Zenless Zone Zero Version 3.3 “Journey to the Sky” went live on October 21, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, iOS and Android. The headline is Phoenix, a new limited S-Rank Fire Anomaly Agent, whose banner runs until November 11 at 11:59 server time alongside a Velina rerun. This guide covers the Phase I banners, everything new in 3.3, Phoenix’s kit as HoYoverse describes it, and a starting ZZZ Phoenix build grounded in that kit.
Table of Contents
Quick answer
- Phase I banners (live now until Nov 11, 11:59 server time): Phoenix (S-Rank, Fire, Anomaly) with her signature W-Engine Plume of Rebirth, plus a rerun of Velina (S-Rank, Wind, Anomaly) with Joyau Dore.
- Phase II: Severian (S-Rank, Wind, Attack) and his W-Engine Incarcerating Grip are confirmed for 3.3. HoYoverse had not posted the Phase II channel notice when we checked on October 21 at 23:10 UTC; his outfit sale starts November 11 at 12:00 server time, which points to his banner opening then.
- Phoenix in one line: she makes the whole squad’s Attribute Anomaly damage able to CRIT, and her own Anomaly Mastery raises that CRIT chance.
- Starting build: Plume of Rebirth, then 4-piece Freedom Blues with 2-piece Phaethon’s Melody. Use Anomaly Proficiency on Disc 4, Fire DMG on Disc 5 and Anomaly Mastery on Disc 6.
- Official teams: Phoenix + Velina + Remielle, or Phoenix + Velina + Yuzuha.
- Free Polychrome: 600 in total from the update compensation, if you reached Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before the update.
- Version length: 3.3 runs 42 days, ending December 2 at 06:00 (UTC+8).
Version 3.3 "Journey to the Sky" key art with Phoenix in front and Severian, the Phase II Agent, behind her. Image: HoYoverse
ZZZ 3.3 banners: dates and what’s featured
HoYoverse’s V3.3 Limited-Time Channels (Phase I) notice lists four channels, all running from the end of the update maintenance to November 11, 2026 at 11:59 server time.
| Channel | Type | Featured S-Rank | Element / specialty | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Into the Flames of Life | Exclusive Channel | Phoenix | Fire / Anomaly | New |
| Plume of Rebirth | W-Engine Channel | Plume of Rebirth | Anomaly | New |
| Graceful Gale | Exclusive Channel | Velina | Wind / Anomaly | Rerun |
| Joyau Dore | W-Engine Channel | Joyau Dore | Anomaly | Rerun |
“Server time” depends on your region. Converted to UTC, the Phase I banners close on November 11 at about 16:59 UTC on America servers (UTC-5), 10:59 UTC on Europe servers (UTC+1) and 03:59 UTC on Asia and TW/HK/MO servers (UTC+8).
Rules worth knowing before you pull, per the same notice:
- Phoenix, Velina and both signature W-Engines will not join the Star-Studded Cast standard channel.
- Pity carries over between the two Exclusive Channels, and separately between the two W-Engine Channels. Pulls on one type never count toward the other.
- S-Rank Signal Customization lets you pick six S-Rank Agents or W-Engines. If an S-Rank pull isn’t the featured one, it is guaranteed to be one of your six picks.
- You can also choose the two boosted A-Rank Agents or W-Engines. If you don’t, the channel’s default A-Ranks apply.
- The “Final Callback” audition stages let you try Phoenix and Velina for free before the banners end (Inter-Knot Lv. 8 required).
Phase I runs from the 3.3 update to November 11, 11:59 server time: Phoenix is new, Velina returns. Image: HoYoverse
What’s new in Zenless Zone Zero 3.3
The official 3.3 update announcement (also on the in-game notice board and the official X account) lists these additions:
- Story: Main Story Season 3 Chapter 4 “Journey to the Sky”. It needs Chapter 3 “Their Secret Histories” finished, or you can use Advance Screening.
- New areas: Quietude Isle and the Airspace Control Tower in Roscaelifer. Both unlock through the new chapter.
- New gameplay: a Bangboo Mech you can pilot in the Main Story and on Quietude Isle. It has melee and ranged modes, and aim assist is available on controller and mobile.
- Agent Guides: a new in-game guide with upgrade advice and a “Fairy Team Recommendation” tool (still labeled as testing). It suggests teams from the Agents you own.
- Enigma of the Labyrinth: a “Spooky Trial” seasonal theme, new Tactical Prisms (including Phoenix and Severian) and the Mimic Substance synthesis system.
- Other: HoYoverse to Discord account linking with Rich Presence, and iPhone Duo support planned for early to mid-November.
ZZZ 3.3 events and dates
| Event | Dates (server time) | Headline reward |
|---|---|---|
| All-New Program (log in 7 days) | Now to Dec 1, 03:59 | Encrypted Master Tape x10 |
| Spooky Funhouse Tales (themed event) | Oct 22, 10:00 to Nov 30, 03:59 | A-Rank W-Engine Candlelit Scheme (Armorer), Angels of Delusion outfit |
| Cyber Miracle Healer, on Duty! | Oct 28, 10:00 to Nov 16, 03:59 | Event rewards |
| Advanced Bounty: Area Patrol | Nov 4, 04:00 to Nov 9, 03:59 | Double Area Patrol rewards |
| “En-Nah” Into Your Lap (log in 7 days) | Nov 11, 10:00 to Dec 1, 03:59 | Boopon x10 |
| Trails of the Hobbling Crow | Nov 11, 10:00 to Nov 30, 03:59 | Event rewards, limited title |
| Repair! Drifting Art | Nov 16, 10:00 to Nov 30, 03:59 | Event rewards |
| Data Bounty: Combat Simulation | Nov 25, 04:00 to Nov 30, 03:59 | Double Combat Simulation rewards |
Compensation: two mails of Polychrome x300 each, for players who reached Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before the update. The maintenance compensation can be claimed until 3.3 ends. Claim the issue-fix compensation before November 20 at 23:59 (UTC+8). Codes: the only official code for 3.3 so far came from the October 9 special program, and it expired on October 11 at 23:59:59 (UTC+8). We found no newer official code when we checked on October 21 at 23:10 UTC.
Phoenix kit explained: Sear and Anomaly CRITs
Phoenix is an S-Rank Fire Anomaly Agent from the Krampus Compliance Authority. HoYoverse’s Agent Mechanics Intro describes her role in four points:
- She is a Fire Anomaly DPS.
- She gives the whole squad’s Attribute Anomaly damage a chance to CRIT.
- She is very hard to keep down: she can return to the fight and restore HP after being defeated.
- She builds Anomaly Buildup very quickly.
Her Core Passive, Nirvana, explains the CRIT part. It raises Phoenix’s Anomaly Proficiency. Whenever any squad member deals Attribute Anomaly damage to an enemy, that enemy is inflicted with Sear. Anomaly damage against a Seared enemy can CRIT, and Phoenix’s Anomaly Mastery adds extra CRIT Rate to that chance.
The bonus condition is simple. If another squad member is an Anomaly Agent or belongs to Krampus, Anomaly damage against Seared enemies also gets more CRIT DMG. Her Core Skill upgrades need Counterfeit Nucleus and Higher Dimensional Data: Bloodstained Miasma Feather. The community wiki, which tracks the live game, lists Anomaly Mastery and Base ATK as her Core Skill stat bonuses.
HoYoverse has not published skill multipliers in its own posts, and early guides were written from beta builds. Some of them still use the beta name “Nirvana Plume” for her W-Engine, which is called Plume of Rebirth in the live game. Treat any beta-era numbers with caution.
Nirvana lets the whole squad's Anomaly damage CRIT on Seared enemies. Both official teams pair her with Velina. Image: HoYoverse
Phoenix Mindscapes worth knowing
According to the wiki’s live data:
- M1 gives her 1 point of Ascension on entering battle. It also adds 25% CRIT DMG to Anomaly damage against Seared enemies and speeds up Pyre generation.
- M2 extends her Burn by 2 seconds and adds 30% damage against Seared enemies.
- M4 adds an extra Abloom (a fixed 600% multiplier) when certain finishers hit an enemy that already has an Anomaly.
- M6 ignores 15% All-Attribute RES and lets Abloom ignore 40% DEF.
M3 and M5 are skill level boosts. For most players, M0 with the signature W-Engine is the sensible place to stop. M1 and M2 add straightforward damage on top.
Best ZZZ Phoenix build (starting suggestion)
These recommendations follow from Phoenix’s kit and the live effects of the items below. They are not tested meta: expect the community to refine them over the first weeks of 3.3. Her damage depends on three things: Anomaly Proficiency (Anomaly damage), Anomaly Mastery (buildup speed, plus CRIT Rate through Nirvana) and Fire DMG.
W-Engines for Phoenix
| W-Engine | Why it fits | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Plume of Rebirth (S, signature) | Advanced stat is Anomaly Mastery (up to 30%). It gives +90 Anomaly Proficiency at base, and +40% Fire DMG for 20 s whenever any squad member’s Anomaly damage CRITs. Nirvana makes those CRITs possible, so the bonus should stay up. | Costs W-Engine Channel pulls (separate pity from her Agent banner). |
| Another S-Rank Anomaly W-Engine you own | Anything with Anomaly Mastery or Proficiency keeps her core stats up. | Loses the Fire DMG uptime, which is her strongest synergy. |
| An A-Rank Anomaly W-Engine | Budget option. Look for Anomaly Mastery or Proficiency. | Noticeably weaker. Fine while you save. |
Drive Discs for Phoenix
| Option | Set effects (live) | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 4pc Freedom Blues + 2pc Phaethon’s Melody | Freedom Blues: +30 Anomaly Proficiency (2pc). Her EX Special Attack hits reduce the enemy’s Fire Anomaly Buildup RES by 20% for 8 s (4pc). Phaethon’s Melody 2pc: +8% Anomaly Mastery. | Default. Faster Burns and more Sear uptime, plus Mastery for CRIT Rate. |
| 4pc Freedom Blues + 2pc Chaos Jazz | Chaos Jazz 2pc: +30 Anomaly Proficiency. | If your Phaethon’s Melody pieces are poor. More damage per Anomaly, slower buildup. |
| Note on teammates | Freedom Blues’ 4pc does not stack with another copy of the same attribute. | Don’t put a second Fire Freedom Blues user in the same team. |
Main stats: Disc 4 Anomaly Proficiency, Disc 5 Fire DMG Bonus (or ATK% if your Fire piece rolled badly), Disc 6 Anomaly Mastery. Substats: Anomaly Proficiency first, then ATK%, then PEN. Normal CRIT substats don’t usually affect Anomaly damage in ZZZ. Phoenix’s kit ties the CRIT Rate of her Anomaly CRITs to Anomaly Mastery, so prioritize Mastery over CRIT.
Skill priority
HoYoverse hasn’t published skill multipliers, so we won’t rank her skills by number. For Anomaly Agents, the usual approach is to raise the Core Skill first, then the skills that do most of the buildup. For Phoenix, those include her EX Special Attack (Dazzling Flare in the Mindscape text), which also triggers Freedom Blues. Dodge and Assist usually come last. The new in-game Agent Guides feature adds upgrade advice and, for some Agents, tutorials on their unique resources. Phoenix’s are called Ascension and Pyre in her Mindscape text. Check her page there before spending materials.
Best Phoenix teams
HoYoverse’s own mechanics post recommends two teams, and both satisfy Nirvana’s bonus condition through Velina, a second Anomaly Agent:
| Team | Partners | Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix + Velina + Remielle | Velina (Wind, Anomaly), Remielle (Lumiflux, Anomaly) | Three Anomaly Agents. Every Anomaly they trigger applies Sear and can CRIT, and different elements set up Disorder. |
| Phoenix + Velina + Yuzuha | Velina (Wind, Anomaly), Yuzuha (Physical, Support) | Two Anomaly damage dealers with a Support. A good choice if you don’t own Remielle. |
No Velina? You still need another Anomaly Agent (or a Krampus member) in the team, or Phoenix loses the CRIT DMG half of her passive. Velina’s rerun in the same phase makes the pairing easy to plan around. If you can only afford one S-Rank this phase, Phoenix is probably the more flexible pick, because her passive lets every Anomaly teammate’s damage CRIT. Velina mostly makes sense if you already plan to build an Anomaly-heavy roster.
Where Phoenix fits in 3.3 endgame
The 3.3 Shiyu Defense Critical Node buffs suit her. One Phase I buff gives Anomaly Agents +20% Fire DMG and rewards Anomaly CRITs. One Phase II buff raises ATK and Anomaly damage after Anomaly CRITs, and lowers Fire RES after a Fire Anomaly. Deadly Assault’s 3.3 lineup includes Blasphemer, Infernal Revenant and Phaethon of the Scorched Horizon, according to the patch notes.
If you split your pulls across games, our Aniimo codes and tier list covers another monster-collecting gacha. For a different kind of build breakdown, see our Deadlock Nurse Harrow guide. Playing ZZZ on a phone? Our guide to using a PS4 controller on Android and iOS for HoYoverse games works the same way. For more Halloween-season games on PC, see the Steam Scream Fest 2026 deals.
FAQ
When does the Phoenix banner end in Zenless Zone Zero?
On November 11, 2026 at 11:59 server time. That is about 16:59 UTC on America servers, 10:59 UTC on Europe servers and 03:59 UTC on Asia servers.
Is Phoenix a limited character?
Yes. HoYoverse says she will not be added to the Star-Studded Cast standard channel, so she will only return through future reruns.
What is Phoenix’s signature W-Engine?
Plume of Rebirth, an S-Rank Anomaly W-Engine on its own W-Engine Channel. “Nirvana Plume” is a beta-era name. Nirvana is the name of her Core Passive.
When is the Severian banner?
Severian is confirmed for 3.3, but HoYoverse hasn’t posted the Phase II channel notice yet. His outfit goes on sale on November 11 at 12:00 server time, right after Phase I ends.
How long is ZZZ Version 3.3?
42 days. It started on October 21 at 06:00 (UTC+8), which is October 20 at 22:00 UTC, and ends on December 2 at 06:00 (UTC+8).
Sources: HoYoverse Version 3.3 update announcement (Steam, October 20, 23:00 UTC), V3.3 Limited-Time Channels (Phase I), Agent Mechanics Intro: Phoenix, Version 3.3 Content Overview (Phase I), @ZZZ_EN on X; Zenless Zone Zero Wiki entries for Plume of Rebirth, Freedom Blues and Phaethon’s Melody. Checked October 21, 2026, 23:10 UTC.
Live: Follow today’s gaming news as it happens
Featured image: AI-generated illustration
