You can't use Nen from the start in Beyond Nen. To unlock it, pass the Hunter Exam to earn your Hunter's License, then follow the Activate Nen quest to Rohan in the Nen Cave on Wayfarer Island. Finish his meditation task and return to him, and he unlocks a randomly rolled Nen ability.
| Hunter Exam stage | What you need to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Stamina Race | Reach the end of the obstacle course before time runs out |
| 2. Trick Tower | Get through the trap labyrinth, then beat the NPC opponent |
| 3. Zevil Island | Hold two badges and survive until the timer ends |
| 4. Final 1v1 | Win against a random player to earn the Hunter's License |
How to Enter the Hunter Exam in Beyond Nen
The Hunter Exam is a four-stage test that mixes running, a trap maze and player-versus-player (PvP) fights. You can join it from the lobby, which you reach through the Main Menu. The same lobby lets you invite friends if you'd rather not go solo.
Get your character ready before you start, since a weak setup makes the PvP stages much harder. Focus on three things:
- Farm (grind for) a good weapon.
- Build up some decent skills.
- Join a server with a good ping, which means a low connection delay.
Clearing the Stamina Race in the Hunter Exam
The first stage is the Stamina Race, and despite the name, you don't need to finish first. You only have to reach the end of the obstacle course before time runs out, so keep moving and stay on the course.
Falling boulders are the main hazard. Each one has a short delay before it hits, and the red telegraph (the warning shown before the hit) gives you time to react. Even when one connects, it doesn't slow you down much.
A skateboard makes this stage much easier. It gets you moving much faster, and you can keep going after certain hits.
Getting Through the Trick Tower Maze and NPC Fight
The Trick Tower has two parts: a labyrinth full of traps, then a fight against an NPC opponent. The maze layout generally stays the same from attempt to attempt, so learning the route makes later runs easier.
Each trap type has a simple counter:
- Crushing side-wall traps: Each one has a highlighted pressure plate on the ground. Step onto the plate and straight back off to bait the trap out, then wait for it to reset before you pass.
- Sideways wall jumps: Wall jumping to the side lets you avoid a lot of traps.
- Falling ceiling traps: Keep checking above you. When you spot one, jump over its trigger on the floor, or wall jump past it.
The NPC fight is fairly straightforward once you've practiced blocks, parries and dodges. Keep him at range with basic attacks, use air attacks to close the distance, and dodge backwards when he's about to use a skill.
Surviving Zevil Island With Two Badges
Zevil Island is an open-zone PvP stage, and you need to finish it holding two badges. You start with one of your own, so you'll need to grip another player to take one of theirs. Then play defensively and keep moving until the timer runs out.
If you're confident with your ping and parries, you can try to isolate one player for a 1v1. Keep your distance between exchanges, and watch for other players who might catch you off guard.
Getting gripped costs you a badge, but you're back on your feet straight away and get another chance to win the fight. If a player you took a badge from attacks you, knock them down or run, but don't grip them again while they have no badge. Gripping someone with no badge gets you nothing, and they'll be back up and attacking straight away.
Once you hold two badges, don't go looking for more fights. Find a safe spot and wait out the timer, since extra fights only add risk. Playing with a friend or two over voice chat makes this stage much easier, because you can find each other, take badges for the group and then defend together once everyone has two.
Winning the Final 1v1 for Your Hunter's License
The last stage is a 1v1 against a random player from the lobby. Good ping matters here too, and the same approach from Zevil Island applies.
Win, and you complete the exam and become a Hunter, with a special mark in the top right of your screen. The Hunter's License is what opens up the Nen quest.
Finding Rohan for the Activate Nen Quest
With your license, Nen opens through a quest called Activate Nen. Press P, hide all trackers, and turn on only the Active Quest tracker so the screen shows just the objective you need.
- Buy a Meditation Mat from a merchant in Port Town if you don't already have one, since the quest needs it.
- Follow the Activate Nen objective. If it sends you to the Port Town Librarian, speak with them first, since they point you to Rohan.
- Travel to Wayfarer Island and find Rohan in the Nen Cave.
- Talk to Rohan and follow his dialogue. He'll then give you a meditation task.
Meditating to Unlock Your Random Nen Ability
Rohan's meditation task is the last step before your ability unlocks. It uses a short quick-time event, and completing it grants Nen experience that helps your progress.
- Place the Meditation Mat on the ground.
- Approach the mat and press T to meditate.
- Complete the quick-time event by pressing the letters shown on screen on your keyboard.
- Head back to Rohan in the Nen Cave.
- Continue his dialogue, and he'll unlock your randomly rolled Nen ability.
