Understanding ZZZ Banner Rerun Patterns
ZZZ follows predictable banner structures. Each version runs ~42 days, split into two ~3-week phases. Version 2.5 launched December 30, 2026 at 11 AM UTC+8, with Phase 1 until January 21, 2026 and Phase 2 until February 17, 2026.
Rerun windows typically span 6-12 months after debut. This extended timeframe gives substantial accumulation time but creates pressure during limited availability. Missing a character means waiting nearly a year.
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Banner History Analysis (Versions 1.0-2.5)
New S-Rank agents typically debut in Phase 1 of major updates, with reruns or secondary characters in Phase 2. Angels of Delusion follows this pattern: Sunna and Aria in Phase 1, Nangong Yu in Phase 2.
Limited banners use the Exclusive Channel system where pity carries over between same-type banners. The 50/50 system means first S-Rank has equal chances of being featured or standard pool, but losing guarantees next S-Rank is featured.
Developer Rerun Patterns
HoYoverse schedules reruns tied to story relevance and meta shifts. Characters with story focus or synergy with new agents often return strategically.
Angels of Delusion represents a major narrative milestone. Sunna (Ice Support Composer) and Aria (Ether Anomaly Main DPS) create specific team requirements that could influence existing character reruns.
Version 2.6 Banner Predictions: Character Analysis
Phase 1 (February 6, 2026):
- Sunna: S-Rank Ice Support Composer, Angels of Delusion faction
- Aria: S-Rank Ether Anomaly Main DPS, Angels of Delusion faction
Phase 2:
- Nangong Yu: S-Rank Physical Stunner, mace and flail weapon
Staggered releases allow Polychrome accumulation between targets.
High Probability Reruns (70%+ Confidence)
Characters from versions 1.4-1.8 represent highest rerun probability based on 6-12 month windows. Ice and Ether element characters align with Angels of Delusion theme.
Support characters with universal applications see faster reruns than niche DPS. Signature W-Engine banners accompany character reruns for maximized investment.
Medium Probability (40-70% Confidence)
Characters from versions 1.9-2.2 fall into medium probability. Recent releases make immediate returns uncertain, but exceptional synergy with 2.6 agents could accelerate schedules.
Physical damage dealers and Stunners gain relevance with Nangong Yu's introduction.
Version 2.7 Preview
Version 2.7 starts March 25, 2026:
- Phase 1: Aria, Harumasa
- Phase 2: Damian, Yixuan
- Also appearing: Big Daddy
Aria's appearance in both 2.6 Phase 1 and 2.7 Phase 1 provides extended availability.
Meta Analysis: Which Characters Deserve Polychromes
Evolving endgame content rewards specialized teams over generalist approaches. Shiyu Defense and advanced Hollow Zero demand specific damage types, crowd control, and support functions.
Sunna's Value:
- Signature W-Engine: Energy Recharge + Support stats
- Support-oriented design ages better than pure DPS
- Priority for players lacking Ice Support
Aria's Value:
- Signature W-Engine: Anomaly Proficiency + Ether DMG
- Anomaly teams dominate high-level content
- Ether element has sparse roster coverage
DPS Investment Considerations
Main DPS characters require significant investment: signature W-Engines and often Mindscape duplicates. Before committing 28,800 Polychromes, evaluate if your roster already covers that damage type. Redundant DPS provides minimal progression versus filling capability gaps.
Support Character Impact
Support agents multiply entire roster effectiveness. Single strong support enables multiple team compositions, providing greater flexibility than specialized DPS.
Ice Support addresses common roster weakness. Sunna fills this gap, making her strategic for comprehensive elemental coverage.
Nangong Yu's Niche Role
Physical Stunner with mace/flail creates specific team archetype. Stunners break enemy Daze meters for burst windows but require coordinated compositions.
Signature W-Engine: Daze multipliers + Physical DMG.
Pull priority depends on existing roster:
- High priority: Strong Physical DPS lacking Stun support
- Low priority: No Physical damage dealers (future-proofing only)
Polychrome Calculator: 2.6 Requirements
Hard pity: 90 pulls = 14,400 Polychrome (160 per pull)
50/50 system: First S-Rank has 50% chance of featured character
Worst-case guarantee: 180 pulls = 28,800 Polychrome
Soft pity:
- S10/S17 servers: Starts pull 75
- S1-S4 servers: Starts pull 80
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Guaranteed Pull Math
Calculate needs based on current pity and 50/50 status:
- Zero pity, no guarantee: 180 pulls (28,800 Polychrome)
- 45 pity with guarantee: 45 pulls (7,200 Polychrome)
Other banner pity:
- W-Engine: 80 pulls = 12,800 Polychrome
- Bangboo: 80 pulls (Boopons currency)
- A-Rank: 10 pulls
F2P Earning Rates
Per 42-day patch: 8,000-10,000 Polychrome
Daily commissions: 60 Polychrome/day = 2,520 per patch
Additional sources: Events, exploration, Hollow Zero, Shiyu Defense
Version 2.5 to 2.6 accumulation: 10,000-12,000 Polychrome (~70 pulls)
Monthly Card & Battle Pass Value
These provide best value-per-dollar ratios. Consistent daily income compounds over patches, enabling guaranteed pulls on most desired characters.
Battle pass includes Polychrome + Encrypted Master Tapes directly. Monthly card + battle pass throughout 2.5 and 2.6 enables two guaranteed S-Ranks across both phases.
Emergency Farming
Immediate Polychrome sources:
- Uncompleted exploration zones
- Achievement hunting
- Higher Shiyu Defense floors
- Story chapters
- Character trust events
- Inter-Knot Level progression
These sources exhaust eventually—consistent daily engagement is only sustainable strategy.
Strategic Pull Planning
Account-specific factors drive decisions over universal tier lists. Honest roster assessment prevents wasteful pulls on marginal upgrades.
Account Gap Analysis
Elemental coverage: Ensure viable teams for all elements. Lacking Ice teams makes Sunna high priority regardless of other factors.
Role coverage: Teams need DPS, Support, Stunner filled appropriately. Five DPS with no support creates fundamental weaknesses no additional DPS can solve.
Fill role gaps before pursuing redundant character types.
Character Synergy Framework
Certain characters unlock team archetypes that wouldn't function without them. Sunna's Ice Support might enable previously unviable Ice DPS, effectively upgrading multiple agents simultaneously.
Before pulling, identify complete team composition. Lacking supporting cast means minimal immediate value despite strong kit design.
Signature W-Engine Priority
Signature weapons provide 15-25% performance increases over best-in-slot alternatives. For DPS, this impacts clear times significantly. For supports, enables smoother rotations or enhanced buff uptime.
80-pull hard pity (12,800 Polychrome) represents substantial investment. Prioritize character acquisition until roster covers all essential roles/elements.
Mindscape Investment
Mindscape duplicates provide varying value. Some characters gain transformative abilities at specific levels; others receive marginal stat increases.
For most players, roster breadth beats individual character depth until multiple complete teams exist. Flexibility for varied content outweighs incremental power gains.
Common Banner Mistakes
Impulse Pulling
Most destructive habit for account health. Every pull should serve strategic purpose aligned with development goals, not momentary desire.
First few days generate maximum hype through content creators. Wait 3-5 days for community consensus and detailed guides before committing.
Ignoring Pity Management
Track current pity status to prevent accidental unwanted S-Rank pulls. Limited banner pity carries over—safely build pity on less-desired banners for future targets.
With active guarantee approaching pity, never waste it on low-priority characters. Stop pulling immediately and save for high-value targets.
Overvaluing Design vs Gameplay
Visual design drives pull motivation, but prioritizing aesthetics over function creates weak rosters. Balance preferences with practical team-building needs.
Always complete character trials to test playstyle, animations, mechanical feel before committing Polychromes.
Splitting Resources
Multiple targets across 2.6's phases create temptation. Attempting everything spreads resources too thin, failing to guarantee any specific character.
Identify top 1-2 priorities and commit fully rather than gambling multiple 50/50s.
Realistic expectations:
- F2P: One guaranteed S-Rank per patch
- Low spenders (monthly card): Two guarantees across both phases
Advanced Maximization Strategies
50/50 Loss Decision Point
After losing 50/50, decide: continue for guarantee or save for future banners.
Factors:
- Current pity count
- Remaining Polychrome reserves
- Character necessity
Guidelines:
- 80 pity post-loss: Only 10 pulls to guarantee—usually worth completing
- 20 pity post-loss: 70 additional pulls might better serve future targets
Guarantee carries over indefinitely. Losing 50/50 early on non-essential banner? Stop immediately, preserve guarantee for must-have character.
Banner Timing Optimization
Phase 1: February 6 - late February Phase 2: Late February - late March (before 2.7 on March 25)
Pull Phase 1 targets first, then accumulate during Phase 1's duration before Phase 2 begins. This maximizes total earning time.
If securing Phase 1 characters quickly, gain extra time to evaluate Phase 2 necessity or save for 2.7.
Trial Testing
Every limited character gets trial mode with pre-built teams/equipment. Risk-free testing evaluates playstyle match.
Trials present optimal conditions (signature W-Engines, synergistic teammates). Adjust expectations—your version performs below trial levels without similar investment.
Focus on core gameplay loop satisfaction over raw damage numbers.
Tier List Analysis
Community tier lists provide starting points but require critical evaluation. Different lists prioritize different factors: F2P accessibility, signature weapon assumptions, endgame-only focus.
Character strength evolves with new content and team compositions. Early assessments miss synergies emerging weeks/months post-release. Wait 1-2 weeks for reliable consensus over day-one reactions.
Timeline & Action Plan
Version 2.5:
- Phase 1: December 30, 2025 - January 21, 2026 (22 days)
- Phase 2: January 21 - February 17, 2026 (27 days)
- Total accumulation before 2.6: 10,000-12,000 Polychrome
Version 2.6:
- Launch: February 6, 2026
- Duration: 42 days through mid-March
- Phase 2 targeting: Additional 5,000-6,000 Polychrome during Phase 1
Month-by-Month Roadmap
January 2026:
- Daily commissions: 1,860 Polychrome
- Events + content: 3,000-4,000 Polychrome
- Total: ~5,000-6,000 Polychrome
February 2026:
- 2.6 launches February 6
- First 3 weeks before Phase 2: Final accumulation for Phase 2 targets
- Community testing period for Phase 1 evaluation
Decision Points
First week of any banner provides crucial community testing info. If character underperforms or doesn't fit meta, pivot to alternatives.
Version 2.7's confirmed lineup creates forward-looking decisions. Acquiring Aria in 2.6 Phase 1 frees resources from her 2.7 Phase 1 reappearance for Harumasa instead.
Backup Plans
Maintain 14,400 Polychrome emergency reserve (90 pulls) while planning with amounts exceeding threshold. This buffer ensures response to unexpected developments while making planned acquisitions.
Post-2.6 Planning
Version 2.7 (March 25, 2026):
- Phase 1: Aria, Harumasa
- Phase 2: Damian, Yixuan
- Also: Big Daddy
If Harumasa addresses critical roster gap, saving through 2.6 Phase 2 might provide better long-term value than Nangong Yu.
Expert Recommendations
Highest Priority: Sunna
Universal value leader among 2.6 characters. Ice Support remains underserved, and supports provide longer meta relevance than DPS. Energy Recharge focus suggests broad team applicability beyond pure Ice compositions.
Must-pull for: Players lacking strong Ice team enablers
High Priority: Aria
Fills specialized Ether Anomaly DPS role with high current meta relevance. Anomaly strategies dominate endgame efficiency.
Evaluate first: Current Anomaly coverage—existing strong options make her marginal value
Situational: Nangong Yu
Physical Stunner creates account-specific value.
Must-pull for: Players building Physical-focused teams Safe skip for: Those emphasizing other damage types
Player Type Recommendations
F2P Players:
- Prioritize Sunna (support enables multiple compositions)
- Versatile characters beat incremental DPS upgrades
Low Spenders (Monthly Card):
- Target Sunna + one additional character
- Second target addresses biggest roster gap (Aria for Ether Anomaly, Nangong Yu for Physical Stun)
Safe Skips:
- Sunna: Comprehensive Ice Support coverage already
- Aria: Strong Anomaly damage dealers built
- Nangong Yu: No Physical DPS to pair with
- Signature W-Engines: Until character roster completion (12,800 Polychrome better spent on new characters)
Additional Options
Chinatsu (Remiel): 160cm, age 17, Ice Support Composer, megaphone weapon, limited banner in 2.6
Rokudou (Sariel): 164cm, age 17, Certain Doom faction, giant mace, concurrent banner
Long-Term Philosophy
Sustainable progression priorities:
- Consistent daily engagement over sporadic spending
- 60 daily Polychrome = 21,900 annually (guaranteed character with management)
- Team composition completeness beats individual optimization
- Build breadth before depth
Flexibility for varied content provides more practical value than marginal performance increases from Mindscapes/signatures.
FAQ
When will version 2.6 banners start in Zenless Zone Zero?
Version 2.6 launches February 6, 2026 at 11 AM UTC+8. Phase 1 features Sunna and Aria for ~3 weeks before Phase 2 begins with Nangong Yu. Entire version lasts 42 days until Version 2.7 starts March 25, 2026.
How many Polychromes do I need to guarantee a character in ZZZ?
28,800 Polychrome for guaranteed featured S-Rank (180 pulls accounting for 50/50 system). Each pull costs 160 Polychrome. Hard pity at 90 pulls (14,400 Polychrome), but 50/50 mechanic requires worst-case budgeting.
What is the average banner rerun gap in ZZZ?
Reruns typically occur 6-12 months after debut. This extended window gives substantial accumulation time but requires careful prioritization—missing a character means potentially waiting nearly a year.
Should I pull for signature W-Engines or save for character reruns?
Prioritize character acquisition until roster covers all essential roles/elements. Signature weapons provide 15-25% performance increases but cost 12,800 Polychrome (80 pulls)—could instead expand team options through new characters.
How do I calculate my pulls for ZZZ version 2.6?
Track current pity counter and 50/50 guarantee status. Zero pity without guarantee: 28,800 Polychrome (180 pulls). Guarantee active at 45 pity: 7,200 Polychrome (45 pulls). F2P earns 8,000-10,000 Polychrome per 42-day patch through consistent engagement.
Which characters provide the best value for F2P players in 2026?
Support characters like Sunna offer superior F2P value by enabling multiple team compositions. Ice Support remains underserved, making Sunna strategic priority. Versatile characters improving overall roster quality outperform incremental DPS upgrades for resource-limited players.
