Last updated: 19 October 2026
Interested in knowing which operators rank as the strongest in the current meta? We got you covered with our detailed Arknights tier list that ranks all the operators among all classes by taking into account several factors. Mainly, we are going to be judging the operators based on their performance against other operators of the same class. Other factors include their base rarities, stats, and utility in teams. Check out the best Arknights operators below!
Arknights Operator Classes Explained
Arknights is a strategy RPG where every moment counts when in battle. You need to execute a specific number of enemies, all the while protecting your base. All you have in your arsenal are your trusted group of operators. These operators come in 8 distinct classes, with each class offering different perks. Arknights classes are as follows:
- Caster – Casters are generally long-ranged characters that deal arts damage to foes. They have average to high attack and HP, but low defense. Low attack speed and high DP generation is also common.
- Defender – Defenders are melee-ranged operators with high defense and HP but low attack. They can have low to moderate attack speed and can block multiple enemies from passing through.
- Guards – Guards are melee-ranged operators with high HP and attack but low defense. They can block 1-3 enemies, have low resistance, but high attack speed.
- Medic – Medics are ranged operators with low attack, defense, and moderate HP. They heal allies with their basic attacks instead of damaging enemies in combat.
- Sniper – Snipers are ranged operators with average to high HP and attack but low defense. They also have no resistance but attack speed can vary from operator to operator.
- Specialist – Specialists can be both melee or ranged. They offer balanced stats in terms of HP, attack, and defense. Can block 0-2 enemies, and have special defining traits or passives.
- Supporter – Supporters are ranged operators that deal arts damage to enemies. They are quite fragile, having low base defense and HP. But, their attack potential is massive, especially if they have an offensive trait.
- Vanguard – Vanguards can be both melee or ranged. Boasting high HP, they can block multiple enemies. Sadly, their defense and attack stats are usually low. Possessing unique traits, they can help you increase DP generation.
Arknights Caster Tier List 2026
Check out all the caster operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Casters
- Logos
- Mantra (New)
- Pramanix the Prerita (New)
- Lappland the Decadenza
- Goldenglow
- Nymph
- Necrass
A-Tier Casters
- Blaze the Igniting Spark
- Ceobe
- Eyjafjalla
- Ifrit
- Lin
- Ebenholz
- Mostima
- Passenger
- Dusk
- Marcille
B-Tier Casters
- Viy (New)
- Ripresa (New)
- Amiya
- Carnelian
- Ho’olheyak
- Rockrock
- Astgenne
- Beeswax
- Click
- Kjera
- Leizi
- Leonhardt
- Mint
- Tecno
- Absinthe
- Indigo
- Iris
- Miss.Christine
- Diamante
- Steward
C-Tier Casters
- Akkord (New)
- Harmonie
- Lava the Purgatory
- Minimalist
- Pudding
- Santalla
- Skyfire
- Delphine
- Qanipalaat
- Aroma
- Corroserum
- Gitano
- Haze
- Lava
- Nightmare
- Tomimi
- Warmy
- Greyy
- 12F
- Durin
Arknights Defender Tier List 2026
Check out all the defender operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Defenders
- Hoshiguma the Breacher
- Shu
- Yu
- Saria
A-Tier Defenders
- Horn
- Mudrock
- Penance
- Hoshiguma
- Jessica the Liberated
- Nian
- Blemishine
- Eunectes
- Sankta Miksaparato
- Liskarm
B-Tier Defenders
- Cairn (New)
- Bubble
- Cuora
- Firewhistle
- Philae
- Ashlock
- Bassline
- Blitz
- Croissant
- Czerny
- Nearl
- Shalem
- Asbestos
- Bison
- Underflow
- Cement
- Gummy
C-Tier Defenders
- Vetochki (New)
- Heavyrain
- Senshi
- Vulcan
- Aurora
- Hung
- Lutonada
- Spot
- Beagle
- Cardigan
- Dur-nar
- Matterhorn
- Noir Corne
- Friston-3
Arknights Guard tier list 2026
Check out all the guard operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Guards
- Ch’en the Dawnstreak (New)
- Leizi the Thunderbringer
- Bellone (New)
- Zima the Raging Tide (New)
- Degenbrecher
- Młynar
- Sakiko Togawa
- Entelechia
- Executor the Ex Foedere
- Surtr
- Ulpianus
- Zuo Le
A-Tier Guards
- Chongyue
- Gavial the Invincible
- Mountain
- Nearl the Radiant Knight
- Qiubai
- SilverAsh
- Thorns
- Viviana
- Blaze
- Hoederer
- Irene
- Lappland
- Pepe
- Specter
- Vina Victoria
B-Tier Guards
- Amiya (Guard)
- Ch’en
- La Pluma
- Skadi
- Tequila
- Bibeak
- Gracebearer
- Hellagur
- Lessing
- Pallas
- Broca
- Cutter
- Highmore
- Odda
- Akafuyu
- Doc
- Rathalos S Noir Corne
- Utage
- Windscoot
- Arene
- Astesia
- Ayerscarpe
- Dagda
- Fuze
- Melantha
- Tachanka
- Humus
- Indra
- Luo Xiaohei
- Savage
- Whislash
C-Tier Guards
- Hadiya (New)
- Varkáris (New)
- Franka
- Midnight
- Mousse
- Sideroca
- Flint
- Flamebringer
- Laios
- Morgan
- Nyamu Yūtenji
- Estelle
- Leto
- Matoimaru
- Conviction
- Popukar
- Bryophyta
- Frostleaf
- Jackie
- Quartz
- Wind Chimes
- Beehunter
- Swire
- Dobermann
- Castle-3
Arknights Medic tier list 2026
Check out all the medic operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Medics
- Kal’tsit Esperanta (New)
- Eyjafjalla the Hvít Aska
- Mon3tr
- Reed the Flame Shadow
- Kal’tsit
A-Tier Medics
- Titi (New)
- Nightingale
- Lumen
- Ptilopsis
- Warfarin
- Amiya (Medic)
- Shining
- Hibiscus the Purifier
- Rose Salt
B-Tier Medics
- Ukusik (New)
- Silence
- Honeyberry
- Mulberry
- Perfumer
- Record Keeper
- Sussurro
- Tuye
- Whisperain
- Harold
- Purestream
- Paprika
C-Tier Medics
- Taraxacum (New)
- Breeze
- Nowell
- Papyrus
- Vendela
- Folinic
- Gavial
- Myrrh
- Ceylon
- Ansel
- Chestnut
- Hibiscus
- Lancet-2
Arknights Sniper Tier List 2026
Check out all the sniper operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Snipers
- Wiš’adel
- Ch’en the Holungday
- Lemuen
- Ray
- Typhon
A-Tier Snipers
- Exusiai
- Narantuya
- Rosa
- Fiammetta
- Pozëmka
- Archetto
- Ash
- Schwarz
- Rosmontis
- Brigid
B-Tier Snipers
- Skybox (New)
- Snow Hunter (New)
- W
- April
- Fartooth
- Kroos the Keen Glint
- Blue Poison
- GreyThroat
- Pinecone
- Platinum
- Caper
- Firewatch
- Greyy the Lightningbearer
- Insider
- Jieyun
- Meteorite
- Provence
- Toddifons
- Totter
- Andreana
C-Tier Snipers
- Ju (New)
- Kichisei
- Executor
- Adnachiel
- Ambriel
- Coldshot
- Lunacub
- May
- Melanite
- Meteor
- Shirayuki
- Kroos
- Erato
- Aciddrop
- Aosta
- Sesa
- Vermeil
- Catapult
- Jessica
- Rangers
- Justice Knight
- Terra Research Commission
Arknights Specialist Tier List 2026
Check out all the specialist operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Specialists
- Wang (New)
- Exusiai the New Covenant
- Ela
- Kirin R Yato
- Texas the Omertosa
- Ascalon
A-Tier Specialists
- Thorns the Lodestar
- Specter the Unchained
- Dorothy
- Gladiia
- Weedy
- Lee
- Mizuki
- Phantom
- Swire the Elegant Wit
- Crownslayer
- Mutsumi Wakaba
- Wulfenite
B-Tier Specialists
- Aak
- Contrail
- Ethan
- Gravel
- Jaye
- Projekt Red
- Tin Man
- Tippi
- Cliffheart
- FEater
- Figurino
- Frost
- Kafka
- Kazemaru
- Manticore
- Robin
- Waai Fu
- Umiri Yahata
- Enforcer
- Iana
- Mr. Nothing
C-Tier Specialists
- Bena
- Almond
- Rope
- Snowsant
- Spuria
- Kirara
- Shaw
- Verdant
- THRM-EX
Arknights Supporter Tier List 2026
Check out all the supporter operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Supporters
- Tragodia
- Haruka
- Raidian
- Suzuran
- Virtuosa
A-Tier Supporters
- Nasti (New)
- Ling
- Civilight Eterna
- Gnosis
- Skadi the Corrupting Heart
- Angelina
- Magallan
- Shamare
- Stainless
- Valarqvin
B-Tier Supporters
- Astgenne the Lightchaser (New)
- Botani (New)
- Quercus
- Silence the Paradigmatic
- Scene
- Bobbing
- Grain Buds
- Mayer
- Uika Misumi
- Pramanix
- Proviso
- Heidi
- Istina
- Lucilla
- Podenco
- Glaucus
- Sora
- Sand Reckoner
C-Tier Supporters
- Perfumer the Distilled (New)
- Alanna
- Catherine
- Deepcolor
- Roberta
- Windflit
- Orchid
- Xingzhu
- Earthspirit
- Nine-Colored Deer
- Tsukinogi
- PhonoR-0
- U-Official
Arknights Vanguard Tier List 2026
Check out all the vanguard operators and their rankings in the respective tiers:
S-Tier Vanguards
- SilverAsh the Reignfrost (New)
- Closure (New)
- Ines
- Bagpipe
A-Tier Vanguards
- Elysium
- Muelsyse
- Saileach
- Wanqing
- Cantabile
- Flametail
- Myrtle
- Saga
- Vulpisfoglia
- Fang the Fire-Sharpened
- Matsukiri
B-Tier Vanguards
- Snegurochka (New)
- Chilchuck
- Puzzle
- Surfer
- Blacknight
- Siege
- Texas
- Vigil
- Vigna
- Zima
- Beanstalk
- Mitm
- Poncirus
C-Tier Vanguards
- Reed
- Chiave
- Kestrel
- Wild Mane
- Courier
- Grani
- Plume
- Scavenger
- Fang
- Vanilla
- CONFESS-47
- Yato
Best Arknights Operators to Pull Right Now
Knowing the Arknights tier list is half the job. The other half is knowing which banners actually deserve your Orundum this month.
| Banner | Dates | Featured Operators | Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed With Time (Limited) | October 14 to October 28, 2026 | Kal’tsit Esperanta, Closure, Crackborne, plus returning Exusiai the New Covenant, Lappland the Decadenza, and Wiš’adel | Pull. This is the best banner of the year, and reaching 300 pulls lets you claim Kal’tsit Esperanta for free. |
| Kernel Locating #13 | October 20 to November 3, 2026 | You choose two 6 star and three 5 star rate ups from a fixed list that includes Goldenglow, Surtr, Weedy, SilverAsh, and Eyjafjalla | Only pull if you are still missing a staple like Goldenglow or Surtr. Otherwise, save. |
| Thunder in the Azure Dream | Expected mid November 2026 | Monster Hunter crossover with Violet Mizutsune Orchid and Zinogre S Catapult | Save some Orundum if you love collab units, since crossover operators rarely come back. |
More Gacha Tier Lists on Driffle
If Arknights is not the only gacha game on your phone, these guides will help you build stronger teams elsewhere too. Strategy fans can check out our Limbus Company tier list and Reverse 1999 tier list, while anime gacha players will like our Blue Archive tier list and NIKKE tier list. You can also browse our Punishing Gray Raven tier list and Honkai Star Rail tier list, or find your next obsession in our list of the best gacha games of 2026.
Arknights Tier List FAQs
Who is the best operator in Arknights right now?
There is no single best operator because every class does a different job. Logos and Mantra lead the Casters, Ch’en the Dawnstreak and Leizi the Thunderbringer top the Guards, Wiš’adel is the best Sniper, Wang and Exusiai the New Covenant lead the Specialists, and SilverAsh the Reignfrost and Closure sit at the top of the Vanguards.
Is Kal’tsit Esperanta worth pulling?
Yes. She heals, deals True damage, and can reposition your team with her Tactical Anchor, which gives her a role that no other Medic covers. She is also limited, so her Sealed With Time banner, which runs until October 28, is your best chance to get her before the next Celebration event. Reaching 300 pulls on the banner guarantees her.
Is Closure worth pulling in Arknights?
Closure is one of the strongest Vanguards in the game and early reviews put her on par with Ines and Bagpipe. She is not limited, so there is less pressure to chase her right now. The good news is that every pull you make for Kal’tsit Esperanta also gives you a shot at Closure.
Does this Arknights tier list follow the Global or CN server?
This Arknights tier list follows the Global server only. The CN server usually runs about five to six months ahead, so operators that are already out in China will be added here once they arrive on Global.
Are 4 star operators still worth building in Arknights?
Yes. Operators like Myrtle, Gummy, and Perfumer are cheap to promote and deploy, which makes them extremely useful in Integrated Strategies and stages where you have limited deployment slots. Build a few of them early and they will keep paying off for a long time.
Is this tier list for Arknights Endfield?
No. This Arknight tier list only covers the original Arknights tower defense game on mobile and PC. Arknights Endfield is a separate game with its own characters and systems. If you play both, you can grab free rewards with our list of Arknights Endfield codes.
How often is this Arknights tier list updated?
We update this Arknights tier list whenever a new event brings fresh operators to Global, along with any major rank changes. Bookmark this page whenever you need an updated Arknights tierlist before a big banner goes live.
