Zenless Zone Zero Abandoned Skyscraper Guide - Theria Games
Introduction to Zenless Zone Zero Abandoned Skyscraper Guide
The Abandoned Skyscraper stands as the fourth accessible zone within the sprawling and unpredictable realm of Hollow Zero in Zenless Zone Zero. Unlocking this formidable stage requires players to have first cleared the previous zones, progressing through the escalating tiers of Hollow Zero’s challenges. Once accessible, the Abandoned Skyscraper immediately sets itself apart with a more complex layout, intensified combat scenarios, and stage-specific mechanics that test both strategic planning and adaptability.
Each level within the Abandoned Skyscraper introduces progressively difficult enemy waves, including elite adversaries with unique attack patterns and heightened resistance to standard tactics. Environmental hazards and time-sensitive objectives are also more prominent here, pushing players to fine-tune their approach to both offense and survival. As you ascend the floors of this towering battleground, the stakes rise, rewarding precision, synergy, and foresight.
Optimal team composition is key to surviving and thriving in the Abandoned Skyscraper. It’s essential to bring a balanced squad capable of sustained damage, crowd control, and reliable support. Characters with abilities that trigger quick stagger effects or wide-area damage are especially valuable, as enemy formations can often become overwhelming without effective AoE coverage. Pairing units with complementary elements or attack types will further boost efficiency, enabling faster clears and better resource management.
Equally important is the strategic use of your Resonia Collection. Carefully selected Resonias can amplify your squad’s core strengths—whether that means increasing elemental damage, enhancing survivability, or boosting energy regeneration for frequent ultimate use. Prioritize Resonias that synergize with your team’s natural playstyle, and don’t hesitate to swap between floors to better counter specific enemy setups.
Clearing the Abandoned Skyscraper rewards players with a range of valuable items and progression materials, crucial for enhancing characters and deepening your Hollow Zero capabilities. Mastering this zone is not only a testament to your combat prowess, but also a gateway to even greater challenges and exclusive rewards hidden deeper within Hollow Zero.
How to Unlock the Abandoned Skyscraper
Before you can set foot within the crumbling edifice of the Abandoned Skyscraper in Hollow Zero, you must fulfill a trio of prerequisites that ensure you’re adequately prepared for the challenge ahead. First and foremost, you must progress through the game’s main narrative and complete Main Story Chapter 3, which acts as a foundational milestone for unlocking deeper layers of Hollow Zero. Secondly, clearing the Construction Ruins: Frontline stage is essential—this zone serves as both a narrative and mechanical stepping stone, familiarizing players with the escalating difficulty and intricacies of Hollow Zero’s layered challenges.
The final requirement lies in completing a specific subquest titled Towering Dome of the Void. This mission becomes available only after fulfilling the first two conditions. It functions as the last gatekeeper to the Abandoned Skyscraper, bridging the narrative and gameplay progression needed to access this high-risk, high-reward zone.
If you’ve cleared Main Story Chapter 3 and still find the Abandoned Skyscraper inaccessible, the most likely cause is an incomplete run through the Construction Ruins: Frontline. Double-check your mission progress, and ensure all prior Hollow Zero stages have been thoroughly conquered to trigger the appearance of the necessary subquest. Once all three conditions are met, the path to the Abandoned Skyscraper will open, inviting you to face one of the most demanding challenges Hollow Zero has to offer.
Abandoned Skyscraper Stage Information
Once unlocked, the Abandoned Skyscraper offers a tiered difficulty structure designed to progressively test your skills and readiness. Players can choose between three escalating difficulty levels: Interior, Heartland, and Core. Each tier introduces stronger enemies, tighter time constraints, and more complex stage mechanics, rewarding those who can adapt and strategize effectively. Importantly, access to these higher difficulty levels is gated by your Inter-Knot Level—a progression system that reflects your overall advancement and experience within Hollow Zero.
Heartland difficulty becomes available once you’ve reached Inter-Knot Level 38, offering a noticeable increase in enemy strength and density compared to Interior. For those seeking the ultimate test, Core difficulty unlocks at Inter-Knot Level 43, bringing with it the most grueling encounters and tactical demands. Core consists of three distinct floors, each one requiring a refined approach to combat, including the use of elemental matchups, stagger management, and efficient cooldown usage.
A key reward for conquering each difficulty—especially on your first clear—is the Inter-Knot Credit, which grants a significant boost to your experience and contributes to unlocking further Hollow Zero content. Additionally, higher tiers offer improved loot drops and rare materials essential for character progression. As such, scaling the difficulties of the Abandoned Skyscraper isn’t just a mark of mastery, but a vital part of deepening your strength within New Eridu.
Gameplay and Mechanics in Abandoned Skyscraper
Once unlocked, the Abandoned Skyscraper offers a tiered difficulty structure designed to progressively test your skills and readiness. Players can choose between three escalating difficulty levels: Interior, Heartland, and Core. Each tier introduces stronger enemies, tighter time constraints, and more complex stage mechanics, rewarding those who can adapt and strategize effectively. Importantly, access to these higher difficulty levels is gated by your Inter-Knot Level—a progression system that reflects your overall advancement and experience within Hollow Zero.
Heartland difficulty becomes available once you’ve reached Inter-Knot Level 38, offering a noticeable increase in enemy strength and density compared to Interior. For those seeking the ultimate test, Core difficulty unlocks at Inter-Knot Level 43, bringing with it the most grueling encounters and tactical demands. Core consists of three distinct floors, each one requiring a refined approach to combat, including the use of elemental matchups, stagger management, and efficient cooldown usage.
A key reward for conquering each difficulty—especially on your first clear—is the Inter-Knot Credit, which grants a significant boost to your experience and contributes to unlocking further Hollow Zero content. Additionally, higher tiers offer improved loot drops and rare materials essential for character progression. As such, scaling the difficulties of the Abandoned Skyscraper isn’t just a mark of mastery, but a vital part of deepening your strength within New Eridu.
Best Team Composition and Resonia Collection
When preparing to venture into the Abandoned Skyscraper, it’s important to carefully consider both your team composition and the Resonia Collections you utilize, as they will have a significant impact on your success. An Ice Attribute Team is strongly recommended for this challenge, particularly because the final boss, the Twin Marionettes, has a notable weakness to Ice damage.
If your roster doesn’t include an Ice Attribute attacker, it’s essential to designate a leader with an attribute other than Fire, as Fire would be less effective. Characters like Ellen and Lycaon are excellent choices due to their Ice capabilities, while Anton, Grace, and Anby, who harness Electric elements, can also be valuable assets, especially when dealing with enemies vulnerable to Electric damage.
For Resonia Collection, focusing on the right set of abilities is key. The mechanic of increasing damage based on low HP makes prioritizing Shield Resonia particularly important, as it will help improve your team’s survivability in the midst of challenging encounters. Additionally, Freeze, Electric, and Ether Resonia are highly recommended to exploit the elemental weaknesses of enemies encountered in the skyscraper. Freeze Resonia, for instance, not only enhances Ice damage but also improves the efficiency of inflicting the Freeze Attribute Anomaly, leading to potential additional effects that can tip the scales in your favor.
Given that the Twin Marionettes are described as being particularly vulnerable to parrying, obtaining Assist, Dodge, and Duel Resonia is highly beneficial, as these will enable you to counter-attack and punish their moves effectively. The key to maximizing your damage output lies in leveraging the [Research] Trigger Instinct Resonia Collection effect, which forms the cornerstone of the unique damage mechanics in the Abandoned Skyscraper. Finally, other useful Resonia to consider are those that enhance Perfect Assists, Critical Damage (CRIT DMG), Anomaly Buildup Rate, or grant Energy, as these can significantly boost your overall performance and help you secure victory in the challenging floors of the Abandoned Skyscraper.
Stage Walkthroughs
Abandoned Skyscraper – Interior
Floor 1:
You begin your run with the [Research] Trigger Instinct Resonia already activated. This powerful effect increases damage output based on the HP your Agents have lost, incentivizing a high-risk, high-reward playstyle. Early in the floor, you’ll encounter the Secret Doctor who offers you a choice between Concentrated Medicine—restoring 10% HP to all Agents—or a Shield-type Resonia, both options requiring you to sacrifice HP. The floor layout features two horizontal rows, and choosing one will cause the other to vanish, locking you into your selected path. As you proceed, prepare for the boss battle at the end of the floor against the Autonomous Support Unit – Lightfoot Rover and Heavy Striker.
Floor 2:
The Secret Doctor reappears, continuing to offer HP-for-reward exchanges. As before, each decision point locks out alternative routes, reinforcing the need to think several moves ahead based on your team’s remaining health and the potential rewards. This floor increases the intensity with more events, Resonia collection opportunities, and enemy engagements. Your primary goal here is to survive and prepare for the boss fight at the floor’s end, which pits you against the Autonomous Tactical Unit – Typhon Slugger.
Floor 3:
In the final floor of the Interior difficulty, you’ll have a last opportunity to interact with the Secret Doctor and make key strategic decisions. Supply Bases and event tiles continue to appear along a branching path, again requiring you to select only one direction per fork. After preparing your team and optimizing your Resonia setup, the final challenge awaits: a two-phase boss battle against the Twin Marionettes. Victory here completes the Interior stage and unlocks progression toward Heartland difficulty.
Abandoned Skyscraper – Heartland
Floor 1:
You start with [Research] Trigger Instinct in effect, reinforcing the low-HP, high-damage strategy. Early interactions with the Secret Doctor offer choices that can either benefit your team’s survivability or enhance your offensive capabilities—at a cost. The floor layout expands into “Z” shaped paths, and once a path is chosen, the other disappears. Strategic decision-making remains key. The boss you’ll face at the end is the Autonomous Tactical Unit – Typhon Slugger.
Floor 2:
The Secret Doctor may reappear on this floor with similar offers as before. The structure of this level grows more complex, with “S” and “Z” shaped areas to navigate. Alongside the usual supply events and combat zones, players must be ready to take on Hati and Armored Hati in the boss room, both of whom require precise damage timing and crowd control to overcome.
Floor 3:
This floor represents the climax of Heartland difficulty. You may have one final encounter with the Secret Doctor at the beginning. Layout-wise, the structure continues the branching-path mechanic, demanding careful planning based on your team’s remaining strength. The final battle is a two-phase encounter against the Twin Marionettes, testing both your mechanical skill and strategic decision-making. Their defeat completes Heartland.
Abandoned Skyscraper – Core
Recommended Level: 45
Total Floors: 3
Best Elements: Ether, Electric, Ice
Elements to Avoid: Fire
Floor 1:
You begin with the [Research] Trigger Instinct Resonia once again, and must immediately make strategic pathing decisions. The Secret Doctor appears early with opportunities to trade HP for useful items or enhancements. The familiar mechanic of irreversible path selection remains in full effect. Expect to face Notorious Dullahan and Hati as bosses at the end of this floor—a challenging duo with layered attack patterns and area control.
Floor 2:
The complexity increases with more enemy groupings and event options. The Secret Doctor can appear at the start, offering a chance to upgrade your squad at a cost. Each route has distinct rewards and risks, requiring you to balance your team’s current condition with your long-term goal. The floor ends with a difficult multi-enemy encounter featuring the Autonomous Support Unit – Lightfoot Rover MK II, Guardian MK II, and Typhon Slugger.
Floor 3:
This floor tests all the knowledge and preparation you’ve accumulated. The Secret Doctor may appear one final time, and pathing decisions continue to hold high stakes. After navigating through the last gauntlet of events, enemies, and decision points, you’ll face the final boss of the Abandoned Skyscraper: the Twin Marionettes. This two-phase battle is more punishing than in previous difficulties, requiring optimized team synergy and mastery over the zone’s core mechanics. Completion of Core difficulty marks a major milestone in Hollow Zero progression.
Rewards for Completing Abandoned Skyscraper
Successfully navigating the Abandoned Skyscraper across its various difficulty levels will reward you with a range of valuable items that can greatly aid your progression and strengthen your team. Each difficulty level offers its own initial set of clear rewards, which you can claim the first time you complete the floor.
First Clear Rewards
Abandoned Skyscraper: Interior
First Clear RewardsInter-Knot Credit x600Polychrome x80
Boopon x1
Bangboo System Widget x8
Investigation Point x4000
Withered Crystal: Iron Red x900
Abandoned Skyscraper: Heartland
Polychrome x80
Investigation Point x1500
Withered Crystal: Iron Red x800
Abandoned Skyscraper: Core
First Clear RewardsInter-Knot Credit x600Polychrome x80
Investigation Point x1500
Withered Crystal: Iron Red x800
Regular Rewards
Abandoned Skyscraper: Interior
Regular RewardsBangboo System Widget x8 – 11Investigation Point x2500
Withered Crystal: Iron Red x300
Denny x2000
Abandoned Skyscraper: Heartland
Regular RewardsBangboo System Widget x10 – 13Investigation Point x3000
Red Withered Crystal: Iron Red x400
Denny x2815
Abandoned Skyscraper: Core
Regular RewardsBangboo System Widget x13 – 16Investigation Point x3500
Withered Crystal: Iron Red x500
Denny x3380
Beyond the first clear of each difficulty, you’ll receive regular rewards for subsequent completions. These typically include additional Bangboo System Widgets, Investigation Points, Withered Crystal: Iron Red, and Denny, which are useful for upgrading your Agents and enhancing their effectiveness in future battles. The consistency of these rewards means that revisiting these floors can yield significant long-term benefits, helping to continuously improve your squad and resources.
Tips and Strategies for Success
To maximize your chances of successfully conquering the Abandoned Skyscraper, a thoughtful approach to both strategy and resource management is crucial. One of the most vital factors to keep in mind is HP management. The risk-reward mechanic of maintaining low HP to boost your damage througFirst Clear Rewards
Inter-Knot Credit Inter-Knot Credit x600
Polychrome Polychrome x80
Boopon Boopon x1
Bangboo System Widget Bangboo System Widget x8
Investigation Point Investigation Point x4000
Withered Crystal: Iron Red Withered Crystal: Iron Red x900
h the Trigger Instinct Resonia should be carefully balanced. While lower HP increases your damage output, this also makes your team more vulnerable, so make sure you have reliable ways to heal when necessary. To assist with this, make full use of the Supply Bases and fully automated medical pod, both of which will help you recover and balance your team’s HP after particularly challenging encounters.
The Zero Bank is another key resource, providing long-term benefits the more you interact with it, so take advantage of its services whenever possible. Team composition should be carefully planned with enemy weaknesses in mind, especially the Twin Marionettes, who are highly vulnerable to Ice damage. This means having dedicated Ice Attribute characters or those with complementary elements can be a significant advantage, especially when facing such powerful foes. As you progress through the skyscraper, the path you choose on each floor will play a crucial role in your success. Weigh the risks of each route carefully, considering both your current HP and the potential hazards or rewards each square offers.
A key component in surviving the skyscraper’s challenges is collecting Shield Resonia, which boosts your team’s survivability, especially when operating at low HP. It’s also essential to experiment with various Resonia combinations to discover synergies that work best for your team’s strengths and your preferred playstyle. Finally, brace yourself for the ultimate challenge: the two-phase battle against the Twin Marionettes on the final floor. Be prepared to adjust your strategy and team dynamics as you face these formidable foes. By staying flexible, managing your resources carefully, and optimizing your team, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer the Abandoned Skyscraper.
Further Exploration: Related Guides and Resources
To maximize your success in Zenless Zone Zero, it’s essential to understand the game’s mechanics and how they interact with the various stages and challenges, such as the Abandoned Skyscraper. Preparation is key, and forming the right team with optimal Resonia and character selection will significantly improve your chances of success. As you progress, pay attention to HP management and make strategic use of the Trigger Instinct mechanic to maximize damage while balancing the risk of low HP. Be sure to take advantage of Supply Bases and the automated medical pod for quick recovery, and make the Zero Bank a priority for long-term benefits.
Additionally, choosing the right route and understanding enemy weaknesses, especially the Twin Marionettes’ vulnerability to Ice damage, will be critical to your success. Focus on Shield Resonia to improve your survivability, and experiment with various Resonia combinations to optimize your team’s effectiveness. Finally, prepare for the ultimate challenge: the two-phase fight against the Twin Marionettes on the final floor, a key test of your strategic planning and combat skills.
For those seeking to dive deeper into the game, guides are available to help you optimize your team with the Best Agents, Best W-Engines, and Best Bangboos. If you’re looking to improve your overall combat prowess, be sure to check out resources on Combat, Base Stats, and Anomalies. Resources on Collectibles and Training Challenges are also available for players looking to collect everything the game offers. As this is just one stage within Hollow Zero, guides for other zones such as Qualification Assessment, Old Capital Metro, and Construction Ruins are also available to further enhance your journey.
By understanding the mechanics, preparing your team, and making informed decisions as you ascend the skyscraper, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer its challenges and claim its valuable rewards. Good luck, Proxy!
