Let's be real — Version 2.7 just dropped, and the ZZZ community is already looking past Nangong Yu and Cissia straight into ZZZ 2.8 territory. And honestly? Fair enough. The leaks coming out of the 2.8 beta are hard to ignore, especially if you've been waiting for Promeia to finally become playable or curious about the highly anticipated Starlight Billy upgrade. Between brand-new Drive Disc sets practically spelling out their kits, early test team comps, and community debates on whether Promeia is the next Miyabi or just copium — there's a lot to unpack. This guide breaks down everything we know about the ZZZ 2.8 banners, the leaked abilities for Promeia and Starlight Billy, estimated release windows, and whether you should start saving now.
| Content | Details |
|---|---|
| New S-Rank #1 | Promeia — Ice / Anomaly |
| New S-Rank #2 |
Starlight - Billy Kid — Physical / Rupture (upgraded HP-scaling S-Rank) |
| Reruns | Lucia (Phase 1 rerun confirmed via leaks) |
| Reruns #2 | Miyabi, Dialyn, Harumasa also speculated |
| New QoL | Rewards preview feature (ported from HSR, leaked via Seele) |
| New Drive Discs | Notes From the Chained (Ice) & Yunkui Tales (HP/Sheer DMG) |
| Story Focus | Krampus faction introduction |
ZZZ 2.8 Version Overview & Banner Release Date
TL;DR: ZZZ 2.8 is shaping up to be a massive patch headlined by Promeia (Ice Anomaly) and Starlight Billy (Physical Rupture), kickstarting the Krampus storyline. It is estimated to go live in late May to early June 2026.
Version 2.8 marks the beginning of a new story arc pulling the Krampus faction into the spotlight. If you've been following the Angels of Delusion saga in 2.6–2.7, this is the narrative pivot point. HoYoverse hasn't officially announced anything for 2.8 yet — Version 2.7 is now live as of March 24, 2026. Based on the officially announced Version 2.7 duration, we can pin down a tighter estimate:
- Version 2.7: March 24 – late May 2026
- Version 2.8 Phase 1 (estimated): May 6, 2026 (Phase 1 is expected to feature Promeia + Lucia rerun)
- Version 2.8 Phase 2 (estimated): Mid-to-late June 2026 (Phase 2 is expected to feature Starlight Billy, along with a rerun of Miyabi, Dialyn, or Harumasa)
The 2.8 beta has already started according to leak communities, which lines up with the usual ~6-week lead time before a patch goes live.
New Character: Promeia (S-Rank / Ice / Anomaly)
Promeia is an Ice Anomaly agent whose kit revolves around triggering Abloom and Freeze for massive Anomaly DMG amplification. Think of her as a hyper-carry anomaly dealer who rewards teams that stack elemental reactions.
Who Is Promeia?
If you played through the Season 2 Interlude — "Encore for an Old Dream" — you already know her face. Promeia served as one of the judges for the Krampus Compliance Authority, rocking that signature indigo-blue bob and a piercing purple gaze that screams "ice-cold authority." She's been an NPC tease for a while now, and 2.8 is finally her turn to join the active roster.
Promeia's Kit — What the Leaks Tell Us
The biggest clue about Promeia's kit comes from a new Drive Disc set called "Notes From the Chained," leaked in the 2.8 beta files. For those looking for a deep dive into her stats, you can check our detailed Promeia build guide here:
- 2-piece bonus: +10% Ice DMG
- 4-piece bonus: +48 Anomaly Proficiency upon triggering Abloom; +16% Anomaly DMG and Disorder boost when triggering Freeze
What does this mean in practice? Promeia's playstyle is built around a two-step loop: Apply Freeze to enemies, then trigger Abloom for bonus Anomaly Proficiency to unleash amplified Anomaly and Disorder damage. Based on the Drive Disc design, Promeia appears to be a hyper-carry anomaly agent who wants to stay on-field and rack up reactions.
Promeia Team Comps (Beta Test Data)
Leaked internal test team compositions give us a clear picture of where HoYoverse sees Promeia fitting:
| Team | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Ice | Promeia | Nangong Yu | Yuzuha |
| Disorder Comp | Promeia | Nangong Yu | Burnice |
| Ether/Anomaly | Promeia | Nangong Yu | Vivian |
A few things stand out here. First, Nangong Yu appears in almost every comp — his Ether Stun role seems tailor-made for setting up Promeia's damage windows. Second, Miyabi is nowhere on the test list. Players on Reddit are quick to point out that if Promeia works with Alice, she almost certainly works with Miyabi too.
New Character: Starlight - Billy Kid (S-Rank / Physical / Rupture)
Starlight Billy completely reimagines the Cunning Hares' gunslinger into an HP-scaling Physical Rupture agent. He introduces dual-stance gameplay and defense-ignoring "Sheer DMG," thriving in high-risk, high-reward team comps.
Who Is Starlight Billy?
If you've been maining the original A-Rank Billy, prepare for a massive upgrade. Starlight - Billy Kid is a separate, standalone S-Rank Agent representing the Cunning Hares. As teased in the "Hollow Hero Tournament" Inter-Knot posts, this is Billy fully embracing his Starlight Knight persona. To get a head start on his optimization, see our Starlight Billy build guide.
Starlight Billy's Kit — What the Leaks Tell Us
The biggest clue about Starlight Billy's kit comes from his core passive, Knight's Resolve, and his recommended Drive Disc set (Yunkui Tales + Bunny in Wonderland) found in the 2.8 beta files:
- HP to Damage Conversion: Billy's unique stat, "Sheer Force," scales directly off his Max HP (1 Max HP = 0.1 Sheer Force).
- True Damage (Sheer DMG): All Physical DMG dealt by his skills is converted to "Sheer DMG," which completely ignores enemy DEF and scales off Sheer Force.
- Dual Stances (Bike vs. Free Mode): Entering [Bike Mode] continuously drains his HP but grants +30% CRIT DMG and DMG reduction. If his HP hits 1%, he reverts to [Free Mode] to heal back up.
- Cheat Death: Taking fatal damage doesn't kill him; instead, he gains a massive shield equal to 180% of his Max HP.
What does this mean in practice? His playstyle is an adrenaline-pumping "stance-dancing" loop. Because his damage completely ignores enemy DEF, you want to push his Max HP% and CRIT as high as possible, completely ignoring traditional ATK% rolls, to nuke heavily armored endgame bosses.
Starlight Billy Team Comps (Beta Test Data)
Leaked internal test team compositions show that Starlight Billy performs best in a team that can amplify his HP pool while providing enough utility to manage his "Bike Mode" drain:
| Team | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium "Starlight Service" | Starlight Billy | Dialyn | Lucia |
This composition creates a perfect "HP-to-Damage" feedback loop. Lucia is the absolute cornerstone; her field provides 1.6% HP regeneration per second to safely offset Billy's Bike Mode drain. Dialyn acts as the tactical trigger, forcibly upgrading Billy's Chain Attacks into Ultimates to unleash unprecedented multiplier ceilings.
Returning Characters (Reruns)
TL;DR: ZZZ 2.8 is expected to continue the triple-banner rerun format. Miyabi, Dialyn, and Harumasa are among the most-discussed candidates.
The rerun picture for 2.8 is still messy, but here's what's floating around:
- Miyabi: She's conspicuously absent from 2.7's rerun lineup, leading many to speculate she'll appear in 2.8 Phase 1. An Ice-themed first half would make strategic sense for HoYoverse.
- Dialyn: Multiple community members point to Dialyn as a likely 2.8 rerun candidate, especially given her synergy with the new Starlight Billy.
- Lucia: According to recent leaks, Lucia (Ether / Support) is expected to rerun in Phase 1. She is critical for maximizing Starlight Billy's HP mechanics.
FAQ
Is Promeia better than Miyabi for Ice DPS?
Different lanes. Miyabi is a burst-oriented Ice DPS who excels in mono-Ice comps with Soukaku. Promeia is an Anomaly-focused agent whose damage comes from stacking Freeze and Abloom reactions. Both will coexist rather than replace each other. For more details, see our Promeia build guide.
Do I need Nangong Yu to run Promeia?
Based on beta test comps, Nangong Yu shows up in most tested teams. If you're pulling Promeia, seriously consider grabbing him in 2.7.
Is Starlight Billy just a skin for A-Rank Billy?
No. Starlight - Billy Kid is a brand new, standalone S-Rank limited banner character. You cannot upgrade your existing A-Rank Billy to this version; you must pull for him using Encrypted Master Tapes. Check out the specific stats and Drive Disc recommendations in our Starlight Billy Kid build guide.
That's the full picture on ZZZ 2.8 as it stands right now. With the beta still in progress, expect more concrete info to drop over the coming weeks. If Promeia or Starlight Billy is on your radar, start stacking those Polychromes.
