Neverness to Everness (NTE) features a robust character ascension system that raises your Espers’ level caps, improves base stats, and unlocks their full potential. Nest Guard Fragment is one of the key A-Rank ascension materials required for mid-to-late progression.
What is a Nest Guard Fragment?
Nest Guard Fragment is described as the following:
“A mask fragment from the Nestbound Bird, commonly used as character ascension material.”
Flavor text: “If only I could find the children…”
It is an A-rank consumable item (quick use disabled) and serves exclusively as a breakthrough/ascension resource. You will need dozens of these fragments to push multiple Espers toward higher-level brackets (especially from Lv. 30 onward).
How to Obtain Nest Guard Fragment (Unlock & Sources)
There are two primary ways to acquire Nest Guard Fragments:
- Anomaly Hunt: Nestbound Bird (Main Farming Method)
This is the dedicated world boss for this material. Defeating the Nestbound Bird boss directly rewards Nest Guard Fragments. - Anomaly Hunt Material Selection Box
These flexible boxes let you choose or randomly obtain Nest Guard Fragment. You earn them by clearing various Anomaly Hunts, daily/weekly commissions, and events.
Guaranteed Drop Example:
Completing the Nestbound Bird Anomaly Hunt typically rewards Nest Guard Fragment ×4, along with Hunter EXP and Beetle Coins.
Best Farming Locations and Methods
- Primary Spot: Nestbound Bird Anomaly Hunt
Unlock this boss through story progress or by raising your Hunter Level and Appraisal Level. Once available, it appears in the Anomaly Hunt or Commission menu.
Recommended power level increases with difficulty, so bring a properly built team. - Material Selection Boxes
Farm any repeatable anomaly hunts (including Beat King, Swallowtail, etc.) to earn selection boxes, then open them when you specifically need Nest Guard Fragments.
Unlock Requirements:
- Progress through the main story and city commissions.
- Reach a sufficient Hunter Rank (around Hunter Rank 10+ for initial ascensions).
- Higher Hunter/Appraisal Levels unlock harder Anomaly zones with better material drops.
Farming Tips:
- Focus on daily and weekly Anomaly Hunt resets for maximum efficiency.
- Combine Nestbound Bird runs with other bosses that drop Beetle Coins (the universal ascension currency).
- Use strong teams with good crowd control and burst damage, as Nestbound Bird is a boss-style encounter.
- Check in-game for boss respawn timers or stamina costs.
Uses of Nest Guard Fragment
Nest Guard Fragment is used exclusively for Character Ascension (also called Breakthrough or Phase Ascension). Ascension removes level caps and provides permanent stat boosts.
Typical Ascension Requirements (varies by Esper):
- Lv.30 → Lv.40: Nest Guard Fragment ×2 + Beetle Coin ×50,000 + Blurred Numeral/Suspended Delusions ×12
- Lv.40 → Lv.50: Nest Guard Fragment ×8 + Beetle Coin ×75,000 + Unsolved Numeral/Yearning Delusions ×6
- Lv.50 → Lv.60: Nest Guard Fragment ×16 + higher numeral items
- Lv.60 → Lv.70: Nest Guard Fragment ×24
- Lv.70 → Lv.80: Nest Guard Fragment ×36 + top-tier materials
Characters such as Haniel, Aurelia, Baicang, and many others require significant amounts of Nest Guard Fragment across their ascension phases. Stockpiling is essential if you plan to build multiple Espers for different teams.
Pro Tip: Always preview the exact material list for your target Esper in the Ascension menu, as some use “Blurred / Unsolved / Distorted Numeral” or “Delusion” variants alongside Nest Guard Fragment.
Additional Progression Advice
- Hunter Level Priority: Raise your Hunter Level quickly by clearing Anomaly Zones and commissions. This unlocks higher-tier bosses and better material rewards.
- Resource Balance: Nest Guard Fragment farming is somewhat time-gated by boss availability. Balance it with daily commissions, City Tycoon progression, and story advancement.
- Auction House Option: If you’re short, check the in-game auction. The base price is around 3,000 (expected market price ~9,000), making it a viable emergency purchase.
- Early vs Late Game: Early players should focus on story commissions that unlock anomaly hunts. Mid-to-late-game players will repeat Nestbound Bird multiple times per character.
Nest Guard Fragment is farmable but becomes a noticeable bottleneck when ascending several high-value Espers simultaneously. Efficient anomaly hunt routing and smart use of material selection boxes will keep your progression smooth.
Master the Nestbound Bird encounter early, and you’ll have no trouble powering up your favorite characters in the streets of Hethereau and beyond.
Happy hunting!
