What's New in Matrix Operation
Matrix Operation is the evolved endgame version of Hollow Zero with weekly rotating buffs that fundamentally change team building. Unlike standard Hollow Zero, Matrix Operation emphasizes strategic planning around specific buff windows to maximize damage and resource efficiency.
Unlocks in Chapter 1 Intermission Art of War Lite Edition, accessible at Scott Outpost Interior through the large tent left of entrance. Select between Lost Void (License Level cap 200) or Withered Domain (cap 90), each offering distinct rewards and difficulty scaling.
For maximum preparation, Zenless Zone Zero Monochrome top up through BitTopup ensures sufficient Polychrome and Master Tapes ready for February 6 launch.
Key Differences from Standard Hollow Zero
Three fundamental changes:
- Weekly Buff Rotation: Specific damage type bonuses rotate every Monday 04:00, requiring adaptive teams
- Enhanced Rewards: 7,000 Investigation Points, 900 Z-Merits, 140-190 Bangboo System Widget, 140-160 Bangboo Algorithm Module weekly
- Assist Agent Integration: 6 Assist Points enable Defensive Assists (1 point) and Evasive Assists (1 point), recover via Chain Attacks (1 point) and Ultimates (3 points)
Bounty Commissions refresh every Monday 04:00, creating predictable weekly farming cycles.
Reward Structure
Lost Void delivers highest rewards: Polychrome x3,200, Denny x2,000,000, Boopon x80. Withered Domain offers Polychrome x1,440, Denny x900,000, Boopon x36.
Weekly modes guarantee 3-5 Hamster Cage Passes and 200,000-300,000 Dennies. Battlefront Purge rewards:
- Difficulty V: Shadow Crystal Data x4,000, Denny x4,500
- Difficulty VI: Shadow Crystal Data x4,500, Bangboo System Widget x24-27
Unlock Requirements
Requires Chapter 1 Intermission completion (Inter-Knot Level 25-30). Optimal participation demands Level 40+ with one fully built team.
Exploration areas:
- Qualification Assessment: 2 stages
- Old Capital Metro: 5 stages (primary farming)
- Construction Ruins: 4 stages
- Abandoned Skyscraper: 3 stages
- Withering Garden: 1 stage
- Inferno Reap: Boss (Nineveh)
Weekly Buff Rotation System
Weekly buffs create distinct meta windows where specific archetypes gain 20-40% effective damage increases.
Mechanics Breakdown
Buffs apply globally to all agents, stacking multiplicatively with agent passives, W-Engine bonuses, and Resonium effects. Activate automatically upon entering Hollow Zero after Monday 04:00 reset.
- Duration: Monday 04:00 to following Monday 03:59
- Stacking: Multiplicative with agent stats, additive within same category
- Scope: All damage including Chain Attacks, Ultimates, Assist Follow-Ups
- Persistence: Active through all Hollow Zero modes
No manual activation required—current week's bonus applies automatically.
Buff Calendar (Feb 6 - March 2026)
- Week 1 (Feb 6-9): Partial week—expect introductory ATK% buff
- Week 2 (Feb 10-16): Physical DMG bonus (early-game accessibility)
- Week 3 (Feb 17-23): Ether or Fire DMG bonus
- Week 4 (Feb 24-Mar 2): CRIT-focused week
- Phase 2 (Feb 27): Nangong Yu banner—likely Physical or Ice DMG buff
Four-week cycle ensures equal representation per damage archetype.
Buff Types & Effects
ATK% Buffs (15-25%)
- Universal benefit to all damage dealers
- Strongest with multi-hit agents
- Scales equally with Physical, Elemental, Anomaly damage
CRIT Rate/DMG Buffs (12-20% Rate or 30-50% DMG)
- Hypercarry compositions gain maximum benefit
- Requires baseline 50%+ CRIT Rate
- Optimal for speedrunning bosses
Elemental DMG Buffs (20-35% specific element)
- Mono-element teams reach peak performance
- Enables marginal agents to compete with top-tier
- Requires element-specific team prep
Anomaly Mastery Buffs (30-50 Proficiency)
- Disorder compositions dominate
- Chaos Jazz 4-piece (+30 Proficiency) gains extra value
- Faster Anomaly buildup for status triggers
Stacking Rules
Multiplicative (different categories):
- 20% weekly + 15% agent + 30% W-Engine = 1.20 × 1.15 × 1.30 = 79.4% total
Additive (same category):
- 25% weekly + 20% agent + 30% disc = 75% total Elemental DMG
Non-Stacking:
- Buffs don't increase Assist Point generation
- Don't reduce Corruption or Pressure
- Only current week's buff active
Assist Agent System
6 Assist Points enable defensive and evasive maneuvers beyond active squad capabilities.
Unlock Process
- Complete Chapter 1 Intermission
- Reach Inter-Knot Level 30
- Access Scott Outpost Interior Hollow Zero console
- Navigate to Agent Configuration
- Assign up to 3 Assist Agents (separate from main squad)
- Confirm loadout before entering
Assist Agents don't need leveling or equipment—function at full effectiveness regardless of build status.
Assist vs Main Squad
Assist Agents:
- Consume Assist Points (max 6) for Defensive/Evasive Assists
- Can't be directly controlled
- Provide Assist Follow-Up attacks after successful assists
- Don't contribute to team passives or resonance
- Require zero investment
Main Squad:
- Directly controllable with full rotations
- Contribute passives and resonance bonuses
- Require full investment
- Generate Assist Points via Chain Attacks and Ultimates
Strategy: Assign high-utility agents with strong counter animations as Assists, keep invested DPS in main squad.
Selection Priority
Defensive Assist (1 point):
- Wide parry windows
- High stagger damage on Follow-Ups
- Elemental coverage matching weekly buff
Evasive Assist (1 point):
- Invulnerability frames during dodge
- Repositioning for avoiding AoE
- Quick recovery animations
Quick Assist (0 points):
- Triggered automatically when launching teammates
- Free resource—assign fast animation agents
Zero investment means free weekly experimentation matching buff rotations.
Best Assists Per Buff
- ATK% Weeks: Physical multi-hit agents, Defensive specialists
- CRIT Weeks: High base CRIT Rate agents, burst Follow-Ups
- Elemental Weeks: Mono-element matching buff, Anomaly applicators
- Anomaly Weeks: Anomaly-type agents, Assault Follow-Ups
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Pre-Feb 6 Farming Checklist
Three-week window before February 6 is critical for maximizing Version 2.6 efficiency.
Critical Materials to Stockpile
Sunna (Support):
- Ascension: 4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Ruler Support Seals, 800,000 Dennies
- Skills: 25 Basic + 75 Advanced + 250 Specialized Physical Chips, 5 Hamster Cage Passes, 2,905,000 Dennies
Aria (Anomaly):
- Ascension: 4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Controller Anomaly Seals, 800,000 Dennies
- Skills: 25 Basic + 75 Advanced + 250 Specialized Ether Chips, 9 Clouded Crystalline Substance, 60 Spiked Corruption Core
Nangong Yu (Stunner):
- Ascension: 4 Basic + 32 Advanced + 30 Specialized Stunner Seals, 800,000 Dennies
- Skills: 250 Specialized Physical Chips, 9 Exuvia of Refinement, 60 Miasmic Elytron
Total: 2,400,000 Dennies for all three ascensions.
Polychrome & Dennies Routes
Daily Sources (21 days):
- Commissions: 60 × 21 = 1,260 Polychrome
- Scratch Cards: ~20 × 21 = 420 Polychrome
- Login Rewards: 300-500 Polychrome
Weekly Sources (3 resets):
- Shiyu Defense: 800 × 3 = 2,400 Polychrome
- Hollow Zero Bounties: Variable
Hard pity requires 14,400 Polychrome (90 pulls), guaranteed S-Rank needs 28,800 (180 pulls). Pre-farming yields 4,000-6,000 Polychrome.
Dennies Priority:
- Lost Void full clear: 2,000,000 (one-time)
- Weekly Hollow Zero: 600,000-900,000 (3 weeks)
- Battlefront Purge V-VI: 4,500+ per clear
- Routine Cleanup: 10,000-15,000 per run
Target minimum 3,000,000 Dennies before Feb 6.
Agent Promotion Priority
Physical Dealers (Week 2 buff):
- Stockpile Physical Chips all tiers
- Farm Miasmic Elytron from Task Force
- Prioritize high ATK% scaling agents
Anomaly Specialists:
- Ether and Fire Chips for Disorder
- Spiked Corruption Core from Construction Ruins
- Clouded Crystalline Substance from bosses
Support/Stunner:
- Certification Seals from designated stages
- Exuvia of Refinement from Withering Garden
- Ruler Seals for Support-types
Focus on 2-3 core team members, not spreading resources.
W-Engine & Resonium Prep
S-Rank W-Engine level 60 requires:
- 4 Basic + 32 Reinforced + 30 Specialized Components
- 400,000 Dennies
Prioritize primary DPS W-Engine first—universal across all buff types.
Resonium Strategy:
- Collect 4 or 8 same-type Resonia for Advanced upgrades
- Purchase with Gear Coins during runs
- Prioritize combat Resonia over exploration
- Build diverse pools for weekly buff adaptation
Advanced cards provide 30-50% stronger effects than basic versions.
Optimal Team Compositions
Weekly buffs demand flexible building, not static best team approaches.
ATK% Buff Week
Optimal DPS: Multi-hit basic attackers, ATK% conversion mechanics, Physical dealers
Support Synergies: Swing Jazz 4-piece (+15% ally ATK), ATK% buffers, energy generators
Sample Comp: High ATK% scaling DPS + Elemental applicator + Swing Jazz support
Leverages multiplicative stacking for 60-80% effective ATK increases.
CRIT Buff Week
Hypercarry Requirements: Baseline 50%+ CRIT Rate, 150%+ CRIT DMG, burst ultimates
Support Framework: CRIT Rate buffers (push to 70%+), energy batteries, defensive supports
Sample Comp: CRIT-focused DPS + Energy specialist + CRIT Rate buffer/shield
Defensive Assists critical to prevent hypercarry knockdowns.
Elemental DMG Buff Week
Mono-Element Advantages: 20-35% buff applies to entire team, elemental resonance stacks, simplified Resonium selection
Sample Mono-Comp (Ether week): Ether DPS + Ether Anomaly + Ether buffer/healer
Mono-element teams gain 40-60% effective damage during matching weeks.
Anomaly Mastery Buff Week
Core Mechanics: Chaos Jazz 4-piece (+30 Proficiency) stacks with weekly buff, faster buildup enables more Disorder triggers
Optimal Types: Dual Anomaly applicators (different elements), Anomaly Mastery scalers, Proficiency buffers
Sample Disorder Comp: Ether Anomaly (Chaos Jazz) + Physical/Fire Anomaly + Proficiency buffer
Triggers Disorder every 8-12 seconds, each dealing 200-300% normal attack damage—effectively doubles DPS.
Advanced Mechanics
Corruption & Pressure Management
Pressure Thresholds:
- 0-33%: No penalties
- 34-66%: Minor stat reductions
- 67-100%: Severe Corruption, difficulty spikes
Reduction Methods:
- Rest nodes: -20% Pressure
- Purification Resonia: -10-15%
- Specific Bangboo abilities
Maintain 30-40% Pressure throughout runs for balanced rewards and manageable combat.
Bangboo Selection
- ATK% Weeks: Team ATK% auras, percentage-based damage, Pressure reduction
- CRIT Weeks: CRIT Rate/DMG bonuses, burst actives, energy generation
- Elemental Weeks: Element-matching for resonance, resistance reduction, Anomaly acceleration
- Anomaly Weeks: Proficiency bonuses, multi-hit actives, Disorder amplification
Bangboo System Widget (140-190 weekly) and Algorithm Module (140-160 weekly) enable consistent upgrades.
Resonium Path Optimization
Early Run (Stages 1-3): Defensive Resonia, Pressure reduction, universal damage buffs
Mid Run (Stages 4-6): Synergistic with weekly buff, Corruption resistance, combat-focused
Late Run (Stages 7+): Offensive stacking for bosses, ultimate amplification, CRIT/Elemental multipliers
Collecting 4 same-type unlocks Advanced cards with 30-50% stronger effects—prioritize completing sets.
Difficulty Scaling
Difficulty V: Shadow Crystal Data x4,000, Denny x4,500—accessible to well-built teams
Difficulty VI: Shadow Crystal Data x4,500 (+12.5%), Bangboo System Widget x24-27—requires optimized team with synergistic buff
12.5% reward increase doesn't justify time investment unless clearing VI in under 1.5× time of V.
Optimal Strategy: Farm highest difficulty clearable under 10 minutes, prioritize consistency, switch to lower difficulties during unfavorable buffs.
Weekly Reset Strategy
Monday 04:00 reset creates predictable cycle rewarding strategic planning.
Maximizing Rewards
Weekly caps: 7,000 Investigation Points, 900 Z-Merits regardless of speed.
Time-Efficient Strategy:
- Complete highest-reward modes first (Lost Void > Withered Domain)
- Focus on Investigation Point cap before optional objectives
- Save low-priority farming for end-of-week
Daily Allocation:
- Mon-Tue: Complete Bounty Commissions
- Wed-Fri: Farm Investigation Point cap
- Sat-Sun: Optional farming or next week prep
Stamina Allocation
Matrix Operation Priority (Weekly):
- Hollow Zero Bounties: 3-5 Hamster Cage Passes (highest)
- Battlefront Purge: Shadow Crystal farming (medium)
- Lost Void/Withered Domain: One-time Polychrome (complete once)
Competing Demands:
- Agent materials: 240 stamina daily
- W-Engine components: 180 stamina
- Disc Drive: 120-180 stamina
Optimal Weekly Split: 40% Matrix Operation, 35% agent/W-Engine, 25% Disc Drive
Long-term Roadmap (2.6 to 2.7)
Phase 1 (Feb 6-27): Sunna/Aria banners—farm Physical/Ether chips, accumulate Polychrome for Phase 2
Phase 2 (Feb 27-Mar 20): Nangong Yu banner—farm Physical chips, stockpile for 2.7, maximize weekly rewards (9+ weeks)
Version 2.7 Prep (March 20+): Maintain 14,400+ Polychrome reserve, diversify roster across damage types, complete all difficulty tiers
Common Mistakes
Buff Synergy Misconceptions
Mistake: Assuming additive stacking with all sources Reality: Multiplicative with different categories, additive within same
Mistake: Rainbow teams during Elemental weeks Reality: Only one agent benefits—60-70% reduced team effectiveness
Mistake: Ignoring Assist selection during rotations Reality: Assist Follow-Ups benefit from buffs, contribute 15-20% total damage
Poor Assist Investment
Mistake: Leveling/equipping Assists Reality: Zero investment needed—resources wasted
Mistake: Assigning invested DPS as Assists Reality: Can't control them—wastes damage potential
Optimal: Assign zero-investment agents with strong Follow-Ups, rotate weekly to match buffs
Suboptimal Pre-Update Farming
Mistake: Generic farming without targeting Reality: 2.6 needs 2,400,000 Dennies for ascensions—unfocused creates shortages
Mistake: Ignoring time-gated Polychrome Reality: Missing dailies costs 1,260 Polychrome over 21 days (8+ pulls)
Optimal: Calculate exact needs, prioritize time-gated sources, farm highest difficulty under 10 min/run
Expert Tips
Time-Saving Strategies
Route Optimization: Memorize Old Capital Metro 5-stage path (highest Points/minute), skip optional nodes above cap, prioritize elites for better Resonia
Combat Efficiency: Use Assist Follow-Ups immediately after assists (free damage), Chain Attack at 5 Points (avoid wasting Ultimate recovery), Quick Assist for repositioning (0 cost)
Preparation: Pre-select Bangboo/Assists matching weekly buff before Monday, maintain 2-3 pre-built teams, farm materials during unfavorable weeks
Reduces weekly clear time from 90-120 min to 45-60 min.
F2P Resource Priorities
Polychrome: 1) Limited S-Rank banners (14,400 hard pity), 2) Monthly Pass if spending, 3) Stamina refreshes after securing agents
Dennies: 1) Agent ascension (800,000), 2) Skills (2,905,000), 3) W-Engine (400,000), 4) Disc Drive (lowest)
Materials: 1) Time-gated weekly rewards, 2) Agent chips/seals, 3) W-Engine components, 4) Bangboo materials
Target one new S-Rank per version (42 days) while maintaining 14,400 Polychrome emergency reserve.
Future-Proofing for 2.7
Roster Diversification: Build one agent per damage type (Physical, Fire, Ice, Ether, Electric), maintain 2-3 Supports with different buffs, develop 1-2 Stunners
Resource Reserves: 3,000,000+ Dennies liquid, 100+ each chip type, 20+ Hamster Cage Passes
Knowledge Investment: Master current mechanics before 2.7 additions, complete all difficulty tiers, document clear times/comps
FAQ
What is Matrix Operation in ZZZ 2.6?
Enhanced Hollow Zero launching Feb 6, 2026 with weekly rotating buffs changing optimal teams. Features Assist Agent System (6 Assist Points for Defensive/Evasive Assists), weekly Bounty resets (Monday 04:00), enhanced rewards (7,000 Investigation Points, 200,000-300,000 Dennies weekly).
How does weekly buff rotation work?
Buffs rotate every Monday 04:00, providing damage bonuses (ATK%, CRIT, Elemental DMG, Anomaly Mastery) to all agents. Stack multiplicatively with agent stats/equipment, last entire week until next Monday. Four-week cycle ensures equal archetype representation.
What to farm before Feb 6 update?
Priority: 800,000 Dennies per agent for ascension, 250 Specialized Chips per agent for skills, 5 Hamster Cage Passes for Sunna. Target 3,000,000 Dennies total, 4,000-6,000 Polychrome via dailies/weeklies, element-specific chips (Physical for Sunna/Nangong Yu, Ether for Aria).
How to unlock assist agents?
Complete Chapter 1 Intermission + reach Inter-Knot Level 30. Access Assist configuration at Scott Outpost Hollow Zero console, assign up to 3 Assists (separate from main squad). Require zero investment to function fully.
Best assist agents for Hollow Zero?
Changes with buffs: ATK% weeks use multi-hit Physical agents, CRIT weeks use burst-damage agents, Elemental weeks use element-matching agents, Anomaly weeks use Anomaly-types. Prioritize wide parry windows (Defensive) and invulnerability frames (Evasive).
Do weekly buffs stack with agent passives?
Yes, multiplicatively with different stat categories. Example: 20% weekly ATK × 15% agent ATK × 30% W-Engine ATK = 79.4% total. Same category buffs (multiple Elemental DMG sources) stack additively.
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