Arknights: Endfield Version 1.0 centers its combat balance around elemental inflictions, reactions, and team utility rather than raw damage alone. Every operator in the 23‑unit launch roster is ranked here for the 1.0 launch patch (late January 2026), assuming Potential 0 and focusing only on combat performance.
Quick answer: In Version 1.0, the SS-tier operators are Laevatain (Heat Striker), Ardelia (Nature Supporter), and Yvonne (Cryo Caster); the S-tier core picks are Last Rite, Xaihi, Pogranichnik, Lifeng, Avywenna, Gilberta, and Antal.
Full Arknights: Endfield 1.0 tier table (SS to C)
The table below lists every launch operator by tier. Rankings assume Potential 0 and evaluate only combat value and team utility in Version 1.0 content.
| Tier | Operators |
|---|---|
| SS | Laevatain, Ardelia, Yvonne |
| S | Last Rite, Xaihi, Pogranichnik, Lifeng, Avywenna, Gilberta, Antal |
| A | Endministrator, Perlica, Wulfgard, Akekuri, Chen Qianyu, Da Pan, Arclight, Alesh |
| B | Ember, Snowshine, Estella |
| C | Fluorite, Catcher |
SS-tier operators in Arknights: Endfield 1.0
Laevatain – premier Heat AoE DPS (Striker)
Laevatain is the most dominant damage dealer in Version 1.0. As a Heat Striker, she outputs extremely high sustained AoE damage when supported by teammates that can keep Heat Infliction, Combustion, and Corrosion active on enemies. Her range and coverage allow her to clear groups and bosses alike with minimal downtime, turning Heat reactions into reliable, repeatable bursts.
The main constraint is team dependence: she reaches full potential only when other operators consistently supply Heat Infliction and related debuffs. In properly built Heat teams, however, Laevatain is the unquestioned centerpiece.
Ardelia – universal debuff support with healing (Supporter)
Ardelia is a Nature Supporter who combines strong healing with some of the best universal damage amplification in the game. She applies Corrosion and can convert it into Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility, boosting both Physical and Arts damage for the entire team.
Because she does not add Nature Infliction herself, Ardelia slots comfortably into almost any elemental core without interfering with reaction setups that consume specific inflictions. Her mix of healing, corrosion spreading, and broad susceptibility debuffs makes her the most flexible and valuable pure support in the launch roster.
Yvonne – top single‑target Cryo DPS (Caster)
Yvonne is a Cryo Caster focused on high single‑target Arts damage with Cryo Infliction. She excels at deleting priority targets and bosses, and she brings minor crowd control through Solidification, which can stabilize fights by locking down dangerous enemies at key moments.
Her weaknesses are limited AoE reach and reliance on enemies being grouped or funneled into her attack zones. When fights emphasize single targets or tight packs, a properly supported Yvonne performs at SS‑tier level and comfortably anchors Cryo‑centric compositions.
S-tier operators (core picks for their archetypes)
S‑tier operators are the best units within their specific archetypes or elements. They may not match SS‑tier flexibility, but they are central to their teams and difficult to replace without a noticeable drop in performance.
Last Rite – Cryo Striker DPS
Last Rite is a Cryo Striker who focuses on stacking Cryo Infliction and then cashing those stacks out for large bursts. She also applies Cryo Susceptibility, which raises the ceiling of Cryo‑based teams. Her performance depends on partners that maintain Cryo Infliction, but with the right support she serves either as a main DPS or a powerful sub‑DPS alongside Yvonne.
Xaihi – dedicated Cryo support (Supporter)
Xaihi is the primary dedicated support for Cryo teams. She supplies Arts Amp, Cryo Amp, and additional Cryo damage bonuses, significantly increasing the output of Cryo DPS such as Last Rite and Yvonne. Her toolkit is highly focused on Cryo; outside that element she loses most of her value, which is why she sits in S‑tier as a core, but specialized, enabler.
Pogranichnik – Physical SP engine and debuffer (Vanguard)
Pogranichnik is a Physical Vanguard who combines good personal damage with high SP generation and strong defensive shredding. By applying Breach and interacting with Vulnerable stacks, he both accelerates team skill cycles and raises the damage output of Physical teammates.
He performs best in fully committed Physical teams, where his SP refund and Breach uptime push the composition’s damage well above alternatives.
Lifeng – Physical susceptibility and Link support (Guard)
Lifeng is a Physical Guard that can function as either a front‑line DPS or a support focused on amplifying Physical damage. He applies Physical Susceptibility and Link, helping Physical teams scale harder into late‑game content. Like Pogranichnik, his value is heavily tied to Physical‑element lineups, but within that niche he is one of the strongest options available.
Avywenna – Electric main DPS (Striker)
Avywenna is the central Electric Striker for Electric teams. She outputs strong sustained damage and applies Electric Susceptibility, enabling Electric reactions and boosting both her own damage and that of Electric‑aligned allies.
Mismanaging her timing or rotation leads to noticeable damage loss, and she is much less impressive outside of full Electric comps. When piloted correctly with proper support, however, Avywenna is a clear S‑tier Electric carry.
Gilberta – AoE control and Arts susceptibility (Supporter)
Gilberta is a Nature Supporter with powerful crowd control tools and wide‑area Arts coverage. She applies Arts Susceptibility and provides minor healing, which is particularly valuable in content with large enemy groups or open‑world engagements where AoE control speeds clears significantly.
Her weakness is single‑target performance; against lone bosses she contributes less than other supports, which keeps her slightly below SS‑tier despite her excellent AoE value.
Antal – flexible amplifier for Heat and Electric teams (Supporter)
Antal is an Electric Supporter whose kit is tuned around boosting Heat and Electric DPS units. He improves their reaction uptime and damage, making him a natural fourth slot in many Laevatain or Avywenna lineups, especially for accounts searching for a low‑investment support.
Because his buffs are tailored to these two elements, he is far less useful elsewhere, but within Heat and Electric archetypes he offers very efficient damage amplification.
A-, B- and C-tier operators (flex picks and niche options)
A‑tier operators are strong and playable in current content but usually act as substitutes or flex slots rather than must‑have units. B‑ and C‑tier operators lag behind in either versatility or output and are generally taken for specific comfort or niche roles.
A-tier – strong but replaceable options
Endministrator (Physical Guard) can serve as a Physical DPS while also providing support via Realspace Stasis, but is outclassed by Pogranichnik and Lifeng in raising Physical team ceilings.
Perlica (Electric Caster) fits comfortably into many Arts‑focused and Electric teams. She can forcibly apply Electrification through her Combo Skill, making reaction setups easier, but she is rarely the centerpiece of a composition.
Wulfgard (Heat Caster) is a key Heat Infliction and Combustion applicator for Laevatain teams and can operate as a sub‑DPS. Mismanaging Combustion stacks, however, noticeably hurts his contribution, and his damage falls off when used outside Heat cores.
Akekuri (Heat Vanguard) is a very flexible SP generator that can slot into most teams. Her SP tools require either staggering enemies or casting her ultimate, so she demands some mechanical awareness to maintain consistent value.
Chen Qianyu (Physical Guard) provides some of the best Vulnerable application for Physical teams. She is excellent when the whole team is built around Physical damage, but brings little to other elements.
Da Pan (Physical Striker) offers strong Crush‑based Physical damage with good AoE reach. In practice, other Physical DPS and SP engines tend to be more efficient, so Da Pan often serves as a temporary or budget option.
Arclight (Electric Vanguard) cycles Combo Skills quickly and generates SP for Electric squads, but she consumes Electrification to do so, creating tension with Electric DPS units that also want those stacks.
Alesh (Cryo Vanguard) generates SP effectively in teams that make use of Solidification or Originium Crystals. He competes for Cryo Infliction stacks and has some randomness in his kit, which limits his reliability compared to other Cryo enablers.
B-tier – comfort picks and narrow roles
Ember (Heat Defender) can heal, shield, and grant Protection while also applying Vulnerable. Despite her Heat element, her Vulnerable synergy points her mainly toward Physical‑leaning teams, and her healing depends on taking hits, which restricts her uptime in some encounters.
Snowshine (Cryo Defender) offers healing and can force Solidification with her ultimate. Most of her kit is basic sustain, and her Cryo Infliction depends on enemy behavior, so she contributes less to reaction‑driven damage than higher‑tier supports.
Estella (Cryo Guard) applies Cryo Infliction at a reasonable rate but is primarily tuned for Shatter‑oriented setups. Outside such teams, her impact is modest, placing her behind other Cryo options.
C-tier – low‑impact or heavily outclassed
Fluorite (Nature Caster) can apply both Cryo and Nature Inflictions, but her numbers and utility are limited. Other casters and supports apply inflictions and susceptibility more efficiently, so Fluorite rarely justifies a slot in optimized teams.
Catcher (Physical Defender) provides Protection and shields but adds little beyond raw durability. With multiple defenders and support options that combine survivability with stronger debuffs or damage, Catcher is generally reserved for early‑game or comfort‑focused setups.
Tier definitions and evaluation rules (Version 1.0)
Each operator is evaluated under consistent conditions to keep rankings comparable across roles and rarities.
- Potential level: All operators are assessed at Potential 0, without duplicate‑based upgrades.
- Scope: Only combat performance is considered. Factory output, exploration perks, and other non‑combat benefits are ignored.
- DPS evaluation: Damage dealers are judged in their best realistic team compositions for Version 1.0, including appropriate supports and elemental partners.
- Support evaluation: Supports are ranked by the strength of their buffs and debuffs, how many different teams they fit into, and how often they can apply their key effects.
Tier meanings for this list are:
- SS-tier: Operators that are among the absolute best in their role and fit into many different teams. Pulling them meaningfully improves almost any account.
- S-tier: Core pieces of specific archetypes. These units define their teams and are very hard to replace without losing significant power.
- A-tier: Strong and versatile, but usually serving as flex picks, substitutes, or role players rather than foundational units.
- B-tier: Serviceable in their intended roles but overshadowed by higher‑tier options in either power or flexibility.
- C-tier: Narrow, low‑impact, or outclassed picks that usually only see play in niche scenarios or early progression.
As long as Version 1.0 balance remains in place, this tier structure reflects the current relative strength of every launch operator in Arknights: Endfield.
