If you’ve spent more than five minutes roaming the neon-soaked streets of New Eridu, you’ve probably noticed something. This place is absolutely crawling with machines. But I’m not just talking about your typical sci-fi vending machines or drones. I’m talking about actual, sentient, trash-talking, tea-serving mechanical life.
The Zenless Zone Zero robot phenomenon isn’t just a background aesthetic. It's the literal backbone of the game's society and combat. Honestly, HoYoverse went in a completely different direction here compared to the sleek, almost-human androids of Honkai: Star Rail. Here, robots are clunky, analog, and weirdly emotional.
You've got the pint-sized Bangboos that look like weaponized rabbits. Then there's the high-octane Agents like Billy Kid and Qingyi. These aren't just "units" you pull for; they are "Intelligent Constructs." And in the world of ZZZ, being a robot comes with its own set of legal headaches, philosophical questions, and high-caliber revolvers.
Billy Kid and the Forbidden Fruit Test
Let’s talk about the flashiest Zenless Zone Zero robot first: Billy Kid. If you’ve played the tutorial, you know him as the dual-wielding, "Starlight Knight" obsessed dork of the Cunning Hares. But there’s a lot more to him than just bad jokes and Physical-type damage.
Billy is what New Eridu calls an Intelligent Construct. But he didn't start out as a hero. According to lore drops and his "Robo Rodeo" trailer, he was actually a champion for a biker gang in the Outer Ring—the Sons of Calydon. He was known as the "Red Scarf" back then, an undefeated fighter who eventually "lost his way" and found a new home with Nicole and Anby.
But how does a machine get to be a citizen? This is where the Forbidden Fruit Test comes in.
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In the ZZZ universe, robots aren't automatically considered people. They have to pass a specific cognitive assessment—the Forbidden Fruit Test—to prove they have genuine free will. Once they pass, they stop being "property" and get actual rights.
It’s kind of a dark concept when you think about it. Before passing that test, a robot like Billy or Qingyi could be bought and sold like a toaster. Qingyi herself is a fascinating case. She’s technically a very old model, but she’s constantly upgrading her parts. In her questline, we even see her buying extra bodies. Imagine being able to just swap out your torso because you wanted a fresh look for the weekend.
Those Ubiquitous Bangboos: More Than Just Pets
You can’t discuss a Zenless Zone Zero robot without mentioning the Bangboos. They are everywhere. They're the mascots, the assistants, and occasionally the reason you survive a Hollow raid.
Basically, Bangboos were originally designed to help people evacuate during Hollow disasters. They were safety tools. But because people are people, we started dressing them up in shark suits (Sharkboo) or making them brew coffee (Butler).
The Bangboo Breakdown
- Eous: This is the one you (as Phaethon) actually control. It’s your eyes and ears inside the Hollow.
- Combat Bangboos: These are the ones you pull from the gacha. They don't just sit there; they trigger Chain Attacks that can absolutely shred an enemy’s Daze meter.
- Amillion: My personal favorite. It pulls out a tiny machine gun and starts blasting. It’s peak Cunning Hares energy.
What's wild is that Bangboos have their own little culture. They communicate in "Ehn-na" sounds, yet somehow everyone in New Eridu understands them perfectly. They aren't quite "Intelligent Constructs" like Billy, but they have enough personality to make you feel bad when they get kicked across the screen by an Ethereal.
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The Mechanical Grunts: Why They Hate You
Not every Zenless Zone Zero robot wants to be your friend. The game is packed with "Autonomous Tactical Units" that want to flatten you into a pancake. These are the leftovers of old-world security and industrial tech that got corrupted by Ether.
You’ve got the Typhon Challengers and the Shielded Defenders. They aren't sentient in the way the playable characters are. They’re more like programmed guard dogs that have gone feral. If you’ve fought the boss Friday or its overclocked versions, you know exactly how punishing a corrupted industrial robot can be.
New Eridu runs on Ether, which is the very thing that corrupts these machines. It’s a messy cycle. The more the city uses the energy, the more dangerous the machines in the Hollows become. It’s honestly a miracle anyone gets any work done in that city.
Why the Design Matters
Why did HoYoverse choose this "analog-punk" style for their robots?
Think about the video store, Random Play. Everything is VHS and CRT monitors. The technology in ZZZ is intentionally dated because modern, high-tech stuff is way too susceptible to Ether corruption. Older, "clunkier" machines like the Zenless Zone Zero robot models we see are more durable.
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It gives the game a tactile feel. When Billy reloads or when Ben Bigger (who is a Thiren, but uses massive mechanical pillars) hits something, you feel the weight. These aren't sleek magic-users; they are piles of metal and grease held together by sheer willpower and questionable programming.
Actionable Tips for Mastering Robot Agents
If you're looking to maximize your mechanical team members, you need to understand how they interact with the game's "Daze" and "Anomaly" systems.
- Qingyi Is a Stun Goddess: Don't treat her like a main DPS. Her job is to stack Daze as fast as possible. Once the enemy is stunned, her passive kicks in to boost the damage they take.
- Match Your Bangboo to Your Faction: This is a mistake I see a lot of people make. If you're running Billy, you should be using a Bangboo like Amillion or Safety. Why? Because their passive skills often require you to have members of a specific faction (like the Cunning Hares or Belobog Heavy Industries) to unlock their full potential.
- Physical Anomaly is King for Billy: Since Billy deals Physical damage, pairing him with a Bangboo that increases Physical Anomaly buildup can help you trigger "Flinch" more often, which stops enemies in their tracks.
The Zenless Zone Zero robot cast is only going to grow. With rumors of more Intelligent Constructs coming in future patches, the line between "machine" and "citizen" in New Eridu is going to get even blurrier.
To get the most out of your experience, start focusing on your Bangboo Synergy levels. It’s the easiest way to squeeze extra damage out of your rotations without spending a dime on Master Tapes. Go check your Bangboo workshop and see which ones you've been neglecting—you might find a hidden S-rank that changes your whole playstyle.