Banner Timeline and Resource Income
Maintenance starts 06:00 AM UTC+8 December 30, 2026. Pre-load opens December 28 at 12:00 PM UTC+8. Ye Shunguang's banner runs December 30, 2026 - January 21, 2026 (Phase 1). Phase 2: January 21 - February 17, 2026.
Zhao arrives free from Krampus Compliance Authority, eliminating pull priority conflicts for support-lacking players. Zenless Zone Zero top up via BitTopup provides secure transactions when you need extra resources.
F2P Income Breakdown
Total: 14,250 Polychrome + 21 Master Tapes = 110 pulls
- Daily commissions: 60 Polychrome/day = 2,520 total
- Shiyu Defense: 3,060 Polychrome biweekly (Stage 5 S+ clears)
- 90 pulls cost 14,400 Polychrome (hard pity)
- First 10-pull discount: 1,280 Polychrome (20% off)
- W-Engine pity: 12,800 Polychrome (80 pulls)
Pity System
- Character banners: 0.6% S-Rank rate, soft pity at 75, hard pity at 90
- 50/50 system: 180 pulls for guarantee
- W-Engine: Hard pity at 80, soft pity at 65
Track your pity before 2.5. Players at 70+ pulls should evaluate if Ye Shunguang justifies guarantee vs saving.
Ye Shunguang Analysis
S-Rank Physical Honed Edge Attack agent from Yunkui Summit. Void Hunter specializing in sustained DPS via Qingming Sword Force stacks.
Kit Overview
Mindscape C1: 6 Qingming Sword Force every 180s, +10% DMG, +20% DEF ignore. Optional for F2P but significantly improves baseline performance.
C6: +2 Lantern Wish stacks, unlocks EX Special Ultimate Cleaving Heavens (1,500% additional Physical DMG final hit).
Promotion costs: 4 Advanced Attack Seals, 32 Pioneer's Seals, 800,000 Denny. Domains unlock at Inter-Knot Level 4 (6 daily runs, 240 stamina).
Signature W-Engine (Lone Light in the Clouds): 743 base ATK, 48% CRIT DMG, ignores 20-28% Physical RES. Ether Veil grants 25-40% DMG + 25-40% CRIT DMG for 40s.
Optimal Teams
All require Zhao:
- Ye Shunguang + Zhao + Seed
- Ye Shunguang + Zhao + Astra Yao
- Ye Shunguang + Zhao + Dialyn
Zhao's Core Passive: 0.05 ATK per Max HP. Ether Veil buffs Attack agents with 40% CRIT DMG, Defense agents with 0.72 Energy Regen.
F2P Build
W-Engine: Half-Sugar Bunny (713 base ATK, 30% HP, 0.46 Energy Regen/s). Squad-wide +10% ATK/HP, triggers 30-40% CRIT DMG for 60s. Superior to other F2P options.
Drive Discs: White Water Ballad (2pc: 10% Physical DMG, 4pc: 12% CRIT Rate + 12% ATK for 30s). Prioritize CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK% main stats.
C0 vs C1 Value
C1 provides ~25-30% DPS increase but costs 180 pulls (guaranteed from C0). Only viable if you're maining Ye Shunguang long-term or have surplus resources.
Zhao Performance Review
Free S-Rank Ice Defense agent. Base stats: 9,117 HP, 690 ATK, 701 DEF, 93 Impact, 96 Anomaly Proficiency. Target build: 27,000+ HP for ATK scaling.
Support Kit
EX Special: 1,688.9% DMG, 1,078% Daze, heals squad 1% Max HP/s for 5s.
Ultimate: 4,234.7% DMG, activates Ether Veil: Health for 30s.
M1: 12% Attribute RES ignore for 30s while off-field. Exceptional value but C0 suffices for F2P.
Synergy
- Attack agents: +40% CRIT DMG (amplifies Ye Shunguang's damage windows)
- Defense agents: +0.72 Energy Regen (accelerates Ultimate rotations)
- Healing addresses Shiyu Defense survivability, allows aggressive DPS builds
- Ice attribute provides Elemental coverage for Physical-focused teams
Budget Build
Prioritize HP-scaling W-Engines. Main stats: HP%, DEF%, Energy Regen. Target 27,000+ HP for ATK conversion. Unlike DPS characters, Zhao tolerates suboptimal substats—reduces farming time.
Long-Term Value
Zero opportunity cost (free). Support role ensures longevity despite DPS power creep. Defensive utility scales with future Shiyu Defense difficulty. Buy Zenless Zone Zero recharge via BitTopup to accelerate constellation progress, though C0 satisfies most F2P needs.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Clear Time Performance
Ye Shunguang needs existing support infrastructure. Without proper team composition, he underperforms expectations.
Zhao enables existing DPS to reach higher ceilings. Accounts with established DPS but weak supports gain more immediate value. His free acquisition shifts comparison to whether Ye Shunguang justifies pulls vs saving.
Team Flexibility
Ye Shunguang: Demands specific supports (especially Zhao), creating roster dependency. Optimal teams require developing multiple characters simultaneously.
Zhao: Fits virtually any team needing defensive utility or CRIT DMG buffs. Universal applicability benefits multiple teams vs single-character optimization.
Skill Requirements
Ye Shunguang: High skill floor. Sword force management requires practice. Mistimed expenditure significantly reduces DPS.
Zhao: Low skill floor. Activate abilities on cooldown, maintain Ether Veil uptime. Consistent performance regardless of player skill.
Future-Proofing
Ye Shunguang: DPS faces inevitable power creep. Physical specialization risks obsolescence if future content favors Elemental damage or introduces Physical-resistant enemies.
Zhao: Support maintains relevance longer. CRIT DMG buffs, healing, Energy Regen remain valuable despite meta shifts. Defensive utility ensures permanent roster position.
F2P Pull Priority Framework
Assess Roster Gaps
Evaluate three categories:
- DPS Coverage: Strong Physical/Elemental DPS for current Shiyu Defense?
- Support Depth: Adequate buffs, healing, utility for existing DPS?
- Elemental Balance: Multiple damage types for content-specific advantages?
Lacking DPS? Consider Ye Shunguang only if you have support infrastructure. Established DPS but weak supports? Skip Ye Shunguang—Zhao's free.
Budget Allocation
110 pulls don't guarantee a limited character from zero pity. Calculate total available pulls (current pity + saved polychrome + 2.5 income).
- 160+ total pulls: Reasonably pursue Ye Shunguang with guarantee backup
- Below 160: Risk missing guarantee, wasting partial pity
Pull vs Save
Pull Ye Shunguang if:
- Lack strong Physical DPS + possess enabling supports
- Need additional DPS for second Shiyu Defense team
- Have 160+ total pulls ensuring guarantee
- Future leaks don't feature characters addressing critical gaps
Save polychrome if:
- Zhao fills immediate support needs (free)
- Existing DPS clears current content comfortably
- Below 160 total pulls, can't guarantee
- Future versions promise better-suited characters
Guarantee Planning
Track pity before 2.5 launches. Players at 70+ pulls face imminent S-Rank potentially wasting guarantee. Consider spending on Standard Banner to reset safely.
Never split resources between character and W-Engine banners unless you can guarantee both. Ye Shunguang functions adequately with Half-Sugar Bunny—signature weapon is luxury, not necessity.
Endgame Performance
Shiyu Defense Floor 12
Ye Shunguang + Zhao achieves competitive clear times vs Physical-vulnerable enemies. Sustained damage model excels in extended encounters but disadvantages quick burst phases.
Zhao's contribution manifests indirectly: 40% CRIT DMG buff, healing, Energy Regen accelerate existing DPS more reliably than adding Ye Shunguang to rosters with established damage dealers.
Deadly Assault
Scoring rewards clear speed + survival. Zhao's healing prevents damage-based point deductions while buffs accelerate clears. Dual contribution valuable across scoring categories.
Ye Shunguang provides damage but no defensive utility. Teams lacking survivability struggle maintaining point multipliers regardless of DPS output.
Testing Results
Community testing: Ye Shunguang's C0 trails established S-Rank DPS without significant investment. C1 bridges gap but requires resources equivalent to new characters.
Zhao demonstrates consistent support value across compositions. Buffs provide measurable DPS increases, healing enables aggressive strategies. Immediate account improvement regardless of roster.
Common Misconceptions
Ye Shunguang Overhype
Impressive skill multipliers appear strong in isolation but require context: rotation time, support requirements, practical execution. Physical specialization creates vulnerability to content design shifts. Future Shiyu Defense with Physical-resistant enemies severely limits applicability.
Zhao Undervaluation
Free acquisition creates perception bias suggesting lower value. His S-Rank status and comprehensive support kit rival many limited characters—exceptional value.
Defensive role receives less attention than flashy DPS despite providing greater account impact. Support enables multiple DPS options vs single-character optimization—superior resource efficiency.
Meta Predictions
Pre-release theorycrafting frequently over/underestimates performance due to incomplete information. Wait for community testing data from early adopters (first week post-release) before committing resources.
Alternative Strategies
Maximize Existing Characters
Investing in current character development often provides better returns than new acquisitions. Complete Drive Disc optimization, raise skill levels, refine rotations—improves performance without polychrome expenditure.
Zhao's free acquisition allows redirecting pulls toward strengthening existing DPS through weapon banners or constellations. Focused investment often outperforms spreading resources across multiple new characters.
Standard Banner Value
Guarantees S-Rank every 300 pulls. While lacking rate-up control, provides roster expansion without consuming limited banner guarantees.
Allocate free Encrypted Master Tapes toward Standard Banner, preserve polychrome for limited banners. Dual-track approach builds roster depth while maintaining limited guarantee progress.
Version 2.6 Leaks
Future leaks provide context for current decisions. If leaked characters address critical gaps better than Ye Shunguang, saving becomes optimal.
However, leaks remain unconfirmed and subject to change. Balance leak info with current needs—don't sacrifice immediate improvement for uncertain future releases unless leaks come from reliable sources.
Final Verdict
DPS-Focused Accounts
Strong support infrastructure but lacking Physical DPS? Consider Ye Shunguang if you can guarantee acquisition. Performance requires proper team composition—viable only for accounts meeting support prerequisites.
Evaluate whether Physical DPS addresses actual gaps or adds redundant coverage. Strong Elemental DPS may find better value saving for future support/specialized characters.
Support-Lacking Rosters
Zhao's free—claim and develop him. Support capabilities immediately improve performance without resource expenditure.
Skip Ye Shunguang entirely, redirect resources toward future supports or strengthening existing DPS. Zhao provides sufficient foundation for current content while preserving polychrome.
Skip Scenarios
Skip Ye Shunguang if:
- Roster lacks support infrastructure to enable him
- Cannot guarantee acquisition with available resources
- Future leaked characters better address gaps
- Existing DPS adequately clears current content
Saving strategy: Accumulate polychrome across multiple versions to guarantee future limited characters. Patience ensures acquiring desired characters vs gambling on 50/50.
BitTopup Value Maximization
BitTopup provides trusted Zenless Zone Zero recharge with competitive pricing and fast delivery. Players approaching guarantee but lacking polychrome can bridge gaps through secure transactions backed by excellent service and high ratings.
First-time 10-pull discount: 1,280 Polychrome (20% off). Combine with BitTopup's pricing to maximize pull efficiency. Plan top-up timing around guarantee calculations—purchase only necessary amounts vs excess tempting impulsive pulls.
FAQ
Who should F2P pull in 2.5: Ye Shunguang or Zhao?
Zhao's free—claim automatically. Only pull Ye Shunguang if you have 160+ total pulls for guarantee, lack Physical DPS, and possess support infrastructure. Most F2P should skip Ye Shunguang, save for future banners.
How many polychromes do F2P get in 2.5?
14,250 Polychrome + 21 Master Tapes = 110 pulls. Daily commissions: 60 Polychrome/day (2,520 total). Shiyu Defense: 3,060 Polychrome biweekly (S+ clears). Approaches but doesn't guarantee single limited character without existing pity.
Is Ye Shunguang better than Zhao for Shiyu Defense?
Misrepresents roles—Ye Shunguang is DPS, Zhao is support. Zhao's free acquisition and universal utility provide greater account value for most F2P. Ye Shunguang only outperforms in pure damage but requires Zhao's support for optimal performance—complementary, not competitive.
What teams work best with Ye Shunguang?
Ye Shunguang + Zhao + Seed/Astra Yao/Dialyn. All require Zhao for defensive utility and CRIT DMG buffs. Lacking these supports? Reconsider pulling Ye Shunguang.
Can F2P afford both in 2.5?
Zhao's free (zero polychrome). Guaranteeing Ye Shunguang requires up to 180 pulls (28,800 Polychrome) from zero pity—exceeds 2.5's 14,250 income. Only possible with substantial saved resources or existing pity.
Pull Ye Shunguang's signature or save for characters?
Prioritize character acquisition. Ye Shunguang functions adequately with Half-Sugar Bunny—Lone Light in the Clouds is luxury, not necessity. Save for future limited characters unless you have surplus after guaranteeing desired characters.
Ready to secure your 2.5 pulls? Top up Polychrome safely at BitTopup—trusted worldwide for fast, secure transactions with exclusive bonuses. Guarantee your desired character now!
