When Operation Bagel was first revealed during the Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) Version 3.1 livestream, it looked like a fun new way to explore Hollows while collecting exclusive rewards. Now that players have finally had the chance to jump in, though, one thing has become very clear: this isn’t your typical ZZZ game mode.
Many in the ZZZ community believe Operation Bagel is a lot more punishing than expected. Instead of just asking players to maximize their damage, like the rest of ZZZ does, the mode rewards careful decision-making and, above all else, surviving long enough to make it back out of a run: a perfect gameplay representation of ZZZ’s official lore on Hollows.
Dying Actually Matters in ZZZ’s Operation Bagel
The biggest shock for many players has been just how much is at stake during each run. If your squad is wiped out before extracting, everything you collected during that expedition is lost. Even backing out through the menu counts as abandoning the run, meaning you’ll still leave empty-handed.
HoYoverse does offer one opportunity to recover your lost gear by returning to the Hollow, but that second chance comes with a major catch. If you fail the recovery attempt as well, everything is gone for good.
It’s a mechanic that completely changes how players approach difficult encounters. Suddenly, pushing deeper into the Hollow for one more chest or another elite enemy isn’t always the right call. Knowing when to extract can be just as important as knowing when to fight.
Caesar King Is Actually One of the Best Agents for the Mode
The shift in priorities has also had an unexpected side effect: survivability has suddenly become more valuable than raw damage in many situations. Because losing a run can mean losing a ton of progress, staying alive often takes priority over clearing enemies as quickly as possible.
That has put Caesar King right back into the spotlight. Her massive shield doesn’t care about most of Operation Bagel’s dangerous mechanics or debuffs, and players who can consistently keep it active gain an enormous safety net while exploring the Hollow.
It’s a fascinating change of pace for ZZZ. Outside of a few niche modes in the past, the game has largely rewarded players for dealing as much damage as possible, as quickly as possible. While damage is still highly important in Operation Bagel, the need to stay alive flips those expectations on their head, making defensive utility feel just as valuable as another top-tier DPS.
The Difficulty Goes Beyond Bigger Health Bars
Operation Bagel also introduces an entirely new progression system that players will need to keep up with if they want to tackle the mode’s higher difficulties. Each difficulty tier expects stronger gear before enemies can even be damaged effectively, meaning you’ll need to invest in upgrades as you progress.
Those upgrades aren’t exactly cheap either, so poor decisions can set you back if you’re not careful with your resources. Fortunately, HoYoverse does provide a basic set of equipment for each difficulty tier, ensuring you can jump back in even after a failed run, but it won’t carry you forever.
Ultimately, what makes Operation Bagel stand out isn’t that enemies hit harder or have more HP. Instead, it asks players to think differently about every run, balancing risk against reward while carefully managing both their resources and survivability. For many in the community, it’s a welcome change of pace and a uniquely challenging take on ZZZ’s core gameplay.
