Neverness to Everness Version 1.3 "Rising from the Moonlit Fog" is bringing two new exclusive S-Class characters to Scarborough Fair: Zankou in the first half and Linko in the second half. The Version 1.3 Special Preview has now confirmed both characters' combat roles, their Limited Board names, the returning characters in each phase, and the matching Arc Research Programs.
Zankou, a key figure tied to The Scarlet Letter, joins the roster as an Incantation Main DPS built around switching between Reality and Illusion, applying DoT effects, and interacting with Scorch. Linko joins from ETD-6 as an Anima AoE quickswap character whose combat revolves around Synced Strikes with her anomaly partner Xiaozhen and her teammates. Their banners will also run alongside reruns for Nanally and Hotori.
This guide covers the Neverness to Everness 1.3 banner schedule, estimated release dates, confirmed banner phases, new character kits, returning S-Class characters, Arc Research Programs, and early pull value based on the Version 1.3 Special Preview.
Version 1.3 Banner Schedule Overview
The Version 1.3 Special Preview confirmed that each half of Version 1.3 will last 21 days. Since Version 1.2 "999 Nights" features Shinku followed by Iroi, the current calendar estimate places Version 1.3 Phase 1 around August 19, 2026 and Phase 2 around September 9, 2026. These calendar dates remain estimates, while the 21-day duration for each half has been directly confirmed in the preview.
| Banner Phase | Estimated Date | Featured S-Class Characters | Type / Role | Featured Arc Research Programs | Pull Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Around August 19, 2026 | Zankou / Nanally | Zankou: Incantation Main DPS | Spellbound Special / Tiger Special | DoT-focused Main DPS or Nanally rerun |
| Phase 2 | Around September 9, 2026 | Linko / Hotori | Linko: Anima AoE Quickswap | Soundscape Special / Bright Moon Special | AoE quickswap and follow-up utility or Hotori rerun |
In Phase 1, the Limited Board "Alluring Shadows" features the new exclusive S-Class character Zankou, while "The Ichi-daime" returns with Nanally. Phase 2 introduces Linko through the Limited Board "Surfing All Channels!", alongside the returning Hotori Limited Board "Misty Tipsy Style". Each phase runs for exactly 21 days.
Which New Characters Are Debuting in Version 1.3?
Phase 1: Zankou
Zankou is confirmed as the new exclusive S-Class character headlining the first half of Version 1.3 through the Limited Board "Alluring Shadows". She is an Incantation Esper whose confirmed combat role is Main DPS. Players previously encountered her during Chapter 4, A Research in Scarlet, and she later appeared near the end of Version 1.1's Chapter 5, Dreamwalk Corridor.
Her Esper Ability, Eye of Delusion, allows her to sense and interfere with emotions, erode a person's will, create illusions, and even construct entire illusory realms. In combat, this becomes a dual-state system split between Reality and Illusion. Reality gives Zankou the Hunt buff to increase the damage she deals, while Illusion grants Delusion, which increases the CRIT DMG of DoT effects on the target.
Her key Redirect Skill, Sanguine Dash, switches Zankou from Reality into Illusion and can apply the Heartwrench DoT while triggering Disarray for heavy Break DMG across a wide area. Once in Illusion, Nightmare Waltz can continuously apply Heartwrench and spread existing DoT effects from the target to nearby enemies. All attacks she performs during Illusion are also treated as follow-up attacks, giving the state additional synergy with follow-up-related mechanics.
Zankou can return to Reality with Soulcross, and correctly timing the skill near the end of the Illusion timer triggers Oblivion for massive AoE damage while activating Bloodfeast Reverie. Her Ultimate, Inferno Flamenco, gains an empowered sequence when Bloodfeast Reverie is active, allowing another Ultimate cast within a limited window without consuming Ultimate Energy. Ending Illusion through Soulcross also lets the Delusion buff linger briefly, creating a short period where Zankou can benefit from both Hunt and Delusion.
Her team mechanics further reinforce her DoT identity. When paired with characters of adjacent Cycle Attributes, her Support Skill deals Incantation DMG, while her Cycle Effect allows Scorch to stack. When a teammate applies a DoT effect to a target already affected by Scorch, Zankou can add another Scorch stack and refresh the existing Scorch effect's damage, Attribute, and duration to match the newest stack.
Phase 2: Linko
Linko is confirmed as the new exclusive S-Class character for the second half of Version 1.3 through the Limited Board "Surfing All Channels!". She belongs to ETD-6, the Bureau unit that also includes Chaos, and she fights alongside her anomaly partner Xiaozhen. Linko is an Anima Esper whose confirmed combat role is AoE quickswap.
Her Esper Ability, Telepathy, allows her to perceive the frequencies emitted by people, anomalies, and even objects. She can tune her own frequency to another target and synchronize with them, which is reflected directly in her combat mechanics. Her signature mechanic is the Synced Strike, a special type of Support Skill that can be launched by Xiaozhen or one of Linko's teammates, with its damage Attribute changing to match whoever performs the attack.
Linko's Basic Attack, Poltergeist CQC, performs up to five Anima attacks while building her Modulation gauge. Her Redirect Skill, Full-Frequency Pulse, spends Modulation to strengthen the Synced Strike it triggers, and a Radial Menu allows players to choose whether Xiaozhen or a teammate performs the attack. The amount of Modulation spent determines the Synced Strike's damage boost, giving Linko a quickswap loop built around accumulating resources before calling another unit into the attack.
Xiaozhen also periodically attacks enemies and applies a "Hit 'Em Here!" mark. When the active character hits that marked target with a Redirect Skill, the mark is consumed and Linko enters for a Synced Strike while gaining Modulation and Cycle Energy. If Linko consumes the mark herself, she instead performs the Synced Strike together with Xiaozhen.
Linko's Ultimate, Oversync, creates a Resonance Field and allows her to synchronize with up to three teammates simultaneously. She can then use her Redirect Skill to call those teammates into consecutive Synced Strikes up to three times before triggering additional AoE damage. When Oversync ends, enemies inside the Resonance Field take Anima Burst DMG that becomes stronger based on the number of different debuff types affecting them, while the lingering field temporarily converts her teammates' empowered Support Skills into follow-up attack DMG.
Her passive abilities add another layer of team utility. Weakness Radar improves the Hexed Cycle Effect by increasing its bonus follow-up damage and making Hexed targets take more follow-up damage. Precision Tuning lets Synced Strikes reduce the target's resistance to the Attribute of the teammate who launched the strike, and resistance reductions for different Attributes can coexist, making Linko especially flexible in multi-Attribute quickswap teams.
What New Weapons Are Releasing in Version 1.3?
The Version 1.3 Special Preview has confirmed the matching Special Issues Arc Research Programs for all four featured S-Class characters. Phase 1 brings Zankou's "Spellbound Special" and Nanally's "Tiger Special", while Phase 2 brings Linko's "Soundscape Special" and Hotori's "Bright Moon Special". The preview did not provide the complete stat lines or effects for these Arcs, so their exact performance and upgrade value still require the full in-game details.
Zankou Arc Research Program: Spellbound Special
Zankou's matching Arc Research Program is "Spellbound Special", which becomes available during the first half of Version 1.3. It launches alongside Zankou's "Alluring Shadows" Limited Board and shares the first-half Arc Shop window with Nanally's returning "Tiger Special". The preview confirmed the Research Program name but did not reveal its complete stats, passive values, or exact improvement over alternative Arcs.
Linko Arc Research Program: Soundscape Special
Linko's matching Arc Research Program is "Soundscape Special", arriving in the second half of Version 1.3. It runs alongside Hotori's returning "Bright Moon Special" Research Program. Because Linko's gameplay heavily emphasizes Synced Strikes, follow-up damage, quickswap interactions, and Attribute RES reduction, players should wait for the complete Arc description before deciding how important Soundscape Special is to her final build.
The preview also confirmed that pull counts and pity progress are shared across all Special Issues Arc Research Programs. This makes it easier to switch between the featured Arc programs without resetting that shared Research Program progress.
Which Characters Are Rerunning in Version 1.3?
The Version 1.3 rerun lineup is now confirmed. During the first half, Nanally returns through the Limited Board "The Ichi-daime" alongside Zankou. During the second half, Hotori returns through "Misty Tipsy Style" alongside Linko.
This means Version 1.3 gives players two banner choices during each 21-day phase instead of only the newly released character. Phase 1 centers on choosing between the new Incantation Main DPS Zankou and the returning Nanally, while Phase 2 offers the new Anima AoE quickswap character Linko together with Hotori. Players planning several pulls should therefore consider both the new-character banners and rerun boards before committing resources.
Are the Version 1.3 Characters Worth Pulling?
- New Characters:
Zankou is worth considering for players looking for a dedicated Incantation Main DPS built around DoT, Scorch, follow-up attacks, and large AoE damage windows. Her Reality and Illusion states give her a more involved on-field rotation than the early information suggested, while Heartwrench spreading and stackable Scorch give her clear team-building hooks. However, the preview explains her mechanics rather than final comparative damage performance, so players focused purely on meta efficiency may still want to wait for full numbers and practical testing.
Linko is especially interesting for players building quickswap or follow-up attack teams. Her ability to call Xiaozhen or teammates into Synced Strikes, amplify Hexed follow-up damage, and reduce enemy resistance according to the attacker's Attribute gives her several forms of team utility in addition to her own AoE damage. Because the preview explicitly defines her as an AoE quickswap character rather than an unknown support or sub-DPS, players can now evaluate her based on whether their account benefits from this style of team.
- Rerun Characters:
Nanally returns in Phase 1 through "The Ichi-daime", while Hotori returns in Phase 2 through "Misty Tipsy Style". Players who skipped either character previously now have another opportunity to obtain them, but their value should be compared against the new roles offered by Zankou and Linko as well as the needs of the account.
For F2P players, the Version 1.3 preview makes the decision clearer but does not eliminate the need to plan carefully. Choose Zankou if you specifically want an Incantation on-field DPS with strong DoT and Scorch interactions, while Linko is the more specialized option for quickswap, follow-up, and multi-Attribute team interactions. With Nanally and Hotori also returning, saving until all four banners can be compared against your existing roster remains the safest resource-management approach.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
When does the Neverness to Everness Version 1.3 banner start?
The current schedule estimate places the Version 1.3 Phase 1 banner around August 19, 2026. The Version 1.3 Special Preview directly confirmed that each half of the update lasts 21 days, but the provided preview subtitles do not directly state the August 19 calendar date. Based on the current schedule, Phase 2 would therefore begin around September 9, 2026.
Is Zankou confirmed for the first half of Version 1.3?
Yes. Zankou is confirmed as the new exclusive S-Class character in the first half of Neverness to Everness Version 1.3. Her Limited Board is called "Alluring Shadows", and she is an Incantation Main DPS whose combat revolves around Reality and Illusion states, DoT effects, follow-up attacks, and Scorch interactions.
When is Linko coming out in Neverness to Everness?
Linko is confirmed for the second half of Version 1.3 through the Limited Board "Surfing All Channels!". With each half lasting 21 days and the current Phase 1 estimate sitting around August 19, her banner is currently estimated to begin around September 9, 2026. She is an S-Class Anima Esper with an AoE quickswap combat role.
Should I pull Zankou or save for Linko?
Zankou is the more direct choice if your account needs an on-field Incantation Main DPS and you want to build around DoT, Scorch, and follow-up mechanics. Linko is more attractive if you prefer quickswap teams and want a character capable of enabling Synced Strikes, enhancing follow-up damage, and reducing multiple enemy Attribute resistances. Neither should be treated as an automatic must-pull before final numbers and live testing are available, so the better choice depends heavily on your existing roster and preferred team style.
Does pity carry over between Version 1.3 banners?
The Version 1.3 preview confirms that roll counts are shared across all Limited Boards running at the same time. However, Skin Perks progress is tracked separately for each Limited Board, and that Skin Perks progress carries over when a Limited Board with the same name returns. For Arc banners, the preview explicitly confirms that pull counts and pity progress are shared across all Special Issues Arc Research Programs; it does not separately restate the character-banner pity rules for moving from Phase 1 to Phase 2.
