Overview
Neverness to Everness gives every player a generous roster of free characters without spending a single pull on the gacha. Between the protagonist you receive at the start, story progression rewards, a pre-registration milestone gift, and the Standard Banner's built-in S-Rank selector, new players can assemble a powerful and versatile team within the first few hours of gameplay.
This guide covers every character you can obtain for free, explains exactly how to unlock each one, breaks down the free S-Rank selector options, and offers tips to help you make the most of your early roster.
Free Characters at a Glance
The following table summarizes all characters that can be obtained without using premium currency or limited banner pulls.
Character | Class | Element | Arc Type | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
S-Rank | Solid | Given automatically at the start of the game | ||
A-Rank | Bose | Unlocked through story progression (early game) | ||
A-Rank | Liquid | Unlocked through story progression (early game) | ||
A-Rank | Liquid | Unlocked through story progression (early game) | ||
A-Rank | Gas | Unlocked through story progression (early game) | ||
A-Rank | Solid | Pre-registration reward (30 million milestone) | ||
S-Rank | Gas | City Tycoon level 18 reward | ||
Free S-Rank Selector | S-Rank | Varies | Varies | Complete 50 Standard Banner pulls |
Esper Zero (Protagonist)
Esper Zero is the protagonist of Neverness to Everness and an S-Rank Cosmos character with Solid arc compatibility. Players choose between a male or female version at the start of the game, and Zero joins the party immediately with no unlock requirements.
As the central figure in the story, Zero investigates supernatural anomalies in the city of Hethereau. In combat, Zero functions as an on-field Cosmos DPS whose primary role is to maintain team tempo and enable Esper Cycle reactions while providing consistent damage throughout the rotation. Zero's basic Appraisal attack chains up to five consecutive hits, and their Ultimate deals multiple instances of Cosmos damage across a wide area.
Because Zero is your only guaranteed S-Rank from the very beginning, building them early is a safe investment. They remain a reliable Cosmos driver throughout the entire game.
Story Progression Characters
Within roughly the first two hours of gameplay, the main story hands you four A-Rank characters for free. These four span different elements and roles, forming a well-rounded starter team that synergizes through the Esper Cycle system.
Adler
Adler is an A-Rank Incantation character with Bose arc compatibility. He serves as the butler of the Eibon Antique Shop and joins your team during the opening chapters of the story.
Adler fills a support and survival role. He wields a cane sword alongside his companion Sunyas to provide shields and damage-over-time effects. His skill, Evil's Bane, summons a Sunya that deals Incantation damage while granting a Blessing shield to teammates. He also builds Karma stacks through basic attacks that amplify his skill damage. His Ultimate, Tranquility, summons five Sunyas to strike enemies and deals double damage against single targets.
Adler's near-permanent shielding makes him a reliable defensive anchor for new players still learning the combat system. He pairs well with any DPS character who needs breathing room to execute combos.
Edgar
Edgar is an A-Rank Cosmos character with Liquid arc compatibility. A member of the Eibon Antique Shop, Edgar is unlocked during the early story missions.
Edgar operates as a hybrid support and healer. His skill, Wild Current, channels a continuous stream of Cosmos damage at a target while simultaneously healing the teammate with the lowest HP. His Ultimate, Finnegan's Wake, creates a healing domain that lasts 10 seconds, dealing area Cosmos damage and providing continuous recovery to the active character. His basic attack also includes a critical riposte counter triggered by a well-timed dodge.
Edgar is one of the best early healers in the game. His sustained healing through Wild Current and his domain-based Ultimate keep teams alive through tough encounters without requiring dedicated healing items.
Mint
Mint is an A-Rank Anima character with Liquid arc compatibility. She works for the Bureau of Anomaly Control and is unlocked through story progression.
Mint is a fast-paced melee DPS who fights with dual blades. Her basic attack delivers up to five rapid consecutive strikes dealing Anima damage, and she can perform aerial plunge and spin variations. Her Ultimate abilities include Super Claws (a dashing double-hit), Thunderous Whirlwind Slash (a multi-hit wind attack), and Invincible Tornado Slash (a penetrating aerial charge). Her passive abilities grant increased DEF and interruption resistance while she stays on the field.
Mint is an excellent early-game damage dealer thanks to her high attack speed and area damage potential. She excels at clearing groups of enemies quickly and is straightforward to play.
Skia
Skia is an A-Rank Lakshana character with Gas arc compatibility. She serves as the lieutenant of Squad 4 at the Bureau of Anomaly Control and joins your party during early story content.
Skia is a shadow-themed DPS character who uses shadow manipulation in combat. Her basic attack fires shadow projectiles that track and attach to targets. Her skill, Shadow Hound Chase, lets her leap into shadow form to deal area Lakshana damage, apply projectiles, and enter a special stealth movement mode. Her Ultimate, The Pack, causes shadows to spread across the battlefield and converge on a location for multiple hits, applying control effects to caught enemies.
Skia brings a unique stealth-and-track playstyle to the team. She is particularly effective against groups of enemies thanks to her tracking projectiles and crowd control from her Ultimate.
Haniel (Pre-Registration Reward)
Haniel is an A-Rank Psyche character with Solid arc compatibility. She was confirmed as a free reward for all players after the game surpassed 30 million pre-registrations, and she is distributed to every account at launch.
Haniel is a member of Sterry Express and functions as a dedicated support and damage buffer. Her skill, Silent Moonlit Forest Guardian, deploys her portable speaker Hootie to grant ATK bonuses to the entire team. As stacks accumulate, an Ensemble effect triggers that deals additional Psyche damage. Her Ultimate, A Melody Named Haniel, enters the Paranormal Ace state, enhancing Hootie's effects and further boosting team capabilities.
Haniel's passive abilities include draining enemy ATK and redistributing it to her allies, as well as granting Plot Armor stacks that increase her Paranormal Cannon's ricochet capability. Because her ATK buffs scale off her own ATK stat, building Haniel with ATK-focused Arcs and accessories amplifies the benefit she provides to the whole team.
Haniel is one of the strongest free support characters in the game. She slots into virtually any team composition and her ATK buffs significantly increase overall damage output. Prioritize building her alongside your main DPS.
Chiz (City Tycoon Reward)
Chiz is an S-Rank Cosmos character with Gas arc compatibility. She is unlocked for free by reaching level 18 in the City Tycoon system, which is one of the game's life-simulation and business management features.
City Tycoon is a progression system tied to managing and upgrading your presence in Helios City. As you complete city-related activities, daily tasks, and business ventures, your City Tycoon level increases. Reaching level 18 rewards you with Chiz, making her the second free S-Rank character available through gameplay.
In combat, Chiz is a Cosmos DPS with a highly reactive playstyle built around her unique Grain Market mechanic. The Grain Market functions like an in-game stock market that fluctuates constantly during battle. When the market peaks, Chiz's damage output spikes dramatically, and you want to unleash your strongest attacks during those windows. When the market dips, you should focus on building up resources and stacks for the next peak. This buy-low-sell-high rhythm gives Chiz one of the most distinctive combat loops in the game.
Chiz is well worth the investment of leveling City Tycoon to 18. She provides a second free S-Rank Cosmos character alongside Esper Zero, and her Grain Market mechanic rewards attentive players with very high burst damage.
Free S-Rank Selector (Standard Banner)
The Standard Banner (Scarborough Fair) includes a guaranteed free S-Rank selector that activates after you complete 50 pulls. This is separate from the normal pity system.
How It Works
Complete 50 pulls on the Standard Banner to unlock the selector.
The first five 10-pulls are discounted to 8 Fabricated Dice each instead of the normal 10, bringing the total cost to roughly 40 Fabricated Dice instead of 50.
You are also guaranteed an S-Rank character within your first 20 pulls on the Standard Banner, meaning you will likely receive a random S-Rank before even reaching the selector.
Once you hit 50 pulls, a selection screen appears letting you choose one S-Rank character from the six available options.
Available Characters
The free S-Rank selector lets you choose from six standard S-Rank characters. The table below outlines each option and their recommended use case.
Character | Element | Role | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Main DPS (Hypercarry) | Highest DPS ceiling; boss fights and endgame content | ||
Support / Crowd Control | Open-world exploration; gravity-based crowd control | ||
Melee DPS | Smooth, stylish melee combat; perfect-dodge playstyle | ||
Combo DPS / Break Specialist | Top-tier Break damage; boss stagger and burst windows | ||
Ranged DPS / Healer | Safe ranged combat with built-in healing; versatile all-rounder | ||
Tank / Survival | Damage mitigation and team protection; endgame durability |
Who Should You Pick?
Baicang is the top recommendation for players who want raw damage. He uses cursed commands to amplify his attacks and his Ultimate creates an execution zone that instantly eliminates weakened enemies. Baicang has the highest DPS ceiling among the standard S-Rank characters, but he is also one of the hardest to play because his kit requires precise HP management. In skilled hands, he rivals limited S-Rank characters in boss encounters.
Sakiri is the best pick for open-world exploration. She fights alongside a massive creature called Onimaru that she swings like a hammer, and her gravity-based skills pull enemies together for devastating area attacks. Her kit also provides exploration utilities that make traversal across Hethereau faster and more enjoyable.
Hathor is the go-to choice for players who value satisfying combat feel above all else. She uses wing-based moves and perfect-dodge mechanics that generate stacks to boost her skill damage. Beta testers consistently rank Hathor among the best-feeling characters in the game. Her animations are fluid and her combo flow rarely gets interrupted.
Daffodil specializes in Break damage using twin blades. She can shred a boss's stagger bar (the white bar) faster than nearly any other character. When the bar breaks, the boss becomes stunned and the entire team gets a burst window to deal massive damage. Daffodil is an excellent choice for players focused on boss content and who want to enable their team's burst phase.
Jiuyuan wields dual pistols and offers rare role compression by combining ranged DPS with team healing. She deals consistent damage from a safe distance while keeping allies topped off, which allows teams to play aggressively without needing a dedicated healer slot. If you want a versatile character who can fill multiple roles, Jiuyuan is a strong pick.
Fadia is the defensive specialist. She uses a transforming cross-shield to reflect damage and protect the team. Her self-healing triggers automatically through her Ultimate, and she has emergency skills that activate when her HP drops critically low. Fadia is the best choice for players who struggle with survivability in endgame content or prefer a tankier playstyle.
General Recommendations
If you already pulled one of these characters from the guaranteed S-Rank within 20 pulls, do not pick the same character again with the selector. Choose a different one to broaden your roster.
Consider which elements you are missing. Having coverage across multiple elements helps with enemy weaknesses and Esper Cycle reactions.
Baicang and Daffodil are the strongest damage-focused options for endgame, while Jiuyuan and Fadia provide the most long-term team utility.
Hathor and Sakiri are both excellent for general play and exploration. If combat feel matters most to you, either one is a great choice.
Tips for New Players
Build Esper Zero first. Zero is your only guaranteed S-Rank from the very beginning and remains viable throughout the entire game. Invest in their levels, skills, and equipment early.
Use your story characters. Adler, Edgar, Mint, and Skia form a well-rounded team that covers defensive support, healing, physical DPS, and shadow-based crowd control. Do not neglect them in favor of waiting for gacha pulls.
Claim Haniel immediately. Check your in-game mail for the pre-registration reward. Haniel's ATK buffs synergize with every DPS character, making her an immediate upgrade to any team.
Work toward City Tycoon level 18. Chiz is a powerful free S-Rank, and the City Tycoon system provides other useful rewards along the way. Engage with daily city activities and business management tasks regularly.
Save Fabricated Dice for the Standard Banner. Reaching 50 pulls on the Standard Banner unlocks the free S-Rank selector. The discounted first 50 pulls mean you only need about 40 Fabricated Dice total, so prioritize collecting dice from exploration and quests.
Do not spend on limited banners before finishing your free pulls. Secure your free S-Rank selector and the guaranteed S-Rank within 20 Standard Banner pulls before investing in limited character banners.
Diversify your elements. The Esper Cycle system rewards having characters from different elements on your team. With the free roster you can cover Cosmos (Zero, Edgar, Chiz), Incantation (Adler), Anima (Mint), Lakshana (Skia), and Psyche (Haniel). Use the selector to fill whichever element gap remains.