Zenless Zone Zero Polychrome Farming Guide: How to Get Free Pulls as F2P (2026)
Polychrome is the premium currency in Zenless Zone Zero, and every ten Polychrome equals one pull (Signal Search). Free-to-play players can realistically earn 15 to 20 pulls per month through consistent daily play, and significantly more during active patch events that can push a single version cycle to 150+ pulls. This guide maps every Polychrome source in the game and explains which ones give the best return for your time investment.
Daily and Weekly Reliable Sources
Daily Errands are three small tasks (visiting the store, completing a combat drill, and using Battery Charge) that together award 60 Polychrome per week โ small individually but 3,120 Polychrome per year just from this alone. The weekly Shiyu Defense awards up to 1,200 Polychrome if you three-star Floors 7 through 12; even clearing through Floor 9 (three-star) nets 600 Polychrome weekly. Deadly Assault adds another 600 Polychrome weekly for full clears once unlocked at Inter-Knot Level 40. Hollow Zero daily missions award Resonium and occasional Polychrome bonuses from completing milestone floors. Taken together, a consistent daily player earns approximately 2,000โ2,500 Polychrome per week from recurring sources alone.
Story, Exploration, and Achievement Sources
Main story chapters pay out Polychrome at each chapter completion โ this is a one-time source but a large one that new players can tap for hundreds of pulls worth of currency. Exploring New Erimus districts and finding hidden Polychrome chests is another one-time windfall; fully exploring each district when it is added to the game yields several hundred Polychrome. Achievement hunting in the Compendium menu grants Polychrome for milestones like defeating certain enemies, completing combat trials, and reaching Inter-Knot Level thresholds. Leveling up your account (Inter-Knot Level) also awards Polychrome directly at each level until the current cap.
Patch Events: The Biggest F2P Pull Window
Limited-time patch events are the single largest source of Polychrome outside the story. Each six-week version typically offers 500โ1,000 Polychrome through event participation chains, often requiring only light daily engagement rather than difficult combat. Version 2.6 (February 2026) alone offered 181 total free pulls when combining event Polychrome, direct Tape rewards, and event shop Encrypted Master Tapes. To maximize event value: check the Events tab on the first day of a new patch, complete unlock prerequisites (usually a short story chain) immediately, then chip away at the dailyable event tasks each day rather than trying to complete everything at once in the final week.
HoYoLAB and Social Bonuses
HoYoLAB (HoYoverse's companion app and website) runs check-in bonuses every month that award W-Engine materials, Polychrome, and Investigator Logs for simply logging in. The monthly check-in typically grants 60 Polychrome plus upgrade materials worth another 20โ30 pulls of materials indirectly. The app also hosts prediction events, community challenges, and partner codes during each patch that add another 50โ100 Polychrome per month. Download HoYoLAB, link your HoYoverse account, and enable check-in reminders โ it takes under one minute per day for the full bonus.
Redemption Codes and Maintenance Compensation
Each version's launch livestream drops three to five redemption codes worth a combined 150โ300 Polychrome plus supplementary materials. Beyond livestream codes, HoYoverse issues maintenance compensation codes whenever scheduled updates run longer than planned, typically worth 60โ120 Polychrome. Social media celebration codes appear at follower milestones and anniversaries. Track these through the official ZZZ Twitter/X account and a trusted fan site like Game8 or Icy Veins that maintains a live code list. Codes expire quickly โ many within 24 hours โ so setting a patch-day calendar reminder for the livestream is one of the highest-value habits an F2P player can develop.
FAQ
How many free pulls can an F2P player expect per month?
Approximately 60โ80 pulls per month during an active event patch, and 15โ20 pulls in quieter weeks between major events. A full version cycle (six weeks) realistically yields 80โ120 pulls for consistent daily players, rising to 150+ during content-heavy patches like anniversaries.
Is it worth spending Polychrome on the Stable Channel (permanent banner) for A-Ranks?
Generally no, unless you specifically need an A-Rank agent the Stable Channel offers and cannot get them elsewhere. The Master Tape shop and event rewards provide A-Ranks more efficiently. Reserve Polychrome for limited banners featuring characters you plan to build.
Should I save Polychrome or pull whenever I can?
Save. Always identify your pull target two to three patches ahead, check the banner schedule, and accumulate until you have at least 90 pulls (hard pity) before committing โ ideally 180 to guarantee the limited agent even if you lose the 50/50.
Does the Battlepass give Polychrome?
The free Battlepass tier awards Polychrome each level-up. The paid Battlepass (Kinos Journal) roughly doubles the Polychrome yield per month and adds Encrypted Master Tapes, making it one of the best-value purchases for light spenders.