Understanding Polychrome and Pull Mechanics in ZZZ
Polychrome is ZZZ's premium currency. Every single pull costs exactly 160 Polychromes—no discounts for 10-pulls.
Master Tapes function as pre-converted pull tickets. Encrypted Master Tapes work on limited Exclusive Channel banners, while standard Master Tapes apply to permanent pools. Version 2.6 Phase 1 provides 16 Encrypted Master Tapes through events (2,560 Polychrome value).
Signal Search divides into two banner types:
- Exclusive Channel: Limited S-Rank agents, 90-pull hard pity
- W-Engine Channel: Signature weapons, 80-pull hard pity
For instant resources, instant Polychrome top up for ZZZ through BitTopup provides fast delivery and competitive rates.
ZZZ Pity System Breakdown
Soft Pity: Pull 75-89
Soft pity activates at pull 75, increasing S-Rank probability from 0.6% to 6% per pull. About 70% of S-Rank pulls occur in this window (pulls 75-89), translating to average costs of 12,000-13,600 Polychromes instead of full 14,400 hard pity.
Hard Pity: Pull 90 Guarantee
Hard pity triggers at pull 90 on Exclusive Channel (14,400 Polychromes), guaranteeing an S-Rank. However, this has only 50% chance of being the featured character.
50/50 System: Losing your first S-Rank requires another full pity cycle. Worst-case stacks two hard pities: 14,400 + 14,400 = 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls total).
W-Engine Banner Pity
W-Engine Channel has reduced thresholds:
- Hard pity: 80 pulls (12,800 Polychromes)
- Worst-case guarantee: 160 pulls (25,600 Polychromes)
- Soft pity: Begins around pull 65-70
Pity Carryover
Pity persists between banner phases within the same channel type. Your Exclusive Channel pity from Version 2.5 carries into 2.6 Phase 1, then Phase 2, and beyond.
Critical: Pity does NOT transfer between different channel types. Your 50/50 status also carries over—if you lost your last 50/50, your next S-Rank is guaranteed featured.
Exact Polychrome Cost Per Pull
Single Pull: 160 Polychromes 10 Pulls: 1,600 Polychromes 50 Pulls: 8,000 Polychromes 90 Pulls (Hard Pity): 14,400 Polychromes
Monochromes convert to Polychromes at 1:1 ratio. A 980 Monochrome pack (doubled to 1,960 on first purchase) provides 1,960 Polychromes—12.25 pulls.
Why No 10-Pull Discount? ZZZ maintains identical pricing for single and multi-pulls. No mathematical advantage exists for saving pulls.
How Many Polychrome for 1 Character in ZZZ 2.6 Phase 1?
Best Case: Early Win
Minimum: 160 Polychromes (pull 1) Realistic early luck: 4,800-6,400 Polychromes (pulls 30-40) Probability: ~0.6% per pull before soft pity
Average Case: Soft Pity Win
Most players hit soft pity at pulls 75-80: 12,000-12,800 Polychromes
Factoring in 50/50 losses, true average across all players: 18,000-20,000 Polychromes
Worst Case: Double Hard Pity
Maximum cost: 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls)
- First S-Rank at pull 90: 14,400 Polychromes (lost 50/50)
- Second S-Rank at pull 180: 14,400 Polychromes (guaranteed)
Version 2.6 Phase 1 runs February 6-27, 2026 (21 days).
Statistical Reality
Median player spends 140-160 pulls (22,400-25,600 Polychromes) for guaranteed featured character.
- 15-20% reach full 180-pull worst case
- 25-30% obtain character within 90 pulls (win 50/50)
- 50-55% fall in middle range (lose 50/50, hit soft pity on guarantee)
Character + W-Engine Combo: Total Requirements
Combined Worst Case
- Character: 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls)
- W-Engine: 25,600 Polychromes (160 pulls)
- Total: 54,400 Polychromes (340 pulls)
Assumes zero starting pity and losing both 50/50s.
Best Case: Double Early Luck
Optimal: 3,200-6,400 Polychromes total (both within 10-20 pulls each) Probability: <0.01%
Realistic good luck: 19,200-22,400 Polychromes (120-140 combined pulls, winning both 50/50s)
Average Case: Soft Pity Both
- Character soft pity: 12,000-12,800 Polychromes
- W-Engine soft pity: 10,400-11,200 Polychromes
- Combined (winning both 50/50s): 22,400-24,000 Polychromes
Factoring in 50/50 losses: 35,000-42,000 Polychromes realistic average
Is Signature W-Engine Worth It?
Signature W-Engines provide 15-25% performance increases over alternatives. You can achieve 80-85% of character potential using alternative W-Engines.
Value perspective: New characters provide more gameplay variety than marginal stat improvements. Budget-conscious players should prioritize character acquisition.
F2P Polychrome Income During ZZZ 2.6 Phase 1
Daily Commissions
60 Polychromes/day × 21 days (Phase 1) = 1,260 Polychromes Takes 10-15 minutes daily.
Event Rewards
- Gilded Surprise (Feb 14-23): 220 Polychromes
- Auspicious Golden Carrot: 1,600 Polychromes
- A Harmony of Delusions: 1,200 Polychromes
- Story Clear: 100 Polychromes
- Achievements: 210 Polychromes
- Maintenance + codes + livestream: ~1,000 Polychromes
- DREAMINGANGEL code: 300 Polychromes (expires Feb 2, 2026—redeem immediately)
Hollow Zero and Shiyu Defense
Hollow Zero: 4,640 Polychromes/week
- Phase 1 (3 weeks): ~13,920 Polychromes
Shiyu Defense: 3,120 Polychromes total across Version 2.6
- Resets bi-weekly
- Requires clearing high floors for max rewards
Total F2P Income
Full Version 2.6 (42 days): 26,390 Polychromes + 16 Encrypted Master Tapes = 28,950 Polychrome value (~181 pulls)
Phase 1 Only (21 days): 13,000-15,000 Polychromes (~81-94 pulls)
Enough to reach soft pity once but insufficient to guarantee featured character without pre-existing pity or saved resources.
Can F2P Guarantee Each Character?
181 pulls per version falls just short of 180-pull worst-case guarantee. However, this assumes zero starting pity.
Players who skip banners can guarantee every other featured character, or save across multiple versions for high-priority targets. F2P players can maintain 50-60% of limited characters through selective pulling.
Smart Pull Strategies for Limited Polychrome
Strategy 1: Character Only, Skip W-Engine
Allocate entire budget to Exclusive Channel. Maximizes roster diversity. Use alternative W-Engines from existing collection.
For Version 2.6 Phase 1: Invest up to 28,800 Polychromes exclusively into Sunna's banner.
Strategy 2: Pull Until First S-Rank, Stop
Pull until any S-Rank, then stop immediately. If you win 50/50, you succeeded efficiently. If you lose, you've secured guaranteed status for next banner.
Cost: 160-14,400 Polychromes (most spend 12,000-13,600 at soft pity)
Guaranteed status carries forward indefinitely.
Strategy 3: Save for Guaranteed Next Patch
Skip entire versions to accumulate 28,800+ Polychromes. Works when upcoming banners feature characters you don't need.
Version 2.6 Phase 2 features Aria (S-Rank Ether Anomaly). Players uninterested in Sunna can save Phase 1 income entirely.
When to Pull vs Save
Pull when: Featured character significantly improves account progression or fills critical team role gap.
Save when: Current roster handles all content adequately, or upcoming characters better align with team-building goals.
Use Zenless Zone Zero pull cost calculator Polychrome tools through BitTopup to model spending scenarios.
Avoiding Sunk Cost Trap
Never continue pulling solely because you've already invested Polychromes. Each pull decision should evaluate: Can I afford remaining worst-case cost, and is that worth more than saving for future banners?
Top-Up Polychrome: Value Analysis
First-Time Buyer Double Bonus
All Monochrome packs double on first purchase:
- 980 pack: $14.99 → 1,960 Monochromes (12.25 pulls) = $1.22/pull
- 6,480 pack: $99.99 → 12,960 Monochromes (81 pulls) = $1.23/pull
Best Value Packages
Inter-Knot Membership: $4.99
- 300 Monochromes immediately + 90 Polychromes daily × 30 days
- Total: 3,300 Polychromes (20.6 pulls)
- $0.24/pull—best rate available
New Eridu City Fund: $9.99
- 4 Encrypted Master Tapes + 780 Polychromes
- Total: 1,420 Polychrome value (8.875 pulls)
- $1.13/pull
Monthly Pass Efficiency
Inter-Knot Membership Surprise Supply (Jan 30 - Mar 23, 2026): 53 days, 3,300 Polychromes, $4.99 = $0.24/pull
~5x more efficient than direct Monochrome purchases without first-time bonuses.
Caveat: Requires daily login. Missing days wastes value.
BitTopup Competitive Rates
BitTopup provides secure top-up with competitive pricing, fast delivery, and excellent customer service. Often features regional pricing advantages or promotional rates beyond standard in-game purchases.
Cost Per Pull in Real Currency
Without first-time bonuses:
- 980 pack: 6.125 pulls for $14.99 = $2.45/pull
- 6,480 pack: 40.5 pulls for $99.99 = $2.47/pull
With first-time bonuses: ~$1.22-$1.23/pull
Inter-Knot Membership: $0.24/pull (best value, limited to once/month)
ZZZ 2.6 Phase 1 Banner Analysis
Featured Characters
Sunna: S-Rank Ice Support
- Focuses on Ice damage amplification and team support
- Signature W-Engine on simultaneous W-Engine Channel
Banner Duration
February 6-27, 2026 (21 days)
F2P income during window: 13,000-15,000 Polychromes
Short Phase 1 duration means you can't rely on full-version income. Successful F2P pulling requires pre-saved resources.
Phase 1 vs Phase 2
Phase 2: Aria (S-Rank Ether Anomaly)
Evaluate roster needs:
- Lack Ice Support? → Sunna
- Need Ether Anomaly damage? → Aria
Pulling Phase 1 commits resources immediately. Waiting means potentially missing Sunna (limited characters rarely rerun within same year).
Track Your Pity
Access pull history through Signal Search interface. Count pulls since last S-Rank.
Remember: Pity counters separate between Exclusive Channel and W-Engine Channel.
50/50 status: If most recent S-Rank on Exclusive Channel was NOT featured character, next S-Rank is guaranteed featured (regardless of versions passed).
Common Misconceptions Debunked
Myth: 10-Pulls Have Better Rates
False. 10-pulls and single pulls share identical rates and costs. Only difference is presentation speed.
Myth: Pity Resets Between Banner Types
False. Pity persists indefinitely within each channel type, carrying forward across all versions until you pull an S-Rank.
Myth: 14,400 = Guaranteed Featured Character
False. 14,400 Polychromes = ONE S-Rank pull (hard pity), not guaranteed featured character. Due to 50/50 system, guaranteeing featured character requires 28,800 Polychromes worst-case.
Truth: Soft Pity Lowers Average Cost
Hard pity sits at 90 pulls (14,400 Polychromes), but most players obtain S-Rank at pulls 75-85 due to soft pity. Average cost: 12,000-13,600 Polychromes per S-Rank.
However: Plan for worst-case (28,800 Polychromes). ~30% of players exceed average and approach hard pity.
Step-by-Step Pull Planning
Step 1: Check Current Pity and Polychrome
- Open Signal Search, review pull history
- Count pulls since last S-Rank (0-89 pity)
- Check 50/50 status (last S-Rank featured or off-banner?)
- Tally: Current Polychromes + Master Tapes + unredeemed codes
Example: 8,000 Polychromes + 10 Master Tapes (1,600 value) = 9,600 total budget
Step 2: Calculate Polychrome Needed
Determine target: character only, or character + W-Engine
Subtract current pity from 90 for pulls needed to hard pity.
- At 40/90 pity: Need 50 pulls (8,000 Polychromes)
Account for 50/50:
- Guaranteed status: Budget one pity cycle (up to 14,400 from zero)
- 50/50 status: Budget two cycles (up to 28,800 from zero)
Step 3: Account for Upcoming F2P Income
Calculate remaining Phase 1 days. Formula: (Days × 60) + event rewards + weekly Hollow Zero + Shiyu Defense
Example (15 days remaining): (15 × 60) + 2,000 events + 4,640 Hollow Zero = 7,540 Polychromes
Step 4: Determine if Top-Up Necessary
Compare total resources (current + upcoming) vs goal requirement.
Example: 9,600 current + 7,540 incoming = 17,140 total Need 28,800 for worst-case → 11,660 Polychrome shortfall
Decide: Accept risk of not guaranteeing (17,140 gives strong odds but not certainty), or top-up 11,660 difference.
Step 5: Execute Pull Strategy
Without top-up: Pull until target or budget exhausted. If character arrives early, stop immediately to preserve resources.
With top-up: Purchase necessary Monochromes before pulling to avoid mid-session pressure. Having all resources upfront enables clearer decision-making.
FAQ
How much polychrome for guaranteed character in ZZZ? 28,800 Polychromes worst-case (180 pulls) to account for losing 50/50. Average: 20,000-24,000 Polychromes due to soft pity.
What is soft pity in ZZZ? Begins at pull 75, increasing S-Rank probability from 0.6% to 6% per pull through pull 89. Most S-Ranks occur in this window.
How many pulls for hard pity in ZZZ 2.6? 90 pulls (14,400 Polychromes) on Exclusive Channel; 80 pulls (12,800 Polychromes) on W-Engine Channel.
Does pity carry over between banners? Yes, within same channel type. Exclusive Channel pity continues across versions until you pull S-Rank. Does NOT transfer between different channel types.
How much polychrome can F2P get in one patch? ~26,390 Polychromes + 16 Encrypted Master Tapes per full version (42 days) = ~181 total pulls.
Is it worth pulling for W-Engine? Signature W-Engines provide 15-25% performance improvements. Most players should prioritize character acquisition for better gameplay variety. Only pursue W-Engines with surplus resources or for endgame content needs.
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