Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) thrives on stylish, high-paced combat where your success depends heavily on the strength of your Agents. But unlike some action RPGs where brute leveling is enough, ZZZ requires careful, efficient upgrading across multiple systems: leveling, ascensions, skills, W-Engines, drives, and more. For new and even mid-game players, resources are scarce, so wasting them can set you back days or weeks. That’s why knowing how to upgrade your Agents efficiently is one of the most important skills a Proxy can master.
This guide walks you through every aspect of upgrading Agents—what to prioritize, what to skip, and how to plan for long-term growth. From your first free characters to late-game elite squads, we’ll break down all systems step by step.
Understanding the Basics of Agent Growth
Before upgrading, you must understand how Agents grow. ZZZ splits upgrades into different categories, each requiring unique resources.
Main Systems of Growth
- Leveling – Increases basic stats like HP, ATK, DEF.
- Ascension – Breaks the level cap, unlocking higher growth potential.
- Skill Upgrades – Enhance combat performance, raising damage multipliers or utility effects.
- W-Engines – Weapons that massively affect your DPS or utility role.
- Drive Discs – Gear-like items that provide stat bonuses and set effects.
Why Efficiency Matters
Resources like credits, ascension materials, and skill books are limited. Without prioritization, you’ll spread upgrades too thin across Agents, leaving no one powerful enough to carry you through difficult Hollows or boss fights.
How to Level Up Agents Efficiently
Leveling is your foundation. But in ZZZ, it’s easy to waste experience items or push the wrong Agent too far too soon.
Focus on Your Core Team
At the start, pick one main DPS and support Agents. Level these first instead of evenly distributing XP across your entire roster. This ensures you always have a reliable unit for tougher battles.
Smart Use of EXP Materials
EXP items like “Basic Strengthening Chips” should be saved for higher rarity Agents once you confirm they fit your team long-term. Don’t overinvest in a character you’ll later replace.
How to Ascend Agents Without Wasting Resources
Level caps hit fast, and Ascension is the only way to unlock higher growth. But it requires farming Hollow materials.
Ascension Materials Strategy
- Farm efficiently: Check which Hollow expeditions drop the materials you need before spending energy.
- Plan ahead: Ascension needs specific items for each Agent. Gather extras if you know which Agents you’ll main.
Early Game Advice
Don’t rush to ascend every Agent. Prioritize your strongest DPS first, then your supports. Ascending utility characters too early spreads resources thin.
Prioritizing Skills: Which to Upgrade First
Skill upgrades often provide the biggest leap in combat performance, but they also demand rare books.
Identifying Core Skills
Each Agent has four abilities: Basic Attack, Special Attack, Dodge, and Ultimate. Typically, DPS Agents benefit most from leveling Basic + Special Attacks, while Supports need upgrades in utility-based skills.
Upgrade Path Example
- DPS Agent: Special Attack → Ultimate → Basic Attack
- Support Agent: Buff/Debuff Skill → Ultimate
- Utility Agent: Stamina-related or survivability skills
How to Optimize W-Engines (Weapons)
W-Engines are not just stat sticks—they define your playstyle. But enhancing them consumes rare materials.
Choosing the Right W-Engine
- Use free 4★ W-Engines early until you obtain signature 5★ ones.
- Avoid enhancing every W-Engine; focus on one per core Agent.
Efficient Enhancement
Enhance a DPS Agent’s W-Engine first since it scales damage fastest. For supports, hold off until you stabilize your DPS weapon at a competitive level.
How to Farm and Use Drive Discs
Drive Discs are ZZZ’s version of artifact sets. They’re powerful but tricky to optimize efficiently.
Farming Tips
- Don’t farm heavily until mid-game. Early Drive Discs will be replaced quickly.
- Focus on farming sets that match your team’s playstyle (e.g., ATK % sets for DPS).
Efficient Upgrading
Upgrade only the pieces with good main stats. For DPS, prioritize ATK %, Crit Rate, and Crit Damage. Avoid wasting materials on weak rolls.
Balancing Resources Between Multiple Agents
Many players make the mistake of splitting resources across too many Agents at once. Efficiency means focusing.
One Carry Strategy
Invest heavily in one DPS Agent first. This Agent becomes your Hollow expedition carry while others support them.
Support Scaling Later
Once your carry is maxed to a comfortable level, then shift resources into supports for long-term balance.
Daily and Weekly Resource Management
Your progression speed depends on how well you use daily and weekly systems.
Daily Priorities
- Spend energy on Hollow expeditions for materials.
- Complete commissions for credits.
- Farm EXP chips sparingly until you know your main roster.
Weekly Goals
Target bosses that drop high-level ascension and skill upgrade materials. Weekly resets are limited, so focus on the characters you plan to ascend soon.
Mistakes to Avoid in Upgrading Agents
Even experienced players fall into traps that waste resources.
Common Mistakes
- Overleveling low-rarity Agents – they won’t carry you long-term.
- Upgrading every skill evenly – some skills barely impact combat.
- Enhancing too many W-Engines – spread investment weakens your main team.
How to Avoid Them
Always plan around your long-term team composition and consult tier lists or community data before spending rare resources.
Endgame Efficiency: Long-Term Upgrade Planning
Once you’ve built your initial team, efficiency shifts from survival to optimization.
Targeted Farming
Farm Drive Discs with the exact stat lines you need. At this stage, rerolling and refining gear becomes your main grind.
Team Optimization
Balance upgrades across your roster so you can switch Agents based on Hollow mechanics and boss resistances. Efficiency here means versatility, not just power stacking.
Conclusion
Upgrading Agents in Zenless Zone Zero is a marathon, not a sprint. Efficient growth means focusing on one core DPS and complementary supports, upgrading skills strategically, and resisting the temptation to waste resources on every Agent. By understanding the value of each system—levels, ascensions, skills, W-Engines, and Drive Discs—you can maximize your power while conserving materials.
Approach upgrades with patience and planning, and you’ll always have a squad ready to face the toughest Hollows New Eridu has to offer.
