Introduction

The Zenless Zone Zero Undercover R and B Guide details the Undercover R&B special episode in Zenless Zone Zero, which follows Jane Doe, a Thiren woman who goes undercover to infiltrate the Mountain Lion gang, a dangerous criminal organization that operates within the Hollows. Unlike the main story, this episode unfolds without the presence of the sibling protagonists, allowing side characters to take center stage and develop independently. The special episode becomes permanently available after the Version 1.1 update.

To unlock Undercover R&B, players must complete Main Story Chapter 3: “The Midnight Pursuit” and reach Inter-Knot Level 32. The estimated completion time is around one hour, though this can vary depending on dialogue choices. Completing the episode rewards players with the “Undercover R&B” Personal Homepage Background.

The Undercover R&B update also introduces new playable characters, including Qingyi and Jane Doe as S-Rank agents and Seth Lowell as an A-Rank agent, alongside the new S-Rank Bangboo, Officer Cui. This special episode provides deeper insight into Jane Doe’s character while expanding the world of Zenless Zone Zero.

Storyline Walkthrough

The Undercover R&B special episode follows Jane Doe, a criminal behavior consultant working undercover for Public Security (PubSec) to infiltrate the Mountain Lion gang, a notorious group operating within the Hollows. The story unfolds in two main parts, with investigative objectives leading to a climactic boss battle.

First Half: Infiltration and Intel Gathering

The episode begins with PubSec contacting Jane under the guise of renewing her business license, providing her an entry point into the gang’s operations.

Start the mission by speaking to your sibling at the Video Store counter after completing Chapter 3.

Travel to the newly unlocked “New Eridu Public Security” area in the parking lot.

Speak to the PubSec officer at the reception desk to initiate the business license renewal process.

Participate in Combat Commissions alongside Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, and Seth, using a fixed team.

Control Jane and talk to Seth after cutscenes and dialogue.

Gather intel from three gang underlings marked with red “!” icons.

Engage in Combat Commissions as Jane.

Collect more intel by speaking to a subordinate near the exit.

Meet the Mountain Lion Gang Liaison at Ballet Twins to receive a supply request.

Infiltrate PubSec by leading a drunk individual inside as a cover.

Enter the staff area through the gate on the right.

Unlock a target locker using the password “101225” and retrieve the key card.

Escape from PubSec unnoticed.

Gather video store intel by speaking to a man in front of Mindscape Cinema, then proceed to Sixth Street.

The first half concludes upon entering the video store, ending Immersive Storytelling mode. At this point, players can explore other content before proceeding.

Second Half: Gaining Trust and Final Mission

Resume the mission by speaking to your sibling at the video store, reactivating Immersive Storytelling mode.

Jane rents the movie “Port Peak” and delivers it to a gang member in exchange for information.

Return to the gang’s transfer station to advance the story.

Jane learns that hostages are frequently escorted to the bathroom. When guards investigate, they discover the hostages and an escorting guard have disappeared.

Jane meets them at the exit just as Razer, a key gang leader, arrives.

To prove her loyalty, Jane pushes a guard off a roof and rescues Seth.

To further solidify her cover, Jane challenges Seth to a duel.

Jane is escorted to the gang’s main base, hidden within a Hollow Zero fissure.

Boss Battle and Aftermath

Jane must complete a qualification round by collecting access cards before the duel.

Razer instructs Jane to lose on purpose against Seth, but she refuses.

Jane defeats Seth, triggering a confrontation with Razer.

During the fight, Jane reveals her deception—she secretly spiked Seth’s drink with a muscle relaxant and had him drink excess water to dilute its effects, allowing him to escape his restraints.

Jane also stole a key card during her capture, which she uses to escape with Seth.

It is revealed that Jane was working with PubSec all along and orchestrated the infiltration.

After completing the mission, Jane fulfills a personal favor by returning the movie she rented and signs up for the highest-tier video store membership.

This walkthrough provides a step-by-step guide to completing Undercover R&B, ensuring players understand key objectives, challenges, and story beats. Engaging with combat, gathering intel, and paying close attention to dialogue will enhance the experience.

Key Characters

The Undercover R&B special episode introduces several key characters, each playing an essential role in the unfolding story. Their interactions and motivations drive the narrative forward, shaping the events of Jane Doe’s undercover mission.

Jane Doe – The main protagonist of the special episode, Jane is a Thiren woman and a consultant for criminal behavior at Public Security (PubSec). She operates undercover to infiltrate the Mountain Lion gang, using her intelligence, deception skills, and combat expertise to earn their trust. Despite claiming to be a bad liar, she is highly skilled at manipulation and improvisation, making her a key figure in the operation.

Razer – The leader of the Mountain Lion gang, known for his brutal tactics and unwavering authority. He sees potential in Jane and considers recruiting her as a personal bodyguard. He ultimately serves as the final boss of the storyline, confronting Jane in a decisive battle.

Seth Lowell – A Public Security officer captured by the Mountain Lion gang. He is honest, kind, and determined, embodying a strong sense of justice. Unaware of Jane’s true identity at first, he plays a crucial role in her infiltration strategy. He is classified as an A-Rank Agent.

Qingyi – A Public Security officer involved in the initial raid against the Mountain Lion gang. At the start of the mission, she is unaware of Jane’s undercover role. Later, she unintentionally suggests sending a “rat” to infiltrate the gang, unaware that Jane is already executing this plan. She is an S-Rank Agent and is one of the required characters in the first combat commission.

Julan – The Captain of Public Security, overseeing the operation against the Mountain Lion gang. He assigns Qingyi to lead the initial assault on the gang’s base.

Zhu Yuan – Public Security officer who plays a key role in the initial raid against the Mountain Lion gang. As a highly skilled combatant, she specializes in precise and efficient attacks, making her an invaluable asset in battle. Like Qingyi, she is a required character in the first combat commission, where she fights alongside her fellow officers to subdue enemies and maintain order. Her combat style focuses on swift, coordinated strikes and defensive tactics, ensuring that the operation remains under control. Throughout the special episode, Zhu Yuan’s presence reinforces Public Security’s determination to dismantle criminal organizations and uphold justice in New Eridu.

Wise and Belle – The owners of the Random Play video store on Sixth Street. They assist Jane when she rents a movie as part of her cover. They remain unaware of her true identity and the nature of her mission.

Each of these characters plays a crucial role in Undercover R&B, shaping the mission’s progression and Jane’s undercover efforts. Understanding their motivations and relationships enhances the experience and helps players navigate the story effectively.

Key Locations

The Undercover R&B special episode takes place across several significant locations, each serving a crucial role in Jane Doe’s mission and the unfolding narrative. These locations provide important interactions, combat encounters, and key story developments.

New Eridu Public Security (Lumina Branch) – A newly introduced area where the initial phase of Jane’s mission takes place. It serves as the headquarters for Public Security officers, including Julan, Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, and Seth. Jane first visits this location under the pretense of updating her business license, using it as a cover to begin her undercover work. Later, she infiltrates the facility to steal a key card and retrieve mission-critical equipment from the equipment room.

Ballet Twins Hollow – A transfer station operated by the Mountain Lion gang, located near their main base. Jane first visits this location to meet the Mountain Lion Gang Liaison and receive her initial assignment. It also serves as a key supply hub, housing anti-corruption serum to protect the gang members. After Jane’s capture, she is brought here and interacts with Seth and other gang members. The station contains a stable fissure, which allows the gang to retreat to their stronghold in the Lion’s Den.

Lumina Square – A central hub containing key establishments relevant to Jane’s mission. The Lumina Square Precinct of Public Security is located here, serving as the place where Jane must infiltrate to retrieve a key card. The Mindscape Cinema is also found in Lumina Square, where Jane gathers intelligence that leads her to a video store. To complete her infiltration, Jane must create a distraction to slip past officers and access restricted areas.

Sixth Street – The location of the Random Play video store, where Jane rents a movie as part of her undercover work. Sixth Street is also home to the siblings’ video store, serving as the player’s main base of operations in Zenless Zone Zero.

Hollow Zero – The hidden stronghold of the Mountain Lion gang, also known as the Lion’s Den. It is accessed via a stable fissure from Ballet Twins Hollow and serves as the setting for the final confrontation with Razer. Due to the Hollow’s extreme environment, the gang relies on anti-corruption serum to survive here. Public Security has difficulty accessing this location, making it a crucial stronghold for criminal activity.

Each of these locations plays a pivotal role in Jane’s undercover mission, offering unique challenges, combat sequences, and story developments. Players must navigate these areas strategically to complete their objectives and uncover the full scope of the Mountain Lion gang’s operations.

Gameplay Elements

The Undercover R&B special episode introduces unique gameplay mechanics, blending strategic combat, exploration, and interactive storytelling. Players will engage in combat commissions, gather intel, solve puzzles, and utilize the unique abilities of Jane and Seth.

Combat Commissions – Throughout the episode, players will take on combat commissions, each requiring different strategies. Some battles use a fixed team of Qingyi, Zhu Yuan, and Seth, while others feature Jane alone, requiring careful management of her health, energy, and abilities. Combat encounters often have mission-specific objectives, such as collecting key cards from defeated enemies to progress. Some areas contain restorative objects that replenish physical strength and energy, helping players sustain their offense.

Exploration and Intel Gathering – Progressing through the story requires interacting with NPCs marked with red “!” icons to gather intel and advance objectives. Some situations involve resolving conflicts between characters to obtain necessary information. Players must also search environments for key items, such as a security card and master key card, and engage with interactive objects. Certain locations feature puzzle mechanics, such as navigating laser grids to reach restricted areas.

Password and Key Card System – Players will need to use specific passwords and access cards to open locked areas. For instance, entering the password “101225” unlocks a secure locker in the Public Security office. Other key items include an Unbound Security Card, which grants access to security-restricted areas, and a Master Key Card, retrieved from the Public Security equipment room.

Jane’s Unique Abilities – Jane has a distinct combat style that revolves around her “Passion State”, which increases physical anomaly buildup rate, attack power, and enhances her dash attacks and dodge counters.

Dodging successfully builds her Passion Stream, a resource required to enter Passion State.

Perfect Dodges and Defensive Assists restore Passion Stream, allowing Jane to maintain her offensive capabilities.

Her basic attack transforms in Passion State, becoming a jump attack that can be extended by holding the attack button, further replenishing Passion Stream.

She wields blade-enhanced boots, integrating swift, deadly strikes into her attack sequences.

Seth’s Abilities – In the second part of the story, Seth becomes a playable character, including during the final boss battle.

When Seth lands a finishing move or assist follow-up, it triggers a Quick Assist for the previous squad member and grants them a shield.

Squad members with this shield receive a boost to their Anomaly Proficiency.

His EX Special Attack, “Thunder Shield Rush: High Voltage,” unleashes a series of slashes, dealing massive Electro damage while reinforcing his shield-based defensive playstyle.

Boss Battle Mechanics – The climax of the episode is a boss battle against Razer, where Seth also participates. Using perfect assists at key moments will maximize damage output and create openings to defeat the boss.

Immersive Storytelling Mode – The episode features an Immersive Storytelling mode that can be toggled on or off. This mode is deactivated after the first half of the story but can be reactivated by speaking to your sibling at the video store.

The Undercover R&B special episode balances combat, exploration, and narrative-driven gameplay, requiring players to engage in strategic battles, uncover hidden details, and utilize the distinct abilities of Jane and Seth to progress through the mission.

Additional Information

The Undercover R&B special episode, introduced in Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.1, expands the game’s world with new story content, characters, rewards, and gameplay features.

Release and Availability – The Undercover R&B special episode was released as part of Version 1.1 on August 14, 2024, and remains permanently available after unlocking. Players must complete Main Story Chapter 3, “The Midnight Pursuit,” to access the episode.

New Characters and W-Engines – Version 1.1 introduced S-Rank Agent Jane (Anomaly – Physical) and A-Rank Agent Seth (Defense – Electric), both obtainable through Signal Searching channels. Additionally, the update included the S-Rank W-Engine [Ice-Jade Teapot (Stun)] and the S-Rank Bangboo [Officer Cui].

Rewards – Completing the special episode unlocks the “Undercover R&B Personal Homepage Background” (Permanent). The update also added new trust events for Jane, Qingyi, and Seth, as well as new achievements and commissions related to the episode.

Story and Lore – The episode follows Jane Doe as she infiltrates the Mountain Lion gang, offering deeper insight into the game’s world and factions. It explores Public Security’s strategies against criminal organizations and reveals the existence of stable fissures leading to other Hollows.

Gameplay Features – Several gameplay improvements and quality-of-life updates were included in Version 1.1:

Chain attacks can now be set to activate automatically or manually.

The “Go to Next Stage” function was added to the challenge results screen of the Audition Stage “The Final Callback”, streamlining progression.

A filter function was introduced in the Agent screen, allowing Proxies to sort Agents by specialty.

New Teleporters were added to Random Play (HDD), Scott Outpost (Logistics Shop), and the Public Security area.

The update introduced new NPCs in the NEPS Lumina Branch and added random street encounters in Lumina Square, HIA Club, and other areas.

Various UI and experience optimizations were implemented to enhance gameplay fluidity.

Events – Version 1.1 introduced multiple time-limited events, some of which require completion of Undercover R&B:

All-New Programs – A 7-day login event with rewards.

Camellia Golden Week – A holiday-themed event offering special rewards.

Inferno Reap – A combat-focused event.

Immersive Tactical Drill – A limited-time VR challenge.

First-Class Customer Service – An event focused on building store reputation.

Shiyu Defense Event and a special Commission Event.

Other Content – The update introduced:

Agent Avatars, Agent Mindscape Cinema Namecards, and Dynamic Backgrounds.

A “Quick Use of Bangboo Plug-Ins on the Board” setting.

Additional achievements and bug fixes.

The Undercover R&B special episode and Version 1.1 significantly expand the game’s content, adding new missions, characters, and improvements that enhance both story and gameplay.