Best F2P Weapons for NTE DPS: Tier List (May 2026)

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Finding the right gear in the neon-soaked streets of Hethereau does not have to break your bank of Annuliths. With the game having launched on April 29, 2026, players are quickly discovering that some of the most potent Ethereal Arcs for damage dealers can be acquired through gameplay rather than the gacha system.

# Best F2P Weapons for NTE DPS: May 2026 Tier List

Maximizing your damage output in Neverness to Everness (NTE) requires a deep understanding of the Arc system. While premium S-Rank Arcs from limited banners like "The Ichi-daime" offer massive power spikes, the F2P options available through exploration, Bureau quests, and boss farming are more than capable of clearing high-level Anomaly zones. This guide breaks down the best non-gacha weapons for your main DPS units.

## Methodology

Ranking the best F2P weapons in NTE involves more than just looking at raw Attack stats. Because the game utilizes a complex elemental system based on Arc Types, a weapon's synergy with a character's specific kit is the primary factor in its placement.

Our ranking criteria focus on:
*   **Accessibility:** We prioritize Arcs that are obtainable through hidden world quests, Bureau of Anomaly Control rewards, and repeatable boss drops.
*   **Base ATK Scaling:** High-tier DPS units require Arcs with strong base scaling to keep up with the increasing HP pools of late-game Anomalies.
*   **Passive Synergy:** We evaluate how well an Arc's unique effect complements the playstyles of top-tier damage dealers like Nanally and Jiuyuan.
*   **Substat Efficiency:** For main DPS roles, we prioritize Arcs that provide CRIT Rate, CRIT DMG, or ATK% as their secondary stat.

### What Makes a Weapon F2P in NTE?

In Neverness to Everness, "F2P" specifically refers to Arcs that do not require the expenditure of Annuliths (the premium gacha currency). These are typically "farmable" or "reward-based" Arcs. While some A-Rank Arcs from the standard resonance pool are included due to their high drop rates, the focus remains on items you can guarantee through effort and time.

### Stat Priorities for DPS Arcs

When choosing an Arc for your primary attacker, the type of damage they deal is paramount. The five Arc Types—Solid, Plasma, Gas, Liquid, and Synthesis—dictate which characters can effectively wield them. For instance, a Solid-type attacker will gain significantly more from a Solid-type Arc due to the native resonance bonus.

| Arc Type | Primary Combat Role | Ideal DPS Substats |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Solid | Physical/Kinetic Burst | ATK%, CRIT Rate |
| Plasma | Energy/Electric Damage | Energy Regen, CRIT DMG |
| Gas | AOE/Status Infliction | Elemental Mastery, ATK% |
| Liquid | Fluid/Anima Resonance | CRIT Rate, Anima DMG% |
| Synthesis | Hybrid/Utility DPS | Variable (Scaling based on HP/DEF) |

## S Tier

The Arcs in this tier are the gold standard for F2P players. In many cases, these weapons perform within 5-10% of premium gacha options when fully refined.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: The Hidden Bureau Gem

The premier Solid-type Arc for F2P players is [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]. This weapon is highly coveted for its massive [information unavailable]% ATK boost, which rivals some S-Rank gacha Arcs.

To obtain this weapon, players must complete a multi-stage hidden quest located within the Bureau of Anomaly Control. The quest involves:
1.  Interacting with the [information unavailable] located on the third floor of the Bureau.
2.  Collecting three "Anomaly Fragments" from the outskirts of Hethereau.
3.  Defeating a level 40 Elite Anomaly in the industrial district.

Once acquired, this Arc provides a consistent damage floor for Solid-type attackers, making it the best starting point for any new account.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: The Boss Killer

For those focusing on boss encounters, the farmable S-Rank [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] is an essential pickup. This Arc is unique because it summons [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] to provide off-field assistance during combat.

| Level | [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] Damage Scaling | Boss DMG Bonus |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 20 | [information unavailable] | 5% |
| 40 | [information unavailable] | 10% |
| 60 | [information unavailable] | 15% |
| 80 | [information unavailable] | 20% |

The summoned entity inherits a portion of the player's stats, though a recent patch was required to ensure it correctly inherited CRIT statistics. It is currently the best F2P option for sustained single-target damage.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] (Solid)

This Arc is the king of quick-swap rotations. It increases the wielder's ATK while they are off-field and provides a stacking damage buff the moment they enter the fray. This makes it the ideal choice for sub-DPS characters who only appear to cast their Ultimate and Redirect Skills before swapping back to the main carry.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: The Liquid Specialist

For players who main Jiuyuan or other Anima-type damage dealers, [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] is the definitive late-game farmable choice. It offers superior scaling for Liquid-type attacks and is obtained through high-level exploration in the [information unavailable] region.

## A Tier

A-Tier Arcs are excellent placeholders that can carry you through the majority of the game's content. They often have more specialized triggers than S-Tier weapons.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: The Anima Specialist

This Liquid-type Arc provides a significant Anima DMG boost immediately after casting an Ultimate. It is particularly effective on characters like Jiuyuan and [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23], who rely on frequent burst windows to deal their damage. While it lacks the raw base ATK of S-Rank options, its passive uptime is nearly 100% in well-optimized teams.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Skill-Based Burst

As a Plasma-type weapon, [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] is the best free alternative for Nanally if you were unable to pull her signature weapon. It focuses heavily on Redirect Skill DMG. 

When comparing this to premium options like [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23], the damage gap is roughly [information unavailable]%. However, for a weapon that can be obtained via [information unavailable], it is remarkably efficient for Plasma-based burst builds.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: High-Risk Damage

The [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] Arc is a Synthesis-type weapon designed for high-risk, high-reward gameplay. It rewards the player with stacking CRIT DMG as they lose HP. This makes it perfect for [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] builds, where HP management is a core part of the character's kit. 

**HP Management Tips for this Arc:**
*   Always pair with a shielder rather than a pure healer to maintain low HP thresholds without dying.
*   Use Redirect Skills to dodge lethal hits while staying within the "danger zone" for maximum stacks.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] (Solid)

A very versatile weapon, this Arc grants a flat 25% ATK increase for a short duration after an Ultimate is used. Its universal trigger makes it a "safe" investment for almost any Solid-type attacker in the game.

## B Tier

B-Tier weapons are generally A-Rank (4-star equivalent) Arcs that are easy to refine due to their frequency in gacha pulls or low-level mission rewards.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: The Reliable A-Rank

[Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] is a Plasma-type Arc that most players will naturally acquire multiples of. Its primary draw is a solid CRIT Rate substat, which is rare for A-Rank weapons. At maximum refinement, it can out-damage an unrefined S-Rank weapon in the early-to-mid game.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Early Game Carry

This Solid-type Arc provides basic ATK buffs and minor team-wide utility. It is often the first "real" weapon players receive and can reliably carry an account until they reach the Bureau of Anomaly Control to farm better options.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] (Liquid)

Focusing on flat Redirect Skill DMG, this Arc is a decent choice for sub-DPS units. It falls off in the late game due to its low base stats, but it serves its purpose during the leveling process.

### [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] (Plasma)

A reliable A-Rank option for Plasma-type attackers, this weapon features energy restoration passives that help with Ultimate uptime. It is a solid choice for players struggling with energy management.

## C Tier

C-Tier weapons should generally be avoided for main DPS builds as they focus too heavily on defensive stats or inconsistent triggers.

### Why These Arcs Fall Short

The primary issue with C-Tier weapons like [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] and [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] is "split scaling." In NTE, a DPS unit needs to stack offensive multipliers. Arcs that provide DEF or HP at the cost of ATK or CRIT significantly lower your total damage per second (DPS).

**Arcs to Avoid for DPS Builds:**
*   [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Too much defensive utility; sacrifices offensive potential.
*   [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Split scaling between ATK and DEF makes it inconsistent.
*   [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Low base ATK and utility-focused passives that don't help burst rotations.
*   [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23]: Conditional buffs that are nearly impossible to maintain in high-intensity Anomaly fights.

### When to Use C-Tier Weapons

These Arcs should only be used as temporary "stat sticks" during the first few hours of gameplay. Once you have access to the first set of Bureau rewards, you should immediately swap them out.

## Recent Changes

The meta in Neverness to Everness shifted significantly following the May 13 update. The introduction of [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23], a powerful [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] DPS, has increased the demand for Solid-type Arcs.

### The Rise of Cosmos DPS

With the release of [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23], players have been searching for compatible F2P weapons. Currently, Solid-type Arcs like [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] have become high-priority targets for players who pulled this new character but lack their signature gear.

### New Farmable Arcs in Patch 1.0.5

The update also introduced the City Tycoon System rewards. Reaching Tycoon Level 21 now grants players the [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23], which is currently considered a top-tier F2P option for [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-0