Quick Start Priorities
The first hours in Hethereau set the tone for your entire account. Here's what matters most, in order.
Complete the Tutorial & Claim Free Pulls
The tutorial lasts 15–20 minutes and unlocks the gacha system. You get up to 40 free pulls just for finishing the prologue — don't skip cutscenes or you'll miss story context that affects City Tycoon quests later.
Focus the Main Story Until You Meet Chiz
Unlocking Chiz through the main quest opens the City Tycoon menu — your café, deliveries, races, and passive income. This is arguably the most important unlock in the game. Don't go sidetracked before this.
Level Hunter Rank via Main Quests
Hunter Level is your account progression. Almost every mode is locked behind Hunter Level milestones. At levels 20, 40, and 50, complete specific quests to raise your Appraisal Level — this unlocks harder content and raises your character level cap.
Buy Eden Apartments Early
Costs 1,000,000 Fons but unlocks the Dream Weaver's Knot — Anomaly Furniture that gives bonus Character Pixels. More pixels = more resource farming. Prioritize earning Fons through your café and City Stamina activities to get here fast.
Redeem All Launch Codes
Free Annulith (gacha currency), dyes, hunter guides, and beetle coins are available through limited-time promo codes. See the Codes section below and redeem before they expire.
Combat Mechanics
NTE combat rewards rotation discipline, timing, and knowing when to dodge vs. attack.
Cycle Rate = Damage Window
Landing attacks fills your active character's Cycle Rate bar. When it's full, swap characters immediately — this triggers the Esper Cycle for bonus damage and reactions. Never let a full bar sit idle.
Core MechanicDodge to Stun
Dodging incoming attacks fills the enemy's white stun meter under their health bar. A fully filled meter stuns enemies for several seconds — your perfect window to dump big damage safely.
TipBreak Meter = Free Damage
Every enemy has a Break Meter. Deplete it and the enemy becomes Broken — they can't move or attack and take massively increased damage. Bring at least one Break-focused character (Daffodil) to all fights.
PriorityLearn to Parry
Parrying gives special advantages over enemies that simple dodging doesn't. Practice the timing in easier fights first — parry windows are tight but the payoff is significant in boss encounters.
SkillElemental Reactions
Mixing elements triggers Reactions for bonus effects. Common early combos: Stain (Psyche + Lakshana), Blossom (Anima + Chaos), Scorch (Incantation + Chaos). Build around one reaction type for maximum damage.
AdvancedSmart Rotation Order
Standard rotation: Tank/Support sets up → Buffer boosts damage → Main DPS goes in → Healer sustains as needed. Don't leave your DPS on field too long — rotation resets Cycle Rate bonuses.
StrategyTeam Building
Four-character teams. Balance roles first, then optimize elemental synergy. One solid main carry carries early game.
Adler (shield/setup) → Mint (buff) → Chiz or Zero (main DPS) → Skia (healer). This lineup focuses on survivability and consistency — perfect for clearing early and mid-game content without complex combos.
Upgrade your primary DPS character's level, Arc (weapon), and Consoles before spending resources on supports. A strong carry with mediocre supports beats a mediocre carry with a strong support cast.
Two Stamina Systems
NTE runs on two separate energy pools. Understanding both is essential — waste one and you'll feel it.
| Stamina Type | Used For | Recharge | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character Pixels ⚡ | Anomaly Zones — farm character & arc upgrade materials | 1 per 6 minutes (daily) | Use daily — don't let overflow |
| City Stamina 🏙️ | Deliveries, races, business jobs, Tycoon activities. Every point = 1,000 Fons | Resets weekly (5 AM) | Spend fully before weekly reset |
Consoles (gear sets) are only worth farming at higher levels when Golden Consoles unlock. Spending Pixels on lower-tier Consoles before that point is a significant resource waste that new players commonly make.
Pixel Priority Spending
City Tycoon Mode
Nearly half your gameplay lives here. Ignore it and you'll fall behind on Fons, City Stamina rewards, and even S-Rank character unlocks.
The Café by Origen
Assign characters as employees (e.g. Edgar boosts customer traffic by 18). Set a menu using ingredients bought around the city. Your café earns passive income even while offline. Don't over-stock ingredients — menus upgrade as you level and leftovers become waste.
Passive IncomeRaces & Vehicles
Racing earns Fons and City Stamina rewards. You can commandeer vehicles from streets — but stealing unauthorized ones risks police attention. One star wanted level is escapable; multiple stars leads to prison and lost progress days.
Crime RiskProperty (Housing)
Apartments let you place Anomaly Furniture for passive bonuses (crit damage, teleport home, Pixel boosts). House Comfort level unlocks additional home features. Buy Eden Apartments first — they unlock the Dream Weaver's Knot for extra Character Pixels.
High PriorityDeliveries & Errands
Running deliveries and errands for NPCs is your main City Stamina sink. Simple activity with consistent Fon returns. Pick the activity you enjoy most — every Stamina point equals 1,000 Fons regardless of which activity you choose.
Steady FonsMini-Games & Exploration
Mahjong, Griddy lockers (find keys for free rewards), dropped wallets on the street — the city is full of hidden interactive items. They add up over time and make city exploration worthwhile beyond just questing.
ExplorationTycoon Level Rewards
Leveling your Tycoon status by completing special tasks unlocks major perks including increased City Stamina cap and — at high levels — a fully awakened S-class character with her signature Arc for free.
Free S-Rank!Invest back into your café (furniture, supplies, better menus) → Hunter Exchange (pool currency + character upgrade materials) → Cars and fashion (fun, but not urgent in early game).
Daily & Weekly Routine
Click tasks to check them off. Reset your list each session.
Active Redeem Codes
Go to Main Menu → ⋯ (triple dot) → Redeem Code. Enter code and claim rewards.
You must unlock the in-game mail feature first by playing through the tutorial. Check community wikis like kaiden.gg regularly for new codes as they drop.
Don't Make These Mistakes
The most common traps new players fall into — avoid these and you'll have a massive head start.
Ignoring City Tycoon
New players treat NTE as a pure combat game and skip Tycoon entirely. The café generates passive Fons even offline, and the Tycoon Level rewards include a free S-Rank character. This system is not optional.
Common MistakeFarming Consoles Too Early
Spending Character Pixels on Console farming before unlocking Golden Consoles is a massive waste. Save Pixels for character ascension and Arc upgrades until you're at a high enough level.
Resource WasteOverstocking Café Ingredients
Buying huge stacks of early ingredients like apples will leave you with unusable stockpiles when the menu upgrades. Buy small amounts and resupply regularly.
Fons WasteGetting a High Wanted Level
One star wanted level is escapable. Multiple stars can land you in prison for in-game days, blocking your progress. Avoid attacking civilians or damaging property recklessly.
Progress BlockSpreading Resources Too Thin
Don't try to upgrade all four team members equally. Dump resources into your main carry first, then the characters who see the most field time, then supports last.
InefficiencyLetting City Stamina Reset Unused
City Stamina resets weekly at 5 AM. Every unused point is 1,000 Fons gone forever. Even if you just run quick deliveries, spend your full City Stamina pool before the weekly cutoff.
Free Fons Lost