There are 8 classes in Arknights, each with their strategic niches. While most operators in a class can be expected to follow their archetypes, they can also be categorized into sub-classes, with some Operators offering unique skills for their role. This guide aims to familiarize players with each class, their variants, and some examples!
Caster
Casters are the Arts users of the team and excel at dealing with heavily armored enemy units. Their deployment costs tend to be high, but their use of Arts to counter armored enemies makes them well worth the price. However, their attack speed is rather slow, and Sniper/Guard Operators should be deployed to more efficiently fight unarmored enemies.
Casters are split into two types: AoE and ST.
Casters are split into two types: AoE and ST.
Caster - AoE
AoE Casters tend to cost more than their ST counterparts.
Ifrit
Skyfire
Gitano
|
Caster - ST
ST Casters are better suited towards fighting singular armored enemy bosses.
Eyjafjalla
Amiya
Haze
|
Defenders
Defenders form the Frontline in missions by tanking and blocking enemies and protecting allies behind them. Defenders can Block 3 Enemies at once.
Do note that despite their high defensive power and survivability, Defenders typically have lower attack power. Thus, they will need more damaging Operators to support them.
There are two types of Defenders: "Normal" Defenders, and Heal-tank "Healing" Defenders.
Defender - Normal
Normal Defenders typically pack defense buffs and can take a great amount of reduced damage.
Hoshiguma
Liskarm
Cuora
|
Defender - Healing
Healing Defenders can regenerate health over time, which makes them slightly more self sufficient in the absence of Medics.
Saria
Nearl
Gummy
|
Guard
Guards typically specialize in Melee Physical DPS. Most of them have balanced damage and survivability, making them effective for a variety of missions. They can serve as a front line to protect Vanguards, or create a coordinated kill zone with other Guards.
Guards with low deployment cost can be placed in front of special enemies to block them.
This class is one of the most varied roles, with AoE, Block Multiple, Magical, and ST type Guards.
Guard - AoE
AoE Guards have abilities that allow them to deal AoE damage, which is excellent offense against waves.
Specter
Estelle
Savage
|
Guard - Block Multiple
Block Multiple Guards can block more than one enemy, allowing them to act closer to a Defender while dealing damage.
SilverAsh
Lappland
Frostleaf
|
Guard - Magical
Magical Guards deal Magical damage instead of Physical, making them well suited against armored enemies.
Mousse
|
Guard - ST Physical
ST Physical Guards specialize in dealing damage against single targets and are great against high hp unarmored enemies.
Indra
Franka
Melantha
|
Medic
Medic Operators can heal Operators who take damage during fights. They typically have no combat capabilities, but are indispensable for keeping allies alive.
Medics typically have low defense, but their healing is based on their Attack stat. They will usually need the protection of other Operators.
There are two types of Medics, AoE and ST.
Medic - AoE
AoE Medics can heal multiple allies at once, but their heals tend to be not as strong as individually. This makes them more suited for if multiple Operators are engaged.
Ptilopsis
Nightingale
Perfumer
|
Medic - ST
Conversely, ST Medics have stronger individual healing, which will work well with durable targets who really benefit from the extra healing.
Silence
Warfarin
Shining
|
Sniper
Snipers are responsible for long-range physical damage. They tend to have lower Deployment Cost, making them a good choice for lightly armored targets in the midgame. However, Snipers have poor survivability and will require some protection to keep them safe.
Note that Sniper Operators are not effective against armored enemies, and will need the support of Caster Operators to deal with them.
Like Guards, Snipers are also a varied class. They are split into Anti Air, AoE, Close Range, and Special.
Sniper - Anti-air
Anti Air Snipers specialize in taking out aerial enemies like drones, and will prioritize them over other enemies.
Exusiai
Blue Poison
Platinum
|
Sniper - AoE
AoE Snipers are similar to AoE Casters in that they are well suited for dealing AoE damage against waves. They do tend to be more costly than their Single Target peers.
Meteorite
Shirayuki
|
Sniper - Close Range
Close Range Snipers seem contrarian, but gain bonuses against enemies that are close in their range. This allows them to deal higher damage with less chance of melee retaliation.
Provence
|
Sniper - Unclassified (Special Usage)
Special Snipers are similar to Special Class Operators, with special niche usage.
Firewatch
|
Specialist
Specialist Operators provide unique utility and tactics to control the battlefield. Some of them assassinate key enemy units on their own, while others can use the terrain to their advantage and kill the enemy.
Their methods are diverse and require an understanding of each individual's capabilities. But effective use brings tremendous reward.
Specialists can roughly be grouped into three types: Control, Fast Redeploy, and Shift.
Special - Control
Control Specialists allow control of the battlefield through direct utility-based interactions with the enemy.
Manticore
|
Special - Fast-Redeploy
Fast Redeploy Units are well suited to precision placement and assassinations due to their significantly reduced redeployment time. This allows them to quickly get in, get out, and take care of the next target.
Gravel
Projekt Red
|
Special - Shift
Shift Specialists can manipulate the enemy's position by pushing or pulling. Combined with special terrain like pits, they can make short work of enemies.
Rope
Shaw
Cliffheart
|
Support
Support Operators provide various buffs, debuffs, or summons. Most of them also have some ability to deal Arts Damage while using their abilities. Their useful effects can manipulate the flow of battle by strengthening the team or crippling the enemy, and even play a decisive role in victory.
There are three types of supports: Buffers, Debuffers, and Summoners.
Support - Buff
Buff-type Supports directly buff allies, allowing them greater battle proficiency.
Pramanix
Sora
|
Support - Slow
Slow Supports debuff the enemies, making them easier to take down by allied Operators.
Angelina
Istina
Earthspirit
|
Support - Summon
Summoners support the team by creating pet units. These pet units can fight the enemy and increase the fighting force manifold.
Mayer
Deepcolor
|
Vanguard
Vanguard Operators help with battlefield deployment and are typically deployed first. They normally have a lower deployment cost, and have skills or abilities that recover Deployment Points.
Vanguards are typically strong enough to handle the initial waves of enemies, paving the way for more powerful allies' deployment. However, they typically are not great at blocking and will require help defeating enemies in the midgame.
This class is split into two types depending on their Deployment Point skills. There are Deployment Recovery and Deployment Refund types.
Vanguard - DP-Recovery
Deployment Recovery type Operators have a skill that provides a set amount of DP every so often. This makes them a consistent source of DP so long as they are deployed regardless of enemy amount.
Siege
Texas
Zima
|
Vanguard - DP-Refund
Deployment Refund Operators provide DP based on unit kills and refund their DP cost when retreated. This makes them excellent at holding the fort early on and gaining a burst of DP for stronger Operators to take their place.
Vigna
Plume
|
Source : gamepress.gg
