New in this version
- Phoenix New
- Severian New
Events and dates
- Spooky Funhouse Tales 2026/10/22 10:00 - 2026/11/30 03:59
- Advanced Bounty doubles Area Patrol rewards 2026/11/04 04:00 - 2026/11/09 03:59
- Data Bounty doubles Combat Simulation rewards 2026/11/25 04:00 - 2026/11/30 03:59
Rewards
- Polychrome ×300
- Master Tape ×10
- Boopon ×10
- Monochrome ×1,350
- Monochrome ×1,680
- Monochrome ×2,350
- Compensation Polychrome ×300
Eligibility: Chapter 3 first and unlocks two Restricted Areas in Roscaelif; Inter-Knot Lv
Based on Version 3.3 "Journey to the Sky" Update Announcement by HoYoverse, published 20 October 2026. Playing Zenless Zone Zero? See the Zenless Zone Zero page on The Nexus.
Version 3.3 "Journey to the Sky" adds the S-Rank Agents Phoenix and Severian, two S-Rank W-Engines and a new Main Story chapter. Most of the announcement is content, and the Shiyu Defense buffs are its only combat numbers. The update goes live on 2026/10/21 at 06:00 (UTC+8), and the version runs 42 days, ending on 2026/12/02 06:00 (UTC+8). Two compensation packages have hard cutoffs, and several limited events and store items close before the version does. Timing your claims and spending will matter more than balance.
New Agents and W-Engines
Both new Agents are S-Rank: Phoenix (Fire - Anomaly) and Severian (Wind - Attack). Phoenix is in the Signal Search called Into the Flames of Life, and Severian is in Answers in the Wind. Pull rates and banner length are missing from the notes, which means any saving plan waits for the banners to open and show their costs. After the update, each Agent also gets Agent Trust and Quality Time events that stay available. To start them you need the Agent plus the earlier story steps, which Workbench > Partner Archive keeps track of.
Signal Search also carries two S-Rank W-Engines, Plume of Rebirth (Anomaly) and Incarcerating Grip (Attack). A third, Candlelit Scheme (Armorer), is A-Rank and comes only from the limited Spooky Funhouse Tales event, so it disappears when the event ends. If you go by element and specialty labels alone, Phoenix suits Plume of Rebirth and Severian suits Incarcerating Grip. That is a starting guess; the notes recommend no pairing.
Shiyu Defense, phase by phase
Shiyu Defense gets new Critical Node buffs in three phases. In Phase I, Anomaly specialty Agents gain Fire DMG at 20%, while Attack specialty Agents gain Ether DMG and Ice DMG at 20% and CRIT DMG at 40%. Attack specialty Agents also slow enemy Daze recovery by 15% for 15s after they stun a target. Anomaly squads get the most direct help in this phase, while Attack teams enjoy a second boost from the Ether and Ice side.
Phase II backs Attack specialty Agents again, with ATK at 35% and Wind DMG at 20%, and their Ultimates cut the enemy's Wind RES by 15% for 30s. Anomaly squads gain a whole-squad ATK bonus of 10% after an Anomaly CRIT, plus 20% extra Attribute Anomaly DMG for 15s. Phase III shifts to Armorer specialty Agents, with DEF at 15% and Sharp DMG at 15%, and their hits ignore 10% of the enemy's Fire RES and Electric RES. Which phase is hardest, and how enemies scale, is not stated, so clearing Phase I proves little about Phase III. The team that carries Phase I may not carry over, so plan the Phase II and Phase III squads around Attack or Armorer specialties before those phases open.
Deadlines and event dates
Two compensation packages pay Polychrome ×300 each. The Server Update Compensation and the Issue Fix Compensation both require Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before the update starts at 2026/10/21 06:00 (UTC+8). Fall short of it and neither package is earned; the notes give no later way in. Claim windows differ. The Server Update package can be claimed until Version 3.3 ends, but the Issue Fix package closes on 2026/11/20 23:59 (UTC+8). Rewards arrive by in-game mail after the update, and that mail expires after 30 days, so an attachment left unclaimed is lost even when you qualified.
The events keep their own clocks, listed in server time. Spooky Funhouse Tales runs from 2026/10/22 10:00 to 2026/11/30 03:59. Advanced Bounty doubles Area Patrol rewards from 2026/11/04 04:00 to 2026/11/09 03:59, and Data Bounty doubles Combat Simulation rewards from 2026/11/25 04:00 to 2026/11/30 03:59. The login events All-New Program and En-Nah Into Your Lap each reward seven days of logins, with Encrypted Master Tape ×10 and Boopon ×10. Limited Spookies in Boojee's Store last only through Version 3.3. Redeem what you want before the version closes on 2026/12/02 06:00 (UTC+8).
Outfits, story and features
Phoenix has two new outfits, The Illness Called Life and Daydream Complex, each on sale for Monochrome ×1,350 instead of Monochrome ×1,680, with one purchase allowed per outfit during the sale. A bundle called Empty Daydreams holds both at Monochrome ×2,350 with a 30% discount, starting 2026/12/02 05:59 (UTC+8) according to the notes. Bundle deals and single-item discounts do not stack, so picking one closes off the other. Severian's Solemnly Impeccable is on sale from 2026/11/11 12:00 (server time) until 2026/12/02 05:59 (UTC+8) at the same Monochrome ×1,350. Anyone who wants a single Phoenix outfit is better served by the single sale, and the bundle is for those who want both. Hold your Monochrome until you have decided.
Main Story Season 3 Chapter 4 Journey to the Sky requires Chapter 3 first and unlocks two Restricted Areas in Roscaelifer: Quietude Isle and Airspace Control Tower. There is also a new Bangboo Mech that fights in both melee and ranged modes, seen during Main Story and while exploring Quietude Isle. The Agent Guides feature adds upgrade notes, a Tutorial Function and a Fairy Team Recommendation Function. That last one is still in testing, according to the notes, so its suggestions may change before release. Pre-battle Challenge prompts show up in modes such as Notorious Hunt and Expert Challenge, and you can switch them off. Deadly Assault also gets a new enemy roster in each phase, with Blasphemer and Phaethon of the Scorched Horizon in later stages.
Figures worth keeping
| What | Change | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Server Update Compensation | Polychrome ×300, requires Inter-Knot Lv. 4 before 2026/10/21 06:00 (UTC+8) | A fixed reward that depends on reaching the level before the update starts. |
| Issue Fix Compensation | Polychrome ×300, claim before 2026/11/20 23:59 (UTC+8) | The second package has a shorter claim window than the Server Update package. |
| Phoenix outfit sale | Monochrome ×1,680 down to Monochrome ×1,350 | Each Phoenix outfit is cheaper only during the discount period, with one purchase allowed. |
| Empty Daydreams bundle | Monochrome ×2,350 with a 30% discount | A single price for both Phoenix outfits, which cannot be stacked with item sales. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase I, Anomaly | Fire DMG increases by 20% | A direct boost for Anomaly squads in the first phase. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase I, Daze | Daze recovery speed decreases by 15% for 15s after a stun | Attack teams make enemies lose recovery speed for a short time after each stun. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase II, Attack | ATK increases by 35%, Wind DMG increases by 20% | The largest ATK figure in the notes, aimed at Attack specialty squads. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase II, Wind RES | Enemy Wind RES decreases by 15% for 30s after an Ultimate hits | Wind-focused hits land harder while the debuff lasts. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase III, Armorer | DEF increases by 15%, Sharp DMG increases by 15% | Armorer squads get defensive and damage support in the last phase. |
| Shiyu Defense Phase III, Anomaly Proficiency | Anomaly Proficiency increases by 30 | A flat stat boost that helps Anomaly Agents in the final phase. |
| Version 3.3 length | 42 days, ending on 2026/12/02 06:00 (UTC+8) | Sets the outer limit for Server Update compensation and limited items. |
| Update duration | About five hours from 2026/10/21 06:00 (UTC+8) | Plan to be offline during that window on any platform. |
Winners and losers
Winners
- Anomaly specialty Agents in Shiyu Defense get Fire DMG at 20% in Phase I, and Phase II adds a squad ATK bonus of 10% plus 20% extra Attribute Anomaly DMG for 15s after their CRIT hits.
- Attack specialty Agents in Shiyu Defense receive ATK at 35% in Phase II and CRIT DMG at 40% in both Phase I and Phase III, with Wind DMG at 30% added in Phase III.
- Armorer specialty Agents in Phase III gain DEF at 15%, Sharp DMG at 15%, and hits that ignore 10% of the enemy's Fire RES and Electric RES.
- Players who want the Phoenix or Severian content get Trust and Quality Time events that stay available permanently after the update, so there is content to play beyond the pull itself.
Losers
- Players who buy the outfits at full price pay Monochrome ×1,680 where the sales cost Monochrome ×1,350, for both Phoenix outfits and Severian's outfit, so buying early costs more.
- Players who miss the Issue Fix deadline lose the Polychrome ×300 reward when the package closes on 2026/11/20 23:59 (UTC+8).
- Players who skip the limited Spooky Funhouse Tales content miss Candlelit Scheme, which only comes from that event, and Limited Spookies in Boojee's Store, which only last through Version 3.3.
What the notes leave out
For Phoenix and Severian the notes carry no pull rates, banner lengths or Agent kits, so their banners cannot yet be weighed against past ones. Difficulty is also missing for each Shiyu Defense phase and Deadly Assault stage, which stops the buffs from turning into a damage estimate. Anomaly and Attack specialty squads get the largest Shiyu Defense figures. How much that matters will be clear only after the stages open and players report back.
