Full Neverness to Everness tier list — May 2026
Updated for the May 13 patch which added Hotori, the Cosmos sub-DPS whose time-stop Ultimate is currently the strongest burst tool in the game. Rankings below cover overall account value, reroll priority, boss performance, and beginner-friendly investment. This is a fan editorial guide.
| Tier | Characters | Ranking Logic |
|---|
| S+ | Hotori (Limited ✦), Nanally | Meta-defining. Hotori's time-stop Ultimate records and replays ally skills, doubling burst damage. Nanally is the best main DPS with follow-up attack mechanics and AoE crowd control. |
| S | Chiz (Free), Sakiri, Jiuyuan | Exceptional. Chiz is given free at Tycoon Level 18 with all awakening copies. Sakiri provides a 30% team-wide ATK buff. Jiuyuan is the strongest standard banner DPS. |
| A | Daffodill, Adler, Baicang, Zero, Haniel | Strong but contextual. Daffodill specializes in Break damage for boss stagger. Adler provides shields and DoT. Baicang and Zero are solid general-purpose damage dealers. |
| B | Hathor, Fadia, Mint | Playable with investment. These characters need more team support or specific content to reach their ceiling. |
| C | Skia, Edgar | Lower priority for most accounts. Build stronger options first unless you enjoy them or need their niche. |
Quick summary: pull Hotori before her banner ends June 3. Otherwise invest in Nanally (main DPS) + Sakiri (support) as your core. Chiz covers your second DPS slot for free. Use the standard selector at 50 pulls on Jiuyuan or Sakiri depending on what your roster needs.
What each tier means
Tier labels are useful only when the meaning is clear. In this Neverness to Everness tier list, S tier does not simply mean “popular.” It means the character offers a strong mix of practical damage, account value, team flexibility, and beginner comfort. These are the characters most players can justify building first.
S Tier
Top priority
S-tier characters are the safest recommendations. They are the best choices for players who want a strong start, a clear upgrade target, and reliable performance across multiple parts of the game.
A Tier
Strong but contextual
A-tier characters are still good investments, but they may need more team planning, better support, or a player who understands their strengths and limits.
B Tier
Playable with planning
B-tier characters can work, especially if you like them, but they are not the first place most new players should spend scarce early resources.
C Tier
Low early priority
C-tier characters are lower priority in the current ranking. They may still have niche value, but most accounts should build stronger options first.
Best characters in the Neverness to Everness tier list
S+ and S tier characters cover every key role in NTE. Hotori and Nanally handle the top damage output, Sakiri provides irreplaceable team ATK buffs, Chiz is the free option every player gets, and Jiuyuan rounds out the standard banner with strong burst DPS.
S+ Tier — Limited Banner
Hotori
Hotori records up to 3 ally Support/Redirect skills during her Redirect phase, then replays all of them during a 10-second time stop. This effectively doubles team damage in burst windows and works in all content including time-limited modes. Best Arc: Marching Beyond Time. Best Cartridge: Lost Radiance.
S+ Tier
Nanally
Best main DPS at launch. Her kit summons an Underboss that triggers automatic follow-up attacks alongside her own strikes, creating a damage multiplication effect. She handles both single-target boss damage and AoE mob clearing. Pair with Sakiri for the ATK buff to maximize her output.
S Tier
Sakiri
Best support in NTE. Her Ultimate provides a team-wide ATK buff equal to 30% of her base ATK for 20 seconds, and her Skill clusters enemies together for AoE clearing. She fits every team and her value scales up as DPS gear improves. Priority standard banner target.
Chiz (S tier, free) is given with all awakening copies by reaching Tycoon Level 18 through story missions — every player receives her without spending any pulls. Jiuyuan (S tier) is the strongest standard DPS after Nanally and the top standard selector pick if you already have a carry.
Neverness to Everness tier list for reroll picks
The current #1 reroll target is Hotori, whose limited banner runs until June 3, 2026. Her time-stop Ultimate is effective in all game modes, making her the most versatile and highest-impact limited character released so far. If you are starting a new account right now, the best opening is Hotori + any standard S-rank from the free selector.
For standard banner rerolling, Jiuyuan and Sakiri are the top picks. Jiuyuan gives you a strong second DPS for endgame content that requires two teams. Sakiri's ATK buff improves every damage dealer you build. Chiz is always free at Tycoon Level 18 so never reroll for her.
Rerolling in NTE takes about 20 minutes per attempt, and accounts can be deleted from the Settings menu without needing multiple email addresses. With 120+ free pulls available at launch, most players will hit 40–50 pulls per reroll run — enough to land at least one S-rank from the standard discount. See the full NTE reroll guide for step-by-step instructions.
Ranking methodology
This ranking uses five main factors: damage potential, team flexibility, beginner comfort, resource efficiency, and long-term account value. Damage potential matters because players need to clear fights. Team flexibility matters because early rosters are incomplete. Beginner comfort matters because a powerful but awkward character can feel weak in real play. Resource efficiency matters because upgrade materials are limited. Long-term value matters because players want early investments that still matter later.
The ranking also considers role pressure. A main damage character may rank higher when early accounts need a carry, while a support may rank higher once more team data is available. That means the ranking is expected to evolve as new builds, banners, and patches arrive.
Editorial note: this page is fan-made. It is not affiliated with Hotta Studio, Perfect World Games, or any official Neverness to Everness publisher or developer.
How team value affects rankings
A character is never evaluated in isolation. Team value matters because a strong unit can feel average without the right partners, while a mid-ranked unit can become excellent in a team that supports their strengths. This is why this ranking looks at both individual power and practical roster fit.
For early players, the safest plan is to build around one main character first. Add a second unit that improves the main character’s consistency, then add utility or survival. Do not build every new character immediately. A focused team with fewer completed upgrades usually performs better than a wide roster of unfinished units.
As more players test advanced teams, some characters may move. A future support, cartridge, or weapon can raise the value of a unit that currently looks average. Likewise, harder content can expose weaknesses that are not obvious during the story. That is why a useful ranking page should explain movement instead of only showing a table.
Beginner advice before following any ranking
New players should use rankings carefully. Before following the character rankings, decide what problem your account needs to solve. If you lack damage, prioritize a carry. If you die too often, consider a more balanced team. If you are rerolling, focus on characters that save time and provide long-term direction.
Do not overinvest too early. Build one core team, learn how its characters work, and only expand when you understand the system better. A top-tier character still needs the right upgrades, and a lower-tier favorite can be worth playing if you enjoy them. The best account is not always the account with the mathematically perfect start.
Patch updates and ranking movement
The rankings should be reviewed after new banners, balance changes, combat discoveries, and major community testing. Early rankings are especially unstable because players are still learning rotations, damage windows, team synergies, and investment breakpoints.
When the ranking changes, the reason should be clear. A character may rise because a new team improves them, because players discover a stronger build, or because new content favors their role. A character may fall if they require too much investment, lose value in harder stages, or depend on a narrow setup. Transparent updates make a ranking more useful than a static list.
Neverness to Everness tier list FAQ
Who is the best character in the Neverness to Everness tier list?
As of May 17, 2026, Hotori (S+ tier, limited banner until June 3) and Nanally (S+ tier, best standard DPS) are the top characters. Chiz, Sakiri, and Jiuyuan fill out the S tier. Chiz is given free to all players through story missions.
How often is the Neverness to Everness tier list updated?
Updated after new banners, patches, and major community testing. Hotori was added May 13, 2026 at S+ tier. Next update will follow the anticipated Lacrimosa banner.
Is this ranking good for beginners?
Yes. The tier list focuses on practical account value — which characters are safest to pull for, who to build first, and who to pick with the free standard selector. Chiz being free at Tycoon Level 18 is one of the most beginner-friendly mechanics in the game.
Should I only build S-tier characters?
No. Daffodill (best Break damage for boss stagger), Adler (shields + DoT utility), and Baicang are effective in specific team setups. A complete A-tier team can outperform an incomplete S-tier roster.
Final thoughts
The ranking is best used as a planning tool. Start with the highest-value characters, build one reliable team, and avoid wasting early materials on too many unfinished units. As the game grows, this page can expand with build links, team recommendations, banner notes, and patch movement history.
For now, the safest approach is simple: S-tier characters are your strongest early priorities, A-tier characters are reliable choices with context, B-tier characters need planning, and C-tier characters are lower priority unless you enjoy them. Use the rankings to make better decisions, then adjust based on your own roster.