Arknights Tier List (October 2026): Best Operators Ranked

Arknights is a tower defense gacha game where map design matters as much as rarity. Our Arknights tier list ranks the operators that carry the most weight on the Global server. Since resources are often scarce, it can be tough to know which operators are best to recruit. And that’s exactly when this operator tier list comes in handy. Without further ado, let’s jump right in!

Arknights Tier List: All Operators Ranked

Not wanting to wait for the individual character breakdown? See the complete CZN tier list right now to get a rough idea of the best characters:

SS Tier Operators

Check out all the operators in this tier:

SilverAsh the Reignfrost

SilverAsh the Reignfrost is a limited Strategist Vanguard who works from the deployment bench. His Eye of the Blizzard sorts waiting operators by cost and gives those on its left bonus SP. Castled King generates DP and swaps your priciest operator's cost with the cheapest one.

Ch'en the Dawnstreak

Ch'en the Dawnstreak is an Arts Fighter Guard whose attacks deal Weakness Damage. Shadowless Speed unleashes ten slashes while she stays invulnerable, retargeting after each kill. Heaven's Plaint sends a sword wave that scales with enemy current HP. She also sits in the standard pool.

Leizi the Thunderbringer

Leizi the Thunderbringer is a Liberator Guard, so she neither attacks nor blocks while her ATK charges between skills. Her lightning talent still strikes tiles in range during that downtime. Each skill activation calls lightning onto ground tiles and applies Frighten, which clears crowded lanes fast.

Exusiai the New Covenant

Exusiai the New Covenant is a Geek Specialist who loses HP constantly, like every Geek. She heals whenever allies spend ammunition, and those shots can trigger area bombardment from her. Her talent also boosts ATK for ammo-skill users, with a bigger lift for Laterano operators.

Wang

Wang is a limited Trapmaster who fights with linked weiqi stones. Enemies that step onto an active stone set off its effect. Every Move Anticipated adds damage and RES ignore for stones in a straight chain. All-Dominating Fight floods his range with stones, even onto occupied tiles.

S Tier Operators

Check out all the operators in this tier:

Bagpipe

Bagpipe is a Charger Vanguard who earns DP from takedowns and refunds her cost on retreat. Her talent gives every Vanguard in the squad extra starting SP. Locked Breech Burst lets her keep dealing real damage long after the opening DP rush.

Ines

Ines is an Agent Vanguard who binds each enemy on her first hit and steals part of its ATK. Her range reveals invisible enemies and slows them. After she retreats, a Shadow Sentry keeps that area effect running, which suits stealth-heavy maps.

Degenbrecher

Degenbrecher is a Swordmaster who hits twice with every normal attack. Her talent can raise her ATK and inflict Frighten. Hits on frightened enemies ignore part of their DEF, so she carves through armoured elites that stall weaker Guards.

Młynar

Młynar is a Liberator Guard who charges ATK between skills without attacking or blocking. He draws more enemy attacks and hits harder when several enemies are nearby. He also counterattacks whenever Kazimierz allies take hits, and his skills release that stored power in huge swings.

Surtr

Surtr is an Arts Fighter with RES penetration built into her talent. Twilight turns her into a boss killer for a short window. A survival talent keeps her standing briefly after fatal damage, then forces her retreat. Treat her as a finisher, not a wall.

Ulpianus

Ulpianus is a Crusher Guard who hits every enemy he blocks. Taking damage heals him, and the heal grows stronger at low HP. Each kill stacks Max HP and ATK, and part of that bonus spreads to other Abyssal Hunters in the squad.

Zuo Le

Zuo Le is a Soloblade Guard who cannot receive healing from Medics. He recovers HP through his own attacks instead. Lower HP raises his attack speed and SP recovery, so he snowballs in long brawls that drain other melee carries.

Executor the Ex Foedere

Executor the Ex Foedere is a Reaper Guard who heals himself by landing area attacks rather than through Medics. Spending skill ammo raises his chance to hit twice. Deployed Laterano allies expand his ammo capacity, which stretches his damage window.

Entelechia

Entelechia is a Reaper Guard who sustains herself through area hits. Her talents steal Max HP from enemies and add lingering Arts damage. A one-time recovery at low HP also grants lasting physical protection, which buys time during risky holds.

Bellone

Bellone is a Fighter Guard who strips a target's DEF with repeated attacks. Her damage climbs as that enemy weakens. She also gets high evasion right after deployment, and it fades over time. Place her just before the big threat arrives.

Sakiko Togawa

Sakiko Togawa is a limited collab Lord Guard with strong DEF and RES ignore. Her continuous attacks spawn pursuing notes, and overlapping range with bandmates widens her reach. The shared Ave Mujica Fever gauge rewards full band teams, yet she still performs well alone.

Shu

Shu is a Guardian Defender who heals allies and leaves restorative ground beneath them. Those tiles keep protecting anyone who stands on them. Her second talent adds squad bonuses based on your class mix and how many Sui operators you field.

Saria

Saria is a Guardian Defender who pairs sturdy blocking with skill-based healing. Healing an ally also gives that ally SP. Calcification slows enemies in her range and makes them take more Arts damage, which suits Caster-heavy squads.

Hoshiguma the Breacher

Hoshiguma the Breacher is the only 6★ Arts Protector so far. Her normal attacks turn into Arts damage during skills. She gains RES and ATK as her HP falls. At zero HP, she enters a survival state and recovers on her own, since allied heals cannot pull her out.

Yu

Yu is a Primal Protector who deals ongoing Arts damage and Burn buildup to every enemy he blocks. Blocking also shields him from part of the incoming damage. With enough operators deployed, his talent heals both HP and elemental injury over time.

Wiš'adel

Wiš'adel is a Flinger Sniper who hits ground crowds with a main blast and a follow-up shockwave. Her attacks attach afterimages that explode on her aftershock. A nearby Revenant's Shadow summon grants her camouflage, which keeps her firing safely.

Typhon

Typhon is a Besieger who always targets the heaviest enemy in range. Continuous attacks stack DEF penetration, while long pauses reset it. The first skill hit on each enemy lands harder and slows it, which makes her ideal for boss lanes.

Ray

Ray is a Hunter Sniper who fires from an ammo pool and reloads while idle. Her deployable sandbeast extends her reach and sets her target priority. Repeated attacks on the same enemy stack ATK, so she rewards focus fire on elites.

Ch'en the Holungday

Ch'en the Holungday is a Spreadshooter who hits every enemy in range, with extra damage to the row directly ahead. Her talent can save skill ammo for herself and other Snipers. Point her front row down the main path to get full value.

Lemuen

Lemuen is a Deadeye Sniper who prioritises low-DEF targets. Elites and leaders caught in Laterano attack ranges become Wanted, which lets her lock onto them. Wanted targets also take more damage from every Laterano operator on the field.

Logos

Logos is a Core Caster whose talent can fire a second hit at a random enemy in range. That extra hit also briefly slows the target. His attacks also lower RES and raise the Arts damage targets take. That makes every other Arts source on your team hit harder.

Goldenglow

Goldenglow is a Mech-Accord Caster whose drone grows stronger while it stays on one target. Her talents add RES penetration and let the drone explode during skills. Her reach covers a large part of most maps, so she fits almost any stage.

Lappland the Decadenza

Lappland the Decadenza is a Mech-Accord Caster whose drones improve the longer she stays deployed. Her talent sequence raises their damage and adds special ability suppression. Later, she gains an extra drone. Siracusa allies also start with bonus SP when she joins the squad.

Mantra

Mantra is a Primal Caster who adds elemental damage tied to Paralysis on top of her Arts attacks. Her talents reward enemies that trigger Paralysis. She can also stack it on enemies arriving from the incursion point closest to her, so placement matters.

Necrass

Necrass is a Shaper Caster who raises blocking summons when enemies die in her range. Once her summon cap is full, extra kills upgrade an existing servant. She and her summons also hit harder against low-HP enemies, which helps finish tanky waves.

Nymph

Nymph is a Primal Caster who adds elemental damage to enemies suffering Necrosis fallout. Every Necrosis burst inside her range stacks her ATK. Pair her with a reliable Necrosis source like Virtuosa to keep that engine running.

Pramanix the Prerita

Pramanix the Prerita is a Phalanx Caster who holds a defensive stance between skills. In between using her skills, she deals area Arts damage. Her ability falling snow slows and damages enemies along her range. Her talent inflicts Cold and gives her a one-time defence against lethal damage.

Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska

Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska is a Wandering Medic who heals both HP and elemental injury. Her normal heals leave a lingering recovery effect. Allies in her range also gain Max HP and take less elemental injury, which matters a lot in elemental-heavy events.

Kal'tsit

Kal'tsit deploys Mon3tr, a hard-hitting summon that blocks enemies, and heals herself and Mon3tr first. Mon3tr loses its DEF outside her range, so keep them close. Command: Meltdown gives Mon3tr a huge but short damage spike for boss phases.

Mon3tr

Mon3tr, the playable Chain Medic, restores HP with bouncing heals that jump between allies. It can place a Reconstruction in range that boosts nearby ATK and extends healing chains. Each heal also gives Mon3tr and the target a short attack speed boost.

Reed the Flame Shadow

Reed the Flame Shadow is an Incantation Medic who heals allies by dealing Arts damage to enemies. Her attacks can apply Cinder, which lowers enemy ATK and raises the Arts damage they take. Healing an ally also restores her own HP.

Suzuran

Suzuran is a Decel Binder whose Arts attacks slow enemies. Slowed enemies in her range take extra damage from your whole team. She also speeds up SP recovery for deployed Supporters, which makes her an easy fit in almost any squad.

Virtuosa

Virtuosa is a Ritualist who applies constant Necrosis buildup to enemies in range. She also increases the Necrosis they receive, and her area talent adds brief recurring slows. Keep enemies inside her range long enough to hit fallout.

Tragodia

Tragodia is a Ritualist whose attacks and splash inflict Nervous Impairment. Enemies that attack inside her range build up that injury too. Once they reach fallout, their attack speed drops, which softens dangerous elites.

Haruka

Haruka is an Abjurer Supporter who swaps from Arts attacks to healing during her skill. Her protective bubbles cut damage for allies and heal the operator underneath when they pop. She covers a Medic role while still adding damage between skills.

Raidian

Raidian is a Summoner Supporter whose Arts attacks slow enemies. She raises the attack speed of adjacent operators and lowers the hit rate of enemies in her range. Slot her right next to your main carry for full value.

Texas the Omertosa

Texas the Omertosa is an Executor Specialist with fast redeployment. Her first kill on each deployment refreshes her deploy skill and heals her to full. Before that kill, she gains speed and damage reduction, which helps her reach priority targets.

Kirin R Yato

Kirin R Yato is an Executor Specialist who returns to the field quickly and adds Arts damage to her strikes. Her ATK talent stays active during her skill and for a short time after. Drop her on problem enemies, then retreat and repeat.

Ela

Ela is a Trapmaster who lays GRZMOT Mines on enemy paths. Her stronger attacks become guaranteed against mined targets. Retreating her also triggers a mine effect at her position, so even pulling her out deals damage.

Ascalon

Ascalon is an Ambusher who hits every enemy in range and can dodge both physical and Arts attacks. Her hits stack lingering Arts damage and a slow. Nearby high ground boosts her attack speed, so check the map before placing her.

A Tier Operators

Check out all the operators in this tier:

Myrtle

Myrtle is a 4★ Standard Bearer and one of the best DP generators in the game. She cannot block while her skill runs, but her talent heals Vanguards over time. Cheap promotion costs make her a must-build for new accounts.

Saileach

Saileach is a Standard Bearer whose banner raises ally attack speed and lowers enemy attack speed nearby. Deploying her also discounts the next operator you place. She cannot block during her skill, so keep another blocker ready.

Muelsyse

Muelsyse is a Tactician Vanguard who creates a Flowing Shape that partially copies an undeployed operator's stats and behaviour. Her squad talent cuts deployment costs for Rhine Lab operators, with a bigger cut on the first one.

Fang the Fire-Sharpened

Fang the Fire-Sharpened is a 5★ Charger who earns DP from kills and refunds her cost on retreat. She deploys cheaply, and retreating her discounts the next operator. That makes her a great opener for fast starts.

SilverAsh

SilverAsh is a Lord Guard who attacks from range and reveals invisible enemies in his reach. His squad talent cuts redeployment time for allies. Truesilver Slash remains one of the strongest area skills among older 6★ Guards.

Thorns

Thorns is a Lord Guard whose attacks apply Arts poison, which hits ranged enemies harder. He regenerates HP after a short break from attacking. Destreza gives him long uptime, so he can hold a lane for most of a stage.

Irene

Irene is a Swordmaster whose attacks hit twice and can ignore part of the target's DEF. That penetration becomes guaranteed against aerial enemies. She also gains extra attack speed against Sea Monsters.

Chongyue

Chongyue is a Fighter Guard whose normal attacks can temporarily raise his damage against the target. Defeating an enemy with a skill restores SP, so he chains skills quickly on waves full of weaker enemies.

Mudrock

Mudrock is a Juggernaut Defender who cannot receive healing from Medics. She builds shields over time instead and recovers HP whenever a shield breaks. She also takes less damage from Sarkaz enemies, so she holds a lane with almost no support.

Penance

Penance is a Juggernaut who ignores normal healing and relies on a barrier that grows with each kill. While the barrier holds, attackers take Arts retaliation damage. Feed her weak enemies early so the barrier is ready for elites.

Horn

Horn is a Fortress Defender who fires ranged area attacks while she is not blocking. She raises ATK for Defenders and can survive one lethal hit per deployment. After that save, her Max HP drops, so heal her carefully.

Blemishine

Blemishine is a Guardian Defender who heals through her skills. Allies with defensive recovery skills gain SP by attacking while she is deployed. She can also attack sleeping enemies and hits them harder, which pairs well with sleep teams.

Exusiai

Exusiai is a Marksman who prioritises aerial enemies, and her talent raises her attack speed. Overloading Mode turns each attack into a burst of shots. That burst shreds drones and low-DEF targets in seconds.

Archetto

Archetto is a Marksman who prioritises aerial enemies and feeds SP to other Snipers with offensive recovery skills. Her initial shield also grants SP when it breaks. She works best inside Sniper-heavy squads.

Fiammetta

Fiammetta is an Artilleryman who deals physical splash damage. She loses HP constantly but never dies from that drain. Staying above certain HP thresholds boosts her ATK, so keep a Medic on her.

Ceobe

Ceobe is a Core Caster who adds Arts damage based on the target's DEF. That makes armoured enemies much easier to break. She also gains ATK and attack speed when her four adjacent tiles stay empty.

Eyjafjalla

Eyjafjalla is a Core Caster who raises ATK for all Casters while deployed. She starts each deployment with a random amount of SP. Volcano remains a strong area nuke for clustered enemies with low RES.

Ifrit

Ifrit is a Blast Caster who fires long straight lines of area Arts damage. Enemies in her range suffer RES reduction, and she gains extra SP over time. Face her down a corridor to hit the most targets.

Lin

Lin is a Phalanx Caster with high defences between skills. Her regenerating crystal barrier absorbs damage, then stuns nearby enemies when it breaks. With her active skills, she switches to dealing area Arts attacks, and taking hits restores her SP.

Nightingale

Nightingale is a Multi-target Medic who heals several allies and raises RES inside her range. Her Phantoms draw enemy attacks but cannot fight, so use them to soak dangerous hits for short windows.

Ptilopsis

Ptilopsis is a 5★ Multi-target Medic who heals several allies at once. Her talent boosts SP recovery for your team while she is deployed. She is cheap to build and stays useful deep into late-game content.

Warfarin

Warfarin is a 5★ Medic who gains SP when an enemy dies in her range. She also passes SP to a random ally at the same time. Unstable Plasma gives a big ATK buff to allies she heals, which keeps her in plenty of boss clears.

Skadi the Corrupting Heart

Skadi the Corrupting Heart is a Bard who heals nearby allies without attacking. Her Seaborn extends that support area. Having an ally inside either area raises her ATK, which strengthens the ATK buffs her skills hand out.

Ling

Ling is a Summoner Supporter whose dragon summons change form with the chosen skill. Losing, absorbing, or retrieving a summon restores SP and stacks her ATK. Pick the skill first, then plan summon placement around it.

Angelina

Angelina is a Decel Binder whose Arts attacks slow enemies. She raises attack speed for allies and provides broad HP regeneration while her skill is inactive. Activating a skill pauses that regeneration, so time it well.

Shamare

Shamare is a 5★ Hexer who deals Arts damage from range. Enemies in her range take more damage once their HP drops below a threshold. She is a cheap way to speed up boss kills.

Weedy

Weedy is a Push Stroker who hits every blocked enemy and can stand on ranged tiles. She deploys a Water Cannon that shoves enemies, and a nearby cannon restores her SP. Use her to push enemies into pits or back down long lanes.

Mizuki

Mizuki is an Ambusher who hits every enemy in range and rarely draws attacks. His talents add Arts damage to the lowest-HP target and raise his ATK when a weakened enemy is nearby. He cleans up softened waves fast.

Gladiia

Gladiia is a Hookmaster who pulls enemies and can deploy on ranged tiles. She gives Abyssal Hunters regeneration and protection against Sea Monsters. She also deals extra damage to targets within her weight limit.

B Tier Operators

Check out all the operators in this tier:

Siege

Siege is a Pioneer Vanguard who boosts ATK and DEF for all Vanguards. She gains SP when an enemy dies on a tile next to her. She works best early in a stage, when your Vanguards do most of the fighting.

Texas

Texas is a 5★ Pioneer who adds extra starting DP through her squad talent. She blocks two enemies, and Sword Rain stuns groups around her. She remains a solid pick for fast openings.

Ch'en

Ch'en is a Swordmaster whose attacks hit twice. While deployed, she periodically feeds SP to allies whose skills charge by attacking or taking hits. Her third skill still unleashes a heavy flurry, but newer Guards outscale her.

Skadi

Skadi is a Dreadnought Guard who blocks one enemy and hits very hard. She raises ATK for Abyssal Hunters in the squad and has a short redeployment time. Faster and safer Guards have pushed her down.

La Pluma

La Pluma is a 5★ Reaper who heals through area attacks and cannot receive normal healing. Kills stack her attack speed, so let her clear weak enemies before the big wave hits.

W

W is an Artilleryman who deals physical splash damage. After a short delay, she gains evasion and draws fewer attacks. Stunned enemies in her range take more physical damage, so she pairs well with stun teams.

Blue Poison

Blue Poison is a 5★ Marksman who prioritises aerial enemies. Her attacks add a short Arts poison. She is easy to build and still handles drone-heavy stages well.

Amiya (Caster)

Amiya is the free 5★ Caster every player gets. She gains extra SP from attacking and defeating enemies. Chimera deals true damage, which still breaks high-DEF and high-RES targets in a pinch.

Silence

Silence is a 5★ Medic who raises attack speed for Medics while deployed. Her second skill places a healing drone that can cover allies outside her normal reach.

Projekt Red

Projekt Red is a 5★ Executor with fast redeployment. Every hit deals at least a set share of her ATK, so heavy armour never fully blanks her. She is a cheap answer to annoying single targets.

C Tier Operators

Check out all the operators in this tier:

Fang

Fang is a cheap 3★ Pioneer who blocks two enemies and generates DP with her skill. She is an easy early opener but falls off once you get Myrtle or a 6★ Vanguard.

Popukar

Popukar is a 3★ Centurion who hits every enemy she blocks. She clears weak crowds in early chapters, but her low bulk makes her fragile later.

Beagle

Beagle is a 3★ Protector with high DEF for her cost. She reliably holds early lanes and costs very little to promote. Later stages need a Defender with healing or more HP.

Kroos

Kroos is a 3★ Marksman who prioritises aerial enemies. Her talent gives her a chance at stronger attacks. She is a good early Sniper but lacks the ATK for late stages.

Lava

Lava is a 3★ Splash Caster who deals area Arts damage. She is one of the first reliable crowd clearers new players get, but her low ATK caps her value later.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a 3★ Medic with solid single-target healing and cheap upgrades. She keeps early lanes alive until a 5★ or 6★ Medic arrives.

Best Arknights Operators for Beginners

New accounts do better with a balanced core than with a pile of damage dealers. Start with one DP generator, one sturdy Defender, one Medic, and one carry for each damage type. Fill the rest based on the stage you are stuck on.

Fund Your Next Rescue With Google Play Gift Cards From StanShop

Free Orundum from events and weekly Annihilation only stretches so far. Limited banners for operators like Wang or SilverAsh the Reignfrost rarely wait for your savings to catch up. That is where Originite Prime comes in, since one Originite Prime converts into 180 Orundum. A single headhunt costs 600 Orundum.

Android players buy Originite Prime and the Monthly Card through Google Play. A Google Play gift card adds balance to your Play account without a saved bank card. It also keeps your gacha budget fixed.

Playing games on another platform? Browse the full range of gaming gift cards on StanShop for your other games.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is the best operator in Arknights right now?

Wang, SilverAsh the Reignfrost, Ch'en the Dawnstreak, Leizi the Thunderbringer, and Exusiai the New Covenant lead this list. Ch'en the Dawnstreak and Leizi the Thunderbringer are standard operators, so they return on regular banners.

2. Which Arknights operators should beginners build first?

Start with Myrtle for DP, a cheap healer like Ptilopsis, and a sturdy Defender. After that, build one strong carry for physical damage and one for Arts damage. That core handles most story chapters.

3. Are limited operators worth pulling for?

Limited operators only return on matching limited banners, so second chances can take a long time. Wang, SilverAsh the Reignfrost, and Sakiko Togawa are limited picks on this list. If one fills a real gap in your roster, pull during their banner.

4. Does this tier list include CN server operators?

No. This list only ranks operators already released on the Global server. CN runs several months ahead, so new units appear there first. The newest Global arrival, Zima the Raging Tide, needs more testing before she gets a placement.

5. Do low-rarity operators still matter in Arknights?

Yes. 3★ and 4★ operators cost little to deploy and promote, which makes them valuable in Integrated Strategies. Some also fill niche jobs that high-rarity units skip, like cheap DP or extra blockers.

6. How can I get more pulls in Arknights?

Clear weekly Annihilation, finish event shops, and log in daily for free Orundum. You can also convert Originite Prime into Orundum. Android players can top up Originite Prime with a Google Play gift card.