Hello, fellow Arknights enthusiasts! If you’re here, you’re probably hooked on one of the most captivating gacha games out there. Today, we’re delving into an in-depth guide to the Arknights Tier List so that you can get the most out of your strategic defenses.
What Makes Arknights Unique?
Developed by Chinese developers Studio Montagne and Hypergryph, Arknights combines the thrill of a tower defense game with the intricate character development of gacha games. It gained worldwide popularity due to its stunning art design, the limited grind, and the lack of purchase pressure, making it both accessible and enjoyable for all players.
The game hinges on the strategic placement of characters, or “operators,” onto specific tiles to block the advancing enemies. There are 8 classes that each operator belongs to, each defining their position and role in the game. Today, we’ll be focusing on the cream of the crop within each class, helping you navigate through the diverse range of characters in Arknights.
The Arknights Tier List Explained
The operators in Arknights are divided into five tiers, from S to D, based on their combat effectiveness. S-Tier operators are the meta-defining ones, fit for nearly all combat situations. The A-Tier operators are just a tad behind, but still solid choices. B-Tier and C-Tier operators are serviceable, although they might struggle in tougher combat situations. And the D-Tier? Well, we recommend steering clear of them unless you find a very niche use.
Let’s explore the tier list for each class.
1. Arknights Tier List: Casters
Casters in Arknights are mage-like operators, using Arts damage to break through enemies’ defenses, making them invaluable in your roster. Let’s dive into the tier list for the Caster class.
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ceobe | S | An elite single-target Caster, whose DPS increases with the enemies’ defense, making her ideal against high-armor foes. |
| Eyjafjalla | S | Known for superior AoE and single-target damage; also decreases enemies’ magic resistance, boosting your overall damage output. |
| Ifrit | S | Specializes in line AoE damage; can significantly lower enemy resistance, which can wreak havoc on enemy lines. |
| Mostima | S | An AoE Caster who can slow enemies and recharge her team’s skills faster. |
| Amiya | A | A versatile operator who can switch between single-target and AoE damage. |
| Absinthe | A | Known for her unique ability to deal high true damage when the enemy’s HP is low. |
| Beeswax | A | A dual-block Caster who can create barriers to block enemies. |
| Gitano | A | A versatile AoE Caster who excels at stages with high enemy density. |
| Leonhardt | A | Shines in certain scenarios with his ability to stun enemies and deal heavy AoE damage. |
| Mint | A | A magic guard who can deal Arts damage to enemies in the surrounding area. |
| Skyfire | A | An AoE Caster who can stun enemies. |
| Click | B | A new-generation Caster who excels at crowd control. |
| Greyy | B | A control specialist who can slow and stun enemies. |
| Haze | B | Capable of reducing the magic resistance of enemies. |
| Leize | B | A Caster who can deal massive damage to enemies with high magic resistance. |
| Nightmare | B | A dual-mode operator who can either heal allies or slow enemies. |
| Tomimi | B | A pseudo-AoE operator who can deal damage to two enemies simultaneously. |
| Lava | C | A beginner-friendly AoE Caster. |
| Steward | C | A single-target Caster who can deal considerable damage to magic-weak enemies. |
| 12F | D | His skills are somewhat lacking, and he gets outclassed by other operators in higher tiers. |
| Durin | D | Although Durin has a cute design, her skills and stats are unfortunately not competitive. |
Note that a lower tier doesn’t necessarily mean the operator is bad; it just means there might be better options. After all, a strategic choice based on a specific level and your team composition can sometimes prove a lower-tier operator more useful!
2. Arknights Tier List: Defenders
Defenders in Arknights act as your team’s main defensive line. They can block multiple enemies, have high HP, and typically have skills to enhance their defensive capabilities. Let’s examine the Defender class tier list:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blemishine | S | A healing defender who also buffs her allies’ healing capabilities. |
| Eunectes | S | A high DPS Defender who can single-handedly hold down a lane. |
| Hoshiguma | S | With her damage-reflecting ability, she makes an excellent frontline tank. |
| Liskarm | S | Known for her ability to recharge allies’ SP and high defense. |
| Mudrock | S | A self-sustainable Defender with her self-healing and shield-generating ability. |
| Nian | S | Unique defender with abilities to increase her own defense and resist various types of damage. |
| Saria | S | She’s valued for her healing abilities and for the utility she brings to the team. |
| Asbestos | A | A ranged defender who can deal Arts damage and slow enemies. |
| Bison | A | A defensive specialist who can reduce the damage taken by allies. |
| Croissant | A | Known for her ability to knockback enemies and her high HP. |
| Cuora | A | A top-tier operator who has high defense and can block multiple enemies. |
| Nearl | A | A healing defender who can both tank damage and heal allies. |
| Vulcan | A | A self-sustainable defender who can heal herself while dealing damage. |
| Bubble | B | A healing defender who can generate shields for allies. |
| Dur-Nar | B | Excels in stages with high physical damage due to her ability to increase her own defense. |
| Gummy | B | A healing defender who can help maintain the team’s HP. |
| Hung | B | His healing capability is linked to his damage, making him a situational choice. |
| Mattherhorn | B | He can increase his defense substantially, making him good against physical damage enemies. |
| Beagle | C | A balanced operator suitable for beginners. |
| Cardigan | C | A healing defender who can self-regenerate her HP. |
| Spot | C | An operator who heals himself while blocking enemies. |
| Noir Corne | D | Despite being a starter, his performance is outclassed by other operators as the game progresses. |
Remember, understanding the individual operator’s strengths and how they fit into your overall team strategy is key to mastering Arknights!
3. Arknights Tier List: Guards
Guards are highly versatile operators in Arknights. They can fulfill a variety of roles, from blocking and DPS to crowd control and support. Here is how the Guard class operators stack up:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blaze | S | Known for her sustained AoE damage and high endurance. |
| Ch’en | S | A dual-strike guard who can deal massive damage to multiple enemies at once. |
| Hellagur | S | A self-sustaining guard who can’t be healed by others but has high damage and dodge rate. |
| Lappland | S | A ranged guard who can silence enemies and deal Arts damage. |
| SilverAsh | S | One of the strongest operators, boasting high damage and strategic skills. |
| Skadi | S | A melee guard who excels at dealing high single-target damage. |
| Specter | S | Known for her invincibility skill and decent AoE damage. |
| Surtr | S | A guard with a unique mechanic, she temporarily increases her stats significantly and then is automatically retreated. |
| Thorns | S | A ranged guard who can continuously deal damage to enemies. |
| Astesia | A | A guard who can deal high Arts damage to multiple enemies at once. |
| Ayerscarpe | A | A ranged guard who can deal physical damage and reduce enemies’ defense. |
| Bibeak | A | A lightning-themed guard who can stun enemies. |
| Broca | A | A guard who deals AoE Arts damage with his skills. |
| Flint | A | She specializes in slowing and damaging enemies. |
| Franka | A | Can deal true damage, ignoring the defense of enemies. |
| Indra | A | A high DPS guard who is hard to obtain but worth the investment. |
| Utage | A | A self-sustaining operator who excels in holding lanes on her own. |
| Whislash | A | Can buff her teammates, increasing their attack speed. |
| Arene | B | A ranged guard with low cost and solid damage output. |
| Beehunter | B | A fast-hitting guard with a high dodge rate. |
| Conviction | B | A unique guard who has varying attack power. |
| Cutter | B | An operator who excels at dealing with aerial enemies. |
| Estelle | B | An AoE guard who can heal herself when she defeats an enemy. |
| Flamebringer | B | A self-sustainable guard with a limitless skill duration. |
| Frostleaf | B | A ranged guard with slow and Arts damage abilities. |
| Jackie | B | A new-generation guard who deals Arts damage. |
| Matoimaru | B | A melee guard with high DPS but low defense. |
| Melantha | B | A high HP and attack guard with a low deployment cost. |
| Mousse | B | A guard who deals Arts damage and can reduce enemies’ Arts resistance. |
| Savage | B | An AoE guard who deals high damage to multiple enemies. |
| Sideroca | B | A guard with the ability to increase her defense and heal herself. |
| Castle-3 | C | Although useful in the early stages, his viability decreases as the game progresses. |
| Midnight | C | A ranged guard who can increase the Arts damage dealt to enemies. |
| Popukar | C | An AoE guard who can deal more damage at the cost of her HP. |
| Swire | C | A support guard who can increase the attack power of allies. |
| Dobermann | D | Her main use is as a trainer operator, boosting the EXP of other operators in the base. |
Tier placement can vary based on the different strategic needs and playstyles, so use this guide as a general reference and find what works best for your team.
4. Arknights Tier List: Medic
Medics are crucial in any squad. These operators ensure your team’s survival by providing necessary healing and support. Here’s a ranking of the Medics available in Arknights:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shining | S | Known for her ability to grant defensive buffs and large healing capabilities. |
| Silence | S | A versatile medic who can deploy a healing drone. |
| Warfarin | S | Known for her healing and support capabilities, particularly enhancing other operators’ attack stats. |
| Ceylon | A | A ranged medic who provides healing and also increases the RES of operators. |
| Nightingale | A | A medic known for her Arts damage resistance buff and AoE healing. |
| Perfumer | A | A medic who provides global healing with her abilities. |
| Ptilopsis | A | Provides AoE healing and decreases SP cost for all operators. |
| Whisperain | A | A unique medic who heals operators and also cleanses them of any debuffs. |
| Breeze | B | A ranged medic who provides decent healing, especially effective for high-density enemy stages. |
| Folinic | B | A dual-target medic who can switch between healing and dealing Arts damage. |
| Gavial | B | A medic who provides great healing and also increases the healing received by operators. |
| Myrrh | B | A single target healer who can increase her healing range with her abilities. |
| Sussurro | B | A single target healer who can increase her healing output when the ally’s HP is below a certain point. |
| Ansel | C | An early-game medic who provides solid healing for a low cost. |
| Hibiscus | C | A starter medic with decent healing capabilities. |
| Lancet-2 | C | A robot medic who provides minor healing at zero cost. |
While this list is based on general utility, remember that the value of an operator can greatly depend on the context of a mission and the synergies with your other operators.
5. Arknights Tier List: Sniper
Snipers play a crucial role in Arknights, providing damage from afar and taking out airborne enemies. Here’s how the Snipers stack up:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exusiai | S | A rapid-fire sniper with high DPS. One of the best damage dealers in the game. |
| Meteorite | S | An AoE Sniper who deals substantial damage and can debuff enemies’ defense. |
| Rosa | S | A long-range sniper that can attack the furthest enemy and deals extra damage to heavy units. |
| Rosmontis Schwarz | S | A sniper with a unique attack mechanic, dealing AoE physical damage. |
| W | S | A sniper that deals AoE damage and can stun enemies. |
| Andreana | A | A sniper who can increase her own attack speed and has increased effectiveness against aerial units. |
| Blue Poison | A | A fast sniper with poison that deals additional damage over time. |
| Firewatch | A | A long-range sniper that can hit multiple targets simultaneously. |
| Greythroat | A | A sniper who can increase her own attack speed through abilities. |
| Platinum | A | A long-range sniper with consistent DPS output. |
| Provence | A | A high-risk, high-reward sniper that deals more damage the less health enemies have. |
| Aciddrop | B | A sniper with a unique attack mechanic, dealing more damage the more enemies there are. |
| Aosta | B | A sniper who specializes in attacking aerial units. |
| April | B | A sniper who can slow enemies and deals additional damage to aerial units. |
| Executor | B | A sniper with short range but high HP and strong AoE damage. |
| May | B | A sniper who can slow and stun enemies. |
| Sesa | B | A sniper that can decrease enemies’ defense and deals AoE damage. |
| Shirayuki | B | An AoE sniper who can also deal Arts damage. |
| Vermeil | B | A sniper who can heal herself and increase her attack speed. |
| Ambriel | C | A long-range sniper who deals more damage the further enemies are. |
| Catapult | C | An AoE sniper who deals moderate damage. |
| Jessica | C | A versatile sniper who can increase her own evasion. |
| Kroos | C | A solid starter sniper with good damage output. |
| Meteor | C | A sniper who can reduce enemies’ movement speed. |
| Adnachiel | D | A basic sniper suitable for the early game. |
| Rangers | D | A low-cost sniper that deals moderate damage. |
Please note that different maps may favor different snipers, so while this list offers a general ranking, individual effectiveness may vary.
6. Arknights Tier List: Specialist
Specialists are the unique forces of your Arknights squad, offering abilities outside the standard archetypes. Let’s see how they rank:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aak | S | A unique operator who can greatly increase another operator’s DPS at the cost of their HP. |
| Phantom | S | A high DPS operator with stealth and clone creation abilities. |
| Projekt Red | S | A fast redeploy operator who excels at assassinating single targets. |
| Weedy | S | A push specialist with high DPS and control abilities. |
| Cliffheart | A | A pull specialist that can pull enemies towards her and deal physical damage. |
| Ethan | A | A crowd control specialist who can bind enemies in place. |
| Feater | A | A push specialist that can push enemies away from her. |
| Gravel | A | A fast redeploy operator that can be used as a distraction. |
| Jaye | A | A block specialist who can bind enemies and increase his own defense. |
| Manticore | A | An evasion specialist with AoE damage, useful for crowd control. |
| Waai Fu | A | A debuff specialist that can reduce enemy defenses. |
| Rope | B | A pull specialist who can move enemies closer to her. |
| Snowsant | B | A push specialist with AoE slow effect. |
| Shaw | B | A push specialist, effective in maps where enemies can be pushed into hazards. |
| THRM-EX | C | A fast-redeploy operator with a unique ability to deal heavy damage to a single enemy. |
Specialists can often turn the tide of a battle, so don’t underestimate their capabilities based on their unconventional roles!
7. Arknights Tier List: Support
Supporters play a vital role in the battlefield, aiding your team with their potent abilities. Here’s our ranking for them:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Angelina | S | A versatile supporter who provides SP, slows enemies, and deals magic damage. |
| Magallan | S | Excellent at controlling the battlefield with her summoning drones. |
| Scene | S | Provides excellent crowd control with her summons and abilities. |
| Shamare | S | A debuff specialist who can decrease the attack and defense of enemies. |
| Suzuran | S | Offers remarkable crowd control with slow and debuff skills. |
| Glaucus | A | A specialist in dealing with aerial enemies and drones. |
| Istina | A | A caster-type supporter who provides decent DPS and slows enemies. |
| Mayer | A | Great at battlefield control with her summoning robots. |
| Pramanix | A | Can debuff enemies, reducing their defense and attack speed. |
| Sora | A | Provides unique buffs to allies and debuffs to enemies. |
| Deepcolor | B | A summoner who can control the battlefield with her tentacles. |
| Podenco | B | Can heal allies and slow down enemies. |
| Tsukinogi | B | Offers a range of buffs and debuffs, but lacks in DPS. |
| Earthspirit | C | Can slow enemies and reduce their defense, but has lower impact compared to higher-tiered Supporters. |
| Orchid | C | A low-cost operator who can slow down enemies. |
Remember, a well-placed support can dramatically enhance your squad’s effectiveness, even if they’re not the ones dealing direct damage. It’s all about strategy in Arknights!
8. Arknights Tier List: Vanguard
Last but not least, the vanguards are your front-line soldiers, providing early DP and holding off enemies while your main operators set up. Here’s how we rank them:
| Operator | Tier | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bagpipe | S | Exceptional vanguard who can deal significant damage. |
| Elysium | S | His abilities boost sniper units and provide early DP. |
| Myrtle | S | One of the best DP-on-kill vanguards, and can heal allies. |
| Siege | S | A powerful vanguard who excels in combat and provides early DP. |
| Reed | A | She’s able to dish out respectable damage and has a good survival rate. |
| Texas | A | Excellent vanguard with a strong crowd-control skill. |
| Vigna | A | Single-block vanguard who can deal heavy damage. |
| Zima | A | Great for her cost, she can provide DP and improve the performance of other vanguards. |
| Chiave | B | Offers good crowd control capabilities and additional support to the team. |
| Courier | B | A sturdy vanguard who can provide an early DP boost. |
| Grani | B | Solid in the early game for her cost, she can gather DP effectively. |
| Scavenger | B | Not as strong as the higher-tier vanguards, but still capable of collecting DP. |
| Fang | C | An entry-level vanguard who provides early DP. |
| Plume | C | Decent at generating DP, but her low durability holds her back. |
| Vanilla | C | Offers the basic functionality of a vanguard. |
| Yato | D | Lowest tier vanguard due to her limited abilities. |
And with that, we’ve covered every class in Arknights! Remember, the tier list serves as a guide, but every operator can shine with the right strategy and team setup.
The Caster Class
From S to D, the tier list for the Caster class ranges from incredible operators like Ceobe, Eyjafjalla, Ifrit, and Mostima (S-Tier) to ones best avoided, like 12F and Durin (D-Tier).
Amiya, Absinthe, Beeswax, Gitano, Leonhardt, Mint, and Skyfire are some of the A-Tier operators that can add significant firepower to your team.
The Defenders
If you’re looking for reliable front-liners, S-Tier operators like Blemishine, Eunectes, Hoshiguma, Liskarm, Mudrock, Nian, and Saria should be your go-to choices.
Despite being a tier lower, operators like Asbestos, Bison, Croissant, Cuora, Nearl, and Vulcan (A-Tier) still deliver a commendable performance.
The Guards
In the Guard class, operators such as Blaze, Ch’en, Hellagur, Lappland, SilverAsh, Skadi, Specter, Surtr, and Thorns dominate the S-Tier.
There’s also an extensive list of A-Tier operators like Astesia, Ayerscarpe, Bibeak, Broca, Flint, Franka, Indra, Utage, and Whislash that can hold their own in combat.
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Arknights Tier List: Medics, Snipers, Specialists, Supporters, and Vanguards
Similar patterns can be observed in the remaining classes. Medics like Shining, Silence, and Warfarin, Snipers such as Exusiai, Meteorite, Rosa, Rosmontis Schwarz, and W, and Specialists like Aak, Phantom, Projekt Red, and Weedy are some of the many S-Tier operators in their respective classes.
Supporters Angelina, Magallan, Scene, Shamare, Suzuran, and Vanguards Bagpipe, Elysium, Myrtle, and Siege also fall under the S-Tier category.
A Final Note
To sum up, this comprehensive Arknights Tier List is intended to help you select the best operators for your party. The game’s unique blend of strategic gameplay and remarkable art design make it an absolute must-try if you haven’t already. Available for both Android and iOS, Arknights offers a gaming experience that’s addictive, engaging, and fun. Likewise, you can also try the game now on PC.
Keep this tier list as your handy guide while you navigate the complex world of Arknights. Be sure to check out the Arknights Wiki page for more information. Happy gaming, folks!