How to Beat the First Boss in Neverness to Everness (NTE Guide)

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The first major hurdle in Heta City isn't just a test of your reflexes, but a lesson in the core supernatural mechanics that define the urban battlefield of Hethereau.

# Neverness to Everness: How to Beat the First Boss (Picture Frame)

The Picture Frame, officially designated as Anomaly Breached R-3707, serves as the climactic encounter of the *Neverness to Everness* (NTE) prologue. Encountered within the distorted reality of the Baihui Alley subway transition, this boss introduces players to the high-stakes "Break" system and the essential "Esper Cycle" rotation. While its visual design—a literal empty ornate frame fueled by vengeful paint—may seem abstract, its high-speed lunges and screen-distorting traps can easily overwhelm unprepared Appraisers.

## Boss Stats

The Picture Frame is a Level 9 Anomaly during the initial story encounter, though its stats scale dynamically with your Hunter Level if you revisit it via Anomaly Commissions later in the game. As an Anomaly-type entity, it lacks a traditional elemental alignment but is highly susceptible to the "Break" mechanic, which temporarily disables its offensive capabilities.

| Stat | Base Value (Level 9) | Scaling Factor |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| HP | [information unavailable] | High |
| ATK | [information unavailable] | Moderate |
| DEF | [information unavailable] | Moderate |
| Break Gauge | 1,200 | Fixed (Prologue) |
| Physical Resistance | 40% (Shielded) | N/A |
| Elemental Weakness | Esper Cycle Synergies | N/A |

### Anomaly Type and Attributes
As a "Breached" class Anomaly, the Picture Frame is characterized by its ability to manipulate the environment. It does not have a single elemental weakness like Fire or Ice; instead, it is designed to teach the player about the **Esper Cycle**. The boss takes significantly increased "Break" damage when hit by characters whose attributes are currently triggering a Duo or Trio Cycle reaction.

### Shield Mechanics: The Hardened Canvas
At the start of the fight, the Picture Frame is protected by the **Hardened Canvas**, a specialized Anomaly Shield. While this shield is active, the boss is immune to hit-stun and takes 40% less damage from standard physical attacks. You must deplete the white "Break" bar beneath its HP to shatter this defense. Utilizing "Heavy Hitter" charged attacks (like Nanally’s) or specific high-stagger skills is the fastest way to penetrate this layer.

## Attack Patterns

The fight is divided into two distinct phases. The transition occurs once the boss reaches 50% HP or is "Broken" for the first time, whichever comes first.

### Phase 1: The Distant Observer
In its first phase, the Picture Frame remains relatively stationary, preferring to use long-range paint-based projectiles.

*   **Ink Blasts:** The boss fires three globs of black paint in a spread pattern. These deal moderate damage and can obscure your vision if they land a direct hit.
*   **Frame Trap (Viewfinder):** The boss projects a rectangular red zone on the floor, mimicking a camera's viewfinder. If you remain inside this zone for more than 2.5 seconds, the "shutter" snaps, dealing heavy damage and rooting your character in place.
*   **Gilded Lunge (Slow):** A precursor to its Phase 2 aggression, the boss will occasionally tilt backward and fly toward you. This attack is telegraphed by a faint golden glint on the frame’s edges.

### Phase 2: The Enraged Masterpiece
Once the boss reaches half health, it begins to glow with a crimson aura and moves significantly faster.

*   **Critical Gilded Lunge:** A faster, more frequent version of the lunge. You must time your **Critical Dodge** just as the frame begins its forward motion to trigger a Riposte.
*   **The Vortex Pull:** The boss spins in the center of the arena, creating a vacuum effect that pulls your team toward it. This is usually followed by a "Shatter" attack.
*   **Shatter (AoE):** The boss slams into the ground, causing a shockwave of glass and paint to erupt in a wide radius. This attack is unblockable and must be dodged by jumping or dashing out of the range.

### Identifying Unblockable Attacks
Watch for a pulsing red ring that expands from the boss. When the ring completely overlaps with the boss's hitbox, an unblockable attack is imminent. Unlike standard strikes, these cannot be parried; you must use the invincibility frames (i-frames) of a perfect dodge to avoid damage.

| Attack Name | Damage Type | Dodge Timing |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Ink Blasts | Elemental (Anima) | Late (as projectile nears) |
| Frame Trap | Environmental | Immediate (move out of zone) |
| Gilded Lunge | Physical | Mid-Lunge (Critical Dodge) |
| Shatter | AoE Anomaly | Just before impact |
| Vortex Pull | Utility | Constant (sprint away) |

## Step-by-Step Strategy

Beating the Picture Frame requires a disciplined rotation. Mashing basic attacks will result in a slow, dangerous fight due to the boss's high physical resistance while shielded.

### Breaking the Defense: The Stagger System
Your primary goal is to trigger the **Stagger State**. To do this efficiently, use your character's Support Skills to build the Esper Meter. Once the meter is full, switching characters triggers the **Esper Cycle**. For example, switching from an Anima character (like Mint) to a Cosmos character triggers a **Blossom** reaction, which deals massive Break damage to the Picture Frame.

### Mastering the Critical Dodge and Riposte
The most effective way to deal damage during Phase 2 is the **Critical Riposte**. When the boss performs its Gilded Lunge, dodge toward the boss at the last second. If successful, time will slow down briefly, and your character will gain access to a unique follow-up attack. For Nanally, this is the "Can't Touch This!" roundhouse kick, which deals high Anima damage and significantly reduces the boss's Break gauge.

### Managing the Arena: Avoiding the Frame Traps
The Frame Trap is the most common cause of player death in the prologue. Because the arena in the Baihui Alley subway is narrow, the viewfinder can cover nearly 40% of the available floor space. Always keep at least one bar of stamina reserved for a double-dash to escape the red rectangle. If you are caught, immediately switch to a character with higher HP (like Coco) to soak the incoming burst.

### The 'Sincere Compliment' Mechanic
Unique to this prologue encounter is a story-driven resolution. During the final 10% of the boss's health, a dialogue prompt may appear between Mint and the Appraiser. In the cinematic finale, the player character can choose to offer a "Sincere Compliment" to the anomaly. According to the lore, these frames were discarded and forgotten; acknowledging its beauty "nullifies" the anomaly without further violence, concluding the fight instantly.

## Recommended Team

For the prologue, your team options are limited, but the synergy between the starter units is specifically tuned to handle the Picture Frame.

### The Starter Trio: Nanally, Mint, and Coco
*   **Nanally (Main DPS):** Nanally is your primary damage dealer. Her **Colucci Howling Technique** allows her to walk on walls, which is useful for avoiding the boss's ground-based Shatter attacks. Her Ultimate, the **Colucci Ultimate Technique**, summons an "Underboss" that provides off-field follow-up attacks even when you switch to Mint for healing.
*   **Mint (Support/Sub-DPS):** Mint uses Dual Blades and provides essential Anima-attribute support. Her role is to build the Esper Meter quickly. When the Picture Frame is about to perform a heavy attack, switch to Mint to utilize her faster dodge recovery.
*   **Coco (Utility):** [Information not yet publicly available as of 2026-05-23] regarding Coco’s full skill set, but she is essential for the "Esper Cycle" trio reactions in the prologue, providing the necessary attribute to trigger high-damage chain reactions.

### Best F2P Alternatives
If you have progressed far enough to pull on the "Strange Encounters" banner, **Hathor** is a premier alternative. As a Lakshana-attribute character, Hathor can use her motorcycle skill, **Rider Express**, to quickly exit the Frame Trap's AoE. Her high-speed martial arts and "Emergency Delivery" state allow her to shred the boss's shield faster than the starter units.

### Weapon Recommendations for Early Game
*   **Nanally:** Use the **Jawbreaker's Candy** (5-star) if available, or the **Crimson Hexblade** (4-star) for increased Parry damage.
*   **Mint:** Any Anima-scaling Dual Blades will suffice for the prologue.
*   **Hathor:** The **Fluff of Fortitude** provides a 22% damage increase, which is vital for clearing the boss before Phase 2 becomes too aggressive.

## Loot

Defeating the Picture Frame for the first time unlocks the next major story beat and provides the resources needed to level up your team for Chapter 1.

### Guaranteed First-Clear Rewards
*   **Anomaly Shards:** 5x (Used for Nanally's first ascension).
*   **Fons (Heta City Credits):** 10,000x (The primary currency for the Eibon Antique Shop).
*   **Annulith:** 160x (Premium currency for character recruitment).
*   **Basic Enhancement Materials:** 10x (Used for leveling weapons to Level 10).

### Farming the Picture Frame (Weekly Reset Info)
After the prologue, the Picture Frame can be found as a recurring Anomaly Commission. While the first-clear rewards are a one-time bonus, subsequent clears provide "Beetle Coins" and "Anomaly Material Selection Boxes." These commissions typically reset every Monday at 04:00 server time.

### How to Use Anomaly Shards
Anomaly Shards are the most valuable drop from this fight. Take these to the Eibon Antique Shop in Hethereau to upgrade Nanally’s "Ichi-daime's Authority" state. This ascension increases the duration of her wall-running and follow-up attack damage, which is crucial for the more difficult anomalies you will face in the "Deal? deal." questline.

## Sources
- perfectworld.com — https://www.perfectworld.com/news/nte-official-launch-april-29
- reddit.com — https://www.reddit.com/r/NevernessToEverness/comments/1cd8f2/picture_frame_boss_guide_tips/
- neverness.gg — https://neverness.gg/guides/bosses/picture-frame-anomaly-r3707
- wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverness_to_Everness
- gamewith.net — https://gamewith.net/nte/article/show/45892
- gamespress.com — https://www.gamespress.com/Neverness-to-Everness-New-Gameplay-Unveils-A-Supernatural-Twist
- youtube.com — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21AqDrB5cXk
- ntegame.com — https://ntegame.com/characters/nanally-build-guide
- kaiden.gg — https://kaiden.gg/nte/characters/hathor-build-guide