Arknights, the popular tower defense mobile game, continues to amaze players around the world with its depth of strategy, beautiful artwork, and engaging gameplay. Selecting the right Operators (characters) for your team is one of the most significant aspects of dominating Arknights. This is where a good Arknights tier list comes in. Understand the best Operators for each stage, game mode, and team composition is key to help you level up faster, maximize your performance, and ultimately play the game at its peak.
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Why Arknights Tier List Matter
For new and veteran players alike, the term tier list can sound scary. It’s simply how to categorize the strength and ability of multiple Operators in particular circumstances. Arknights has an abundance of diverse characters who all have abilities and skills different from one another, but being aware of what the most flexible and powerful are can be beneficial.
In this tier list, not only do we rank the Operators but also explain why certain Operators are superior to others and provide tips on how you can play them better in different stages or events.
The Basics of Arknights Operators
Before diving into the tier list, it’s important to understand the different types of Operators you’ll be using. Operators in Arknights are categorized based on their class and rarity. Here are the primary classes:
- Vanguards – Great for generating DP (deployment points) early in a mission.
- Guards – Strong frontline fighters with solid damage output.
- Specialists – Flexible units with varied roles like crowd control or high mobility.
- Medics – Heal your team and keep them alive during difficult waves.
- Snipers – Damage dealers with high range that can attack aerial enemies.
- Casters – Spellcasters that cause magical damage and employ AoE skills to harm.
- Defenders – Good HP and high total HP to take damage for your team.
- Supporters – Provide buffs or debuffs to help allies or harm enemies.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each class, you’ll be able to build a well-rounded team capable of handling a variety of situations.
The Arknights Tier List
The following tier list ranks Operators based on their performance across various game modes (main story, events, and operations) and their overall utility. This is a flexible list—certain Operators may perform better in specific scenarios or depending on your playstyle.
S-Tier (Top Performers)
These Operators are the cream of the crop. They possess high versatility, high damage, great utility, or all of the above.
- SilverAsh (Guard)
Community favorite SilverAsh’s S2 (Truesilver Slash) can clear rooms full of large groups of enemy characters with ease. His good damage and versatility in skills allow him to become a staple on nearly any team composition.
- Eyjafjalla (Caster)
With her wild AoE damage and ability to target ground and aerial units, Eyjafjalla is an absolute must-have for handling challenging waves of monsters. Her S2 makes her able to unleash so much damage within a short period, and she’s a personal favorite among players in event stages.
- Weedy (Defender)
Weedy is special with her moderate damage dealing and damage-taking capacity with high HP. Her S3 (Shield Bash) enables her to be both tanking and a damage dealer, making her an extremely versatile unit in defense-heavy maps.
A-Tier (Strong Operators)
These Operators are not quite as all-around strong as S-tier characters, but they are still extremely good in most situations and are worth having in your collection.
- Exusiai (Sniper)
Exusiai’s S1 is one of the most reliable single-target damage skills, and her S2 turns her into a powerful burst damage dealer. She’s perfect for clearing enemy waves quickly.
- Nian (Guard)
Nian does huge AoE damage, possesses great survivability, and her S3 can enhance your defense. She performs well dealing with waves comprising both ground and aerial enemies.
- Shining (Medic)
Being a 6-star Medic, Shining performs excellently as a healer and support unit for your allies. She even provides a Talent to enhance all Medics’ healing potential, so she’s a valuable late-game material unit.
B-Tier (Good Operators)
These Operators are good, but they may have some flaws compared to the upper tiers. They can still be good when used in the right situation.
- Ch’en (Guard)
Ch’en is a solid choice for quick enemy clearing. Her S2 is great at AoE damage and crowd control, though she has some difficulty with more tanky or hard enemies.
- Myrtle (Vanguard)
Myrtle’s DP generation is priceless at the beginning of most phases so that you can deploy high-powered troops as quickly as possible. Her damage is not very high, though, so she’s more of a support unit.
- Pramanix (Supporter)
Pramanix is a great choice for team buffs, but she requires a more specialized build to shine. Her ability to deplete enemy defense and provide attack buffs can make your other Operators that much more formidable.
C-Tier (Situational Operators)
These Operators are not bad at all but are more situational and may require specialized setups to be at their best.
- Lappland (Sniper)
Lappland’s S3 can silence enemies, which makes her useful for some stages. Her damage, however, is not as high as other snipers.
- Shaw (Specialist)
Shaw has excellent mobility and crowd control but, overall, less damage output and usefulness in tougher missions than others.
- Hoshiguma (Defender)
Hoshiguma is an average-damage tank. She can keep enemies at bay for a while, but she lacks the flexibility and game-changing skills of better-ranked Defenders such as Weedy or Nian.
Tips for Using Your Tier List
With your comprehensive tier list in hand, it is essential to consider how you will be utilizing these Operators in your team setup. Some general tactics are below:
Balance Your Team Composition
You’ll need a good mix of different types of Operators. As an instance, having a good high-damage Caster like Eyjafjalla combined with a strong Defender like Weedy makes you able to deal damage while having a good defense line.
Focus on Synergies
A number of the Operators in Arknights possess complementary abilities. For example, pairing an Operator like SilverAsh with a Supporter like Pramanix results in your ability to further expand his damage potential, providing him with maximum potential.
Upgrade Strategically
Although the tier list can provide a general idea of which Operators to play, it is important to level up the correct ones to truly be successful. Level up top-tier characters who are useful in many situations.
Adapt to the Meta
Arknights’ meta changes with each new chapter or event. Always be ready to adapt by swapping out different Operators depending on what’s coming next. Certain characters are good for specific stages, so be sure to try them out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best 6-star Operator for beginners?
Though 6-stars are hard to get early in the game, Operators like SilverAsh, Exusiai, and Shining are highly useful for new players since they are so versatile and strong.
How do I get the strongest Operators in Arknights?
Strong Operators can be obtained through recruitment or summoning on special banners. Be wary of limited banners since these tend to have powerful or special characters.
Should one invest in low-tier Operators?
Some low-tier Operators are wasteful in the late game, but they are still usable for progressing through the early levels. Don’t overlook the versatility of mid-tier characters like Myrtle or Pramanix, as they serve specialized purposes.
Conclusion
Building the right team in Arknights is crucial to success, and being aware of who the best Operators at the top of the tier list are can be of help to you in PvE and PvP game modes. By focusing on top-tier Operators and supporting your team with utility and support, you’ll be ready for whatever challenge the game throws your way.
Keep in mind that this tier list is based on the meta during the time and may change with the release of new patches. Continue testing, and adjust your team to stay at the top!
For additional Arknights tips and guides, see our other articles to get the most out of your gaming experience.
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