Zenless Zone Zero Trouble of Ellen the Shark Guide

Zenless Zone Zero Trouble of Ellen the Shark Guide: Introduction

The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) is a limited-time TV Schedule Event introduced in Version 1.5, offering a unique blend of narrative-driven content and action-packed gameplay. This event provides players with a deeper look into Ellen’s character, exploring her relationships and struggles in a setting reminiscent of a classic anime high school story. Alongside its engaging storytelling, the event challenges players with combat-focused Special Play stages, where they must take control of Ellen and ensure the safety of Astra Yao while fending off waves of enemies.

Unlike standard combat encounters, this event introduces a protective mission element, requiring players to strategically manage enemy aggression while optimizing Ellen’s abilities. Enemies in each stage prioritize Astra, making it crucial to use Ellen’s attacks and skills to control the battlefield and prevent damage to her companion. The event’s difficulty gradually increases, introducing tougher enemy waves and unique combat scenarios that test both reflexes and strategy.

Completing the stages successfully yields valuable rewards, including Polychromes and upgrade materials essential for character progression. Additionally, the event offers an opportunity to experience Ellen’s personality and story from a new perspective, highlighting themes of friendship, trust, and personal growth. For players looking to achieve an S-rank, understanding enemy patterns and mastering Ellen’s combat mechanics will be key.

In this guide, we’ll break down each stage of The Troubles of Ellen the Shark, offering detailed strategies to help you navigate the challenges, maximize your efficiency, and claim all available rewards. Whether you’re a seasoned player aiming for the highest ranks or just looking to experience the event’s narrative, this guide will ensure you get the most out of this limited-time adventure.

Event Details

The Zenless Zone Zero limited-time event runs from January 22, 2025, to March 10, 2025, offering players a unique opportunity to take on special challenges and earn exclusive rewards. To participate, you must reach Inter-Knot Level 15 or higher, ensuring that you have progressed far enough in the game to take on the event’s mechanics and challenges. If you haven’t reached the required level yet, consider completing main story quests, side missions, and daily activities to gain experience and level up before the event concludes.

Once you meet the participation requirements, make your way to the Random Play Staff Room, where the TV Schedule will serve as your gateway to the event. Here, you’ll find the Special Play Button, which allows you to access event-specific stages. These stages are designed to test your skills with unique mechanics, enemy encounters, and potential modifiers that differentiate them from standard gameplay. Selecting a stage will begin your challenge, and each stage may offer varying difficulties or conditions that players must adapt to in order to succeed.

As you progress through the event, completing stages will grant valuable rewards, which could include in-game currency, enhancement materials, or even exclusive event-limited items. Some rewards may be locked behind specific milestones or challenge objectives, encouraging players to strategize and optimize their performance. Since the event is only available for a limited time, it’s recommended to participate regularly to maximize rewards and not miss out on any exclusive content.

Be sure to check the event page frequently, as additional stages, special challenges, or limited-time bonuses could be introduced as the event progresses. Whether you’re aiming to test your combat skills, gather valuable resources, or unlock exclusive items, this event provides a great opportunity to engage with fresh content in Zenless Zone Zero.

It’s Me… Leave A Message Story Walkthrough

The It’s Me… Leave a Message story serves as the central narrative of The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event, unfolding across three distinct parts that blend character-driven dialogue with engaging combat encounters. Players can access this story via the TV in Random Play’s workshop, but before unlocking it, they must first complete Main Story Chapter 3, The Midnight Pursuit. Each section of the story offers a mix of narrative depth and combat challenges, requiring players to balance strategic gameplay with exploration.

Part One: Initial Investigation and Combat Encounters (Approx. 10 Minutes)

The story opens with Ellen discussing a commission, setting the stage for the unfolding mystery. Shortly afterward, players engage in a Ballet Twins Hollow combat section. From the starting location, head left through the hallway, where two waves of Ethereals appear. Defeating them clears the way to a quest item that spawns near the window, marking a key progression point.

As the story advances, Ellen receives a call from her friends, which is quickly followed by another combat sequence. Moving forward, players will encounter a wave of Ethereals spawning over a bridge, culminating in a miniboss battle. Successfully eliminating all enemies unlocks the next objective, which can be found near the angled desks by the window. The story then shifts back to dialogue, where Ellen and her friends discuss the situation at hand.

The final combat sequence in this part takes place after heading through a doorway, down the ramp to the left, and making a right into a circular area. Here, players must face three waves of Ethereals, with the last wave featuring a miniboss enemy. Once the battle concludes, Ellen and her friends engage in another conversation, bringing Part One to a close.

Part Two: A Break from Combat in Lumina Square (Approx. 5 Minutes)

This segment takes place in Lumina Square and focuses entirely on dialogue, allowing players to immerse themselves in the characters’ interactions. The story progresses as Ellen and her friends engage in conversation at a teamilk store, providing insight into their relationships and personalities.

Next, players must return to the metro staircase, where another dialogue scene unfolds at a vending machine. The group then moves back to Random Play, where they select videos to watch. There are multiple choices available for each video selection, but these only affect the immediate responses from Ellen and her friends, having no major impact on the overall story. Once the scene concludes, Ellen’s friends leave, marking the end of Part Two.

Part Three: Final Showdown in the Hollow (Approx. 10 Minutes, Varies by Build)

The last section takes players back into the Hollow for a decisive battle. Upon entering a large chamber, players will face two waves of standard Ethereals that must be eliminated before progressing further. The path then leads down a ramp, past a large hole in the wall, and toward the left, where reaching a larger platform triggers a Special Event dialogue with Ellen’s friends.

The final confrontation pits players against an Armored Hati, a formidable Ethereal that must be defeated to rescue the three girls. This battle serves as the ultimate test of skill, requiring precise execution of Ellen’s abilities to secure victory. Once the fight is over, the story concludes with Ellen and her friends engaging in one last conversation, followed by a comic strip cutscene that brings the event to a satisfying close.

By completing all three parts of the It’s Me… Leave a Message story, players will not only gain valuable rewards but also experience a deeper understanding of Ellen’s character and her dynamic with her friends. The blend of combat and narrative elements ensures an engaging experience that is integral to The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event.

The Troubles of Ellen the Shark Special Play Challenges

In addition to the main story, the event introduces four special combat challenges directly tied to Ellen’s Agent Story, offering players a unique test of skill and strategy. These challenges can be accessed through the Special Play button on The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event page, providing a distinct gameplay experience separate from the standard battles encountered elsewhere in the event. Unlike typical combat encounters, where players can assemble a full team of Agents, these challenges limit the player to controlling only Ellen. This restriction demands precise execution, as players must rely solely on Ellen’s abilities to overcome enemy waves and complete the objectives.

The primary goal in each challenge is to protect Astra Yao from incoming attacks while fending off waves of enemies. Astra plays a critical role in the event’s narrative and mechanics, but she is vulnerable in combat, making her protection the top priority. To achieve an S-Rank on each stage, Astra’s HP must remain above 70% by the end of the battle. This ranking requirement pushes players to adopt a defensive yet aggressive playstyle, balancing offense with careful positioning to ensure Astra remains unharmed.

One of the key mechanics in these challenges is enemy aggro management. Enemies will naturally focus their attacks on Astra, making it crucial for players to actively manipulate their movement and behavior. By positioning Ellen strategically and utilizing her attacks effectively, players can bait enemies into targeting her instead, drawing them away from Astra and reducing the likelihood of her taking damage. Mastery of Ellen’s defensive maneuvers, such as dodging, counterattacks, and quick eliminations, becomes essential in handling enemy waves efficiently.

Each of the four challenges introduces different enemy compositions and varying degrees of difficulty, requiring players to adapt their strategies accordingly. Some encounters may feature swarms of weaker Ethereals, while others may include powerful minibosses that demand precise timing and skillful play. As players progress through the stages, they will need to refine their approach, making full use of Ellen’s abilities to control the battlefield and keep Astra safe. Successfully completing these challenges not only provides event rewards but also deepens players’ understanding of Ellen’s combat style, making them more proficient in her gameplay mechanics.

Ellen TV Schedule Stages and Schedule

The Ellen TV Schedule introduces four distinct combat challenges, each unlocking progressively as the event unfolds. These challenges require players to protect Astra Yao while utilizing Ellen’s abilities effectively. Completing these stages with Astra’s HP above specific thresholds ensures higher rankings and better rewards. As the event progresses, additional effects and strategic elements are introduced, making each stage more engaging and challenging.

On Day 1: Fragrant Gift (January 25, 2025), the objective is straightforward—complete the stage while keeping Astra Yao’s HP above 70%. This serves as an introductory challenge, allowing players to get familiar with the enemy attack patterns and practice their defensive strategies.

On Day 2: What to Get? (January 26, 2025), the challenge increases in complexity. Players must ensure Astra Yao’s HP stays above three different thresholds: 70%, 50%, and 30%. Achieving higher survival rates results in better completion ratings. This stage also introduces two key combat effects. Vocal Range Protection unlocks Astra Yao’s Ally Skill, which grants invulnerability to both herself and Ellen for 5 seconds while boosting Ellen’s damage by 50% for 8 seconds.

Meanwhile, Polar Shark Hunter enhances Ellen’s offensive capabilities by adding an Icy Blade effect to her third Basic Attack hit, EX Special Attack, Dodge Counter, and other moves. Each Icy Blade inflicts Ice DMG on enemies and reduces support skill cooldowns by 0.5 seconds per hit, up to a maximum reduction of 1 second.

On Day 3: The Thought That Counts (January 27, 2025), the objectives remain the same as the previous day—keeping Astra Yao’s HP above 70%, 50%, and 30%. However, enemy formations become more complex, requiring players to refine their strategies. The same Vocal Range Protection and Polar Shark Hunter effects from the previous stage carry over, further enhancing Ellen’s capabilities.

A strategic approach is necessary to clear this stage effectively. It is recommended to keep Astra close to groups of Hopitais in the third wave to eliminate them quickly before they can deal significant damage. In the final wave, prioritizing the Sordidus enemies before engaging the Metro Goblin helps ensure Astra remains unharmed and increases the likelihood of achieving an S-Rank.

On Day 4: Familiar Scent (January 28, 2025), players face the final combat challenge, which follows the same objectives as the previous two days. The Vocal Range Protection and Polar Shark Hunter effects remain active, making efficient use of Ellen’s abilities essential. The difficulty of enemy waves continues to escalate, requiring players to use positioning, crowd control, and quick eliminations to keep Astra safe. Mastering enemy aggro control and effectively utilizing Ellen’s Icy Blade attacks will be key to successfully completing this stage with a high ranking.

Throughout these challenges, players must consistently adapt to enemy behavior while ensuring Astra’s safety. Mastering Ellen’s movement, timing, and skill execution will not only help in securing S-Ranks but also provide a deeper understanding of her combat mechanics for future battles.

How to Play The Troubles of Ellen the Shark

To make the most of The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event, players should take a comprehensive approach, engaging with both the story and combat challenges to maximize their rewards and experience. The event offers a unique blend of narrative-driven content and strategic battles, making it essential to fully immerse in each aspect for a complete understanding of the mechanics and character interactions.

First, completing the Special Episode is crucial, as it provides deeper insight into Ellen’s story, relationships, and the overall lore of the event. The dialogues and cutscenes contribute to character development, making the gameplay experience more meaningful. Engaging with the narrative also ensures players grasp the motivations behind the challenges, giving context to the battles they will face.

Next, taking on all Combat Stages is essential for testing skills and earning valuable rewards. Each stage presents different enemy formations and conditions, requiring players to adapt their strategies. By participating in every combat challenge, players gain a better understanding of enemy attack patterns, Ellen’s combat mechanics, and how to efficiently manage Astra’s safety. Successfully completing these stages at higher rankings also leads to better rewards, making it worthwhile to replay stages if necessary.

Understanding the synergy between Ellen and Astra is key to mastering the event. While Ellen is the only trial agent available for combat, Astra plays a vital support role that influences the effectiveness of battle strategies. Players should take time to learn Ellen’s skill set, including her attack sequences, evasion techniques, and special abilities, to maximize damage output while maintaining control over enemy aggression. Astra, though not directly involved in combat, must be protected at all costs, making positioning and enemy management a priority.

By fully engaging with the story, tackling all combat challenges, and optimizing Ellen and Astra’s roles, players can make the most of The Troubles of Ellen the Shark, ensuring a rewarding and immersive event experience.

Rewards

Fully participating in The Troubles of Ellen the Shark event offers a wealth of rewards, making it essential to complete both the Agent Story and the associated combat challenges. Engaging in the story provides a deeper understanding of Ellen’s character and her interactions, while the combat stages put your skills to the test through strategic battles that require precise execution. Successfully clearing these stages not only advances the event storyline but also grants valuable in-game resources.

Throughout the event, players can earn a variety of rewards, including Polychrome, a highly sought-after currency used for obtaining new characters or equipment, and Denny, the standard in-game currency essential for upgrades and purchases. Progressing through the event will also grant Senior Investigator Logs and Official Investigator Logs, both of which are crucial for leveling up Agents and enhancing their capabilities.

For those looking to optimize their combat performance, the event provides specialized upgrade materials such as the Specialized Freeze Chip, W-Engine Energy Module, W-Engine Power Supply, and Ether Plating Agent, all of which are essential for improving W-Engines and strengthening an Agent’s combat efficiency. Additionally, players can collect Original Chips, which serve as enhancement materials, and Noise Reduction Master Copies, which are useful for refining and fine-tuning specific builds.

To further aid in upgrading characters and equipment, the event also grants Crystallized Plating Agents and Inter-Knot Credit, both of which contribute to overall progression by allowing players to refine their existing setups. By completing all available challenges and fully engaging with the event, players will not only deepen their understanding of Ellen’s abilities but also accumulate valuable materials that will enhance their entire roster.