Zenless Zone Zero Hollow Exploration guide: All icons explained

Rather than walking around the map, Zenless Zone Zero utilizes a unique Hollow Exploration feature, showcasing a board game-like structure. Various events are scattered around this dimension, either leading to valuables or dangerous showdowns. We’re here to guide you through ZZZ’s Hollow Exploration, including each icon’s meaning on the map.

What is Zenless Zone Zero Hollow Exploration?

You’ll typically enter ZZZ’s Hollow Exploration mode when starting a Story, Exploration, or Combat mission. Players must move their Bangboo across monitors to reach specific spots in the dimension. Some events trigger boss fights, but there are a few helpful blocks, like Observation Data and Supply Boxes. These materials will provide you with rewards, which can be helpful for Agent upgrades.

Some Hollow locations present higher Pressure levels, hindering your party’s performance. Keep track of this gauge to ensure the team is in good shape. Additionally, if you want to fast-track things, use the Accelerated Playback Mode to speed up those long, drawn-out texts.

All Zenless Zone Zero Hollow Exploration icons

There are a variety of events you can encounter in the Hollow. While some can benefit you, others can inflict damage on your team. Thus, knowing what each icon means is crucial before stepping on top of it. To better understand this, we’ll break down all the Hollow Exploration icons in Zenless Zone Zero. However, we’re still working our way through this list, so stay tuned for more updates.

Mark

Events	Description	Icons
Start	This will be your starting point when entering a Hollow
Target	The target point of your current objective
Elevator	Travel deeper into the Hollow
Exit	Hollow exit point

Environment

Events	Description	Icons
Unstable	An area that requires step-by-step exploration
Sturdy Obstacle	An obstacle that blocks the pathway (can’t be broken)
Fragile Obstacle	An obstacle that requires a few hits to break down
Broken Obstacle	Another easily breakable obstacle
Mists	Use this portal to teleport to another area safely
Unknown	Uncharted territory
Fissure Leading Deeper	A point-of-no-return location leading you deeper into the Hollow
Downward Passage	A passage that allows you to return to it at any time
Fissure Leading Outside	A fissure that leads to the upper floor of a Hollow (acts as another point of no return)
Upward Passage	A portal that takes you back to the previous floor (you can return to it at any time)
Secret Path	Enter a hidden area that typically requires a certain price
Surprise Box Area	Go to a random place in the Hollow
No Loitering Zone	Special area exit
Super Random Area	Transports you to a random space

Device

Events	Description	Icons
Observations	Discover the next route through this event
Trigger Switch	Activate a mechanism or equipment
Button Switch	Must be held down to activate it (place an item on top of it)
Control Lever	Activates mechanisms or equipment
Lever	A lever that can used repeatedly to control a mechanism or equipment
Steering Device	A button that changes the orientation of a mechanism
Eject	Go on top of this block to eject yourself to a specific area
Reset Button	If you’ve placed an item the wrong way during a puzzle, you can use this button to reset its position
Tracks	Step on top of this item to get to the end of the tracks quickly
Closed Gate – Wealth	Exchange a certain number of Gear Coins to unlock this gate
Closed Gate – Password	Enter the correct password to pass through the gate
Closed Gate – Challenge	A previously closed Challenges gate that is now open
Closed Gate – Puzzle	A blocked gate that needs to be unlocked by a specific mechanism
Opened Gate	A previous closed gate that is now open

Resource

Events	Description	Icons
Assets	Dennies block
Gear Coin Case	Gear Coins block (used to open blocked gates)
Safety Zones	Reduce your Pressure
Rest Areas	Recover HP
Disconnection	Increases your Pressure
Corruption	Decreases HP
Performance Evaluation Point	Earn Z-Merits
Obtain Plug-in	Improve Bangboo Plug-ins
Swift Supply	Get a random item
Gacha	Obtain a Resonator, a short-term ally
Corrupted Gacha	Earn an Artifice Resonium
Resonium Catalyst	Catalyze a Resonium in your inventory
Purification Room	Block that removes Corruption
Bangboo Merchant	Trade resources with the Bangboo Merchant
Ether Dewdrops	A rest area that revitalizes incapacitated Agents
Observation Site	Collect Hollow Observation Data
Deserted Observation Site	Collected the Hollow Observation Data
Elite Investigator’s Supply Box	Chest with the most advanced Agent upgrade resources
Senior Investigator’s Supply Box	Chest with advanced Agent upgrade resources
Opened Supply Box	An open chest

Threat

Events	Description	Icons
Crisis	Normal enemy battle
Peril	A fight against a tough opponent
Impasse	The Hollow’s toughest enemy
Double Crises	Fight two elite enemies
Timed Battle	Battle with a time limit
Gate Keeper	Defeat an enemy here to progress further in the Hollow
Final Battle	Battle against the final foe

Encounter

Events	Description	Icons
Investigator	Pioneers of the Hollow who may serve as your temporary ally
Hollow Raider	A raider who can be friendly, but that’s not always the case
The Behemoth	A steel beast that has been wrecked in the Hollows
Gold Excavation Point	A buried point that holds Dennies
Defense Force Logistics Hub	Logistics Site where a group of fully armed soldiers and military vehicles are stationed
Backstream	Playable video that can be rewinded
Evidence	Collectible evidence for a case
The Opportunist	Buy items that come at a cost of interest later down the line
Rest Area	A place where you can catch up on rest
The Truth	Enter this area to uncover secrets
Passage	A pathway that can either lead to rewards or enemy battles
Strange Goods	A vending machine with valuables
Dilapidated House	A crumbling structure that may hold treasures
Pie in the Sky	An event where you can gather materials
Activated Crystal	Ether crystal that emits energy fluctuations
Paid Rest Area	Commercial rest spot that comes at a cost
H.I.A. Depot	Temporary supply station
White Star Institute Research Station	Small research station guarded by special agents and Handlers
Public Security Squad	Heavily armed Public Security officers who are harmless to you

Hollow Visitor

Events	Description	Icons
Normal Enemy	Opponent in low-threat level zone
Elite Enemy	Foe with a high-threat level
Boss Enemy	Most formidable foe in the Hollow
Bomber	Oppenent who carries an explosive device
Companions	Friendly unit
Harmless Wanderer	A friendly unit that roams the Hollow
Golden Bangboo	Defeat this Bangboo to earn Gear Coins
Dead End Butcher	An area where a dangerous enemy awaits you
Obstacle	A block that can be pushed aside
Movable Obstacle	A pushable block that can switch places with the Bangboo when up against the wall
Train	Moving train that can take you to places
Bomb	Detonate a bomb within a radius (use on Obstacles)
Marble Cannon	Launches steel projectiles
Dead End Butcher	Initiate a Butcher battle
Friday	Fight against an intelligent construction machine
Hans	Machine with grappler attacks
Greta	A “boring” machine that will attack you
Friendly Mech	An ally machine

Hollow Zero

Event	Description	Icon
Call for Support	Recruit a new Agent to your party
Temporary Partner	Gain an Ally Bangboo
Chance Encounter	Encounter an Agent randomly and trigger an event

The icons shown here are the ones we’ve encountered so far in Zenless Zone Zero, but there are sure to be more to come. For now, be on the lookout for these events, especially the more challenging enemies.