In Neverness to Everness (NTE), the Bond system lets you build deeper relationships with your Espers (companions). Raising Affection through gifts increases their Bond Level (up to Level 10), unlocking special interactions, story moments, rewards, and cosmetic items.
Higher Bond Levels grant valuable progression resources like Annulith, character/ARC development materials, home decorations, profile frames, outfits, and namecards. Maxing bonds also provides permanent stat boosts for your favorite Espers in some cases.
How the Affection and Bond System Works
Each Esper has a 10-tier Affection/Bond Level. You primarily raise it by giving Gifts, though other activities help too:
- Place the Esper in your active party and complete quests or commissions.
- Invite them for Home Time (apartment hangouts).
- Go on dates or city hangouts (unlocked at higher levels).
- Participate in interactions like car rides (unlocks at Bond Level 2) or hugs (around Level 6).
Daily Gift Limits:
- Maximum 3 gifts per Esper per day.
- Total of 10 gifts across all Espers per day.
Gifts give immediate Affection points. Favorite gifts provide the biggest boosts (often +2000 or +4000), while neutral or disliked ones give less (+300 to +1000). Some special gifts ignore the daily limit.
Pro Tip: Check each Esper’s preferences in the Bond menu before gifting to avoid wasting daily attempts.
How to Give Gifts in NTE
- Pause the game and open the Bond menu (heart icon with two leaves).
- Select the desired Esper.
- Click the Gift tab in the top right.
- Choose an item from your inventory and confirm.
Affection increases instantly upon successful gifting. Track progress via the Bond Level bar.
Where to Get Gifts
Gifts are widely available across Hethereau:
- Shops and Vending Machines: Scattered throughout districts like Bridge Crossings, Miguel District, New Herland District, and Illusion Town. Look for food stalls, convenience stores, and specialty shops selling snacks, drinks, and trinkets.
- Gift from “21” Chests: These glitchy dice-marked treasure chests appear near combat challenges or anomalies. Defeat nearby enemies to open them and collect gifts. There are dozens across the map — use the in-game map to locate nearby ones.
- Gacha Machines and Events: Some high-value or decorative gifts (like Kokoro Rider items) come from gacha machines or limited events.
- Commissions, Bounties, and Rewards: Warp Exchange Circle Bounties or story commissions can reward unique gifts like A Handwritten Letter.
- Food Stalls: Affordable daily options include ramen, boba tea, pizza, chips, and salads.
Budget Farming Tip: Start with cheap favorite foods/drinks (300–660 currency) for steady gains before investing in premium items.
Best Gift Strategies and Examples
To maximize efficiency:
- Always prioritize Favorite Gifts for massive Affection spikes.
- Use purple-tier or higher gifts when favorites are unavailable.
- Save limited high-value gifts for characters you want to max quickly.
Popular Gift Examples (varies by Esper):
- Mint: Potato chips, A Handwritten Letter, Asahi Inori – Moonsilver.
- Haniel: Puka Chocoa Ellie Tour Special, spicy snacks, A Handwritten Letter.
- Common Favorites: Nekomaru Oni Ramen, boba tea, pain medicine, custard and fries, light salad, pizza.
- Premium/Unique: Home decor items (Kokoro Rider series), handwritten letters.
Esper-Specific Advice:
- Many Espers love food-related items (snacks, drinks, ramen).
- Decorative or sentimental gifts (letters, collectibles) often score high.
- Test a few options early — the game shows reaction feedback.
For the absolute best results, combine daily gifting with party usage and apartment invites. Apartment furniture can act as a passive booster for Bond progress during Home Time sessions.
Bond Level Rewards and Unlocks
As Bond Level rises, you unlock:
- Early Levels (2–4): Car rides, basic hangouts, “Familiar” title.
- Mid Levels (5–6): City dates, hugs, “Close Friend” title, Memory Theater access.
- High Levels (7–10): Advanced interactions, Home visits, rock-paper-scissors, special story content.
Rewards per level-up typically include:
- Annulith (valuable currency)
- Character and ARC materials
- Home decorations
- Profile frames, outfits, and namecards
Maxing a character to Bond Level 10 can yield up to 80 Annulith plus cosmetics and stat-related bonuses.
Additional Tips for Efficient Bonding
- Daily Routine: Use all 10 daily gift slots on your priority Espers (3 each on 3 characters, for example).
- Resource Management: Don’t overspend on disliked gifts. Farm Gift from “21” chests during exploration for free items.
- Synergy with Progression: Higher Hunter Level and City Tycoon progress unlock better shops and activities.
- Multiple Espers: Focus on 2–3 favorites at a time rather than spreading thin, especially early game.
- Apartment Strategy: Decorate your home well — Espers interact with furniture, giving extra Bond EXP during visits.
- Some Espers (like Zero) have passives that boost gift Affection at lower Bond Levels.
The Bond system is completely optional for combat power but highly rewarding for immersion, cosmetics, and extra resources. It turns your Espers into true companions in the vibrant streets of Hethereau.
Start gifting today, plan your daily 10 slots wisely, and watch your favorite characters open up with unique stories and rewards. Whether you’re romancing one Esper or building bonds with the whole roster, consistent gifting is the fastest path to high Affection and max Bond Levels.
Enjoy your time in Neverness to Everness — happy bonding!
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