Annihilation Simulacrum Guide and Best Agents for Zenless Zone Zero

Annihilation Simulacrum Guide and Best Agents for Zenless Zone Zero

Annihilation Simulacrum is an Endgame mode in Zenless Zone Zero where you have to face three different bosses but using trial characters instead of your own. Fight bosses with unique mechanics, learn the best teams for Annihilation Simulacrum and claim all the rewards!

Last updated Today at 20:00 by Shikhu
1.

What is Annihilation Simulacrum in Zenless Zone Zero?

Annihilation Simulacrum is a high-stakes, endgame challenge mode in Zenless Zone Zero, designed around fighting bosses with specific mechanics, and more importantly, using trial characters.

Annihilation Simulacrum does not allow players to use their personally-built characters and instead provides a finite roster of characters for the Extreme mode difficulty.

Annihilation Simulacrum will resets every patch, providing new bosses, new rewards and a new roster of trial characters.

1.1.

Annihilation Simulacrum Features 2 Difficulties

Annihilation Simulacrum Features 2 Difficulties:

  • Standard Mode
  • Extreme Mode

Standard mode is exactly what you expect out of a boss fight in Zenless Zone Zero while Extreme Mode ups the difficulty with a lot more HP and an overall tougher experience.

Furthermore, Standard mode provides the bulk of rewards available in Annihilation Simulacrum with all Polychrome rewards being available from this mode.

2.

Annihilation Simulacrum Stage Guide and Best Teams

Primordial Nightmare Drowned Ideal - Komano Manato Shining Promise - Billy
2.1.

Primordial Nightmare Guide

Special Challenge
Prevent Integrated - Primordial Nightmare from performing no more than 3 State Switches throughout the entire battle.
Stage Overview
At the start of combat and upon recovering from Stun, the Boss will have half its Daze gauge filled. When Swift Flying Sword hits the Boss, it prevents them from performing a State Switch for a period of time.
Whenever the Boss's accumulated Daze or reduced Miasmic Shield reaches a certain threshold, it will attempt a State Switch. If it succeeds, the Boss's current Daze and Miasmic Shield values undergo a proportional conversion.
When Agents perform a Defensive Assist, Perfect Dodge, or Ultimate, or apply an Attribute Anomaly to the enemy, the cooldown of Swift Flying Sword is reduced.
While the Miasmic Shield is active, Agents blocking the Boss's attacks will additionally reduce the Miasmic Shield value.
2.1.1.

Best Teams

Extreme Mode

Standard Mode

2.1.2.

Fight Advice

A new button is available in this fight which should be pressed regularly to stop Miasmic Shield from occurring. Use it as soon as possible at the start of the fight, and then whenever it starts to flash before the boss activates their Miasmic Shield.

Defensive Assist, Perfect Dodge, Ultimate, or Attribute Anomaly will reset the cooldown slightly allowing you to use it often enough that the boss will never activate their shield.

2.2.

Drowned Ideal - Komano Manato Guide

Special Challenge
Prevent Integrated - Drowned Ideal -Komano Manato from ever entering Miasmic Shield Frenzy.
Stage Overview
In combat, the Boss starts with half of its Miasmic Shield value. Agents' attacks will not reduce its Miasmic Shield value. Triggering a Defensive Assist, or landing an Ultimate, EX Special Attack, or Assist Follow-Up on the Boss while it's blocking will break the Boss's blocking state and reduce its Miasmic Shield value. When the Miasmic Shield value is reduced to zero, the boss will immediately become Stunned. The Boss gains Miasmic Shield value when its attacks hit an Agent or blocks an Agent's attack. If the Boss's Miasmic Shield value accumulates to its maximum value, he will enter Miasmic Shield Frenzy. In this state, "Integrated - Drowned Ideal - Komano Manato" cannot be interrupted, and his aggression increases.
2.2.1.

Best Teams

Extreme Mode

Standard Mode

2.2.2.

Fight Advice

Do not attack Manato while blocking with normal attacks as it will increase his shield. EX Special Attacks, or attacks considered an EX Special however can go through fine.

Manato provides many opportunities to create a defensive assist allowing you to reduce his miasma shield quickly. That being said, taking damage also increases his shield so dodging some attacks also helps you in the long run.

2.3.

Shining Promise - Billy Guide

Special Challenge
Don't let Agents accumulate 20 stacks of Etch.
Stage Overview
During combat, the boss will leave a zone called Starlight Arena on the field every 10s. Agents within this zone will gain 1 stack of Etch every 1.5s. Etch has a maximum of 20 stacks. Each stack of Etch increases all Agents' Anomaly Buildup Rate by 40% and causes the currently active Agent to continuously lose HP. Agents can transfer 2 stacks of Etch to the Boss by triggering a Defensive Assist or a block. Triggering a Dodge Counter will transfer 1 stack of Etch to the Boss. Inflicting an Attribute Anomaly on the Boss transfers 4 stacks of Etch to the Boss. Stunning the Boss transfers all stacks of Etch to the Boss. When the Boss's accumulated Etch reaches the maximum number of stacks, all Etch stacks are detonated, dealing DMG to Integrated - Shining Promise - Billy equal to a percentage of his Max HP, and restoring HP to all Agents equal to 50% of their lost HP. When the Boss successfully deals DMG with certain attacks, 2 stacks of Etch are transferred to the Agent.
2.3.1.

Best Teams

Extreme Mode

Standard Mode

2.3.2.

Fight Advice

Etch stacks are generated when standing in the red puddles! They can then be transferred to Billy with a range of methods but the best is through Attribute Anomaly which transfers 4 stacks at a time.

Positioning yourself above Starlight Arena's can be difficult with how much Billy moves. Instead, place yourself in the corner of the arena which allows most puddles to be focused in a single area. This is especially useful because Velina makes it difficult to locate puddles with her attack covering the floor.

3.

What are the Annihilation Simulacrum Rewards?

Annihilation Simulacrum provides rewards based on if you complete the mode's objectives, clearing on a specific difficulty and clearing within a specific time frame.

Each fight rewards players with:

Objective Rewards
Complete fight-specific mechanic Polychrome x40
Denny x20,000
Clear Standard difficulty Polychrome x80
Denny x20,000
Clear Standard difficulty within 180s Polychrome x40
Original Chip x3
Clear Extreme difficulty within 180s Hi-Fi Master Copy x9
Original Chip x3

Additionally, completing all missions in combat rewards for Standard Mode provides an extra 100 Polychromes.

The overall total per patch is:

  • Polychrome x580
  • Denny x120,000
  • Original Chip x18
  • Hi-Fi Master Copy x27

Rewards will be obtainable again each time Annihilation Simulacrum resets!

4.

Changelog

  • 17 Jun. 2025: Annihilation Simulacrum Guide added.
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