HoYoverse just dropped an unexpected reveal for Zenless Zone Zero, and it is the kind of announcement that has us extremely hyped! However, it seems that with this one also comes a lot of disappointment from players.
Out of nowhere, the studio teased a new upcoming agent called Pyrois, and when you look at it, you can directly notice it is a playable version of our favorite and best Proxy, Phaethon.
This was not something that showed up in betas or leaks in any way or form so far, so it is a genuine surprise. I guess that HoYoverse is the one who wanted to make that announcement first, before leakers would notice it inside the next beta version. The only information we had came from the last trailer that they showed during the livestream a few days ago, where they hinted at the Proxy losing control over his power.
In hindsight, it does look like a pretty big story spoiler…
The Proxy, but Not Quite
From what has been shown, Pyrois appears to be a transformed version of the main character. The design looks more like something almost mechanical or synthetic, with a few similarities to Billy, even. In the story so far, we did notice that the Proxy had serious problems with their eyes, so we are guessing that they will lose control and transform.
Both Belle and Wise get this form, but sadly, there is essentially no difference between the two versions. It is just the same for both…
Pyrois will be an Ether Attack Agent. We suppose it is an A-Rank, given the fact that it has no specific animation or anything like the usual S-Ranks.
A Missed Opportunity?
That lack of distinction is one of the biggest points of criticism right now. A lot of players were expecting or at least hoping for something… Better. The design is cool, but the lack of different visual identities, alternate animations, or even subtle personality-driven changes between Belle and Wise just makes it look a bit lazy.
There is also a recurring sentiment that the design looks very close to an Ethereal enemy, just “cleaned up” to be playable. Not necessarily bad, but not as unique as people expected for such an important character.
Is Wise the Canon MC?
Everyone knows, HoYoverse always has one canon MC. In Genshin Impact, it is usually Aether, and in HSR, it is usually Stelle. You usually notice it because it is typically the one shown most often in trailers and teasers. And here, because the design fits Wise extremely naturally, some players feel this reinforces the idea that he is the “intended” main character, with Belle adapting into the same role rather than being equally represented. It is not confirmed, of course, but the perception is definitely there.
Free Upgrade or Gacha Banner?
And then comes the big question: how do we actually get Pyrois?
Right now, nothing is confirmed, but given that this transformation will happen during the story, chances are we will unlock it for free after that. This would also fit the fact that Pyrois is most likely an A-Rank Agent, because why would they give away an S-Rank for free…
Some players are happy just to finally get a playable version of Phaethon without relying on other agents. Others feel that after all the buildup since launch, a lower-rarity Pyrois is underwhelming.
Overall, this is a huge step forward for the story of Zenless Zone Zero. The Proxy stepping directly into combat and transforming should be a bigger and more important moment than that. Not only do they sort of spoil the actual reveal from the story, but on top of that, it does not look like Pyrois will be that special.
Of course, this is just a first reveal. There is still a lot we have not seen, like animations, kit details, story context, and all that could completely change how Pyrois is perceived.
But for now, the community is excited, curious, and just a little bit underwhelmed.
For more guides and information, check out our latest Zenless Zone Zero news!
