Sword Seeker Chronicles ZZZ 2.5: Dates, Requirements, Rewards

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

The Sword Seeker Chronicles is a limited-time event in Zenless Zone Zero version 2.5, and this guide explains exactly when it runs, what you need to unlock it, and every reward you can earn. You participate by completing story stages and challenge battles to earn Polychrome, upgrade materials, and a unique W-Engine. Below is the full breakdown of dates, entry requirements, and the reward list.

Event Dates and Schedule

The Sword Seeker Chronicles event runs from October 24, 2025, 10:00 (server time) to November 10, 2025, 03:59 (server time). The event is split into two phases:

Phase 1 (Story & First Challenges): Available from the event start on October 24.
Phase 2 (Advanced Challenges & Final Story Chapter): Unlocks on October 31, 2025, 10:00 (server time).

All rewards must be claimed before the event ends. After November 10, the event page disappears and unclaimed rewards are lost. The exact dates are based on the official 2.5 patch notes; if you are reading this after the event has ended, the same structure typically returns in a future rerun, but the dates will differ.

Requirements to Unlock

To start the Sword Seeker Chronicles, you must meet two conditions:

Reach Inter-Knot Level 30 or higher.
Complete the Chapter 2 Interlude story mission, “A Glimpse of the Future”.

If you have already finished the required story chapter, the event will appear in your Events menu immediately. If you haven’t reached Inter-Knot Level 30, focus on completing commissions and daily tasks to level up quickly. The event is designed for players who have progressed through the main story, so new players may need a few days of grinding to unlock it.

How the Event Works

The Sword Seeker Chronicles is a story-driven event with a mix of narrative stages and combat challenges. You play as a Proxy guiding a character through a series of trials themed around a legendary sword. The event has three main activity types:

Story Stages: These are linear missions that advance the narrative. They are mostly dialogue and exploration, with light combat. Completing each story stage rewards Polychrome and event currency.
Challenge Battles: These are combat stages with specific modifiers (e.g., increased enemy HP, reduced dodge windows). You must clear them with a team of your own characters. Each challenge has a recommended level, and higher difficulty tiers give better rewards.
Training Grounds: A repeatable practice mode where you can test team compositions without consuming stamina. It does not give rewards but is useful for learning enemy patterns.

The event uses a trial character for the story stages, but challenge battles require your own roster. The trial character is fully leveled and has fixed skills, so you don’t need to invest resources.

Rewards List

Here is the complete list of rewards you can earn from the Sword Seeker Chronicles. All rewards are one-time unless noted otherwise:

Polychrome: 1,200 total (600 from story stages, 600 from challenge battles).
Master Tapes: 5 (used for standard banner pulls).
Boopon: 1,000 (event currency for the W-Engine shop).
W-Engine: “Sword of Conviction” (A-rank, Attack type): This is the signature reward. It increases the equipping character’s Crit Rate by 8% and increases their damage against enemies with less than 50% HP by 20%. It is only obtainable from this event.
W-Engine Upgrade Materials: 20 W-Engine Energy Modules and 10 W-Engine Cores.
Investigation Merits: 200 (used to buy items in the Scott’s Outpost store).
Dennies: 100,000.
Character EXP Materials: 20 Senior Investigator Logs and 30 Investigator Logs.
Bangboo EXP Materials: 15 Bangboo Algorithm Modules.

The W-Engine “Sword of Conviction” is the main draw. It is an A-rank engine that works well on any Attack character, especially those that focus on burst damage. If you already have a better W-Engine, you can still use this one as a backup or for collection.

How to Earn All Rewards Efficiently

To get every reward without wasting time, follow this order:

Complete all story stages first. They unlock the challenge battles and give the most Polychrome per minute.
Do the challenge battles in order of difficulty. Start with the easiest tier to get the one-time rewards, then move up.
Use the Boopon currency to buy the W-Engine from the event shop first. It costs 800 Boopon. The remaining Boopon can be spent on W-Engine upgrade materials.
If you are struggling with a challenge battle, check the recommended level and adjust your team. The event does not require you to clear the highest difficulty to get all Polychrome, but the highest tier gives extra Dennies and EXP materials.

You do not need to clear every challenge on the hardest difficulty to get the W-Engine. The W-Engine is bought with Boopon, which you earn from both story and challenge stages. As long as you complete the story and a few challenges, you will have enough.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Many players make these mistakes during the event:

Waiting until the last day: The event runs for about two weeks, but if you start on the final day, you may not have enough time to complete all challenges, especially if you need to level characters. Start early.
Ignoring the trial character’s mechanics: The trial character in story stages has a unique moveset. Read the tutorial pop-ups. Many players fail because they don’t use the character’s special dodge or charge attack.
Spending Boopon on the wrong item: The W-Engine is the only exclusive reward. If you buy upgrade materials first, you may not have enough Boopon left for the W-Engine. Always buy the W-Engine first.
Thinking the event is permanent: It is a limited-time event. Once it ends, the W-Engine may not be obtainable again for months, if ever.

Another common question: “Do I need to own the featured character?” No. The event does not require any specific character. The trial character is provided, and challenge battles can be completed with any team you own.

Comparison with Previous Events

The Sword Seeker Chronicles follows the same structure as the “Undercover R&B” event from version 1.4 and the “Virtual Battlefield” event from version 2.0. All three have a story component, challenge battles, and a unique W-Engine as the final reward. The main difference is that Sword Seeker Chronicles has a heavier emphasis on the trial character’s story, with more dialogue and exploration than combat. If you enjoyed those previous events, you will likely enjoy this one. The reward structure is also similar: about 1,200 Polychrome and one A-rank W-Engine, which is the standard for major events in ZZZ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play the Sword Seeker Chronicles after it ends?

No. Once the event period ends, the event page is removed and you cannot access any of the stages or claim rewards. HoYoverse has not announced a rerun, but past events have returned in later versions, so there is a chance it will come back in the future.

What is the recommended level for the hardest challenge?

The hardest challenge battle has a recommended level of 60. This means your characters should be at level 60 or higher with decent W-Engines and Drive Discs. If your team is below level 55, you may struggle. The event does not scale to your level, so prepare accordingly.

Is the W-Engine “Sword of Conviction” good for any character?

It is an Attack-type W-Engine, so it works on any character with the Attack specialty. It is particularly good for characters that deal burst damage, such as Ellen or Zhu Yuan, because the bonus against low-HP enemies triggers often. For characters that deal sustained damage, a standard A-rank W-Engine like “The Vault” might be better, but this one is still a solid choice.

Do I need to spend real money to get all rewards?

No. The event is completely free. All rewards, including the W-Engine, can be obtained without spending any money. The only thing that costs money is the Battle Pass or the premium shop, which are not required for this event.

Can I co-op in the challenge battles?

No. The Sword Seeker Chronicles is a solo-only event. You cannot invite friends or use the co-op mode. You must clear each challenge with your own team of three characters.

What happens if I miss the event? Can I get the W-Engine another way?

Currently, there is no alternative way to obtain the “Sword of Conviction” W-Engine. It is exclusive to this event. If you miss it, you will have to wait for a potential rerun. HoYoverse has rerun limited events in the past, but there is no guarantee.

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