Zenless Zone Zero is an urban fantasy action game filled with fast paced combat, stylish characters, and deep strategic mechanics. Built on a unique blend of roguelike systems, combo based fighting, and narrative exploration, the game invites players to control Agents as they dive into alternate dimensions known as Hollows. For beginners, the gameplay may feel complex with its mix of skills, dodge timing, chain attacks, character switching, and resource management. This guide explains how to play Zenless Zone Zero step by step, starting with the fundamentals and gradually moving toward mastery. Each section follows a clear order from beginner to advanced techniques.

Understanding the Basics of New Eridu

Your journey begins in New Eridu, the last surviving metropolis in a post disaster world. This city acts as your hub for everything: accepting commissions, meeting Agents, upgrading gear, and preparing for Hollow dives. Before entering combat missions, spend time understanding how the city functions. You will interact with factions, each providing different Agents and rewards.

Early exploration should focus on unlocking facilities such as the convenience store, the video rental shop, and various faction headquarters. These allow you to gather materials, purchase combat items, and strengthen your Agents. By familiarizing yourself with the city layout, you reduce time wasted moving between mission points and improve overall efficiency.

Learning the Hollow System

The Hollow system is a core mechanic in Zenless Zone Zero. Hollows are dangerous distorted spaces filled with enemies and hazards. Missions are structured like maps with random encounters, puzzles, and layered combat rooms. Learning how these maps work helps you choose optimal routes.

Inside the Hollows, each step consumes battery energy, so you must plan moves carefully. Prioritize rooms that give extra resources, such as upgrade materials or Agent experience. Avoid unnecessary fights early on, especially if your team is underpowered. Understanding the flow of Hollow maps allows you to complete missions faster and conserve resources for tougher battles later.

Mastering Basic Combat Controls

Combat in Zenless Zone Zero is fast, fluid, and reactive. Each Agent has basic attacks, special skills, dodges, and chain attacks that link characters together. Start by practicing basic combos with your primary Agent. Learn when to dodge, when to counter, and how to build energy for special abilities.

Timing is important. A successful perfect dodge triggers slow motion and opens an opportunity for massive damage. Some enemies have red telegraph attacks that you cannot counter directly, requiring quick movement and positioning. Spend time in early missions practicing these mechanics before facing harder opponents.

Using Chain Attacks Effectively

One of the most exciting features of Zenless Zone Zero is its chain attack system. When you stagger an enemy, you can switch Agents to unleash powerful chain attacks. These combos not only deal high damage but also create opportunities to control the battlefield.

To maximize chain attacks, rotate your Agents frequently. Do not stay on one Agent for too long unless necessary. The game rewards fluid switching since it builds synergy and fills ultimate meters faster. In advanced missions, chain attacks become essential for reducing boss health quickly and escaping dangerous situations.

Building an Effective Team Composition

After learning basic combat, the next step is building a strong team. Teams consist of three Agents, each representing a different faction and combat type. The main roles include damage dealer, crowd control, and utility support.

Balance is key. A team with only damage dealers may struggle with control, while a team full of supports may lack offensive power. Mix and match Agents to find synergy between their attributes and specializations. Pay attention to elemental interactions and faction bonuses, as some combinations provide extra damage or improved stamina recovery.

Upgrading Agents and W Engines

Your Agents grow stronger through leveling, promoting, and equipping W Engines. W Engines are weapons that provide stat boosts and unique passive abilities. Early on, focus on upgrading one main damage dealer and one support character rather than spreading resources thinly.

Material farming is important. Use your battery energy wisely by targeting the training missions that reward W Engine cores, Agent promotion materials, and skill upgrades. Increasing skill levels has a massive effect on your combat potential, sometimes even more than leveling the Agents themselves. Plan upgrades carefully to avoid wasting resources.

Exploring New Eridu for Side Activities



Beyond Hollows, New Eridu offers many side activities that enrich your progression. You can manage your Hollow exploration terminal, shop for items, talk to NPCs, and join mini events. Each activity provides opportunities to earn currency, materials, and character growth items.

These interactions also help you understand the lore of the city. Learning about its factions, citizens, and history makes missions more meaningful. It also allows you to predict which Agents you may want to invest in long term, since different factions play distinct roles in the story.

Understanding Enemy Types and Weaknesses

In later stages, enemies become more complex. Each type has specific attack patterns, resistances, and weaknesses. Study their movements and learn when to dodge or parry. Some enemies require breaking shields before dealing real damage, while others demand rapid combos to interrupt attacks.

Boss battles highlight the depth of the system. Bosses may change phases, summon minions, or unleash area attacks that force repositioning. Understanding these patterns helps you build efficient strategies. Always adjust your team composition when facing new enemy types to maximize success.

Preparing for Advanced Hollow Challenges

Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can challenge advanced Hollow missions. These tasks introduce stronger enemies, limited resources, and stricter time constraints. You must optimize your Agent switching, chain attacks, and W Engine builds to handle these high difficulty levels.

During advanced challenges, your reaction time and resource management become critical. Avoid wasting ultimate skills on low value targets and save them for boss phases. Build your team around consistent damage output and reliable defensive tools.

Optimizing Daily and Long Term Progression

Zenless Zone Zero includes daily missions, weekly tasks, and long duration events. Completing these regularly ensures a steady flow of resources and keeps your Agents improving steadily. Spend battery energy wisely by prioritizing character and W Engine materials first, followed by Hollow exploration rewards.

Long term growth requires planning. Set your goals each week, whether unlocking new Agents, upgrading your weapons, or clearing high level Hollow missions. Balance your playstyle to avoid burnout and enjoy the story, exploration, and combat challenges at your own pace.

Conclusion

Zenless Zone Zero provides a stylish, fast paced action experience built around strategic team building, reactive combat, and exploration of the mysterious Hollows. Learning fundamentals like dodge timing, chain attacks, team synergy, and resource management helps players progress smoothly from beginner to advanced content. With consistent practice, smart upgrades, and careful planning, you can master the challenges of New Eridu and unlock the full depth of this richly designed world.

Summary

A complete how to guide for mastering Zenless Zone Zero including combat, team building, chain attacks, Hollow exploration, upgrades, and long term progression.