Understanding Polychrome Economy in Zenless Zone Zero 2.2
What is Polychrome and Why It Matters
Here’s the thing about Polychrome – it’s your lifeline to getting the characters you actually want. Each pull costs exactly 160 Polychromes, which sounds simple enough until you realize the pity system can demand up to 90 pulls for an S-Rank character on limited banners. Worst case? You’re looking at 180 pulls (that’s a staggering 28,800 Polychromes) for the featured character you’ve been saving for.
One thing that trips up new players: Monochrome converts to Polychrome at a 1:1 ratio, but there’s no going back once you convert. Keep it as Monochrome until you’re ready to pull.
Version 2.2 Changes to Income Sources
Version 2.2 dropped on September 4, 2025, and honestly? The compensation alone makes it worth celebrating – 300 Polychromes just for being Inter-Knot Level 4 or higher during maintenance.
But here’s where it gets interesting. We’re getting two special check-in events that’ll net you 10 Encrypted Master Tapes and 10 Boopons combined. The ‘All-New Program’ event is particularly generous, offering 10 Encrypted Master Tapes (worth 1,600 Polychromes if you were buying them). Oh, and first-time purchase bonuses reset – which is huge for anyone who’s been on the fence about spending.
Setting Realistic Income Goals
Let’s talk numbers. F2P players can expect anywhere from 13,000 to 22,000+ Polychromes per patch, depending on how substantial that version is. Version 2.0 was incredibly generous with 22,680 Polychromes (142 pulls total), while Version 1.6 was more conservative at 13,340 Polychromes plus 16 Encrypted Master Tapes.
Monthly? You’re looking at 15-20 pulls as F2P, or 28-31 pulls if you spring for Inter-Knot Membership (roughly 4,500-5,000 Polychromes monthly).
Daily Polychrome Income Sources & Optimization
Daily Commission System Breakdown
The Errands system is your bread and butter – 60 Polychromes daily through engagement point milestones at 100, 200, 300, and 400 points. That’s 1,800 Polychromes monthly just for showing up.
Tasks are pretty straightforward: daily login, coffee shop purchases, video store interactions, basic combat. We’re talking 10-15 minutes of your day, max.
Login Rewards and Streaks
Howl’s Scratch Card is where things get interesting. Guaranteed 20-60 Polychromes on days 3, 8, 15, 20, and 27 each month, plus a 6% chance for 10 Polychromes on other days. Not amazing odds, but free is free.
Version 2.2’s special events are worth noting: ‘All-New Program’ delivers those 10 Encrypted Master Tapes I mentioned, and ‘En-Nah Into Your Lap’ provides 10 Boopons through October 14, 2025.
Character Trials offer 20 Polychromes per S-Rank completion – easy money if you’ve got the roster for it. For players looking to supplement their income, Zenless Zone Zero Top Up options through BitTopup offer competitive pricing and fast delivery for Monochrome purchases.
Weekly Polychrome Farming Strategies
Weekly Commission Targets
Shiyu Defense Critical Node is where the real money is. 720 Polychromes for full S-Rank completion across 7 stages, resetting twice monthly (1st and 16th) for 1,440 monthly Polychromes.
Pro tip: S-ranking previous cycles lets you skip the first 3 stages in subsequent runs. Build two strong teams for the dual-battle requirements – trust me on this one.
Hollow Zero Weekly Clears
Hollow Zero weekly bounties contribute roughly 960 Polychromes over 6 weeks. The Investigation License provides 40 Polychromes per level advancement, totaling 1,000 Polychromes from Level 1-60. New area first-time clears? Around 80 Polychromes each.
Signal Shop is underrated – exchange Fading Signals for 5 monthly Encrypted Master Tapes and 5 Master Tapes. Always prioritize Encrypted Master Tapes over standard ones.
Event-Based Polychrome Income Maximization
Limited-Time Event Strategies
Version 2.2 features six major events, and honestly, they’re all worth your time:
Band of Brave Bangboo (September 5 - October 13): Deploy Bangboos against Ethereals. Free A-Rank ‘Excaliboo’ plus Polychromes? Yes, please.
Spotlight Showdown (September 13-29): HIA-themed daily battles with buffs. Tuning Calibrators and Polychromes for relatively easy content.
Problem Soldier Boot Camp (September 24 - October 9): Training simulations featuring trial versions of Seed, Orphie, and Magus. Great for testing characters before pulling.
Seasonal Event Planning
Rhythm Rave (September 29 - October 13): Music mini-game with exclusive namecards and Polychromes. En-Nah Treasure Hunt (October 4-13): Photo clue puzzles – more engaging than it sounds. Wish Bottle Adrift (September 9-29): Community event requiring daily login for server-wide Polychrome goals.
Major flagship events typically provide 1,000-1,500 Polychromes total. Version 2.1’s ‘Tales of Midsummer Dreams’ offered 1,470 Polychromes across quests (300), stories (360), mini-games (300), and achievements (200). Combat events usually contribute 300-400 Polychromes.
Players approaching banner deadlines can utilize Buy ZZZ Polychrome services through BitTopup for additional currency.
Long-Tail and Hidden Polychrome Sources
Achievement Hunting for Polychrome
558 total achievements reward 3,975 Polychromes. Bronze gives you 5 Polychromes, Silver nets 10, and Gold delivers 20. Categories span everything from story progression to combat performance, exploration, character development, and social engagement.
Exploration and Discovery Rewards
Hidden sources that many players miss: Compendium Tactics Section (300+ Polychromes), Hard Mode HDD stages (20 each), Mini Cargo Truck discoveries (5 each), MewMew missions, Ridu Journey achievements, Agent Wish Events.
Permanent content offers substantial one-time rewards: Road to Proxy Greatness (1,600), Primer Rewards (1,050), Arcade achievements (350+), VR Device challenges (200). Shiyu Defense Stable Node provides 3,000 Polychromes for S-ranking 10 frontiers, while Disputed Node offers 1,600 for 8 frontiers.
Monthly Income Projections and Banner Planning
F2P Monthly Income Estimates
Dedicated F2P players can expect 4,000-5,000 Polychromes monthly: Daily Errands (1,800), Shiyu Defense (1,440), Hollow Zero bounties (roughly 160 weekly), Events (500-1,000 variable), and ongoing Achievements (100-300).
Monthly totals work out to 25-31 pulls, meaning you’ll need 6-7 months of saving for a guaranteed featured character.
Light Spender Calculations
Inter-Knot Membership ($4.99) offers exceptional value at $0.266 per pull, delivering 300 Monochrome plus 2,700 Polychrome over 30 days (18.75 pulls). Combined with F2P income? You’re looking at 43-50 pulls monthly.
Value hierarchy breaks down like this: Inter-Knot Membership ($0.266/pull), New Eridu City Fund ($1.126/pull), First-time bonuses ($1.21-$1.34/pull), Regular purchases ($1.98+/pull).
Banner Priority Planning
6-week update cycles make strategic forecasting possible. Maintain 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls) for guaranteed acquisition. Priority planning involves identifying meta-defining characters, calculating income between now and your target banner, and maintaining emergency reserves.
For immediate currency needs, Cheap ZZZ Top Up options through BitTopup provide cost-effective solutions with reliable delivery.
Common Polychrome Farming Mistakes to Avoid
Inefficient Daily Routines
Never – and I mean never – use Polychromes for Battery Charge refills. We’re talking 50-200 Polychromes with escalating daily costs. Natural regeneration gives you 1 point every 6 minutes. Use Ether Batteries for stamina refills and preserve Polychromes for gacha.
Missing Time-Limited Opportunities
Redemption codes often expire within 24 hours. Case in point: ‘OBOLSQUAD’ provided 300 Polychromes during Version 2.2 reveals, but required case-sensitive input and Inter-Knot Level 5 minimum. Follow official channels religiously for time-sensitive rewards.
Don’t spend Polychromes on standard banner Master Tapes – limited characters consistently offer superior power levels. Building pity on unwanted banners risks early S-Rank pulls that reset your counters.
Advanced Optimization Strategies for 2.2
Time Management for Maximum Efficiency
Optimal daily routine takes 15-20 minutes: Complete Errands (60 Polychromes), claim Scratch Card rewards, progress event objectives, maintain weekly Shiyu Defense and Hollow Zero completion, monitor achievement progress.
Seasonal Planning Strategies
Version cycles concentrate major events in patch launches. Frontload event participation early for maximum rewards before expiration. Anniversary periods offer enhanced rewards (Version 2.0’s 22,680 Polychromes being a prime example), while holiday events feature bonus login rewards.
Investment priorities: Build two complete teams for Shiyu Defense, develop diverse elemental coverage, maintain equipment progression for S-rank performance, preserve emergency Polychrome reserves. Character trials provide testing opportunities before committing Polychromes – use them.
FAQ
How much Polychrome can F2P players earn daily? Guaranteed 60 Polychromes through Errands, plus 20-60 Polychromes on specific Scratch Card days (6% chance for 10 otherwise). Daily totals range from 60-120 Polychromes, with monthly averages hitting 1,800-2,000 from daily sources alone.
What are the highest-value weekly sources in Version 2.2? Shiyu Defense Critical Node delivers 720 Polychromes per completion, 1,440 monthly. Hollow Zero bounties contribute roughly 160 weekly. Signal Shop exchanges provide guaranteed monthly Master Tapes.
How do Version 2.2 events compare to previous patches? Major events offer hundreds of Polychromes each. Special login events provide 10 Encrypted Master Tapes (1,600 value). Version 2.2 approaches anniversary-level generosity.
Which achievements provide the most efficient Polychrome rewards? Gold achievements deliver 20 Polychromes each for major milestones. Bronze achievements offer 5 Polychromes with better time-to-reward ratios. All 558 achievements combined reward 3,975 Polychromes.
How should players prioritize limited-time vs permanent sources? Limited-time sources take priority due to expiration risks, especially redemption codes (24-hour windows) and events. Use permanent sources as backup income when approaching banner deadlines.
What’s the most cost-effective paid option? Inter-Knot Membership ($4.99) at $0.266 per pull, delivering 300 Monochrome plus 2,700 Polychrome over 30 days. Significantly better value than direct Monochrome purchases at $1.98+ per pull.
