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Overview
Blackbird is a limited S-Class Psyche Esper in Neverness to Everness, the supernatural urban open-world RPG developed by Hotta Studio and published by Perfect World. She is one of the two new characters of Version 1.4 "For Whom the Verses Mourn", which the official channel dates to September 30, 2026, and she headlines its first banner phase. Her name was first discovered through datamining during the pre-release tests, when community sources described her as a witch-like character with a big hat and chains; her official art, first shown in a Hethereau Special Bulletin on August 23, 2026 and then on the Version 1.4 preview program, matches that description, and the official channel spells the name as one word.
Blackbird became playable globally on September 30, 2026. Her debut board, Foretold Finale, runs until October 21 at 05:59 (UTC+8), and her S-Class Arc Crime and Punishment is available through Roostfeather Special during the same window. Her preview card identifies Psyche, limited S-Class rarity and Gas Arc type. The character had already attracted a dedicated fan following before any reveal, with a Blackbird Mains community server established before the game's launch.
Quick Facts
Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
Full Name | Blackbird (Chinese: 黑羽) |
Game | |
Type | Esper (Playable Character) |
Rarity | S-Class (limited) |
Element | |
Arc type | Gas |
Role icons on the preview card | Instant Esper Cycle trigger, main damage, damage buff |
Signature Arc | |
Debut board | |
Voice cast | English: Xanthe Huynh; Japanese: Mamiko Noto |
Playable from | September 30, 2026 (Version 1.4 Phase 1, global) |
Status | Playable since September 30, 2026 |
Datamine Discovery
Blackbird's name was discovered through datamining efforts conducted by the community during the game's pre-release testing phases. Community-maintained character lists assembled from recordings posted by official and non-official sources place Blackbird alongside other then-unannounced names such as Xiaozhen, Iroi, Illica, Jenson, Mismo, Otto, Akane, and others.
Unlike Iroi, Linko, Elyms, and Nitsa (who were spotted in early trailer footage and the Co-Ex Test promotional video), Blackbird was not clearly identified in any officially released trailer until the Hethereau Special Bulletin of August 23, 2026; the Version 1.4 PV published on September 17, 2026 then showed her in full. The community description as a "mysterious witch with a big hat and chains" originated from early testing footage, and the official art confirms it: a wide-brimmed feathered hat, a black feathered cloak, chains and a raven companion.
Community Description and Design
Blackbird is characterized as a witch-like figure wearing a large, prominent hat and adorned with chains. This visual profile sets the character apart from the majority of the confirmed roster, which tends toward more contemporary or urban-inspired designs.
The witch aesthetic and bird-themed name have drawn comparisons to Merula, another character in the Neverness to Everness roster known for her striking crow-feathered hat and avian-inspired design. Whether Blackbird shares a narrative or thematic connection to Merula is unknown. It is possible that the two characters are linked through faction, backstory, or shared design language, but this remains pure speculation until official details are released.
The name Blackbird itself carries strong avian connotations and pairs naturally with dark or shadow-themed imagery. In the context of a game where characters wield supernatural powers in an urban setting, a witch character with chains could suggest a control-oriented or debuff-focused combat role, though this is entirely speculative.
Fan Community
Blackbird has generated a notable pre-release fan community. A dedicated Black Bird Mains Discord server was created before the game's global launch on April 29, 2026. The server describes itself as a community for fans of Black Bird from Neverness to Everness and includes sections for guides, theorycrafting, and community events.
The existence of a character-specific mains server before any official gameplay reveal is notable, as it indicates significant community investment based solely on visual design and datamined information. Similar pre-release mains communities have formed around other unrevealed characters in gacha games, suggesting a pattern of dedicated fan engagement that often translates into strong pull rates when the character finally launches.
The Esper System
In Neverness to Everness, playable characters are called Espers, individuals who possess supernatural abilities in the modern city of Hethereau. Each Esper is defined by several key attributes:
Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
Element | One of six elemental types (Anima, Chaos, Cosmos, Incantation, Lakshana, Psyche) that determines elemental reaction compatibility |
Rarity | Either S-Class or A-Class, affecting base stats and skill scaling |
Arc (Weapon) | The weapon type the Esper is compatible with, acquired separately through the weapon banner |
Role | Gameplay function such as Damage, Buff, or Support/Survival |
Affiliation | The faction or organization the character belongs to within Hethereau |
Confirmed Attributes and Role Hints
The Version 1.4 preview program card marks Blackbird with three role icons: an instant Esper Cycle trigger, main damage and a damage buff, and gives her element as Psyche and her Arc type as Gas. Psyche sits between Chaos and Lakshana on the Esper Cycle, so her duo reactions are Nova with Chaos partners and Remora with Lakshana partners, which makes Lacrimosa (the rerun character of her own phase) and Chaos natural pairings and puts her in the same reaction lane as Fadia, Haniel and Aurelia. The preview also shows her as a new bidding helper in Going, Going, Gone! and in a hug interaction with the Appraiser.
Her skill names and numbers are not yet published, so no build guidance is given here until the version is live.
Factions and Organizations
Espers in Hethereau are affiliated with various organizations. Blackbird's factional affiliation has not been disclosed. The major organizations include:
Faction | Description | Known Members |
|---|---|---|
Government agency managing anomaly threats | ||
Independent organization and the player's home base | ||
Delivery service employing Espers as couriers |
Release Schedule
Blackbird arrives with Version 1.4 on September 30, 2026. On the Chinese server, which runs six days ahead, her board 「预言终幕时」 opens on September 24 and closes on October 15, 2026 at 05:59, running alongside a Lacrimosa rerun; her Arc 「罪与罚」 comes through the 「栖羽特刊」 Arc Research Program over the same window. The global Foretold Finale board and Roostfeather Special Arc Research Program run from September 30 after the update to October 21, 2026 at 05:59 (UTC+8); see Version 1.4 Banners.
The game uses a gacha system with a No 50/50 mechanic that guarantees the featured character when hitting pity. Characters and Arcs (weapons) are pulled from separate banners.
Acquiring Blackbird
Foretold Finale is active until October 21, 2026 at 05:59 (UTC+8). Its featured A-Class characters are Mint, Edgar and Adler. The following preparation advice applies while the board is available:
Save pull currency: hold Solid Dice and Annulith through the end of the Linko board on September 30, since every Limited Board shares one pity counter and any progress built there carries into Blackbird's board.
Build the Psyche lane: Chaos, Lacrimosa, Fadia, Haniel and Aurelia are the partners that trigger reactions with her, and Lacrimosa reruns in the same phase.
Blackbird's outfits are Wandering Stars in the shop, Rouge et Noir from Foretold Finale rolls or Divination Perks, and Unfazed Denim at Bond Level 10. Wandering Stars enters the shop on October 7, 2026 at 06:30 (UTC+8).
The September 29 global update notice confirms the Foretold Finale board, Crime and Punishment Arc, and September 30 to October 21 window.
Post-Launch Status (Version 1.0)
Blackbird was not part of the Version 1.0 launch roster. The April 29, 2026 global launch shipped with 15 playable characters, 9 S-Class and 6 A-Class, listed below for reference. Hotori, Lacrimosa, Chaos, Shinku, Iroi, Zankou and Linko were added across Versions 1.0 Phase 2 to 1.3, and Blackbird will be the seventeenth S-Class Esper.
Class | Launch Roster Characters |
|---|---|
S-Class (9) | Nanally, Baicang, Chiz, Daffodill, Fadia, Hathor, Jiuyuan, Sakiri, Esper Zero |
A-Class (6) |
The release window is now confirmed: Version 1.4 launches on September 30, 2026 with Blackbird as its first featured character, alongside Akane Rin in the second phase. The official channel published a Hethereau Special Bulletin segment for her on August 23, 2026, announced the version on September 11, aired the preview program on September 16 and released the version PV on September 17, all using the one-word spelling Blackbird.
Home and Divination
Blackbird lives in the Witch's House in the forest. Her Esper Ability is Divination, and black birds serve as her emissaries, able to fly into the past or future. Her biography describes reports that she arrived centuries ago; that age is an in-world account. Obtaining Blackbird and reaching the required Bond Level unlocks her City Hangouts and Home Time stories, with no exact level specified in the version notice.
Unfazed Denim unlocks at Bond Level 10. Wandering Stars enters the shop on October 7 at 06:30 (UTC+8), priced at 2,680 Riftcrystal through November 11 at 05:59; its regular price is 3,280 Riftcrystal. It is announced and has not opened as of October 6.