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Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Shiyu Defense Guide and Overview for Critical Nodes

Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Shiyu Defense Guide and Overview for Critical Nodes

Struggling with a Shiyu Defense Critical Nodes? Check out our dedicated Shiyu Defense Critical Node Guide for stage information, Agent recommendations, and more!

Last updated Today at 15:54 by Seliathan
1.

What is the Critical Node in Shiyu Defense?

The Critical Node is comprised of stages that rotate on a twice monthly basis. Critical Node stages focus on killing a set number of enemies within a certain amount of time, and meeting certain thresholds will grant you the maximum rewards. You will be able to gain up to 720 Polychrome from this content, provided you manage to clear all seven stages on S-Rank. Each stage has 3 sets of rewards that you can gain at B, A and S-Grades respectively.

Clearing any stage at any grade will unlock the next one for you, so don't fret if you do not manage to get an S-Grade immediately. Depending on how many stages you have cleared in the previous cycle, you may be able to skip some stages. S-ranking all 7 Critical Node stages will allow you to skip the first 3 stages in the upcoming cycle.

In this guide we will provide detailed information on each of the 7 stages, highlighting the weaknesses of the enemies in each stage, as well as potential team recommendations that might make your life a little easier in order to claim the mode's rewards.

Keep in mind that a well built character may perform better than others, even if it does not match the enemies weakness. Just make sure to not pit them against enemies that are resistant to their damage type.

Critical Node Stage 3
2.

Critical Node Stages

There are 7 stages in the Critical Node section of the Shiyu Defense. Each stage has its own set of enemies, buffs and effects that boost your characters, as well as their own Challenge Target time-limits. In each stage you will have to field 2 teams, requiring 6 Agents and 2 Bangboos total. You cannot use the same Agent or Bangboo twice.

3.

Critical Node Stage Information

Disclaimer: Depending on your account, you may only have a handful of characters leveled and equipped. While this guide will recommend different teams for different stages, you are more likely to succeed by playing your highest level characters that you have the most practice with, instead of the ones that match the stage's bonuses and vulnerabilities. Simply make sure to not field a team that the enemy units have resistances against, and try to take advantage of the bonuses granted each cycle.

Use the Stage-Slider to select the stage you would like more information on.

Move the slider below to make the guide update to your level!

Stage: 1

This rotation of Critical Nodes heavily emphasizes Anomaly Agents, and you will likely want to bring them in almost every stage, regardless of weakness. While the below team recommendations are still heavily centered around the weaknesses of each stage, you can run Hoshimi Miyabi, Grace Howard, Jane Doe, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and Piper Wheel as your main DPS for almost all stages, as well as Burnice White as a sub DPS for any of them.

4.

Critical Node: First Frontier

Critical Node Stage 1
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

4.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Zhu Yuan Qingyi
Team 2
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Tsukishiro Yanagi
5.

Critical Node: Second Frontier

Critical Node Stage 2
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

5.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Soldier 11 Burnice White
Soldier 11
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Jane Doe Burnice White
Piper Wheel Lucy
6.

Critical Node: Third Frontier

Critical Node Stage 3
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

  • Team 1
  • Fire

  • Team 2
  • None
6.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Zhu Yuan Qingyi
7.

Critical Node: Fourth Frontier

Critical Node Stage 4
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

7.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Soldier 11 Burnice White
Soldier 11
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Jane Doe Burnice White
8.

Critical Node: Fifth Frontier

Critical Node Stage 5
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

  • Team 1
  • Fire

  • Team 2
  • None
8.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Zhu Yuan Qingyi
9.

Critical Node: Sixth Frontier

Critical Node Stage 6
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

9.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Jane Doe Burnice White
Soldier 11 Burnice White
Soldier 11
Piper Wheel Lucy
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Zhu Yuan Qingyi
10.

Critical Node: Seventh Frontier

Critical Node Stage 7
Time Limit Bonus Effects Weakness Resistance
  • S-Rank: >300s remaining
  • A-Rank: >180s remaining
  • B-Rank: Defeat All Enemies

Increases Agent ElectricAnomalyBuildupRate and IceAnomalyBuildupRate by 25%.
When inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on an enemy, increases all squad members' CRIT DMG by 20% and Attribute Anomaly DMG by 20%. Stacks up to three times and lasts for 30s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately.

  • Team 1
  • Ice

  • Team 2
  • None
10.1.
DPS Sub DPS/Stun Support
Team 1
Jane Doe Burnice White
Soldier 11 Burnice White
Soldier 11
Piper Wheel Lucy
Team 2
Hoshimi Miyabi
Hoshimi Miyabi
Ellen Joe
Zhu Yuan Qingyi
10.2.

Changelog

  • 18 Dec. 2024: Updated for Anomaly Impact season.
  • 03 Nov. 2024: Updated for Surging Starflow season.
  • 17 Nov. 2024: Updated for Whirling Current season.
  • 01 Nov. 2024: Updated for Lightning Speed season.
  • 17 Oct. 2024: Updated for Unyielding Momentum season.
  • 01 Oct. 2024: Updated for Close Quarters Combat season.
  • 16 Sep. 2024: Updated for Global Rollout season.
  • 01 Sep. 2024: Updated for Irresistible Force season.
  • 16 Aug. 2024: Updated for Precise Synergy season.
  • 03 Aug. 2024: Page added.
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