During its latest livestream, HoYoverse unveiled the exciting details of the ZZZ 2.2 banners. While there are several intriguing characters included, a notable absence remains: no Rupture characters. Although Manato is set to debut in the next patch, this marks three consecutive version updates lacking support for the innovative combat mechanic introduced during the anniversary update. This stands in stark contrast to HoYoverse’s approach to the Remembrance mechanic in Honkai: Star Rail (HSR).
Nonetheless, the two new additions in version 2.2 offer valuable attack options, and the reruns bring back two exceptional characters for players to revisit.
Overview of ZZZ 2.2 Banners
Phase One: Seed and Trigger
- Seed (S-rank, electric, attack)
- Trigger (S-rank, electric, stun)
- Anby (A-rank, electric, stun)
- Nicole (A-rank, ether, support)
Set to launch on September 4, 2025, the phase one banners include Seed, an electric attack agent, alongside the first rerun of Evelyn, a fire attack agent that complements any team effectively. Seed possesses a unique gameplay mechanic by designating a partner as her vanguard, gaining the ability to unleash powerful attacks that consume the ally’s energy. Her abilities include striking foes with her gigantic mech, delivering devastating missile strikes and spectacular finishing moves.
Trigger is regarded as one of the top stun agents in ZZZ. Her swift stunning capabilities, combined with damage contributions while off-field through aftershock attacks, set her apart. This makes Trigger an excellent choice for teams reliant on damage dealers who need more time on the battlefield.
The phase also features two A-rank agents: Anby, a competent stun agent despite stiff competition, and Nicole, recognized as one of the finest support agents for her superior enemy defense reduction abilities.
Phase Two: Orphie & Magus and Evelyn
- Orphie & Magus (S-rank, fire, attack)
- Evelyn (S-rank, fire, attack)
- Lucy (A-rank, fire, support)
- Anton (A-rank, electric, attack)
The second phase banners are anticipated to go live around September 24 or 25 and introduce the newcomer Orphie & Magus. This Aftershock character channels damage by accumulating Bottled Heat and, upon activating her EX Special, boosts the entire team’s attack. This hybrid role may allow for flexible team compositions and increased damage output for characters like Soldier 0 Anby without major investment in Drive Discs.
Evelyn’s prowess in crowd control comes from her ability to group non-boss enemies before triggering explosive fire damage. Although challenging to master, players seeking “expert”characters would do well to consider Evelyn.
Lucy remains a top-tier support unit, granting substantial attack buffs and additional fire damage with minimal time on-field. Meanwhile, Anton, while not as meta due to a slower rotation, remains adequately powerful for storyline challenges.
Future of Rupture Characters
While the ZZZ 2.2 banners offer a solid lineup, with a focus on attack characters, their lack of Rupture support is disappointing, especially with new mechanics launched months ago and unanswered by HoYoverse. If players missed out on Yixuan during ZZZ 2.0, accessing Rupture mechanics might be limited.
Upcoming in ZZZ 2.3 are Manato, an A-rank, and Yidhari, an S-rank, both registered as Rupture characters. This development suggests the silent phase of neglecting the new attack type may soon end, though it remains uncertain why HoYoverse has approached this new battle mechanic with such indecision—contrasting with their more strategic implementation seen in Genshin Impact and HSR.
Upon the introduction of Dendro in Genshin, subsequent banners consistently featured Dendro characters, and players received a free 4-star Dendro character, Collei, through the Spiral Abyss. Conversely, HSR showcased the Remembrance mechanic right from the beginning of the 3. X patch cycle, including the highly capable Remembrance Trailblazer as a support character that benefited multiple team formats.
The fluctuating direction in ZZZ may not be entirely unexpected, especially considering the significant overhaul HoYoverse implemented just months after the game’s launch, reshaping TV mode and exploration. While HSR’s combat system appears more cohesive, delivering a narrative that sustains interest over time took two years to materialize.
With more Rupture units on the horizon and hints at updates for Soldier 0 Anby, it seems HoYoverse is on the brink of reinforcing its strategy within Zenless Zone Zero.
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