As I look back from 2026, the Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.1 ‘Undercover R&B’ era feels like a vivid, noisy dream. New Eridu was still fresh, the Hollows were terrifying, and every Proxy was scrambling to understand stun windows, anomaly buildup, and Bangboo synergy. Then came the announcement: Dear Proxy, Version 1.1 is now live, and the Strategy Guide Contest has begun. Have you ever felt that sudden urge to turn your messy combat notes into something useful for other players? I certainly did. I remember reading the event page and thinking, why not share what I learned? The contest was not just a giveaway; it was a call to document the chaos.
The submission window ran from 2024/08/14 10:00 to 2024/09/23 23:59 (UTC+8). Judging took place from 2024/09/24 to 2024/10/10 23:59, and winners were announced on 2024/10/11 at 18:00. In 2026, those dates are long past, but the structure of the event still teaches something valuable about community creativity. The prizes were generous enough to make any Proxy pause. Five Exceptional Proxy winners would receive 5,000 Polychromes, ten random acrylic character stands, a Bangboo pillow, a Fridge Magnet Collection – City NPCs Edition, and a Strategy Guide Contest avatar frame for 90 days. Ten Senior Proxy winners would get 2,000 Polychromes, four stands, the pillow, the magnets, and the frame. Fifty Rising Star Proxy winners would receive 1,000 Polychromes, one stand, the magnets, and the frame. On top of that, if valid submissions reached 1,000, every Proxy would unlock a milestone reward of 30 Polychromes. What better motivation could a guide writer ask for?
| Tier | Winners | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Proxy | 5 | Polychrome ×5000 + Random Acrylic Character Stand ×10 + Bangboo Pillow ×1 + Fridge Magnet Collection – City NPCs Edition ×1 + Avatar Frame (90 days) ×1 |
| Senior Proxy | 10 | Polychrome ×2000 + Random Acrylic Character Stand ×4 + Bangboo Pillow ×1 + Fridge Magnet Collection – City NPCs Edition ×1 + Avatar Frame (90 days) ×1 |
| Rising Star Proxy | 50 | Polychrome ×1000 + Random Acrylic Character Stand ×1 + Fridge Magnet Collection – City NPCs Edition ×1 + Avatar Frame (90 days) ×1 |
Participation was simple, at least on paper. I could click Submit on the Zenless Zone Zero Strategy Station page, or I could use the HoYoLAB event details page. For video guides, I had to follow YouTube or TikTok submission rules and submit links through the video submission window. The event page hinted that posts featuring the new characters Qingyi, Jane, and Seth, as well as the latest events, would be especially popular. That made sense. Everyone wanted to know how to build the newest Agents, and everyone wanted to clear the newest challenges.
The contest was divided into five categories, and choosing one was part of the fun. Street tours, Upgrade Guides, Bangboo Upgrades, and other beginner-friendly guides belonged in the first category. Agent skill analysis, upgrade material introductions, W-Engine choices, and Drive Disc recommendations belonged in the Agent Guide category. Any experience about commissions went into the Commission Guide category. Rally Commissions, Hollow Zero, and Shiyu Defense strategies belonged in the Hollow Guide category. Limited-time events and arcade mini-games fit the Event Guide category. If I was unsure, I could submit to Other Guide. Each category forced me to ask: what does a new Proxy actually need to know?
The submission rules were strict, and I appreciated that. The title had to follow a clear structure: #Category Name# plus a summary of the guide content. For example, #Agent Guide# Anby Optimal W-Engine and Squad Configuration. A post submission needed at least 500 words and 5 images, and GIFs counted. The formatting had to be orderly, the logic clear, and the work original. Video submissions had to be self-made, longer than 5 minutes, at least 720P, and include commentary, subtitles, or visual commentary. The description also had to state, ‘This video is a Strategy Guide Contest submission.’
The notes section was where the event became serious. I could not delete my submission during the event period, or it would be considered invalid. Winners had to provide their in-game UID and delivery address within the stipulated time. The submission had to be original fan content, with no plagiarism and no falsely claiming another person’s work. Advertising links and unrelated promotional content were forbidden. By participating, I agreed to let the organizer publish or use my submission online and offline, while I retained authorship. Each Proxy could submit multiple works, but each UID could win only one prize per version, and only the highest prize would be awarded. Some prizes might not be issued if submissions were too few or failed quality expectations. Physical rewards could be substituted if inventory or logistics failed, and winners were responsible for customs and taxes. Employees and relevant personnel could not participate. If I saw plagiarism or copyright violations, I could report them to customer service.
Looking back from 2026, I realize the Version 1.1 Strategy Guide Contest was more than a competition. It was a snapshot of a community learning how to teach itself. The game has changed a lot since then. There are more Agents, more modes, and more complicated systems. Yet the core question remains the same: how do we make complex fun understandable? I wrote about Qingyi’s stun rotations, Jane’s anomaly pressure, and Seth’s shield support. I filled my post with screenshots, short GIFs, and tables. I rewrote my introduction three times because I wanted it to sound helpful, not arrogant. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Even if I had not won, the act of organizing my knowledge made me a better player.
So if you are reading this in 2026, ask yourself: what would you teach a new Proxy? The Version 1.1 contest may be over, but the spirit of sharing guides never expires. The best rewards were never just Polychromes. They were the comments from players who finally understood a boss pattern, the thanks from someone who cleared Shiyu Defense, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing that your notes helped a stranger enjoy New Eridu a little more. That is a prize worth chasing in any version.