As of 2026, Zenless Zone Zero continues to pull in players with its stylish combat and urban fantasy vibe. But let's face it: looking cool only gets you so far. To truly hit the ground running in the Hollow, you need to master the game's equipment and Bangboo systems. This news-style breakdown covers W-Engines, Drive Discs, and everyone's favorite robot buddies, based on the latest available guide material. No fluff, just the nuts and bolts.

W-Engines: Your Agent's Best Friend

W-Engines are the weapons of Zenless Zone Zero. Their primary job is to increase an Agent's Base Attack. But that's not all—each W-Engine also comes with a unique advanced stat and a special W-Engine effect. Think of it as the difference between bringing a butter knife and a chainsaw to a Hollow fight.

Players can purchase W-Engines at the gadget shop called Box Galaxy. Alternatively, they can earn them by completing Proxy Primers, which are accessible from Inter-Knot > Proxy Primer. The costs? W-Engine modification materials, Dennies, and W-Engine Chips. The latter can be obtained by recycling A-Rank W-Engines or finishing certain side missions. So don't toss those extra A-Ranks—recycle them, and you're laughing all the way to the bank.

Upgrading W-Engines is a piece of cake once you know the ropes. Use W-Engine Power Sources—found in VR Trials and Item Crafting—to raise Basic Attack. Once the player's Inter-Knot Level is high enough, W-Engine Components (also from VR Trials and Item Crafting) can modify the W-Engine, raising its level cap and boosting advanced stats. The required parts vary by W-Engine, so keep your eyes peeled. Finally, using W-Engines of the same kind for W-Engine Updates increases the W-Engine's Phase and further enhances its effects. That's a real game changer.

Drive Discs: The Six Circles That Matter

Drive Discs are the six small circles around the W-Engine. Equipping them improves an Agent's combat abilities. If you're coming from other HoYoverse titles, Drive Discs are basically Artifacts from Genshin Impact or Relics from Honkai: Star Rail. Each Agent can equip up to six Drive Discs. Each disc has one base stat and up to four random stats. Equipping a required number of discs from the same set unlocks set effects—simple as that.

Where do players get new Drive Discs? At the music store Bardic Needle, located just in front of the video store. Using Plating Agents, players can Tune new random Drive Discs. Here's a handy rule of thumb: Drive Discs I, II, and III always provide bonus HP, ATK, and DEF respectively. Drive Discs IV, V, and VI have randomized base stats. Once Inter-Knot Level is high enough, the music store levels up too. At a certain store level, Track Settings unlock, allowing players to set a Tuning Orientation to increase the drop rate of a desired Drive Disc set. That's a huge bang for your buck.

For stat growth, when a Drive Disc has fewer than four random stats, one new random stat is added every three levels. Once it has four random stats, a random existing stat is upgraded every three levels. The level cap depends on the Drive Disc's rank. Players should crunch the numbers before investing heavily—not every disc deserves max attention.

Bangboo: More Than Just Cute Robots

Bangboo are the adorable mechanical helpers in Zenless Zone Zero, but they're no joke. Eous is the first Bangboo players get for free. Eous acts as the player's double in the Hollow—since humans can't safely go there, players possess Eous's body to navigate. After completing the commission "No Guts No Glory," Eous can be modified at the remodeling shop Turbo to unlock additional features during Hollow exploration. To modify Eous, complete Chip Splicing in the operation panel.

All Bangboo Chips come in four ranks: S, A, B, and C. Different ranks occupy different numbers of chip slots. Once a new chip set is configured, tap the Power Button in the upper right corner to save and activate it. Players can customize chip sets to fit a commission before entering the Hollow. Chips can be exchanged for Ether Fluid at the remodeling shop.

Combat Bangboo, unlike Eous, fight alongside players in the Hollow. They are obtained from wishing in Signal Search. Each Combat Bangboo has unique combat skills and passive skills that enhance Agents' combat abilities. Picking a Bangboo that aligns with the squad's combat style makes battles much easier. While Combat Bangboo cannot be modified, players can use Bangboo Software to level them up. Once a Combat Bangboo reaches a certain level, Ether Fluid can be used for Bangboo System Optimization.

When players obtain a Bangboo they already own, it automatically converts into Logic Cores. These Logic Cores can be used to Update the Bangboo's cores and enhance skill effects. So duplicates aren't a waste—they're fuel for improvement.

Quick Comparison Table

System	Purpose	Key Acquisition	Upgrade Resource
W-Engine	Weapon, boosts Base Attack and advanced stats	Box Galaxy, Proxy Primers	Power Sources, Components, same W-Engines
Drive Disc	Gear, improves combat abilities	Bardic Needle Tuning	Plating Agents, random stat leveling
Eous Bangboo	Exploration helper	Free, modify at Turbo	Chip Splicing, Ether Fluid
Combat Bangboo	Combat ally	Signal Search	Bangboo Software, Ether Fluid, Logic Cores

Final Thoughts for 2026

In 2026, Zenless Zone Zero's equipment and Bangboo systems remain the backbone of any successful Hollow run. Whether a player is a fresh-faced Proxy or a seasoned veteran, understanding W-Engines, Drive Discs, and Bangboo is non-negotiable. Take the time to tune discs, upgrade engines, and configure chips. It might seem like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, it's no sweat. And remember: a well-built Agent with a loyal Bangboo is worth their salt in any fight.

That's the lowdown. Now go out there and make the Hollow regret ever messing with you. 😎