Zenless Zone Zero’s 2.6 Golden Carps: Maximize Free Polychrome & Exclusive Rewards!

A Game-Changer for Free-to-Play Progression in Zenless Zone Zero

The 2.6 update for Zenless Zone Zero introduces the “Little Golden Carps” event, an offering that stands out from previous in-game activities due to its potential to significantly alter how players acquire valuable resources. Seasoned Proxies, accustomed to carefully managing their premium currency for character and W-Engine pulls, will find this event particularly impactful. It integrates a fresh event currency, provides a structured method to earn Polychrome, and grants a special, temporary membership. This novel reward system is set to reshape how both dedicated and casual players approach their gacha strategy for future banners.

Key Details of the Golden Carps Event

Event Title: Little Golden Carps
Availability Window: From January 30, 2026, at 20:30 (UTC+8) until the conclusion of the 2.6 patch cycle.
Participation Requirements: Players must reach Inter-Knot Level 5 and complete the Main Story Prologue, titled “The Hare and the Proxy,” to unlock the event.
Primary Rewards: Participants can acquire Polychrome, the unique Weaver’s Gilded Gift, and a 30-day “Inter-Knot Membership: Festival Edition.”
Reward Claim Deadline: The Weaver’s Gilded Gift becomes accessible only after the 2.6 update is live. Any rewards not claimed before the event’s end will be permanently lost.

Anticipated Banners: No Official Announcements Yet

At the time of this publication, official sources have not disclosed any new banner rotations or rerun details specifically tied to the Little Golden Carps event. While other HoYoverse titles, such as Genshin Impact, frequently align event reward distributions with significant character or weapon banners, Zenless Zone Zero’s plans in this regard are currently unconfirmed.

In-Depth Look at Event Mechanics and Rewards

Earning Event Currency and Milestones

During the event, participants will undertake special quests to collect “Little Golden Carps.” These carps contribute to various progression tiers, unlocking a series of rewards:

Convert accumulated “Little Golden Carps” into Polychrome, the game’s premium gacha currency.
Achieve specific milestones to unlock the “Weaver’s Gilded Gift.”
Once Version 2.6 is fully rolled out, the “Weaver’s Gilded Gift” activates, instantly granting 300 Polychrome and initiating a 30-day “Inter-Knot Membership: Festival Edition.”

Daily Engagement for Maximum Polychrome

The “Festival Edition” membership provides a daily bonus of 90 Polychrome, but this benefit is strictly contingent on logging in each day. Missed logins result in forfeited rewards with no possibility of recovery. This system encourages consistent daily play, similar to “Welkin Moon” in Genshin Impact or monthly passes in Arknights, while gently penalizing inactivity.
Reward Reset: Daily rewards refresh at 04:00 server time. It’s important to note that the “Festival Edition” membership operates on its own timer, distinct from regular Inter-Knot Memberships, allowing for concurrent benefits if applicable.

The event’s core offerings include an initial 300 Polychrome, followed by 90 Polychrome daily for 30 days (totaling 2700 daily Polychrome if all days are claimed). The “Little Golden Carps” currency is earned through mission completion. The special 30-day Festival Edition membership does not stack with standard memberships. Crucially, any Polychrome or Gilded Gifts not claimed by the event’s conclusion will be permanently inaccessible.

Essential Preparations for Proxies

Consistent Logins: To secure the full Polychrome potential, make a habit of logging in every day for the entire 30-day duration. Setting daily reminders is highly recommended to prevent missing any valuable rewards.
Strategic Mission Approach: Examine the event mission board early on. Some objectives might necessitate advancing through the main storyline, engaging in specific combat challenges, or completing side quests.
Resource Accumulation: Even though no concurrent banners have been announced, it’s wise to begin gathering materials for characters or W-Engines you anticipate. Historically, overlaps with expected reruns or new character debuts later in the 2.6 update cycle are common.

Optimizing Your Rewards: A Strategic Overview

Overall Polychrome Gain: Should a player diligently claim every daily bonus, the event provides an impressive total of 300 (initial) + 2,700 (daily) = 3,000 Polychrome. This amount is nearly equivalent to two 10-pulls in the gacha system.
Membership Timing: Activating the “Festival Edition” is key; note that its duration runs independently and does not extend existing standard Inter-Knot Memberships. Current subscribers should consider timing their activations to avoid any overlap.
Advice for Free-to-Play & Budget Players: Since Zenless Zone Zero’s release, this event stands out as one of the most substantial opportunities for acquiring premium currency. It’s crucial to complete all available missions and consistently claim daily rewards. This windfall could be strategically used for upcoming limited banners or saved for highly anticipated reruns in future game versions.

Community Insights: Player Feedback and Future Outlook

The Zenless Zone Zero community, across prominent social media and theorycrafting platforms, is actively discussing the exceptional value this event offers. Its framework bears resemblance to Genshin Impact’s “Welkin Moon,” though with added pressure due to the unforgiving daily login requirement. Dedicated free-to-play advocates commend the low entry barrier (Inter-Knot Level 5) but caution new players about the importance of clearing story prerequisites promptly. A broader conversation is unfolding regarding whether this festival membership signals a potential increase in similar generous events as Zenless Zone Zero progresses into its second year, echoing patterns observed in established titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact as their player bases matured.

Subtle Clues: Event Aesthetics and Narrative Hints

The visual design for this event, featuring elegantly styled golden koi, draws a clear parallel to recurring themes found in previous HoYoverse creations, notably the “fortune koi” motifs prominent in Genshin Impact’s Lantern Rite festivals. Such artistic choices have historically suggested either the introduction of new luck-based gameplay elements or significant expansions to thematic content. Lore aficionados are actively speculating if the “Weaver’s Gilded Gift” could foreshadow upcoming adjustments to in-game shops or the integration of novel systems beyond mere cosmetic additions – though these remain unconfirmed and subject to developer changes.

A useful companion visual would be a clear calendar infographic illustrating the event’s start and end dates, the daily windows for claiming rewards, and precise rules for collection.

Final Thoughts: Seize This Polychrome Opportunity

The “Little Golden Carps” event in Zenless Zone Zero transcends the typical login bonus, representing a notable evolution in the game’s approach to daily player engagement and reward distribution. Every Proxy should view this as an essential opportunity to accumulate a substantial amount of Polychrome in anticipation of upcoming banners. However, due to stringent daily claiming policies, consistent login discipline is paramount. Keep an eye out for potential mid-patch announcements or rerun banners that might synergize perfectly with this valuable influx of currency.

For comprehensive insights as Version 2.6 unfolds, including expert team compositions and updated tier lists, be sure to explore our specialized Zenless Zone Zero guides on GenshinBuilds.