Volley Star Guide

Ready for the Volley Star beach volleyball event in NTE? Find out how to unlock this new Hethereau Hobby, earn EXP, and win the Weekly Match tournament.

Volley Star Overview

Volley Star Event Period

In Volley Star, you can play 2v2 beach volleyball in two modes: Rookie Series and Weekly Match. Winning matches rewards you with items such as Annulith and Fons.

Team Up with an AI Partner

Your team consists of the main character you select and a sub AI partner. The AI partner will automatically position itself based on your movements, allowing you to move freely while they adjust their position accordingly.

Play by Consuming City Stamina

You need City Stamina to participate in Volley Star, including both Rookie Series and Weekly Match.

Added as a Permanent Event

After the event begins, Volley Star will be permanently added to "Hethereau Hobbies," allowing you to continue playing it even after the event ends.

No Rewards if You Quit Mid-Game

If you quit in the middle of a match, you will not receive any rewards, including Character and Partner EXP. Make sure to complete the match to receive its rewards.

Weekly Match Mode Added

This is a PvE mode where you compete against multiple NPC teams. Each Weekly Match has a maximum of 5 matches, with rewards granted based on your number of wins and losses.

Different Location from Rookie Series

Note that the Rookie Series and the Weekly Match are played in different locations. The Weekly Match is held at the Unheard Shores.

Clear Rookie Series Warp-Up to Unlock

The Weekly Match is unlocked by clearing Warm-Up 10 in the Rookie Series. You can earn more Fons from the Weekly Match, so unlock it as soon as possible and give it a try.

Rewards Based on Match Performance

You'll receive your ranking and Fons based on your final weekly match performance. If you win the championship, you'll receive additional Fons and can obtain Talent Bread to strengthen your characters.

Use Tycoon Incentive Fund to Get Rewards

In Volley Star, you can use the "Tycoon Incentive Fund," a new feature added in Version 1.3, to earn Fons. The Tycoon Incentive Fund has a limit of 1 Million Fons and resets every two weeks.

Tip!	The Fons earnings limit from the Tycoon Incentive Fund is shared with other selected Hethereau Hobbies, such as Pink Paw Heist.

How to Play Volley Star

Rules are the Same as Beach Volleyball

The basic rules are the same as real-life beach volleyball. A block also counts as one touch, so you can return the ball to the opponent's court with a block, receive, and then a spike.

Select a Character

Select the character you want to use. Each character has six stats: Serve, Spike, Pass, Receive, Block, and Dig, with each character specializing in different stats.

Recommended Characters

If you don't have a particular preference, we recommend starting with the protagonist. As you continue playing, try different characters to find one that suits your playstyle and master them.

Character	Prominent Aptitude
Esper Zero	All-Rounder
Mint	Dig
Nanally	Receive
Zankou	Serve
Chaos	Block
Iroi	Set
Shinku	Spike

Earn EXP to Level Up Your Character

As you play matches, your character will gain experience, increasing their level and stats. Additionally, a special item called "Talent Bread" is required to unlock their full potential.

Upgrade Aptitude with Talent Bread

In addition to leveling up, you can use "Talent Bread" to further enhance a character's stats. You can choose which stats to increase, allowing you to either compensate for weaker stats or further enhance their strengths.

Core Aptitudes and Effect

Get Stars to Obtain Rewards

Each match has specific conditions for earning stars, and you'll receive rewards such as Annulith and Talent Bread for each star earned. When possible, try to play while keeping the star conditions in mind.

Volley Star Strategy and Tips

Avoid Toss Serve in the Early Game

In the early game, your character's Serve stat is low, making Jump Serves more likely to fail. Use an Underhand Serve until the Serve stat reaches 100 or higher.

Return the Ball When Your Partner Is Down

If your partner goes down after making a diving save, it will take some time for them to recover. If you set the ball to them while they're down, they won't be able to return it, resulting in a lost point. Make sure to send the ball back over the net to the opponent's court instead.

Perform a Perfect Spike

When you time your spike perfectly, a special effect will activate, allowing you to perform a Perfect Spike that is faster and more powerful than a normal spike. It can also break through blocks, so keep this in mind during matches.

Use Shadow to Predict the Ball's Landing

The best way to predict where the ball will land is to look for its shadow on the ground rather than tracking the ball itself. After an opponent's attack, the ball's shadow will appear on your side of the court. Move to the shadow's position, then choose between a Pass or Spike depending on the situation.

Tip!	Pass is recommended for a safer approach, especially if your partner has a high Spike Aptitude.

Stand in the Middle Against Spikes

Against an opponent's Jump Serve or Spike, stand in the middle and repeatedly tap "Pass" to counter it. If the ball lands farther from the middle, pressing "Pass" will make your character dive to receive it.

Tip!	The higher the Dip Aptitude, the wider the range for Diving Saves and the greater the resistance against powerful serves and spikes.

Maintain Distance from Your Partner

Standing too close to your partner may cause actions to be canceled. Maintain a safe distance and avoid taking the ball from your partner. It is better to let them receive the ball than risk colliding with them and losing a point.

Utilize Feints

When attacking, use a feint if the opponent starts preparing for a block. A blocked spike can result in losing the point, so use feints to throw off the opponent's timing.

Only Use Talent Bread on Preferred Characters

Talent Bread is limited, so use it only on characters that complement your playstyle. We recommend trying out all characters first before investing in their Aptitude.

Tip!	An Aptitude Stat of 7-8 is generally sufficient for a character to perform their role effectively.

How to Perfect Spike

Max Out Spike and Serve Aptitude

Upgrading Spike Aptitude increases the Perfect Spike Timing Window, Perfect Spike Chance, and Spike Success Rate. Upgrading Serve increases Jump Serve Success Rate, Serve Speed, Serve Direction, and Serve Power. Maximize both to improve your chances of landing a Perfect Spike.

How to Land a Perfect Spike

To land a Perfect Spike, time your attack when your character fully extends their hand or arm in preparation to hit the ball. Higher Spike Aptitude increases the Perfect Spike timing window, so use Talent Bread to upgrade it and improve your chances.

Can Time Your Spike with Spike Control

You can also time the Perfect Spike window by watching the Spike Control. When it lights up from grey, hit Spike immediately. This method can be challenging, as you have only about 1 second to react.

Avoid Using Auto-Spike

Auto-Spike does not guarantee a Perfect Spike, so it is recommended to keep it disabled throughout the match.

How to Power Serve

Power Serve (or Perfect Jump Serve) is similar to a Perfect Spike but easier to time. To perform a Power Serve, Toss the ball and wait until your character fully bends or extends their arm in preparation to hit the ball. The higher your character's Serve Aptitude, the lower the opponent's chance of successfully receiving the serve.

Volley Star Rewards

Get Limited-Time Annulith and Fons Rewards

In Volley Star, you can complete missions and earn Annulith and Fons based on the number of stars you collect from each stage. Although you can continue playing Volley Star after the event ends, these rewards will no longer be available, so be sure to claim them before the event ends.

Total Obtainable Rewards

Item	Total
Frame "Summer Glow"	1
Name Card "Imaginist Court"	1
Annulith	600
Fons	400,000
Elite Hunter Guide	50
Floe Cinema Ticket	6
Beetle Coin	500,000
Chaotic Dye	60

Earn Annulith and Talent Bread

Volley Star also offers Annulith and Talent Bread as permanent rewards. Both are valuable resources, so be sure to earn stars and claim them.

Earn Achievement

Completing Achievement conditions rewards you with Annulith, so keep them in mind as you progress through Volley Star.

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Warren Lucky Flip	[Event Period] August 5, 05:00 - August 19, 04:59 (Server Time) ▶Warren Lucky Flip Guide
Hunter's Crucible	[Event Period] August 19 (after update) - September 30, 2026 05:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Hunter's Crucible Guide
Volley Star	[Event Period] August 19 (after update) - September 30, 2026 05:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Volley Star Guide
Surf Breaker	[Event Period] August 19 (after update) - September 30, 5:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Surf Breaker Guide
Stamina Recharge	[Event Period] August 24, 05:00 - August 31, 04:59 (Server Time) ▶Stamina Recharge Guide
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Shipwreck Salvage	[Event Period] August 28, 10:00 - September 30, 2026 05:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Shipwreck Salvage Guide
Breezy Tour	[Event Period] August 28, 10:00 - September 30, 2026 05:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Breezy Tour Guide
Gold Clash	[Event Period] August 31, 05:00 - September 14, 04:59 (Server Time) ▶Gold Clash Guide
Runaway Echoes	[Event Period] September 9 (after update) - September 30, 5:59 (UTC+8) ▶ Runaway Echoes Guide
Pixel Surge	[Event Period] Septermber 14, 0:500 - September 21, 2026 04:59 (Server Time) ▶ Pixel Surge Guide
Fons Rush	[Event Period] September 21, 05:00 - September 28, 04:59 (Server Time) ▶Fons Rush Guide
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Mews Flash	[Event Period] Extended throughout Version 1.3 ▶Mews Flash Guide
Login Gift	[Event Period] From account creation until the 14th day of login

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