Is it better to awaken characters or pull new characters in NTE?

Prioritize pulling new characters. NTE has no 50/50 system — 90 pulls guarantee the rate-limited character, offering excellent value. Awakening is a late-game investment. Beginners should expand their roster first and build at least 2-3 complete teams before focusing on awakening. Exception: Xiaozhi can be fully awakened for free through City Tycoon, so prioritize completing that.