NTE S-Class Selector: Should You Pick Jiuyuan or Fadia?
Free S-Class decision tree for F2P: Jiuyuan DPS vs Fadia tank. Tier priority and when to skip for Nanally pity.
The One-Time Choice: Get It Right
Every new NTE player receives a free S-Class Selector ticket redeemable through May 15. This is a one-time coupon. Once you pick, you can’t swap. This guide helps you avoid a regretful decision.
The selector works like this:
- You can pick any S-Class character currently in the game
- Exception: You cannot pick the current limited banner character (Nanally until May 13, then Hotori)
- The character arrives at Lv. 1 and is immediately usable
- You get no refund or swap if you change your mind later
With 8+ S-Class characters in the pool, the choice feels overwhelming. But your decision should depend on one thing: what’s missing from your team?
The Decision Tree: Find Your Answer
Do you already own or have guaranteed Nanally by May 13?
│
├─ NO → Question 1: Pick one role
│ │
│ ├─ Primary DPS (burst damage)?
│ │ └─ Answer: JIUYUAN (Incantation), worth 90 pity pulls
│ │
│ ├─ Tank + reactions?
│ │ └─ Answer: FADIA (Psyche), only tank with Stain application
│ │
│ ├─ Sustain + healing?
│ │ └─ Answer: SAKIRI (Anima), unlocks Blossom chains
│ │
│ └─ Support + enabling?
│ └─ Answer: DAFFODILL (Chaos), enables Scorch/Nova/Charge
│
└─ YES → You already have 2 DPS
│
└─ Question 2: Do you need defense shred (tank)?
├─ YES → FADIA (non-negotiable for high Abyss)
└─ NO → SAKIRI or DAFFODILL (depending on reaction focus)
The Tier Ranking: Which Character Saves Most Pulls?
Tier 1 (Essential F2P picks):
| Character | Role | Reason | Pity Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiuyuan | Incantation DPS | 2nd strongest DPS after Nanally, enables Charge/Nova | 90 pulls |
| Fadia | Psyche Tank | Only tank applying Stain DEF shred, enables high Abyss | 80 pulls |
Tier 2 (Highly valuable):
| Character | Role | Reason | Pity Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakiri | Anima Support | Unlocks Blossom healing chains, extremely flexible | 60 pulls |
| Daffodill | Chaos Support | Enables Scorch/Nova/Charge reactions, sustain enabler | 50 pulls |
Tier 3 (Skip for now):
| Character | Role | Reason | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adler | Incantation Tank | Redundant to Fadia, weaker Stain application | Use Fadia instead |
| Teyamal | Cosmos Support | Remake incoming June 1, value unknown | Wait for rework |
| Hotori | Incantation Control | Limited banner starting May 13, easier to pity | Save for limited |
| Nanally | Cosmos DPS | On limited banner, pull her with pity instead | Use guaranteed pity |
Deep Dive: The Top 4 Picks Explained
Pick 1: JIUYUAN (Incantation DPS) — Best Raw Value
Why: Jiuyuan is NTE’s 2nd strongest DPS after Nanally. If you can’t guarantee Nanally in time, Jiuyuan is the perfect alternative.
Strengths:
- Deals 80% of Nanally’s damage without requiring element advantage
- Enables Charge (Cosmos + Chaos) and Nova (Chaos + Psyche) reactions
- Scales infinitely with ATK investment; no diminishing returns
- Works in every team composition (no element lock)
Weaknesses:
- Requires Chaos enablers (Daffodill, Hotori) for optimal reactions
- Single-target focused; struggles with multi-enemy Abyss waves
- Lower innate bulk than Fadia; needs a dedicated tank
Team example:
- Jiuyuan (DPS) + Daffodill (Chaos enabler) + Sakiri (Anima healer) + Fadia (Tank)
- Rotation: Jiuyuan primary → Daffodill ult → Sakiri heal → Fadia defend → Repeat
- Damage output: Baseline 100% (no bonus reactions)
Cost to replace: 90+ pulls on a future Incantation DPS banner. Jiuyuan is irreplaceable for 3+ months.
Best for: F2P players who don’t have Nanally by May 13. If you’re guaranteed to pull Nanally, you can skip Jiuyuan.
Pick 2: FADIA (Psyche Tank) — The Enabler
Why: Fadia is the only character who applies Stain reaction (Psyche + Lakshana → -30% enemy DEF). This -30% DEF shred is worth a 30% team damage increase. She’s non-negotiable for high Abyss (levels 6+).
Strengths:
- Stain application enables Nanally/Jiuyuan burst windows
- Dual-role: Tank + Reaction enabler (no wasted slot)
- Innately reduces her own cooldowns (faster rotation)
- Works with every DPS in the game
Weaknesses:
- Tank role doesn’t feel “exciting” (she doesn’t deal damage)
- If you’re stuck in early Abyss (levels 1–3), healing supports are more useful
- DEF shred value is wasted if you’re running elemental damage (vs physical)
Team example:
- Nanally (DPS) + Fadia (Tank + Stain) + Sakiri (Anima healer) + Daffodill (Chaos support)
- Rotation: Fadia mark → Nanally primary (applies Lakshana passive) → Sakiri heal → Repeat
- Damage output: Baseline 100% → +30% from Stain = 130% total (essentially +3 pulls of free damage)
Cost to replace: 80+ pulls on a future Psyche tank. F2P would have to use Adler (weaker) or skip tank entirely (possible but suboptimal).
Best for: F2P players who already own Nanally or Jiuyuan. You need a tank eventually; Fadia is the best-value option.
Pick 3: SAKIRI (Anima Support) — The Flexibility Play
Why: Sakiri unlocks Blossom reaction (Cosmos + Anima → +30% ATK + healing). She’s the most flexible pick because she works in nearly every team.
Strengths:
- Enables Blossom chains (Nanally + Hotori + Sakiri = infinite healing + damage buff)
- Unlocks Hexed reaction (Anima debuff + Incantation burst)
- Provides sustain (no need for dedicated healer slot)
- Works with budget Arc/Companions; extremely forgiving investment
Weaknesses:
- Lower damage ceiling than DPS picks
- Blossom reaction is conditional (requires both Cosmos + Anima on team)
- Healing role is replaceable by event 4-stars (free alternatives exist)
- Doesn’t enable high Abyss as effectively as Fadia
Team example:
- Nanally (DPS) + Sakiri (Anima support) + Hotori (Cosmos enabler, may 13+) + Daffodill (Chaos support)
- Rotation: Sakiri debuff → Nanally primary → Hotori Blossom trigger → Repeat
- Damage output: Baseline 100% → +30% from Blossom = 130% total
Cost to replace: 70+ pulls on a future Anima support. Blossom is meta-defining; skipping Sakiri means relying on temporary event supports.
Best for: F2P players who love experimenting with reactions. Sakiri is the most educational pick and unlocks the highest skill ceiling.
Pick 4: DAFFODILL (Chaos Support) — The Specialist
Why: Daffodill enables Scorch (Incantation + Chaos → DOT), Nova (Chaos + Psyche → burst), and Charge (Cosmos + Chaos → team nuke). If you love reaction chains, Daffodill is your pick.
Strengths:
- Unlocks three separate reactions (Scorch, Nova, Charge)
- Scales with ATK; benefits from gear investment infinitely
- Enables advanced team rotations (Discord 3-element combos)
- Works in every element-focused team
Weaknesses:
- Requires understanding of reaction mechanics (higher skill floor)
- Chaos element is the hardest to build around (fewer characters)
- Lower immediate value for new players (reactions take time to optimize)
- Scorch DOT is slow; doesn’t feel as satisfying as burst
Team example:
- Jiuyuan (Incantation DPS) + Daffodill (Chaos support) + Fadia (Psyche tank) + Sakiri (Anima healer)
- Rotation: Daffodill Scorch → Jiuyuan primary (Nova chain) → Fadia defend → Repeat
- Damage output: Baseline 100% → +40% from Nova execute = 140% total (extremely high)
Cost to replace: 60+ pulls on a future Chaos support. Chaos is a critical element; skipping Daffodill locks you out of Charge/Nova endgame.
Best for: F2P players who play to min-max and love rotation complexity. Daffodill has the steepest learning curve but highest damage ceiling.
The Mistakes: What NOT to Pick
Mistake 1: “I’ll pick Nanally because she’s the strongest”
Why this is wrong: Nanally is on the limited banner (May 1–13). You should use your guaranteed pity pull on her, not waste the selector. Selectors are for filling gaps, not replacing limited banner characters.
Correct action: Save your pity pulls for Nanally. Use the selector on a support character (Fadia, Sakiri, Daffodill).
Mistake 2: “I’ll pick Hotori because she’s coming May 13”
Why this is wrong: Hotori is a limited banner character. You’ll have guaranteed pity by the time her banner launches. Use the selector on a permanent roster character instead.
Correct action: Use the selector on Jiuyuan/Fadia/Sakiri. Pull Hotori with pity later.
Mistake 3: “I’ll pick Adler because he’s a tank”
Why this is wrong: Adler is a weaker Fadia. Both are Incantation tanks, but Fadia applies Stain (enabling 30% DEF shred), while Adler doesn’t. Adler is strictly inferior for F2P.
Correct action: Pick Fadia instead. Adler is a future pity if you want dupes.
Mistake 4: “I’ll wait to see what’s coming in June”
Why this is wrong: The selector expires May 15. If you wait, you lose the character entirely. There’s no refund. The June character roster doesn’t change what’s available now.
Correct action: Pick by May 14. Decide based on current needs, not future speculation.
My Recommendation: Decision by Situation
If you have 90+ pulls saved and will guarantee Nanally: → Pick Fadia (enables high Abyss)
If you don’t have 90+ pulls and won’t guarantee Nanally: → Pick Jiuyuan (he becomes your primary DPS)
If you love Nanally and will guarantee her, and you’re not sure about Abyss: → Pick Sakiri (unlocks Blossom healing chains)
If you want to optimize reactions and team rotations: → Pick Daffodill (highest damage ceiling with practice)
Default recommendation for 90% of new F2P players: → FADIA. She enables every DPS, she’s required for high Abyss, and she’s the hardest to replace. Jiuyuan and Sakiri can wait for future reruns or event supports.
Claim Your Selector: Step-by-Step
- Open NTE
- Tap Profile (bottom right)
- Go to Inventory → Special Items
- Find S-Class Selector
- Tap Use → Choose your character → Confirm
- Character arrives in your roster instantly
Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 23:59 UTC+8. After this time, the selector expires and cannot be recovered.
Learn More: Maximize Your Picks
- Nanally vs Hotori: Who to Pull? — Decide your first guaranteed pull
- NTE Launch Rewards Checklist — Maximize your May income
- Tier List: May Edition — See where your pick ranks
You’ve got one free 5-star. Choose wisely, and you’ll feel the difference in your team’s damage for the next 6 months.
Good luck, and may your selector bring you closer to Abyss tier 8.