Understanding ZZZ"s Currency Dance: Monochrome vs Polychrome Basics
What is Monochrome in Zenless Zone Zero
Think of Monochrome as your VIP pass to ZZZ"s premium content. You can only get it with real money – no grinding, no freebies, just cold hard cash. It converts to Polychrome at a clean 1:1 ratio, which makes the math easy (thank goodness).
Unlike Polychrome, every Monochrome purchase matters when you"re watching your wallet. You"ll use it for specific bundles, exclusive offers, and those monthly subscription services that honestly? They"re pretty worth it.
Editor"s note: If you"ve played Genshin or Star Rail, this works exactly like Genesis Crystals or Oneiric Shards – HoYoverse keeps their monetization consistent across games.
What is Polychrome and How to Actually Get It
This is your bread and butter gacha currency. 160 Polychromes = one pull, whether that"s Master Tapes for standard banner or Encrypted Master Tapes for the limited stuff (and trust me, you want the limited stuff).
Free players can rack up decent amounts through:
Daily Errands: 60 Polychromes daily (that"s roughly one pull every three days just for showing up)
Road to Proxy Greatness: 1,600 total through leveling
Primer Rewards: 1,050 for finishing tutorials
Agent Demos: 20 per character trial
Arcade Achievements: 350+ total
VR Device Challenges: 200 total
Story commissions, events, promo codes, and HoYoLab check-ins add more. It"s not whale-tier income, but it"s respectable.
Currency Relationship and Conversion Mechanics
Simple math: 1 Monochrome = 1 Polychrome. But here"s a pro tip – don"t convert until you"re ready to pull. Keeping currency as Monochrome gives you flexibility for future bundle deals that might offer better value than straight conversions.
The flow goes: Your Money → Monochrome → Polychrome → Master Tapes → Characters/W-Engines. Each step locks you into the next, so plan accordingly.
Complete Monochrome vs Polychrome Comparison Chart
Acquisition Methods Compared
Getting Monochrome:
In-game store packages ($0.99 to $99.99)
Platform stores (Steam, App Store, Google Play, PlayStation)
Third-party services like Zenless Zone Zero Top Up
Limited promotional bundles
Getting Polychrome:
Convert from Monochrome (1:1)
Daily activities and commissions
Events and achievements
Milestone rewards
Value and Efficiency Analysis
Here"s where things get interesting. The cost-per-pull hierarchy looks like this:
Inter-Knot Membership ($4.99): $0.266 per pull – this is stupidly good value
Hollow Navigator Supply ($2.99): $0.725 per pull for the 5-day pass
Eridu Welcome Gift ($0.99): $1.00 per limited pull
New Eridu City Fund ($9.99): $1.126 per pull plus materials
First-time Monochrome: $1.21-$1.34 per pull with double bonus
Regular Monochrome: $1.98+ per pull (ouch)
The monthly pass is such good value it"s almost insulting to other options.
How to Top Up Polychrome: Step-by-Step Guide for All Platforms
Mobile Top-Up Process (iOS/Android)
The Standard Route:
Open ZZZ → Shop → Top-Up
Pick your Monochrome package
Pay through your device"s system
Wait a few minutes for processing
Convert to Polychrome when ready
The Smart Route:
Hit up BitTopup"s ZZZ page for better pricing and security
Enter your ZZZ User ID (check your profile) and server
Choose your package
Secure checkout with multiple payment options
Get your currency in minutes
Personal take: I"ve used both methods extensively, and third-party services often offer better exchange rates without the security risks people worry about – as long as you"re only sharing your User ID.
PC and Steam Top-Up Methods
Steam users get some nice perks here. The wallet integration is smooth, and regional pricing can work in your favor. Plus, Steam"s refund policy gives you extra protection if something goes sideways.
The direct PC client offers more payment flexibility – PayPal, regional banking, the works.
Console Top-Up Procedures
PlayStation users are locked into the PlayStation Store – no exceptions. Navigate to ZZZ"s add-ons section within the store itself. Console purchases sometimes come with platform-specific bonuses you won"t find elsewhere, which is… something, I guess?
ZZZ Top-Up Pricing and Regional Differences (2025)
Global Pricing Comparison
USD (Americas):
60 Monochrome: $0.99
300 Monochrome: $4.99
980 Monochrome: $14.99
1,980 Monochrome: $29.99
3,280 Monochrome: $49.99
6,480 Monochrome: $99.99
EUR (Europe):
60 Monochrome: €1.19
6,480 Monochrome: €99.99
GBP (UK):
60 Monochrome: £0.99
6,480 Monochrome: £79.99
UK players are winning here – that £79.99 for the largest package is roughly 20% better value than European pricing. Sometimes Brexit works out?
Payment Methods by Region
BitTopup covers pretty much everything: major credit cards, PayPal, regional banking, even crypto. Regional processors like Alipay and WeChat Pay make checkout familiar for local users. When you"re buying Monochrome and Polychrome, competitive exchange rates and transparent pricing matter more than you"d think.
What to Buy First: Optimal Spending Strategies
New Player Spending Priorities
Start with Inter-Knot Membership ($4.99). That"s 3,000 gacha currency over 30 days – roughly 18.75 pulls at unbeatable cost-per-pull rates.
Follow up with Eridu Welcome Gift ($0.99) for a guaranteed A-Rank W-Engine selection plus Master Tapes. Those first-time bonuses double your Monochrome across all tiers, making initial purchases way more valuable than regular ones.
Mid-Game Investment Strategies
The New Eridu City Fund battle pass becomes attractive once you"re established. Four Encrypted Master Tapes plus 780 Polychromes and upgrade materials – that"s approaching 10 limited pulls total value.
Save 14,400 Polychromes (90 pulls) to guarantee featured characters through the pity system. This is non-negotiable if you want specific characters.
Endgame Currency Optimization
Keep that Inter-Knot subscription running. Buy battle passes selectively based on whether you actually need the materials and progression boosts. At this point, you"re calculating opportunity costs between direct purchases and free-to-play grinding efficiency.
Top-Up Bonuses and Promotional Offers
First-Time Purchase Bonuses
Every package tier doubles on first purchase. The $99.99 package with first-time bonus gives you 12,960 Monochrome – that drops cost per pull to $1.23 versus $1.98 for regular purchases. It"s substantial.
Seasonal Promotions and Events
miHoYo reset the double first deposit bonus during version 2.2 on September 4, 2025. Limited-time gift packs will be released with the release of new characters and will last for 2–3 weeks.
Current August 2025 codes:
ALICEYUZUHA: 50 Polychromes
ZZZ21SUMMER: 60 Polychrome, 6,666 Dennies
YUZUHAGIFT: 10,000 Dennies, upgrade materials
ZENLESSGIFT: 50 Polychrome, materials bundle
Common ZZZ Currency Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Overspending on Wrong Items
Don"t blow Polychromes on standard Master Tapes when you should be saving for Encrypted Master Tapes on limited banners. This is probably the most expensive mistake new players make.
Battery Charge refills? They start at 50 Polychromes and escalate to 200 per daily use. Just… don"t. Natural regen is 1 point every 6 minutes, plus you get free daily charges from the coffee shop.
Timing Your Purchases Poorly
Building pity on banners you don"t want is dangerous. Early S-Rank pulls reset your pity counter, and that hurts when you"re not getting the character you actually wanted.
Buying battle pass levels with Polychromes ignores the fact that you can complete most tasks naturally through daily and weekly activities. The costs escalate quickly and it"s rarely worth it.
Editor"s perspective: I"ve watched too many players panic-buy battle pass levels in the final week instead of just… playing the game regularly. The FOMO is real, but the math doesn"t work out.
Safety and Security: Protecting Your ZZZ Account During Transactions
Official vs Third-Party Top-Up Risks
Legitimate services like BitTopup only need your User ID and server info – never your password or login credentials. This actually minimizes security risks while offering competitive pricing and fast delivery.
Always double-check your UID before transactions. Wrong information sends currency to someone else"s account, and that"s not getting fixed easily.
Account Security Best Practices
Two-factor authentication on your HoYoverse account is mandatory. Use strong, unique passwords. Screenshot all transactions and save confirmation emails for dispute resolution.
BitTopup"s customer support resolves most issues within 24 hours, which is honestly better than some official channels.
2025 Updates and Future Currency Changes
Recent System Updates
Version 2.2"s first-time bonus reset let experienced players benefit from double Monochrome rewards again. New bundle types include weekly passes and character-specific material packages.
Cross-game promotional opportunities with other HoYoverse titles might be coming – the infrastructure is definitely there.
Long-Term Investment Strategies
Successful currency management balances immediate character wants with future content preparation. Zenless Zone Zero Recharge strategies should factor in banner schedules, character power levels, and honestly? What you actually enjoy playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What"s the main difference between Monochrome and Polychrome? Monochrome costs real money; Polychrome is for gacha pulls. Monochrome converts to Polychrome 1:1, but you can earn Polychrome through gameplay.
Which currency should I buy first as a new player? Inter-Knot Membership ($4.99) for unbeatable value at $0.266 per pull, then Eridu Welcome Gift ($0.99) for immediate progression tools.
How much Polychrome guarantees a limited character? Up to 14,400 Polychromes (90 pulls) guarantees the featured character through hard pity. Worst case with the 50/50 system? 28,800 Polychromes (180 pulls).
Is BitTopup safe for top-ups? Yes – legitimate services that only require User ID and server information maintain account safety while providing competitive pricing and secure transactions.
Ready to optimize your ZZZ spending? Check out BitTopup for competitive pricing, secure transactions, and fast delivery. Your Polychrome strategy (and your wallet) will thank you.
