Anomaly Commissions

Anomaly Commissions are the core mission type in Neverness to Everness. These commissions task players with investigating and resolving supernatural anomalies that threaten the city of Hethereau. They form the backbone of the game's PvE content, driving both the main storyline and the endgame loop. Every commission accepted through the Eibon Antique Shop provides a general idea of the location and nature of the anomaly the player will face, though the details often unfold in unexpected ways once the investigation begins.

The Eibon Connection

The Eibon Antique Shop stays afloat financially by taking on Anomaly Commissions from the public. Citizens, businesses, and local organizations post requests whenever supernatural disturbances arise that the Bureau of Anomaly Control cannot prioritize or respond to quickly enough. The player character, Esper Zero, joins Eibon as its first unlicensed Anomaly Hunter, lending their unique abilities to help the shop clear its commission backlog.

This setup provides the narrative frame for the entire mission structure. The player is not a government agent or a guild mercenary; they are an antique shop employee moonlighting as a supernatural problem-solver. The financial pressure on Eibon shapes which jobs the crew accepts and what risks they are willing to take, giving commissions a grounded, underdog quality even when the threats themselves are anything but small.

How Commissions Work

Each Anomaly Commission begins at the commission board inside the Eibon Antique Shop. The briefing provides a rough location, a description of the reported disturbance, and sometimes background on the client who submitted the request. From there, the player travels to the designated area in or around Hethereau to begin the investigation.

The structure of a commission typically follows three phases. First, the player gathers information at the scene, examining clues, speaking to witnesses, or tracking environmental disturbances. Second, the source of the anomaly is identified and the player must confront it directly. Third, the anomaly is resolved, either through combat or through a non-violent solution depending on the commission.

Not every commission plays out the same way. Some investigations focus heavily on tracking clues and following leads before any fighting begins. Others drop the player straight into the action from the moment they arrive. The variety keeps the commission loop from becoming repetitive, as the game treats anomalies less like generic mob encounters and more like self-contained stories. One commission might involve dealing with "Mysties" causing trouble at a local hot pot restaurant, while another might place the player inside a surreal maze that defies normal logic.

Anomaly Commission Bosses

Some Anomaly Commissions culminate in a full boss fight against an Anomaly Boss. These bosses are among the most memorable encounters in the game, each bringing a unique fighting style, distinct mechanics, and a rich backstory that ties into the lore of Hethereau. The stories behind these bosses shed light on the city's complex history and the mysteries surrounding why anomalies manifest in the first place.

Understanding an Anomaly Boss's motivations and origins is part of the commission experience. The narrative details provided during the investigation phase offer context for who or what the boss once was and what drove them to become an anomaly. This design choice turns boss encounters into something more than a gear check; they become a payoff for the detective work that preceded them.

Defeating certain Anomaly Commission Bosses can reward players with unique Arcs (weapons) that cannot be obtained through other means. These boss-exclusive drops make commission bosses a valuable target for players looking to expand their arsenal beyond what the gacha system and standard progression provide.

Commission Types

Anomaly Commissions exist alongside several related commission systems. While they share the same general framework of accepting a job, investigating, and resolving, each type serves a different purpose and targets a different tier of player readiness.

In addition to these commission types, the endgame introduces further challenge modes such as Circle Bounty, Anomaly Dungeons, and the Pink Paws Heist, each offering distinct encounters and reward structures for experienced players.

Rewards and Progression

Completing Anomaly Commissions yields standard rewards including experience points, currency, and materials used for character and equipment upgrades. The rewards scale with commission difficulty, making higher-tier commissions worth the additional effort and preparation they demand.

More importantly, completing commissions contributes directly to City Tycoon progression. City Tycoon is Hethereau's overarching advancement system that unlocks new facilities, businesses, and quality-of-life improvements across the city as the player levels it up. Meeting specific requirements such as finishing a certain number of commissions or acquiring particular resources raises the player's City Tycoon level, which in turn grants access to features like the garage, the ability to own property, and the Hunter Exchange. Some characters are also gated behind City Tycoon milestones.

Combat and Engagement

The combat system's depth ensures that commissions remain engaging even when replayed. Players field a party of up to four characters, each equipped with Arcs and Consoles, and belonging to a specific Esper element. Chaining Esper abilities between characters generates powerful elemental reactions through the Esper Cycle, and learning to exploit these reactions is central to clearing tougher commissions efficiently.

Boss commissions in particular reward players who learn attack patterns and optimize their team rotations. Parrying, stagger management, and well-timed character swaps separate a smooth commission clear from a drawn-out struggle. This mechanical depth gives the commission loop its staying power at endgame, where faster and cleaner clears become a goal in their own right.

Tips for New Hunters