Neverness to Everness Tier List: Best Characters

A Neverness to Everness tier list is only useful if it does more than throw every strong character into S Tier and call it a day. That kind of list looks safe, but it does not help much when you are deciding who deserves materials, who actually changes an account, and who is mostly good because the current content politely agrees not to expose their problems.

For this tier list, the rankings are based on overall account value, damage ceiling, support utility, ease of use, team flexibility, and how painful it feels to invest in the character long term. That means some characters with strong raw numbers are not ranked as high as the obvious damage screenshots suggest, while a few supports and flexible units get more credit because they make more teams work. Damage is important, obviously. But if a character needs the entire room arranged around them before they start looking good, that matters too.

If you are specifically building around Shinku, our Neverness to Everness Shinku build guide covers her best Arc, Cartridge, Module stats, and team setup.

Neverness To Everness Character Tier List

The best characters in Neverness to Everness right now are Shinku, Hotori, Sakiri, Lacrimosa, Chaos, Nanally, and Esper Zero. Shinku and Hotori sit at the top because they offer the strongest mix of damage impact and account-changing value, while Sakiri gets pushed higher than a normal support because grouping, buffs, and general utility age better than another character who only asks enemies to stand still and receive damage.

Tier	Characters	What The Tier Means
SS Tier	Shinku, Hotori, Sakiri	Account-defining characters that are worth building around.
S Tier	Lacrimosa, Chaos, Nanally, Esper Zero	Excellent characters with high value, strong teams, or unusual flexibility.
A Tier	Jiuyuan, Hathor, Daffodill, Haniel, Fadia, Chiz	Strong characters who are worth using, but more dependent on role, content, or account needs.
B Tier	Baicang, Adler, Mint	Useful characters who can work, but are easier to replace as your account improves.
C Tier	Skia, Aurelia, Edgar	Low-priority investments unless you like the character or need a specific niche.

This is not a pure damage ranking. If it were, the list would be less useful and much louder, which is basically the natural state of tier list discourse. Instead, the rankings weigh how much a character helps your account across different situations. A main DPS can carry fights, but a good support can make several teams better at once. A free character with long-term utility can also deserve more credit than a flashy unit who mostly exists to make one rotation look expensive.

How We Ranked Characters

Characters were ranked by five main factors: damage output, team flexibility, support value, ease of execution, and long-term investment value. The last point matters more than it sounds. Neverness to Everness is a resource-driven game, so a character being “good” is not enough. They need to be good enough to justify the materials, gear, and team slots they take from someone else.

Factor	Why It Matters
Damage	How well the character clears bosses, groups, and high-pressure combat.
Utility	Buffs, grouping, sustain, Cycle support, and other value beyond raw numbers.
Flexibility	How many teams can use the character without forcing awkward builds.
Ease of Use	How much effort the character needs before they perform well.
Investment Value	Whether the character stays useful after your roster gets stronger.

This is why some placements differ from more basic tier lists. Sakiri is ranked extremely high because grouping and buffs are valuable in more than one team. Esper Zero is higher because flexible Cycle support and free-character value matter. Baicang is lower because being able to do several things is not the same as being the best answer to any of them. Versatility is great until it starts looking like indecision with a skill icon.

SS Tier Characters

SS Tier characters are the ones I would build around without needing much convincing. They either define a top team, make multiple teams better, or bring enough damage and utility that they are hard to regret investing in.

Character	Role	Why They Are SS Tier
Shinku	Main DPS	One of the best on-field damage dealers, with a powerful Ultimate-driven burst window.
Hotori	Sub-DPS / Burst	Brings huge burst value and teamwide damage payoff through her recast-focused kit.
Sakiri	Support / Buffer	Buffs, grouping, and crowd control make her useful in far more teams than a normal support.

Shinku is the easiest SS Tier damage pick because her best teams have a clear plan: build toward her Ultimate, enter Surging Crimson, and let her enhanced state do the heavy lifting. She is not the most brainless character in the game, but she has the kind of payoff that makes the setup worth it. If you are willing to build around her, she gives you a carry who can take over fights instead of politely contributing to them.

Hotori is ranked this high because her burst utility is ridiculous when a team is already functioning. She does not just deal damage. She gives the rotation another layer by recording and replaying important team actions, which makes her much harder to replace than a normal Sub-DPS. Characters like this tend to age well because they do something strange and valuable, which is usually better than just having a bigger number today and a sadder number next patch.

Sakiri is the support I would be least afraid to recommend. Grouping enemies, improving team damage, and helping AoE setups all matter in real gameplay. She may not look as exciting as a new damage dealer, because support value rarely gets the glamorous screenshot, but that is also why people underestimate her. She makes teams smoother, and smooth teams win more than messy teams with one expensive carry screaming for help.

S Tier Characters

S Tier characters are excellent and worth building, but they are a step below SS either because they are more replaceable, more team-dependent, or less universally valuable across accounts.

Character	Role	Why They Are S Tier
Lacrimosa	Main DPS	Strong DoT-focused carry with flexible combat options and excellent sustained pressure.
Chaos	Main DPS	Powerful Lakshana DPS with straightforward damage and strong marked-enemy pressure.
Nanally	Main DPS	Reliable damage dealer with strong uptime and excellent single-target consistency.
Esper Zero	Flexible DPS / Cycle Support	Free, flexible, and useful in more teams than the average protagonist has any right to be.

Lacrimosa is one of the strongest damage options because sustained DoT pressure gives her value in longer fights and lets her keep damage moving while the rest of the team plays around her. The main reason she is not in SS here is that her value depends more on liking her style and building around her damage pattern. She is very strong, but she is not quite as universally easy to recommend as Shinku or Hotori.

Chaos is a top-tier DPS because he is strong, direct, and not especially hard to understand. Mark enemies, pressure them, and take advantage of his Lakshana damage. There is a lot to like there, especially for players who want a powerful carry without feeling like they are operating an air traffic control system during every fight. He is not ranked above Shinku here because Shinku’s Ultimate window gives her the stronger account-defining ceiling when properly supported.

Nanally remains one of the safest damage investments because consistency matters. She has strong uptime, reliable follow-up damage, and good single-target value. She may not have the same “build the whole account around me” energy as Shinku, but that is not a weakness. Some characters are valuable because they do their job every fight without needing a ceremonial setup ritual.

Esper Zero gets pushed into S Tier because free value is still value. Zero helps with Esper Cycles, can fit into several teams, and gives early and mid-game accounts a flexible character who does not ask for banner currency. A lot of tier lists underrate that because they focus too much on perfect endgame rosters. Real accounts are messier than that, and Zero is useful precisely because he helps fill those gaps without acting offended about it.

A Tier Characters

A Tier characters are good investments when they fit your roster, but they are not automatic build-around picks for every account. Some are strong in specific teams, some solve particular problems, and some are good enough to use for a long time without being the obvious best character in their role.

Character	Role	Why They Are A Tier
Jiuyuan	Support / Sub-DPS	Valuable grouping, Charge setup, and team utility, especially in Shinku-style teams.
Hathor	Sub-DPS	Strong team fit for reaction setups, though not always the easiest universal slot.
Daffodill	DPS / Break Utility	Excellent into bosses and strong when parry/swap value matters.
Haniel	Buffer	Flexible damage support, but more one-note than the highest-ranked supports.
Fadia	Survival Support	Useful sustain and damage sharing, especially while accounts are still developing.
Chiz	DPS	Strong free damage option, but requires more execution than easier carries.

Jiuyuan is one of the biggest differences from more conservative lists. I would not bury her too low because she has the kind of utility Shinku teams actually want: setup, grouping, Charge access, and enough damage to avoid being dead weight. She is not the strongest pure support, but she does enough useful things that she deserves more respect than a character who only exists to press one buff and leave.

Hathor is strong, especially in teams that can use her reaction setup properly. The reason she stays in A rather than S is that her value depends more on team context. She is not bad. She is just not the kind of character I would tell every player to build before checking what their account is actually trying to do.

Daffodill is a good example of a character who becomes better when the content asks for her strengths. Boss pressure, parry value, and break-focused utility can make her feel much better than a basic ranking suggests. The tradeoff is that she is not always the highest-value everyday character if you already have stronger damage dealers.

Haniel and Fadia both deserve more credit than low-tier placements usually give them. Haniel is a straightforward buffer, which is not thrilling, but damage buffs tend to stay relevant. Fadia is useful because survival still matters, especially for players who do not have perfect teams and perfect dodges. Tier lists often act like everyone plays flawlessly. They do not. Sometimes staying alive is the best DPS increase because dead characters are famously bad at rotations.

Chiz is strong for a free character, but the rhythm mechanics and execution requirements keep her from being a universal recommendation. If you like her playstyle and can use her properly, she can outperform this tier. If not, she can feel like the game handed you a good unit and then asked you to learn an instrument.

B Tier Characters

B Tier characters are not useless, but they are lower-priority investments. They can work while your roster is developing, or if you specifically like their kit, but they are easier to replace once you start getting stronger characters and better team options.

Character	Role	Why They Are B Tier
Baicang	Flexible DPS	Versatile, but does not stand out enough in one role to rank higher.
Adler	Shield Support	Good defensive value, but limited if you need more damage or team utility.
Mint	DPS	Decent early and useful with parries, but gets outpaced by stronger DPS options.

Baicang is the placement I would expect people to argue with, but I am lower on him than a lot of tier lists. He is flexible and has multiple modes, which sounds great until you ask whether he is actually the best answer to the content in front of you. He can do a lot, but many accounts will eventually prefer a character who does one important thing better.

Adler is useful because shields are useful. That is not complicated. The problem is that defensive comfort has to compete with supports who buff, group, enable reactions, or help clear faster. If you need the survivability, Adler can be a good short-term answer. If you do not, he becomes harder to justify over more proactive supports.

Mint is perfectly playable, especially early, but she gets squeezed by better damage dealers. Her parry potential gives her some value, and I would not call her a waste if you like using her. I just would not over-invest if your roster already has stronger carries waiting for materials.

C Tier Characters

C Tier characters are the lowest-priority investments right now. They can still clear general content with enough investment, because this is not a tier list for deleting characters from your account, but they are not where I would put limited resources unless you genuinely enjoy them.

Character	Role	Why They Are C Tier
Skia	DPS / Utility	Has some synergy and AoE control, but is outclassed as a damage investment.
Aurelia	DPS / Crowd Control	Some control value, but weaker damage and mobility make her hard to prioritize.
Edgar	Healer	Healing is useful, but his stationary recovery style is awkward in faster fights.

Skia is not completely hopeless, but he is hard to recommend over stronger characters who bring better damage, cleaner teams, or more useful utility. He can fill a role if your account needs him, especially early, but I would not make him a major project unless you like him enough to accept the opportunity cost.

Aurelia has some crowd control value, but her overall damage and movement issues hold her back. In a game where combat can move quickly, a character feeling awkward is not a small problem. It is the kind of problem that gets louder the harder the content becomes.

Edgar is a healer, which should be more exciting than it currently is. The issue is that stationary healing can feel bad when bosses and enemies are not interested in standing politely inside the recovery zone. Very inconsiderate of them, but here we are. He can help while learning fights, but he is not a high-priority long-term investment unless future content rewards his style more directly.

Best DPS Characters

The best DPS characters in Neverness to Everness are Shinku, Lacrimosa, Chaos, Nanally, and Hotori. Shinku has the strongest build-around carry profile, Lacrimosa brings sustained DoT pressure, Chaos is powerful and straightforward, Nanally is consistent, and Hotori adds burst damage that can fit into teams without always needing to be the main carry.

DPS Character	Best For	Investment Verdict
Shinku	Ultimate-window burst and main DPS play	Best carry to build around if you like her rotation.
Lacrimosa	DoT pressure and flexible damage	Excellent if you like sustained damage over burst-only play.
Chaos	Straightforward Lakshana damage	Great for players who want a strong carry without too much fuss.
Nanally	Consistent single-target damage	Safe and reliable investment.
Hotori	Burst damage and team recast value	One of the best offensive units overall.

If I were choosing one DPS to prioritize, I would lean Shinku if you have her and are willing to build around her properly. If you want something more straightforward, Chaos and Nanally are easier recommendations. Lacrimosa is excellent for players who like sustained pressure, while Hotori is the offensive utility pick who can make strong teams feel even more unfair.

Best Support Characters

The best support characters in Neverness to Everness are Sakiri, Esper Zero, Jiuyuan, Haniel, Fadia, and Adler. Sakiri is the best overall support because she combines buffs with grouping and crowd control. Esper Zero gets extra value because of flexibility and account accessibility, while Jiuyuan is especially strong in teams that care about Charge and setup.

Support Character	Best For	Investment Verdict
Sakiri	Buffs, grouping, and AoE setup	Best overall support investment.
Esper Zero	Esper Cycle support and flexible team filling	Excellent value, especially because they are free.
Jiuyuan	Charge teams, grouping, and setup	Great if your main DPS benefits from her reaction flow.
Haniel	Damage buffs	Good if you need a simple team damage booster.
Fadia	Survival and damage sharing	Useful while learning harder content or stabilizing weaker accounts.
Adler	Shielding	Good comfort pick, but less valuable when damage becomes the priority.

Sakiri is the support I would prioritize first because grouping and buffs solve real gameplay problems. Haniel is good, but more straightforward. Fadia is underrated for players who are not playing perfectly, which is most players, despite what comment sections like to pretend. Adler is fine if you need shields, but he drops in value when survivability stops being your biggest issue.

Who Should You Build First?

If you are trying to decide who to build first in Neverness to Everness, start with one main DPS, then build the support characters who make that DPS work. Do not spread resources across every character just because tier lists make them all look tempting. That is how you end up with twelve half-built characters and one account quietly asking for help.

Account Goal	Best Characters To Prioritize	Why
Best main carry	Shinku, Chaos, Lacrimosa, Nanally	These characters can anchor your damage plan.
Best support value	Sakiri, Esper Zero, Jiuyuan	They help teams function instead of only adding personal damage.
Best free value	Esper Zero, Chiz	Strong options without needing banner pulls.
Best comfort picks	Fadia, Adler, Edgar	Useful if survival is holding your account back.
Lowest priority	Skia, Aurelia, Edgar	They are harder to recommend over stronger long-term options.

For most players, the best first plan is to build one strong DPS and then support that character properly. Shinku wants Charge setup and offensive support. Chaos wants teams that let him keep pressure on marked enemies. Lacrimosa wants enough support to keep sustained damage rolling. Nanally wants uptime and consistency. Pick the carry first, then stop pretending every character on the roster needs equal attention.

If you already have Sakiri, build her early. If you are using Shinku, Jiuyuan becomes much more attractive. If your account feels fragile, Fadia or Adler can be useful while you learn harder fights, but they should not distract from building damage and utility long term.

The final recommendation is simple enough without being lazy: build Shinku, Hotori, or Sakiri first if you have them. After that, invest in Lacrimosa, Chaos, Nanally, or Esper Zero depending on what your account needs. Use A Tier characters when they support your main team plan, and be careful about heavy investment into B or C Tier characters unless you genuinely enjoy them. Tier lists are helpful, but materials are limited. Spend like the game is going to make you live with your choices, because it absolutely will.

For more builds, unlock guides, and character coverage, check the Neverness to Everness guide hub.