Zenless Zone Zero: Banyue Banner Release Date & Timing for 2

Banyue Arrives in Zenless Zone Zero: Dates, Times & Pulling Strategy

Zenless Zone Zero will introduce Banyue as a playable Agent in his debut limited banner starting December 17, 2025 (patch 2.4, Phase 2). For dedicated Proxies, this launch isn’t just another banner—it reshuffles expectations around banner pacing, F2P currency planning, and meta team-building as the meta edges toward the 2026 competitive endgame.

At a Glance: Banyue Banner Highlights

Banner Duration: December 17, 2025 (12:00 PM server time) – December 29, 2025 (Phase 2, Version 2.4)
Shortened Banner: Only 12 days (vs. regular 3-week phases)
Servers: Staggered release across Asia, Europe, and America
Concurrent Banner: Ellen returns alongside Banyue for a rerun
Immediate Consequence: F2P and low-spend pulls must be carefully timed; Polychrome reserve management is critical

Banner Schedule: Exact Times by Server/Region

The Banyue banner in Zenless Zone Zero does not follow the typical three-week format, instead lasting only two weeks. This creates a narrow window between banners and puts extra pressure on those saving for specific units.

Phase	Start Date	End Date	Main Banner	Other Banner
2.4 Phase 2	2025-12-17 (12:00, local)	2025-12-29 (12:00, local)	Banyue Debut	Ellen Rerun

Server-Specific Start Times ([Source: in-game schedule])

Region	Timezone	Banner Start
America	ET (UTC-5)	2025-12-17, 12:00 PM
Europe	CET (UTC+1)	2025-12-17, 12:00 PM
Asia	SGT (UTC+8)	2025-12-17, 12:00 PM

Other time zones available upon request. Official timing is aligned to server reset per HoYoverse schedule.

What Makes Banyue’s Banner Unique?

Short Banner Cycle: Only 12 days, compared to the regular 19–21 days.
Debut + Rerun: Players must weigh Banyue's limited debut against Ellen’s rerun within the same window.
Currency Crunch: Many will lack time to amass enough Polychrome after previous banners like Dialyn.

Should You Pull For Banyue? (F2P, Low-Spend, Meta-Focused)

Pros

Banyue is expected to shake up several endgame team compositions and could fill key DPS/support roles (see: Zenless Zone Zero: Current Banner, Next Banner, and Past Banners).
Unique kit (Not detailed in official sources) may enable new synergies, especially for disruption-heavy or multi-target stages in later Hollow Zero floors.

Cons

Banner Length: The shortened window leaves less time to decide, build pity, or recover Polychrome after previous pulls.
Competition: With Ellen returning, players targeting ice/physical comps may face a tough prioritization call.
Resource Planning: Players investing elsewhere (pity on previous banners, pre-farmed materials for future expected agents) could be stretched thin.

Pity Mechanics

"Not stated in official materials" for this patch, but expect standard banner rates and pity (typically 50/50 and 90 hard pity for SSRs, as with prior Zenless Zone Zero banners).

Optimal Guidance:

F2P & Low-Spend: Unless Banyue’s kit directly addresses a current gap in your account or main team (e.g., lacking top-tier AoE burst or multi-element disruptor), be cautious. Prioritize only if you’re already sitting on high pity.
Whales/Completionists: This is a must-pull for collection and to keep meta options open, especially given the shortened duration.

Teams & Synergy: Banyue’s Potential Endgame Impact

While HoYoverse has withheld complete ability details in official sources, existing leaks and the developer pattern suggest:

Banyue will likely perform best in teams requiring high burst or disruption, enabling smoother clears in high-tier Hollow Zero runs.
Core comps: Yet to be confirmed—expect synergy with agents offering team-wide buffs or fast energy regeneration.
Alternative setups: If you lack other 5-stars from recent banners, pairing Banyue with readily available SSRs/SSRs remains viable, but optimization details await official numbers.

If his kit favors break or damage-over-time, consider synergy with future drive discs or upcoming 2.5+ agents. Check back at EarlyGG's meta analysis after banner launch.

Preparation Checklist

Save Polychrome: Focus weekly resources on event completions, dailies, and redeem all available codes (Nov 2025 codes guide) before December 17th.
Material Farms: As materials for Banyue are not yet listed in official drops, maintain a stock of universal upgrade resources.
Team Building: Consider leveling potential support agents or flexibility slots if planning to slot Banyue into Meta/Hollow Zero teams.

What’s Unconfirmed (Leaks & Community Speculation)

Kit specifics, exact element/role, and optimal drive discs: Unconfirmed — subject to change.
Future banners post-2.4: No official word on Phase 3 or 2.5 banners.

Always use official in-game notifications or EarlyGG’s banner tracker for the most up-to-date information.

Conclusion & What to Watch Next

Banyue’s debut represents a notable shift in Zenless Zone Zero’s banner cadence, likely a test of future pacing or to slot holiday events. For high-end players and collectors alike, his short-lived banner means tougher choices than usual—especially for those low on Polychrome.

Expect rapid meta evaluation once the banner is live. Be ready to pivot, and revisit EarlyGG’s meta and team guides as player data rolls in. If you’re not prepared on day one, you may miss a high-value Agent until his likely rerun.

Banner dates, rates, and other features cited from official in-game schedules and published HoYoverse patch notes as of December 2025. For step-by-step guides, check EarlyGG’s agent and banner hub.

Suggested Visuals:
– Banyue and Ellen banner side-by-side splash art (alt: Both agents standing in front of a Hollow portal, emphasizing the simultaneous rerun/debut dynamic).
– Compact calendar view highlighting the 2.4 banner phases (alt: Timeline graphic to show banner compression).

All images recommended for accessibility: include agent names, event context, and indicate “debut” or “rerun” status as appropriate.