Arknights Endfield Tier List 2026: Best Characters Ranked (S-Tier to C-Tier)

Arknights: Endfield introduces a fundamentally different combat philosophy compared to its predecessor. Rather than relying on raw, isolated damage numbers, the game emphasizes elemental reactions such as Combustion, Corrosion, Cryo, and Electric where operator synergy often outweighs individual power. 

As of January 2026, the launch roster consists of 23 operators, each evaluated not only by damage output but also by how effectively they enable, amplify, or sustain team-based interactions.

This tier list reflects the current launch meta, focusing on consistency across early-to-mid game content, scalability with investment, and flexibility within reaction-driven compositions. Operators are ranked from S-Tier (meta-defining) to C-Tier (situational or underperforming) based on role-specific performance and team contribution.

Key Takeaways

• Team synergy defines power in Arknights Endfield; elemental interactions matter more than solo DPS.

• S-Tier operators dominate by enabling reactions, not just dealing damage.

• Survivalist roles remain underdeveloped at launch, suggesting future balance updates.

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Tier Ranking Meanings

Before diving into individual roles, it is important to understand how each tier is defined within the current Endfield meta.

S-Tier

Meta-defining operators that excel across most content types. These units are top priorities for rerolling and long-term investment.

A-Tier

Strong and reliable alternatives that fit into most team compositions but fall slightly short of meta dominance.

B-Tier

Operators with niche value or conditional strength. They often require higher investment or specific synergies to shine.

C-Tier

Generally underperforming operators with limited utility, weak scaling, or restrictive mechanics in the current meta.

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DPS Tier List – Arknights Endfield Best Damage Dealers

S-Tier DPS

Laevatain
Laevatain stands uncontested at the top due to her exceptional AoE damage scaling when paired with Heat Infliction supports. Her ability to consistently trigger Combustion reactions makes her the backbone of many high-efficiency teams.

A-Tier DPS

Last Rite
Avywenna
Both operators excel in Cryo and Electric burst damage, offering strong rotational DPS windows. However, their performance is more timing-dependent compared to Laevatain’s sustained output.

B-Tier DPS

Da Pan
Endministrator
Wulfgard
These units provide respectable damage but suffer from cooldown limitations, narrower AoE coverage, or heavy reliance on precise team setups.

C-Tier DPS

Remaining DPS operators currently lack either scaling, reaction efficiency, or reliable damage patterns, making them suboptimal for most compositions.

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Sub-DPS Tier List – Endfield Utility Damage Specialists

S-Tier Sub-DPS

Pogranichnik
Lifeng
These operators define the Sub-DPS role. Pogranichnik’s Breach and SP generation combined with Lifeng’s Physical Susceptibility and Link buffs significantly elevate overall team damage.

B-Tier Sub-DPS

Mid-tier Sub-DPS units offer partial utility or moderate off-field damage but lack the impact consistency of S-Tier options.

C-Tier Sub-DPS

Fluorite
Fluorite anchors the bottom tier due to delayed damage output and underwhelming buffs that fail to justify slot investment in reaction-centric teams.

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Support Tier List – Best Support Characters in Arknights Endfield

S-Tier Support

Ardelia
Ardelia is the most universally powerful support at launch. She provides Arts and Physical Susceptibility, paired with reliable healing, making her indispensable across virtually all compositions.

A-Tier Support

Antal
Gilberta
Antal enhances Heat-based teams, while Gilberta excels in Electric control and crowd disruption. Their limitations stem from either single-target focus or short Ultimate durations.

B-Tier and C-Tier Support

Lower-tier supports struggle with versatility, uptime, or scaling, often being replaced once stronger options are available.

Survivalist Tier List – Defensive Units Overview

Notably, no Survivalist operators reach S-Tier or A-Tier at launch. This role appears underdeveloped, with current options lacking sufficient mitigation, sustain, or taunt mechanics to function as true tanks. 

As a result, most teams rely on damage mitigation through control and healing rather than frontline durability.

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Meta Outlook for 2026

Arknights Endfield’s early meta strongly favors reaction-driven DPS cores supported by susceptibility debuffs and energy generation. Defensive playstyles are secondary, suggesting future updates may introduce stronger Survivalist units or rebalance existing ones to diversify strategies.

FAQ

What is the best character in Arknights Endfield right now?

Laevatain is currently the strongest operator due to her AoE damage scaling and synergy with Heat-based reactions.

Are tier lists in Endfield based on solo damage?

No, rankings heavily prioritize team synergy and elemental reactions over raw individual damage.

Is it worth rerolling in Arknights Endfield?

Yes, rerolling for S-Tier units like Laevatain or Ardelia provides a significant early-game advantage.

Why are Survivalist units ranked low?

At launch, Survivalist operators lack sufficient defensive mechanics and scalability compared to DPS and Support roles.

Will this tier list change in the future?

Yes, balance patches, new operators, and expanded content will likely shift the meta and tier rankings.

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