If you can't decide which Agent to pull for ZZZ Version 2.8, here's a quick guide to look into.
Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.8 is almost here and with it comes one of the most-anticipated characters in the game, Starlight Billy, which is the S-Rank version of one of the original Agents in the game.
However, the patch is in a bit of an awkward spot. On one hand, you’ve got genuinely strong units and solid reruns. On the other, 3.0 is right around the corner with new mechanics, a likely meta shake-up, and the usual “power creep but make it subtle” approach.
So this isn’t really a patch where you blindly pull, it’s one where you look at your account and decide what actually moves the needle. So if you’re looking for advice on how to get smart about your resources, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at each character banner, and see if the agent might be worth pulling for you.
Should I pull Promeia in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.8?
Promeia is an Ice Anomaly unit, but she doesn’t play like your typical slow-and-steady anomaly builder. Instead, her kit leans into burst windows, where she ramps up quickly and dumps a lot of value through A-Bloom-style procs and disorder interactions. She also has built-in synergy with other Anomaly units, meaning she scales better in teams that are already committed to that playstyle rather than being a plug-and-play option.
Now, the big thing hanging over her is Miyabi. If you already have Miyabi, Promeia doesn’t come in and outright replace her (after all, Miyabi is a Void Hunter). From what we’ve seen, it’s more of a side-grade situation, there will be bosses and scenarios where Promeia performs better (especially with newer mechanics), but there will also be plenty where Miyabi still feels more comfortable, especially against older, freeze-friendly content.
Where Promeia does stand out is future potential. She already shows interaction with mechanics tied to the upcoming Wind system, which suggests she’s designed to age into 3.0 rather than dominate 2.8. That’s good, but it’s also risky to pull purely based on what a unit might become.
Pull if: you don’t have Miyabi, you’re heavily invested in Anomaly teams, or you want a unit that’s likely to gain value as new mechanics roll out.
Skip if: you already have Miyabi or a stable Anomaly core: Promeia isn’t a must-have upgrade right now, and pulling for future synergy alone is always a gamble.
Should I pull Starlight–Billy in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.8?
Starlight Billy is where things get a bit painful. On paper, he’s a Physical Rupture DPS with a solid, familiar kit: HP management, parries, and big burst damage through charged attacks. He looks fun, his animations are great, and he absolutely can put out damage. On top of that, his S-rank form is highly praised by most players and therefore, highly-anticipated. Meta-wise however, things get a bit tricky. First, stronger, Physical Damage type agents are abundant in the current ZZZ roster.
Second, Rupture as an archetype isn’t in the strongest place right now in the meta, and may continue to struggle depending on how future bosses are designed. And third, probably the biggest issue, he’s releasing right before 3.0, where we already know new mechanics (like Wind) and potentially stronger units are coming in.
So what you end up with is a character who is perfectly fine in isolation, but doesn’t really solve a problem most accounts have. He’s not enabling a new playstyle, he’s not clearly outperforming existing options, and he’s not particularly future-proof based on current trends. That doesn’t make him bad, it just makes him a tough sell if you’re thinking long-term.
Pull if: you like him (nothing wrong with that!), you want a fresh DPS, or you’re committed to Rupture and need another carry. He’ll do the job and look good doing it.
Skip if: you care more about meta value or efficiency, as he’s very much a “right place, wrong time” unit in the current landscape.
Should I pull Lucia in Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.8?
Lucia is a very straightforward case, but only if you understand what she actually does. She’s a Rupture support, not a generalist buffer, not a flex pick, so you bring her specifically to make Rupture teams work properly. And within that niche, she’s still incredibly strong. She buffs sheer force, enables better damage output, and generally feels like the missing piece if you’ve ever tried to run Rupture without her.
The reason there’s even a debate here is because of where the game is heading. Recent boss design has already started to shift, with lower defence and higher HP pools, which subtly reduces the effectiveness of Rupture compared to before. It’s not dead by any means, but it’s not the dominant force it used to be either, and there’s a real chance that trend continues into 3.0. That said, supports tend to age better than DPS units. Even if Rupture dips in and out of favour, Lucia will likely remain relevant within that archetype simply because she does her job so cleanly and efficiently.
Pull if: you already run Rupture DPS units and don’t have her, she’s a clear upgrade and makes those teams feel complete.
Skip if: you don’t play Rupture or you’re planning to pivot into newer mechanics with 3.0, she’s excellent, but very specialised.
Should I pull Orphie and Magus in Zenless Zone Zero 2.8?
Orphie and Magus is a hybrid support/sub-DPS who brings off-field damage, buffs, and some team utility. The catch is that a lot of her value is tied to specific team setups, particularly with units like Solder 0 Anby where she can fully enable her kit.
When she’s in the right team, she feels great: consistent extra damage, easy-to-maintain buffs, and solid overall contribution without needing heavy field time. But outside of those ideal setups, her impact drops off quite a bit. She becomes more of a “nice to have” rather than a core piece. That makes her a bit of a luxury pull. She’s not bad, and she’s not unusable outside her best teams, but she’s also not someone you pick up and immediately feel a massive difference unless your account is already built around her. Add in the fact that we’re heading into 3.0, and it becomes harder to justify spending pulls on a unit that isn’t broadly flexible.
Pull if: you have (or plan to build) her best teams, especially Solder 0 Anby comps, and want to optimise them further.
Skip if: you’re looking for a general-use support or trying to prepare for the next meta, she’s too team-dependent to be a safe blind pull.
Final thoughts
If we’re being completely honest, Version 2.8 leans more towards a selective pull patch rather than a must-summon one. Promeia and Lucia have clear value in the right accounts, while S-Billy and Orphie and Magus are more situational picks that depend heavily on what you already have and what you are planning for, especially with 3.0 around the corner and a whole new Wind attribute set to shake things up.
That said, this is just the on-paper advice. At the end of the day, your pulls should match what you actually want out of the game, whether that is building specific teams, preparing for future metas, or simply picking up characters you genuinely like.
And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with pulling for vibes. Between trust events, quality time, and just having characters you enjoy on your account, sometimes that adds way more to your Zenless Zone Zero experience than chasing the meta ever will.
Zenless Zone Zero 2.8's first half arrives on 6 May, 2026, while the second half arrives on 27 May, 2026.
