Unpacking Zenless Zone Zero’s New Eridu City Fund: Is the Premium Path Worthwhile?

Zenless Zone Zero’s Eridu City Fund: Is the Investment in Premium Tiers Justified?

The recently launched Version 2.6 update for Zenless Zone Zero introduces the New Eridu City Fund, an updated iteration of the game’s familiar battle pass system. This seasonal offering prompts crucial inquiries for all players, from those who spend nothing to heavy investors: What is the optimal value proposition of the Growth and Premium Plans? Will progressing through these tiers impact your decisions regarding character pulls or resource allocation later in the season? This guide outlines essential details, recommended pursuits, and elements to overlook during this City Fund period.

Event Overview: Essential Details & Timings

Active Period: Commences with the Version 2.6 release and concludes on March 23, 2026, at 03:59 (server time).
Final Purchase Window: All purchases must be completed by March 23, 2026, at 02:59 (server time).
Participation Prerequisite: Players must have unlocked the Combat Simulation feature within Chapter 1 of the main story, “Cat’s Lost & Found.”
Available Tracks: The Fund offers a Basic tier, a Growth tier, and a Premium tier, with options for upgrading between them.
Immediate Benefits: Participants can acquire as much as 888 Polychrome, a unique “All Magic Is a Miracle” avatar, specialized menu adornments, a W-Engine Microcontroller Unit, a Resonating Core, and Ether Batteries upon unlocking certain tiers.
Max Level Bonus (Level 30): Achieving level 30 grants the Great Builder’s Certificate, a seasonal item that expires when the event ends.

Deconstructing the City Fund Tiers and Their Worth

The New Eridu City Fund is structured into three distinct progression paths:

Basic Path: Available to all players without cost. This tier consistently awards fundamental progression items, such as credits and crafting components, as experience is gained through Expansion Tasks.
Growth Path: Requires an upfront payment in premium currency. This option immediately delivers 680 Polychrome and an exclusive seasonal avatar. Subsequent progression through this path also yields additional enhancement materials, allowing players to select types beneficial for their preferred characters.
Premium Path: Represents an enhanced tier, accessible only after the Growth Path has been acquired (or via a direct upgrade). It grants an instant bonus of 208 Polychrome, along with unique menu embellishments, an additional W-Engine Microcontroller Unit, an extra Resonating Core, and Ether Batteries.

Comparative Overview of Fund Tiers

Feature	Free Track	Growth Tier	Elite Tier
Activation Fee	None	Monetized (specific price undisclosed in official communications)	Advancement from Growth Tier (price not specified)
Instant Payouts	—	680 Polychrome, Unique Avatar	Additional 208 Polychrome, cosmetic menu items, bonus upgrade resources
Level 30 Milestone	—	Great Builder’s Certificate	Great Builder’s Certificate
Resource Selection	Standardized	Player-selected types	Player-selected types

Distinctive Aspects of the Fund

Great Builder’s Certificate: This special reward is tied to the current season and requires players to achieve City Fund Level 30. It is crucial to claim and utilize this certificate before the season concludes, as it will become invalid afterward and cannot be transferred to future events.
Exclusive Customizations: The unique avatars and decorative elements cater primarily to players focused on collecting in-game aesthetics.

Influence on Your Weekly Engagement

For the majority of participants, particularly those prioritizing Polychrome—Zenless Zone Zero’s key summoning resource—the Growth Plan offers the most significant immediate value. The Premium Plan primarily supplements this with exclusive event cosmetics and specialized materials, appealing mainly to veteran players or those striving for peak account optimization.

Maximizing Expansion Task Completion

Activities: Regular daily and weekly Expansion Tasks reset consistently; their completion loop mirrors that of comparable gacha game battle passes. Fulfilling these tasks grants Fund experience points.
Free-to-Play/Budget-Conscious: Individuals can fully complete the Basic Plan through consistent daily and weekly gameplay. While Growth Plan benefits are behind a paywall, they present a viable alternative rather than an essential upgrade if acquiring Polychrome isn’t an immediate priority.

Strategic Approaches for Different Player Archetypes

Free-to-Play / Economical Players:

Refrain from purchasing any paid plans unless there is an urgent need for Polychrome for an imminent banner release (consult the section below for advised spending timelines). Even without paid tiers, you will still gain valuable Basic Plan resources for account advancement.
Cosmetic items such as avatars, menu decorations, and namecards are purely visual and should only be pursued if personalizing your profile is a primary interest.

Moderate Spenders / Value Seekers:

The Growth Plan delivers the most favorable Polychrome-to-investment ratio, particularly when acquired early in the event cycle to maximize the collection of tiered rewards.
The Premium Plan is primarily for players seeking full collections or access to every available upgrade material; the additional Polychrome provided is a relatively minor incentive.

High Spenders:

The Premium Plan offers the ultimate package for completion and ease, including various exclusive items each season.

Strategic Polychrome Acquisition: Is It Worthwhile for Future Banners?

Many players are carefully considering the current Fund period in anticipation of upcoming, highly sought-after rate-up banners. Below is an estimated timeline derived from official statements, with allowances for regional server time differences:

Update Segment	Expected Banner Start	Key Characters (Tentative—subject to change)
Version 2.6 Commencement	Patch release	[Refer to GenshinBuilds’s banner tracking for current details]
Mid-Event Phase	2–3 weeks following launch	[Upcoming Limited Roster; consult GenshinBuilds]
City Fund Conclusion	Approximately March 20, 2026	[Potential Anniversary/Anticipated Character; further details below]

Pity Mechanics: As is standard, any Polychrome earned from the City Fund is most effectively reserved for highly desired characters. If you are close to reaching your pity threshold (within 10-20 pulls) for a favored unit, the immediate Polychrome bonus from the Growth Plan could be a significant draw.
Optimal Approach: View the event as a supplementary source of currency, rather than a primary one. Monitor your regular daily and weekly Polychrome gains, and only invest further if your desired banner is scheduled to appear within the current cycle.

Understanding the Great Builder’s Certificate

The Great Builder’s Certificate is a unique, seasonal reward specifically granted upon reaching Level 30 of the City Fund. Official communications confirm that this certificate must be redeemed and utilized before the event concludes, as it is not transferable to subsequent seasons. While it can be exchanged for valuable high-tier materials, the complete array of options is exclusively viewable within the game. Players aiming to optimize their meta teams or acquire top-tier equipment should ensure they complete the Fund objectives prior to March 23, 2026, at 03:59 (server time).

Consider featuring a screenshot of the in-game City Fund progress interface, highlighting the various plan levels, available rewards, and avatar visuals. [Alt text: A visual representation of Zenless Zone Zero’s City Fund interface, displaying different plan tiers, associated rewards, and character avatar icons for improved accessibility.]

Essential Checklist: Before and After the Update

Prior to the Patch:

Ensure Combat Simulation from Main Story Chapter 1 has been unlocked, as this is a prerequisite for accessing the Fund.
Accumulate daily and weekly Expansion Tasks; monitor additional energy consumption to optimize Fund XP gains.

On Day One of the Patch:

Decide on your preferred plan tier and make an early purchase if committing to maximize reward collection.
Determine which primary agent or weapon upgrades you will pursue if utilizing materials from the Fund, and select the appropriate types carefully.
Establish reminders for reaching City Fund Level 30 to prevent the Great Builder’s Certificate from expiring.

Provisional Information — Potentially Subject to Revision

Complete details regarding banner schedules and new W-Engine releases for the full season are yet to be revealed. GenshinBuilds will provide timely updates as new banners and characters are introduced.
Current rumors concerning re-run events or additional premium tracks within the City Fund have not received official confirmation.

Verdict & Looking Ahead

Zenless Zone Zero’s Version 2.6 New Eridu City Fund aligns with typical gacha game battle pass models—presenting a compelling option for collectors and players seeking a moderate increase in Polychrome for upcoming significant banners. Free-to-play and budget-conscious participants should prioritize completing their tasks and consider paid passes as optional opportunities rather than essential purchases. Exclusive cosmetic rewards continue to be the primary appeal for high-spending players and completionists.

GenshinBuilds will continue to report on any modifications to banner timelines, adjustments to the City Fund, or balance updates as official announcements are made. For real-time updates on banners, refer to GenshinBuilds’s specialized Zenless Zone Zero banner hub. For comprehensive analyses of agent synergies and optimal material usage, explore our meta team analysis section.