Arknights: Endfield Operators Tier List

Talos-II is not a forgiving place. Between Blight outbreaks, unstable Ætherside zones, and constant expansion pressure, survival depends on the Operators you deploy into the field.

In this Arknights: Endfield best operators tier list, we rank every available Operator based on their overall effectiveness in core PvE content. You’ll find a complete tier list followed by a breakdown of each tier, explaining what makes certain Operators stand out, where others fall short, and how they fit into Endfield’s current meta.

This guide is designed to help you prioritize Operators, understand their strengths, and make smarter long-term investment decisions as Endfield continues to evolve.

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How Our Arknights: Endfield Tier List Works

This is a heavily synergy-driven game where characters rarely function in isolation. Because of that, this Arknights: Endfield tier list does not rank Operators by raw stats or damage numbers alone. Instead, it reflects their overall value to an account, taking into account how teams are actually built and played in the current version of the game.

Our rankings are based on long-term investment value, realistic team environments, and release version endgame performance, using the same logic that most other players in the community use as well.

The main criteria we use to rank Operators are:

• Team impact – how much an Operator improves a full team rather than just their own damage
• Role execution – how well the Operator performs their intended role, such as main DPS, amplifier, battery, enabler, or defender
• Synergy importance – whether other Operators rely on this one to function properly
• Flexibility – how many different teams and elements the Operator can fit into effectively
• Archetype strength – how strong the teams this Operator belongs to actually are in practice
• Replacement pressure – whether another Operator can fill the same role with similar or better results
• Investment efficiency – how much value the Operator provides relative to resource cost and rarity
• Endgame relevance – how well the Operator performs in difficult, multi-enemy or high-pressure content

The tiers in this guide mean the following:

Below is what each tier represents in this Arknights: Endfield character tier list. These tiers are meant to guide pull and upgrade priorities, not to label Operators as playable or unusable. BLOG20

• S-Tier – Operators that provide exceptional account value. They either define top-tier teams, enable multiple archetypes, or offer unmatched flexibility, power, or utility. These are priority investments that consistently feel impactful.
• A-Tier – Strong Operators that perform extremely well in their roles and fit cleanly into strong teams. They may be slightly more specialized or require specific setups, but are still excellent long-term investments.
• B-Tier – Solid Operators that work well as team fillers or role substitutes. They are functional and useful, but are often outclassed by higher-tier options or require more effort to justify a heavy investment.
• C-Tier – Niche Operators with limited flexibility or lower overall impact. They can perform well in specific setups but are usually replaceable or tied to weaker archetypes.
• D-Tier – Operators with very narrow use cases or low practical value. They can still function in the right teams, but investing heavily into them is rarely optimal unless you specifically enjoy their playstyle.

Lower-tier placement of Arknights: Endfield operators ranked does not mean an operator is unusable. The game is well-balanced, and every Operator can work in the right team. This tier list simply reflects how often an Operator is the best or most efficient choice when building teams and spending limited resources.

Arknights: Endfield Operators Tier List

This tier list gives you a high-level snapshot of how every Operator performs in Arknights: Endfield based on real beta testing, team synergy, and overall value across different compositions. It is meant to help you quickly understand which Operators are generally worth prioritizing and which ones are more niche or situational before we dive into detailed, tier-by-tier breakdowns.

Tier	Operators
S-Tier	Ardelia, Gilberta, Xaihi, Yvonne, Laevatain, Last Rite
A-Tier	Antal, Akekuri, Avywenna, Ember, Pogranichnik, Perlica
B-Tier	Endministrator, Lifeng, Arclight, Wulfgard, Snowshine
C-Tier	Chen Qianyu, Alesh, Da Pan, Fluorite
D-Tier	Estella, Catcher

This table reflects a consensus view drawn from our own experience with the release version of the game, balancing raw power, team synergy, flexibility, and investment efficiency. Rankings are not meant to invalidate lower-tier Operators entirely, but to set expectations before we break down each tier and explain exactly why every Operator ends up where they do. Next, we’ll start with the S-Tier and go through each Operator one by one.

S-Tier Operators

S-Tier Operators define the current power ceiling in Arknights: Endfield. These are the characters that consistently shape team compositions, enable the strongest elemental engines, and justify heavy resource investment. S-Tier placement is reserved for Operators that either act as top-tier carries or provide irreplaceable amplification, healing, or control that elevates entire teams rather than just their own damage.

Ardelia – Supporter, Nature

Ardelia is considered among the strongest Arknights: Endfield operators through unmatched versatility and consistency across almost every team archetype.

• Best overall healer in the game – provides strong, reliable sustain with minimal conditions
• Universal damage amplification – boosts both elemental and physical teams
• Corrosion access – enables resistance shredding without disrupting elemental rotations
• Plug-and-play value – fits into nearly any composition without requiring specific partners
• Core enabler for Fire teams – directly feeds Laevatain’s mechanics through corrosion triggers

She may not provide the highest raw amplification numbers, but her flexibility, safety, and teamwide value consistently place her at the very top.

Gilberta – Supporter, Nature

Gilberta is one of the most overloaded support kits currently available, combining control, amplification, and AoE dominance.

• Massive AoE damage amplification – works across all elements
• Enemy grouping vortex – dramatically improves team AoE efficiency
• Corrosion scaling – shreds enemy resistances at high investment
• Strong crowd control – slow, lift, and area denial
• Flexible team usage – excels in Ice, Electro, and mixed elemental teams

In AoE-heavy content, Gilberta can single-handedly solve damage, control, and positioning issues, making her a defining S-Tier support.

Xaihi – Supporter, Cryo

Xaihi stands out as the strongest pure amplifier in the game, particularly for Cryo-based teams.

• Extremely high Cryo and Nature damage amplification – among the highest values available
• Additional Cryo damage vulnerability on enemies
• Strong healing output – doubles as a sustain support
• Cryo stack application – supports freeze and burst setups
• Core enabler for Cryo DPS – especially for Last Rite and Yvonne teams

Her amplification is so strong that it alone justifies her placement, even before accounting for healing and utility.

Yvonne – Caster, Cryo

Yvonne defines single-target damage as one of the top Arknights: Endfield operators. He is the benchmark for boss-killing performance.

• Highest single-target DPS in the game
• Solidification and Cryo Burst exploitation – converts stacks into massive damage
• Excellent scaling – benefits heavily from proper team support
• Boss deletion potential – unmatched in focused encounters
• High payoff for correct positioning and timing

While weaker in wide AoE scenarios, her ability to erase elite enemies and bosses keeps her firmly in S-Tier.

Laevatain – Striker, Heat

Laevatain is the strongest AoE DPS Operator currently available and a cornerstone of Heat-based teams.

• Best AoE damage in the game – dominates multi-enemy encounters
• Strong single-target output – remains effective outside pure AoE
• Heat stack consumption – bypasses enemy resistances
• Endgame-defining carry – essential for difficult beta content
• Clear team identity – rewards optimized Heat compositions

She demands proper setup, but when supported correctly, few Operators can match her impact.

Last Rite – Striker, Cryo

Last Rite is a premier burst DPS built around consuming Cryo stacks for explosive damage windows.

• Extremely high burst damage – among the highest scalings in the game
• Cryo stack consumption – converts setup into devastating hits
• Strong ultimate payoff – excels in short damage windows
• Synergy-heavy design – scales dramatically with proper Cryo enablers
• Viable alongside other Cryo carries – complements Yvonne rather than replacing her

Her reliance on setup keeps her from being universal, but within Cryo teams, she is an unquestioned top-tier damage dealer.

A-Tier Operators

A-Tier Operators are strong enough to anchor teams or fill key roles in Arknights: Endfield meta comps, but they usually fall short of S-Tier because they are either more conditional, less universal, or easier to replace once you have the top-end pieces. A-Tier tends to include the best “core builders” for specific elements and a few Operators whose value is huge for most accounts, even if they are not the absolute ceiling.

Antal – Supporter, Electric

Antal lands in A-Tier because his amplification is genuinely top-tier, even if his kit is narrow.

• One of the best pure amplifiers – massively boosts team damage
• Dual-team relevance – competes for slots in both Electric and Heat teams
• Rotation-friendly element behavior – adds stacks without ruining elemental setups
• Strong value early – a reliable upgrade path before premium supports arrive
• Limited kit scope – brings little outside amplification, with weak sustain value

He is not a “do everything” Operator, but as a damage amplifier he punches above his rarity.

Akekuri – Vanguard, Heat

Akekuri is A-Tier because she is the most flexible SP battery in the roster and slots into many teams without feeling wasted.

• Universal battery profile – usable in almost any composition as SP support
• Efficient SP generation – creates SP through combo and ultimate flow
• Low friction gameplay – does not demand heavy SP spending to function
• Heat utility – applies Heat stacks for reactions and Heat teams
• Meta with Laevatain – frequently described as the best battery for that core

Her raw battery output is not always the highest, but her flexibility and ease make her one of the safest long-term investments.

Avywenna – Striker, Electric

Avywenna is A-Tier as the premier Electric main DPS, with a roster-friendly team ecosystem. She is one of the best Arknights: Endfield operators for beginners.

• Best Electric DPS in the game – consistent burst patterns and high payoff
• F2P-friendly core – Electric teams rely on 4 and 5-star pieces rather than mandatory 6-stars
• Team-synergy damage model – spikes hard when supported by Electrification and buffs
• Strong single-target focus – can hit multiple targets when enemies are grouped
• Limited flexibility – typically locked into Electric carry role rather than cross-team usage

She is one of the best “build-around” carries because her teams are accessible and still hit extremely hard.

Ember – Defender, Heat

Ember sits in A-Tier because she can trivialize survival checks and enable clears that would otherwise fail.

• Extreme survivability – shields, healing, and damage reduction create near-immortality
• On-field tanking value – stabilizes runs by soaking pressure
• Damage and control presence – staggering, negative statuses, and disruptive frontline play
• Physical team utility – frequently used in physical setups due to vulnerability support
• Ceiling tradeoff – not a damage meta pick, but a progression and comfort monster

She is rarely the “fastest clear” answer, but she is one of the best “I will clear this no matter what” answers.

Pogranichnik – Vanguard, Physical

Pogranichnik earns A-Tier as the premium physical battery who also amplifies and contributes meaningful damage.

• Best battery for Physical teams – highest SP generation for that archetype
• Breach mechanic – boosts Physical damage taken, enabling stronger rotations
• Good personal damage – not a pure support dead slot
• Strong uptime and self-sustain – reliable AI teammate and stable frontline presence
• Team restriction – primarily locked to Physical teams, limiting universal value

He is not universally splashable, but inside Physical teams he is one of the strongest core pieces.

Perlica – Caster, Electric

Perlica is A-Tier because she is a full engine piece for Electric teams while still being useful outside them.

• Best Electrification uptime – the most consistent source for the key Electric debuff
• Electric stack application – enables Electric carries to reach full damage patterns
• Strong ultimate scaling – can contribute real burst damage as sub DPS
• Cross-team usefulness – can function in mixed teams when you are missing key supports
• Synergy dependency – her best value appears when teams actively exploit Electrification

She is often described as foundational to Electric team performance, which keeps her high even if she is not as universally dominant as S-Tier supports.

 

B-Tier Operators

B-Tier Operators are good, functional picks that can absolutely clear content, but they tend to be more conditional than the tiers above.Most B-Tier placements come down to one of three things: the Operator is strong but locked into a narrow archetype, they need premium partners to feel “complete,” or their job can be done more efficiently by higher-tier alternatives.

Endministrator – Guard, Physical

The Endministrator is a solid physical core and a reliable long-term unit, but this main character is almost always outperformed by other Operatives in the same class.

• Strong physical DPS baseline – crush-based bursts scale well with proper setup
• Vulnerable consumption gameplay – rewards teams that stack Vulnerable efficiently
• Free and always available – safe investment for early and mid-game
• Premium ceiling dependence – best versions of their teams rely on high-end physical pieces
• Outperformed by top carries – doesn’t match the flexibility or raw ceiling of S-Tier DPS

They are still one of the better physical damage options overall, but their ranking dips because the strongest results tend to require a more premium shell.

Lifeng – Guard, Physical

Lifeng is consistently described as a premium physical enabler who is excellent in his lane, but that lane is not broad.

• High-quality Vulnerable application – one of the best enablers for physical rotations BLOG20
• Physical susceptibility access – helps the team scale damage more cleanly
• Strong ultimate contribution – meaningful burst for a support leaning kit
• Premium overlap – Chen Qianyu covers a similar job for free, even if weaker
• Physical team limitation – limited value outside physical-focused compositions

He is “very good at his job,” but that job is narrow and has cheaper substitutes, which keeps him in B.

Arclight – Vanguard, Electric

Arclight is useful inside Electric teams as a battery and amplifier, but tends to fall off outside that element.

• SP battery role – helps teams cast more often
• Electric damage amplification scaling – can become significant with proper builds
• Strong dependency chain – wants Electrification uptime to function at peak
• Low personal damage – contributes less directly than higher-tier supports
• Narrow relevance – usually not worth fielding outside Electric-focused teams

She is a good piece in the right lineup, but not a broadly valuable one.

Wulfgard – Caster, Heat

Wulfgard is an S-Tier enabler for one specific plan, he is basically married to that specific tactic. If you know, you know.

• Best Heat stack application – extremely important for Heat stack-hungry carries
• Combustion detonation value – can convert setup into meaningful damage
• Sub DPS contribution – can hit hard when the team feeds him the right state
• Heat damage team buffing – small but relevant amplification
• Mandatory only for one carry – largely only “must-have” if you run Laevatain

His kit is strong, but the lack of flexibility keeps him out of A and S.

Snowshine – Defender, Cryo

Snowshine’s value comes from survivability and freeze utility, but she is often treated as “built around” stronger Cryo carries.

• Strong defensive coverage – shielding plus reliable healing tools
• Area freeze control – creates safe windows and locks enemies down
• Synergy with Cryo DPS – enables higher damage into frozen targets
• Cheap-feeling utility loops – her kit supports frequent defensive resets
• Offense ceiling is limited – damage and amplification are not the reason to pick her

She’s a safe, comfortable pick that becomes excellent in the right Cryo shell, but she is not a top-tier offensive or universal support.

C-Tier Operators

C-Tier Operators can still be useful, but they tend to be outclassed, overly niche, or dependent on a narrow setup that does not compete with stronger archetypes. In the sources we used, most C-Tier placements come from being a “budget version” of a better unit, having situational value that rarely matters, or only being relevant because they enable one specific interaction.

Chen Qianyu – Guard, Physical

Chen Qianyu is a strong early free unit and a solid Vulnerable applier, but she drops in priority once premium physical options enter the picture.

• One of the best free Vulnerable appliers – helps physical carries trigger Crush and Breach
• Decent burst value – ultimate scaling is respectable for a support-leaning kit
• Early roster glue – fits into physical teams while options are limited
• Directly outclassed by premium equivalents – Lifeng does the same job cleaner and harder
• Becomes the first cut – in optimized physical teams, she is often the replaceable slot

She is never “unusable,” but her value is strongly tied to being free and early.

Alesh – Vanguard, Cryo

Alesh offers battery tools and some unique freeze interactions, but his impact is too situational compared to better batteries and supports.

• SP battery function – provides moderate team SP support
• Unique freeze access – can freeze targets that already have Cryo applied
• Execute-style ultimate pattern – can spike in value against low-HP enemies
• Situational strength – best in specific content patterns rather than general play
• Outclassed in core comps – rarely the best answer once your roster grows

He has a few neat tricks, but they are not consistently valuable enough to rank higher.

Da Pan – Striker, Physical

Da Pan can hit hard when everything lines up, but the sources repeatedly point out his awkward consistency.

• Physical burst potential – can capitalize on Vulnerable stacks
• Better in AoE scenarios – cooldown reductions improve his flow into groups
• Self-sufficient setup – can apply some of his own Vulnerable support
• Combo timing constraints – key burst is tied to combo availability and cooldown
• Hard to justify over alternatives – Endministrator provides a cleaner, more controllable Crush loop

He can work, but he usually feels like extra effort for a result you can get easier elsewhere.

Fluorite – Caster, Nature

Fluorite’s placement is largely about niche enabling rather than raw power, especially tied to specific Cryo interactions.

• Nature application access – can enable Corrosion and mixed elemental reactions
• Decent ultimate damage – can contribute meaningful burst in supported teams
• Unique combo interaction – can add a third stack to match what certain carries want
• Value by association – rises when paired with Cryo burst plans that need heavy stack feeding
• Limited general usefulness – outside those specific setups, she is replaceable

She is the definition of a niche utility pick: valuable when the team specifically needs what she does, otherwise easy to skip.

D-Tier Operators

D-Tier Operators are the most limited options in Arknights: Endfield. They are not unusable, but they are heavily outclassed, locked into weak archetypes, or provide too little value compared to the resources they require. These Operators are generally only worth using if you lack alternatives or are deliberately building around a very specific niche.

Estella – Guard, Cryo

Estella’s kit looks functional on paper, but in practice her value is tied to one of the weakest archetypes in the game.

• Cryo and Physical hybrid focus – designed around freezing enemies and breaking them for Physical damage
• Applies Vulnerable and Physical susceptibility – but at lower consistency than stronger enablers
• Decent ultimate damage – benefits from Physical scaling but lacks burst reliability
• Extremely narrow synergy – mainly fits Physical–Cryo hybrid teams
• Outclassed archetype – pure Physical or pure Cryo teams perform better with other Operators

She can function in early or budget hybrid teams, but those teams fall behind quickly as your roster improves.

Catcher – Defender, Physical

Catcher is a defensive option that simply does not bring enough to justify long-term investment.

• High durability baseline – can stay alive longer than most low-rarity Operators
• Some Vulnerable application – but inconsistent and low-impact
• Shield access – lacks strong healing or recovery tools
• Lower team protection – weaker sustain compared to other defensive options
• Completely overshadowed – Ember fills the same role with far more value

Catcher can hold the line early on, but almost every account replaces him as soon as better defensive tools become available. BLOG20

Best Arknights: Endfield Operators Overall

If you only want the short list of Operators that give the biggest power jump across most accounts, start here. These picks either define the strongest teams, solve major combat problems on their own, or stay valuable no matter how your roster evolves.

• Laevatain – Striker, Heat: Best overall AoE carry with endgame-clearing burst windows.
• Yvonne – Caster, Cryo: Best boss deleter with elite single-target damage and freeze payoff.
• Last Rite – Striker, Cryo: Premium burst DPS that scales brutally with Cryo stack setup.
• Xaihi – Supporter, Cryo: Top-tier healer and damage amplifier for Cryo and Nature cores.
• Gilberta – Supporter, Nature: Huge teamwide amplification plus vortex grouping for AoE fights.
• Ardelia – Supporter, Nature: Most reliable universal healer with flexible damage amplification.

This group covers the two biggest win conditions in Endfield: deleting bosses and controlling crowded fights, while also giving you the best support backbone to keep any team stable and fully buffed.

F.A.Q.