Zenless Zone Zero’s second season finally gives the game its “big world” energy. Version 2.0 doesn’t just add a new chapter, it changes how you move, explore, and plan your days, then 2.1 and 2.2 keep the momentum with new agents, areas, and events. If you’ve been waiting for a good re-entry point, this is it.
2.0, The Waifei Peninsula reset
Season 2 starts in Waifei Peninsula with a story arc that pairs you with Yixuan and folds in generous anniversary rewards, including a free pick of an S-Rank W-Engine and 1,600 Polychromes for returning players. The framing is simple: new zone, new faction ties, new loot, but the intent is clear: bring lapsed Proxies back with an easy on-ramp and meaningful freebies.
The peninsula’s hub, Failume Heights, turns day-to-day play into a proper loop: larger explorable spaces, more natural traversal, and activity chains that feel like you’re living in the city rather than just queueing into “TV mode.” It’s a tonal pivot that makes wandering fun again and, crucially, makes builds matter outside of boss arenas.
Mechanically, Waifei introduces events and errands threaded through its districts, including exploration checklists in and around Failume Heights and its sightseeing objectives. Treat them as early-season resin sinks: fast rewards, lightweight combat, and tidy map completion.
If you only have an hour: clear the Waifei story beats, claim the anniversary W-Engine, and unlock the local errands in Failume Heights for steady currency and mats. That single session sets up your roster for everything that follows.
2.1, The summer sprint
Version 2.1 “The Impending Crash of Waves” landed July 16, 2025 and dials up the vacation vibe with Sailume Bay and Fantasy Resort, a set of limited activities, and a fresh banner cycle. The meta headlines are two S-Rank agents: Ukinami Yuzuha (physical support/anomaly hybrid) and Alice Thymefield (physical anomaly DPS). Add a new Bangboo, summer outfits, and log-in rewards, and you’ve got a patch that doubles as a catch-up event for anyone still gearing their Season 2 core.
Practical angle: the 2.1 events mix light minigames with currency payouts. Do the quick dailies first (log-ins, short tasks), then pick one deeper activity to grind while resin/tickets refresh. That rhythm keeps you funded without burning out on any single mode.
2.2, Obol Squad takes the wheel
Version 2.2 “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” launched September 4, 2025, fronted by Obol Squad headliners: Seed (Electric Attack) and the dual unit Orphie & Magus (Fire Attack). Expect a story pivot focused on the squad, new gear paths, and events tuned to stress-test the newcomers’ kits. If you’re chasing banner value, both units are safe bets for broad content, Seed for electrified team cores, Orphie & Magus for straightforward Fire DPS lines.
Need a fast plan for day one? Pre-farm generic Attack/Fire/Electric lines and hold rank-up mats until you lock a copy. If you’re targeting Orphie & Magus, note that their materials and W-Engine recommendations hit guides promptly after patch drop, check those before dumping resin.
What this season actually fixes
The biggest quiet win is flow. RPGSite’s hands-on sums it up: 2.0’s world changes make ZZZ feel fresh for lapsed players by swapping sterile menus for a lived-in space with real movement, then 2.1–2.2 simply keep feeding that loop with destinations, events, and agents. The game stops asking you to “queue content” and starts letting you plan a day. It’s a subtle shift, and it works.
Quick builds and pulls strategy
- Anchor your core around Season 2 staples. If you grabbed the free S-Rank W-Engine from 2.0’s anniversary, build a team that actually leverages it, don’t hoard it while chasing shiny banners.
- Pull with a purpose in 2.2. Seed plus Orphie & Magus cover two damage spectra cleanly (Electric and Fire). If your account lacks either element’s top-end DPS, prioritise that banner.
- Farm while you explore. Use Failume Heights tasks and sightseeing routes as your daily warm-up, you’ll bank currency and upgrade mats without the mental tax of repeat arenas.
Efficient weekly loop (sample)
- Story/Exploration block (Waifei/Failume Heights) until your next stamina window.
- Targeted mats for your chosen 2.2 unit (stop once soft-capped; don’t starve yourself before banner luck hits).
- Event rotation (2.1/2.2 time-limited activities) for currency and cosmetics.
- Boss or challenge runs only after the first three are done, they’re resin-dense but least forgiving if under-built.
Should you return now?
If you bounced off launch, Season 2 is the first stretch that feels like a modern HoYoverse live world: tangible exploration, better daily structure, and a banner cadence that makes roster holes easy to fill. With 2.2 cementing Obol Squad as marquee pulls and global rollout dates aligned, it’s a good time to rebuild your account and settle into a lighter, steadier loop.
Start in Waifei, grab the 2.0 anniversary rewards, use 2.1’s summer content to gear up, and decide between Seed or Orphie & Magus in 2.2 based on your element gaps. Keep dailies simple, farm during exploration, and let the new world do the heavy lifting.