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Mechanic

Zero Company bonds explained

Bonds are relationships between pairs of Operators. Building a Bond unlocks permanent combat bonuses, and reaching maximum Bond unlocks a passive. Bonds are also the main source of Focus Points, which drive the Focus Trees — so who you field together shapes your whole progression, not just one mission.

Confirmed
Confidence
Confirmed
Verified
4 August 2026
Version
pre-release (no retail build)

Pairs, not squads

Bonds form between two Operators. That means squad selection has a progression consequence: rotating a fifth Operator in and out spreads Bond progress thinly, while keeping a consistent four builds it fast.

Support actions like Call for Backup help build Bonds, so pairs that naturally assist each other progress faster.

Why they matter more than they look

Focus Points are mainly gained from Bonds. Focus Points are what upgrade Talents, Abilities and Passives through the Focus Trees. So Bonds are not a side system — they are the main progression engine, and neglecting them slows down every Operator's development.

Cross Training is the related system that turns pair relationships into shared capability.

Confirmed

The rules as officially stated

  • Bonds are pair relationships between Operators.
  • They unlock permanent combat bonuses.
  • Maximum Bond unlocks a passive.
  • Focus Points are mainly gained from Bonds.
  • Call for Backup helps build Bonds.

Planning

What this means for squad building

  • Evaluate whether a squad's pairings are deliberate or accidental.
  • A consistent four-Operator squad develops Bonds faster than a rotating roster.
  • Warn when a squad has strong classes but no planned Bond pairings.

What we don't know yet

The game has not been released. These are open questions we have chosen not to guess at.

  • Every specific Bond bonus and maximum-Bond passive.
  • How many Bond levels exist and what each requires.
  • Whether every pair can Bond or only certain combinations.
  • How many Focus Points a Bond level grants.

Related mechanics

Builds that depend on this mechanic

Sources