Building a squad in Arknights comes down to one question: who actually earns a spot on your field. The roster has grown huge, so picking the right operator for each of the eight classes matters more than raw rarity. The rankings below sort every operator by how well they perform against others in the same class, factoring in stats, utility, and how reliably they carry endgame content like Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract.
Quick answer: The strongest current picks per class are Logos (Caster), Hoshiguma the Breacher (Defender), Degenbrecher and Leizi the Thunderbringer (Guard), Eyja Alter (Medic), Wiš’adel (Sniper), Exusiai Alter (Specialist), Tragodia (Supporter), and Ines (Vanguard). Prioritize S-tier operators first.
How to read these Arknights tier rankings
Operators are graded against others in their own class, not across the whole game, so an S-tier Medic is not “better” than an A-tier Guard. Every grade assumes full investment, meaning Elite 2, max level, relevant Potentials, Masteries, and Module. An operator can climb tiers with the right team support, but the list reflects ceiling and versatility at full build.
- S-tier: Top performers that fit a wide range of squads and clear hard content reliably.
- A-tier: Strong, dependable picks that may need more investment or specific synergies.
- B-tier: Situational operators that work in the right squad but ask for setup.
- C-tier: Niche or outdated units that struggle to compete with stronger alternatives.
Caster tier list
Casters deal Arts damage from range, which makes them the go-to answer for high-defense enemies. They trade defense for attack power and tend to generate good DP, so they slot into most squads as your main magic damage line.
| Tier | Casters |
|---|---|
| S | Logos, Lapalter, Goldenglow, Nymph, Necrass, Blaze Alter, Ceobe, Eyjafjalla, Ifrit, Lin |
| A | Ebenholz, Mostima, Passenger, Dusk, Marcille, Amiya, Carnelian, Ho’olheyak, Rockrock, Astgenne, Beeswax, Click, Kjera, Leizi, Leonhardt, Mint, Tecno |
| B | Absinthe, Harmonie, Indigo, Purgatory, Minimalist, Pudding, Santala, Skyfire, Delphine, Diamante, Miss. Christine, Qanipalaat, Steward |
| C | Aroma, Corroserum, Gitano, Haze, Iris, Lava, Nightmare, Tomimi, Warmy, Greyy, 12F, Durin |
Defender tier list
Defenders are your wall. High HP and DEF let them block multiple enemies and hold a chokepoint while the rest of your squad does work. The best ones add healing or ranged offense, so they soak damage and contribute beyond just tanking.
| Tier | Defenders |
|---|---|
| S | Hoshiguma the Breacher, Shu, Yu, Horn, Mudrock, Penance, Saria, Hoshiguma, Jessica the Liberated, Nian |
| A | Blemishine, Eunectes, Sankta Miksaparato, Bubble, Cuora, Firewhistle, Liskarm, Philae, Ashlock, Bassline, Blitz, Croissant, Czerny, Nearl, Shalem |
| B | Asbestos, Bison, Heavyrain, Senshi, Underflow, Vulcan, Aurora, Cement, Hung, Lutonada, Spot |
| C | Beagle, Cardigan, Dur-nar, Gummy, Matterhorn, Noir Corne, Friston-3 |
Guard tier list
Guards are the offensive core of most squads. They bring high attack and HP with low defense, blocking one to three enemies while cutting through whatever the rest of your team can’t. This is the deepest class, so the gap between top and bottom is wide.
| Tier | Guards |
|---|---|
| S | Degenbrecher, Leizi the Thunderbringer, Młynar, Sakiko Togawa, Entelechia, Executor the Ex Foedere, Surtr, Ulpianus, Zuo Le, Chongyue, Gavial the Invincible, Mountain, Nearl the Radiant Knight, Qiubai, SilverAsh, Thorns, Viviana |
| A | Blaze, Hoederer, Irene, Pepe, Specter, Vina Victoria, Amiya (Guard), Ch’en, La Pluma, Lappland, Skadi, Tequila, Bibeak, Gracebearer, Hellagur, Lessing, Pallas |
| B | Broca, Cutter, Highmore, Odda, Akafuyu, Doc, Noir Alter, Utage, Windscoot, Arene, Astesia, Ayerscarpe, Dagda, Franka, Fuze, Laios, Melantha, Midnight, Mousse, Sideroca, Tachanka, Flamebringer, Flint, Humus, Indra, Luo Xiaohei, Morgan, Savage, Whislash, Nyamu Yūtenji |
| C | Estelle, Leto, Matoimaru, Conviction, Popukar, Bryophyta, Frostleaf, Jackie, Quartz, Wind Chimes, Beehunter, Swire, Dobermann, Castle-3 |
Medic tier list
Medics keep your front line alive by healing allies with their basic attacks instead of damaging enemies. The top picks handle multiple targets at once or push out enough sustain to keep a fragile composition standing through long fights.
| Tier | Medics |
|---|---|
| S | Eyja Alter, Mon3tr, Reed the Flame Shadow, Kal’tsit, Nightingale, Lumen, Ptilopsis, Warfarin |
| A | Amiya (Medic), Shining, Silence, Hibiscus the Purifier, Honeyberry, Mulberry, Perfumer, Record Keeper, Rose Salt, Sussurro, Tuye, Whisperain |
| B | Breeze, Harold, Nowell, Papyrus, Purestream, Vendela, Folinic, Gavial, Paprika |
| C | Myrrh, Ceylon, Ansel, Chestnut, Hibiscus, Lancet-2 |
Sniper tier list
Snipers hit from range and cover threats your melee units can’t reach, including flying enemies. Attack speed varies a lot across the class, and the S-tier names here set the benchmark for both single-target burst and crowd clearing.
| Tier | Snipers |
|---|---|
| S | Wiš’adel, Ch’en the Holungday, Lemuen, Ray, Typhon, Exusiai, Narantuya, Rosa, Fiametta, Pozyomka |
| A | Archetto, Ash, Schwarz, W, April, Fartooth, Kroos the Keen Glint, Rosmontis, Blue Poison, Brigid, GreyThroat, Kichisei, Pinecone, Platinum |
| B | Caper, Executor, Firewatch, Greyy the Lightningbearer, Insider, Jieyun, Kroos, May, Meteorite, Provence, Toddifons, Totter, Adnachiel, Ambriel, Andreana, Coldshot, Erato, Lunacub, Melanite, Meteor, Shirayuki |
| C | Aciddrop, Aosta, Sesa, Vermeil, Catapult, Jessica, Rangers, “Justice Knight”, Terra Research Commission |
Specialist tier list
Specialists are the trick-play class. They can be melee or ranged, block zero to two enemies, and lean on defining traits like shifting, fast redeployment, or hard crowd control. They rarely anchor a squad on their own, but the right Specialist solves a map other units can’t.
| Tier | Specialists |
|---|---|
| S | Exusiai the New Covenant, Ela, Kirin R Yato, Texas the Omertosa, Ascalon, Thorns the Lodestar, Spelter, Dorothy, Gladiia, Weedy |
| A | Aak, Lee, Mizuki, Phantom, Swire the Elegant Wit, Contrail, Crownslayer, Ethan, Gravel, Jaye, Projekt Red, Tin Man, Tippi, Mutsumi Wakaba |
| B | Cliffheart, FEater, Figurino, Frost, Kafka, Kazemaru, Manticore, Robin, Waai Fu, Wulfenite, Umiri Yahata |
| C | Bena, Enforcer, Iana, Mr. Nothing, Almond, Rope, Snowsant, Spuria, Kirara, Shaw, Verdant, THRM-EX |
Supporter tier list
Supporters are fragile but punch well above their stat line. They deal Arts damage and, more importantly, debuff enemies, slow them, or buff your own operators. A strong Supporter often raises a whole squad’s output more than any single damage dealer.
| Tier | Supporters |
|---|---|
| S | Tragodia, Haruka, Raidian, Ling, Suzuran, Virtuosa, Civilight Eterna, Gnosis, Skadi the Corrupting Heart |
| A | Angelina, Magallan, Quercus, Shamare, Silence the Paradigmatic, Stainless, Scene |
| B | Bobbing, Grain Buds, Mayer, Uika Misumi, Pramanix, Proviso, Valarqvin, Alanna, Catherine, Deepcolor, Heidi, Istina, Lucilla, Podenco, Glaucus, Sora |
| C | Roberta, Sand Reckoner, Windflit, Orchid, Xingzhu, Earthspirit, Nine-Colored Deer, Tsukinogi, PhonoR-0, U-Official |
Vanguard tier list
Vanguards set the early tempo. Their job is DP generation, getting the rest of your squad onto the field fast, and the best ones keep contributing past the opening through damage, blocking, or off-field utility. How quickly and safely a run starts usually comes down to this pick.
| Tier | Vanguards |
|---|---|
| S | Ines, Bagpipe, Elysium, Muelsyse, Saileach, Wanqing, Cantabile, Flametail, Myrtle, Saga, Vulpisfoglia |
| A | Chilchuck, Puzzle, Surfer, Blacknight, Fang the Fire-Sharpened, Matsukiri, Siege, Texas, Vigil, Vigna, Zima |
| B | Reed, Beanstalk, Chiave, Kestrel, Mitm, Poncirus, Wild Mane, Courier, Grani, Plume, Scavenger |
| C | Fang, Vanilla, Confess-47, Yato |
Tiers shift whenever new operators arrive or the meta changes, so treat the C-tier names as situational rather than useless. With limited Orundum and materials, spend on your S-tier picks first, then fill out the classes your current squad is missing. A well-rounded roster usually beats a stack of high-rarity duplicates in the same role.
