Understanding the ZZZ 2.6 Phase 1 Pull Budget Calculator
What Is a Pull Budget Calculator
A pull budget calculator determines exact Polychrome and Master Tape requirements to guarantee specific characters or W-Engines in ZZZ's gacha system. It accounts for current pity count, guarantee status, and available resources to provide worst-case, average-case, and best-case scenarios.
Version 2.6 Phase 1 runs February 6-27, 2026 (21 days). Players can ZZZ top up polychrome instant through BitTopup for fast, secure transactions when planning last-minute pulls.
Version 2.6 Phase 1 Featured Characters
Sunna (Ice Support): Mesmerized Marks deal 500% ATK damage with 50% CRIT DMG bonus lasting 12 seconds. Valuable for freeze-focused teams.
Aria (Ether Anomaly DPS): Fills niche role for Anomaly-based strategies.
Both share standard limited banner mechanics: 90-pull hard pity, 50/50 featured rates. Signature W-Engines have 80-pull hard pity, 75% featured rates on first S-Rank.
Phase 2 starts February 27, 2026: Nangong Yu (Physical Stunner).
Key Resources
- Polychrome: Universal premium currency. 160 Polychrome = 1 pull
- Master Tapes: Access Stable Channel (standard banner) with six permanent S-Ranks
- Encrypted Master Tapes: Limited character banners only
- Monochrome: Converts 1:1 to Polychrome
Stable Channel offers 20% discount on first five 10-pulls and S-Rank selector at 300 pulls, but these don't apply to limited banners.
ZZZ Gacha Mechanics: Pity System
Hard Pity Thresholds
- Character banners: 90 pulls = guaranteed S-Rank (14,400 Polychrome)
- W-Engine banners: 80 pulls = guaranteed S-Rank (12,800 Polychrome)
- Bangboo banners: 80 pulls (unlocks at Inter-Knot Level 20)
- A-Rank pity: Every 10 pulls
Base S-Rank rate: 0.6% on character banners.
Soft Pity Probability Increases
- S10/S17 servers: Soft pity starts pull 75
- S1-S4 servers: Soft pity starts pull 80
- W-Engine banners: Soft pity around pull 62
Most players receive S-Rank between pulls 75-85 (characters) rather than reaching full 90-pull hard pity.
The 50/50 System vs Guaranteed Pull
Character banners: First S-Rank has 50% chance of being featured character, 50% standard banner agent. Losing activates guarantee status—next S-Rank is featured character. Worst-case: 180 pulls (28,800 Polychrome).
W-Engine banners: 75% featured rate on first S-Rank. Losing triggers guarantee. Worst-case: 160 pulls (25,600 Polychrome).
Combined worst-case (character + W-Engine): 340 pulls (54,400 Polychrome).
Pity Counter Carry-Over
Pity carries over between same banner types across phases/versions. Character banner pity transfers to future character banners. W-Engine pity transfers to future W-Engine banners.
Pity does NOT transfer between different banner types. Track each separately.
Polychrome to Pull Conversion Rates
Standard Conversion
- 1 pull = 160 Polychrome
- 10 pulls = 1,600 Polychrome
- Character hard pity (90 pulls) = 14,400 Polychrome
- Character worst-case (180 pulls) = 28,800 Polychrome
- W-Engine hard pity (80 pulls) = 12,800 Polychrome
- W-Engine worst-case (160 pulls) = 25,600 Polychrome
Master Tape Exchange
Master Tapes and Encrypted Master Tapes function as 1:1 pull equivalents for respective banner types. Cannot convert between types.
Stable Channel 20% discount: First five 10-pulls cost 1,280 Polychrome each (saves 1,600 total). Only applies to standard banner.
Bundle Purchase Value
Buy polychrome Zenless Zone Zero through BitTopup for competitive pricing, instant delivery, secure payments.
First-time purchase bonuses double Polychrome on initial top-ups. Bonuses reset per tier. Higher-value bundles provide better Polychrome-per-dollar ratios.
How Many Pulls to Guarantee Featured Character
Worst-Case: 180 Pulls
Starting from zero pity, no guarantee: 180 pulls maximum when losing 50/50 at pull 90, then reaching hard pity at pull 180. Total: 28,800 Polychrome.
With existing pity/guarantee, requirements decrease. Example: 45 pity + guarantee = only 45 pulls needed (7,200 Polychrome).
Average Case: ~94 Pulls
Statistical average: 93-94 pulls accounting for 50/50 wins, early pulls, soft pity. Players winning 50/50 typically pull featured character at pulls 75-85.
Losing 50/50 early (pulls 1-30) often complete guarantee around pull 165-175. Average: ~15,040 Polychrome.
Best-Case: Early Pulls
Best-case: Featured character on first pull (160 Polychrome). Realistically, lucky players win 50/50 within 10-20 pulls (1,600-3,200 Polychrome).
Never budget based on best-case. Base 0.6% rate makes early pulls statistically unlikely.
Calculation Examples by Starting Pity
60 Pity, No Guarantee
- Pulls to hard pity: 30 (4,800 Polychrome)
- If 50/50 lost: +90 pulls (14,400 Polychrome)
- Worst-case: 120 pulls (19,200 Polychrome)
30 Pity, Guarantee Active
- Pulls to hard pity: 60 (9,600 Polychrome)
- Guaranteed at pull 90
- Total: 60 pulls maximum
85 Pity, No Guarantee
- Pulls to hard pity: 5 (800 Polychrome)
- If 50/50 lost: +90 pulls (14,400 Polychrome)
- Worst-case: 95 pulls (15,200 Polychrome)
W-Engine Banner Pull Budget
W-Engine Hard Pity: 80 Pulls
W-Engine banners guarantee S-Rank at 80 pulls (12,800 Polychrome). 75% featured rate on first S-Rank.
Soft pity starts around pull 62. Most players receive S-Rank between pulls 62-75, averaging 68-70 pulls (10,880-11,200 Polychrome).
Guaranteed Featured W-Engine
Losing 75% triggers guarantee. Worst-case: 160 pulls (25,600 Polychrome) when receiving off-banner at pull 80, then hard pity at pull 160.
Average case: 105-110 pulls (16,800-17,600 Polychrome) accounting for 75% win rates and soft pity.
Character vs W-Engine Priority
Signature W-Engines provide 15-25% performance increases over alternatives. Prioritize character first—character with non-signature W-Engine outperforms no character.
Exception: Guarantee status on W-Engine banner + low pity might cost fewer pulls than character. Risk: banner expiration before accumulating character resources.
Step-by-Step Pull Budget Calculator
Step 1: Check Current Pity
Navigate to Signal Search → Select banner type → Details → History. Count pulls since last S-Rank.
Record separately for each banner type (independent systems). Zero pity if never pulled on specific banner. History displays 6 months of records.
Step 2: Determine Guarantee or 50/50 Status
Character banner: Last S-Rank was standard agent = guarantee status. Last S-Rank was featured limited = 50/50.
W-Engine banner: Last S-Rank was off-banner = guarantee. Last S-Rank was featured = 75/25.
New players start on 50/50 (characters) and 75/25 (W-Engines).
Step 3: Calculate Pulls to Hard Pity
Subtract current pity from hard pity threshold (90 characters, 80 W-Engines).
With guarantee: This is worst-case for featured item.
Without guarantee: Double for characters (accounting for 50/50 loss) or calculate 160 minus current pity for W-Engines.
Step 4: Convert to Polychromes
Required pulls × 160 = total Polychrome cost.
Example: 90 pulls × 160 = 14,400 Polychrome.
Add separate calculations for character + W-Engine if pursuing both.
Subtract existing Master Tapes/Encrypted Master Tapes (each = 160 Polychrome value).
Step 5: Account for Resources and Income
Calculate current Polychrome + Monochrome, add expected income during 21-day Phase 1.
F2P earns ~4,000-6,000 Polychrome during Phase 1. Subtract total available from required Polychrome to determine deficit.
Polychrome Income Sources for Version 2.6
Monthly F2P Income
- Daily commissions: 60/day × 21 days = 1,260 Polychrome
- Shiyu Defense: 1,200-1,800 Polychrome (one reset)
- Events: 1,500-3,000 Polychrome variable
- Version rewards/maintenance: Variable
- Total Phase 1 F2P: 4,000-6,000 Polychrome (25-37 pulls)
Event Rewards
Version 2.6 Angels of Delusion events likely offer 500-1,000 Polychrome + 3-5 Encrypted Master Tapes.
Promotional codes: 300-500 Polychrome + materials. Don't rely on these for budget calculations.
Daily and Weekly Missions
- Weekly missions: 200-300 Polychrome/week × 3 weeks = 600-900 Polychrome
- Battle Pass free track: 500-800 Polychrome reaching level 30-40
Battle Pass and Paid Income
Premium Battle Pass: 10-15 Encrypted Master Tapes + 2,000-3,000 Polychrome = 3,600-5,400 Polychrome equivalent value.
Monthly subscription: 90-120 Polychrome daily × 21 days = 1,890-2,520 Polychrome during Phase 1.
Practical Pull Budget Examples
F2P Player: Guaranteed Character
Zero pity, no guarantee needs 180 pulls (28,800 Polychrome) worst-case. With 4,000-6,000 Phase 1 income, must enter version with 22,800-24,800 saved.
Requires skipping 3-4 previous banners.
Alternative: Accept 50/50 risk = 90 pulls (14,400 Polychrome), achievable with 8,400-10,400 saved. Risk: Lose 50/50, fail to secure character.
Low Spender: Character + W-Engine
Battle Pass + monthly = 6,000-8,000 Polychrome Phase 1 income.
Worst-case both: 340 pulls (54,400 Polychrome), needs 46,400-48,400 saved.
Average-case (94 character + 110 W-Engine): 204 pulls (32,640 Polychrome), needs 24,640-26,640 saved.
Whale Player: C6 + R5
C6 (7 copies): 1,260 pulls worst-case (201,600 Polychrome) R5 (5 copies): 800 pulls worst-case (128,000 Polychrome) Combined: 2,060 pulls (329,600 Polychrome)
Average-case: 1,400-1,500 pulls (224,000-240,000 Polychrome)
Common Pull Budget Mistakes
Myth: Soft Pity Guarantees S-Rank Within 10 Pulls
False. Soft pity increases probability but doesn't guarantee S-Rank until hard pity at pull 90. Some players reach pulls 87-89 before S-Rank.
Always budget for full hard pity. Soft pity is probability improvement, not guarantee.
Mistake: Not Tracking Pity Across Banner Types
Each banner type maintains independent pity. 89 pulls on character banner = zero W-Engine pity.
Track each banner separately using pull history. Maintain written records.
Error: Confusing Standard with Limited Banner Pity
Stable Channel pity operates independently from Exclusive Channel. 300-pull selector doesn't interact with limited banners.
Master Tapes can't convert to Encrypted Master Tapes. Verify correct banner before pulling.
Optimizing Pull Strategy
When to Stop Pulling
After securing target, immediately stop to preserve pity for future phases. Avoid accidental pulls approaching soft pity (75+ pulls).
Some build pity to 70-74 before desired banners for early acquisition chance. Risk: Accidental S-Rank on undesired banner.
Conservative approach: Maintain 0-30 pity between desired banners.
Resource Allocation: Multiple Characters
Prioritize based on gameplay needs, not aesthetics. Evaluate roster gaps—missing support creates more impact than third DPS.
Calculate worst-case for all desired characters. If resources can't cover multiple worst-cases, accept 50/50 risks on lower-priority targets while securing guarantees for highest-priority.
Future Banner Predictions: Save for Phase 2?
Phase 2 (February 27, 2026): Nangong Yu (Physical Stunner). Players lacking crowd control might find more value saving for Phase 2.
Balance immediate roster needs against potential future releases. Don't indefinitely hoard resources. Functional teams now outperform theoretical optimal teams never acquired.
Where to Acquire Polychromes Efficiently
Top-Up Options
Direct purchases provide immediate resources. First-time bonuses double Polychrome per tier.
Promotional sales during launches offer 20-30% bonus on specific tiers (unpredictable). Don't rely on sales for time-sensitive budgets.
BitTopup: Fast and Secure
BitTopup offers competitive pricing, instant delivery, secure payments, 24/7 support. Fast processing for last-minute resources before February 27, 2026 expiration.
Supports multiple payment methods and regional currencies. Manage multiple gacha game top-ups through single platform.
Maximizing First-Time Bonuses
First-time bonuses apply once per tier ($0.99, $4.99, $9.99, $19.99, $49.99, $99.99), not once total.
Strategic: Purchase all first-time tiers during initial spending, doubling Polychrome per dollar. Most cost-efficient option.
FAQ
How many polychromes to guarantee character in ZZZ 2.6? 28,800 Polychrome worst-case (180 pulls) when losing 50/50. With guarantee status: 14,400 Polychrome (90 pulls).
Does pity carry over between banners? Yes, between same banner types across phases/versions. Character pity → future character banners. W-Engine pity → future W-Engine banners. No transfer between different banner types.
What is soft pity in ZZZ? Starts pull 75 (S10/S17) or pull 80 (S1-S4) on character banners, gradually increasing S-Rank probability until hard pity at pull 90. Most receive S-Rank at pulls 75-85.
How many pulls can F2P get per month? 8,000-12,000 Polychrome per 42-day version (50-75 pulls). Single 21-day phase: 4,000-6,000 Polychrome (25-37 pulls).
Pull character or W-Engine first? Always character first. Signature W-Engines provide 15-25% increase but aren't essential. Character with non-signature outperforms no character.
How does 50/50 work? Limited character banners: First S-Rank has 50% featured, 50% standard. Losing activates guarantee—next S-Rank is featured. W-Engines use 75% featured rate instead.
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