Is Zenless Zone Zero a Gacha Game?

A close-up shot of Zenless Zone Zero's Nicole squinting at the camera.
Credit: HoYoverse

A close-up shot of Zenless Zone Zero's Nicole squinting at the camera.
Credit: HoYoverse

When taking a look at HoYoverse's biggest titles, you'll notice that they have gacha mechanics. So, checking to see how the Zenless Zone Zero gacha mechanics work is only fair. These types of titles aren't for everyone, regardless of how you feel about the story and gameplay.

In this guide, we'll be breaking down what gacha mechanics are and the extent to which Zenless Zone Zero has them. Plus, we'll explain whether it's possible to play the post-apocalyptic action RPG without engaging with this system.

It would also be wise to check out all the Zenless Zone Zero characters you can get in the game and where they rank in our ZZZ tier list. Alternatively, you can check out the details on the Zenless Zone Zero battle pass.

Does Zenless Zone Zero Have Gacha Mechanics?

Zenless Zone Zero is a gacha game, meaning it involves spending in-game currency (or real money) to get random characters and other equipment in return.

This won't come as a surprise to anyone who has played HoYoverse's previous titles, given that both Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail heavily feature gacha mechanics. This means that pulling on the Zenless Zone Zero banners to obtain new Agents and improve their strength is a core part of the experience.

In Zenless Zone Zero, each character has different rarities and you can pull for a chance to unlock a rare hero using Zenless Zone Zero's gacha system: Signal Search. To pull for these characters, you'll be using up Master Tapes and Polychromes.

You can earn these resources in several ways, including progressing through the game and participating in the frequent ZZZ events. Another way to obtain Polychromes is by completing dailies, so make sure to get these done after logging in.

A close-up of Zenless Zone Zero's Nicole with her arms raised in-game.
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Credit: HoYoverse
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Can You Play Zenless Zone Zero Without Using Gacha?

While it is possible to play Zenless Zone Zero without touching the gacha system, it may prove to be extremely difficult. You'll get a set of characters for free near the start of the game, but that's likely all you'll have to work with if you don't partake in the gacha mechanics.

Some players have played through other HoYoverse titles like Honkai Star Rail without using gacha but do so as more of a challenge rather than a preference. It's also worth mentioning that characters in gacha games are prone to powercreep since these titles are constantly pumping out new content to keep players engaged.

The good news is that, just because you effectively have to use the gacha mechanics to get new characters and items, this doesn't mean you have to part with your hard-earned cash. If you play frequently, taking part in events and completing your daily missions, then you'll regularly be able to spend in-game currency on the various banners available.

That's all there is to know about the Zenless Zone Zero gacha mechanics and how they will impact how you play. For more on the action RPG, feel free to check out our guides on the game's cast, as well as our tier list for the best Agents in Zenless Zone Zero.

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