Neverness to Everness Character Skill Leveling & Build Guide
With the supernatural streets of Hethereau now open to Appraisers, mastering the intricate combat and progression systems is the only way to survive high-level Anomaly Hunts.
📝 Editorial Note: This guide is AI-assisted and game data evolves rapidly. Please cross-reference with in-game information. Updated: 2026-05-22.
Overview

Character progression in Neverness to Everness (NTE) is a multi-layered process that extends far beyond simply increasing a character’s base level. To maximize the potential of your roster, you must balance combat efficiency with “Life Skills” that fuel the game’s urban simulation elements, such as the Cafe and City Tycoon systems. As of May 2026, the meta revolves around high-frequency “Esper Cycles” and elemental reactions, making skill leveling priorities more critical than ever.
Hunter Level & Ascension Caps
Your account progress is tracked via the Hunter Level, which acts as a hard gate for your characters. Even if you have the materials, you cannot level a character past specific thresholds without completing a Hunter Advancement Test. These tests are administered by the Bureau of Anomaly Control (BAC) and appear at the following milestones:
- Level 20: Unlocks the first major Ascension and allows skills to be leveled to Rank 3.
- Level 40: Increases the level cap to 60 and unlocks the “Console” gear system’s second tier.
- Level 60: Necessary for endgame Anomaly Zones and final skill rank unlocks.
Advancing these levels requires a combination of Hunter Guides and Beetle Coins, the primary currency of Hethereau.
Combat vs. Life Skills Priority
Every character in NTE possesses two distinct sets of abilities. Combat Skills include Basic Attacks, Redirect Skills (active abilities), Ultimates, and Support Skills (triggered during swaps). Life Skills, however, are non-combat passives that provide significant economic advantages.
For a Main DPS like Nanally, your priority should always be her Passives and Redirect Skills to maximize her “Ichi-daime’s Authority” state. Conversely, for a utility character like Mint, her Life Skill “Owner’s Selection” is vital for increasing Cafe profits and ingredient efficiency. Upgrading these Life Skills requires Dreamless Seeds, a rare resource found primarily during exploration and specific urban side-quests.
Skill Leveling Materials
Upgrading skills requires specific materials found in the Anomaly Zone. The table below outlines the core requirements for early-to-mid-game skill progression:
| Material Name | Primary Source | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Anomalous Shards | Anomaly Hunts (Houdinii’s Schemes) | Core material for all combat skill ranks. |
| Beetle Coins | Daily Commissions / City Tycoon | Standard currency for all upgrades. |
| Hunter Guides | Bureau of Anomaly Control | Required for character Ascension milestones. |
| Dreamless Seeds | Urban Exploration / Cafe Tasks | Exclusive material for Life Skill upgrades. |
Best Weapons

In Neverness to Everness, weapons are known as Arcs. These are categorized into five distinct types based on their physical properties: Solid, Liquid, Gas, Plasma, and Synthesis. Equipping a character with an Arc that matches their compatibility type is essential for unlocking secondary stat bonuses.
S-Rank Signature Arcs
Signature Arcs are designed to complement the specific mechanics of S-Rank characters. For example, Nanally, an Anima-element character with Plasma Arc compatibility, benefits most from Arcs that enhance follow-up damage and Crit DMG.
undisclosed regarding the specific name of Nanally’s current best-in-slot S-Rank Arc, as recent updates have shifted the meta toward Arcs that specifically buff the Vita Pistil damage of her follow-up attacks. However, the S-Rank Arc “Raging Flames” remains a top-tier choice for Incantation DPS units like Sakiri, providing a massive boost to Scorch-related damage.
Best F2P Arc Alternatives
Free-to-play players have several powerful options obtainable through Anomaly Commissions.
- “Youthful Fantasy”: An excellent A-Rank choice for Mint, focusing on Anima DMG and Stamina recovery for her “Minty Whirlwind” spin.
- “Mind Royale”: A highly versatile Synthesis Arc that provides flat ATK% and is easily refined to Rank 5 through the Bureau shop.
Arc Tier List by Role
| Arc Name | Rarity | Role | Key Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Information Unavailable] | S-Rank | DPS | BiS for Nanally; enhances follow-up Vita Pistil hits. |
| Raging Flames | S-Rank | Support/DPS | Massive Scorch DMG and ATK% for Incantation units. |
| Mind Royale | A-Rank | All-Rounder | Reliable ATK% boost; high accessibility for F2P. |
| Youthful Fantasy | A-Rank | Sustained DPS | Enhances Stamina-heavy kits like Mint’s whirlwind. |
Refinement Strategy
Do not ignore A-Rank Arcs. A Rank 5 (R5) A-Rank Arc like “Mind Royale” can often outperform an R1 S-Rank Arc due to the significantly higher multiplier on its passive effect. Prioritize refining your A-Rank weapons using duplicates before investing heavily in low-rank S-Rank Arcs unless they provide a unique mechanic essential for your build.
Best Disks (Artifacts)

NTE utilizes the Console System for gear, which consists of two parts: Cartridges (which provide set bonuses) and Modules (individual stat boosters that must be fit into a Tetris-like grid).
Cartridge Set Recommendations
Cartridges come in 2-piece and 4-piece sets. For most DPS characters in the current May 2026 meta, the focus is on maximizing Crit stats and Elemental DMG.
- Fireflies and the Forest (Anima Set): The 4-piece bonus provides a stacking Crit DMG buff (up to 7 stacks) whenever a nearby enemy takes Anima DMG. This is the definitive set for Nanally and Mint.
- Lost Radiance (Cosmos Set): Essential for Cosmos units like Zero. The 4-piece bonus allows the character to ignore a portion of the enemy’s DEF for a short window after using an Ultimate.
- Dissonant Echoes: A general-purpose set focused on Break Efficiency, ideal for sub-DPS characters like Daffodil who are tasked with shredding enemy stagger bars.
Module Grid Optimization Tips
The Module system is where the “min-maxing” happens. Each character has a Console grid with a limited number of slots. Modules come in various geometric shapes (L-shapes, squares, lines), and your goal is to fit as many high-rarity modules as possible without leaving empty spaces.
- Type III Modules: These are the highest rarity and offer the best substats (CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, ATK%).
- Console Bonus: Some characters, like Mint, receive a flat bonus (e.g., +7.5% CRIT Rate) for every Type III module equipped, regardless of the module’s actual stats.
- Substat Priority: Focus on Cycle Rate for supports to ensure faster Esper Cycle transitions, and Crit DMG for your main damage dealers.
Team Comp

The core of NTE combat is the Esper Cycle, a mechanic that triggers powerful reactions when you swap between characters with matching or adjacent elements on the Esper Wheel.
Elemental Synergy & Reactions
The Esper Wheel consists of six elements: Lakshana, Cosmos, Anima, Incantation, Chaos, and Psyche. Reactions only occur between adjacent elements.
- Blossom (Anima + Cosmos): Triggers a floral explosion that deals massive AoE damage. This is the current meta-defining reaction.
- Hexed (Anima + Incantation): Inflicts a debuff that causes enemies to take additional damage from subsequent Esper Abilities.
- Nova (Psyche + Chaos): Creates a delayed psychic explosion after 5 seconds.
The ‘Blossom’ Meta
The most dominant team in the current patch is the Nanally-Zero-Hotori composition.
- Nanally (Main DPS): Provides the bulk of the damage through her “Ichi-daime’s Authority” state.
- Zero (Instant Cycle): Zero possesses a unique skill that instantly refills the Esper Cycle meter, allowing for near-constant Blossom triggers.
- Hotori (Buffer/Support): Enhances the team’s total ATK and provides off-field Cosmos application to keep the Blossom chain active.
Top Meta Team Compositions (May 2026)
| Team Name | Members | Primary Reaction | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blossom Hypercarry | Nanally, Zero, Hotori | Blossom | Top-tier AoE and Burst DPS. |
| Scorch Control | Sakiri, Jiuyuan, Haniel | Scorch | High CC and sustained DoT. |
| F2P Starter | Zero, Edgar, Haniel | Nova / Duo Cycle | Reliable early-game sustain. |
Rotation

Efficiently managing your Esper Cycle meter is the difference between a 30-second clear and a 5-minute struggle. The meter is located to the left of your character’s health bar; when a character’s portrait on the right begins to glow, they are ready for a Cycle Reaction.
Nanally and Mint Rotation Flowchart
- Setup: Start with your Support (e.g., Haniel) to apply off-field buffs.
- Break Window: Swap to your Breaker (e.g., Daffodil or Jiuyuan) and use their Redirect Skill to shred the enemy’s Break meter.
- Cycle Trigger: Once the enemy is near “Broken” status and Nanally’s portrait is glowing, swap to Nanally.
- Authority Loop:
- Activate Nanally’s Skill (Colucci Howling Technique) to enter the Ichi-daime’s Authority state.
- Use her Ultimate to summon the Underboss for coordinated follow-up hits.
- Spam Basic Attacks and Heavy Hitters (Hold Basic) to stack Vita Pistils.
- Finish: Use the Ultimate’s final hit before the Ichi-daime state expires (12 seconds).
Maximizing Break Damage
Characters like Sakiri and Jiuyuan excel at reducing the enemy’s Break meter. Using Sakiri’s “Eating Mode” (Hold Basic) allows her to pull in smaller enemies and deal heavy Incantation damage, which prepares the battlefield for a Main DPS to clean up. Always wait for the “Broken” status indicator before unleashing your Main DPS’s Ultimate, as enemies take significantly increased damage while their stagger bar is depleted.
FAQ

How do I level characters past level 20? You must complete the “Hunter Advancement Test” located in the Bureau of Anomaly Control menu. These tests require specific combat challenges and a small fee of Beetle Coins.
Where do I farm Skill Upgrade materials? The primary source is the “Houdinii’s Schemes” stage within the Anomaly Zone. Different days of the week offer different character-specific shards, so check the schedule in the Bureau handbook.
Are Life Skills worth upgrading? Yes. Upgrading Mint’s Life Skills, for example, directly increases the passive income (Fons) generated by your Cafe. This currency is vital for buying high-end Modules and luxury car parts in the later stages of the game.
What is the pity system for Arcs? The “Arc Research Program” (the weapon banner) features a guaranteed S-Rank Arc at 80 pulls. Unlike the character banner, the weapon banner often has a separate currency called Tri-Keys.
What is the “Ichi-daime” state? This is Nanally’s signature combat state triggered by her Redirect Skill. It grants her 30% Crit DMG, enables wall-running, and allows her to ignore gravity, which is essential for maintaining uptime against mobile bosses.
Sources
- Sportskeeda — https://www.sportskeeda.com/gaming-tech/neverness-everness-nte-combat-guide-attributes-esper-cycles-explained
- Mobalytics
- Kaiden.gg
- Neverness.gg
- Enjoygm — https://www.enjoygm.com/news/neverness-to-everness-nanally-build-guide
- LDPlayer — https://www.ldplayer.net/blog/neverness-to-everness-nanally-best-build-guide.html
- GameWith
- Icy Veins — https://www.icy-veins.com/nte/characters/sakiri-guide
- GosuGamers — https://www.gosugamers.net/news/neverness-to-everness-launch-characters-guide
Related Guides

Best Build for Mako (Nanally) in Neverness to Everness (NTE)

Best Mimi (Mint) Build in Neverness to Everness (NTE)

Best F2P Build in Neverness to Everness: Top Teams & Arcs

Best Healer in NTE: Top Builds, Espers & Arcs (June 2026)

Best Healer Build in Neverness to Everness (NTE): Edgar Guide

Best Kuro Build in Neverness to Everness: Weapons, Disks & Teams

Best Support Build for Mimi (Haniel) in Neverness to Everness

Best Support Build in Neverness to Everness (NTE Guide)
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