Banner FOMO Management
Fear of missing out on limited banners leads to impulsive pulling decisions that compromise long-term progression planning. F2P players should evaluate banner value based on current team needs rather than agent popularity or meta rankings.
Rerun banner availability reduces pressure for immediate acquisition. Agents like Ellen and Qingyi returning in 1.5 after previous limited availability proves that patience pays off. Patient F2P players can wait for favorable banner conditions or improved team readiness.
Social pressure from community discussions shouldn't override individual progression needs and resource constraints. Meta tier lists reflect optimal scenarios rather than F2P realities, where team synergy and role coverage often outweigh individual agent strength.
Team Building Pitfalls
Spreading upgrade resources across excessive agents dilutes progression impact and delays team effectiveness achievement. F2P players should focus on 3-4 core agents for concentrated development, ensuring meaningful power increases rather than marginal improvements across a roster.
Ignoring faction and attribute synergies reduces team effectiveness through missed bonus opportunities. Cunning Hares faction alignment provides +25% Ether damage and other bonuses that significantly enhance team performance—free power is still power.
Neglecting Bangboo development limits team potential through missed passive benefits and active skill contributions. That 80 Boopon investment for guaranteed S-Rank Bangboo acquisition provides substantial team enhancement through faction synergy bonuses.
Your 30-Day F2P Roadmap
Weeks 1-2: Foundation Building
Initial progression focuses on story completion through Chapter 2 for core system unlocks and substantial Polychrome acquisition. The main storyline provides thousands of Polychrome while unlocking daily Errands, Hollow Zero, Shiyu Defense, and other progression systems. Don't rush it, but don't dawdle either.
Daily routine establishment becomes crucial during weeks 1-2. Errands completion providing 60 Polychrome daily plus materials and currency creates the foundation for everything else. That 400-point daily cap through HoYoLAB login, coffee purchase, scratch card, and video store activities needs to become automatic.
Team building utilizes free agents Anby, Billy, and Nicole for Cunning Hares synergy. Basic upgrade investment should focus on these three agents to establish combat effectiveness for story progression and early content completion. Resist the urge to spread resources thin.
Weeks 3-4: System Mastery
Advanced system engagement begins with consistent Hollow Zero weekly completion for 24 Master Tapes and 960 Polychrome. Shiyu Defense attempts should commence after team power reaches sufficient levels for consistent completion—don't attempt heroic difficulty until you can handle it.
Event participation becomes critical, with full engagement in available events for Polychrome, Master Tapes, and potential free agents. En-Nah Into Your Lap provides 10 Boopons over 7 days, When Dreams Remain Unfinished offers free A-rank Manato alongside substantial Polychrome rewards.
Resource accumulation targets include reaching Inter-Knot Level 30 for Road to Proxy milestone completion (40 Master Tapes, 1,600 Polychrome, 65 Boopons). This milestone provides substantial pulling power for 1.5 banner participation.
Month 1: Achievement Targets
Month 1 completion should achieve 120+ accumulated pulls through consistent daily/weekly activities, event participation, and milestone completion. This pulling power enables participation in 1.5 limited banners with realistic S-Rank acquisition probability.
Team composition should include at least one S-Rank agent integrated with free agent synergies for complete role coverage. Cunning Hares foundation with S-Rank enhancement provides meta-competitive performance through faction bonuses and optimized upgrade investment.
Content progression targets include consistent Hollow Zero weekly completion, Shiyu Defense regular participation, and event reward maximization. Monthly Polychrome income should stabilize around 5,000+ through established routines and optimization.
FAQ
How many free pulls can F2P players realistically earn per patch? You're looking at 120-150 free pulls per patch: 48 from daily/weekly grinding, 30-40 from Hollow Zero if you're consistent, 30-40 from events if you participate fully, plus 10-20 from achievements. This enables securing one featured S-Rank every 1.5 patches through disciplined saving.
Which free agents should I actually invest in? Start with Anby (Electric Stun), Billy (Physical Attack), and Nicole (Ether Support) for Cunning Hares faction synergy. This gives you +25% Ether damage bonus, complete role coverage, and natural upgrade synergy. Soukaku from Third Shiyu Defense completion offers excellent alternative support capabilities.
Should I pull on every banner in 1.5? Absolutely not. Prioritize based on team needs. Astra Yao (Phase 1) provides universal team buffs making her valuable for any composition, while Evelyn (Phase 2) specializes in Fire damage. Focus on support agents like Astra if you're lacking team synergy.
What's the most efficient daily routine? Hit that 400-point Errands cap through HoYoLAB login (100 pts), coffee purchase (100 pts), scratch card (100 pts), and video store (100 pts). Consume full battery before coffee for the 60 recovery bonus, complete 3 Agent Meetups, and participate in active events. This nets 60+ daily Polychrome plus materials.
How should I manage Polychrome vs Master Tapes? Save Polychrome exclusively for limited banner pulls—that 160 Polychrome = 1 Master Tape conversion is terrible value. Use earned Master Tapes for standard banner pity building toward guaranteed S-Rank acquisition. Keep 14,400 Polychrome reserves (90 pulls) for emergency banner participation.
Which game modes give the best rewards for time invested? Hollow Zero offers the highest weekly value with 24 Master Tapes and 960 Polychrome (equivalent to 4,800 Polychrome total). Daily Errands provide 60 Polychrome daily for maybe five minutes of work. Events like The Day of Brilliant Wishes offer 300-600 Polychrome plus exclusive rewards during active periods.