Understanding Advanced Bounty Area Patrol Fundamentals
Advanced Bounty: Area Patrol (renamed from Routine Cleanup in Version 1.2) is ZZZ's primary Drive Disc farming system. During events, all cleared stages drop double Drive Discs. Access via VR Device terminal at Scott Outpost—twelve stages with varying enemy compositions and reward pools.
The Version 2.6 event runs February 25, 2026 at 04:00 through March 2, 2026 at 03:59 server time—seven full days. Previous iterations: Version 2.5 (January 16-21), Version 2.4 (December 11-16), Version 1.3 (December 11-16, 2026). Pattern suggests monthly occurrences.
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Event Duration and Reset Timing
Seven-day window ends March 2, 2026 at 03:59 server time. Each run costs 60 Battery Charge—standard 240-charge bar allows four runs before regeneration needed. Daily buffs reset at 04:00 server time. Two buffed stages daily receive combat enhancements that significantly accelerate clears when matched with proper teams.
Unlock Requirements
- Complete Main Story Chapter 2 Intermission
- Finish Path of the Proxy I Reputation Mission
- Reach Inter-Knot Level 21 (Level 26 for Stage 6)
- Stage 6: Complete Belobog Story Part 2: Speed Chaser and Trace to the Source
- Visit Roland at Scott Outpost for S-Rank Drive Disc access
Event Mechanics
60 Battery Charge per run, regardless of difficulty. Challenge levels 30-60 in 10-level increments. Higher difficulties increase enemy stats but maintain identical rewards—lowest clearable difficulty = optimal efficiency.
Two stages get daily buffs (+100% Special Attack DMG, +50% Anomaly Buildup Rate, etc.) that dramatically reduce clear times. Matching team compositions to buff profiles is core optimization.
Reward Structure
Stages drop specific Drive Disc sets by enemy type:
- Stage 1 (Ionized-Farbauti/Cyrtoidea): Swing Jazz, Chaotic Metal
- Stage 2 (Bulky Enforcer/Intimidator): Hormone Punk, Fanged Metal
- Stage 4 (Assault Gunner/Guardian MK II): Woodpecker, Electro Soul Rock
- Stage 11: Iron Law and Outlaws, Dawn's Bloom, Moonlight Lullaby
- Stage 12: Deceits and Bulwarks, White Water Ballad, Shining Aria
Double rewards effectively halve stamina investment. A four-piece set normally requiring ~480 Battery Charge (eight runs) drops to 240 Battery Charge (four runs)—50% efficiency gain.
Method 1: Optimize Daily Bounty Routes
Prioritize buffed stages first—combat enhancements reduce clear times 30-50%. Check buffs immediately after 04:00 reset for strategic planning.
Stage Buff Examples:
- Stage 1: +100% Special Attack DMG, +100% EX Special Attack DMG
- Stage 2/6: +30% Agent Daze, +50% Stunned Stun DMG Multiplier
- Stage 3: +120% Dodge Counter DMG, +80% Daze
- Stage 4: +50% Anomaly Buildup Rate, +100% Attribute Anomaly DMG
- Stage 7: +35% Anomaly Buildup Rate, +25% ATK post-Anomaly, 20 squad Energy/15s
Priority System
Match your strongest team archetype to buff days. Stun teams on Stage 2/6 buff days, Anomaly teams on Stage 4/7 buff days. Secondary selection targets current character building needs.
Time-Efficient Routing
Four-run daily baseline from natural regeneration. Split runs: two after 04:00 reset (new buffs), two evening runs (accumulated regeneration). Prevents stamina overflow while maintaining progress.
Advanced players using consumables: 6+ runs on buffed stages, 2 on secondary targets. Weekend batch sessions: 12 consecutive runs across Saturday/Sunday.
Method 2: Build Perfect Patrol Teams
Team composition impacts clear speed 40-60%. Stage 3's Dodge Counter buffs transform specialized teams into 45-second clears vs. 90-second generic builds.
Top-Tier Agents
Stun Specialists (Stage 2/6): Rapid Daze accumulation triggers stun in 15-20s, capitalize on doubled stun damage multiplier.
Anomaly Experts (Stage 4/7/8): Stage 7's buff combo (+35% Anomaly Buildup, +25% ATK post-Anomaly, 20 Energy/15s) enables Disorder strategies with permanent ATK buffs.
Dodge Counter (Stage 3): +120% Dodge Counter DMG makes defensive mechanics primary damage source.
Support Synergies
Energy generation supports enable frequent burst rotations. Characters providing squad energy compound with stage buffs (Stage 7's 20 energy/15s), creating energy surplus for continuous EX Special cycling.
Offensive buffers > defensive supports in time-attack scenarios. No failure penalties beyond stamina loss—glass cannon compositions maximize clear speed.
F2P Alternatives
F2P characters achieve 70-80% of optimal speeds through proper buff alignment. Stage 1's Special Attack buffs benefit any character with Special capabilities—no premium requirements.
Focus investment on 3-4 core characters covering different archetypes vs. spreading across large rosters. Stage selection flexibility lets F2P avoid unfavorable matchups—play to roster strengths.
Method 3: Master Resource Economy
Direct stamina-to-reward conversion—no intermediate currencies. Each 60 Battery Charge yields immediate Drive Disc drops. Event doubles baseline rate = 100% return vs. non-event periods.
240 Battery Charge during events = 480 Battery Charge normal farming value. Seven-day event delivers ~1,680 Battery Charge worth of value beyond normal rates.
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Value Per Stamina
Each 60-charge run during event = two Drive Disc drops vs. one. S-Rank drop rates unchanged—doubled quantity doesn't guarantee doubled S-Ranks. Expect 14-16 total drops across four daily runs, 2-3 S-Rank typical.
Targeted farming for specific sets reduces variance. Stage 1 for Swing Jazz eliminates half the drop pool, doubling effective acquisition rate.
Participation Priority
Drive Disc farming receives absolute priority during events—100% efficiency gain unreplicable elsewhere. Defer character ascension, W-Engine enhancement until after event.
Emergency consumable usage justified during final 48 hours when deficit threatens targets. Doubled reward value amplifies consumable ROI beyond normal thresholds.
Avoiding Waste
Stamina overflow = primary efficiency loss. Full 240-charge bar wastes natural regeneration. Set six-hour timers (60-charge regeneration) to prevent overflow.
Audit roster before event—identify which characters need upgrades, which sets they require. Prevents reactive farming of irrelevant sets.
Difficulty mismatches waste time. Struggling through level 60 in 120s? Drop to level 50/40—identical rewards make faster clears at lower difficulties more efficient.
Method 4: Leverage Energy Management
240 Battery Charge bar regenerates 1 charge/6 minutes = 240 charges/24 hours. Baseline four runs daily without consumables = 28 total runs across seven days.
Consumable stockpiles enable 8-12 runs daily. Event's doubled rewards amplify consumable efficiency—optimal time for expenditure vs. normal farming.
Stamina Allocation
Area Patrol monopolizes stamina during event windows. 100% efficiency gain creates opportunity cost for alternatives—spending 60 charges on ascension materials wastes potential second Drive Disc drop.
Critical progression bottlenecks may justify exceptions. Immediate ascension materials for talent unlocks can outweigh event gains—evaluate true urgency.
Consumable Timing
Concentrate usage on buffed days aligning with roster strengths. Anomaly teams stockpile for Stage 4/7/8 buff days, execute 8-12 run sessions capitalizing on doubled rewards + buff-enhanced speeds.
Emergency reserves for final days when progress falls short. Deploy consumables during final 24-48 hours to ensure completion.
Natural Regeneration Max
Six-minute intervals create natural breakpoints. One run every 60 minutes using pure regeneration = sustainable rhythm preventing overflow.
Overnight regeneration: eight-hour sleep generates 80 Battery Charge. Log out with ≤80 charges to prevent overflow risk.
Method 5: Exploit Stage Mechanics
Stage buffs create dramatic power differentials. Stage 5's +50% Defensive Assist Daze and +100% Assist Follow-up DMG transform support teams into primary damage dealers.
Enemy knowledge enables pre-planning. Stage 8's Goblin/Farbauti pairing features high mobility punishing slow attacks. +35% Anomaly Buildup and +60% Disorder DMG reward fast-applying Anomaly effects bypassing mobility.
Difficulty Scaling
Challenge 30-60 scale enemy HP/damage proportionally. Rewards identical across difficulties. Level 30 clear = same drops as level 60. Lowest comfortable clear speed = mathematically optimal.
Team clearing level 30 in 45s outperforms same team clearing level 60 in 90s—doubled time, zero additional rewards. Benchmark across tiers, select level minimizing seconds-per-clear.
Drop Rate Optimization
Drive Disc quality follows fixed probability tables unaffected by difficulty, clear time, or performance. S-Rank rates consistent whether clearing in 30s or 120s. Volume of attempts > quality of execution.
Event multiplies quantity without altering quality percentages. 20% S-Rank rate during normal farming = same 20% during events, but two rolls per run. Effectively doubles S-Rank opportunities per stamina.
Set-specific targeting via stage selection = only player-controlled variable. Stage 1's exclusive Swing Jazz/Chaotic Metal drops eliminate eleven other sets, concentrating drops into desired categories.
Investment Thresholds
Minimum viable: Level 50 talents, level 40 W-Engines, +12 Drive Discs clear challenge 40-50 reliably. Adequate efficiency without maximum development.
Diminishing returns at high-end. +12 to +15 Drive Discs might reduce 60s to 55s clears—8% improvement for substantial cost. Rarely justifies investment vs. building additional characters.
Prioritize breakpoint upgrades unlocking new rotations over linear stat scaling. Talent upgrades reducing cooldowns by full seconds create discrete efficiency jumps.
Method 6: Implement Time Optimization
Clear time reduction = increased throughput. Reducing 90s to 60s average gains 33% additional runs in same real-world time—potentially 8-12 extra clears across event week.
Menu navigation optimization eliminates dead time. Memorize button sequence for stage selection, team confirmation, challenge initiation. Reducing menu time from 30s to 10s saves 80s across four daily runs.
Batch completion groups runs into concentrated sessions vs. spreading across day. Four consecutive runs maintains focus and muscle memory, reducing per-run times. Minimizes total menu navigation instances.
Speed-Clear Builds
W-Engines reducing cooldowns or increasing energy generation > raw stat bonuses. Engines enabling additional EX Special casts create multiplicative improvements outperforming additive damage.
Drive Disc sets enhancing mobility or reducing animation lock provide hidden speed advantages. Movement speed allows faster enemy engagement, reduced skill animations enable tighter rotations. Accumulates to 5-10s savings per clear.
Talent priority: frequently-used abilities > ultimates. Basic attack upgrades across 30-40s combat often exceed single ultimate casts.
Menu Shortcuts
Direct numerical input bypasses scrolling. Input 4 jumps to Stage 4 vs. scrolling through 1-3—saves 3-5s per run.
Team presets enable one-button composition swapping. Configure presets for Stun/Anomaly/Dodge Counter teams, allow instant switching when buffs rotate.
Auto-repeat (where available) eliminates menu navigation between runs, maximizing efficiency during extended sessions.
Final 72 Hours
March 1-2 justify aggressive consumable expenditure and extended sessions. Calculate remaining needs, work backward for required daily counts.
Emergency grinding: 12-16 runs across final weekend consuming 720-960 Battery Charge (natural + consumables). Concentrated effort completes 2-3 full sets.
Sleep adjustments around 04:00 reset maximize final-day efficiency. Execute runs before/after final reset, capturing both March 1-2 buff rotations in compressed timeframe.
Method 7: Coordinate with Account Progression
Align Drive Disc farming with character releases. Pre-farm sets during events preceding releases, stockpile optimal equipment before acquisition. Enables immediate deployment at full power.
Material stockpiling extends beyond Drive Discs. Doubled acquisition creates downstream enhancement demands. Maintain balanced Dennie reserves, farm enhancement materials during non-event periods.
Treat Area Patrol events as primary acquisition windows. Non-event farming addresses only immediate critical needs. Event-centric approach maximizes efficiency across version cycles.
Aligning with Character Needs
Character-specific requirements drive stage priorities. Stun characters needing Hormone Punk from Stage 2 justify concentrated farming on buff days. Anomaly specialists needing Woodpecker from Stage 4 prioritize that stage.
Set completion tracking enables efficient cessation once targets complete. Maintain spreadsheets tracking acquired pieces per set. Continuing completed sets wastes stamina.
Substat optimization = advanced layer beyond basic completion. Continue farming for improved distributions—higher Crit Rate/DMG/ATK% rolls. Justifies extended participation after basic needs satisfied.
Material Stockpiling
Version roadmaps enable predictive farming. Upcoming Anomaly character releases? Pre-farm Anomaly sets during current events for immediate optimization upon release.
Versatile sets benefiting multiple archetypes provide safe stockpiling. Universal bonuses (ATK%, Crit Rate, Energy Recharge) maintain value across diverse compositions—low-risk priorities when specific plans uncertain.
Excess accumulation creates conversion opportunities. Dismantle unwanted pieces for enhancement materials, converting stamina into fungible resources. Ensures farming never produces completely wasted runs.
Post-Event Planning
Week following conclusion addresses deferred activities. Character ascension, W-Engine enhancement, talent materials require dedicated sessions replenishing stockpiles.
Drive Disc enhancement in batches post-event vs. incrementally during. Evaluate full acquired pool, identify highest-value pieces for immediate enhancement while deferring/dismantling lower-priority drops.
Next-event prep begins immediately. Audit roster, identify remaining gaps, plan stage priorities for next cycle. Continuous planning ensures maximum efficiency through pre-planned strategies.
Common Mistakes Reducing Rewards
Stamina overflow = largest efficiency loss. Full 240-charge bar wastes regeneration. Single eight-hour overnight with full bar wastes 80 charges—one complete run. Across seven days, careless overflow wastes 300-400 charges.
Suboptimal difficulty creates time losses. Forcing level 60 in 120s when level 40 clears in 60s sacrifices half throughput for zero rewards.
Ignoring buffs wastes 30-50% clear speed improvements. Running unbuffed stages when buffed alternatives exist reduces efficiency to 65-70% of potential—costs 8-12 runs across event.
Event Conclusion Timing
Hard cutoff: March 2, 2026 at 03:59 server time. Unspent stamina loses 100% efficiency bonus, effectively halving value. Execute final runs before cutoff even if requiring schedule disruption.
Plan final-day participation around exact conclusion. Calculate remaining stamina and desired runs by March 1st, establish clear execution schedule for final 24 hours.
Energy Overflow Prevention
240-charge cap creates hard ceiling. Regeneration beyond limit disappears. Logging in after 24+ hours wastes 100-200 charges. Establish 12-16 hour login frequencies.
Spend natural regeneration first, use consumables as overflow prevention tools. Consumable hoarding while wasting natural regeneration inverts optimal usage.
Schedule conflicts create some waste—minimize through advance planning. Execute extended sessions before unavailability, deplete bars to minimal levels.
Week-by-Week Action Plan
Seven days demand structured daily participation. Establish consistent routines executing four baseline runs daily through natural regeneration, additional consumable runs on high-priority buff days.
Early days (Feb 25-27): Establish baseline patterns, identify optimal stage-team pairings. Experiment with compositions across buffed stages, benchmark clear times.
Mid-event (Feb 28-29): Evaluate progress vs. targets. Calculate remaining needs, determine if current rates achieve completion. Enable course corrections before final-day pressure.
Weeks 1-4 Pre-Event
Stockpile Battery Charge consumables, complete character builds, identify priority Drive Disc sets. Ensures event begins at maximum efficiency.
Daily routines establish fixed login times aligned with 04:00 reset. Check buffs after reset, plan four runs around buffed stages, execute during convenient windows.
Consistency > intensity. Four reliable daily runs outperform eight runs some days while missing others. Cumulative 28 runs from baseline provides substantial volume.
Mid-Event Optimization
Feb 28-29 = critical assessment window. Inventory acquired pieces, compare vs. targets. Shortfalls of 8-12 runs addressed through modest consumable usage, larger gaps require aggressive intervention.
Team refinements based on performance data. Discovered Anomaly team clears Stage 4 in 50s while Stun team requires 80s for Stage 2? Adjust buff-day priorities, concentrate consumables on Anomaly days.
Final Days Intensive Grinding
March 1-2 = maximum intensity. Execute all remaining runs for targets, deploy consumable reserves without hesitation. Doubled rewards justify aggressive expenditure.
Final buff rotation March 2nd before 03:59 = last opportunity. Check after 04:00 reset, execute remaining runs on buffed stages.
Emergency strategies for players behind: drop to challenge 30 for 40s clears enabling more total runs vs. struggling through level 60 in 90s. Speed = only relevant variable during final hours.
Last 72 Hours Checklist
Calculate exact remaining run requirements. Subtract current acquisition from targets = precise run count needed, divide across remaining days for daily quotas.
Consumable inventory assessment determines available stamina. 10+ consumables = 16-20 total runs across final three days (12 natural, 4-8 consumables).
Clear schedule for final weekend. Minimize competing obligations March 1-2, treat completion as priority commitment.
Maximizing Event Rewards
Prioritize pieces with optimal main stats and promising substats. Crit Rate main + Crit DMG/ATK%/Energy Recharge substats deserves immediate +15 enhancement. Flat HP/DEF substats remain unenhanced or dismantled.
Set completion > individual optimization initially. Focus on four-piece bonuses before pursuing perfect substats—set bonus provides guaranteed value while substat optimization involves RNG variance.
Long-term value from versatile sets benefiting multiple characters. Swing Jazz (Energy Recharge), Hormone Punk (Stun buffs) maintain value across diverse compositions—superior investments vs. hyper-specialized sets.
Immediate vs. Long-Term Value
Drive Discs provide immediate power increases when equipped/enhanced. Character gaining completed four-piece experiences measurable improvements in all content—immediate returns.
Enhancement materials from dismantling = long-term investment. Accumulated dismantling across dozens of unwanted drops generates substantial material pools supporting future projects.
Dennies for enhancement create downstream demands extending beyond event. Maintain balanced reserves through regular farming, ensure acquisition doesn't outpace enhancement capacity.
Converting to Permanent Strength
Completed sets provide permanent account value persisting across all future content. Unlike consumables depleting through usage, Drive Discs remain equipped indefinitely—continuous value through every encounter.
Roster expansion creates recurring demand. Each new character requires optimal sets, making events perpetually valuable regardless of current completion status.
Equipment quality often determines progression milestones more than character levels/talents. Drive Disc optimization frequently provides final increment needed to overcome barriers.
Preparing for Next Event
Post-event replenishment begins immediately after March 2. Farm Dennies, enhancement materials, ascension resources during following weeks, rebuild depleted stockpiles.
Battery Charge accumulation targets 10-15 consumable reserves before next event. Provides flexibility for extended sessions without emergency acquisition.
Character building aligns with anticipated next-event timing. Estimate next occurrence ~4-6 weeks post-Version 2.6 based on historical patterns, plan development timelines positioning new builds for optimal participation.
FAQ
What is Advanced Bounty Area Patrol Event? Doubles Drive Disc rewards from all cleared stages at Scott Outpost. Runs Feb 25-March 2, 2026 in Version 2.6. Two stages get daily rotating buffs resetting at 04:00 server time, offering clear speed advantages.
How do I unlock it? Complete Main Story Chapter 2 Intermission, finish Path of the Proxy I mission, reach Inter-Knot Level 21. Stage 6 requires Level 26 plus Belobog Story completions. Visit Roland at Scott Outpost for S-Rank drops.
What rewards are available? Stage-specific Drive Disc sets by enemy type. Stage 1: Swing Jazz/Chaotic Metal. Stage 4: Woodpecker/Electro Soul Rock. Stage 11: Iron Law and Outlaws/Dawn's Bloom/Moonlight Lullaby. Event doubles all drops, halving stamina for set completion.
When does it end? March 2, 2026 at 03:59 server time—exactly seven days. Previous iterations: Version 2.5 (Jan 16-21), Version 2.4 (Dec 11-16), Version 1.3 (Dec 11-16, 2025). Monthly pattern allows predictable planning.
How many runs daily? Natural regeneration provides 240 Battery Charge = four 60-charge runs without consumables. Using consumables extends to 8-12 runs daily. Standard baseline yields 28 total runs across seven days.
Best characters for patrol? Align with daily buffs—Stun specialists for Stage 2/6 (+30% Agent Daze), Anomaly builders for Stage 4/7 (+35-50% Anomaly Buildup), Dodge Counter experts for Stage 3 (+120% Dodge Counter DMG). Diverse team archetypes enable efficiency regardless of rotation.
