Hoyoverse’s Zenless Zone Zero is still in pre-release, but that hasn’t stopped a steady stream of leaks from outlining parts of the game’s structure. The latest info drop focuses on Yi Xuan, a character already shown in trailers, and details which materials she may need for progression. While still unofficial, these kinds of leaks are often based on internal test builds or early data mining. And in Hoyoverse’s ecosystem, understanding how characters grow is almost as important as the combat itself.
According to the leak, Yi Xuan will require a mix of faction-based drops and boss-tier materials to level up. This includes an item that seems tied to the faction “Criminal Investigation Special Response Team,” which connects her to that group narratively and mechanically.
These materials likely function like ascension items in Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, where each character has a unique set of resources needed to unlock their full power. That means leveling isn’t just about grinding experience. It’s about tracking down specific resources tied to both in-world lore and game mechanics.
The structure points to a familiar loop for Hoyoverse fans: identify a character, collect their required items, and invest heavily in progression if you want top-tier performance.
Boss Drops and Combat-Relevant Items
One of the upgrade components tied to Yi Xuan is apparently dropped by a creature called “Mechanical Abomination,” which looks to be a boss-tier enemy. That implies players will face high-difficulty content regularly to optimize characters. This type of material gating is nothing new, but it does reinforce the game’s likely reliance on time-gated or weekly challenges. In other Hoyoverse games, bosses of this nature tend to be fought for specific loot on rotation, forming a central pillar of late-game grinding.
The leak also references a general-use item called “Sealed Tube,” which seems to function as a universal enhancement resource. That suggests a dual system: rare, character-specific materials balanced by more common boosters that help smooth the grind.
Context Within the Hoyoverse Model.
If these leaks hold, Zenless Zone Zero seems to be sticking closely to the studio’s proven formula. Characters will be valuable not just for their combat roles but for the time and effort it takes to fully build them. That structure plays into the gacha design by making high-investment characters more meaningful.
The use of faction-specific items also hints at deeper integration between narrative and progression. Players might not just collect characters — they may also build teams around shared affiliations or bonuses tied to those affiliations.
Compared to Genshin Impact, where elemental synergy drives team comp, Zenless Zone Zero might encourage combinations based on faction dynamics or shared lore. That could offer more variety, but it also adds another layer of resource tracking for players who want to optimize their builds.
Still Early, But Patterns Are Emerging
Even though the game is still unreleased, the shape of its systems is starting to show. Yi Xuan’s leaked materials don’t just reveal what she needs — they offer insight into how the game will treat character investment across the board.
If Hoyoverse follows past patterns, we can expect time-limited events, rotating bosses, and region-specific drops, all designed to encourage consistent engagement. These systems reward deep progression while keeping players circling around the next big unlock.
It’s still early days for Zenless Zone Zero, but the structure behind the style is coming into focus. How that fits with the game’s urban sci-fi setting — and how it differs from its fantasy siblings — is what will likely determine how fresh this really feels when it finally launches.
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She’s played more mobile games than most people have downloaded. TAPTAPTAP is fast, fierce, and funny — reviewing the latest hypercasual hits, idle clickers, and gacha grinds with real talk and zero fluff.
