The arrival of a major Zenless Zone Zero update never fails to energize the player base, and version 1.3 was no exception. With the debut of the highly anticipated thunder-wielding agent Tsukishiro Yanagi came a flood of events and login bonuses that made it a golden opportunity to stockpile Polychrome and Master Tapes. While many Proxies were still recovering from the high-stakes pulls for Caesar and Burnice, the game offered a generous safety net for anyone looking to rebuild their savings or prepare for the next wave of S‑rank characters. Understanding exactly where these free resources were hidden made all the difference between a depleted account and a well‑fuelled gacha engine.
How many free pulls could a dedicated player actually gather during this patch? The answer was far more impressive than most initially assumed. Logging in consistently and engaging with every available activity yielded not just a handful of single pulls, but a substantial boost that could rival a modest top‑up. Below is a detailed breakdown of every source of free Polychrome and Master Tape that version 1.3 brought to the table.
Server Maintenance Compensation
Immediately after the update went live, any Proxy who had reached Inter‑Knot Level 4 or higher before the maintenance received a direct mail gift of 600 Polychrome. This compensation for server downtime was claimable for several weeks, so even players who logged in a few days late could still grab it. For a game where every ten pulls matter, starting the patch with a free six toward the next multi‑pull was a significant morale booster.
All‑New Program Login Bonuses

The returning All‑New Program required simply logging in on seven separate days within a 40‑day window. Doing so rewarded a total of 10 Master Tapes, which was effectively a free ten‑pull on any current limited banner. The event was structured to reward consistency rather than grind—perfect for Proxies with busy schedules yet eager to hoard resources for Miyabi or the upcoming Lighter.
Yanagi’s Moonlight Traces
A character‑centric story event often serves as both lore enrichment and resource delivery. Moonlight Traces, tied to Yanagi’s personal narrative, offered 260 Polychrome along with precious upgrade materials and Dennies. Exploring her backstory not only added depth to the squad, but also padded the wallet with enough currency to inch closer to the next pity timer.
The Final Callback Trial
Even the brief character trial event, The Final Callback, contributed 20 Polychrome and a handful of fundamental upgrade resources. While the amount seemed tiny, it demonstrated HoYoverse’s design philosophy: no portal to Polychrome is too small. Completing the trial also gave players a free test run of Yanagi’s unique parry‑based kit, which often convinced many fence‑sitters to commit their saved tapes.
The Mystery of Arpeggio Fault
Arguably the most lucrative of the 1.3 events, The Mystery of Arpeggio Fault tasked Proxies with exploring five distinct fault areas. The star reward was undoubtedly the adorable Knightboo, a Bangboo that quickly became a fan favourite, but the material rewards were just as compelling. A full clear granted 550 Polychrome, another generous dollop of Dennies, and a suite of enhancement items. This event alone supplied more than half a ten‑pull, making it unthinkable to skip for any active player.
Strategic Saving and the Bigger Picture
Stacking all the available rewards painted an enticing picture. The 600 Polychrome from maintenance, 550 from Arpeggio Fault, 260 from Moonlight Traces, and 20 from The Final Callback totalled 1,430 Polychrome. Combined with the 10 Master Tapes from All‑New Program, a completely free‑to‑play Proxy could accumulate the equivalent of roughly 19 pulls without spending a single real‑world cent. In a game where hard pity can be as deep as 90 pulls, this represented over a fifth of the way toward a guaranteed S‑rank.
Could a Proxy who skipped Yanagi still benefit from this patch? Absolutely. With Miyabi and Harumasa confirmed for version 1.4, these accumulated resources transformed into a head start for the next limited banner. Even the mightiest Sons of Calydon collector needed Polychrome to round out their collection with Lighter. The 1.3 freebies thus functioned as a universal piggy bank, agnostic to roster preferences.
The Unseen Windfalls
Beyond the headline events, the savvy Proxy always kept an eye on limited‑time ZZZ redemption codes. Often dropping through livestreams or social media, these codes frequently added another 100–300 Polychrome with minimal effort. Likewise, daily check‑ins, web events, and the occasional special livestream giveaway padded accounts further. Version 1.3 proved that the most bountiful hoards came not from one massive source, but from patiently collecting every crumb the system offered.
Why This Patch Still Matters
Looking back from 2026, the 1.3 blueprint remains a valuable lesson in resource management. Players new to the game can study how a single update, if exploited fully, can reset a depleted account and fund the next must‑have character. The method never changes, even as the banners rotate: participate in every time‑limited event, log in daily during All‑New Programs, and never ignore the modest trial rewards. Those 20 Polychrome may seem forgettable, but they were never designed to be claimed alone—they built momentum.
Did many Proxies let the Knightboo event slip away because they underestimated its payout? Regrettably, yes. The Mystery of Arpeggio Fault, for all its charm, saw completion rates dip among casual players who thought the fault exploration too time‑consuming. Yet those who persevered reaped the richest single‑event Polychrome injection of the patch, a reminder that in Zenless Zone Zero, patience and thoroughness are always rewarded.
Conclusion
The 1.3 chapter of Zenless Zone Zero was more than just Yanagi’s debut—it was a masterclass in generous yet dispersed free‑to‑play support. From the instant 600‑Polychrome mail gift to the meticulously layered events, every system worked in tandem to soften the gacha grind. Whether a Proxy’s heart was set on the lightning agent or on the katana‑wielding Miyabi on the horizon, the message was clear: logging in and engaging with the world yielded tangible, pull‑ready profit. Missed events and unclaimed mail expired, but the knowledge of how to harness a patch’s full potential never grew old.
Comments