You’re running through a Hollow, your Inter-Knot level is climbing, and you’re feeling pretty good about your squad. Then you see it. Or rather, you don't see it. That nagging 2/3 on the stage results screen. You missed a Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box, and honestly, it’s the most frustrating thing in New Eridu. These little crates aren't just for show. They are the lifeblood of your progression, tucked away in corners of the map that HoYoverse clearly designed specifically to mess with your head.
Missing one means missing out on Polychrome. It means less Dennies. It means your "S-Rank" completion feels hollow—pun intended.
Most players assume they just need to look harder. "I'll just do another lap," they say. But ZZZ doesn't always work like that. Some of these boxes are tied to specific Bangboo interactions, others are hidden behind destructible walls that don't look all that destructible, and a few are actually gated behind side quests that you might not have even unlocked yet. If you're tired of staring at empty corners in the Sixth Street back alleys or the construction sites of Belobog Heavy Industries, we need to talk about the mechanics of how these things actually spawn.
The Reality of the Zenless Zone Zero Lost Supply Box
Let’s be real: the game doesn't hold your hand. Zenless Zone Zero is a masterpiece of "urban exploration" within a combat sim, but that exploration is often confined to very tight, claustrophobic corridors. The Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box locations are deliberately placed to exploit your blind spots.
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Think about the camera. It’s tight. It’s snappy. It’s great for parrying a massive mechanical boss, but it’s terrible for seeing a small wooden crate tucked behind a pile of tires in a dark alley. I’ve spent twenty minutes circling a single room in the "Exploration" commissions only to realize the box was sitting on a platform above the entrance I just walked through.
There are three main types of boxes you’re hunting:
- The Common Crate: These are the ones you find just by breathing. They’re usually right in your path.
- The Combat-Locked Box: You finish a wave of Ethereals, a barrier drops, and there it is.
- The "Hidden" Supply Box: These are the ones causing you grief. They require you to break objects, solve a minor puzzle, or backtrack after a specific event.
Why Your Mini-Map is Lying to You
You might think the map is your best friend. It isn’t. While the UI in ZZZ is sleek and stylish, it focuses heavily on the objective markers. It rarely highlights a Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box until you are practically standing on top of it.
I’ve noticed a pattern in the Belobog Heavy Industries missions especially. The verticality is a trap. You’ll see a chest icon on your radar, run to the spot, and find nothing but a concrete wall. Look up. Or look down. Many boxes are hidden on sub-levels or scaffolding that requires a specific jump or a drop-off point that isn't immediately obvious.
The Destructible Object Obsession
If you aren't breaking every single box, barrel, and suspicious-looking pile of junk, you're doing it wrong. Some supply boxes are literally inside other boxes. It’s Russian nesting dolls, but with loot. This is a classic HoYoverse trope, but in ZZZ, the environments are so detailed that it’s easy to mistake a destructible prop for part of the static background.
Kinda weird, right? You’d think an advanced society would have better storage solutions than hiding gear in breakable wooden crates, but hey, that’s New Eridu for you.
Tracking Down the Missed Boxes in Hollow Zero
Hollow Zero is a different beast entirely. Here, the Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box mechanics shift slightly because the "map" is a grid of television screens. This is where most players lose their minds.
In the TV-array mode, supply boxes aren't always just sitting there. Sometimes they are rewards for "Unknown Signals" or "Bank" interactions. If you're rushing to the boss to save your HP, you're almost certainly leaving loot on the table. You have to balance your "Pressure" levels with your greed. If your Pressure hits 100, you get a corruption. Is one supply box worth a permanent debuff for the rest of the run?
Honestly? Usually, yes.
The rewards from those boxes—especially the Z-Merits and EXP—scale your account much faster than just speed-clearing the bosses. If you see a golden crate behind a locked gate in the TV grid, look for the "Plug-in" or the "Switch" tile. It’s never just a straight line.
Hidden Interactions: The Bangboo Secret
Have you ever noticed a stray Bangboo waving at you from a corner? Most people ignore them once they've finished the main objective. Huge mistake. Talking to these NPCs or helping them with a "Mini-Game" inside a commission often spawns a Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box as a thank-you gift.
Specific commissions, like those found in the "Chapter 2 Intermission," have boxes that literally do not exist until you finish a specific dialogue tree. If you're just clicking through the text to get back to the combat, you're actively losing Polychrome. Slow down. New Eridu is a vibe; live in it for a second.
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The Backtracking Rule
Never leave a room until the door literally locks behind you. In some stages, particularly the "Story" missions, the game will lure you forward with a bright yellow objective marker. As soon as you cross that threshold, a gate slams shut.
Check the corners. Check behind the spawn point. I once found a supply box in the "Construction Site" map that was literally behind the starting camera angle. You had to turn 180 degrees immediately upon loading in to see it. It’s devious. It’s mean. And it’s exactly why you’re stuck at 95% completion.
How to Guarantee 100% Collection
If you're tired of the "Search and Rescue" lifestyle, you need a system. Don't just wander.
- The Perimeter Sweep: Every time you enter a new "Combat Arena" or "Exploration Zone," run the edge of the map first. Do not touch the enemies yet. Most boxes are placed at the furthest points from the center.
- The Sound Cue: This is a pro tip—supply boxes actually have a very faint mechanical hum if you're close enough. If you play with headphones, you can often "hear" a hidden crate through a wall before you see it.
- Check the Inter-Knot: Some boxes are tied to "Hidden Commissions." If you can’t find the last box in a specific area, it might be because that box only spawns during a specific side-quest you haven't picked up from the street yet. Check your notifications.
The Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box hunt is essentially a test of patience. The game wants to see if you're actually paying attention to the gorgeous world the art team built, or if you're just here to mash the "Attack" button with Billy Kid.
Technical Glitches or Just Well Hidden?
Occasionally, you'll hear rumors on Reddit or Discord about a "bugged" Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box. While bugs happen, 99% of the time, the box is just in a spot that defies common sense.
For instance, in the "Midnight Pursuit" commission, there's a box that people swear is glitched. It’s not. It’s actually underneath a ramp that you have to fall off of intentionally. The game's pathing suggests you should stay on the metal walkway, but if you drop into the "trash" area, the box is sitting there waiting. It feels like a mistake, but it's intentional design.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
Stop treating the commissions like a race. To get every Zenless Zone Zero lost supply box, you have to change your playstyle from "Slayer" to "Janitor."
- Switch to a fast character for exploration. Using someone like Nekomata or even just dashing with your favorite Attacker makes the "Perimeter Sweep" less tedious.
- Look for the "Sparkle." Supply boxes have a slight glint, even in low-light environments. If a corner looks slightly brighter than it should, hit it.
- Use the "Reset" button. If you know for a fact you missed a box because a door closed, just restart the commission. It sucks, but it’s the only way to get that perfect completion mark.
- Prioritize the "Exploration" tab. Combat commissions are straightforward, but Exploration commissions are where the real hidden loot lives. Spend your Battery Charge here if you're hunting for account XP.
The grind for Polychrome is real, and these boxes are the most consistent way to top off your stash for the next limited banner. Don't let a hidden crate in a dark alley be the reason you miss out on your next S-Rank Agent. Next time you're in a Hollow, look up, turn around, and break everything in sight. New Eridu doesn't give up its secrets easily, but for the persistent Proxy, the rewards are well worth the extra five minutes of searching.
Check your Inter-Knot level, grab your Bangboo, and get back in there. Those crates aren't going to find themselves.
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Next Steps for Completionists:
- Open your Mission Log and sort by "Incomplete." Look for any commission with a grayed-out chest icon.
- Travel to Sixth Street and talk to every NPC with a speech bubble; often, these unlock the "Hidden" versions of maps that contain the missing supply boxes.
- Review your Hollow Zero progress at the Scott Outpost. If your exploration percentage is low, focus on the "Inner Circle" runs where supply box density is much higher.