ZZZ Snake Duel Ultimate Guide

In the world of Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ), Snake Duel stands as a challenging and engaging minigame. Players must navigate their snakes to accumulate points by avoiding enemies and gathering items scattered across the map. Success depends not only on agile controls but also on understanding the mechanics and strategies for maximizing the game's potential.

Snake Duel offers 30 specific achievements that reward players with 350 Polychromes, a form of in-game currency. Additionally, the game's leaderboard fosters a competitive spirit, showcasing where participants rank among their friends. This guide aims to assist players in mastering Snake Duel, paving the way to top scores at the popular Godfinger arcade on Sixth Street.

Controls and Basic Mechanics

To navigate and succeed in Snake Duel in Zenless Zone Zero, understanding the control schemes for different platforms is crucial.

PC players have the option to use either keyboard & mouse or a controller. For keyboard & mouse, use WASD for movement and J for boosting. This setup is considered optimal for precise control. When using a controller on PC, the left joystick or D-Pad manages movement, and A/X activates the boost.

PlayStation users can move their snake using the left joystick or the D-Pad, and boost by pressing X. On mobile devices, players navigate with a D-Pad located on the left side of the screen and boost using a lightning icon on the right.

A note for PC players: switching control devices does not require exiting the game. By pressing the Main Menu button on the desired device while in the game world, one can seamlessly change input methods. For instance, if normally playing with a controller but wanting to switch to keyboard & mouse for Snake Duel, pressing Escape on the keyboard will achieve this.

Basic Mechanics

Boost: In single-player mode, holding the boost button increases the player's speed continuously. In multiplayer mode, activating the boost reduces the snake's tail length by one unit, leaving a Bean at the tail's end approximately every two seconds.

Second Chance: This mechanic provides a brief invincibility period when the snake runs into an obstacle, allowing players to change direction and continue playing. Note that this does not apply when colliding with Mines.

Understanding and mastering these controls and mechanics can significantly enhance performance in Zenless Zone Zero's Snake Duel. Being adaptable with control schemes and effectively utilizing boosts and the Second Chance mechanism are key strategies for outplaying opponents and achieving high scores.

All currently known enemies in ZZZ's Snake Duel

In Zenless Zone Zero's Snake Duel, the enemies increase in difficulty as your score goes up. Players face several types of adversaries, each with unique behaviors and challenges.

List of Enemies

Purple:

• Length: 3 units
• Behavior: They move slowly and aimlessly, primarily targeting Beans rather than the player. While they usually pose no direct threat, their erratic movements can sometimes unexpectedly end a player's run.
• Strategy: Often they inadvertently eliminate other enemies. Exercise caution when moving alongside them.

Pink:

• Length: 12 units
• Behavior: These enemies maintain a speed similar to the player’s default pace and actively engage in trying to take the player out.
• Strategy: They can be effectively managed through the Trap or Duel tactics.

Red:

• Length: 26 units
• Behavior: Faster than Pink, almost matching the player's speed with Boost. Their aggression and speed make them a significant threat.
• Strategy: Despite their dangerous nature, their predictability makes them vulnerable to Trap or Duel strategies.

Yellow:

• Length: 2 units
• Behavior: These enemies are swift and incredibly bothersome, frequently attempting to block the player's path.
• Strategy: They are notoriously difficult to eliminate. However, if they consume a Bean, they become easier to handle using Trap, Duel, or Surround techniques.

Black:

• Length: 35 units
• Behavior: These snakes exhibit a mix of behaviors similar to players, balancing between attacking the player and collecting resources.
• Strategy: Their length and player-like movements make them a considerable threat but can be managed through Trap or Duel strategies.

White:

• Length: Infinite
• Behavior: Although very slow and seemingly unintelligent, they continually grow in length, making them potentially game-ending threats if not addressed quickly.
• Strategy: These enemies must be Surrounded or Trapped as soon as possible, since attempting to Duel them will almost certainly result in failure.

Blue:

• Length: 5 units
• Behavior: Extremely fast and targeting both the player and other enemies, their primary objective is to be the last one standing.
• Strategy: They appear only after high scores are reached, beyond typical achievement thresholds, making them challenges reserved for the best players.

Enemy Characteristics Comparison

The increasing difficulty and variety in enemy behavior require players to adapt their strategies continually. As players reach higher scores, they encounter more formidable adversaries, pushing them to refine their tactics and master the nuances of each enemy type in Zenless Zone Zero's Snake Duel.

All currently known items and obstacles in ZZZ's Snake Duel

In Zenless Zone Zero's Snake Duel, players encounter a variety of items and obstacles as they navigate the grid. The game becomes more challenging as these elements appear more frequently with higher scores. Below are detailed descriptions of the discovered items and obstacles:

• Bean: This item extends the snake's tail by 1 unit. It also awards 1,000 points plus an additional 100 points for each extra unit of tail length.
• Gem: This gem extends the tail by 2 units and multiplies the points similar to a Bean but by 10. Occasionally, gems will move either horizontally or vertically across the grid.
• Speed Up: Occupying a single square unit, this item boosts the player's speed for around 10 seconds. It can be combined with a Boost for increased effectiveness.
• Speed Down: Also taking up a single square unit, this item reduces the player's speed for approximately 10 seconds. The slowing effect can be countered by using a Boost.
• Bomb: Covering 2×2 square units, a bomb clears everything from the screen, including items and obstacles.
• Star Power: This 2×2 square unit item grants a slight increase in speed and provides invincibility for roughly 10 seconds. During this time, the player can destroy enemies, mines, walls, and even their own tail without repercussion.
• Mine: Spanning 2×2 square units, mines result in instant death upon contact. As players progress, these mines begin to move in any direction, adding to the challenge.
• Wall: Walls occupy a single square unit and act as barriers that players must navigate around.

Players must strategically utilize these items and avoid obstacles to maximize their survival and score in Snake Duel.

Some Simple Snake Duel Tips & Tricks

Snake Duel in Zenless Zone Zero requires a mix of strategy and quick reflexes. Mastering a few key tactics can greatly enhance gameplay. Below are some effective strategies to consider:

Surround Technique

This approach involves using the snake's tail to encircle and trap enemies completely. Players start by targeting smaller enemies like Purple and White, especially when they have just appeared on the grid. For this strategy to be effective, it helps if the player's snake has a sufficiently long tail.

Using Trap Strategy

In this method, players lure enemies into a confined space between themselves and an obstacle such as a wall or another snake. Once the enemy is positioned, the player cuts off their escape route. This works particularly well against enemies that aggressively pursue the player, including Pink, Red, and Black.

Engaging in Duels

This is a more aggressive tactic where players deliberately run into other snakes head-on. While risky, this method yields significant point gains and gradually shortens the opposing snake's tail until one is fully eliminated. To execute this, follow the trapping steps but face the enemy directly. Like the Trap strategy, this is most effective against enemies that actively chase the player.

Applying these strategies thoughtfully can make a substantial difference in Snake Duel, turning a challenging game into a series of tactical victories.

Play with your friends in multiplayer PvP!

Zenless Zone Zero offers an exciting co-op multiplayer experience in its Snake Duel – Clash minigame. Players can queue solo or with a friend to face off against others in their friend group or among the game's extensive player base.

In Snake Duel – Clash, gameplay differs from the singleplayer mode. Firstly, there are no traditional enemies to fight against—only the opposing players. The sole items found in matches are Beans and Gems. Eliminated players enjoy a swift return to action, rejoining after just five seconds.

Objective: The goal in this minigame is clear: achieve the longest combined tail length with your teammate by the end of the two-minute match.

Key Differences:

• No Enemies: Besides your opponents, expect no other threats.
• Item Collection: Focus on collecting Beans and Gems to enhance your performance.
• Respawns: Eliminations are temporary with a five-second respawn timer.

Mastery of basic mechanics from the singleplayer mode is crucial, but adapting to these unique nuances ensures success in multiplayer. Don't miss out on monthly challenges like „Don't Get Greedy,“ which offers rewards for top performers in Snake Duel.