Neverness to Everness 1.3 Banner: Zankou & Lingko Drip Marketing

Right as Version 1.2 "999 Nights" settles in, NTE's official channels have already started drip-marketing the NTE 1.3 banner. Zankou's splash art went out first on July 9, followed shortly after by Lingko's official reveal. Let's take a closer look at what's confirmed about each of them so far.

NTE 1.3 Banner Overview

Zankou

Zankou has more backstory than most newly-teased characters, mainly because she isn't a fresh concept — she's an existing story character being positioned for a playable banner. Her role in the main story so far has been antagonist rather than ally, and her family ties to Daffodil and Poinsette give her one of the more developed backstories among NTE's antagonist cast. Visually she sticks to white hair, red eyes, and a dark kimono-style outfit, which matches the newly revealed splash art.

What's still missing is anything on her weapon type, or skill kit. Since she started out as a story boss rather than a banner character, none of that data has gone through NTE's usual pre-release reveal process yet.

Lingko

Unlike Zankou, Lingko isn't a former antagonist or story boss — she's been a known quantity from NTE's earlier trailers, previously appearing alongside her anomaly partner in the Co-Ex Test footage. Her official splash art confirms the design that's circulated for a while: vibrant pink hair, a signature headset, and a tech-heavy aesthetic that stands apart from most of NTE's existing roster. The cable-tail-and-plug motif running through her design reinforces the tech angle further.

What's confirmed so far is her S-Rank status, visible directly on the splash art badge. What's still missing is her weapon type, and skill kit — none of that has been revealed yet, and the splash art itself carries a "content not finalized" disclaimer, so even her design could still shift before release.

Pull Plan: Wait Before Committing

Don't touch pull currency for 1.3 yet. With no confirmed element, weapon, or kit, spending now is a guess, not a plan. If you're mid-way through Shinku or saving for Iroi in 1.2, finish those decisions first — 1.3 planning only makes sense once Hotta Studio locks the actual phase order and kit details. Watch for the official pre-release livestream, which is typically where NTE nails down final kits, banner dates, and phase splits before a version goes live.

[A second splash art reveal, if one drops, would typically confirm the Phase 2 character. Nothing along those lines has surfaced yet as of writing — check back once it does.]

FAQ

Is Zankou confirmed as playable in 1.3?

Her splash art has been revealed, which strongly suggests she's coming, but Hotta Studio hasn't published an official banner date or kit yet.

What's Zankou's role in the story?

She's a member of the Scarlet Letter faction and served as the final boss of the Chapter 4 Debt Collector questline in the main story.

Should I save pulls for 1.3 now?

It's early. Wait for the official preview livestream before locking in a pull plan, since her kit and exact banner phase aren't confirmed.

Is Zankou a new character or an existing NPC?

She's an existing story character — the Chapter 4 final boss and a member of the Scarlet Letter faction — being turned into a playable unit.

When does NTE 1.3 release?

Hotta Studio hasn't confirmed an official date yet. Based on Version 1.2's six-week length (it launched July 8 and Iroi's banner runs through August 19), Version 1.3 is expected to go live around August 19, 2026, though this is an estimate rather than a confirmed date.

Need pull currency ready for whenever the 1.3 banners actually go live? LDShop keeps NTE top-ups quick and discounted, so you're not scrambling once the official dates drop.

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Sylune Experienced Game Editor

I'm a game guide writer with over 20 years of experience playing all types of games, especially anime-style RPGs, gacha and sports games. I love finding smart ways to beat tough levels without spending too much money. By studying game mechanics and character systems, I create easy tips to help players save time and resources. When I'm not gaming, I watch anime to get inspiration for strategies. My goal? To help you enjoy games more and stress less – even when facing "impossible" bosses! Let’s make gaming fun and affordable together!