Complete price breakdown for Zenless Zone Zero Monochrome

Talking about "top-up" in Zenless Zone Zero(CN) essentially comes down to Monochrome(CN). It is the only premium currency in the CN server directly purchasable with RMB, with a rate of 1 yuan ≈ 10 Monochrome. All gacha resources (Polychrome) are ultimately converted from it. Version 3.1 "A Long Farewell" reset the first-time double bonus across all tiers on its launch day, giving the old question of "Zenless Zone Zero Monochrome price" renewed calculation value — spending the same 648 yuan, someone who understands the math can get 81 more pulls than someone who tops up blindly.

Basic Relationship Between Zenless Zone Zero and Monochrome

Zenless Zone Zero(CN) is an urban ARPG released by HoYoverse on July 4, 2024, where players act as "Proxies" guiding Agents through Hollows in New Eridu. The gacha is called "Tuning," with 160 Polychrome = 1 pull, 1600 for a ten-pull, and a hard pity of 90 pulls for S-rank. Monochrome(CN) cannot be used directly for pulling; it must be exchanged 1:1 for Polychrome in the shop. Polychrome can also be earned for free through quests, events, and Inter-Knot Membership. So the essence of Monochrome price is the conversion efficiency of "RMB → pulls."

CN Server 6 Official Tiers and First-Time Double Bonus

There are 6 tiers for purchasing Monochrome on the CN server. After version 3.1, each tier can enjoy the first-time double bonus once again (does not stack for the same tier):

Under the double bonus state, all 6 tiers have exactly the same "pulls per yuan" ratio (0.125 pulls/yuan). This means during the first-time double period, the "unit price" is the same regardless of which tier you choose; the only difference lies in your total budget. However, outside of the first-time double state, removing the bonus drops the pulls per yuan to 0.0625, halving the efficiency. So the core variable of Monochrome price isn't "which tier is cheaper," but "how many tiers of first-time double do you still have left."

Hidden Comparison of Inter-Knot Membership

Inter-Knot Membership (small monthly card) costs 30 yuan, granting 300 Monochrome immediately plus 90 Polychrome daily for 30 days, totaling 3000 Polychrome equivalent = 18.75 pulls, with a cost per pull of 1.6 yuan. Comparing this to the table above: even the 648-tier Monochrome with first-time double costs 8 yuan per pull; the membership's cost per pull is only 1/5 of that. Inter-Knot Membership offers the highest "pulls per yuan" among all paid items in Zenless Zone Zero(CN), bar none. Any "Monochrome price calculation" that doesn't factor in the membership is an incomplete price list.

Actual Purchase Combinations in Version 3.1

At the second anniversary milestone, returning/new accounts are advised to spend as follows:

1. Buy Inter-Knot Membership first (30 yuan) → yields 18.75 pulls equivalent.
2. Clear all 6 tiers of first-time double: 6+30+98+198+328+648=1308 yuan, getting 120+600+1960+3960+6560+12960=26160 Monochrome = 163.5 pulls.
3. Add the version login reward of 1600 Polychrome (10 pulls) + 20 Encrypted Master Tapes (20 pulls), totaling approximately 193 pulls, enough to secure at least one pity each in the two limited banners for Remiel and Sigrid.
4. If the budget is only 300 yuan: membership 30 + 98 first-time recharge 98 + 30 first-time recharge 30 = 300 yuan, with 18.75 + 12.25 + 3.75 = 34.75 draws, which is 14 draws more than directly purchasing 328 yuan in-game without first-time recharge (20.5 draws).

Official Direct Top-Up vs Aggregator Platform Price Difference

Official in-game top-up uses CN server pricing settled in RMB. Apple iOS goes through IAP which incurs channel costs (though the CN server HoYoverse Pass web top-up bypasses the 30% Apple tax). Overseas players buying directly via Visa for the global server use USD pricing. For CN server players, 94LIVES and similar aggregator top-up platforms offer another price comparison angle: it lists all tiers of Zenless Zone Zero Monochrome and Inter-Knot Membership. After submitting your HoYoverse UID, customer service manually processes via the official payment channel within 1 minute. Listed prices for each tier are lower than the official store's discounted price, and the first-time double determination matches the official rules (the platform merely acts as an intermediary and does not interfere with accounts).

Example: During the 3.1 first-time double period, someone buys the 98+198+648 three tiers on 94LIVES, and the savings compared to in-app purchase are enough to buy another Inter-Knot Membership. The same comparison applies to the big monthly card (City Fund 128 yuan tier). The platform does not collect passwords or touch login states, making it suitable for "large first-time double top-ups + monthly card renewal" scenarios. Small sporadic top-ups can just be done directly in-game.

Common Misconceptions About Monochrome Pricing

1. Confusing "Monochrome count" with "pull count": 6480 Monochrome ≠ 40.5 pulls; you must first exchange 1:1 for Polychrome then divide by 160, yielding 40.5 pulls; with first-time double, 12960 Monochrome = 81 pulls.
2. Ignoring the first-time double reset count: After the 3.1 reset, each tier gets only 1 double bonus; previously claimed tiers will not grant it again.
3. Forcibly buying Membership when over 179 days remain: Only refunds 330 Monochrome without extending duration, meaning 30 yuan for 330 Monochrome (3.3 pulls), worse than any tier.
4. Applying global server prices to CN server: Global server 60 Monochrome = $0.99, CN server 60 Monochrome = ¥6. The exchange rates and tier structures differ and cannot be directly compared.

Memorize the table above. Next time you see discussions about "Zenless Zone Zero Monochrome price", you'll be able to judge instantly: whether it's currently a first-time double period, how many tiers you have left to claim, how many days remain on your Membership, and whether this version is worth investing in. The price itself doesn't change; what changes is "which reward window you're in."