| Item | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Version | 3.3.0, released 2026-10-20 | Official update notes |
| New S engines | Plume of Rebirth (Anomaly), Incarcerating (Attack) | Official update notes |
| New agents | Phoenix (Fire Anomaly), Severian (Wind Attack) | Official update notes |
| Pull order | Anomaly engine if you own Phoenix | See verdict section |
| Free currency | 10 Encrypted Master Tapes plus 10 Boopons from 7-day logins | Official event notice |
Version 3.3 "Journey to the Sky" dropped two S-rank agents and two Zenless Zone Zero W-Engine options at once, which makes budget splitting the loudest question right now. This guide separates the two engines by damage structure rather than rarity, pairs them with drive disc 4+2 setups, tallies what the version hands out free, and ends with a verdict per account type. Version data comes from the official 3.3 notes (2026-10-20); mechanics come from in-game panels.
Applicable version: 3.3 "Journey to the Sky" (released 2026-10-20)
ZZZ 3.3 new W-Engines: where Anomaly and Attack diverge
The two engines solve different problems. Do not compare them by rarity.
Why Plume of Rebirth is close to mandatory for Anomaly
Anomaly damage runs on buildup, then the anomaly proc, then the damage multiplier. The engine supplies anomaly damage bonus and anomaly proficiency, and neither is easy to recover from drive disc substats. Phoenix is a Fire Anomaly agent, and Fire anomaly lives on proc frequency, which anomaly proficiency directly controls.
Where Incarcerating differs from generic Attack engines
Attack engines mostly deliver ATK%, crit rate and skill damage, and generic S-rank engines cover a chunk of that panel. A signature Attack engine wins on skill damage and its unique passive. In plain terms: Severian functions without Incarcerating, while Phoenix's proc cadence clearly slows without Plume of Rebirth. That is an interaction gap, not a numbers gap.
Type mismatch wastes the pull
Engines carry a type tag. An Anomaly engine on an Attack agent simply misses its main stat. Check the agent panel before pulling, not the art.
ZZZ 3.3 drive discs: how to build 4+2
The engine sets the ceiling; discs decide whether you reach it.
Four-piece plus two-piece
Six slots, standard split is a 4-set for the core bonus and a 2-set for crit rate or elemental damage. Anomaly wants anomaly proficiency and elemental damage; Attack wants crit rate and crit damage. On substats, prioritize crit rate below 50%, then crit damage takes over past 50%.
Main stats are slot-locked
Slot 4 rolls crit rate or crit damage, slot 5 rolls elemental damage or PEN, slot 6 rolls anomaly proficiency or ATK%. Putting the right main stat in the wrong slot burns a main stat's worth of value, and that hurts Anomaly teams more than Attack teams in 3.3.
When to stop farming substats
In practice the gap between "four correct substats" and "four high rolls" is roughly one tier of effective substats, while the stamina cost is three to five times higher. Stop at correct main stats plus two qualifying substats and put the rest into engine ascension materials.
ZZZ 3.3 Shiyu Defense: the Anomaly rotation
Anomaly teams enter Shiyu Defense with a completely different rhythm.
Buildup before the break
Attack teams break the shield then dump damage. Anomaly teams invert it: get the anomaly meter moving first so the proc lands on the break. Phoenix should be building anomaly from the first rotation, not waiting for a stun window.
What the third slot should add
Bring a support that raises anomaly proficiency or shreds resistance rather than a second damage dealer. Two-DPS comps stall on the timer in Shiyu because Anomaly already carries dead time between procs; adding another damage dealer duplicates work.
ZZZ 3.3 resource plan: free pulls in this version
Two free bundles, do not miss them.
| Resource | Amount | Condition | Source tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypted Master Tapes | 10 | "All-New Broadcast" cumulative 7-day login | Official 3.3 event notice |
| Boopons | 10 | "Boopons From Above" cumulative 7-day login | Official 3.3 event notice |
| Phoenix outfits | Sick Named Life / Daydream Syndrome | Available in 3.3 | Official update notes |
| Severian outfit | Solemnly Faultless | Available in 3.3 | Official update notes |
Which channel to spend them on
Encrypted Master Tapes only work on the agent channel, Boopons only on the Bangboo channel. Ten tapes shorten your pity distance, they do not replace a pull budget.
Should you touch the engine channel?
Agent and engine channels do not share currency or pity. With one budget, secure the agent first. In 3.3 that matters more than usual, because both new S-ranks are system cores.
ZZZ 3.3 should you pull: verdict by account
Verdict first: if you run Phoenix and lack the engine, buy Plume of Rebirth. If you only have Severian, check your generic Attack S-rank stock first.
Phoenix owned, no signature engine
Buy Plume of Rebirth. Anomaly signature engines belong to the "you feel the proc speed change immediately" category .
Severian owned, generic Attack S-rank in hand
Skip Incarcerating and bank for the next version's system unit. The generic gap is small and a pure panel upgrade is a poor use of a pull budget.
Neither new S-rank
Agents before engines. Either new S-rank can slot in immediately; an engine with no owner is scrap.
ZZZ 3.3 returning players: what to fix first
The classic mistake is chasing the new banner on day one.
First two weeks
Push the main story to the current version, unlock Shiyu and all dailies, fix drive disc main stats, and only then think about pulling. The 3.3 chapter "Journey to the Sky" sits on that same line, and skipping it can lock you out of event entrances.
Are old agents still usable?
Yes. 3.3 reruns Velina (Wind Anomaly) and Norma (Fire Stun), and both still hold slots in their systems; the rerun itself is the official signal that older agents remain valid . Clearing Shiyu with older agents is entirely viable.
ZZZ 3.3 FAQ
Do the engine and agent channels share pity?
A: No. Agent channel and engine channel track separate counters, so engine pulls never advance agent pity . Do not use the engine channel to "build pity."
Can Plume of Rebirth go on an Attack agent?
A: Not at full value. It is an Anomaly-type engine, so the main stat mismatches on an Attack agent and returns drop sharply .
How many free pulls does 3.3 give?
A: 10 Encrypted Master Tapes from "All-New Broadcast" plus 10 Boopons from "Boopons From Above," 20 total across two non-transferable currencies .
When is a drive disc finished?
A: Correct main stat plus two qualifying substats. Four perfect substats are worth roughly one tier more while costing three to five times the stamina.
Action list
- Claim both 7-day login bundles on day one; 20 tickets total.
- Check agent damage type before choosing which engine to chase.
- Fix drive disc main stats before hunting substat rolls.
- In Shiyu, build anomaly first and let the proc land on the break.
- With one budget, agents come before engines. For the same treatment on other gacha titles, the GameHub guide hub archives builds by version so you can match them against your own roster.