[ZZZ] 3.1 Anniversary Free S-Rank Agent & W-Engine: Who Should You Pick?
Riley Carter
The Version 3.1 Anniversary update brings a massive reward: a free S-Rank selector featuring Lucia, Jane, Hugo, Soldier 0 - Anby, and Trigger. This reward includes both the Agent and their Signature W-Engine as a bundled set—they cannot be claimed separately, so picking the wrong option could set your account back for a whole year.
The core dilemma for many players: Should beginners blindly chase the meta? Should veterans fill team archetype gaps or pull duplicate Mindscapes? How can collectors make a choice they won't regret?
This guide breaks down all five agents based on the v3.1 meta, role versatility, team build requirements, and long-term account value. Complete with tier rankings, pros and cons, and a quick-reference summary table, this article offers precise recommendations tailored for beginners, F2P, spenders, and collectors to solve all your selector questions in one place.
I. Detailed S-Rank Character Tier Analysis
1. T0 Absolute Top Pick: Lucia (Ether / Fatebreak Support)
Signature W-Engine: Furnace Hymn
Role & Position: Best-in-class core buffer for Fatebreak teams with no lower-tier substitute. Future-proof universal support across any account.
Key Strengths: Provides massive team-wide PEN Ratio, All-DMG, and CRIT DMG buffs, alongside inherent Elemental RES Bypass. Buffs refresh automatically for seamless energy rotation even at M0. Perfectly synergy-compatible with all Fatebreak DPS like Yixuan, Idhari, and Komano Masato. Pairing her with the rerun of Ryne in v3.1 instantly forms a meta Fatebreak lineup, securing long-term future-proofing for upcoming agents.
Recommended For: All beginners, accounts with incomplete rosters, Fatebreak players, and meta-focused players seeking long-term account value.
Not Recommended For: Players completely skipping Fatebreak teams who have zero plans to build any Fatebreak agents.
2. T1 Niche Specialist: Jane (Physical / Anomaly)
Signature W-Engine: Sharpened Stinger
Role & Position: Buffed in v3.1, serves as the best driver for Ramiel and the core main DPS for Physical Anomaly teams.
Key Strengths: With her signature W-Engine, Anomaly Buildup and Assault DMG are drastically enhanced. M2 marks a massive power spike, pushing Ramiel Anomaly teams to their ceiling where budget alternatives cannot compete.
Shortcomings: Very low versatility; performance drops significantly outside Ramiel teams. Additionally, she can be obtained via Store Exchange, so using this selector on her is a waste.
Recommended For: Players pulling for Ramiel, maining Physical Anomaly, and already owning Lucia.
3. T2 Niche Option: Trigger (Electric / Off-field Stun Support)
Signature W-Engine: Gilded Sunburst
Role & Position: Off-field Daze application plugin, focusing on continuous Daze buildup and team-wide Daze Vulnerability. Exclusive support piece for Follow-up Attack teams.
Key Strengths: Operates fully off-field without taking up field time. Perfectly fits the Soldier 0 - Anby Follow-up system to optimize Daze rotations at low cost.
Shortcomings: Versatility is completely overshadowed by Ryne. Unusable energy rotation at M0—requires M1 + W1 to function properly, making build costs high for very limited team usability.
Recommended For: Follow-up team dedicated mains who already own Soldier 0 - Anby, lack Stun units, and are skipping Ryne.
4. T3 Outdated/Weak: Soldier 0 - Anby (Electric / Follow-up Attack)
Signature W-Engine: Soul Shadow
Role & Position: Electric Follow-up main DPS, heavily dependent on Trigger as a mandatory team pairing.
Shortcomings: Heavy competition among Electric Attack DPS, fully powercrept by Sid. Cannot function standalone and must lock with Trigger to output damage. Extremely expensive to build with underwhelming performance in endgame content.
Recommended For: Pure character collectors or endgame players dedicated to Follow-up lineups.
5. T3 Outdated/Weak: Hugo (Ice / Stun Burst Attack)
Signature W-Engine: Sacrificial Purity
Role & Position: Ice burst main DPS targeting stunned windows, relying on double-Stun support frames to reach DMG ceiling.
Shortcomings: Ice DPS field is overcrowded—outclassed by Hoshimi Miyabi and new agent Sigrid. Heavily bound to double-Stun supports like Lycaon and Lighter. Clunky gameplay, useless for early progression.
Recommended For: Veteran Ice-team players or Hugo collectors.
II. Optimal Selection Plan by Player Type
Here is a quick-reference claim guide based on your account progression, roster needs, and playstyle. Beginners get a straightforward pick, while veterans can fill exact team gaps or unlock Mindscape Cinema spikes.
| Player Type | Core Goal | Top Pick | Backup Option | Traps to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F2P / Low Spenders / Beginners (Single team, small roster) |
Smooth progression, high versatility, long-term value, low team swap frequency | Lucia (New Agent / M1) | If Lucia owned + pulling Ramiel → Pick Jane | Do NOT prioritize Hugo, Soldier 0 - Anby, or Trigger. Cannot function standalone—pure trap picks. |
| Mid Spenders / Veterans (Multiple teams built, targeting end-game) |
Fill team gaps, raise endgame ceiling, complete roster synergies | Fatebreak users prioritize Lucia M1 power spike |
1. Anomaly: Pick Jane after Lucia 2. Follow-up: Pick Soldier 0 - Anby (DPS) or Trigger (Support) 3. Ice: Pick Hugo if double Stun is built |
Avoid upgrading Mindscapes for Anby or Hugo—offers stat boosts only with no mechanical upgrades. |
| Collectors / Casuals (Ignoring meta, character lovers) |
Fill Agent Index, collect favorites, ignore version meta | Priority: Hugo ＞ Soldier 0 - Anby ＞ Trigger ＞ Jane ＞ Lucia | To balance meta and collection, prioritize Lucia for maximum value | No traps—feel free to choose based purely on personal preference. |
Summary: Meta-focused players should always pick Lucia. Archetype mains can claim Jane or Trigger as needed. Collectors can choose freely, while beginners should completely avoid outdated niche characters.
III. Mindscape Cinema Upgrade Priority Guide
If you already own some of these characters, you might be deciding between pulling a duplicate for Mindscape Cinema upgrades or unlocking a new agent. Below is the cost-efficiency, mechanical spike, and damage scaling analysis for each candidate.
1. Lucia | Mindscape Priority: M1 ≫ M2 > M3 (Best Dup Value)
Key Spike: M1 is the single most critical powerspike. It significantly speeds up Decibel gain, shortens skill Cooldowns, and extends team DMG buff uptime—completely eliminating rotation gaps found at M0. It provides the highest account upgrade value in the entire game.
Further Upgrades: M2 boosts PEN and RES Bypass for high-difficulty content. M3 offers minor DMG increases and is lower priority.
Recommendation: If at M0, get M1. If already at M1, pick a new character instead of pushing higher Mindscapes.
2. Jane | Mindscape Priority: M2 ≫ M1 (Power Spike at M2)
Key Spike: M2 is Jane's main power spike, boosting Anomaly Buildup speed and Assault CRIT DMG to unlock her full kit potential alongside Ramiel. M1 offers only slight rotation comfort with negligible DPS gain.
Recommendation: If you own M1 Jane, select M2. At M0 Jane, do not prioritize duplicates—save the slot or get a new character (Jane can be obtained via Store Exchange anyway).
3. Trigger | Mindscape Priority: M1 > M2 (Requires M1 + W1)
Key Spike: Trigger heavily requires M1 + Signature W-Engine. M1 improves off-field Daze buildup efficiency and extends off-field support duration, fixing the rotation breaking issues present at M0.
Further Upgrades: M2 grants a modest increase to Daze Vulnerability, offering mediocre priority.
Recommendation: If you have M0 + W1, pick M1. If already at M1, skip further upgrades to unlock a new agent.
4. Soldier 0 - Anby | Mindscape Priority: Low (Not Recommended)
All Mindscape upgrades for Anby are simple stat boosts with no mechanical QoL or gameplay flow changes. Given her niche team constraints and weak meta standing, spending a free selector on her Mindscapes is a waste of resources.
5. Hugo | Mindscape Priority: Low (Not Recommended)
Hugo's Mindscapes only scale raw burst DMG without fixing his clunky field mechanics. Combined with heavy competition in the Ice archetype, upgrading his Mindscapes is not recommended for meta players.
* Mindscape Cinema Value Ranking
T0 Must-Upgrade: Lucia (M0 → M1)
T1 Recommended: Jane (M1 → M2), Trigger (M0 → M1)
T3 Not Recommended: Soldier 0 - Anby, Hugo (Always favor new characters)
*If you want to secure more pulls, don't forget to check out [ZZZ Top Up] for special deals on Zenless Zone Zero top-up and Mindscape Cinema upgrades to maximize your anniversary rewards!
Summary
The v3.1 Anniversary 5-in-1 Selector is one of the highest-value free rewards of the year. With only one claim per account, the golden rule remains: Prioritize Account Longevity ＞ Synergies ＞ Favorites (XP).
Among the five agents, Lucia is the single most future-proof pick for all account stages. Jane is heavily restricted to Ramiel setups, while Trigger, Soldier 0 - Anby, and Hugo are niche options suitable only for specific team comps.
We hope this guide helps you avoid trap picks! If you have any team comp or character choice questions, feel free to leave a comment below!
If you need extra Polychromes or an Inter-Knot Membership, check out Keygold for top-up services to complete your Zenless Zone Zero Top-Up conveniently and prepare for upcoming banners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: If I already own Lucia, should I select her again?
A1: Highly recommended. Lucia's M1 is a major mechanical spike that boosts Decibel buildup and extends buff coverage. Getting M1 Lucia is better than most new niche characters.
Q2: I want to play Jane. Should I claim her right away?
A2: Not recommended. Jane can be redeemed via the Store Exchange. Since this selector is rare, avoid using it on characters available in shop exchanges unless you urgently need her for a Ramiel team.
Q3: Should I pick Trigger or Ryne? Can Trigger replace Ryne?
A3: Ryne completely outperforms Trigger. Ryne provides better Daze, DMG buffs, energy rotation, and universal team fitting. Trigger is strictly limited to Follow-up setups and cannot replace Ryne elsewhere.
Q4: Are Soldier 0 - Anby and Hugo worth picking for beginners?
A4: Not recommended. Both require high-investment team comps and offer poor standalone utility, making them trap picks for early account progression.
Q5: Is Lucia still worth picking if I don't run Fatebreak teams?
A5: Absolutely. Lucia's universal All-DMG buffs and RES Bypass fit into almost any team archetype, maintaining exceptional long-term utility regardless of Fatebreak usage.
- All-In-One Bundle$160.8-$40.14$200.94
- Monochrome 60$0.77-$0.23$0.99
- Monochrome 300+30$3.6-$1.39$4.99
- Monochrome 980+110$10.83-$4.16$14.99
- Monochrome 1980+260$21.67-$8.32$29.99
- Monochrome 3280+600$36.12-$13.87$49.99
- Monochrome 6480+1600$74.99-$25$99.99
- Monochrome 6480+1600*3$244.97-$55$299.97
- Monochrome 6480+1600*5$414.96-$84.99$499.95
- Monochrome 6480+1600*10$839.92-$159.98$999.9
- Inter-Knot Membership$3.6-$1.39$4.99
