Guide to Obtaining Polychromes
Lost all your polychromes to Ellen? No tapes left for Zhu Yuan? Don't give up yet! Here's a simple guide on how to obtain polychromes and encrypted master tapes in Zenless Zone Zero.
Challenge Mode/Hidden Commissions
The easiest and most obvious way of getting polychromes is to do the commissions and agent stories. The challenge mode for the story commissions also rewards polychromes.
Talking to an NPC without a quest mark can sometimes unlock a hidden commission. There are quite a few of these including Bangboo Limbo, The Prophecy, Lumberjack of Justice, etc.
Interacting with these two students unlocks a hidden commission, The Prophecy.
Inter-Knot Level
Some of the rewards for levelling up include polychromes. Gaining XP can be done through commissions, weekly bosses, material farming, Hollow Zero, etc.
Shiyu Defense
Clearing each stage gives polychromes. Shiyu Defense is unlocked after the rank-up mission of inter-knot level 20. Two teams are needed after Stable Node: Sixth Defense.
Hollow Zero
Other than gaining Polychromes for clearing every new difficulty, each run adds to the license level and bounty commission (Beware of the weekly limit). Using new resoniums and finding lost items (lost items have a daily limit of 3) also give research rewards. Completing a set of lost items can unlock a new commission.
Shops
You can buy 5 Encrypted Master Tapes and 5 Master Tapes in the fading signal shop each month.
The residual signal shop has an unlimited stock of Encrypted Master Tapes. Residual signals can be gained through pulling; using normal Master Tapes in the standard banner may increase signals. Master Tapes can be acquired by increasing the level cap of agents and also through the outpost logistics shop.
Mewmew Medals
The reward for obtaining Mewmew medals has polychromes. Other than completing commissions, these can include fixing bangboos, finding lost cargo trucks throughout the map, and collecting HIA commemorative coins.
Achievements/Arcade Achievements
Some achievements can be easily obtained, so check the achievement list when you have time. Arcade achievements also give out polychromes, so if you've done all of the above, playing in the arcade may be your best bet.
Redeeming Codes
If you haven't entered them in yet, here are all of the codes that give out polychromes. You can enter the codes in-game or through the code redemption site.
CATCHABOO (30)
ZZZ2024 or ZZZTVCM (50, only one can be redeemed)
ZENLESSGIFT (50)
ZENLESSLAUNCH (60)
KANURBT5MQ8D (40)
Trust Rank
Increasing the trust rank of agents gives polychromes. Trust can be increased by going on dates and talking to them when they appear in areas randomly (Beware of the daily limit). Inky the cat also gives the same trust rewards as the agents.
HIA Club VR System Rewards
Spending batteries to claim materials at the HIA Club gives polychromes for every benchmark reached.
Training
Completing the training (agent exercise) gives polychromes. Make sure to do the cooperation exercise every time you pull a new agent! The training can be accessed from the VR in the staff room.
Agent Demos
You can play the demo for S-rank agents from the standard banner page. Each demo gives 20 polychromes. Even if you don't have the agent, the cleared demos count towards the training reward.
Cargo in Rally Commissions
Rally commissions have hidden cargo trucks in them that give polychromes. Don't forget to collect them!
Metro Terminal: Edge, for example, has 4 hidden cargo.
Proxy Handbook
Reading through each of the tutorials for the first time gives a few polychromes. The proxy handbook can be accessed from the workbench in the staff room.
Real Money
If you did all of the above and you still need polychromes, the last resort left is to pay. If you're willing to open your wallet, the Inter-knot Membership, Eridu Welcome Gift, and the New Eridu City Fund are the most recommended.
Thank you for reading and good luck on your pulls!
*Edit: Bangboos give boopons instead of master tapes, fixed mistake.