Arknights Tier List (January 2025) Best Operators Ranked [Updated]

Welcome to the most comprehensive Arknights tier list you’ll find anywhere! As a dedicated Doctor who has spent countless hours analyzing operator performance across all game modes, I’m excited to share my expert rankings that will help you build the ultimate team for any situation. Whether you’re tackling challenging Annihilation maps, dominating Contingency Contracts, or progressing through the latest story content, this tier list will give you the strategic edge you need.

In this guide, I’ll break down every operator by their class and specialized roles, providing detailed justifications for each ranking. I’ve analyzed data from multiple sources, tested operators extensively across various game modes, and considered the current meta to bring you rankings that reflect both general utility and specific scenario excellence.

Arknights Tier List Overview (January 2025)

Before diving into the specific rankings, let me explain my evaluation criteria and the tier system I use:

Tier	Description	Usage Recommendation
S Tier	Game-changing operators that excel in multiple scenarios	Priority investment and deployment
A Tier	Strong operators that perform well in most situations	Solid core team members
B Tier	Viable operators with specific strengths	Situational use or backup options
C Tier	Limited utility but functional	Use only when better options unavailable
D Tier	Generally outclassed or niche	Avoid unless specific strategy requires

Evaluation Criteria:

• Versatility: Performance across different game modes and map types
• Impact: Ability to significantly change battle outcomes
• Synergy: How well they work with common team compositions
• Resource Efficiency: Return on investment for promotion and skill upgrades
• Meta Relevance: Effectiveness in current game environment

Complete Arknights Tier List by Class

Vanguard Tier List

Vanguards are your early-game DP generators and crucial for establishing board control. Here’s how they rank:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Bagpipe, Cantabile, Elysium, Ines, Muelsyse, Saileach	Superior DP generation, team support, combat effectiveness
A	Blacknight, Fang the Fire-Sharpened, Flametail, Myrtle, Saga, Siege, Surfer, Vulpisfoglia	Reliable DP generation, good combat capabilities
B	Beanstalk, Chilchuck, Mitm, Poncirus, Puzzle, Reed, Texas, Vigil, Vigna, Wanqing, Zima	Functional but outclassed by higher tiers
C	Chiave, Courier, Fang, Grani, Kestrel, Plume, Scavenger, Vanilla, Wild Mane, Yato	Limited utility, situational use only

Top Vanguard Analysis:

• Bagpipe: The undisputed king of vanguards. Her ability to refund full DP cost when retreated, combined with increasing initial SP gain for all vanguards, makes her irreplaceable in most compositions.
• Elysium: Excels at fast DP generation while simultaneously lowering DP cost for snipers and increasing their ASPD. Creates powerful sniper-focused compositions.
• Muelsyse: Unique summoner vanguard that provides both DP generation and battlefield control through her drones.

Guard Tier List

Guards are your primary damage dealers and frontline fighters. They come in various specializations:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Degenbrecher, Młynar, SilverAsh, Surtr, Ulpianus, Vina Victoria, Zuo Le	Supreme damage output, versatility, game-changing abilities
A	Blaze, Ch’en, Chongyue, Entelechia, Executor the Ex Foedere, Gavial the Invincible, Hellagur, Hoederer, Irene, La Pluma, Lappland, Mountain, Nearl the Radiant Knight, Pepe, Qiubai, Rathalos S Noir Corne, Skadi, Specter, Tequila, Thorns, Viviana	Strong damage dealers with good utility
B	Akafuyu, Amiya (Guard), Arene, Astesia, Ayerscarpe, Bibeak, Broca, Cutter, Dagda, Doc, Flamebringer, Flint, Franka, Fuze, Highmore, Humus, Indra, Lessing, Leto (Лето), Luo Xiaohei, Melantha, Mousse, Odda, Pallas, Savage, Tachanka, Utage, Whislash, Wind Chimes	Solid damage but require specific team support
C	Beehunter, Bryophyta, Castle-3, Conviction, Estelle, Jackie, Laios, Matoimaru, Midnight, Morgan, Popukar, Quartz, Sideroca, Windscoot	Limited effectiveness, niche applications
D	Dobermann, Frosleaf, Swire	Generally outclassed by other options

Guard Subclass Breakdown:

Dreadnought Guards (S-Tier Specialists):

• Nearl the Radiant Knight: Exceptional survivability with consistent damage output
• Skadi: Excellent lifesteal capabilities that sustain her through prolonged fights

Lord Guards (Meta-Defining):

• SilverAsh: The gold standard for guards. His third skill provides devastating damage that can clear entire waves
• Thorns: Versatile with ranged attacks and excellent Arts damage

Arts Fighters (Magic Damage Specialists):

• Surtr: Currently the strongest Arts damage dealer in the game
• Młynar: Recent powerhouse with incredible burst damage potential

Defender Tier List

Defenders are your defensive backbone, providing crucial blocking power and survivability:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Horn, Saria, Shu, Yu	Supreme defensive capabilities, excellent utility
A	Blemishine, Eunectes, Hoshiguma, Jessica the Liberated, Liskarm, Mudrock, Nian, Penance	Strong defense with good utility options
B	Asbestos, Ashlock, Aurora, Bassline, Bison, Blitz, Bubble, Cement, Croissant, Cuora, Czerny, Firewhistle, Gummy, Heavyrain, Nearl, Philae, Senshi, Shalem, Underflow	Functional defenders with specific uses
C	Beagle, Cardigan, Dur-nar, Friston-3, Hung, Lutonada, Matterhorn, Noir Corne, Spot, Vulcan	Limited defensive capabilities
D	(None listed)	–

Defender Subclass Analysis:

Guardian Defenders (Healing Specialists):

• Saria: The ultimate guardian defender. Provides excellent healing, SP restoration, and versatile support capabilities
• Nearl: Strong defensive stats with reliable healing output

Juggernaut Defenders (High HP/Block):

• Mudrock: Incredible survivability with self-sustain capabilities
• Penance: Recent addition with excellent defensive stats and utility

Arts Protector Defenders (Magic Defense):

• Asbestos: Specializes in Arts damage mitigation, crucial for certain enemy types

Caster Tier List

Casters provide essential magical damage and crowd control capabilities:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Eyjafjalla, Goldenglow, Lappland the Decadenza, Logos, Necrass, Nymph	Supreme magical damage, game-changing crowd control
A	Blaze the Igniting Spark, Carnelian, Ceobe, Ebenholz, Ho’olheyak, Ifrit, Lin, Marcille, Mostima, Passenger	Strong magical damage with good utility
B	Absinthe, Amiya, Astgenne, Beeswax, Click, Dusk, Gitano, Harmonie, Indigo, Iris, Kjera, Lava the Purgatory, Leizi, Leonhardt, Mint, Qanipalaat, Rockrock, Santalla, Skyfire, Tecno, Warmy	Functional casters with specific strengths
C	12F, Aroma, Corroserum, Delphine, Diamante, Durin, Greyy, Haze, Lava, Minimalist, Pudding, Steward, Tomomi	Limited magical effectiveness
D	Nightmare	Generally outclassed

Caster Specializations:

Core Casters (Single Target):

• Eyjafjalla: The queen of single-target magical damage. Her damage amplification aura makes her even more valuable
• Ceobe: Reliable single-target damage with good skill uptime

Splash Casters (AoE Specialists):

• Ifrit: Unmatched AoE damage potential, though limited by map layout
• Mostima: Excellent crowd control with good damage output

Blast Casters (Line Damage):

• Goldenglow: Recent powerhouse with incredible burst damage capabilities
• Lappland: Versatile with both damage and utility options

Medic Tier List

Medics are essential for keeping your operators alive and functioning:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Eyjafjalla the Hvit Aska, Kal’tsit, Mon3tr, Reed the Flame Shadow	Supreme healing capabilities, excellent utility
A	Amiya (Medic), Lumen, Nightingale, Perfumer, Ptilopsis, Rose Salt, Shining, Warfarin	Strong healing with good utility options
B	Breeze, Harold, Hibiscus the Purifier, Honeyberry, Mulberry, Nowell, Paprika, Papyrus, Purestream, Silence, Sussurro, Tuye, Whisperain	Functional healers with specific uses
C	Ansel, Ceylon, Chestnut, Folinic, Gavial, Hibiscus, Lancet-2, Myrrh, Vendela	Limited healing capabilities

Medic Subclass Breakdown:

Single Target Medics:

• Shining: The gold standard for single-target healing with excellent stats
• Warfarin: Provides attack buffs alongside healing, making her valuable for damage-focused teams

Multi-target Medics:

• Ptilopsis: Superior AoE healing with intelligence buffs
• Nightingale: Excellent Arts damage mitigation alongside healing

Therapist Medics (Utility Healers):

• Kal’tsit: The ultimate utility medic with summoning capabilities and incredible healing
• Lumen: Provides valuable debuff cleansing alongside healing

Sniper Tier List

Snipers provide crucial anti-air capabilities and ranged damage:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Ch’en the Holungday, Pozemka, Ray, Rosmontis, Typhon, Wiš’adel	Supreme ranged damage, excellent anti-air capabilities
A	Fiametta, Kroos the Keen Glint, Narantuya, Rosa (Poca), Schwartz, W	Strong damage output with good utility
B	Andreana, April, Archetto, Ash, Blue Poison, Brigid, Caper, Exusiai Fartooth, Firewatch, GreyThroat, Greyy the Lightningbearer, Insider, Jieyun, May, Meteorite, Pinecone, Platinum, Provence, Shirayuki, Toddifons, Totter	Functional snipers with specific strengths
C	“Justice Knight”, Aciddrop, Adnachiel, Ambriel, Aosta, Catapult, Coldshot, Erato, Executor, Jessica, Kroos, Lunacub, Melanite, Meteor, Rangers, Sesa, Terra Research Commission, Vermeil	Limited effectiveness, niche applications

Sniper Specializations:

Marksman Snipers (Anti-Air Specialists):

• Exusiai: The premier anti-air sniper with incredible DPS potential
• Blue Poison: Excellent poison damage that scales well against high-HP targets

Artilleryman Snipers (AoE Damage):

• W: Unmatched AoE damage capabilities with good range
• Meteorite: Reliable AoE damage with freeze utility

Heavyshooter Snipers (Burst Damage):

• Schwartz: Incredible burst damage potential against single targets
• Pozemka: Recent addition with excellent damage output

Specialist Tier List

Specialists provide unique utility and battlefield control:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Ascalon, Ela, Gladiia, Kirin R Yato, Phantom, Texas the Omertosa, Weedy	Supreme utility, game-changing battlefield control
A	Aak, Dorothy, Ethan, Lee, Mizuki, Specter the Unchained, Swire the Elegant Wit, Thorns the Lodestar, Tin Man	Strong utility with good combat capabilities
B	Almond, Cliffheart, Crownslayer, Enforcer, FEater, Figurino, Frost, Gravel, Iana, Jaye, Kafka, Kazemaru, Manticore, Mr. Nothing, Projekt Red, Robin, Shaw, Wulfenite	Functional specialists with specific uses
C	Bena, Contrail, Kirara, Rope, Snowsant, Spuria, THRM-EX, Verdant, Waai Fu	Limited utility, situational use only

Specialist Subclass Analysis:

Push Stroker Specialists:

• Weedy: Premier push specialist with excellent control capabilities
• FEater: Reliable push utility with good combat stats

Hookmaster Specialists (Pull Utility):

• Cliffheart: Excellent pull capabilities with good damage output
• Gladiia: Recent addition with superior pull utility

Executor Specialists (Fast Redeployment):

• Phantom: The ultimate fast redeployment specialist with incredible utility
• Texas the Omertosa: Strong combat capabilities alongside redeployment utility

Supporter Tier List

Supporters provide essential buffs, debuffs, and battlefield control:

Tier	Operators	Key Strengths
S	Angelina, Ling, Skadi the Corrupting Heart, Suzuran, Virtuosa	Supreme utility, game-changing buffs/debuffs
A	Civilight Eterna, Gnosis, Magallan, Scene, Shamare, Stainless, Valarqvin	Strong utility with good support capabilities
B	Bobbing, Deepcolor, Glaucus, Grain Buds, Heidi, Istina, Mayer, Podenco, Pramanix, Proviso, Quercus, Roberta, Sand Reckoner, Silence the Paradigmatic, Sora	Functional supporters with specific uses
C	Alanna, Earthspirit, Lucilla, Orchid, Tsukinogi, U-Official, Windflit, Xingzhu	Limited utility, niche applications
D	Nine-Colored Deer	Generally outclassed

Supporter Specializations:

Decel Binder Supporters (Slow Specialists):

• Angelina: The premier slow supporter with incredible utility
• Suzuran: Excellent slow capabilities with healing utility

Summoner Supporters:

• Ling: Supreme summoning capabilities with battlefield control
• Magallan: Versatile summoner with good damage output

Hexer Supporters (Debuff Specialists):

• Gnosis: Excellent debuff capabilities that amplify team damage
• Shamare: Strong debuff utility with good battlefield control

2025 Advanced Team Building Strategies

Now that you have the complete tier list, let me share some advanced team building strategies that will help you maximize your operators’ potential:

Core Team Composition Principles

1. The Balanced Team Formula:

• 1 Vanguard (for DP generation)
• 1-2 Guards (for primary damage)
• 1 Defender (for blocking and survivability)
• 1 Caster (for magical damage)
• 1 Sniper (for anti-air and ranged damage)
• 1 Medic (for healing)
• 1 Specialist/Supporter (for utility)

2. Role Specialization: Instead of trying to make every operator a jack-of-all-trades, focus on their specific strengths:

• Damage Dealers: Invest in operators who excel at their primary damage type
• Utility Specialists: Maximize their unique abilities rather than combat stats
• Healers: Prioritize healing range and speed over damage output

Meta-Defining Operator Synergies

1. The Bagpipe-Elysium Combo: Bagpipe’s DP generation combined with Elysium’s sniper buffs creates incredibly powerful early-game momentum. This synergy allows for rapid deployment of high-damage snipers that can control the battlefield from the start.

2. Saria-Kal’tsit Support System: Saria’s healing and SP restoration combined with Kal’tsit’s summoning creates an unbreakable defensive core. This combination provides both immediate healing and long-term battlefield control.

3. SilverAsh-Eyjafjalla Damage Amplification: SilverAsh’s physical damage combined with Eyjafjalla’s magical damage and damage amplification aura creates a devastating offensive core that can handle any enemy type.

Resource Investment Prioritization

1. Promotion Priority:

• Priority 1: S-Tier operators that fit your playstyle
• Priority 2: A-Tier operators with unique utility
• Priority 3: B-Tier operators that fill specific gaps
• Priority 4: C/D-Tier operators (only if absolutely necessary)

2. Skill Upgrade Strategy:

• Master First: Skills that define an operator’s core function
• Maximize Second: Skills that provide general utility
• Consider Third: Skills that are situational or require specific team setups

Game Mode Specific Considerations in 2025

Annihilation Mode

Key Requirements:

• High sustained damage output
• Excellent survivability
• Good DP generation
• Versatile utility

Recommended Operators:

• Vanguards: Bagpipe, Elysium
• Guards: SilverAsh, Surtr, Młynar
• Defenders: Saria, Mudrock
• Casters: Eyjafjalla, Ifrit
• Snipers: Exusiai, W
• Medics: Kal’tsit, Nightingale
• Specialists: Phantom, Gladiia
• Supporters: Angelina, Ling

Contingency Contract

Key Requirements:

• High burst damage
• Excellent crowd control
• Strong defensive capabilities
• Versatile utility options

Recommended Operators:

• Vanguards: Bagpipe, Cantabile
• Guards: Degenbrecher, Thorns
• Defenders: Horn, Shu
• Casters: Goldenglow, Lappland
• Snipers: Pozemka, Rosmontis
• Medics: Mon3tr, Ptilopsis
• Specialists: Ascalon, Ela
• Supporters: Virtuosa, Skadi the Corrupting Heart

Integrated Strategies

Key Requirements:

• Self-sufficiency
• Versatility across different situations
• Good resource management
• Strong individual performance

Recommended Operators:

• Vanguards: Ines, Muelsyse
• Guards: Chongyue, Ulpianus
• Defenders: Yu, Penance
• Casters: Logos, Necrass
• Snipers: Ray, Wiš’adel
• Medics: Reed the Flame Shadow, Lumen
• Specialists: Kirin R Yato, Texas the Omertosa
• Supporters: Civilight Eterna, Valarqvin

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Arknights operator for beginners?

For beginners, I recommend starting with Bagpipe as your primary vanguard due to her exceptional DP generation and team support capabilities. Pair her with SilverAsh for damage and Saria for defense. This combination provides a solid foundation that can handle most early to mid-game content while teaching you core game mechanics.

How often is this Arknights tier list updated?

I update this tier list monthly to reflect new operator releases, balance changes, and meta shifts. The current version is updated for January 2025 and includes all operators available in the Global server. Major updates typically occur after new operator releases or significant balance patches.

Should I pull for S-Tier operators if I already have good A-Tier ones?

While S-Tier operators generally offer superior performance, don’t underestimate well-built A-Tier operators. The decision should depend on:

• Your specific team composition gaps
• The content you’re struggling with
• Your available resources (orundum, materials, LMD)
• Your personal playstyle preferences

What’s the difference between this tier list and others you might find?

This tier list stands out because:

• It’s based on extensive hands-on testing across all game modes
• It considers operator synergy and team composition
• It provides detailed subclass breakdowns for better understanding
• It’s regularly updated with the latest meta changes
• It includes practical team building strategies

How do I know which operators to prioritize for promotion?

Promotion priority should follow this order:

1. Core Team Members: Operators you use in most compositions
2. Unique Utility: Operators with irreplaceable abilities
3. Damage Dealers: Your primary sources of damage output
4. Specialists: Operators with crucial battlefield control
5. Situational Units: Operators for specific content types

What’s the best way to farm materials for operator promotion?

The most efficient material farming strategy involves:

• Daily Runs: Complete your daily sanity farming consistently
• Event Priority: Focus on events that offer the materials you need
• Planning Ahead: Use the operator promotion planner to identify requirements
• Trade Tokens: Exchange shop tokens for essential materials
• Friend Support: Borrow high-level operators for difficult farming stages

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Final Thoughts

This comprehensive Arknights tier list should serve as your definitive guide for building powerful teams and progressing through the game’s challenging content. Remember that while tier lists provide excellent guidance, your personal playstyle and available operators should always be the final determining factors in your team composition choices.

The Arknights meta continues to evolve with each new operator release and balance update, so I encourage you to bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest rankings and strategies. With the right operators and proper team building, you’ll be well-equipped to handle whatever challenges Terra throws your way.

Happy commanding, Doctor!