ZZZ Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan Event Guide - Schedule, Rewards and Tips
Introduction
Version 3.0 of Zenless Zone Zero is in full swing, and the flagship event of the update — "Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan" — has just launched on June 26, 2026. This shooting mini-game event takes Proxies to Aurelia Academy, where a certain Mr. Goomy needs your help after the academy's top-tier course suffered a catastrophic zero percent pass rate.
In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know: the event schedule, gameplay mechanics, all rewards including the free Boisterous Echoes A-Rank W-Engine, and tips to clear every stage efficiently. Whether you're here for the 1,200 Polychromes, the exclusive gear, or just the story, we've got you covered.
Event Schedule & Requirements
Duration
| Phase | Date (Server Time) |
|---|---|
| Event Start | June 26, 2026 — 10:00 |
| Event End | July 27, 2026 — 03:59 |
| Total Days | 31 days |
Unlock Requirements
- Inter-Knot Level: 20+
- Story Progress: Complete Main Story Chapter 1 – Intermission
These are standard requirements for ZZZ flagship events — most active players will already meet them. If you're a new Proxy, prioritize clearing Chapter 1's Intermission to unlock access.
Stage Unlock Schedule
Stages roll out daily over the first five days:
| Day | Date | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | June 26 | Story Stage + first challenges |
| Day 2 | June 27 | Additional Tactical Simulacra stages |
| Day 3 | June 28 | More Simulated Frontline content |
| Day 4 | June 29 | Advanced challenge stages |
| Day 5 | June 30 | Final stage + challenge modes |
This staggered rollout is typical for ZZZ flagship events — it gives you time to understand the mechanics before harder variants appear.
Gameplay Mechanics
Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan is a chibi-style scrolling shooter mini-game — a departure from ZZZ's usual third-person action combat. Think of it as a nostalgic side-scrolling shoot-'em-up with ZZZ's signature polish.
Core Loop
- Choose an Agent — You pick one Agent per stage. Each Agent has unique projectile skills and abilities.
- Navigate the Course — Your Agent automatically attacks while you focus on movement and enemy avoidance.
- Collect & Upgrade — Defeat enemies to pick up projectile skills, which can be crafted and upgraded throughout your run.
- Defeat the Boss — Each stage culminates in a boss encounter that tests your upgraded loadout.
Two Main Modes
The event features two distinct gameplay modes:
Simulated Frontline (Story Mode):
- The narrative-driven mode where you progress through the event story
- Follows Mr. Goomy's quest to salvage the academy's course
- Features dialogue, cutscenes, and progressively harder combat encounters
Tactical Simulacra III (Challenge Mode):
- Six stages of escalating difficulty
- Focuses on score-chasing and efficient clears
- Best for farming event currency and completing milestone rewards
Featured Agents
Each stage lets you pick one Agent. Here's what we know so far:
Velina (Available at Launch)
- Starting Marbles: Snowflake Shot
- Active Skill: Launches a massive wind blade dealing heavy damage across 5 columns ahead
- Passive Skill: Significantly increased Health and Energy recovery over time compared to other Agents
- Best for: Sustained clears and learning stage patterns
Coming Soon (Staggered Unlock)
- Miyabi — Details to be added as stages unlock
- Starlight Billy — Details to be added as stages unlock
- Sigrid — Details to be added as stages unlock
- Norma — Details to be added as stages unlock
The staggered Agent unlocks encourage replayability — each Agent offers a completely different playstyle, so come back daily to try the new roster additions.
Skill System
As you clear enemies, you'll pick up marbles (projectile types) that define your attack pattern. You can:
- Acquire new marbles from defeated enemies — different enemy types drop different marble variants
- Craft marbles from collected components — combine lower-tier marbles into stronger ones with additional effects
- Upgrade existing marbles for increased damage and special effects like pierce, bounce, or elemental application
The key to high scores is building a marble loadout that synergizes with your chosen Agent's passive and active skills. For example, Velina's wind blade active pairs beautifully with marbles that spread Wind DMG across the screen, while faster-firing marbles benefit from her enhanced Energy regeneration to spam abilities more often.
Difficulty Scaling
The event doesn't throw everything at you at once. Early stages (Days 1–2) are introductory — enemy density is low, marbles drop frequently, and bosses have straightforward attack patterns. By Days 4–5, you'll face denser enemy waves, multi-phase bosses, and environmental hazards that test your marble loadout choices. Tactical Simulacra III, the six-stage challenge mode, offers the stiffest difficulty and the best rewards per clear.
All Rewards
Polychrome Breakdown
The event is a major source of pulls for Version 3.0. Based on data from the 3.0 pull count analysis:
| Reward Source | Polychrome Amount |
|---|---|
| Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan (Event) | 1,200 Polychromes |
| Event W-Engine Overclock Materials | Included |
| Hamster Cage Pass | Included |
| Other Materials | Included |
The 1,200 Polychromes from this event alone represent roughly 7.5 pulls toward your next S-Rank — a meaningful chunk of the 20,760 F2P Polychromes available across the entire 3.0 patch cycle.
Complete Reward List
| Reward Type | Items |
|---|---|
| Premium Currency | Polychrome (1,200 total) |
| W-Engine | Boisterous Echoes (A-Rank Anomaly) + Overclock Materials |
| Character Materials | Senior Investigator Log |
| Bangboo Materials | Bangboo System Widget |
| Chip Materials | Original Chip |
| Special Items | Hamster Cage Pass |
| Currency | Denny |
Boisterous Echoes — The Free A-Rank W-Engine
This is the headline reward of the event — a free A-Rank Anomaly W-Engine that's completely exclusive. You cannot obtain it from any standard banner, shop, or other event.
| Stat | Level 60 Value |
|---|---|
| Base ATK | 594 |
| Secondary Stat | Anomaly Proficiency (+75) |
| Effect: Resounding Drum | When the equipper triggers the Vortex effect, gain 2 Energy (once per 10s). Attacks against enemies afflicted with an Attribute Anomaly deal 11.5% increased DMG. |
Who is it good for?
- Velina — This is her best free-to-play W-Engine option. The Anomaly Proficiency secondary stat is exactly what she needs, and the Vortex synergy matches her Wind attribute perfectly.
- Other Anomaly Agents — The 11.5% bonus damage against Attribute Anomalies is universally useful. Piper, Jane Doe, and Grace can all use it effectively as a solid stat stick.
Important: Since this W-Engine is event-exclusive, make sure you fully overclock it (refine to max rank) before the event ends on July 27. Once it's gone, there's no other way to get it.
Version 3.0 Context
The Mock Exam Comeback Plan is just one part of a massive Version 3.0 update. Here's what else is happening:
What's New in 3.0
- New Area: Roscaelifer — A classified airspace zone and Bangboo utopia ruled by Lady Sunbringer
- New Attribute: Wind — Wind Agents apply the Vortex effect and deal Wind DMG. Velina is the first playable Wind Agent
- New Main Story: Season 3, Chapter 1 — "A Sleepwalker's Confession"
- New Permanent Mode: Annihilation Simulacrum — High-difficulty boss challenges
- Bangboo Drone Exploration — Transform into a Bangboo Drone to hack and explore
- Steam Launch — ZZZ officially launched on Steam on June 17
Current Banners (as of June 26)
| Phase | Dates | S-Rank | A-Rank Rate-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Jun 17 — Jul 8 | Velina (Wind Anomaly) + Ye Shunguang (Rerun) | Nicole, Piper |
| Phase 2 | Jul 8 — Jul 28 | Norma (Fire Stun) + Sunna (Rerun) | Pulchra, Ben |
Free S-Rank: Don't forget that Pyrois (Ether Attack) is completely free from the new Interboo Collection missions, along with his signature W-Engine Sol Exuvia.
Concurrent Events (June–July 2026)
| Event | Duration | Reward Type |
|---|---|---|
| Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan | Jun 26 — Jul 27 | Main event, 1,200 Poly + W-Engine |
| Gleaming Shadow Team Battle | Jun 19 — Jul 13 | 360 Polychrome |
| Commemorative Gift | Jul 8 — Jul 27 | 1,600 Polychrome |
| All-New Program (Paid) | Jun 17 — Jul 29 | Login Encrypted Tapes |
| Bangbang! The Genius and Miracle Chip | Jun 17 — Jul 29 | 1,000+ Polychrome |
| Celestial Nexus Intelligence Dossier | Jun 17 — Jul 29 | Exploration rewards |
| Tales of the Hobbling Crow | (TBD) | Story-driven event |
| Art is Bangboo | (Full patch) | Daily login rewards |
Note: The Commemorative Gift on July 8 gives 1,600 Polychromes — ZZZ's anniversary gift. Mark your calendar!
F2P Pull Planning
With 1,200 Polychromes from this event, plus the other concurrent events, here's your pull outlook for Version 3.0:
| Player Type | Total Pulls in 3.0 |
|---|---|
| F2P | ~145 pulls (20,760 Polychromes) |
| Inter-Knot Subscription | ~173 pulls (25,140 Polychromes) |
| Sub + City Fund | ~182 pulls (25,920 Polychromes) |
A strict F2P player can comfortably guarantee one limited S-Rank character (90-pull hard pity) and still have a ~55-pull cushion leftover.
Use our ZZZ Pity Calculator to plan your exact pull strategy — it shows your probability of getting Velina, Norma, or whoever you're saving for at every pull count with Monte Carlo simulations.
Tips & Strategy
1. Prioritize Velina for First Clears
Velina's passive HP and Energy regeneration makes her the most forgiving choice for learning stage patterns. Use her for your first clear of each new stage.
2. Focus on Marble Synergies
Don't just pick random marbles — build around your Agent's strengths. Velina's Snowflake Shot pairs well with marbles that apply additional Wind DMG or slow effects.
3. Don't Skip Daily Unlocks
Stages unlock daily from June 26–30. Log in each day to unlock the next wave of content. Unclaimed stages remain available after unlock, but you'll miss out if you procrastinate until the last week.
4. Overclock Boisterous Echoes First
Your event currency should prioritize the Boisterous Echoes overclock materials. This is the only chance to max-refine this W-Engine — standard W-Engines can always be pulled later.
5. Stack Event Completion with Other Dailies
The event is designed to be completable alongside your regular Hollow Zero, Ridu Weekly Errands, and daily activity. Use it as your primary Polychrome source during the active period.
6. Coordinate with the Commemorative Gift Event
The Commemorative Gift (Jul 8–27, 1,600 Polychromes) overlaps with the second half of this event. If you're planning to pull for Norma in Phase 2 (Jul 8–28), you can pool both events' Polychrome rewards for maximum pull efficiency during her banner window.
7. Plan Around the Monthly Shop Reset
The Signal Shop resets on July 1 with 5 Encrypted Master Tapes and 5 Standard Tapes for Master Copy. If you're close to soft pity (74+ pulls), these extra 5 Encrypted Tapes combined with the event's 1,200 Polychromes could be the difference between going to hard pity and securing your target early.
8. Fully Refine Boisterous Echoes Before July 27
Boisterous Echoes' passive (Resounding Drum) scales with refinement. At higher overclock levels, the 11.5% bonus damage against Attribute Anomalies increases, and the 2 Energy gain from triggering Vortex becomes a more reliable part of your rotation. Since this W-Engine disappears from the game after the event ends, maxing it now saves you from permanent regret.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does the Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan event end? A: July 27, 2026 at 03:59 server time. You have a full month to complete it.
Q: What are the requirements to participate? A: Inter-Knot Level 20+ and completion of Main Story Chapter 1 - Intermission.
Q: Is the Boisterous Echoes W-Engine good? A: Yes — it's Velina's best free-to-play option. The 75 Anomaly Proficiency and 11.5% bonus damage against anomalies make it a strong choice for any Anomaly Agent.
Q: Can I get Boisterous Echoes after the event ends? A: No. It's an event-exclusive W-Engine with no other acquisition method. Make sure to claim and fully overclock it before July 27.
Q: How many Polychromes does this event give? A: Approximately 1,200 Polychromes, which is about 7.5 pulls.
Q: How do I unlock new Agents for the shooting mini-game? A: New Agents unlock as you progress through the event stages and as daily content rolls out (June 26–30).
Q: What's the best way to spend event currency? A: Prioritize the Boisterous Echoes W-Engine and its overclock materials first, then grab the senior investigator logs and Hamster Cage Pass.
Final Thoughts
Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan is a high-value flagship event in ZZZ Version 3.0. With 1,200 Polychromes (7.5 pulls), a free exclusive A-Rank W-Engine, and a fun retro shooting mini-game, there's plenty of reason to engage with it daily.
The event runs through July 27, giving you a full month to collect everything. Don't sleep on it — event-exclusive W-Engines don't come back, and Boisterous Echoes is shaping up to be a staple for Anomaly agents.
Happy hunting, Proxies! 🎯
For more ZZZ tools, check out our ZZZ Pity Calculator to plan your pulls, and our ZZZ Hub for all Zenless Zone Zero resources.
Related Tools
More zenless-zone-zero Guides
Zenless Zone Zero 2.8 'New: Eridan Sunset' — Full Patch Breakdown & Phase 2 Banner Guide
ZZZ 2.8 Phase 2 is live with Starlight Billy's debut! Complete patch breakdown with banner guide, F2P pull math (88.3 pulls — 2nd lowest ever), best builds, team comps, 3.0 preview, and pull strategy.
ZZZ "Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan" Event Guide — Rewards, Boisterous Echoes W-Engine & Completion Tips
Complete guide to the ZZZ "Assemble! Mock Exam Comeback Plan" event — shooting mini-game mechanics, 1,200 Polychromes, free Boisterous Echoes A-Rank W-Engine, Velina F2P build tips, and full completion guide for Version 3.0.
ZZZ 3.0 "A Sleepwalker's Confession" Patch Breakdown: Wind Element, Free Pyrois, and Your Complete Pull Plan
ZZZ 3.0 'A Sleepwalker's Confession' complete guide: Wind element, Velina, free Pyrois, banner schedule, F2P pull count, Steam launch, and pull advice for June 2026.
AI Tactical Companion
Consult with our specialized tactical engine for zenless-zone-zero to master the meta instantly.