Zenless Zone Zero 2.5: Deep Dive into Limited Banners, Elite Agents & W-Engines

Zenless Zone Zero 2.5 Limited Banners & Events: Expert Analysis

By GenshinBuilds Editorial Staff

The highly anticipated Version 2.5 update for Zenless Zone Zero is now live, introducing a quartet of time-limited Signal Search events. These banners showcase powerful S-Rank Agents and specialized W-Engines. For players aiming to optimize their pulls or acquire game-changing units, a comprehensive understanding of this banner cycle is paramount. This is especially true given the unique cumulative pity systems operating within specific event channels. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, here’s an in-depth look at every gacha and accompanying event in ZZZ 2.5, complete with advanced tactics for maximizing your account’s potential.

Version 2.5: Key Highlights

Patch Period: Version 2.5, active from its release until February 5, 2026, at 14:59 server time.
Summon Events: Four concurrent limited Signal Search banners are available, complemented by trial stages for the featured agents and W-Engines.
Featured Elite Units:
- Ye Shunguang (S-Rank, Offense) & her associated banner “Light Upon Fingertips”
- Zhao (S-Rank, Defense/Cryo) & her associated banner “Priceless Heart”
- Cloudcleave Radiance (S-Rank, Offensive W-Engine) – Banner: Dissonant Sonata
- Half-Sugar Bunny (S-Rank, Defensive W-Engine) – Banner: Vibrant Resonance
Key Rewards: Substantial rewards are obtainable from trial stages, including the benefit of re-clearing for additional value.
Free-to-Play Considerations: A crucial aspect for budgeting players is the cumulative pity within specific channel types, and the fact that these S-rank units are exclusive to these event banners.

Full Banner Details & Probability Overview

Below is a concise overview of each banner, its duration, and the units it features. It’s vital to note a key mechanical detail: S-Rank Agents and W-Engines highlighted in these events are not slated to be added to the permanent Star-Studded Cast pool, remaining exclusive to these limited-time opportunities.

Banner	Type	Start	End	Featured S	Featured A
Light Upon Fingertips	Exclusive Agent	Post-v2.5 update	2026-02-05 14:59	Ye Shunguang	Nicole (Ether), Lucy (Fire)
Priceless Heart	Exclusive Agent	Post-v2.5 update	2026-02-05 14:59	Zhao	Anby (Electric/Stun), Ben (Fire/Defense)
Dissonant Sonata	W-Engine	Post-v2.5 update	2026-02-05 14:59	Cloudcleave Radiance	The Vault (Support), Kaboom the Cannon (Support)
Vibrant Resonance	W-Engine	Post-v2.5 update	2026-02-05 14:59	Half-Sugar Bunny	Demara Battery Mark II (Stun), Big Cylinder (Defense)

Source: Information derived directly from the official ZZZ v2.5 announcement.

Pity System Explained:

Agent-Specific Channels (such as Light Upon Fingertips & Priceless Heart): The guaranteed S-Rank count progresses cumulatively across all Exclusive Agent banners, but this counter does not carry over to W-Engine or standard summon channels.
W-Engine-Specific Channels (like Dissonant Sonata & Vibrant Resonance): The guaranteed S-Rank count is cumulatively solely among W-Engine event banners.
Availability: These S-rank exclusive event units are explicitly stated not to join the permanent character roster in the future.
Further Information: For more precise rules, always consult the official in-game “Details” section.

Strategic Insights for Veterans: Why These Banners Matter

Every significant update in Zenless Zone Zero has the potential to shift the meta, and Version 2.5’s introduction of an exclusive duo of agents and W-Engines is particularly noteworthy due to their strong synergies and capacity to enhance roster versatility. Building upon recent power creep and the increasing viability of mono-element team compositions, these banners emphasize both supportive capabilities and diverse damage options, fostering new team constructions while delivering irreplaceable utility. Both collectors and meta enthusiasts must weigh the implications of foregoing these units, as they are genuinely limited, against the proven worth of these foundational, meta-defining assets.

Should You Engage in Pulls? A Value Breakdown

For Free-to-Play & Budget-Conscious Players

Strategic Pity Planning: Given that the guaranteed S-rank count is tracked within either the Exclusive Agent or W-Engine channels, allocate your pulls judiciously based on your most pressing roster needs.
Featured Unit Spotlights:
- Ye Shunguang offers substantial multi-target damage and strong synergy with sword-focused teams. Prioritize her if your current roster lacks a premier offensive unit.
- Zhao provides rare defensive mechanics and valuable freeze utility, which can be critical for challenging content or high-difficulty stages.
W-Engine Considerations: Unlike weapon banners in certain other gacha titles, Cloudcleave Radiance and Half-Sugar Bunny are uniquely designed to complement their respective S-Agents. Unless your goal is to unlock their full potential or build very specific niche teams, generally prioritize acquiring agents for a broader roster foundation.
Alternative Strategy: You might opt to conserve your resources for future global reruns, as official declarations confirm these units will not be integrated into the standard pool—suggesting a potentially long wait or a permanent missed opportunity if skipped.

For Account Maximizers

Pity Optimization: The cumulative pity mechanism allows for efficient pursuit of two S-rank agents, provided both fall under the Exclusive Channel category, preventing wasted pulls.
Pre-Farming: Gather necessary ascension materials in advance to enable immediate unit leveling. While not explicitly mentioned in official communications, past ZZZ events typically required stamina-equivalent resources to fully enhance S-rank units.

Meta Interactions, Team Concepts, and Initial Theorycrafting

Based on community insights leading up to Version 2.5:

Ye Shunguang: Excels when paired with Ether/Fire supports such as Nicole and Lucy, significantly boosting her area-of-effect presence. Her abilities (not fully detailed officially) are rumored to include snapshotting mechanics, which would differentiate her from previous sword DPS characters and reward precise buff timing.
Zhao: Shows considerable promise in defense-oriented and Freeze/Control-focused teams. Historically, characters capable of on-demand crowd control (e.g., Genshin Impact’s Ganyu, Honkai: Star Rail’s Gepard) often dominate difficult Abyss or roguelike content.
Notable A-Ranks: Nicole’s Ether support and Lucy’s Fire utility vastly enhance team adaptability; for players without strong S-rank alternatives, either is a foundational choice.
W-Engine Impact: While summoning on weapon banners always carries inherent risk, Cloudcleave Radiance and Half-Sugar Bunny have demonstrated in early simulations their capability for role compression, combining damage and utility effectively.

For advanced players: Exercise caution regarding excessive investment in W-Engines until your primary S-rank units are secured. Also, meticulously review your current material reserves and potential synergy options—new banners frequently signal shifts in meta priorities (refer to GenshinBuilds’ ZZZ Tier List).

Events & Trial Stages: Access, Rewards, & Effective Engagement

“The Final Callback – New Movie Appreciator”

Access Requirements: Inter-Knot Level 8 and the event feature must be unlocked within the Main Story Prologue – Intermission.
Incentives: Completing trial stages yields immediate bonus resources. Even if previous Cooperation Exercises have been finished, rewards are directly claimable via the event interface.
Trial Units: Ye Shunguang, Zhao, Nicole, Lucy, Anby, Ben are available for testing—providing invaluable firsthand experience to assess their fit within your team compositions.
Maximizing Value: Prioritize testing unfamiliar units to refine your pull decisions; repeated clears offer additional benefits.

Pre-Pulling Preparation Checklist

Gather agent ascension and skill upgrade materials, with a particular focus on the elemental paths corresponding to the featured S-Agents.
Accumulate event-specific currency; evaluate any concurrent resource events (details not present in current official text).
Assemble teams for the in-game trials to preview potential synergies before committing your sigils.
Diligently monitor your pity progress within the Exclusive Agent and W-Engine channel categories.

Obscure Details & Veteran Observations

Visual Cues: Artwork accompanying the official event visuals often depicts agent interactions that may allude to narrative connections—Ye’s stance, for example, echoes established Honed Edge lore.
No Conflicting Reruns: The confirmed exclusivity of agents and W-Engines means each pull carries greater weight; future reruns or permanent additions are not guaranteed—players prone to “fear of missing out” should plan accordingly.
Event Reward System: A streamlined direct claim process for rewards, even for repeat clearances (a welcome quality-of-life improvement compared to earlier ZZZ event iterations).

For comprehensive mechanical explanations and community discussions, consult the in-game Details section or visit GenshinBuilds’ Zenless Zone Zero resource page.

Conclusion: GenshinBuilds’ Pull Strategy & Outlook

Version 2.5 represents a significant evolution in Zenless Zone Zero’s limited gacha philosophy, elevating the stakes for both casual and competitive players. With S-rank agents and W-Engines strictly remaining event-exclusive, there is minimal margin for those who delay. If your sigil count is low or you are still developing your primary teams, concentrate on the Featured Agents first, ensuring every pull contributes towards a shared, cumulative pity. For those tracking the meta: remain vigilant for balance adjustments and upcoming rerun patterns in subsequent patches like 2.6+.

Immediate Actions:

Thoroughly evaluate all available team combinations in the trial events before making any pull commitments.
Stay informed by regularly checking official patch notes for any corrections or clarifications regarding rates.
Monitor GenshinBuilds for updates on tier list shifts and event optimization guides as new player data becomes available.