ZZZ 2.5 Weapon Banner: Skip Zhao Sig vs Ellen Gear? +40% CRIT

Diving into the ZZZ 2.5 Weapon Banner

Quick Banner Rundown and Star Weapons

ZZZ 2.5 drops Dec 30, 2025, at 11 AM UTC+8—runs a solid 50 days through Feb 17, 2026. Phase 1 features Zhao, the S-Rank Ice Defense Agent, from Dec 30 to Jan 21. W-Engine pity hits at 80 pulls (12,800 Polychrome), with a 1% S-Rank drop rate and 50% shot at the featured one. Worst case? 160 pulls (25,600 Polychrome) for the guarantee. Zhao's signature packs 713 ATK base, pumping +40% squad CRIT DMG during EX Special or Ether Veil—soft pity kicks in around 70-80 pulls.

Your pull checklist:

1. Log in sharp at Dec 30, 11 AM UTC+8.
2. Stock at least 80 pulls; brace for 160.
3. Kick off with your first five ten-pulls—they're 20% off.

Trap or Treasure? My Take for Zhao Mains

Here's the rub: it's a trap for Zhao mains with Ellen gear, unless that sig W-Engine crushes Deep Sea Visitor as an ATK alternative. Always chase Zhao E0S1 over weapons first—pairing Zhao with Ellen nails 120+ Shiyu Defense through RES Penetration and Daze. Zhao's Ult? A whopping 4234.7% Ice DMG, plus a 30s Ether Veil shield granting +40% squad CRIT DMG.

Quick verdict steps:

1. Stack your Ellen W-Engine's Ice output against it.
2. Skip if it ain't a game-changer.

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Zhao Mains Breakdown: Rocking That Post-Ellen Setup

Your Ideal Zhao Build from Scratch

Zhao shines as an HP-scaling support-DPS beast. Basics sling 740.4% DMG and 421% Daze over five hits. Charged attack? 1501.9% DMG. EX Special dishes 1688.9% DMG, heals 1% HP/s for 5s, and regen 40 Energy. Ult blasts 4234.7% Ice DMG with Ether Veil. Core Passive adds +0.05 ATK per HP point; Veil buffs +40% CRIT DMG. Off-field, Ice Points trigger Skill Freeze + EX for +30% squad DMG (12s). Skill order: Core > EX > Switch > Ult > Basic > Dodge. Hit Lv60 with Defense Seals x4/32/30 (800k Denny), plus skills Chips x25/75/250 and Senior Log x300 (3.705M Denny total).

Discs game plan: 4pc or 6pc HP% sets—funnel DEF into RES Penetration and Stun.

Build steps:

1. Grind Combat Simulation after Chapter 1.
2. Push M3/M5 for +2 skill levels; nail 4s EX rotations.

Can You Swap Ellen Gear Over?

Absolutely—Ellen’s ATK gear slides right onto Zhao for killer Ice penetration, and his sig W-Engine amps Defense/CRIT DMG buffs. Dream team: Zhao/Ellen/Lycaon/Soukaku/Butler smashes 120+ Shiyu, pulling 90k S+ scores (+100% CRIT DMG, Flash Freeze). Flex option: Zhao/Ellen/Pan Yinhu (heals) + whatever fits.

W-Engine Pull Priority: My Tier List

S-Rank Must-Considers

Tier 1: Zhao sig (713 ATK, +40% squad CRIT DMG in Veil/EX)

. Pull if you've got no solid Defense alternative. E2 Mindscape adds +1000 ATK (40s); M6 locks in Charged Crit.

A-Rank Gems

Deep Sea Visitor (Ellen alt) handles RES ignore perfectly if substats play nice.

Hard Passes

Skip unless it's a massive leap—Bangboo at 80 Boopons saves you 12.8k Polychrome.

Priority steps:

1. Test that Ellen gear DPS boost in sims.
2. Commit to 80 pulls minimum after Zhao guarantee.

Head-to-Head: Banner Weapons vs. Your Ellen Gear

Raw DPS Numbers

Zhao/Ellen duo clears 120+ Shiyu Defense, outpacing Ye teams. Zhao edges Caesar in Daze and Ice penetration (M2: +15% ATK for 15s; M1: +12% RES ignore for 30s above 50% HP). Rotation's tight: 4s EX for boss pressure, off-field Veil buffs.

Team Synergy Scoop

In the Ice meta, Zhao trumps Ye for Ellen pairs (penetration + DPS). Current rankings? Miyabi > Yixuan > Zhao > Ye.

Stat Deep Dive

Sig edges Ellen gear with +40% Defense squad CRIT DMG over pure ATK DMG—pull only if you're seeing <10% DPS drop without it. (Editor note: Based on available sim data, this holds up across rotations.)

Key matchups:

• Zhao sig: +40% CRIT DMG squad-wide.
• Ellen gear: Ice DMG/penetration focus.

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F2P and Whale Pull Blueprints

Pity Math Made Simple

Character banners: 90 hard pity (14,400 Poly), 180 guarantee (28,800 Poly), soft around 70-80, 50/50 odds. Weapons: 80/160. F2P dailies net 300 Poly (Errands 2520, Shiyu/Deadly 2760, Hollow Zero 800); events add 3210+; carryover from 2.4 hits 10.19k + dailies = 80 pulls.

F2P reality check: 300/day x 50 days = 15k Poly. Guarantees Zhao.

Budget Breakdown

Low spender: $222 for single pity, $444 guarantee; snag the monthly pass for both chars. Whales: $800–1200 covers it all.

When to Bail

Ditch weapons after Ellen gear; bank for 2.6 Ice supports.

Smart steps:

1. Eyeball pity in the Side Panel.
2. Go ham on Phase 1 Zhao, hoard for Phase 2.

Pitfalls and Player Traps I've Seen

Chasing Sig Hype Blindly

Sigs are gold for buffs—total trap if Ellen already covers you.

Substats Blind Spot

Steer clear of standard banners; no pity bleed.

Real-World Goofs

Overpulling Ye? Ice meta laughs it off. Ignoring carryover? 50/50 disasters await.

Dodge these:

1. Random banners.
2. Skipping dailies—ever.

Skipping? Here's Your Alternatives

Disc Grind Paths

4pc/6pc HP% for RES Pen/Daze; hammer daily Defense Seals and Chips.

Craft Focus

Bangboo at 80 Boopons; Senior Log x300.

Action plan:

1. Daily Combat Sim grind.
2. F2P pivot: Billy/Anby/Piper + Soukaku.

Zhao's Future-Proof Play into 2.6+

Meta Evolves—But...

Zhao anchors Ice core: 120+ Shiyu with Ellen carries into 2.6+.

Long Haul

Hybrid E0S1 setup rocks; skip banner if Poly's tight post-guarantee. (Editor view: Feels rock-solid based on trends.)

Handy Tools and Extras

Pity trackers? Side Panel's your friend. Simulators compare Ellen vs. sig DPS. New Year events and logins toss a free Zhao copy.

Final Call and Pull Rec

Snap up Zhao before Jan 21, 2026 ends Phase 1; skip the W-Engine if Ellen's in your kit. F2P E0S1 Zhao? S-tier Ice ready.

FAQ

Is ZZZ 2.5 Weapon Banner worth it for Zhao?
Skip unless sig tops Ellen gear; chase those 180 character pulls.

Best W-Engines for Zhao with Ellen gear?
Zhao sig (+40% CRIT DMG) if buffs lack; Ellen alts for penetration.

Zhao mains with Ellen's W-Engine—skip 2.5?
Yep; chars beat weapons, Ellen clears 120+ Shiyu.

ZZZ 2.5 banner: trap or treasure?
Trap for most; treasure for Defense buffs.

Top pull priority for Zhao in 2.5?
Zhao E0 > sig; F2P aims 180 Phase 1 pulls.

Pity calc for ZZZ 2.5 Weapons?
80 hard (12.8k Poly), 160 guarantee; track Side Panel.