Arknights Endfield Tier List (March 2026) Best Characters Ranked for 1.0 Update
Welcome to the most comprehensive Arknights Endfield tier list for the 1.0 update! As a seasoned player who has spent countless hours analyzing character performance and team compositions, I’m here to guide you through the current meta and help you make informed decisions about which operators to invest in.
Arknights Endfield’s combat system revolves heavily around team composition and character selection rather than just mechanical skill. This makes choosing the right operators absolutely crucial for your success. Whether you’re a free-to-play player looking to maximize your resources or a whale aiming for the most powerful teams, this tier list will help you understand where each character stands in the current meta.
Quick Overview: Endfield 1.0 Tier Rankings
| Tier | Characters | Role Focus |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Laevatain, Ardelia, Yvonne, Pogranichnik, Gilberta | Meta-defining units |
| S | Last Rite, Xaihi, Antal, Lifeng, Avywenna, Endministrator | Core team members |
| A | Wulfgard, Perlica, Akekuri, Chen Qianyu | Strong situational picks |
| B | Da Pan, Arclight, Alesh | Team-specific specialists |
| C | Ember, Snowshire, Estella, Fluorite, Catcher | Limited meta relevance |
Understanding Character Roles in Endfield
Before diving into the detailed rankings, it’s essential to understand the three primary character roles in Arknights Endfield:
- Main DPS: These characters specialize in dealing massive damage and form the core of your team’s offensive capabilities
- Element Driver: They inflict elemental susceptibilities that allow your main DPS to deal significantly more damage
- Support: These characters buff damage, heal allies, or provide utility through various means
SS Tier: The Meta Definers
Laevatain (Heat Striker)
Why SS Tier: Laevatain is currently the undisputed best DPS character in Arknights Endfield. As the first featured 6-star character on the banner, she showcases incredible power with massive AoE damage capabilities.
Strengths:
- Unmatched AoE damage output
- Relatively F2P-friendly to build (core team members obtainable for free)
- Excellent synergy with Heat-based teams
- Flexible team building options
Considerations:
- Team dependent, requires Combustion and Corrosion support
- Needs significant Heat Infliction from team members
Best Team Composition: Laevatain + Wulfgard + Akekuri + Antal
Ardelia (Nature Supporter)
Why SS Tier: Arguably the best support in the game, Ardelia brings unprecedented flexibility and power to any team composition.
Strengths:
- Applies both Corrosion and Physical/Arts susceptibility
- Team-wide healing capabilities
- Fits into virtually any team without anti-synergy
- Doesn’t apply or consume Inflictions, making her universally compatible
Considerations:
- Doesn’t apply Nature Infliction herself
- Requires proper positioning for maximum effectiveness
Yvonne (Cryo Caster)
Why SS Tier: Yvonne delivers devastating single-target damage that amplifies significantly after activating her Ultimate.
Strengths:
- Incredible single-target DPS
- Solidification application for crowd control
- Flexible team options within Cryo compositions
- Scales extremely well with endgame gear
Considerations:
- More effective in single-target scenarios
- Requires proper team setup for maximum Cryo synergy
Pogranichnik (Physical Vanguard)
Why SS Tier: His insane skill point generation ability makes him invaluable for any Physical team.
Strengths:
- Highest SP generation in the game
- Team-wide DMG buff through Ultimate
- Excellent Physical support capabilities
- Consistent performance across content
Considerations:
- Limited to Physical teams
- Requires proper Vulnerable stack management
Gilberta (Nature Supporter)
Why SS Tier: Combines AoE crowd control with Art Susceptibility application, making her an incredibly strong support.
Strengths:
- Innate AoE crowd control
- Art Susceptibility application
- Minor healing capabilities
- Excellent for both Overworld and combat content
Considerations:
- Performance drops in single-target scenarios
- Requires team coordination for maximum effectiveness
S Tier: Core Team Members
Last Rite (Cryo Striker)
As a 5-star character, Last Rite offers incredible value with strong Cryo DPS capabilities and Cryo Susceptibility application. She’s one of the most accessible top-tier characters and essential for Cryo team compositions.
Xaihi (Cryo Supporter)
The core support for Cryo teams, Xaihi provides essential healing, buffs, and Cryo Infliction. Her ability to apply Arts Amp, Cryo Amp, and increased Cryo DMG makes her irreplaceable in Cryo compositions.
Antal (Electric Supporter)
Despite being only a 4-star character, Antal is perfect for Heat and Electric teams. His amplification abilities make him a valuable asset for two of the strongest current meta team types.
Lifeng (Physical Guard)
A 6-star support with high Vulnerability application and combo buffs. His ability to apply Physical Susceptibility and buff the next character’s Battle Skill or Ultimate makes him perfect for Physical teams.
Avywenna (Electric Striker)
Currently the strongest Electric DPS character, Avywenna drives the entire Electric meta. Her serious damage output and Electric Infliction capabilities make her essential for Electric team compositions.
Endministrator (Physical Guard)
Don’t let the fact that everyone gets this character for free fool you – Endministrator is easily one of the best characters to build. With good DPS damage, crowd control, easy combo triggers, and buffing potential, they can carry you through endgame content when built correctly.
A Tier: Strong Situational Picks
Wulfgard (Heat Caster)
While available as a free character, Wulfgard shines as a core Heat driver for Laevatain teams. His Heat Infliction capabilities and Combustion application make him valuable, though somewhat greedy with stack management.
Perlica (Electric Caster)
The first free character after Endministrator, Perlica perfectly complements the protagonist and serves as a core character for Electric teams. Her flexible Electrification application makes her valuable in various compositions.
Akekuri (Heat Vanguard)
While not impressive alone, Akekuri serves as an excellent SP generator for many teams. Her Heat application is vital for Laevatain teams, and her flexibility makes her a solid A-tier choice.
Chen Qianyu (Physical Guard)
More than just a support character, Chen Qianyu boosts AIC Factory production while providing excellent Vulnerability application, crowd control, and stagger effects for Physical teams.
B Tier: Team-Specific Specialists
Da Pan (Physical Striker)
Can function as a main DPS for Physical teams but struggles to match the damage output of higher-tier characters. Requires specific team building focused on Vulnerability stacking.
Arclight (Electric Vanguard)
Offers decent SP generation for Electric teams but consumes Electrification to do so. Works well in Electric compositions but has limited utility outside them.
Alesh (Cryo Vanguard)
Currently in a difficult spot with no ideal team composition. Can work in Physical/Cryo hybrid teams but doesn’t match the performance of more specialized characters.
C Tier: Limited Meta Relevance
Ember (Heat Defender)
While offering healing, shields, and Protection, Ember’s limitation to Physical teams despite her Heat element and requirement to get hit for healing severely restrict her effectiveness.
Snowshire (Cryo Defender)
Provides healing and can apply Solidification through her Ultimate, but her utility is heavily restricted to healing, and Cryo Infliction relies on enemy behavior.
Estella (Cryo Guard)
Offers decent Cryo Infliction application but is limited to Shatter teams that currently don’t perform as well as other meta compositions.
Fluorite (Nature Caster)
Adds Cryo and Nature Inflictions but has limited utility beyond that. Her long Combo Skill cooldown reduces her effectiveness in most scenarios.
Catcher (Physical Defender)
Essentially a budget version of Ember with Vulnerable application. While providing Protection and shields, he doesn’t raise the ceiling of Physical teams like other options.
Team Composition Strategies
Heat Teams (Laevatain Focus)
Core: Laevatain + Wulfgard + Akekuri + Antal This composition maximizes Laevatain’s potential through consistent Heat Infliction, Combustion application, and SP generation.
Cryo Teams (Yvonne/Last Rite Focus)
Core: Yvonne + Xaihi + Last Rite + Fluorite/Snowshire Focus on Cryo Infliction stacking and Solidification reactions for maximum damage output.
Electric Teams (Avywenna Focus)
Core: Avywenna + Perlica + Arclight + Antal Built around Electrification consumption and Electric damage amplification.
Physical Teams (Endministrator Focus)
Core: Endministrator + Pogranichnik + Lifeng + Chen Qianyu Maximizes Vulnerability stacking and Physical damage through coordinated team attacks.
Building Priority for F2P Players
- Endministrator (Free) – Your starting character, surprisingly powerful
- Perlica (Free) – Essential Electric support
- Wulfgard (Free) – Core for Heat teams
- Chen Qianyu (Free) – Best Vulnerability application for Physical teams
- Laevatain (Limited Banner) – If you pull her, prioritize building immediately
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Team Synergy: Don’t just build individual characters – focus on complete team compositions
- Spreading Resources Too Thin: It’s better to fully invest in 2-3 teams than partially build 5-6
- Neglecting Free Characters: Some of the best characters in the game are free to obtain
- Overlooking Element Reactions: Understanding how elements interact is crucial for maximizing damage
Future Meta Considerations
The current meta is heavily influenced by the 1.0 update character pool. As new characters are released in future updates, we can expect:
- New Element Combinations: Future updates may introduce new elements that shake up the current meta
- Power Creep: As with any gacha game, newer characters will likely surpass current top tiers
- Team Composition Evolution: New characters may enable entirely new team archetypes
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best character in Arknights Endfield 1.0?
Laevatain is currently considered the best character due to her unmatched AoE damage output and relatively accessible team building requirements.
Should I pull for limited banner characters?
Limited characters like Laevatain typically offer the best long-term value, but consider your existing team composition and resource availability before pulling.
Are free characters worth investing in?
Absolutely! Characters like Endministrator, Perlica, and Wulfgard are among the best in their respective roles and are completely free to obtain.
How many teams should I focus on building?
For most players, focusing on 2-3 well-built teams is better than spreading resources across many incomplete teams.
What’s the best element type in the current meta?
Heat and Cryo currently have the strongest representation in the meta, with Electric and Physical following closely behind.
Conclusion
This Arknights Endfield tier list reflects the current 1.0 update meta, but remember that the best characters are those you enjoy playing. While SS-tier characters like Laevatain and Ardelia offer incredible power, don’t be afraid to invest in characters you personally enjoy – the game is designed to be enjoyable, after all!
Keep this guide bookmarked as I’ll be updating it regularly with each new update and character release. The meta in Arknights Endfield evolves quickly, and staying informed will help you maintain your competitive edge.