Introduction to Zenless Zone Zero Battle Storm Event Guide

The Virtual World: Battle Storm event is a limited-time VR combat challenge introduced in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Version 1.6. Taking place from April 2nd to April 14th, 2025, this event immerses players in a fast-paced virtual combat simulation hosted by the HIA Club. The challenge begins when you assist Corin Wickes, who’s investigating strange disturbances within the VR system. After fulfilling the participation prerequisites, you can find Corin outside the video store on Sixth Street, where she’ll provide key information and support. Her role isn’t just narrative—she plays a part in guiding and offering protection during the early stages of the investigation.

Following your initial conversation with Corin, she’ll lead you to Lyla at the HIA headquarters, where you’ll gain access to the VR battlefield. Once inside, you’ll face a series of combat trials that test your timing, reflexes, and strategy under increasingly challenging conditions. The event is designed to simulate intense real-world encounters, and each stage progressively ramps up in difficulty, encouraging tactical use of your Agents’ skills and synergies.

Throughout the event, players can earn various rewards by completing specific stage objectives and milestones. These rewards may include in-game currency, upgrade materials, and possibly exclusive event items or cosmetics. Engaging fully with the event not only deepens your understanding of ZZZ’s characters and world-building but also offers a fun, action-packed diversion with meaningful progression incentives.

Make sure to check the event tab in-game to track your progress, claim rewards, and unlock additional stages as they become available.

How to Participate

To participate in the Virtual World: Battle Storm VR combat event in Zenless Zone Zero, you must first meet the entry requirements: reaching Inter-Knot Level 22 and unlocking the Expert Challenge from Main Story Chapter 2. These prerequisites ensure you’re prepared for the fast-paced, high-difficulty simulations that lie ahead. Once you’ve met these conditions, visit Corin Wickes outside the video store on Sixth Street to initiate the event.

She’ll serve as your point of contact for accessing the virtual challenge and guide you through the early steps of the investigation.

The event is structured across multiple layers of difficulty and variety, designed to provide a balanced progression of challenge and reward. The core structure consists of five Alliance stages, five Frontline stages, and three Special Offensive stages. Each day, a new themed stage is unlocked, gradually expanding the battlefield and deepening the VR simulation. Upon completing an Alliance stage, its corresponding Frontline stage—a more difficult version of the same challenge—will become available, pushing your tactical and combat skills further.

Additionally, the event features Special Offensive stages centered around the Agent Soldier 0 Anby. These stages are tailored to highlight Anby’s combat capabilities in unique VR scenarios and unlock gradually as the event progresses. These missions offer a different flavor of gameplay, often emphasizing precision, burst damage, and efficient enemy control. Players are encouraged to engage with these stages as they offer not only rewards but also insight into Anby’s combat role and mechanics.

Overall, the event structure ensures a dynamic and escalating experience, with daily unlocks keeping the pace fresh and engaging. Be sure to return each day to tackle new challenges, earn rewards, and make the most of the event duration.

Combat Stages

During the Virtual World: Battle Storm event in Zenless Zone Zero, players engage in Alliance, Frontline, and Special Offensive stages, each with unique team configurations and stage mechanics. For the Alliance and Frontline stages, players can choose from a set of Trial Agents and a Trial Bangboo, pre-equipped and leveled to effectively counter the day’s challenges. These preset squads offer a great opportunity for players who may not have optimal characters built yet.

In contrast, the Special Offensive stages restrict you to using Soldier 0 Anby and Trigger, both of whom are provided at event-ready levels and gear if you do not own them. These stages also allow the use of a Bangboo, with Plugboo functioning especially well in synergy with the provided Agents.

Each day of the event introduces a distinct tactical buff, which significantly shapes your strategy. Understanding how these buffs interact with your team’s strengths is key to efficiently clearing the stages and earning top rewards.

Day 1: Aftershock

Tactical Buff: Aftershock Bonus – Triggering Aftershock increases all squad members’ ATK by 40% for 15 seconds (refreshable). Additionally, Aftershock damage instantly defeats Normal enemies under 50% HP, Elites under 20%, and Bosses under 10%.

Enemy Weaknesses: Primarily weak to Electric, with some Ether weakness in Frontline stages. Resistant to Fire.

Trial Characters: Trigger, Pulchra, Soldier 0 Anby

Trial Bangboo: Plugboo

Team Tips: A strong team consists of Trigger, Astra, and Soldier 0 Anby with Knightboo, or simply use the Trial Agents with Plugboo. Trigger works well for stunning, while Pulchra should initiate Chain Attacks to stack Hunter’s Gait, enabling smoother transitions between agents.

Strategy: In Frontline, start by grouping enemies for efficient AoE attacks. Prioritize Shock Attribute Anomaly buildup for maximum buff uptime and instant execution. If the Jaegers and Tarasque Mixer are separated, take out the Jaegers first. In Alliance, watch for the Lightfoot Rover MK II’s laser—use Agent switching or Trigger’s sniper mode to dodge. Build up Perfect Assists and Dodge Counters to trigger Aftershock often and maximize team ATK boosts.

Day 2: Energy

Tactical Buff: Agents off-field generate 200% more Energy, and EX Special Attacks apply 50% more Anomaly Buildup.

Enemy Weaknesses: Weak to Physical and Ice.

Trial Characters: Miyabi, Yanagi, Lucy

Trial Bangboo: Agent Gulliver

Team Tips: Yanagi, Astra, and Miyabi work well, with Miyabi as the main DPS. The Trial Team also performs reliably, with Miyabi powered up by the support Agents’ energy generation. Alternate comps include Rina or Burnice.

Strategy: Take full advantage of the Energy Buff by rotating Agents to generate more Energy and unleash EX Special Attacks. Bulky Intimidator and Bulky Enforcer are predictable—dodge and counterattack effectively. In Alliance, start with an energy-generating Agent, then rotate into your damage dealer for bursts. The increased Anomaly Buildup makes EX Special Attacks especially potent for inflicting status effects.

Day 3: Chain Attack

Tactical Buff: Every Chain Attack grants +20 Energy, and Chain Attacks/Ultimates deal 25% increased damage, stacking up to 75% for 15 seconds (refreshable).

Enemy Weaknesses: Weak to Fire, some with Electric weakness.

Trial Characters: Koleda, Astra, Evelyn

Trial Bangboo: Snap

Team Tips: Top choice is Lighter, Astra, and Evelyn, focusing on frequent Chain Attacks and high Fire damage. The Trial Team of Koleda, Astra, and Evelyn also performs well. Alternatives include Koleda, Ben, and Soldier 11 with Rocketboo.

Strategy: Trigger Chain Attacks as often as possible to keep stacking the 25% damage buff and gain energy for Ultimates. In Frontline, grouping enemies ensures wider impact. Use Assist Attacks in Alliance to maintain the Chain Attack buff. Frequent agent switching is essential for rapid Chain and Ultimate activation, maximizing your damage window.

Day 4: Anomaly

Tactical Buff: Applying an Attribute Anomaly adds 12% Daze directly. When enemies are Stunned, their Anomaly Buildup RES drops by 50%.

Enemy Weaknesses: Weak to Fire, resistant to Electric.

Trial Characters: Seth, Burnice, Jane

Trial Bangboo: Officer Cui

Team Tips: Caesar, Burnice, and Jane synergize well, maximizing Fire damage and Stun setups. The Trial Agents are also effective, especially Burnice for Anomaly application and Jane for reliable crowd control.

Strategy: Use EX Specials and Chain Attacks to build up Anomaly quickly and accumulate Daze. Once an enemy is Stunned, unleash burst combos and Ultimates to capitalize on the reduced RES. In Alliance, structure your team around an Anomaly applier, a DPS, and support with strong energy regen or crowd control.

Day 5: Ultimate

Tactical Buff: Gain 1,500 Decibels upon entering combat and 3,000 Decibels upon using an Ultimate, once per Agent per battle. Ultimate damage is increased by 40%.

Enemy Weaknesses: Weak to Ether, resistant to Ice.

Trial Characters: Qingyi, Nicole, Zhu Yuan

Trial Bangboo: Resonaboo

Team Tips: Use Zhu Yuan as the main DPS, supported by Nicole or Astra for crowd control and buffs. Qingyi can be replaced with Trigger if needed. Fire and Electric-based teams can also be adapted here.

Strategy: Capitalize on the double Ultimate window by building Decibels through Dodge Counters and Perfect Assists. One of the S-rank conditions includes using Ultimates twice, so timing is critical. In Frontline, use Nicole’s Ultimate on mobs to gather enemies. Follow with Qingyi and Zhu Yuan for quick clears, especially against Elite units. Managing cooldowns and Decibel gain efficiently is crucial for achieving the best performance.

With each day offering distinct tactical layers and team mechanics, the Virtual World: Battle Storm event challenges players to adapt quickly and make the most of both Trial and custom teams. Understanding the day-specific buffs and enemy compositions is essential to secure high scores and valuable rewards.

Anby Special Offensive

The Special Offensive stages of the Virtual World: Battle Storm event place you in a focused, high-pressure scenario using a fixed team of Soldier 0 Anby and Trigger, enhanced by the Aftershock Frenzy tactical buff. This buff dramatically increases damage output from Aftershocks: every time Aftershock damage is dealt, all Agents gain a stackable bonus that increases Agent Aftershock damage by 20% of ATK, up to 20 stacks.

Only one stack can be gained per second, and each application refreshes the 20-second duration. When leveraged properly, this mechanic creates a powerful feedback loop where repeated Shock application and stuns cause escalating damage. Plugboo is available as a Bangboo option and synergizes well with this buff setup, providing consistent Anomaly application and supporting Coordinated Attacks.

Special Offensive Stage 1

This stage pits you against the Guardian MK II, and success hinges on effectively triggering Aftershocks while maintaining combat rhythm. Begin by using Trigger to apply Daze and quickly stun the enemy, even while she’s off-field. Once Trigger’s Purge bar is full, swap her off-field to enable Coordinated Support, which lets her automatically follow up with coordinated attacks when Soldier 0 Anby lands hits. This interaction is central to building and maintaining Aftershock stacks.

Soldier 0 Anby should remain on-field as the primary attacker, using EX Special Attacks and Chain Attacks to maximize damage output during stun windows. The goal is to defeat the enemy within 90, 120, or 150 seconds to fulfill all challenge targets. Staying aggressive while managing cooldowns and energy efficiently is the key to success here.

Special Offensive Stage 2

The second stage features a battle against the Terror Raptor, a swift and agile foe that demands a balance of timing and burst. As before, open the fight with Trigger to apply Daze and build up Purge. Once Purge is full, move her off-field to allow Coordinated Support, and transition to Anby to deal sustained damage. Use Trigger’s EX Special Attacks and Ultimates during openings or when her energy and Decibel resources allow for high-impact support.

Anby should remain on-field to keep pressure on the Raptor, while dodging and countering its high-speed lunges and aerial strikes. Efficient targeting, stuns, and quick use of Ultimate abilities are essential to beat the timer and complete the stage within the set completion windows.

Special Offensive Stage 3

In the final special challenge, you’ll be facing the Specialized Assault Bomber, a heavily-armored enemy with a crucial weak point: the specialized compartment on its back. This component should be your primary focus, as destroying it causes a large burst of damage and Daze, allowing for high Aftershock synergy. Begin the stage by building up Trigger’s Purge bar, then switch to Anby to unleash a barrage of attacks targeting the back compartment.

Maintain this cycle—Trigger off-field for coordinated attacks and Anby on-field for focused offense. Use EX Special Attacks and Ultimates when the compartment is vulnerable to break through its defenses faster. Coordination between Anby’s aggressive assault and Trigger’s supporting fire will ensure you stay within the 90, 120, or 150-second challenge time limits. A clean execution of these rotations, combined with consistent use of the Aftershock Frenzy stacks, will secure a swift victory.

Rewards

By progressing through the Virtual World: Battle Storm event in Zenless Zone Zero, you can earn a comprehensive selection of valuable rewards by clearing stages and achieving specific performance ratings across the Alliance, Frontline, and Special Offensive challenges. These rewards contribute significantly to character development, equipment enhancement, and overall account progression.

A total of 450 Polychromes—a premium currency used for Agent or W-Engine pulls—can be earned throughout the event, serving as a strong incentive for full participation. Additionally, you’ll collect progression materials such as Official Investigator Logs and the rarer Senior Investigator Logs, both essential for leveling up and promoting your Agents.

Denny, the game’s main in-game currency, is also included among the event rewards, with a generous total of 120,000 Dennies available to support upgrading Agents, W-Engines, and Bangboos. For enhancing your W-Engines, you can earn 10 W-Engine Power Supplies, while Bangboo development is supported with 12 Bangboo System Widgets.

Enhancement materials also include 13 Specialized Shock Chips and 18 Original Chips, both of which are key upgrade items for Agents or equipment. Players who complete all Alliance, Frontline, and Special Offensive stages and fulfill the associated objectives will also receive a Tuning Calibrator, a valuable item used for fine-tuning character or gear performance.

In addition to these item rewards, completing all Alliance and Frontline stages provides 1,600 New Eridu City Fund EXP, which contributes to your progress in the New Eridu City Fund—an event-based system that grants additional milestone rewards as you accumulate EXP. This makes full completion of the event highly rewarding for both immediate benefits and long-term progression.

Additional Notes

By mastering the structure of the Virtual World: Battle Storm event, players can approach each challenge stage with confidence and efficiency. The event unfolds over multiple days, with each day introducing a new tactical buff that significantly shapes the flow of combat. These buffs directly affect energy regeneration, Anomaly buildup, Chain Attack power, Ultimate usage, or Aftershock mechanics—making it essential to adapt your playstyle and rotation to capitalize on their effects.

Equally important is understanding the elemental weaknesses and resistances of enemies across Alliance, Frontline, and Special Offensive stages. Tailoring your approach to exploit these vulnerabilities allows you to deal maximum damage and control the battlefield more effectively. The event generously provides Trial Agents and Trial Bangboos that are already equipped and leveled to suit each day’s tactical requirements. These characters are specifically selected to synergize with the stage mechanics, making them ideal for players who may not have a wide roster of fully developed units.

Strategic use of Trial Agents—whether through their synergy with buffs, their Anomaly application, or their Chain Attack and stun potential—will help you hit the score thresholds required for full rewards. Leveraging coordinated attacks, Perfect Assists, Dodge Counters, and EX Special Attacks in rhythm with the daily buff ensures optimal efficiency in clearing each challenge. With careful planning and adaptability, you can conquer every stage of the event, secure top-tier performance ratings, and collect all available rewards.