Patch 1.4 Updates: New Banners, Game Modes, and Free Rewards
The Arrival of Patch 1.4
The highly anticipated Patch 1.4 for Zenless Zone Zero is finally upon us, bringing with it a wealth of new content that promises to reinvigorate the gaming experience. As the promotional trailers have already demonstrated, this update is packed with exciting additions that will keep players engaged for the full six-week patch cycle.
Dual Banner System
One of the most significant aspects of this update is the simultaneous release of two character banners. Both Harumasa and Miyabi will be available throughout the entire duration of Patch 1.4, giving players ample opportunity to gather Polycrims for their desired pulls. For those planning their banner strategies, it’s worth noting that Miyabi’s banner will feature the A-rank agents Sokaku and Piper, while Harumasa’s banner will include Lucy and Seth as the featured A-ranks.
In this article, we have previously covered detailed analyses of both Harumasa and Miyabi’s kits, along with recommended team compositions and optimal builds. These resources can serve as valuable references while waiting for the banners to go live.
New Game Modes
Patch 1.4 introduces two exciting new game modes that will significantly expand the gameplay options available to players.
The first is Deadly Assault, scheduled to launch on the 20th. This challenging mode features three boss encounters with a unique restriction: players cannot use the same character multiple times throughout the battles. Structurally, Deadly Assault will function similarly to Shiyu Defense, with resets occurring on alternating weeks to ensure there’s always fresh content available. For its inaugural season, Deadly Assault will run for three weeks instead of the standard two-week cycle that will be implemented in future iterations.
The second new addition is Lost Void, which draws inspiration from Star Rail’s Simulator Universe. This meta-gaming experience allows players to enjoy a game within the game, adding a layer of recursive entertainment to the Zenless Zone Zero experience. The Lost Void mode offers valuable rewards including Rezonia and special gear that can modify the skills of specific agents: Miyabi, Yanagi, Ellen, and Billy.
To ensure accessibility for all players, the developers have thoughtfully included a feature that temporarily boosts the stats of any agent to match the stage’s difficulty level. This means that even if players haven’t invested resources into building these characters, they can still participate in and enjoy the new content.
Generous Rewards
In celebration of Zenless Zone Zero’s nomination at the Game Awards, the developers are expressing their gratitude to the player community with a generous gift of 800 Polycromes. These will be distributed directly to players’ mailboxes on the 18th, providing an additional five pulls that could potentially help secure one of the new banner characters.
This reward comes at an opportune time, coinciding perfectly with the launch of the new banners and giving players a head start on their pulling strategies for Harumasa and Miyabi.
Story Expansion
Beyond the new characters and game modes, Patch 1.4 will also advance the narrative with new story content. While details remain somewhat limited, we can anticipate that this story expansion will further develop the rich lore of the Zenless Zone Zero universe and provide context for the introduction of the new characters.
The combination of gameplay innovations, character additions, and narrative progression makes Patch 1.4 one of the most substantial updates to Zenless Zone Zero since its launch, setting the stage for the future developments that will be explored in the upcoming Patch 1.5.
Upcoming Patch 1.5 Agents: Astra Yao and Evelyn Chavalier Revealed
The Next Generation of New Hollow Agents
Following the substantial content additions in Patch 1.4, we are already receiving exciting glimpses into what Patch 1.5 will bring to Zenless Zone Zero. The recent Game Awards trailer has officially unveiled two new characters who will soon join the roster of playable agents: Astra Yao and Evelyn Chavalier. This chapter will explore everything we currently know about these upcoming additions and their potential impact on the game’s meta.
Astra Yao: The First S-Rank Support
Astra Yao represents a significant milestone for Zenless Zone Zero as the game’s first S-rank support agent. Previously referenced in various lore snippets throughout the game, Astra has now been officially revealed as a member of the Stars of Lyra—the official name for what the community has been referring to as the Idol Group.
Her element has been confirmed as Aether, which opens up interesting team composition possibilities, particularly for players looking to diversify their elemental coverage. What makes Astra particularly intriguing is her dedicated social media presence—the character has her own official Twitter account that provides additional lore and personality insights. According to her bio, she is currently preparing for a concert scheduled for January 22nd, which suggests we might see an in-game event similar to live concerts implemented in other games.
The drip marketing materials for Astra include quotes from other characters discussing her, providing further context for her role in the narrative. Based on preliminary analysis, her kit appears to revolve around quick assists, potentially synergizing with the new disc set introduced in Patch 1.4 that focuses on this mechanic. While Nicole currently serves as a strong support option for teams like Shuyuan’s, Astra may offer universal support capabilities that make her viable across numerous team compositions—similar to how Caesar functions as a broadly applicable damage dealer.
Evelyn Chavalier: The Mysterious Bodyguard
The second character revealed in the Game Awards trailer is now confirmed to be Evelyn Chavalier. Based on the drip marketing materials, Evelyn serves as Astra’s bodyguard, explaining her professional attire and protective demeanor seen in the trailer footage. Her combat style appears to involve whips or ropes, creating a unique visual aesthetic that distinguishes her from the existing roster of agents.
While less information is currently available about Evelyn compared to Astra, the brief combat footage shown in the trailer suggests a dynamic and fluid fighting style. The synergy between Astra and Evelyn is likely to be significant, potentially offering players powerful team composition options when used together. As with all new S-rank agents, we anticipate that Evelyn will bring innovative mechanics that expand the tactical possibilities available to players.
Potential Impact on the Meta
The introduction of Zenless Zone Zero’s first S-rank support agent represents a potential shift in the game’s meta. Currently, support roles are filled by A-rank characters like Nicole, whose utility is primarily defined by defensive capabilities, resistance shred, and critical rate buffs. Astra’s arrival may establish a new standard for support functionality, particularly if she offers unique assist mechanics that cannot be replicated by existing characters.
What makes these upcoming agents particularly interesting is their unconventional combat styles. Unlike traditional weapon users, both Astra and Evelyn appear to utilize unique attack methods—Astra potentially harnessing sound waves or musical elements as offensive tools, while Evelyn employs whips or ropes with a fighting style reminiscent of Honkai: Star Rail’s Kafka. These distinctive combat animations will likely add fresh visual flair to the game’s already impressive battle system.
Narrative Implications
Beyond gameplay considerations, the introduction of Astra and Evelyn expands the narrative universe of Zenless Zone Zero. The Stars of Lyra idol group has been referenced throughout the game’s existing content, but Patch 1.5 will mark their first direct involvement in the main storyline. This development suggests that the straightforward narrative approach that has characterized Zenless Zone Zero thus far will continue to expand in meaningful ways without becoming unnecessarily convoluted.
The connection between Astra and an “intelligent robot” mentioned in the marketing materials also hints at potential ties to the virtual world event from previous content, creating narrative threads that connect different aspects of the game’s world. This attention to narrative cohesion has been one of Zenless Zone Zero’s strengths compared to other games in the genre, and we anticipate that Patch 1.5 will continue this tradition of accessible yet engaging storytelling.
Preparation Strategy
With Patch 1.5 on the horizon, players would be wise to begin saving Polycrimes after completing their Patch 1.4 pulls. The introduction of two new S-rank characters in close succession presents a resource management challenge, particularly for free-to-play and low-spending players. Considering Astra’s potential as a universally applicable support character, she may prove to be a valuable addition to many players’ rosters, regardless of their existing team compositions.
In the meantime, participating in the current events and maximizing Polycrime acquisition from Patch 1.4 content will be crucial for those planning to pull for either Astra or Evelyn. The upcoming weeks will undoubtedly bring more detailed information about both characters’ kits, allowing players to make informed decisions about their pulling strategies.
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