All Arknights Endfield Characters: Your Complete Operator Roster Guide

Touchdown on Talos-II is just the beginning. To survive the frontier, you’re going to need more than just grit—you’ll need the right squad. Arknights: Endfield introduces a diverse roster of Operators, each blending high-octane combat skills with the strategic depth the franchise is known for.

Whether you’re a meta-chasing strategist looking for the ultimate tier list or a casual explorer picking favorites based on style, we’ve got you covered. This guide breaks down every playable Operator available at launch, their roles, tier rankings, and where they sit in the current meta. Let’s get to work.

Also check complete Arknights Endfield Guide Hub.

Arknights Endfield Tier List – Version 1.0 Meta Rankings

Before we dive into individual characters, here’s the meta snapshot. This tier list evaluates Operators based on overall performance, team versatility, F2P accessibility, and endgame viability.

SS-Tier (Meta Defining)

Laevatain – The undisputed DPS queen. Her Heat element synergizes with multiple supports, and her burst damage output is unmatched. Best reroll target for damage-focused players.

Akekuri – Don’t let the 4-star rarity fool you. Her SP generation mechanic makes her essential for enabling team rotations. She’s the battery that powers your strongest abilities.

Ardelia – Premium support with Nature element buffing and healing. She enables multiple team compositions and makes challenging content significantly easier. Plus, she’s free via login rewards.

S-Tier (Excellent Core Units)

Last Rite – Cryo DPS powerhouse with excellent AoE capabilities. Slightly behind Laevatain in single-target but superior in multi-enemy scenarios.

Wulfgard – Free Heat Caster who received significant buffs after the Umbral Monument update. Essential for Heat teams and surprisingly competitive with 6-star DPS units when properly invested.

Pogranichnik – Physical Vanguard with exceptional damage scaling. Functions as both frontline and DPS, making team building flexible.

Yvonne – Best single-target Cryo Caster in the game. Dominates boss encounters but struggles with mob waves.

Lifeng – Versatile Physical Guard with consistent damage output. Works in practically any team composition.

A-Tier (Solid Performers)

Gilberta – Nature Support specialist with excellent buffing capabilities. Slightly less versatile than Ardelia but shines in Nature-focused teams.

Avywenna – Electric Striker with high mobility and burst windows. Requires precise timing but rewards skilled play.

Perlica – Story-guaranteed Electric Caster. Reliable AoE damage and accessible for all players. Perfect for Electric team compositions.

Chen Qianyu – Free Physical Guard with balanced kit. Not flashy but extremely reliable for F2P players.

Ember – Heat Defender with respectable damage mitigation. Solid tank but outshined by DPS-focused strategies in current meta.

Snowshine – Pre-registration Cryo Defender. Good for beginners but eventually replaced by more offensive options.

Arclight – Electric Vanguard with decent damage. Competes for team slots with higher-tier Vanguards.

B-Tier (Situational/Niche)

Endministrator – Story-unlocked Physical Guard. Functional but lacks the damage ceiling of premium Guards.

Xaihi – Cryo Support with healing capabilities. Useful for sustain-heavy strategies but outclassed by Ardelia in most scenarios.

Da Pan – Physical Striker with straightforward kit. Does the job but doesn’t excel in any particular area.

Alesh – Cryo Vanguard with defensive utility. Overshadowed by more aggressive Vanguard options.

Estella – Cryo Guard with balanced stats. Perfectly serviceable but rarely the optimal choice.

Antal – Electric Support with niche buffing. Works in specific Electric compositions but limited overall.

Fluorite – Nature Caster with decent AoE. Useful for element coverage but low damage output.

Catcher – Physical Defender with basic tanking abilities. Does one thing adequately but offers little else.

The Complete Arknights Endfield Character List

Here’s everyone you can recruit, sorted by rarity and then alphabetically. All 23 confirmed launch Operators with complete details.

6-Star Operators (The Premium Squad) in Arknights Endfield

Character	Class	Element	Weapon	Role
Ardelia	Support	Nature	Arts Unit	Amplifier/Healer
Ember	Defender	Heat	Great Sword	Tank
Endministrator	Guard	Physical	Sword	Sub-DPS
Gilberta	Support	Nature	Arts Unit	Amplifier
Laevatain	Striker	Heat	Sword	Main DPS
Last Rite	Striker	Cryo	Great Sword	Main DPS
Lifeng	Guard	Physical	Polearm	Main DPS
Pogranichnik	Vanguard	Physical	Great Sword	Bruiser/DPS
Yvonne	Caster	Cryo	Handcannon	Main DPS

The 6-star crew is where the real powerhouses live. These are your endgame carries, the Operators who’ll stick with you through the toughest content. Getting even one of these early can completely change how smoothly your playthrough goes.

Key Insights: Laevatain and Last Rite are the top DPS options with different strengths—Laevatain for single-target burst, Last Rite for AoE coverage. Ardelia is the most versatile support, working in virtually any team. Pogranichnik offers unique value as a damage-dealing frontliner.

5-Star Operators (The Reliable Backbone) in Arknights Endfield

Character	Class	Element	Weapon	Role
Alesh	Vanguard	Cryo	Sword	Tank/Sub-DPS
Arclight	Vanguard	Electric	Sword	Sub-DPS
Avywenna	Striker	Electric	Polearm	Burst DPS
Chen Qianyu	Guard	Physical	Sword	Sub-DPS
Da Pan	Striker	Physical	Great Sword	Main DPS
Perlica	Caster	Electric	Arts Unit	AoE DPS
Snowshine	Defender	Cryo	Great Sword	Tank
Wulfgard	Caster	Heat	Handcannon	Main DPS
Xaihi	Support	Cryo	Arts Unit	Healer/Support

Don’t sleep on the 5-stars. Seriously. In Arknights: Endfield, these characters are absolutely viable for all content, and some of them can outperform 6-stars in specific situations. Plus, they’re way easier to pull and upgrade.

Standout Performers: Wulfgard punches way above his weight class after buffs, functioning as a legitimate endgame DPS option. Perlica provides consistent Electric AoE damage and is completely free through story progression. Avywenna offers the highest burst damage potential among 5-stars when her rotation aligns perfectly.

4-Star Operators (Budget Beasts) in Arknights Endfield

Character	Class	Element	Weapon	Role
Akekuri	Vanguard	Heat	Sword	SP Battery
Antal	Support	Electric	Arts Unit	Buffer
Catcher	Defender	Physical	Great Sword	Tank
Estella	Guard	Cryo	Polearm	Sub-DPS
Fluorite	Caster	Nature	Handcannon	AoE DPS

The 4-star squad might seem basic, but in early-to-mid game? These folks absolutely pull their weight. They’re easier to fully upgrade since you’ll pull duplicates naturally, making them surprisingly strong investments.

The Hidden Gem: Akekuri is genuinely SS-tier despite her 4-star status. Her SP generation mechanic is irreplaceable in high-difficulty content, enabling your team’s ultimate abilities to fire more frequently. Many endgame players consider her mandatory for optimized clears.

Mystery Operators (Coming Soon™)

Tangtang was teased during the 1.0 livestream, and she’s apparently going to be important in the next couple of updates. Based on promo art, she’s rocking a Handcannon, but beyond that? Your guess is as good as mine. Her rarity and class are still under wraps.

A word about Fjall: If you played the beta, you might be wondering where this guy went. The 5-star Defender completely vanished after the first beta test. He might show up in a future update, or he might be stuck in development limbo. Beta veterans, pour one out.

Best Team Compositions for Arknights Endfield

Understanding individual characters is great, but Endfield rewards smart team synergy. Here are the top meta compositions that dominate current endgame content.

Best Heat Team – The Laevatain Comp

• Main DPS: Laevatain
• Element Driver: Wulfgard
• SP Battery: Akekuri
• Support: Ardelia

How it works: Akekuri generates SP to enable frequent ultimate rotations. Wulfgard applies Heat status and deals respectable damage. Laevatain capitalizes on Heat application with massive burst windows. Ardelia buffs damage, provides healing, and keeps the team alive. This is the highest single-target DPS composition in the game.

Budget Alternative: Replace Laevatain with Ember and Ardelia with Fluorite for a completely F2P version that still clears all story content.

Best Cryo Team – The Freeze Squad

• Main DPS: Last Rite
• Element Driver: Yvonne
• Tank: Snowshine
• Support: Xaihi

How it works: Cryo teams excel at crowd control through freezing enemies. Yvonne and Last Rite layer Cryo applications for consistent freeze procs. Snowshine provides frontline presence while contributing to Cryo stacks. Xaihi heals and amplifies Cryo damage. This team dominates multi-enemy scenarios and stages where controlling enemy movement is critical.

F2P Friendly: Last Rite, Snowshine, and Xaihi are all free or easily obtainable. Only Yvonne requires gacha luck, and she can be replaced with Alesh for budget clears.

Best Electric Team – Shock and Awe

• Main DPS: Avywenna
• Element Driver: Perlica
• Vanguard: Arclight
• Support: Antal

How it works: Electric teams focus on chain damage and multi-target pressure. Perlica provides consistent AoE Electric application. Avywenna executes high burst damage during Electric windows. Arclight offers frontline presence with Electric damage contribution. Antal buffs Electric damage output across the team. Best for stages with multiple priority targets.

Accessibility: Perlica is story-guaranteed, and Antal is a 4-star you’ll obtain naturally. Only Avywenna and Arclight require gacha investment.

Best Physical Team – Raw Power

• Main DPS: Pogranichnik
• Sub-DPS: Lifeng
• Sub-DPS: Chen Qianyu
• Support: Ardelia or Gilberta

How it works: Physical teams don’t rely on elemental reactions, making them straightforward but effective. Pogranichnik functions as a bruiser frontliner with excellent damage scaling. Lifeng and Chen Qianyu provide consistent Physical damage from different ranges. Nature Supports amplify the entire team’s output. This composition excels against enemies with elemental resistances.

F2P Note: Chen Qianyu is story-guaranteed. Combined with easily obtainable 4-star Physical units, you can build a functional Physical team without any gacha luck.

Universal Core Combo

If you’re building multiple teams or haven’t settled on an element focus yet, these two units work in virtually every composition:

• Akekuri – SP generation benefits every team regardless of element
• Ardelia – Universal amplification and healing fits any strategy

Invest in these two first, then build around them based on your gacha pulls and playstyle preferences.

Best Characters for Rerolling

If you’re willing to reroll for the optimal start, here’s what to target on your initial pulls:

Top Priority Reroll Targets

1. Laevatain – The single best DPS character in the game. She trivializes early content and remains competitive in endgame. If you get her, stop rerolling immediately.

2. Last Rite – Nearly equal to Laevatain with better AoE coverage. Slightly more forgiving for newer players due to her range and area damage.

3. Ardelia – While you get her free after three login days, pulling her early lets you start using her immediately rather than waiting. She’s that important to team building.

Solid Secondary Options

Yvonne – Exceptional single-target damage. Pair her with the free Cryo units for a strong foundation.

Pogranichnik – Unique bruiser playstyle that’s both fun and effective. Great if you prefer aggressive, in-your-face combat.

Lifeng – Versatile Physical damage dealer who fits in multiple team compositions.

Beginner Banner Recommendations

The New Horizons Headhunting banner guarantees one of five 6-stars within 40 pulls. Here’s the priority ranking:

1. Ardelia – Most versatile, fits every team (though you get her free eventually)
2. Last Rite – Highest DPS potential from the beginner pool
3. Pogranichnik – Unique playstyle, strong performance
4. Lifeng – Solid Physical damage, good flexibility
5. Ember – Functional but tanks are less critical in current meta

Don’t stress too much about the beginner banner choice—all five options are genuinely useful. Your account won’t be bricked by picking “wrong.”

Best F2P Characters and How to Get Them

Here’s great news for free-to-play players: Arknights Endfield is remarkably generous with powerful characters that require zero gacha luck.

Completely Free 6-Stars

Ardelia – Log in for three consecutive days. That’s it. She’s SS-tier and completely free. Don’t skip your login during the first week.

Completely Free 5-Stars

Snowshine – Claim pre-registration milestone rewards from your mail. A solid Cryo tank that carries you through early game.

Perlica – Story progression reward. Reliable Electric Caster who remains viable in endgame Electric teams.

Wulfgard – Story progression reward. Post-buff, he’s a legitimate endgame DPS option. Invest heavily in him.

Chen Qianyu – Story progression reward. Dependable Physical Guard who handles sub-DPS duties effectively.

Guaranteed Through Beginner Banner

The New Horizons banner gives you a 6-star within 40 pulls, and the game showers you with enough free Permits during the launch period to max it out without spending.

Optimal F2P Core Team

With just free characters and the beginner banner, you can build this endgame-viable team:

• Main DPS: Wulfgard (free from story)
• Sub-DPS: Chen Qianyu (free from story)
• Support: Ardelia (free from login)
• Flex Slot: Last Rite or Pogranichnik (beginner banner choice)

This composition clears all story content and remains competitive in endgame activities. You don’t need perfect gacha luck to succeed.

How to Actually Get Characters in Arknights: Endfield

Alright, so you know who’s available and who to target. Now let’s talk about the actual acquisition methods, because just staring at the character list won’t add anyone to your barracks.

Headhunting (AKA The Gacha)

This is your main source for new Operators. You’ll spend Permits in the Headhunting menu to pull characters. There are a few ways to get Permits:

• Just playing the game – The devs are pretty generous with freebies
• Converting Oroberyl – Free currency you earn naturally
• Buying Origeometry – The premium currency (if you’re opening your wallet)

You’ve got three banner types to work with:

Basic Headhunting: The permanent banner. Use Basic HH Permits here. It’s always available, which is nice when you just want to scratch that gacha itch.

Limited-Time Banners: These rotate and feature specific characters with rate-ups. You’ll use Chartered HH Permits here. This is where you hunt for that one specific waifu or husbando you’ve been eyeing.

Version 1.0 Featured Banner Schedule:

• Phase 1 (Jan 22 – Feb 7): Laevatain rate-up – If you want the best DPS, pull here
• Phase 2 (Feb 8 – Feb 23): Gilberta rate-up – For Nature support enthusiasts
• Phase 3 (Feb 24 – Mar 12): Yvonne rate-up – Cryo single-target specialists, this is your window

New Horizons Headhunting: The beginner banner gives you 40 pulls max, and you’re guaranteed to walk away with either Ardelia, Ember, Last Rite, Lifeng, or Pogranichnik. Honestly? This is one of the best deals in the game, so don’t skip it.

Story Progression (Free Stuff!)

Some characters join you just for playing through the main story. No gacha RNG required:

• Endministrator – Very early story unlock
• Perlica – Story Chapter 1 completion
• Chen Qianyu – Story Chapter 2 completion
• Wulfgard – Story Chapter 3 completion

These story Operators are solid additions to your roster and ensure you always have a functional team even if your gacha luck is trash.

Bond Quota Exchange in Arknights: Endfield

Here’s a neat system: every time you pull on banners, you earn Bond Quota currency. Head over to the Bond Quota Exchange in the store and you can straight-up buy Employment Contracts for specific characters.

The catch? The available character rotates every few weeks. But here’s the cool part—if you already have that character, the Employment Contract acts as a dupe to help upgrade them. Keep checking back regularly so you don’t miss someone you want.

Events (Easy Freebies)

Right now we’ve mainly seen login events and pre-registration rewards, but gacha games love giving away free characters during events. Expect this to be a regular thing.

At launch, you can score:

• Snowshine – Claim the pre-registration milestone rewards from your mail
• Ardelia – Just log in for three days straight

Literally free 6-star and 5-star characters for showing up. Don’t leave these on the table.

Understanding Elemental Reactions and Team Synergy

Arknights Endfield isn’t just about collecting strong individual units—it’s about understanding how elements interact and amplify each other.

Heat (Fire) Element

Mechanics: Heat applies damage-over-time effects and increases damage taken by affected enemies.

Best for: Single-target burst damage and boss encounters.

Key Characters: Laevatain (striker), Wulfgard (caster), Ember (defender), Akekuri (vanguard)

Synergy Note: Heat teams excel when you layer DoT effects then capitalize with high burst damage during windows. Wulfgard applies Heat, Laevatain executes during the vulnerability window.

Cryo (Ice) Element

Mechanics: Cryo slows enemy movement and attack speed, with sufficient stacks freezing enemies completely.

Best for: Crowd control, multi-enemy scenarios, and defensive strategies.

Key Characters: Last Rite (striker), Yvonne (caster), Snowshine (defender), Xaihi (support), Alesh (vanguard), Estella (guard)

Synergy Note: Cryo teams benefit from having multiple Cryo appliers to reach freeze thresholds quickly. Once enemies are frozen, position your DPS for maximum damage during the immobilized window.

Electric (Lightning) Element

Mechanics: Electric attacks chain to nearby enemies and increase damage against clustered foes.

Best for: AoE damage, stages with multiple clustered enemies, and spreading pressure across the battlefield.

Key Characters: Avywenna (striker), Perlica (caster), Arclight (vanguard), Antal (support)

Synergy Note: Electric’s strength multiplies when enemies are grouped together. The chain reactions create exponential damage as more targets are added. Position matters enormously with Electric teams.

Physical (Non-Elemental)

Mechanics: Raw damage without elemental reactions. Relies on pure stat scaling and critical hits.

Best for: Consistent damage output, fighting enemies with elemental resistances, and straightforward strategies.

Key Characters: Pogranichnik (vanguard), Lifeng (guard), Chen Qianyu (guard), Endministrator (guard), Da Pan (striker), Catcher (defender)

Synergy Note: Physical teams don’t have the flashy reactions of elemental teams, but they’re never at a disadvantage. When enemies have multi-element resistance, Physical damage becomes the most reliable option.

Nature (Support Element)

Mechanics: Nature doesn’t deal direct damage but provides healing, buffing, and team amplification.

Best for: Supporting any team composition with sustain and damage amplification.

Key Characters: Ardelia (support), Gilberta (support), Fluorite (caster)

Synergy Note: Nature Supports are universal. They fit in literally any team composition because they enhance rather than compete with other elements.

Advanced Tips for Building Your Team

• Diversify your elements: Elemental coverage matters in Endfield. Don’t stack all Physical Operators and wonder why you’re struggling against certain enemies. Build at least two functional elemental teams.
• Classes have roles: Defenders tank, Strikers deal damage, Supports amplify. Sounds obvious, but team composition actually matters here. A team of four DPS will get overrun. Balance offense with sustain.
• Don’t ignore lower rarities: A fully upgraded 4-star can outperform an under-invested 6-star. Resource management is key. Akekuri proves that rarity isn’t everything.
• Invest in SP generation: Ultimate abilities win fights. Akekuri’s SP battery mechanic is so valuable that she slots into virtually every endgame team regardless of element.
• Position matters: Unlike traditional tower defense Arknights, Endfield has action combat positioning. Ranged characters should maintain distance, melee should control space. Electric teams especially benefit from positioning enemies in clusters.
• Element reactions stack: More applications of the same element = stronger reactions. Two Cryo characters freeze faster than one. Three Heat characters create bigger damage windows.
• Read enemy resistances: Some enemies resist specific elements. If you’re struggling, check if the enemy has resistance to your main damage type. This is where having multiple built teams pays off.
• Upgrade weapons and gear: Character levels alone won’t carry you. Equipment upgrades provide significant power spikes. Don’t neglect the gear grind.
• Use what you enjoy: Meta changes, but fun is forever. If you vibe with a character’s design or playstyle, invest in them. Skill expression can compensate for tier list positioning.

For more ways to boost your roster, don’t forget to check out active redeem codes and grab those free rewards.

Where to Download Arknights Endfield

Ready to start collecting? Grab the game here:

• Official Website: endfield.gryphline.com
• Google Play Store: Download for Android
• Epic Games Store: Download for PC

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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Building Your Perfect Squad

The character roster in Arknights: Endfield is constantly evolving, with new Operators joining the fray in future updates. The beauty of this game is that there’s no single “correct” team—elemental diversity, multiple viable strategies, and genuine F2P accessibility mean you have real choices in how to build your squad.

Focus on building one strong elemental core first, then branch out as your roster expands. Invest heavily in your DPS carry and your support backbone (especially Akekuri and Ardelia). Don’t neglect free characters—Wulfgard, Chen Qianyu, and Perlica all remain competitive in endgame content.

Most importantly, remember that meta shifts with patches and new character releases. The units that feel mandatory today might be outclassed tomorrow, but characters you genuinely enjoy playing will always be worth the investment. Build smart, but build for fun.

Keep an eye on official announcements for upcoming releases, rotating banners, and character buffs/nerfs. The frontier of Talos-II is just beginning to open up—and your perfect squad is waiting to be assembled. Good luck, Endminister!

Also Check:

All Arknights Endfield Characters: Your Complete Operator Roster Guide

Best Pogranichnik Teams and Compositions in Arknights Endfield