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Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ)

Critical Node Guide for Version 2.4

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☆ New: Tier List Maker & Co-Op Board!
★ Upcoming: Version 2.6, Sunna, & Aria!
2.5 Debut: Ye Shunguang & Zhao
2.5 Rerun: Alice, Soldier 0 Anby, & Astra
☆ Tier Lists: Agents | W-Engines | Bangboos | Teams
Redeem Codes for free Polychromes!

Zenless Zone Zero Critical Node Guide for Version 2.4

Critical Node is the second node of Shiyu Defense in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) that consists of seven stages. Check out when it resets, all the frontier guides, the best characters for each stage, and all the rewards here!

Endgame Guides
Shiyu Defense IconShiyu Defense Deadly Assault IconDeadly Assault

Critical Node Latest News

Restructuring and Updated Fifth Node

Restructured Critical Node

Critical Node of Shiyu Defense updated their stage structure in Version 2.5, reducing the frontiers from 7 to 5.

In this new Critical Node mode, the Fifth Frontier is upgraded. In order to gain higher rankings, Proxies will now have to defeat waves upon waves of enemies as fast and as much as possible, which means a high DMG output is key to winning.

The Upgraded Fifth Frontier

Restructured Critical Node Fifth Frontier

In the upgraded Fifth Frontier, Proxies will be required to complete 3 different stages, each with their own unique enemy lineups and bosses.

The new scoring parameter is based on DMG dealt, so having a higher DMG output is your key to a higher ranking. The higher your DMG output, the faster you can annihilate waves of enemies. The more waves you defeat, the higher your score will be.

2.5 Release Date and Banners

Critical Node Reset Date and Countdown

Critical Node Resets on January 9

Critical Node Reset Date and Countdown
January 9, 2026

Critical Node resets every other Friday. This resets all your progress in Critical Node so that you will be able to collect rewards again upon completion.

This Phase of Critical Node will reset on January 9, 2025.

Shiyu Defense Guide and Reset

Critical Node Stage Effects

Current Stage Effect

Frontier Info
• Agent ATK increases by 30%, CRIT DMG increases by 15%.
• Enemy Stun DMG Multiplier increases by 20%.
Next Reset 01/09/2026 - 04:00

In response to Critical Node's reset time, its Stage Effects also change in turn. This current Stage Effect for Critical Node is applied to all of its Frontiers.

Future Effects and Phases

Phase Effects
II
01/23
Frost-Bitten Iron: Agent CRIT DMG increases by 25%. While in Ether Veil, Agent Physical DMG and Ice DMG increase by 20%, and attacks ignore 10% of the enemy's DEF.
Rush of Lightning and Fire: Agent's Electric DMG and Fire DMG are increased by 30%, and Anomaly Proficiency is increased by 60. Agents start with 40 additional Energy, Attribute Anomaly DMG increases by 20%.
Blazing Stream: Agent's Sheer DMG increases by 15%, CRIT DMG increases by 15%. When an Agent's Ultimate hits enemies, ignores 10% of their All-DMG RES.
III
02/06
Fleeting Glory: While in an Ether Veil, the Agent's Attack increases by 25% and CRIT DMG increases by 20%. When an Agent hits enemies, ignore 10% of the their Physical RES.
Piercing Blade Abyss: Agent Ice and Physical DMG increase by 15%. When Agents inflict an Attribute Anomaly on enemies, their DEF is reduced by 10%, and they take 20% more Attribute Anomaly DMG for 10s. Repeated triggers reset the duration.
Cleanse the Heart With Fire: Agent Fire DMG increases by 20%. Agent's Basic Attack and Chain Attack DMG increases by 40%, and CRIT DMG increases by 30%.

How to Unlock Critical Node

Clear Stable Node: Tenth Frontier

Zenless Zone Zero - Stable Node Guide

Critical Node is unlocked after clearing Stable Node: Tenth Frontier in Shiyu Defense.

Stable Node Guide

Shiyu Defense 11

Critical Node First Frontier Details

Objectives
ZZZ - S - More than 300s remaining
ZZZ - A - More than 180s remaining
ZZZ - B - Defeat all enemies
Best Attributes 1st Half:

2nd Half:
Enemies 1st Half:

2nd Half:

Shiyu Defense 11 Critical Node Guide

Critical Node First Frontier Best Characters

First Half Teams Second Half Teams
Ye Shunguang Icon Dialyn Icon Zhao Icon
Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Yidhari Icon Ju Fufu Icon Lucia Icon
Seed Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Miyabi Icon Yanagi Icon Zhao Icon
Billy Icon Anby Icon Nicole Icon
Corin Icon Ben Icon Zhao Icon

Other Recommended Characters

1st Half
Lycaon Icon Ellen Icon Jane Icon Lighter Icon Vivian Icon Hugo Icon
2nd Half
Grace Icon Rina Icon Qingyi Icon Seth Icon Astra Icon Pulchra Icon

Shiyu Defense 12

Critical Node Second Frontier Details

Objectives
ZZZ - S - More than 300s remaining
ZZZ - A - More than 180s remaining
ZZZ - B - Defeat all enemies
Best Attributes 1st Half:

2nd Half:
Enemies 1st Half:

2nd Half:

Shiyu Defense 12 Critical Node Guide

Critical Node Second Frontier Best Characters

First Half Teams Second Half Teams
Ye Shunguang Icon Dialyn Icon Zhao Icon
Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Yidhari Icon Ju Fufu Icon Lucia Icon
Seed Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Miyabi Icon Yanagi Icon Zhao Icon
Billy Icon Anby Icon Nicole Icon
Corin Icon Ben Icon Zhao Icon

Other Recommended Characters

1st Half
Lycaon Icon Ellen Icon Jane Icon Lighter Icon Vivian Icon Hugo Icon
2nd Half
Grace Icon Rina Icon Qingyi Icon Seth Icon Astra Icon Pulchra Icon

Shiyu Defense 13

Critical Node Third Frontier Details

Objectives
ZZZ - S - More than 300s remaining
ZZZ - A - More than 180s remaining
ZZZ - B - Defeat all enemies
Best Attributes 1st Half:

2nd Half:
Enemies 1st Half:

2nd Half:

Shiyu Defense 13 Critical Node Guide

Critical Node Third Frontier Best Characters

First Half Teams Second Half Teams
Ye Shunguang Icon Dialyn Icon Zhao Icon
Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Vivian Icon Alice Icon Yuzuha Icon
Seed Icon Soldier 0 Anby Icon Zhao Icon
Banyue Icon Dialyn Icon Lucia Icon
Miyabi Icon Yanagi Icon Zhao Icon
Ben Icon Nicole Icon Corin Icon
Billy Icon Anby Icon Zhao Icon

Other Recommended Characters

1st Half
Soldier 11 Icon Lucy Icon Jane Icon Lighter Icon Evelyn Icon Manato Icon
2nd Half
Anton Icon Grace Icon Qingyi Icon Seth Icon Caesar Icon Harumasa Icon Pulchra Icon

Shiyu Defense 14

Critical Node Fourth Frontier Details

Objectives
ZZZ - S - More than 300s remaining
ZZZ - A - More than 180s remaining
ZZZ - B - Defeat all enemies
Best Attributes 1st Half:

2nd Half:
Enemies 1st Half:

2nd Half:

Shiyu Defense 14 Critical Node Guide

Critical Node Fourth Frontier Best Characters

First Half Teams Second Half Teams
Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Ye Shunguang Icon Dialyn Icon Zhao Icon
Seed Icon Astra Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Alice Icon Yuzuha Icon Burnice Icon
Yanagi Icon Astra Icon Vivian Icon
Banyue Icon Ju Fufu Icon Pan Yinhu Icon
Corin Icon Anby Icon Nicole Icon
Billy Icon Soukaku Icon Zhao Icon

Other Recommended Characters

1st Half
Anton Icon Grace Icon Rina Icon Seth Icon Harumasa Icon Pulchra Icon
2nd Half
Lycaon Icon Miyabi Icon Lighter Icon Evelyn Icon Manato Icon Yidhari Icon

Shiyu Defense 15

Critical Node Fifth Frontier Details

Challenge Target
S+ Grade - Get an S-rating in all rooms and achieve a total score of 100,000.
S Grade- Get an S-rating in all rooms
A Grade- Get an A-rating in all rooms
B Grade- Get a B-rating in all rooms
Objectives Per Room
S Grade- Reach 25000 points for the current room
A Grade- Reach 18000 points for the current room
B Grade- Reach 8000 points for the current room
Best Attributes Room 1:

Room 2:
Room 3:
Enemies Room 1:

Room 2:

Room 3:

Shiyu Defense 15 Critical Node Guide

Critical Node Fifth Frontier Best Characters

Room 1 Room 2 Room 3
Yixuan Icon Ju Fufu Icon Pan Yinhu Icon
Seed Icon Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon
Yidhari Icon Lighter Icon Lucia Icon
Banyue Icon Ju Fufu Icon Pan Yinhu Icon
Soldier 0 Anby Icon Trigger Icon Orphie and Magus Icon
Hugo Icon Lighter Icon Lycaon Icon
Alice Icon Yuzuha Icon Vivian Icon
Ye Shunguang Icon Dialyn Icon Zhao Icon
Miyabi Icon Yanagi Icon Soukaku Icon
Evelyn Icon Dialyn Icon Astra Icon

Critical Node Rewards

List of Critical Node Rewards

Frontiers Rewards
1st
Denny Denny x45,000
2nd
Denny Denny x45,000
3rd
Denny Denny x45,000
4th
Denny Denny x45,000
5th
Denny Denny x45,000
Total
Denny Denny x315,000

What is Critical Node?

Shiyu Defense Stages

Shiyu Defense Guide - Take Down Enemies Within Time Limit
Critical Node is the second node you will play through in Shiyu Defense. These consist of seven stages that refresh on a regular basis, and you can challenge to collect up to 720 Polychromes.

Shiyu Defense Guide

Zenless Zone Zero Related Guides

Zenless Zone Zero - Shiyu Defense

Shiyu Defense Guide

Stable Node Guides

All Stable Node Stages
Frontier 1 Frontier 2 Frontier 3 Frontier 4 Frontier 5
Frontier 6 Frontier 7 Frontier 8 Frontier 9 Frontier 10

Stable Node Guide

Disputed Node Guides

All Disputed Node Stages
Frontier 1 Frontier 2 Frontier 3 Frontier 4
Frontier 5 Frontier 6 Frontier 7 Frontier 8

Disputed Node Guide

Critical Node Guides

All Critical Node Stages
Frontier 1 Frontier 2 Frontier 3
Frontier 4 Frontier 5

Critical Node Guide

Ambush Node Guides

All Ambush Node Stages
Frontier 1 Frontier 2 Frontier 3
Frontier 4 Frontier 5

Ambush Node Guide

Comment

3 Anonymous Anonymous 3 months

Hi, when will the page get update ?

2 Anonymous Anonymous over 1 year

4 days from now

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