Your polychrome budget needs a plan: ZZZ 3.3 brings two new agents

If you’ve been spending polychromes freely on recent Zenless Zone Zero banners, version 3.3 might force a reckoning. Two new characters — Phoenix and Severian — are lined up for the next update, according to information shared on the LDShop blog. With no official kit reveals or livestream date in sight, players who want both will need to start budgeting now.

This news arrives while much of the player base is still working through version 2.3, which introduced Lucia, Yidhari, and the Timesworn Hills storyline. The jump to 3.3 suggests HoYoverse is pushing characters out faster than some expected. Anyone who skipped recent reruns hoping for a second chance may find themselves squeezed between wanting the new faces and catching old ones.

How the banner cycle works

HoYoverse has not published a full schedule for 3.3, but the standard two-phase structure is almost certain to hold. Each phase runs three weeks. The first starts on patch day, and the second begins three weeks later. Based on the LDShop post, Phoenix is expected in phase 1 and Severian in phase 2, though the order has not been officially confirmed.

The rates have not changed since launch. S-Rank agents have a 0.6% base pull rate. Hard pity kicks in at 90 pulls, and the first S-Rank you hit carries a 50/50 chance of being the featured character. Lose that coin flip, and your next S-Rank is guaranteed to be the banner agent. That system applies to both Phoenix and Severian’s banners.

What to do with your polychromes right now

No gameplay footage or detailed ability descriptions exist for either character yet. Any pull recommendation before the 3.3 livestream is guesswork. That said, your current roster and spending habits can guide a rough plan.

• Free-to-play players who are close to pity on a current banner should think twice before pulling. Spending now could leave you short when 3.3 arrives. Wait for the livestream to see kit previews and team synergies before committing.
• Low-spend players with the Inter-Knot Membership and Battle Pass have a steady polychrome drip. If you can clear the current endgame content without trouble, saving for 3.3 carries little risk.
• Players with deep rosters can afford to pull for collection value or future-proofing, but only after confirming that Phoenix or Severian fills a role you actually lack.

What we know about Phoenix and Severian

Official details on elements, combat roles, and rarity are still missing. The names offer the only clues right now, and those are thin.

Phoenix points toward a fire or rebirth theme. That could mean a Fire or Ether attribute agent, possibly built as an Attack or Anomaly specialist. Severian sounds like an authoritative or stern figure, which might translate to a Defense or Stun unit with Ice or Physical attributes. Neither guess is backed by anything solid — HoYoverse has a habit of subverting name-based speculation.

Events and livestream timing

Event details for 3.3 have not been announced. Past patches typically include a main story chapter, at least one flagship combat event, and several smaller login or resource events. Those usually hand out polychromes, Dennies, and upgrade materials.

No livestream date has been set. When it does arrive, expect it roughly one week before patch launch. The stream will include redeemable codes that expire within 24 hours. No codes are active yet.

For ongoing coverage of every ZZZ update, check the Zenless Zone Zero section on GenshinBuilds.