Anby’s Problem is one of those commissions in Zenless Zone Zero that looks deceptively small on the surface, then quietly reveals how much character work HoYoverse has packed into side content. It isn’t just a combat check or a Hollow crawl with a gimmick attached. This commission is about Anby’s fractured sense of responsibility, her awkward emotional honesty, and the way Section 6 operatives process guilt when things go sideways.
The commission becomes available as you deepen your relationship with Anby through regular progression and Inter-Knot activity, typically after advancing her trust and clearing earlier Hollow-related requests tied to Section 6. It triggers like a routine job, but the tone immediately shifts once Anby starts voicing concerns that feel more personal than professional. That’s your first signal that this mission isn’t about loot efficiency alone.
Why This Commission Matters in the Bigger ZZZ Story
At its core, Anby’s Problem explores the psychological cost of constant Hollow exposure and the pressure placed on frontline agents. Anby isn’t questioning her combat ability or her DPS output; she’s questioning her judgment. The commission uses small dialogue beats and environmental storytelling to show how even the most mechanically reliable characters carry unresolved doubts.
This is also one of the earliest commissions that asks the player to slow down and read the room instead of sprinting to the objective marker. Dialogue choices don’t branch the ending in extreme ways, but they absolutely change how Anby frames the outcome. Pick dismissive or overly aggressive responses and you’ll still clear the mission, but the emotional payoff lands flatter, which matters if you care about character continuity.
How Gameplay and Narrative Are Intentionally Linked
Mechanically, Anby’s Problem blends light Hollow exploration with controlled combat encounters designed to mirror Anby’s mental state. Enemy placements are tighter than usual, aggro ranges are unforgiving, and there’s less margin for sloppy positioning. It subtly pushes players to rely on Anby’s stun windows, I-frames, and disciplined crowd control rather than brute-force DPS racing.
There’s no RNG-heavy gimmick here, but there are easy pitfalls if you rush objectives or ignore side interactions. Optional investigation nodes and brief detours provide extra context that reframes why Anby reacts the way she does later in the commission. Skipping them won’t fail the mission, but you’ll miss the connective tissue that makes her “problem” resonate beyond a checklist task.
What Players Should Expect Before Diving In
Anby’s Problem is best approached with narrative awareness and a balanced team rather than a pure speedrun mindset. The commission rewards patience, clean execution, and paying attention to subtle cues in both dialogue and Hollow layout. Think of it less as a test of mechanical mastery and more as a stress test for how well you understand Anby as a character.
By the time you exit the Hollow, you’ll have more than just standard commission rewards. You’ll walk away with clearer insight into Anby’s internal conflicts, why she behaves the way she does in later interactions, and how Zenless Zone Zero uses side commissions to quietly build its world without ever forcing exposition on the player.
How to Unlock Anby’s Problem Commission (Prerequisites, Timing, and Location)
Before you can even step into Anby’s Problem, Zenless Zone Zero quietly asks you to meet a few narrative and progression checkpoints. This commission isn’t front-loaded or flagged loudly on the map, which fits its introspective tone. If you’re rushing main story beats or skipping side content, it’s easy to miss entirely.
Story and Progression Prerequisites
First and foremost, you need to be past the early tutorial arc and firmly into the core loop of Sixth Street operations. Anby’s Problem only becomes available after you’ve completed the main story chapter that formally introduces Anby as a playable agent and establishes her role within the Cunning Hares. If Anby is still feeling like a background presence in your roster, you’re not far enough yet.
Your Inter-Knot level also matters, though the game doesn’t spell it out directly. In practice, most players unlock the commission naturally once they’re comfortably handling mid-tier Hollow commissions without struggle. If standard commissions are still pushing your limits, this one simply won’t appear.
Timing Conditions That Gate the Commission
Anby’s Problem is time-sensitive in a way that’s easy to overlook. The commission only appears during specific in-game time slots, typically in the evening cycle. If you check the commission board during the day and don’t see it, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed a requirement. Advance time, revisit the hub, and check again before assuming something’s wrong.
This timing restriction reinforces the mission’s mood, but mechanically it means players who spam commissions back-to-back during a single time period can accidentally lock themselves out temporarily. A quick time skip often solves the issue instantly.
Where to Find Anby’s Problem
Once all conditions are met, Anby’s Problem shows up as a standard side commission rather than an Agent Story or event quest. You’ll find it through the regular commission interface tied to Sixth Street operations, not through direct character interaction. There’s no special NPC marker or flashy prompt to guide you there.
Pay attention to the commission title and brief description. Unlike combat-heavy commissions that advertise enemy types or rewards, this one uses understated language that hints at a personal issue rather than a tactical job. That subtle framing is your tell that you’re about to step into something more character-driven than usual.
Common Reasons the Commission Isn’t Appearing
If Anby’s Problem refuses to show up, the issue is almost always one of three things: story progress, time of day, or simply not refreshing the commission list. Completing another commission, advancing time, or re-entering Sixth Street often forces the board to update.
It’s also worth noting that this commission won’t trigger if you’re in the middle of certain main story objectives. Zenless Zone Zero tends to avoid stacking narrative-heavy content, so clear your active story missions before hunting for Anby’s Problem. Once the game has breathing room, the commission slides into place naturally.
Pre-Commission Preparation — Recommended Agents, Elements, and Gear
Once Anby’s Problem appears on the board, it’s tempting to jump in immediately. That works, but this commission quietly punishes sloppy prep through tight encounter pacing, uneven enemy spawns, and a few moments where burst damage matters more than raw sustain. Going in with the right Agents and gear turns what could be a messy Hollow run into a clean, controlled clear.
Best Agents to Bring for Anby’s Problem
Anby is mandatory for narrative reasons, and while the game doesn’t hard-lock her into the active squad, bringing her pays off both mechanically and tonally. Her Shock application helps control early mobs, and her fast I-frames during dodge counters are extremely forgiving in the cramped Hollow layouts this commission uses.
For your main DPS slot, prioritize Agents with strong on-demand burst rather than long ramp-up windows. Characters like Nekomata or Ellen Joe excel here because they can delete priority targets before enemy buffs or stagger resist kick in. Sustained DPS still works, but the mission flows better when you can end fights quickly instead of trading blows.
Your flex slot should focus on utility or crowd control. Nicole’s grouping and DEF shred trivialize multi-target rooms, while Soukaku provides consistent buffs that smooth out Anby’s slightly lower damage ceiling. Defensive supports are less valuable here; the commission rewards aggression over turtling.
Recommended Elements and Attribute Coverage
Electric damage has a natural edge throughout Anby’s Problem due to enemy compositions that favor mobility over raw defense. Shock procs interrupt attack strings and buy breathing room in rooms where aggro spikes suddenly. This is especially noticeable during back-to-back combat segments with minimal downtime.
That said, avoid running triple-element redundancy. Mixing Electric with Physical or Ice gives you better break coverage and reduces the risk of enemies resisting your primary damage type. Fire can work, but its damage-over-time focus is less impactful in a commission that prioritizes fast clears over attrition.
Optimal Gear and W-Engine Priorities
For W-Engines, prioritize anything that boosts EX Special uptime or front-loaded damage. Anby benefits heavily from Energy Regen stats, letting her loop stuns more frequently and keep enemies locked down. DPS Agents should favor Crit Rate and ATK scaling over conditional bonuses that require long field time.
Disc Drive sets that enhance burst windows outperform sustain-focused builds here. Swing Jazz and Shockstar Disco are standout choices, especially when paired with Agents who can reliably trigger their bonuses without overextending. If your builds are incomplete, even partially optimized offensive sets will outperform fully leveled defensive ones in this commission.
Items, Bangboo, and Small Optimizations
Don’t ignore Bangboo selection. Bangboo that provide quick-hit assists or minor crowd control add up in this commission’s shorter fights, helping you stabilize chaotic openings. Avoid purely healing Bangboo unless your roster is severely undergeared.
Finally, make sure your consumables are topped off, even if you rarely use them elsewhere. A single well-timed buff can erase a mistake and keep your S-rank pacing intact. Anby’s Problem isn’t brutal, but it rewards players who respect its tempo before ever stepping into the Hollow.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: Exploring the Hollow and Following Anby’s Trail
Once you’re geared and mentally ready for the commission’s tempo, entering the Hollow shifts Anby’s Problem from a mechanical challenge into a narrative-driven pursuit. This commission is structured to feel like you’re actively chasing Anby’s thoughts and decisions, not just clearing rooms. Paying attention to environmental cues and dialogue triggers is just as important as raw combat efficiency.
Unlocking the Commission and Initial Entry
Anby’s Problem unlocks after progressing through the relevant Inter-Knot storyline and completing Anby’s associated Trust events. Once available, it appears as a combat-oriented commission with investigative elements layered on top. Make sure Anby is in your squad before launching, as several interactions and dialogue beats only trigger if she’s present.
Upon entering the Hollow, resist the urge to sprint forward. The opening area introduces the commission’s core loop: short combat bursts followed by trail-following segments that reward observation. Skipping ahead too aggressively can cause you to miss optional dialogue nodes that provide narrative context, even though they’re not required for completion.
Following Environmental Clues and Dialogue Triggers
Anby’s trail is communicated through subtle markers rather than explicit objective arrows. Look for flickering data fragments, broken enemy formations, and interactable terminals that trigger short monologues or flashbacks. These moments don’t alter the ending, but they flesh out Anby’s mindset and make later encounters feel earned.
When given dialogue options, choose responses that probe Anby’s reasoning rather than dismissing her concerns. While there’s no fail state tied to dialogue, selecting empathetic or inquisitive lines unlocks extra voice lines and keeps the narrative flowing naturally. Rushing through these choices won’t break the commission, but it does flatten its emotional impact.
Combat Rooms and Enemy Behavior Shifts
Combat encounters escalate gradually, introducing faster enemy packs with overlapping aggro ranges. Prioritize enemies that reposition or teleport, as they’re designed to disrupt Anby’s stun setups and punish sloppy target selection. Use quick EX Specials early to establish control rather than saving them for panic moments.
Midway through the commission, enemy waves start chaining with minimal downtime. This is where your earlier gear and Bangboo choices pay off. Keep rotations tight, abuse I-frames during dodge counters, and don’t overcommit to long animations when multiple hitboxes are active.
Key Objective Checkpoints and Potential Pitfalls
Several checkpoints require you to interact with specific nodes before progressing. The most common mistake here is clearing all visible enemies and assuming the area is complete. If progression stalls, scan the perimeter for glowing interactables or terminals tucked behind debris.
Another pitfall is ignoring Anby’s positional hints during combat-heavy segments. She’ll occasionally reposition or comment mid-fight, subtly nudging you toward the correct exit or next objective. Treat these moments as soft guidance rather than flavor text, especially if you’re aiming for a clean, efficient clear.
Final Stretch and Narrative Payoff
The final areas blend combat and story more tightly, with shorter fights punctuated by dialogue beats that contextualize the entire commission. Enemy density spikes here, but patterns remain predictable if you’ve respected the commission’s pacing up to this point. Maintain pressure, avoid greedy DPS windows, and let stuns dictate the flow.
As you reach the end of Anby’s trail, the commission rewards attentiveness more than brute force. Players who followed the clues, engaged with dialogue, and managed tempo will find this section smoother and more emotionally resonant. The Hollow isn’t just a battlefield here; it’s a lens into Anby’s unresolved thoughts, and the game trusts you to notice.
Key Decisions, Dialogue Choices, and Hidden Interactions That Affect Flow
As the commission shifts from pure combat into more deliberate pacing, Anby’s Problem starts quietly tracking how you engage with dialogue and environmental cues. None of these choices hard-lock progression, but they absolutely affect how clean, fast, and narratively coherent your run feels. Treat this section like a soft skill check rather than a branching story fork.
Dialogue Choices That Preserve Momentum
Whenever Anby pauses to comment on the situation, you’ll usually be given two dialogue responses: one pragmatic, one emotionally deflective. Choosing grounded, task-focused responses keeps the commission moving without spawning additional combat detours. Emotional or dismissive replies don’t fail the mission, but they often trigger extra enemy packs or longer traversal routes.
These responses subtly mirror Anby’s own internal conflict. Matching her restraint stabilizes the flow, while pushing against it causes the Hollow to “push back” mechanically. If you’re aiming for an efficient clear or speed-focused run, prioritize dialogue that reinforces action over reflection.
Optional Interactions That Quietly Reshape Encounters
Several side objects appear non-essential but directly affect upcoming fights. Terminals, cracked Ether nodes, and discarded gear piles can weaken future enemy spawns if interacted with before advancing. Skipping them won’t break progression, but it raises enemy durability and increases overlapping aggro in later waves.
One easily missed interaction involves a damaged barrier Anby briefly glances at without prompting. Investigating it early removes a flanking spawn during the next combat sequence. This is one of those moments where environmental storytelling doubles as mechanical optimization.
When to Follow Anby’s Lead and When Not To
Mid-commission, Anby occasionally moves ahead or pauses near specific paths. Following her immediately usually leads to the critical route, but there are moments where lingering pays off. Clearing side corridors before committing prevents backtracking and avoids being pinched by delayed enemy triggers.
The key is timing. If Anby stops and comments, explore. If she advances mid-dialogue, stick close. The commission subtly teaches you to read her body language as much as her voice lines, which is rare but intentional design.
Hidden Fail States That Don’t Look Like Failures
Anby’s Problem includes soft fail conditions tied to pacing rather than HP loss. Rushing through dialogue-heavy zones can desync enemy spawns, causing awkward wave overlaps that feel unfair rather than challenging. Conversely, over-clearing can spawn reinforcement waves meant only for missed objectives.
If fights start feeling unusually dense or chaotic, it’s often because a dialogue trigger or interaction was skipped. Slowing down for just a few seconds to let conversations fully resolve keeps encounter scripting intact and preserves the intended difficulty curve.
Combat Encounters Breakdown — Enemy Types, Hazards, and Efficient Clears
Once the commission’s scripting is respected and encounter pacing stays intact, Anby’s Problem reveals a tightly curated combat flow. Every fight escalates deliberately, testing whether you read environmental cues and prep correctly rather than brute-forcing DPS. Understanding what spawns where, and why, turns this commission from messy to methodical.
Primary Enemy Types and Their Behavioral Triggers
Most encounters are built around standard Ether-corrupted mobs supported by one or two control-focused enemies. Shield-bearing units are the real tempo setters here, not because of raw durability, but because they’re often positioned to force frontal engagements while lighter enemies flank.
Pay attention to spawn animations. If enemies drop in via rifts rather than waking from idle states, that’s your signal that aggro chains are active. Clearing support units first prevents stagger locks that can snowball into unnecessary damage, especially if Anby is mid-animation and can’t peel immediately.
Elite Variants and Mini-Boss Pressure Points
Midway through the commission, elite enemies enter with enhanced Ether effects and wider hitboxes. These aren’t DPS checks in the traditional sense; they’re positioning checks. Their attacks are tuned to punish side-dodging instead of backward evasion, so use lateral I-frames sparingly.
Breaking their posture is far more efficient than chasing raw damage. Coordinated Assault skills or stun-focused agents shorten these fights dramatically, and delaying your burst until the elite commits to a long animation guarantees safer windows for unloads.
Environmental Hazards That Quietly Control the Fight
Several combat zones include Ether leaks, unstable flooring, or narrow corridors that restrict camera control. These hazards aren’t lethal on their own, but they amplify enemy pressure by limiting dodge angles and obscuring telegraphs.
Triggering hazards early can actually work in your favor. Luring enemies into Ether pools causes stagger ticks that interrupt charging attacks, effectively replacing crowd control tools if your team composition lacks them.
Wave Sequencing and Why Rushing Backfires
Anby’s Problem punishes players who clear too quickly without letting wave logic resolve. Some fights are designed to spawn reinforcements only after specific enemy deaths, not time-based triggers. Nuking the wrong target first can stack waves unintentionally.
The safest approach is controlled thinning. Drop lighter enemies, soften elites, then finish the trigger target last. This keeps the encounter readable and prevents overlapping AoE spam that feels like RNG but is actually avoidable.
Optimal Clear Strategies for Speed and Safety
If you’re aiming for an efficient clear, open fights by establishing aggro with your tankiest agent, then rotate DPS during enemy recovery frames. Save ultimates for multi-enemy overlap moments rather than single elites, since the commission favors density over singular threats.
Anby herself excels at stabilizing chaotic moments. Use her to interrupt rather than initiate, especially during later encounters where mistimed entries can desync enemy focus. Playing reactively here isn’t slower; it’s cleaner, safer, and aligns with how the commission wants you to think about combat flow.
Common Pitfalls & Missable Objectives (How to Avoid Wasting Time)
Even if your combat execution is clean, Anby’s Problem has several hidden failure states that quietly punish impatience. These don’t hard-fail the commission, but they can lock you out of rewards, extend clear time, or force unnecessary replays. Understanding where the commission expects restraint is just as important as knowing when to go aggressive.
Skipping Anby’s Dialogue Triggers
One of the most common mistakes is speed-skipping dialogue prompts tied to Anby’s investigation steps. Certain lines aren’t flavor text; they flag internal progression checks that unlock side interactions later in the Hollow. If you mash through these without letting the dialogue fully resolve, the game can skip optional objectives without warning.
Always let Anby finish her lines before moving to the next marker, especially after combat transitions. If she comments on the environment or pauses before advancing, that’s your cue that a conditional flag is being set.
Clearing the Hollow Out of Sequence
Anby’s Problem looks open-ended, but the Hollow pathing is more linear than it appears. Backtracking too early or forcing side rooms before the commission tells you to investigate can cause interactables to despawn or never activate. This is especially easy to trigger if you’re used to farming Hollows aggressively.
Follow the objective marker order until Anby explicitly mentions anomalies or inconsistencies. That’s the moment when side paths become valid and reward-bearing, rather than dead ends.
Overkilling Key Targets
Some enemies in this commission act as narrative anchors rather than pure combat checks. Bursting them down too fast can skip mid-fight voice lines that trigger follow-up waves or data drops. Players running high DPS teams often mistake this as a bug when it’s actually a pacing mechanic.
When you encounter an elite that spawns alone and doesn’t immediately pressure you, ease off slightly. Let the fight breathe until Anby reacts verbally, then finish the target to ensure all associated objectives register.
Missing Optional Investigation Nodes
Several glowing nodes scattered throughout the Hollow are easy to ignore because they don’t look interactable at first glance. These nodes often only activate after specific combat encounters or dialogue beats. If you rush past them, they won’t retroactively light up.
After any major fight where Anby comments on “irregular readings” or “unexpected behavior,” sweep the immediate area before moving on. These nodes frequently grant bonus Dennies, investigation logs, or extra commission completion points.
Assuming Faster Is Always Better
Anby’s Problem is deliberately designed to punish speedrunning instincts. The commission rewards deliberate pacing, observation, and controlled engagement far more than raw execution. Players who rush objectives often end up with longer clears due to missed triggers or forced backtracking.
If something feels oddly quiet or underwhelming, that’s usually a sign you skipped a step. Slow down, listen to Anby, and let the commission unfold as intended. You’ll finish faster by not trying to finish fast.
Commission Rewards, Achievements, and Post-Completion Story Implications
By the time Anby’s Problem wraps up, the game has quietly tested how well you pay attention, not how hard you can hit. If you followed triggers correctly and resisted the urge to brute-force the Hollow, the payoff is more than just standard clear rewards. This commission feeds directly into Anby’s narrative arc and subtly flags your account for future content.
Base Completion Rewards
Clearing Anby’s Problem for the first time grants a solid bundle of Dennies, Inter-Knot Credits, and standard investigation EXP. The exact values scale with your Inter-Knot level, but the reward curve is noticeably higher than early filler commissions. This is the game signaling that Anby’s Problem sits closer to story-critical content than optional side work.
You’ll also receive Hollow-specific upgrade materials used for early W-Engine enhancement. These aren’t rare, but getting them here can save you several Hollow dives if you’re gearing up Anby or another Electric unit.
Hidden and Conditional Rewards
Players who fully engage with optional investigation nodes and avoid skipping dialogue triggers can earn bonus rewards that don’t appear on the mission summary screen. These typically include extra Dennies, lore logs, and additional commission rating points. Miss the pacing cues, and these simply never spawn.
One optional node in particular only activates after Anby comments on inconsistent Ether readings near the final combat zone. Interacting with it unlocks a short data log that expands on why Anby reacts so strongly to the commission’s events. It’s easy to miss, but it’s one of the clearest narrative payoffs in the mission.
Achievements and Account Progression Flags
Completing Anby’s Problem properly contributes toward hidden achievement progress tied to investigation thoroughness rather than speed. While the commission doesn’t immediately pop a flashy trophy, it advances internal counters used for later unlocks. These include additional Proxy trust interactions and follow-up commissions involving Cunning Hares members.
If you trigger all narrative beats, you also increase the likelihood of seeing unique dialogue in future Hollow encounters with Anby in your active squad. This isn’t cosmetic fluff. It reinforces that Zenless Zone Zero tracks how you engage with character-focused content, not just whether you clear it.
Post-Completion Story Implications
Narratively, Anby’s Problem reframes her role within the Cunning Hares. The commission plants early hints about her sensitivity to abnormal Hollow behavior and her discomfort with anomalies that don’t fit known patterns. These moments don’t resolve immediately, but they resurface in later story beats and side content.
After completion, Anby’s ambient dialogue in the city hub subtly changes, especially when interacting near Hollow-related NPCs. It’s a small touch, but it reinforces that this commission isn’t self-contained. It’s groundwork for her long-term character development.
Why This Commission Matters Long-Term
Anby’s Problem is a quiet litmus test for how Zenless Zone Zero wants you to play. It rewards observation, restraint, and narrative awareness over raw DPS and speed. Players who treat it like a standard clear mission miss both rewards and context.
If you take one lesson forward, let it be this: when the game slows down and lets a character speak, it’s doing that for a reason. Listen, explore deliberately, and trust that ZZZ is always setting something up for later. That mindset pays dividends far beyond this commission.