Chaos Zero Nightmare Beginner Tips — Starter Guide & Essentials
Quick LinksChaos Zero Nightmare Beginner Tips — Starter Guide & EssentialsIntroductionUnderstanding the Core GameplayBuilding Your First TeamExample F2P Starting TeamResource Management 1011. Aether (Stamina)2. Signal Amplification Anchor3. Crystal (Premium Currency)Develop Your Ark City1. Policies and Researches2. Free Daily Aether3. Buff Up Before Battle4. Bond with Your CombatantsTrust in the Growth GuideConclusion
Introduction
Welcome to Chaos Zero Nightmare (CZN) — a dark sci-fi tactical card RPG where every turn tests your strategy, sanity, and squad synergy.
If you’re just stepping into the role of Captain, this guide is your crash course through the chaos — covering combat basics, team building, resource management, and daily routines to help you avoid rookie traps and master the nightmare faster. Ready your deck, manage your stress, and let’s dive headfirst into the void.
Understanding the Core Gameplay
At its core, Chaos Zero Nightmare is a turn-based card strategy RPG where every decision counts. Each battle features a team of three Combatants, and every turn grants 3 Action Points (AP) and 5 random cards drawn from your deck.
Each card requires AP to play — most cost between 1–3 AP, but powerful skills and advanced mechanics can go beyond 3 AP, demanding precise planning and synergy to execute. Mastering AP management and knowing when to hold or unleash high-cost cards is the key to controlling the flow of battle.
Stack combos, time your buffs, and unleash your Ego Skills when the chaos peaks — that’s how you dominate CZN’s battlefield.
Want to learn how the system really works? Check out these pages for deeper insights:Pages ListWhat are Combatants?
Building Your First Team
Forming your first team is where most new Captains stumble — spreading resources too thin can cripple your early progress. In CZN, efficiency is survival.
Each team is made up of 3 Combatants and their Partners. To start strong, Tiertactix recommends the following team archetypes:
- Balanced Team
- Damage Dealer — Brings consistent firepower.
- Shielder — Reduces stress buildup by mitigating damage.
- Healer — Keeps your team alive and boosts utility (draw, buff, AP gain).
This team thrives on sustain and stability, ideal for new players clearing early Chaos stages.
- Glass Cannon / Combo Team
- Main DPS — Nukes enemies before they act.
- Support / Sub-DPS — Enables combos or buffs your main damage dealer.
- Healer — Keeps your fragile setup alive long enough to win.
These setups focus on quick burst damage and fast clears — perfect if you enjoy risky but rewarding plays.
Example F2P Starting Team
Role | Combatant | Description |
DPS | Tressa | Low-cost Void attacker who inflicts Agony for powerful DoT (damage over time). |
Support | Rei | Buffs Void-type cards, draws cards, and provides healing — all-in-one support. |
Healer | Mika | Arguably the best healer at launch; regenerates AP and restores HP using Waves. |
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure about synergy or still missing key combatants, go for the Balanced Team. It’ll carry you safely through early progression. Want to start strong? Read our full Reroll Guide for Chaos Zero Nightmare to secure the best opening team possible:Pages ListReroll
Resource Management 101
Mastering resources is what separates casual Captains from veterans. In CZN, there are three core currencies you must manage wisely:
1. Aether (Stamina)
Used to enter simulations and farm upgrades like EXP, manuals, growth stones, and memory fragments.
- Cap — 240
- Recharge — 1 per 6 minutes
Farming priority:
- Combatant level & promotion
- Unlock potential nodes (Growth Stones, Shards of Condemnation)
- Memory Fragments (after unlocking Difficulty 5)
- Partner level & promotion
Focus on one team until Level 30, then expand to two teams after.
2. Signal Amplification Anchor
These are your limited banner pull tickets. Since limited banners have a 70-pull soft pity (50/50 chance), always save at least 140 Anchors before pulling. Missing an overpowered combatant hurts more than you think.
3. Crystal (Premium Currency)
Crystals are your universal currency — use them sparingly! Only spend on:
- 160 Crystals → 1 Signal Amplification Anchor
- 50 Crystals for 60 Aether (only during 2x events)
Avoid wasting Crystals on unnecessary refreshes or cosmetics early on.
Develop Your Ark City
Your Ark City is your safe haven — a floating fortress that provides daily buffs, rewards, and resource boosts. Managing it efficiently will speed up your overall growth.
1. Policies and Researches
Use the Auto Assign feature carefully; it doesn’t always match your city’s priorities. Focus early research on Policy Management and invest Policy Points in Research Notes from Nono’s Shop.
Learn more:
2. Free Daily Aether
Don’t skip your daily Garden Café visit — 80 Aether for free each day (or 60 if you choose to store it). That’s 8 hours of free stamina, fueling your daily grind!
3. Buff Up Before Battle
Grab a meal at Starshine Diner to earn temporary team buffs for your next Chaos runs. Cheap, effective, and a must-do before hard stages.
4. Bond with Your Combatants
Increase Affinity through gifts and excursions. Building relationships grants permanent stat bonuses and fun story moments. They fight harder when they know you care.
Trust in the Growth Guide
The Growth Guide is one of the most valuable progression tools for new Captains. It acts as a structured roadmap for building your first and second teams, presenting simple objectives that teach core systems while steadily improving your roster.
Completion rewards include crucial resources: currencies and materials, standard and limited Anchors (draw tickets), crystals, account experience (Coordinates of Record), promotion materials, and units. These rewards reduce early progression friction and remove bottlenecks that slow new accounts.
Following the Growth Guide consistently lets you reach higher account levels faster, assemble functional teams sooner, and unlock Chaos Zero Nightmare's latest and endgame content — with less grinding and fewer wasted resources.
Conclusion
Every Captain starts with chaos — but how you manage stress, plan your team, and optimize resources determines how far you’ll go.
Stay sharp, experiment with builds, and most importantly — enjoy the descent into madness.
Tiertactix salutes you, Captain. May your cards align and your sanity hold in Chaos Zero Nightmare.