TL;DR

Esper Zero is a free S-Rank Cosmos DPS and the main character of NTE — available from the very start of the game.
Zero’s biggest strength is instantly filling the Esper Cycle gauge with a single Skill press, enabling reaction chains on demand.
Best free Arc: Day Off. Best premium Arc: The Rain That Shook the World.
Best Cartridge: Lost Radiance (4-piece DEF ignore after Ultimate).
First Awakening priority: Finding the Calling → Anomalies Record → Deceptive Liberation.
Skill upgrade priority: Passive 2 → Ultimate and Skill → Support Skill → Basics → Passive 1.
Best team: Zero + Nanally + Hathor + Fadia for a full Charge triple-cycle rotation.

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Table of Contents

Who Is Esper Zero in NTE?

Esper Zero is the protagonist of Neverness to Everness. You choose their gender at the start of the game — male or female — and they are immediately added to your roster. Zero is described as “the only Esper in history without a detectable Wertheimer Index,” meaning they operate entirely outside the normal measurement system used to classify Espers in Hethereau. They are found connected to the Eibon Antique Shop and placed under the care of the Bureau of Anomaly Control early in the story.

Zero is a 5-star Cosmos DPS character who wields a Solid-type Arc. Their combat role centers on triggering Esper Cycle reactions instantly, dealing steady Cosmos damage, and keeping team rotation flowing smoothly. They are fully free to obtain and require no gacha pulls.

You can see all playable characters in the game and how to unlock each one in the complete character unlock guide.

Esper Zero Overview

Rarity: S-Rank (5-Star)
Element: Cosmos
Role: DPS / Sub-DPS
Arc Type: Solid
How to Get: Automatic — available from the very start of the game
Base CRIT Rate: 5%
Base CRIT DMG: 50%
Base Charge Efficiency: 100%

Esper Zero Playstyle – What Does Zero Do?

Zero is an instant Esper Cycle trigger. That is their defining ability and what makes them so valuable. When you press Zero’s Redirect Skill — Appraise and Engrave — it instantly fills the Esper Cycle gauge to 100%. Most characters need multiple hits, parries, or skill uses to fill this gauge. Zero does it in one button press.

This means Zero can force Blossom, Remora, and Charge reactions exactly when you need them, not when the gauge happens to be ready. In a game built around Esper Cycle chain reactions, having guaranteed on-demand cycle triggers is a huge advantage for any team.

Zero works primarily as a Sub-DPS or on-field driver. Their basic attacks deal Cosmos damage but are not their primary damage source. Their Skill and Ultimate are where their real output comes from. The job in a rotation is straightforward: swap in, use Skill (and Ultimate if available), trigger the Cycle reaction, then swap out to let your main DPS continue. Zero’s 5-hit basic chain is not worth spending long field time on — other characters use that time better.

Esper Zero Skills in NTE

Basic Attack – Appraisal: Severance

Zero wields their weapon to perform up to 5 consecutive attacks, all dealing Cosmos DMG. In the air, they can plunge downward to deal AoE Cosmos DMG scaled by fall height, up to 100% bonus. A follow-up counter attack — Cosmos DMG to an area — also triggers after a Critical Dodge. Basic attacks alone are not a significant damage source, so avoid spending too much field time on the full 5-hit chain.

Redirect Skill – Appraise and Engrave

Zero’s most important ability. Performs 3 weapon strikes, leaps into the air, and fires an Esper Cannon dealing AoE Cosmos DMG. Against the first enemy hit whose level is below Zero’s own level, an extra instance of Cosmos DMG lands on top. This skill has a Cycle Value of 100 — one press fills the Esper Cycle gauge completely. This is Zero’s rotation anchor and the ability you upgrade first.

Ultimate – Divide by Zero

Zero’s big damage window. They sweep through unseen lines connecting the Nexus in a blade dance, dealing multiple instances of Cosmos DMG to a large area. This is Zero’s main burst — save it for grouped enemies or high-priority targets. The Anomaly Perception passive adds 25% to Divide by Zero’s damage, making it hit noticeably harder as you invest in Zero.

Support Skill – Rift Blossom

Zero slashes through space and detonates a rift, dealing 2 instances of Cosmos DMG to an area. This is a secondary damage button used between rotations to maintain Cosmos pressure on the enemy while your main DPS is doing their work.

Passive 1 – Undecided Factors

Every 1 point of Zero’s Base ATK increases Divide by Zero’s damage by 0.1%, up to a maximum of 25%. This rewards stacking ATK on Zero and makes the Ultimate scale well as your gear improves.

Passive 2 – Anomaly Perception

When the active character gains Ultimate Energy, Zero restores HP equal to 50% of their Base ATK. This gives Zero a passive healing function for the active character and is the first passive you upgrade.

Esper Zero Best Arcs (Weapons) in NTE

Best Free Arc – Day Off

Day Off is the top free Arc choice for Zero in most situations. It gives Charge Efficiency as its substat — helping Zero reach Divide by Zero more often — and boosts ATK by 30%. Its Eclipse passive creates a 40-second window each rotation where every enemy defeated restores 6 Ultimate Energy, up to 5 times. Against groups of enemies, this keeps Divide by Zero cycling much faster. You can obtain Day Off for free through a quest in NTE, making it the easy recommendation for all players.

Best Premium Arc – The Rain That Shook the World

The Rain That Shook the World is Zero’s strongest overall Arc if you are willing to spend. It gives CRIT Rate as its substat and increases Cosmos DMG on the Redirect Skill and Ultimate by 30%. It also raises Cycle Intensity by 36 for 15 seconds after casting a Redirect Skill. Both of Zero’s main damage buttons benefit directly, and the CRIT Rate substat reduces how much you need to stack it through Modules. If you have it, use it. If not, Day Off covers the rotation just fine.

Other Viable Options

Several other Arcs work on Zero depending on what you have available. Blow up the Crowd and Fluff of Fearlessness are both listed as compatible Arc options. If you are waiting to get Day Off or The Rain That Shook the World, equip any solid Cosmos-friendly Arc you have until then.

Best Cartridge for Esper Zero

Lost Radiance (Best Overall)

Lost Radiance is Zero’s top Cartridge pick. The 2-piece bonus gives Cosmos DMG +10%. The 4-piece bonus makes Zero ignore 25% of enemy DEF for 20 seconds after using their Ultimate. This defence penetration window covers Zero’s Redirect Skill uses right after the Ultimate, which is exactly when you are dealing the most damage. Use this Cartridge whenever possible.

Shadow Creed (Alternative)

Shadow Creed works if you want to lead with the Redirect Skill first. After using Appraise and Engrave, Zero gains the ATK bonus window from the Shadow Creed 4-piece when they follow up with the Ultimate. The damage ceiling is slightly lower than Lost Radiance, but it is a solid alternative if you do not have the right Module shapes for Lost Radiance yet.

Best Modules for Esper Zero

When building Zero’s console, prioritise Module layouts that activate Lost Radiance’s 4-piece set bonus first. Once the set is active, fill remaining slots with Modules that have these substats in order of priority:

CRIT DMG — Zero’s main damage multiplier once CRIT Rate is comfortable
CRIT Rate — aim to reach a stable CRIT Rate before stacking CRIT DMG
Cosmos DMG Bonus — direct damage increase for all of Zero’s abilities
ATK% — feeds the Undecided Factors passive scaling on Divide by Zero
Cycle Intensity — helps land more Esper Cycle procs per fight

Note: If you unlock Zero’s A3 Awakening (Anomalies Record), their Ultimate gains a flat 50% CRIT Rate bonus. At that point, you can shift Module substats almost entirely to CRIT DMG and Cycle Intensity instead of CRIT Rate.

Best Awakening Priority for Esper Zero

Zero’s Awakening Effects can be freely set and switched as you unlock more slots. Here is the recommended unlock order:

Finding the Calling (First): Grants 8 Ultimate Energy each time Appraise and Engrave is used. This directly closes the gap between Skill uses and Divide by Zero, making Zero’s rotation feel much smoother from the start.
Anomalies Record (Second): Adds 50% CRIT Rate to Divide by Zero. This is the biggest single damage spike in Zero’s Awakening tree and makes the Ultimate reliably land critical hits without needing heavy CRIT Rate stacking in Modules.
Deceptive Liberation (Third): Raises the extra damage ratio of Appraise and Engrave to 300% ATK. Since you press this Skill constantly, upgrading its multiplier is more practical than saving everything for one Ultimate modifier.
Theopneustos (Fourth): Increases Zero’s ATK by 10% for 20 seconds when triggering Support Skill. A clean general buff that benefits the whole rotation.
Undecided Factors (Fifth): Scales Divide by Zero damage with Base ATK — good, but only becomes high-value once your ATK stat is already high from Modules and level investment.
Zero Display (A6 Bonus): When Zero triggers any Cosmos Esper Cycle, the whole team gains 10% ATK for 20 seconds. This turns Zero into a minor team buffer at max Awakening.

Skill Upgrade Priority for Esper Zero

Upgrade Zero’s abilities in this order: Passive 2 → Ultimate and Skill → Support Skill → Basic Attacks → Passive 1.

Passive 2 (Anomaly Perception) unlocks Zero’s HP restore mechanic and comes first. The Redirect Skill (Appraise and Engrave) and Ultimate (Divide by Zero) are Zero’s actual damage buttons and should be leveled together. Support Skill follows for secondary damage. Basic attacks are the lowest priority since they are not a meaningful damage source in Zero’s rotation.

Best Team Compositions for Esper Zero

Best Full Team – Zero + Nanally + Hathor + Fadia

This is the strongest complete team for Zero at launch. Every role is filled with a clear job. Zero drives the Cosmos side of the rotation and triggers instant Esper Cycles. Nanally is the primary DPS — she spawns extra Blossom sources and follows up on Esper Cycle damage. Hathor strengthens the Remora side of the reaction loop and has strong personal DPS after her Ultimate. Fadia brings team stability with healing and a passive +10% max HP for the whole team. Together, these four cover the full Cosmos + Anima + Lakshana triple-cycle that triggers the Charge reaction on every rotation.

Strong F2P Team – Zero + Nanally + Jiuyuan + Sakiri (or Haniel/Adler)

If you do not have Hathor or Fadia, Zero + Nanally + Jiuyuan is a solid core. Jiuyuan deals consistent Anima damage, stacks Vita Buds, and reduces enemy Anima RES. Sakiri rounds out the team with crowd control and ATK buffs. Adler is the easy defensive alternative for shielding if you need survivability over crowd control. Haniel works as a simpler substitute for general ATK buffs.

Budget Early Team – Zero + Mint + Adler

This is the starter team you get from following the main story. Zero supplies Cosmos, Mint provides Anima DPS, and Adler brings Incantation shielding and support. This team enables the Blossom and Hexed Esper Cycle reactions. It carries you through the early game without any extra investment. Swap Mint and Adler out as you pull better characters, with Mint being the lowest priority to replace once upgrades arrive.

How to Play Esper Zero – Rotation Guide

Zero’s rotation is consistent and does not change much between boss fights and open-world content. The same pattern works everywhere:

Swap in Zero from another character when Appraise and Engrave is off cooldown.
If you have the Lost Radiance Cartridge equipped, use Divide by Zero first if it is available, then immediately press Appraise and Engrave.
If Divide by Zero is not ready, just press Appraise and Engrave directly.
The Skill fills the Esper Cycle gauge to 100% instantly. Swap to your next character immediately to trigger the Cycle reaction.
While Zero is off-field, play your other characters normally to build up their abilities and deal damage.
When Zero’s Skill cooldown is back, repeat the process from the top.

Do not stay on Zero to use basic attacks. The 5-hit chain does not deal meaningful damage compared to what your main DPS can do in that same time. Zero’s job is fast in-and-out tempo — press Skill, trigger Cycle, leave.

Is Esper Zero Worth Building in NTE?

Yes. Zero is worth building, especially early on. They are the only instantly-available Cosmos character in your roster at launch and the only character who can fill the Esper Cycle gauge in a single button press from day one. That instant-cycle ability is irreplaceable in teams that rely on consistent Blossom, Remora, or Charge reaction uptime.

Zero’s tier position at launch sits around A-tier. They are excellent for carrying you through the story and mid-game content. Their damage frontloads into the Skill and Ultimate, which scales nicely as you invest in their Awakening tree. At A3 with Anomalies Record, their burst becomes highly reliable without heavy CRIT Rate investment. At A6, they also start buffing the team’s ATK after every Cosmos Cycle trigger.

Long-term, specialized S-Rank characters may eventually outperform Zero in raw damage output. But for F2P players and anyone building a clean, reaction-focused team, Zero remains a strong and accessible choice throughout the game.

How to Get Esper Zero in NTE

Zero is free and automatic. You do not need to pull from any banner or meet any unlock conditions beyond starting the game. Choose your gender at the character creation screen and Zero is yours immediately. Zero does not appear on any gacha banner — they are permanently available to every player.

Getting duplicates to raise Zero’s Awakening level is tied to story progression, not gacha. Additional copies of Zero are unlocked by advancing through the main story quests.

Esper Zero Life Skills

Zero has two notable non-combat passives tied to city life in Hethereau:

Increases Affinity gained from Gifts by 5% when Bond Level is 4 or below — helpful for raising Bond Levels with characters early.
After triggering any Cosmos Esper Cycle, the team gains 7% ATK for 20 seconds — this passive carries over into certain city activities that use combat.

More NTE Character & Build Guides

Where To Play NTE

Neverness to Everness is available on PC, Android, and PlayStation. Download it on Android through the Google Play Store or get it on console through the PlayStation Store.

Esper Zero is one of the most reliable characters in NTE from day one to late game. Their instant Esper Cycle trigger keeps team rotations clean, their Skill and Ultimate deal solid Cosmos burst damage, and the whole kit is completely free. Equip Day Off if you are F2P, build Lost Radiance for your Cartridge, prioritise Finding the Calling first in the Awakening tree, and pair Zero with Anima and Lakshana teammates for the best reaction output. Do all that and Zero will carry your team through everything NTE throws at you in the early and mid-game.

Esper Zero (S-Rank | Cosmos | DPS) In NTE – Best Build, Arcs, Teams & Skills Guide

Who Is Esper Zero in NTE?

Esper Zero Overview

Esper Zero Playstyle – What Does Zero Do?