Straight F2P after 2.4 wraps (Dec 29, 2025/Jan 7, 2026): You've got 80-92 pulls banked from 10,190-12,150 Polychromes +16 Encrypted Master Tapes. Aim for Zhao's 2.5 Phase 1 drop (Dec 30, 2025/Jan 7 kickoff): 14,400 Polychromes for 90-pull single pity, or double to 28,800 for the 180 guarantee. Grind 300 Polychromes daily. And yeah—skip those standard banners cold.
ZZZ F2P Gacha Crash Course: Pity, Rates, and Why It Matters
S-Rank hard pity hits at 90 pulls, soft around 70-80. Lose the 50/50? It guarantees on the next one at 180—pity carries over smooth. Base rate's 1%, but event banners flip to 50/50 on the featured S-Rank. You snag an A-Rank or better every 10 pulls, guaranteed.
Weapons pity at 80, with 75% odds on the featured. Singles cost 160 Polychromes—fine for scraps—but 10-pulls rule (newbies get 20% off the first five).
Tapes? Snag 16 from 2.4 events and logins (7-day streak drops 10). Hollow Zero weekly coughs up 1 Master Tape +5 Boopons. Signal Shop monthly: 5 MT +5 Encrypted. Track it right: Log your pity post-2.4. Plug into a gacha calculator. Export that JSON for carryover proof.
Ever wonder why some F2P whales skip the math? Don't. It bites.
Where You Stand: Fresh Off 2.4's Dialyn & Banyue Runs
2.4 ran 33 days from Nov 26, 2025: Phase 1 Dialyn/Hugo (Nov 26-Dec 17), Phase 2 Banyue/Ellen (Dec 17-Dec 29/Jan 7, 2026). F2P haul? 10,190 Polychromes +16 tapes (80 pulls) or 12,150 +16 (92 pulls). That bundles 3,210 from events, plus the Nov 14 livestream's 300 (KRAMPUS code died Nov 16), and 7-day logins.
Zhao? He smokes Dialyn and Banyue in the Ice meta—12% off-field RES ignore trumps Caesar's +15% ATK, per the numbers. Post-2.4, tack those 80-92 pulls onto your counter. Quick audit: Check pity. Tally 2.4 rewards. Farm 300/day over 50 days for 28,800 Polychromes.
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Zhao's 2.5 Banner Breakdown: Why He's a Must-Pull
Zhao drops Phase 1 (S-Rank Ice Defense): Dec 30, 2025 11 AM UTC+8 to Jan 21, 2026 (or Jan 7-Feb 18). Phase 2 Ellen rolls Jan 21-Feb 17—about 50 days total. Kit's a beast: Basic 740.4% DMG/421% Daze; Charged 1501.9% DMG; EX Special 1688.9% DMG +1% HP/s heal for 5s +40 Energy; Ult 4234.7% DMG +30s shield +40% squad CRIT DMG. Off-field magic: Ice Points Skill freezes (invuln frames), EX Special buffs squad DMG +30% for 12s.
S-tier E0 for Daze and Ice pen—outruns Caesar in Shiyu Defense 120+ and Hollow Zero 120+ (+100% Ellen CRIT DMG, plus heals). Teams? Zhao/Ellen/Lycaon/Butler (Soukaku stacks, then Zhao Basic/EX/Ult into Ellen). Or hypercarry Zhao/Ellen/Ye. Build: 4/6-pc Discs on HP%, or 5-pc HP%/Ice DMG. Sig W-Engine (713 ATK +40% squad CRIT DMG) shines; Tusks of the Land S4 (+60% Shield) works too. Priority: Core > EX > Switch > Ult > Basic > Dodge.
F2P playbook: Nail Phase 1 guarantee. Pre-farm Lv60: 4 Basic/32 Advanced/30 Defender Seals, 800k Denny; Skills need 25 Basic/75 Advanced/250 Specialized Freeze Chips, 5 Hamster Cage Passes. Test in Lv60 Hollow Zero first.
Pull Math: Exact Count for Zhao's Guarantee
Worst case? 90 pulls (14,400 Poly). Full guarantee: 180 (28,800). From post-2.4: Add 80-92 pulls, farm 300/day (Errands 60/day x42=2,520; Shiyu/Deadly Assault 2,760; Hollow Zero 800 weekly).
Scenarios factor soft pity 70-80 min. Monthly Pass adds 3,360 (13,550 +16 tapes=101 pulls). Toss in NECF? 14,330 +20 tapes=110 pulls. Bangboo 80 Boopons=12,800 Poly.
Run it: Stack 80-92 pity. Calc 300 Poly x days to Dec 30/Jan 7. Eye 70-90 soft; worst hits 14,400 Poly (~$222 single, $444 guarantee).
Full Banner Roadmap: 2.4 Closeout to 2.6 Horizon (F2P Focus)
2.4 fades Dec 29/Jan 7, 2026 → 2.5 Zhao/Ellen Dec 30-Feb 17 → 2.6 Angels of Delusion after Feb 17 (S Ice Support, Aria S Ether Anomaly, Nangong Yu Physical Stunner). Phases: 2.4 P1 ~21 days, P2 ~12. Skip standards and W-Eng unless it's a meta leap; hoard 28,800 Poly for 2.6 (~50 days, but Ye/Labubu risks lurk).
F2P moves: Dodge 2.4 Phase 2. Lock Zhao Phase 1. Stash Phase 2 tapes for 2.6.
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Daily Grind Guide: Nail Those Pull Targets
Hit 300 Polychromes daily: Errands 2,520/42 days; Shiyu/Deadly 2,760; Hollow Zero 800 weekly (1 MT). Events pile 3,210+; Road to Proxy 40 MT +10 pulls; daily Signal Searches. Extras: Bangboo banner 12,800 Poly; free Zhao via events/login. 50 days nets 15,000 Poly + tapes for 180 pulls.
Roadmap snapshot.
1) Squeeze 2.4 events/dailies (80 pulls).
2) Skip standards.
3) Hoard 14,400 for Zhao, 28,800 for 2.6.
4) Pre-farm mats now.
Pitfalls and Pro Moves for Savvy Pull Hoarders
Common traps: Yanking early W-Eng (80 pity vs 90 for chars); standards over events; zero tracking; Defense clog (360 pulls down the drain).
Pro tips? Hit Zhao Phase 1 first. Daily Signal Searches. Push Lv60 Hollow Zero. Drop those 16 Encrypted Tapes on Zhao. Gacha calcs track pity/guarantee—import for cashback wins.
Steer clear: 1) Impulse pulls in 2.4. 2) Track carryover religiously. 3) Events over everything.
(Editor's take: I've seen F2P accounts flame out here—tracking's your lifeline.)
Long Game: Zhao to 2.6 and Beyond
Post-Zhao, stash 28,800 Poly for 2.6 Angels—Zhao owns Shiyu 120+/Hollow 100+. F2P priority: Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku first, Zhao slots next (faction synergy +100% CRIT). Eval Ice teams. Pre-farm event mats. Chase 120+ scores (90k S+ Poly rewards).
FAQ
Pulls needed for Zhao?
90 hard pity (14,400 Poly); 180 guarantee (28,800 Poly); soft 70-80.
Skip Dialyn/Banyue worth it?
Yep—Zhao unlocks Shiyu 120+ Ice meta, edges their stun/rupture niches based on current data.
2.5 schedule deets?
Phase 1 Zhao: Dec 30, 2025/Jan 7 to Jan 21, 2026; Phase 2 Ellen to Feb 17.
F2P snag Zhao guarantee?
Totally: 80-92 from 2.4 +300/day x~50 days =180 pulls.
Pity carryover?
50/50 loss rolls over; weapons 80 pity, 75% featured.
Prime post-2.4 farm?
300 Poly/day dailies +3,210 events +Hollow Zero tapes.