NTE Jiuyuan Guide: Best Standard S-Rank Build (1.0)

Neverness to Everness (NTE) is set for its global open beta on April 29, 2026. Among the many available characters, Jiuyuan is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated S-rank characters in the standard pool. As an elite courier for Sterry Express, she is elegant and mature, wielding dual pistols. Through a three-tier system of marks, bullets, and “Pact Settlement,” she delivers staggering Anima attribute damage in explosive bursts. This article provides a complete analysis of Jiuyuan’s skill mechanics, best Arcs, Modules, Awakening priorities, and team recommendations to help you build her efficiently on day one.

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NTE 1.0 Open Beta Launch Banner
Neverness to Everness (NTE) 1.0 will officially launch on April 29, 2026 (Source: Iwplay, ©Iwplay)

Who is Jiuyuan? Character Profile

Jiuyuan is a top-tier courier for the Sterry Express faction in NTE, responsible for transporting Espers and emergency anomalous materials. With her mature and elegant appearance—featuring a black wide-brimmed hat adorned with blue flowers and a dark coat with electric blue lining—she is one of the most recognizable characters in the game. Most importantly, Jiuyuan belongs to the Standard Pool, meaning players can obtain her directly via the “S-Rank Selector.” She has been rated as the top choice for the standard pool by multiple community tier lists.

RarityS-Rank
AttributeAnima
RoleBurst DPS / Sub-DPS (On-field / Off-field)
Arc TypeSolid
Weapon TypeDual Pistols (Vehicle-type)
FactionSterry Express
How to ObtainStandard Pool / Standard S-Rank Selector
Tier RatingSS (nteguide) / T0.5 (Prydwen)
Jiuyuan Official Character Art
Jiuyuan Official Character Art (Source: Iwplay, ©Iwplay)

Core Mechanics: The Three-Tier Settlement System

Jiuyuan’s gameplay revolves around three interconnected mechanics. Understanding them is key to effective play:

1. Lethal Rose Pact — The Mark

Jiuyuan applies the “Lethal Rose Pact” through the 5th hit of her Normal Attack, her Skill “Intelligence Hunter,” or Dodge Counters. The Pact continuously drains the target’s HP and forces them into a “Settlement Triggerable” state after 5 seconds, lasting for 25 seconds. This mark is the starting point of her entire damage cycle.

2. Rose Pact Bullet — The Ammo

Jiuyuan accumulates Rose Pact Bullets (max 6) using various skills: +2 from the 5th Normal Attack hit, +4 from her Skill, and +2 from her Support Skill. Bullets are consumed during sustained fire by “Holding Normal Attack,” automatically targeting enemies marked with the Rose Pact to trigger “Pact Settlement.” If she is swapped out while holding bullets, they do not disappear, facilitating an off-field Sub-DPS playstyle.

3. Pact Settlement — The Burst

When a Rose Pact Bullet hits a marked target, or when the final blow of her Ultimate “Final Settlement” lands, it triggers “Pact Settlement.” This deals massive Anima Affix damage. The Ultimate significantly increases the settlement multiplier (400%). If a Pact is not manually settled before it expires, it triggers automatically, ensuring consistent damage output.

In short, Jiuyuan’s rhythm is: Mark → Accumulate Bullets → Settle. For a Sub-DPS rotation: Enter → Use Skill → Use Ultimate if ready → 5th Normal Attack to refill bullets → Swap out. It’s smooth and beginner-friendly.

Jiuyuan Combat Screenshot
Jiuyuan’s dual-pistol combat style combines high mobility with precision bursts (Source: Iwplay, ©Iwplay)

Skill Details & Upgrade Priority

Jiuyuan Skill Upgrade Priority: Normal Attack > Ultimate > Skill > Support Skill

SkillNameDescriptionPriority
Normal AttackFormation TimeUp to 5 hits. 5th hit applies Rose Pact + 2 bullets. Hold to trigger sustained fire consuming bullets.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highest)
UltimateFinal SettlementHigh-speed dash and rapid fire ending in a large explosion. Triggers settlement on all marked targets (400% multiplier).⭐⭐⭐⭐ (High)
SkillIntelligence HunterDashes to gather enemies, dealing Anima DMG. Applies Rose Pact + 4 bullets. 16s CD.⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
Support SkillIntelligence LockFires a curved bullet. Grants 2 bullets on hit. Can be triggered while teammates are active.⭐⭐ (Low)

Normal Attack is the core upgrade as it directly scales the Rose Pact damage and Settlement multipliers. The Ultimate is next for burst potential. Skill and Support are secondary.

Best Arc Recommendations

Arcs are the weapon system in NTE. Jiuyuan uses Solid-type Arcs. Here are the top choices:

🥇 Best: Reality Refuge

Main Stats: ATK +570, ATK +30%. Effect “Swallowtail Butterfly”: Anima DMG +25%, Affix DMG +15%. After using Ultimate, Affix DMG increases to +30% for 6s. This is Jiuyuan’s signature Arc, directly boosting her core damage types—both the Pact and Settlement are Affix-based Anima damage.

🥈 Alternative: Fluff of Fearlessness

Main Stats: ATK +512, CRIT Rate +22%. Effect “Popcorn”: After using Ultimate, ATK +45% for 10s. A great second choice if you lack Reality Refuge. The CRIT Rate sub-stat and ATK buff effectively support her burst window.

Jiuyuan Official Art
Jiuyuan combines high aesthetics with powerful output, making her a top standard pick (Source: Iwplay, ©Iwplay)

Best Module Recommendations

Modules are the gear/artifact system in NTE. Set effects and sub-stats are crucial.

Recommended Set: Fireflies and the Forest

PiecesEffect
Epic 2-pcAnima DMG +10%
Legendary 4-pcWhen nearby enemies take Anima DMG from the team, the holder gains +8% CRIT DMG, stacking up to 7 times (lasts 10s, persists off-field).

This set is perfect for Jiuyuan’s Anima burst playstyle. The 4-piece CRIT DMG stacks are easily maintained through her rotation, making her Settlement and Ultimate hits devastating.

Main Stat Priority

SlotRecommended Main Stat
HourglassATK%
CupAnima DMG Bonus
CrownCRIT Rate

Sub-stat Priority

CRIT Rate > CRIT DMG > ATK% > DMG Bonus > Flat ATK. Ensure a balance between CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG before stacking ATK.

Awakening Priority

In NTE, Awakenings can be unlocked in any order. Here is the recommended priority for Jiuyuan:

AwakeningEffectPriority
A2Rose Pact DMG multiplier +100%; Settlement heals the whole team (5% of DMG dealt).⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Top)
A4Active Settlement DMG +50% and deals splash damage to nearby targets.⭐⭐⭐⭐ (High)
A1ATK +5% for each marked enemy on field (max +15%).⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
A5DMG to marked targets +8%.⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
A3Ultimate Settlement reduces target Toughness by an extra 4 points.⭐⭐ (Situational)
A6Marked targets take 200% multiplier DMG when they use a skill (5s CD).⭐ (Low)

A2 is Jiuyuan’s biggest power spike—doubling her Pact damage and adding team-wide healing. A4 adds significant AOE potential. Prioritize these two for the most noticeable impact.

Best Team Compositions

Jiuyuan thrives in the Blossom system, pairing exceptionally well with Zero’s Cosmos attribute. Here are three recommended teams:

🌸 Team 1: Blossom Burst (Highly Recommended)

Nanally + Jiuyuan + Zero + Sakiri

This is Jiuyuan’s strongest team and a top-tier meta choice. Nanally acts as the Main DPS, pairing with Jiuyuan’s Anima damage to stack Blossom values. Zero provides the Cosmos attribute for the Blossom reaction, while Sakiri handles crowd control to maximize AOE coverage.

💥 Team 2: Charge Team

Chiz + Jiuyuan + Hathor + Fadia

A F2P-friendly team using Chiz as the Main DPS. Chiz provides Cosmos, Jiuyuan adds Anima for Blossom, and Hathor applies Lakshana marks to trigger Remora reactions for Ultimate energy.

🗡️ Team 3: Discord Team

Daffodill + Jiuyuan + Baicang + Fadia

A Discord-focused team centered on Baicang. Jiuyuan provides Anima output and enemy gathering to help the team’s AOE skills hit more targets.

Cultivation Materials List

MaterialTotal Required
Dress Sleeves of Vanity35
FNG Silhouette Group40 / 71 / 76 / 97
White Rose65
Tears of the Sea86
Beetle Coin2,343,000
Dreamless Seed56
Fons20,000
Hunter Guides (Skill Books)14+18+18 Sets

Is Jiuyuan Worth Pulling? Editor’s Summary

Jiuyuan is currently the strongest S-rank character in the NTE standard pool. Her strengths include flexible mechanics (on-field or off-field), core membership in the Blossom meta, and excellent AOE gathering. With A2 unlocked, she even provides team healing.

Pros: High flexibility, meta-defining for Blossom teams, great crowd control, and added survivability at A2.

Cons: Performance drops slightly outside of Blossom teams; some Awakenings are enemy-dependent; requires good positioning to avoid Normal Attack interruptions.

Overall, if you are a new player, Jiuyuan is the safest and most powerful choice for your S-Rank Selector. She integrates perfectly with both limited and free characters, especially if you plan to use Nanally or Zero.

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