The Schedule: Mark Your Calendars
Version 2.4 officially drops on October 26, 2025, splitting two heavy hitters from the Krampus faction into separate phases.
- Phase 1: We kick things off with Dialyn (Physical Stun) running alongside a Hugo rerun. If you care about meta-shifting Stun mechanics, this is your stop.
- Phase 2: Immediately following that, we get Banyue (Fire Rapture) and an Ellen rerun. This phase introduces the new HP-to-Damage conversion mechanic.
(Pro tip: If you’re looking to secure agents immediately without the grind, you can complete a Zenless Zone Zero top up at BitTopup. We’ve vetted the platform—they offer 24/7 support and competitive pricing, so your account stays safe while you whale out.)
Deep Dive: Dialyn (Phase 1)
The Ultimate Printer
Here’s the thing about Dialyn: she isn't just stunning enemies; she’s manipulating the flow of combat. Her kit revolves building Positive Review stacks. Once you hit 90 stacks, her next action burns 60 of them to upgrade a teammate's standard Chain Attack into a full-blown Ultimate. That is wild utility.
Her EX Special has a Paper! form that inflicts Malicious Complaint. In plain English? It boosts Stun duration by 2.5s and the Stun DMG Multiplier by 30%.
The Build Strategy: You need to balance her stats carefully to trigger her passive (+2 Impact per 1% CRIT over 50%).
- Impact: Aim for ≥400.
- Energy Regen: You want >1.5/s to keep the rotation smooth.
- CRIT Rate: 60-65% is the sweet spot.
For gear, the optimal loadout is a 4-piece King of the Summit mixed with a 2-piece Woodpecker Electro. This combo nets you a 6% Daze boost and a squad-wide 15% CRIT DMG buff. Team-wise? Slot her into the Krampus trio (Dialyn/Banyue/Lucia) or a Physical/Ice hybrid setup with Yidhari.
Deep Dive: Banyue (Phase 2)
The HP Juggernaut
Banyue is for players who like big numbers and tanky stats. He converts HP into Sheer Force (ignoring defense at a rate of 0.1 per Max HP point). Once he hits ≥120 Wrathful Fire, he enters Visage of Wrath and starts spamming EX Specials like there’s no tomorrow.
The Build Strategy: This is where it gets expensive. To maximize his output, you are looking at some steep stat requirements:
- Max HP: You really need to hit 45,000–50,000.
- CRIT Stats: Aim for ≈70% Rate and ≥180% DMG.
Your best-in-slot is the 4-piece Yunkui Tales set for that +10% HP and stacking CRIT Rate. Prioritize HP% in Slot 6, and either HP% or Fire DMG in Slot 5. If you want to see his ceiling, pair him with Lighter (Support) and the Orphie & Magus duo (Stun).
The Verdict: Who Gets Your Polychromes?
This is the hardest part of the patch.
Pull Dialyn if: Your account is starving for Decibel generation or you lack a premium Stun agent. Her mechanic that grants free Ultimates is essential for enabling hyper-carries like Yixuan or Hugo.
Pull Banyue if: You need a dedicated Fire DPS who can exploit defense-bypassing mechanics. His Sheer Damage is unique and future-proofs him against high-defense enemies.
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W-Engine Reality Check
Let’s talk gear, because this is where the gacha can trap you.
- Dialyn: Her signature, Yesterday Calls, is fantastic (+1.5/s Energy Regen, up to 27% Daze, and a massive +30% squad CRIT DMG buff). However, she can function on Hellfire Gears if you have it lying around.
- Banyue: I’ll be honest—he struggles without his signature. Wrathful Vajra provides a 30% HP stat boost which is vital for hitting that 45,000 HP threshold, plus it adds up to 24% Sheer DMG. A-Rank alternatives like Radiowave Journey just don't have the multipliers to keep up.
The Grind: Material Prep
Prepare your batteries; you’re going to need them.
For Dialyn (Level 1-60 + Skills), you need to farm:
- 30 Buster Certification Seals
- 250 Specialized Physical Chips
- 9 Exuvia of Refinement
- 60 Stealth Phantom Data
- Total Cost: 3,705,000 Denny (Ouch).
Banyue requires the equivalent Fire/Rapture Certification Seals and Specialized Chips, plus 5 Hamster Cage Passes if you want to max his skills. You can farm the seals via Combat Simulation in the VR Device—unlocks after Chapter 1's 'Explosive Last Train'.
Quick-Fire FAQ
Q: When exactly does the Banyue banner start?A: Phase 2 kicks off the second Phase 1 ends. Remember, Phase 1 starts October 26, 2025.
Q: Can Dialyn work in a non-Physical team?A: Absolutely. Her Positive Review Ultimate upgrade is element-neutral, so she’s great in Ether or Fire teams too.
Q: Is Banyue’s signature W-Engine mandatory?A: I’d say highly recommended. Wrathful Vajra gives a unique 30% HP boost and Sheer DMG multipliers that are hard to replicate elsewhere.
Q: How much HP does Banyue actually need?A: To cap his Sheer Force at the optimal 4,500+ range, you really want to be between 45,000–50,000 Max HP.
Q: What is the best Drive Disc set for Dialyn?A: Stick to 4-piece King of the Summit to boost squad CRIT DMG, paired with 2-piece Woodpecker Electro.
Q: How many Polychromes to guarantee an S-Rank?A: If luck isn't on your side and you lose the 50/50, budget for approximately 160 pulls to guarantee the character.
