Linko (Lingkou) — NTE Version 1.3 Character Preview
Linko (also romanized as Lingkou) is one of two new S-Rank characters confirmed for NTE Version 1.3, alongside Zankou. Her official Drip Marketing (Hethereau Special Bulletin) was released on July 10, 2026, confirming her element and role.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Element | Anima |
| Rarity | S-Rank |
| Version | 1.3 (estimated August 2026) |
| Role | TBC — expected Blossom/Hexed scaling |
| Affiliation | TBC |
What We Know About Linko
Element: Anima
Linko is confirmed as an Anima character. The Anima element currently has strong representation in the roster — Nanally and Jiuyuan are both Anima — and the community has noted that Anima characters tend to scale the Blossom esper reaction.
However, the key theory circulating on Reddit is that Linko (and Zankou) may be designed to scale the Hexed reaction, which currently has no character passives enhancing it beyond its base effect. This would make Linko a potentially unique addition to the roster rather than a direct replacement for Nanally.
The Hexed Reaction Gap
As of Version 1.2, every esper reaction except Hexed and Stain has at least one character that scales it with passive bonuses:
| Reaction | Characters That Scale It |
|---|---|
| Blossom | Nanally, Jiuyuan, Iroi |
| Remora | Hathor, Skia, Chaos |
| Nova | Fadia, Haniel |
| Scorch | Incantation characters |
| Discord | Chaos |
| Hexed | None yet |
| Stain | None yet |
Community theory: Linko (Anima) will scale Hexed, while Zankou (Incantation) may also contribute. This would open up entirely new team compositions.
Should You Pull Linko?
Too early to decide. We don’t have her full kit, Console preferences, or Arc weapon details yet. However, here’s what we can say:
Reasons to consider saving for Linko:
- If Hexed scaling is confirmed, she opens a new meta team archetype
- Anima element synergizes with existing Nanally/Jiuyuan teams
- 1.3 is estimated ~6 weeks away — plenty of time to save
Reasons to wait for more info:
- Full kit not yet revealed
- Role overlap with Nanally is possible
- Zankou may be the higher-priority pull in 1.3
F2P recommendation: Focus on completing the Resolve Perks event with the Shinku banner first. Save remaining Annulith for 1.3 after seeing full kit reveals.
Linko vs. Nanally — Will She Replace Her?
Based on community analysis, Linko is unlikely to directly replace Nanally. The pattern in NTE has been that new characters of the same element fill different roles or reaction niches rather than making older characters obsolete. Iroi (Anima) didn’t replace Nanally, and Linko likely won’t either.
That said, if Linko scales Hexed and Nanally scales Blossom, they could form a powerful dual-Anima team together.
1.3 Banner Schedule
Version 1.3 is expected to launch approximately late August 2026, following the standard 6-week version cycle. The banner order (Zankou first or Linko first) has not been confirmed.
We’ll update this page as soon as the full kit reveal and 1.3 livestream codes are available.
Last updated: July 11, 2026