Zenless Zone Zero's Potential System: Breathing New Life into Classic Agents

Alright, folks, gather 'round! Let's talk about the best thing to happen to my dusty old Agent collection since... well, ever. You know the feeling. You've got these classic characters, you love their style, but then the shiny new meta-definers like Ye Shunguang and Zhao waltz in, and suddenly your old favorites are looking a bit... retired. Well, fret no more! The developers have thrown us a lifeline, and it's called the Potential System. Think of it as a spa day for your Agents, but instead of cucumber water, they get a full-on power-up. It's essentially a second upgrade path, a bit like the Cinema system's cooler, more powerful cousin, designed specifically to give these veterans a fighting chance in the 2026 New Eridu scene.

This system is no joke. For specific Agents, you can unlock a whopping six tiers of Potential. Each tier you unlock slaps on new effects and abilities right onto their existing skill kit. It's like finding out your favorite old jacket has secret pockets filled with tactical gear. The higher you go, the more potent these new tricks become. And for the Version 2.5 update, five lucky Agents are stepping into the spotlight for their glow-up: the ice queen Ellen Joe, the fiery Soldier 11, the electric maestro Grace Howard, the explosive Burnice, and everyone's favorite delivery girl-turned-fighter, Soldier 0 Anby. Talk about a squad getting a second wind!

Now, how do you get this magical juice for your Agents? You need a special currency called Daily Performances. To max out all six tiers for one Agent, you're looking at a total of 6000 Daily Performances. That's the goal, but don't sweat it—you can earn this stuff just by playing the game. Here’s the breakdown:

• The Main Grind (Outpost Shop): This is your bread and butter. You exchange currencies from Shiyu Defenses and Weekly Boss challenges here. It's a steady drip-feed, netting you up to 2000 Daily Performances every month. It's the reliable, if slow, path.

• The Weekly Check-in: Just do your weekly missions, hit those point thresholds, and bam—1000 Daily Performances every week lands in your pocket. It's like a consistent allowance for being a good Proxy.

• The One-Time Bonanza (Potential Try Out): This is the fun part. You get to test-drive the upgraded Agents with their new Potentials active. Clear each stage, and you'll snag 500 Daily Performances as a one-time reward. It's a nice little boost to get you started, no strings attached.

So, what's the big deal? What do these Potential upgrades actually do? Let me tell you, it's not just a numbers tweak—it's a full-on identity refresh for some of these characters.

The overall verdict? Massive, massive buffs. Seriously, these guys came back from their upgrade session looking like they just won the lottery.

• The Damage Dealers (Ellen Joe, Soldier 11, Soldier 0 Anby): These three got the classic treatment—more oomph! Their damage got a significant bump, and their unique skill kits were enhanced to make pulling off those slick combos smoother than butter. Ellen's ice combos freeze harder, Soldier 11's flames burn brighter, and Anby's electric assaults... let's just say she's no longer just delivering packages, she's delivering pain.

• The Anomaly Enablers (Burnice & Grace): Their upgrades are a bit more... strategic. They now have a much easier time slapping Attribute Anomaly on enemies. The real kicker is their new Abloom effects. This basically turns them into perfect teammates for Disorder-focused squads, letting them synergize with other Anomaly characters like they've been training together for years. It opens up whole new team-building possibilities.

So, who should you upgrade first? Here's my two cents, straight from the trenches:

Agent Type	Priority	Reason
Main DPS (Ellen, Soldier 11, Anby)	HIGH - First 2 Potentials	The damage increase is no joke. If they're your carry, this is a direct ticket to faster clear times.
Anomaly Support (Burnice, Grace)	MEDIUM/HIGH (If you need them)	If your team is crying out for a secondary Anomaly applier, their first 2 Potentials are game-changers. Otherwise, they can wait.

One universal truth, though: The 1st Potential level is the most important for every single one of these Agents. It's the key that unlocks their new combo potential and defines their upgraded playstyle. Prioritize getting that first node unlocked across the board before you dive deeper.

Look, with most of these Agents being available through the S-Rank Selector Shop and rerun banners floating around, there's never been a better time to give an old favorite a new lease on life. The Potential System isn't just a balance patch; it's a love letter to the characters that got us hooked on New Eridu in the first place. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Daily Performances to farm. My girl Anby isn't going to upgrade herself!