Understanding Matrix Operation: System Overview
Matrix Operation launched February 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC+8 in Scott Outpost Interior's large tent. Requires Inter-Knot Level 30 for Assist Agents, basic access after Chapter 1 Intermission. Unlike standard combat, this mode rewards strategic team composition aligned with weekly buffs.
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Investigation Progress Metrics
Scoring uses three factors: damage output, clear time, survival rating. Algorithm prioritizes buff-aligned damage—20-35% Physical DMG bonus week rewards Physical teams disproportionately.
- Lost Void: License Level cap 200
- Withered Domain: License Level cap 90
- Difficulty V: 4,000 Shadow Crystal Data, 4,500 Dennies
- Difficulty VI: 4,500 Shadow Crystal Data, 24-27 Bangboo System Widgets
Weekly 7,000 Investigation Points unlocks 900 Z-Merits and 3-5 Hamster Cage Passes. Teams triggering buff conditions score 30-40% higher than generic compositions.
Weekly Buff System
Buffs operate on strict Monday 04:00 reset, active until following Monday 03:59. February 2026 rotation:
- Week 1 (Feb 6-9): 15-25% ATK increase
- Week 2 (Feb 10-16): 20-35% Physical DMG
- Week 3 (Feb 17-23): 20-35% Ether or Fire DMG
- Week 4 (Feb 24-Mar 2): 12-20% CRIT Rate, 30-50% CRIT DMG
Anomaly Mastery buffs rotate independently, providing 30-50 Proficiency. Buffs stack multiplicatively with character stats and Disc Drives.
Weekly Buffs Complete Breakdown
Week 1-2: ATK and Physical Damage
Week 1's 15-25% ATK buff universally benefits all damage dealers. Week 2's 20-35% Physical DMG creates strongest window for Physical agents—effective damage increases exceed 50% with optimized Disc Drives.
Physical weeks synergize with Sunna as Assist. Her Physical Support provides Ascension 4 bonuses: +32 Basic, +30 Advanced Ruler Support Seals. Investment: 2,905,000 Dennies total (800,000 ascension + materials: 25 Basic, 75 Advanced, 250 Specialized Physical Chips, 5 Hamster Cage Passes).
Week 3-4: Elemental and CRIT
Week 3's 20-35% Ether or Fire DMG creates two optimization paths. Ether weeks benefit from Aria's Ether Anomaly specialization—Ascension 4 bonuses: +32 Basic, +30 Advanced Controller Anomaly Seals. Investment: 800,000 Dennies + materials (25 Basic, 75 Advanced, 250 Specialized Ether Chips, 9 Clouded Crystalline Substance, 60 Spiked Corruption Core).
Week 4's CRIT buffs (12-20% Rate, 30-50% DMG) offer highest damage ceiling. Most optimized builds exceed 80% critical chance, with CRIT DMG bonuses multiplying final output substantially.
Anomaly Buildup Acceleration
30-50 Anomaly Mastery Proficiency buffs operate independently. When aligned with Ether DMG weeks, Anomaly teams achieve status application in 40-60% fewer hits. Standard 8-12 hit requirement reduces to 5-7 hits, compounding time savings across multi-wave stages.
Checking Active Buffs
Active buffs display on Matrix Operation selection screen via Scott Outpost's Hollow Zero console. Interface shows remaining duration and specific percentage values. Preview indicates upcoming rotations for 24-hour advance preparation.

Assist Agent Mechanics
Assign up to 3 Assist Agents at Scott Outpost console (requires Inter-Knot Level 30). Operates through 6-point Assist Point pool:
- Defensive Assists: 1 point (perfect dodges/blocks)
- Evasive Assists: 1 point (dash-cancels)
- Chain Attacks: Recover 1 point
- Ultimate Skills: Recover 3 points
Easy vs. Conditional Triggers
Easy trigger: Activate through universal conditions (perfect dodges, Chain Attacks). Sunna exemplifies this—activates during any Chain Attack window. Maintains 80-90% uptime.
Conditional trigger: Requires specific combat states (active Anomaly, enemy Daze, elemental reactions). Aria triggers optimally with Ether status on enemies. Uptime fluctuates 50-100% based on enemy vulnerability.
Activation Requirements
Assist activation consumes Assist Points, operates independently from Decibel Rating. Positioning varies: Defensive Assists within 5 meters, Evasive Assists up to 10 meters.
Timing critical during buff weeks. CRIT weeks reward synchronized activations during Daze windows for guaranteed critical hits, maximizing 30-50% CRIT DMG bonus.
Damage Scaling
Assist damage scales from individual stats, Disc Drives, W-Engines exactly as active team members. Most efficient approach prioritizes utility beyond raw damage. Sunna's Ruler Support Seals amplify team Physical damage multiplicatively. Aria's Controller Anomaly Seals accelerate status buildup.
Chain Attack Integration
Chain Attacks and Assists can overlap for highest burst damage. Optimal sequence: trigger Defensive/Evasive Assist immediately before Chain Attack, allowing both to benefit from Daze vulnerability. During CRIT weeks, proper sequence delivers 200-300% normal rotation damage.
Easy Trigger Team Templates
Template 1: Physical Burst (Week 2)
Active: Physical DPS / Physical Sub-DPS / Stun Support
Assists: Sunna / Nangong Yu / Flex Support
Nangong Yu provides Ascension 4 bonuses: +32 Basic, +30 Advanced Specialized Stunner Seals. Investment: 800,000 Dennies + 250 Specialized Physical Chips, 9 Exuvia of Refinement, 60 Miasmic Elytron.
Rotation: Stun Support builds Daze → Nangong Yu Assist during Daze → Physical DPS burst. Sunna triggers during Chain Attacks. Achieves sub-90 second clears on Qualification Assessment during Physical weeks.

Template 2: Anomaly Quick-Proc (Ether Weeks)
Active: Ether Anomaly DPS / Ether Sub-DPS / Anomaly Amplifier
Assists: Aria / Ether Support / Defensive Utility
Strategy: Rapid initial Anomaly application (5-7 hits) → Aria Assist for amplified damage → cycle Ether attacks to reapply before expiration. Maintains near-permanent Anomaly uptime.
Template 3: CRIT Window (Week 4)
Active: High CRIT Scaling DPS / CRIT Buffer / Stun Specialist
Assists: High Burst Damage / CRIT-scaling Supports
Stun Specialist extends Daze to 8-10 seconds. Assist selection prioritizes single-hit burst over sustained damage. Execution during Daze achieves 300-400% damage spikes vs. non-CRIT weeks.
Template 4: F2P Universal
Active: Starter DPS / Free Support / Farmable Stunner
Assists: Story-acquired Agents / Early-game Supports
Focus on consistent execution—maintain high Assist uptime through frequent perfect dodges and Chain Attacks. Total investment for three Assists (Sunna, Aria, Nangong Yu): 2,400,000 Dennies. Reliably clears Difficulty IV-V, securing 80% maximum weekly rewards.
Agent-Specific Synergies
Top Tier Assists
Sunna: Dominates Physical weeks. Easy trigger (Chain Attack). Total investment: 2,905,000 Dennies including 5 Hamster Cage Passes. Universal applicability across Physical compositions.

Aria: Ether Anomaly specialist. Controller Anomaly Seals reduce Anomaly thresholds 15-20%. Investment: 800,000 Dennies + materials. Conditional trigger demands coordinated building but rewards with 40-50% faster status cycling.
Nangong Yu: Physical Stunner. Banner Phase 2 (February 27). Investment: 800,000 Dennies + materials. Secondary priority after Sunna for Physical players.
Elemental Pairing
Mono-element teams achieve 60-80% higher damage during aligned weeks. Full Ether composition (Ether DPS + Sub-DPS + Aria) maximizes Week 3 Ether buffs. Develop minimum two complete elemental teams (Physical + one elemental) to cover 50% rotations optimally.
Support vs. DPS Assists
Support Assists provide team-wide amplification scaling with active roster investment. Priority for limited resources. DPS Assists become valuable when active roster reaches saturation (Inter-Knot Level 40+).
Budget Options
Story-acquired Assists provide 70-80% premium performance at fraction of cost. Three well-invested Assists (one Physical, one Elemental, one Universal) outperform six partial investments. Cost: 2,400,000 Dennies for three Ascension 4 Assists—achievable in 2-3 weeks through Lost Void/Withered Domain rewards.
Fast Investigation Strategies
Pre-Combat Preparation
Start with active DPS in lead, Stun Support ready for swap—reduces initial engagement by 3-5 seconds per wave. Pre-charge Ultimate Skills and Chain Attack meters on weak enemies before priority targets.
Optimal Rotation (Sub-60 Second)
- 0-8s: Stun Support builds Daze (rapid basics)
- 8-12s: Trigger Defensive/Evasive Assist during Daze buildup
- 12-18s: Execute Chain Attack during Daze
- 18-25s: Active DPS burst during extended Daze
- 25-30s: Sunna/Support Assist for finishing damage
Physical teams during Week 2 achieve 25-35 second clears on single-target stages.
Decibel Management
Maintain Chain Attack availability every 15-20 seconds for consistent Assist Point recovery. Teams generating 200+ Decibel Rating per rotation achieve near-permanent Assist uptime. Prioritize Decibel-efficient abilities when Assist Points drop below 2.
Common Mistakes
- Using Assists outside Daze during CRIT weeks—wastes guaranteed crits, reduces damage 40-60%
- Neglecting Chain Attack Assist Point recovery—sacrifices 30-40% potential activations
- Misaligned elemental teams—forfeits 20-35% damage bonuses
- Over-investing Assist direct damage vs. active roster—Assists contribute 20-30% total damage
Score Optimization
Scoring Formula
- Damage Output: 40% weight (1.5x multiplier for buff-aligned damage)
- Clear Time: 35% weight (exponential penalties beyond thresholds)
- Survival Rating: 25% weight (damage taken, knockdowns)
S-Rank Thresholds
Lost Void Difficulty V:
- Damage: 250,000+ aligned or 350,000+ total
- Time: Sub-90s single-target, sub-120s multi-wave
- Survival: Max 30% HP loss
Withered Domain Difficulty VI: 300,000+ aligned damage, sub-75s single-target.
Weekly Mission Checklist
Lost Void:
- Qualification Assessment (2 stages): 600 Polychrome, 200,000 Dennies
- Old Capital Metro (5 stages): 1,200 Polychrome, 800,000 Dennies
- Construction Ruins (4 stages): 800 Polychrome, 600,000 Dennies
- Abandoned Skyscraper (3 stages): 600 Polychrome, 400,000 Dennies
Withered Domain:
- Withering Garden (1 stage): 1,440 Polychrome, 900,000 Dennies
- Inferno Reap Boss Nineveh: 900 Z-Merits, 3-5 Hamster Cage Passes
Total weekly: 4,640 Polychrome, 2,000,000+ Dennies, 80+ Boopons.
Resource Efficiency
Matrix Operation provides 5-10 Polychrome per stamina vs. 2-3 from standard dailies. Priority stamina expenditure during active weeks. Complete weekly targets before material farming.
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Advanced Tips
Playstyle Adaptation
Physical weeks: Aggressive Daze-focused, extend vulnerability windows. Prioritize Stun Support field time during buildup.
CRIT weeks: Precision timing—every ability during guaranteed critical windows (Daze, rear attacks). Patient, methodical play over ability spam.
Anomaly weeks: Sustained pressure. Extend combat slightly to maximize Anomaly tick damage vs. premature finishes.
Disc Drive/W-Engine Swapping
Maintain multiple Disc sets for buff-specific optimization. Physical DPS: swap ATK% Disc 5 (Week 1) to Physical DMG% (Week 2) for 15-25% effective damage gain. Swap cost: 10,000 Dennies per piece.
W-Engine selection prioritizes passives multiplying weekly buffs. CRIT-scaling engines excel Week 4, ATK% engines Week 1. Maintain 2-3 engines per primary DPS.
Counter-Intuitive Strategies
Triple DPS teams during favorable buffs can outperform balanced compositions through overwhelming damage. Chain Attack spam sometimes superior to Ultimate usage—1-point recovery enables more frequent Assist activations for higher total damage.
Troubleshooting
Clear times exceed 120s:
- Verify buff alignment with team damage
- Check Assist frequency (should trigger 4-6 times/stage)
- Confirm Daze exploitation (50%+ damage during Daze)
- Review Disc main stats for buff-appropriate selections
Survival below B-rank:
- Increase Defensive Assist usage
- Prioritize perfect dodge timing
- Consider defensive W-Engine swaps
Damage shortfall:
- Audit Assist investment (minimum Ascension 4)
- Verify skill levels (Level 6+ active team)
- Check W-Engine level (Level 50+ primary DPS)
Future Preparation
Investment Priorities
Universal Assists like Sunna maintain value across all rotations. Prioritize universal agents over hyper-specialized options. Balanced roster: 2-3 universal Assists, 3-4 elemental specialists (Physical, Ether, Fire).
Anticipated Changes (2.7+)
Potential future buffs:
- Daze Efficiency: 20-30% meter requirement reduction
- Ultimate Skill: Decreased Decibel costs or increased generation
- Defensive: Damage reduction during specific states
- Hybrid: Combined damage types (Physical + Fire, Ether + Ice)
Flexible roster development adapts more efficiently than hyper-specialization.
Optimal Long-Term Roster
- 2 Physical DPS (one Stun-focused, one sustained)
- 2 Elemental DPS (Ether and Fire minimum)
- 3 Universal Supports (buffs regardless of damage type)
- 6 Assist Agents (2 Physical, 2 Elemental, 2 Universal)
This 13-character core handles 90%+ content optimally. Additional investments target coverage gaps vs. redundant roles.
Maximize ZZZ Experience
Why Fast Progress Matters
4,640 weekly Polychrome = 29 pulls/month—nearly half guaranteed S-rank pity. Highest-value stamina expenditure for F2P/low-spending players.
2,000,000+ weekly Dennies fund Assist investments compounding future performance. Positive feedback loop: rewards fund investments → improve efficiency → higher rewards → more resources.
Optimizing Acquisition
Stage selection: Old Capital Metro (5 stages, 1,200 Polychrome) superior to Abandoned Skyscraper (3 stages, 600 Polychrome). Prioritize high-stage-count areas.
Withered Domain priority: Withering Garden (1,440 Polychrome, 900,000 Dennies single-stage) = highest-priority weekly target. Complete first during favorable buff rotation.
Material rewards (4,000-4,500 Shadow Crystal Data, 24-27 Bangboo System Widgets weekly) eliminate dedicated farming. Redirects 200-300 stamina weekly toward ascension materials, accelerating account progression 15-25%.
FAQ
What are weekly buffs in ZZZ 2.6 Matrix Operation?
Rotate Monday 04:00: 15-25% ATK (Week 1), 20-35% Physical DMG (Week 2), 20-35% Ether/Fire DMG (Week 3), 12-20% CRIT Rate + 30-50% CRIT DMG (Week 4). Anomaly Mastery: 30-50 Proficiency independently. Active Monday 04:00 to following Monday 03:59.
How do assist agents work?
Up to 3 support characters assigned at Scott Outpost console. Activate via 6-point system: Defensive/Evasive Assists cost 1 point, Chain Attacks recover 1, Ultimates recover 3. Deal damage and provide buffs based on individual stats/Disc Drives/W-Engines without occupying active slots.
Which teams clear fastest?
Physical burst + Sunna Assist during Week 2: sub-30s single-target. CRIT compositions Week 4: similar speeds via Daze exploitation. Universal easy trigger teams: 60-90s across all weeks with proper execution.
How is investigation progress calculated?
40% damage (1.5x multiplier for buff-aligned), 35% clear time (exponential penalties), 25% survival (HP loss/knockdowns). S-rank Difficulty V: 250,000+ aligned damage, sub-90s, max 30% HP loss.
What triggers assist agents?
Defensive Assists (perfect dodges/blocks), Evasive Assists (dash-cancels), Chain Attack windows when sufficient Assist Points available. Easy trigger (Sunna): any Chain Attack. Conditional (Aria): specific states like active Anomaly.
How to maximize investigation score?
Align team elemental damage with weekly buffs (1.5x multiplier), execute burst during Daze for guaranteed crits (CRIT weeks), maintain 4-6 Assist activations via Chain Attack cycling, complete within time thresholds (sub-90s single, sub-120s multi-wave), minimize damage below 30% HP loss.


















