Neverness to Everness delivers a vibrant open-world action RPG experience packed with gacha-style Esper summons, but you do not need to spend money to build a competitive team. The game hands out several strong characters through story progression, login rewards, side activities, and a free selector. These F2P Espers shine in early-game farming, story clears, and even mid-to-late game content when properly invested in.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to optimize your roster on a budget, here are the top F2P characters worth your time and resources right now in May 2026. They are ranked by overall impact for free players, focusing on accessibility, damage output, team synergy, and long-term value.

1. Chiz (S-Rank, Cosmos) - The Best F2P Main DPS

Chiz stands out as the strongest free-to-play carry available. You unlock her by reaching City Tycoon Level 18, a simple side activity that fits naturally into your play sessions. She functions as an on-field attacker who builds Grain through basic attacks to scale her damage massively. Her skills have multiple charges for fluid combos, and her ultimate delivers huge bursts once the chart is read correctly.

Why she excels for F2P players: Chiz reaches full Awakening (A6) entirely for free, making her one of the few S-Rank units that feels premium without any pulls. She dominates early-game Fons farming and stays relevant longer than most starters. Pair her with any Cosmos teammate for instant cycle triggers and watch her clear waves or bosses with ease. If you invest here first, your account accelerates dramatically.

2. Haniel (A-Rank, Psyche) - The Ultimate Team Buffer

Haniel is your go-to support pick and punches well above her A-Rank status. She unlocks automatically through pre-registration rewards or your very first gacha pull. Her kit focuses on attack buffs, follow-up damage, and a team-wide ATK boost on her ultimate.

F2P value is massive because she performs nearly as well as many S-Rank supports. She enables your main DPS to hit harder without needing perfect gear. Use her in almost any team to boost overall damage and survivability. Her buffs stack nicely with Cosmos or Anima units, making her a staple for story bosses and domain clears.

3. Zero (S-Rank, Cosmos) - The Reliable Starter All-Rounder

As the protagonist, Zero joins you immediately after character creation (male or female versions share identical kits). This Cosmos Solid Esper serves as a quick-swap DPS with solid AoE, energy generation, and HP recovery on cycle triggers.

Zero slots into nearly every beginner team and carries you through the prologue and early chapters effortlessly. He (or she) pairs perfectly with Mint or Chiz for elemental synergy. While you will eventually swap in stronger limited units, Zero remains a flexible fourth slot or sub-DPS well into mid-game. No extra effort required to obtain or level.

4. Free S-Rank Selector Picks (Sakiri, Jiuyuan, or Daffodill Recommended)

After 50 rolls on the Standard Board (heavily discounted for new players), you earn a one-time selector. Choose any standard S-Rank from the pool, including Sakiri, Jiuyuan, Baicang, Daffodill, Fadia, or Hathor. For pure F2P power:

  • Sakiri offers safe mob clearing, enemy lockdown, and ATK buffs with strong DoT amplification.
  • Jiuyuan brings self-sustaining single-target burst and even healing at low dupes.
  • Daffodill specializes in Break damage and parries, perfect for boss fights.

These selector options give F2P accounts a second high-impact S-Rank without luck. Prioritize based on what you already have. Sakiri or Jiuyuan often edges out as the safest long-term choice for most players.

5. Strong Early A-Rank Supports: Mint, Adler, and Aurelia

Round out your roster with these easy-to-get A-Ranks:

  • Mint (Anima) unlocks after the prologue and excels at gathering enemies with charged basics for AOE damage. She pairs naturally with Zero.
  • Adler (Incantation) joins during the main story at the Eibon Antique Shop. He provides essential shields and debuffs to keep your team alive.
  • Aurelia (Psyche) comes from day-three login rewards or minigame pulls. Her jellyfish summons add consistent multi-hit damage and grouping for ambushes.

These units require minimal investment but deliver solid utility until you awaken your S-Ranks further.

Quick F2P Team Building Tips

A strong starter team could look like: Chiz (main DPS) + Haniel (buffer) + Zero (sub-DPS/flex) + Adler or Mint (survival/utility). Focus on leveling your free characters to 60 or higher first, then prioritize their awakenings and arcs for massive power spikes. Use the discounted standard pulls wisely to hit that selector fast, and claim all login and milestone rewards for extra Annulith.

Neverness to Everness rewards smart resource management. These F2P characters prove you can dominate without opening your wallet. Build Chiz and Haniel early, grab your selector wisely, and enjoy the story with a powerful roster from day one. Stay tuned for future patches, as new free events may add even more options.