Zenless Zone Zero Agent Trust System: Building Bonds and Unlocking Rewards

As a core progression and social mechanic within HoYoverse's latest action RPG, Zenless Zone Zero, the Agent Trust system distinguishes itself from similar features in the developer's previous titles like Genshin Impact. While it shares thematic roots with companionship systems, it is fundamentally more integrated into the game's core loop and narrative structure. The system represents a significant evolution, moving beyond a simple numerical metric to become a dynamic relationship simulator that directly impacts gameplay, narrative, and resource acquisition. Unlike traditional protagonists who fight alongside their party, the player character in Zenless Zone Zero operates from a communications and support role, making the bonds forged with field Agents through the Trust system a crucial link to the action and the world of New Eridu.

Engaging with Agents Through Trust Events

Building Agent Trust is primarily accomplished by participating in unique Trust Events, which are special scenes and conversations initiated by interacting with Agents found throughout the urban landscape. To unlock this foundational mechanic, players must first complete the early-game prerequisite quest "Anby's Problem," available after finishing Chapter 2 Interlude. Once accessible, the system encourages daily engagement, weaving relationship-building into the fabric of the player's routine.

These events are not merely passive cutscenes; they often present players with dialogue choices that directly influence the Trust meter. A clear on-screen indicator appears after such choices, showing whether the Agent's Trust has increased or decreased based on the player's response. To efficiently manage these interactions, the game provides helpful tools. Agents currently available for a Trust Event are conveniently marked on the fast-travel menu, allowing players to quickly locate and engage with them. Furthermore, the in-game DMs (Direct Message) communication feature can be used to schedule or initiate these encounters before venturing out into the city.

Trust Events function as a core part of Zenless Zone Zero's daily activity ecosystem. While other HoYoverse games feature commissions or simulated universe runs, ZZZ flavors its dailies around mundane, life-simulator tasks within the city, with building Agent relationships being a central pillar. Multiple events can be triggered each day, with new opportunities spawning as the in-game clock advances, encouraging regular check-ins and exploration.

Tangible Rewards and Progression Benefits

Increasing an Agent's Trust level yields a variety of concrete and valuable rewards, offering more immediate gameplay incentives than the comparable Friendship system in Genshin Impact. The benefits scale with the depth of the relationship, providing motivation for continued investment.

Trust Level Milestone	Potential Rewards
Early Levels	Polychrome (premium currency), Denny (standard currency), upgrade materials.
Mid-Level Benchmarks	Unique Resonia buffs that enhance the Agent's combat capabilities.
Higher Levels	Dynamic Wallpapers for personal customization, unlocking of exclusive character backstory and moments.
Completion of Videotape Request	Ability to invite the Agent to become a promoter for your video store, boosting passive business income.

One of the most significant long-term rewards is the ability to recruit high-Trust Agents as promoters for the protagonist's video store. This business venture serves as a source of passive income, and the promotional power of each Agent directly correlates with the strength of your bond, creating a meaningful feedback loop between social interaction and resource generation. The acquisition of unique Resonia buffs provides direct combat advantages, making Trust-building a strategic consideration for team optimization, not just a narrative pursuit.

Strategic Integration and Player Priority

While the Agent Trust system is rich with rewards and character development, it is wisely positioned as a secondary or parallel progression path to core combat mechanics like leveling, skill upgrades, and equipment farming. For players focused solely on overcoming the game's challenging content, prioritizing character strength is essential. However, the Trust system is designed to complement this primary grind, offering a engaging and rewarding alternate activity.

For narrative-focused players, Trust Events are the primary avenue for delving deeper into an Agent's personality, history, and motivations, far beyond what is shown in the main story. For efficiency-minded players, the tangible currency and buff rewards make the time investment worthwhile. The system successfully caters to multiple playstyles, allowing players to engage with it at their own pace and for their own reasons. Since its implementation, the system has been praised as HoYoverse's most engaging social mechanic to date, successfully blending life-simulation elements with meaningful progression within a stylish, action-packed world.

In summary, the Agent Trust system in Zenless Zone Zero is a multifaceted mechanic that enriches the gameplay experience. It transforms daily activities into opportunities for meaningful character interaction, ties relationship-building directly to economic and combat progression, and provides a compelling reason to engage deeply with the vibrant cast of Agents. It stands as a testament to the game's design philosophy of blending fast-paced action with immersive world-building and interpersonal connection.