NTE Launch 6-Choose-1 Complete Guide: Which S-Rank Character Is Best?

NTE officially launches on April 23, and every player will receive a precious S-rank character selector — choose one from six candidates. This is the first and most important selector in your NTE journey. Pick right, and your early game progression becomes significantly smoother. Pick wrong, and you may need to invest extra resources to compensate. This guide analyzes each candidate's role, strengths, and ideal use cases to help you make the best choice.

TL;DR: If you want the short answer, most new players should pick Nanally. She's a top-tier main DPS with simple mechanics and stable damage output, performing excellently from early game through endgame. Read on for the detailed breakdown.

Candidate 1: Nanally — Recommended: 5/5 Stars

Nanally is an Anima Attack character who uses Fangs and Claws for high-speed melee combat. As the Coluccis family's first-generation member and Eibon Antique Shop's star Esper, she possesses powerful anti-gravity abilities and a unique feline combat style.

Why pick Nanally: First, she's widely recognized as a top-tier main DPS with high skill multipliers and stable, sustained damage output. Second, her combat feel is outstanding — melee combos flow naturally and beginners can quickly master her. Third, the Anima attribute has broad effectiveness against enemies encountered in early-to-mid game. Fourth, her anti-gravity mechanics allow flexible positioning during combat.

Build advice: Prioritize ATK and Crit Rate stats, with Anima attribute disc sets. Upgrade her core damage skill first. She pairs excellently with Sakiri (Support) and Jiuyuan (Utility) for a strong Anima-focused team.

Best for: All players, especially beginners, players without a main DPS, and anyone wanting a versatile progression character.

Candidate 2: Sakiri — Recommended: 4.5/5 Stars

Sakiri is an Incantation Support character who fights alongside her companion Kiroumaru. She's a horn-clan Esper at Eibon Antique Shop, specializing in providing team-wide buffs.

Why pick Sakiri: First, she's the most universally applicable support — virtually any team benefits from her presence. Second, her companion Kiroumaru adds extra damage while enabling team resonance effects. Third, the Incantation attribute is important for team attribute coverage. Fourth, support characters generally have longer shelf life than DPS characters across version updates.

Note: As a support, Sakiri cannot carry damage output alone. If you choose her as your first S-rank, you'll need to acquire a main DPS through gacha or other means.

Best for: Players who already have a main DPS (from beginner or limited banners), support-role enthusiasts, and long-term team builders.

Candidate 3: Daffodil — Recommended: 4/5 Stars

Daffodil is a Chaos Support character using liquid-type arc weapons. She's Eibon Antique Shop's security specialist, combining defensive shielding with offensive buffing.

Why pick Daffodil: First, her shields and damage reduction are invaluable in challenging content. Second, the Chaos attribute has advantage against Cosmos enemies. Third, her survivability tools provide higher error tolerance during progression. Fourth, she significantly boosts your team's sustained combat capability when paired with any main DPS.

Best for: Players seeking a safe progression experience, challenge content enthusiasts, and those relying on A-rank DPS characters (Daffodil's shields compensate for lower survivability).

Candidate 4: Lacrimosa — Recommended: 4/5 Stars

Lacrimosa is a Chaos Attack character who controls multiple Esper Constructs for coordinated combat. She's an ETD-4 agent with a casual personality and versatile fighting style.

Why pick Lacrimosa: First, her overall damage output ranks among the top S-ranks, with both AoE clearing and single-target burst capabilities. Second, her Construct system lets her control multiple attack points simultaneously for exceptional clearing efficiency. Third, Chaos attribute counters Cosmos enemies with noticeable advantages. Fourth, relatively low investment cost for strong returns.

Best for: Players wanting a second main DPS, those who enjoy flexible combat styles, and efficiency-focused players. If you already have Nanally, Lacrimosa is an excellent second pick.

Candidate 5: Zero — Recommended: 3.5/5 Stars

Zero is a Cosmos Attack character wielding a sword. She's a taciturn swordswoman and Eibon Antique Shop member known for precise, devastating strikes.

Why pick Zero: First, her burst damage is extraordinary — her Finisher deals massive damage in a short window. Second, Cosmos attribute has advantage against Chaos enemies. Third, sword weapons offer balanced attack range with good handling. Fourth, she excels at speedrunning dungeons.

Note: Zero has relatively long skill cooldowns, requiring careful rotation planning. Compared to Nanally's sustained output, Zero leans toward single high-burst combat patterns.

Best for: Burst damage enthusiasts, speedrun-focused players, and sword character fans.

Candidate 6: Baicang — Recommended: 3.5/5 Stars

Baicang is an Incantation Defense character who uses the Power of Words to construct defensive positions. He's the ETD-4 captain leading Fadia, Lacrimosa, and others.

Why pick Baicang: First, he's the strongest tank in the current version with extremely high shield values. Second, his taunt abilities effectively protect teammates, making him highly sought after in multiplayer dungeons. Third, Incantation Defense is a rare role that's hard to replace. Fourth, having a strong tank is a major advantage when building a regular co-op group.

Best for: Co-op focused players, tank-role enthusiasts, and endgame content chasers. Complete beginners may want to prioritize DPS over tanks for story progression.

Overall Rankings:

1. 1Nanally — Most recommended, universally strong, suitable for all players
2. 2Sakiri — Best second pick if you already have a main DPS
3. 3Daffodil — Top choice for survivability support
4. 4Lacrimosa — Excellent second main DPS option
5. 5Zero — Burst damage specialist
6. 6Baicang — Essential tank for co-op play

Recommendations by Player Type:

F2P/Low-spend beginners: Pick Nanally. Focusing resources on one strong main DPS is the most important early game strategy. She pairs well with A-rank characters for a functional progression team.

Players who pulled an S-rank DPS: If you got Nanally or another DPS from beginner/limited banners, choose Sakiri to round out your team with support. DPS + Support is more practical than dual DPS.

Steady progression seekers: Daffodil's shields and damage reduction significantly lower difficulty, providing higher error tolerance.

Social/Co-op players: Baicang is in high demand for multiplayer dungeons — a strong tank is always welcome in group content.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

First, don't pick based solely on aesthetics. While all NTE characters are beautifully designed, their practical utility varies significantly at different stages. A strong main DPS is most important early on.

Second, don't chase a "perfect roster." Resources are limited at launch — focus on building 1-2 core characters rather than spreading thin. A-rank characters can fill other roles temporarily.

Third, don't ignore attribute coverage. Consider your existing characters' attributes when choosing, aiming to cover multiple attributes. If you already have an Anima character, consider Chaos or Cosmos for better coverage.

Fourth, don't stress too much. Even if your choice isn't optimal, NTE Version 1.0 provides approximately 418 free pulls, giving you plenty of chances to acquire other S-rank characters. Pick a character you enjoy and have fun — that's what matters most.

!NTE white-haired character with pink sword and creature

The April 18 official livestream confirmed additional details about the beginner banner and character selectors:

Beginner Banner Selector Confirmed: The beginner banner guarantees an S-rank within 20 pulls, with a selector allowing you to choose between Mint or Hayate/Sakiri. This means the guaranteed S-rank is not random — you get to pick.

Standard Banner 50-Pull Selector: After 50 pulls on the standard banner, you receive an S-rank character selector to freely choose from available standard S-rank characters.

Free Pull Count: Version 1.0 provides approximately 418 free pulls — far exceeding earlier estimates. Combined with the beginner and standard banner selectors, players can start with multiple S-rank characters.

16 S-Rank Characters Confirmed: The livestream confirmed 16 S-rank characters at launch: Nanally, Sakiri, Fadia, Lacrimosa, Baicang, Zero, Hotori, Daffodil, Jiuyuan, Haniel, Hathor, Chiz, Lilina, The Appraiser, Xiaozhen, and Xiaozhi (free from City Tycoon mode).

This further validates the recommendations in this guide: prioritize Nanally for beginners, and combine with beginner/standard banner selectors for an optimal starting roster.

Final reminder: The selector typically has an expiration date. Before committing, try the basic combat to experience different weapon types and attribute mechanics. Check our character detail pages for each character's skills and recommended builds.