Arknights Endfield Tier List: Best Characters Guide

Arknights Endfield Tier List: Best Characters to Pull

With 25 operators available as of August 2026, Arknights Endfield's roster is small enough that every pull matters. Unlike older gacha titles where a deep bench lets you absorb a bad banner, here you're often deciding between filling a gap or chasing a luxury pick. That makes tier lists more than just a thought exercise—they're a spending plan.

This guide breaks down the current meta based on in-game testing and community consensus. We'll cover the S-tier standouts, the budget options that punch above their weight, and how to think about your pull strategy. For more Arknights Endfield news and guides, check our hub.

At a Glance

• S-tier: Laevatain, Gilberta, Ardelia, Yvonne, Last Rite, Tangtang
• A-tier: Pogranichhnik, Endministrator, Perlica, Akekuri, Antal, Avywenna, Da Pan, Xaihi
• B-tier: Ember, Lifeng, Arclight, Chen Qianyu, Wulfgard, Snowshine
• C-tier: Estella, Alesh, Fluorite
• D-tier: Catcher
• Best F2P DPS: Last Rite (free via Standard/Beginner banners)
• Best healer: Ardelia (free copy available at launch)

Arknights Endfield Tier List (1.0)

The table below reflects our assessment of operator strength in the current version. Tiers are ordered by overall impact, but context matters—some units shine only in specific teams.

Tier	Operators
S	Laevatain, Gilberta, Ardelia, Yvonne, Last Rite, Tangtang
A	Pogranichhnik, Endministrator, Perlica, Akekuri, Antal, Avywenna, Da Pan, Xaihi
B	Ember, Lifeng, Arclight, Chen Qianyu, Wulfgard, Snowshine
C	Estella, Alesh, Fluorite
D	Catcher

Best Arknights Endfield Characters

Laevatain

The first limited-banner operator, Laevatain is the game's premier AoE DPS. She also brings solid single-target damage, attack resistance, and a self-heal that triggers below 40% HP. Managing her Melting Flame stacks is the key to maximizing output, but the mechanic is straightforward once you've run a few fights. If you have her, she's the centerpiece of most endgame clears.

Gilberta

Think of Gilberta as Endfield's version of Kazuha from Genshin Impact. She groups enemies, shreds defenses, and enables powerful Arts reactions. Support units tend to age well in gacha RPGs, and Gilberta's kit suggests she'll remain meta-relevant for a long time. She's a high-value pull if you're building around reaction damage.

Ardelia

Healers are scarce at launch, and Ardelia is the most consistent and flexible of the bunch. She applies Corrosion and can consume it to inflict Physical and Arts susceptibility, effectively amplifying your entire team's damage. If you're starting now, you can get a free copy of Ardelia—a massive boost for clearing endgame content without spending.

Yvonne

Where Laevatain excels against groups, Yvonne is the strongest single-target DPS in the game. She's a boss killer first and foremost, and she pairs naturally with fellow Cryo damage dealer Last Rite in a sub-DPS slot. If you're struggling with high-HP elites, Yvonne is the answer.

Last Rite

Last Rite is the best free-to-play DPS in 1.0, offering a more accessible alternative to Yvonne in Cryo teams. Her combo skill requires stacking Cryo affliction, so she performs best in mono-element setups. That limits her flexibility, but if you pull her from the Standard or Beginner banners and add Xaihi or Yvonne, you'll have a core that can handle most content for the foreseeable future.

Teams & Synergies

Building around elemental reactions is the core of Endfield's team design. Here are two comps that work with the current roster:

• Cryo core: Yvonne (main DPS), Last Rite (sub-DPS), Ardelia (healer/support), Gilberta (CC/support). This team stacks Cryo affliction quickly and shreds both single-target and groups.
• Budget Cryo: Last Rite (main DPS), Xaihi (support), Ardelia (free healer), plus any flexible slot. This comp requires only one or two gacha pulls and can clear most story and early endgame content.

For more detailed team builds, see our Arcane best build guide, which covers gear and skill priorities that apply across casters.

Should You Pull?

Pull decisions in Endfield depend on your current roster and pity position. Here's a quick framework:

• If you lack a top-tier DPS: Laevatain or Yvonne are the highest-impact picks. Laevatain is more flexible for general content; Yvonne is better for boss fights.
• If you need a healer: Ardelia is the clear choice, and you can get her for free at launch. No need to pull unless you want duplicates.
• If you're F2P: Last Rite from the Standard or Beginner banner is your best bet. She's not as strong as Yvonne but requires far fewer resources.
• If you're saving for future banners: Gilberta is the safest long-term investment among supports. Her CC and defense shred are unlikely to be power-crept soon.

As always, check the current banner schedule before spending. For a detailed breakdown of past and upcoming banners, see our Arknights: Endfield 1.2 banner guide.

Events & Rewards

Limited-time events often provide free pulls, upgrade materials, and sometimes welfare operators. The Carly's Fairytale of the Valley event (running until 2026-02-24 on global servers) includes photo book quests that require specific operator types, such as a Lupo operator. If you're working through those tasks, our Lupo operator event guide explains which characters qualify.

Keep an eye on in-game mail and event shops for Oroberyl, the premium currency. Saving these for limited banners is usually the optimal strategy unless you're chasing a specific standard-pool unit.

Takeaway

Arknights Endfield's 1.0 meta is defined by a handful of standout operators, but the gap between S-tier and A-tier isn't insurmountable. Free options like Last Rite and Ardelia can carry you through most content if you build around their strengths. Pull for need, not hype—and always check the banner schedule before committing your Oroberyl.