Arknights Operator Tier List: Best Units for IS and CC

With a growing roster of Operators in Arknights, figuring out who to pull and where to spend your Orundum can be overwhelming. Whether you're saving for an upcoming six-star or piecing together your most effective squad, a clear picture of the current meta gives you a real edge. This Arknights tier list covers every Operator across all eight classes, with placements driven by their performance across the game's core endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract, to help you plan your pulls and push your progression further.

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Vanguards

These rankings reflect each Vanguard's DP generation and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to set a team's early tempo and keep it running.

Vanguard Rankings

Vanguards build your deployment economy, generating the DP that puts the rest of your squad on the field. The best ones keep contributing well past the opening through damage, crowd control, or support. Their performance decides how fast and how safely a run gets started.

Tier	Operators
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Vanguard Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Vanguard Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to DP generation, the defining function of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• DP Generation: How much DP the operator produces and how quickly they build your deployment economy.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types, map layouts, and mob density.
• Secondary Utility: Damage, blocking, crowd control, or off-field support that keeps the operator relevant beyond the opening minutes.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Guard

These rankings reflect each Guard's damage output and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to carry a squad's offense and break through enemy lines.

Guard Rankings

Guards are the offensive backbone of most squads, melee fighters built to deal damage and hold the front line. The best ones pair high output with the survivability or reach to stay on the field through the toughest waves. Their performance decides how quickly and reliably you can cut down what the rest of the team cannot.

Tier	Operators
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Guard Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Guard Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to damage output, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Damage Output: Peak DPS and burst against both single targets and groups of enemies.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types, defenses (Physical versus Arts), and mob density.
• Survivability: Innate sustain, defenses, or block that let the operator hold a lane without heavy support.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Defenders

Defender Tier List

These rankings reflect each Defender's durability and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to anchor the front line and keep the squad protected.

Defender Rankings

Defenders are your wall, the high-HP, high-DEF operators that block and absorb what would otherwise overrun the team. The best ones do more than soak damage, adding healing, ranged offense, or the ability to hold multiple lanes at once. Their performance decides whether your defensive line holds under pressure or buckles.

Tier	Operators
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Defender Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Defender Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to durability and blocking, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Durability: Effective HP, DEF, RES, and self-sustain that decide how much punishment the operator can absorb.
• Blocking: Block count and the ability to hold a lane or chokepoint against multiple enemies at once.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Secondary Utility: Healing, ranged offense, buffs, or damage that keep the operator contributing beyond just tanking.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types, damage profiles (Physical versus Arts), and mob density.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Snipers

Sniper Tier List

These rankings reflect each Sniper's damage output and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to deliver ranged physical damage and cover threats the front line cannot reach.

Sniper Rankings

Snipers are your primary ranged physical damage. Picking off enemies from a safe distance and serving as the main answer to aerial threats. The best ones bring high single-target output, strong AoE, or the range to control the whole map. Their performance decides how well you handle fast, flying, or high-DEF enemies before they reach your defenses.

Tier	Operators
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Sniper Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Sniper Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to ranged damage output, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Damage Output: Peak single-target and AoE physical damage at range.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Target Coverage: Reliability against aerial, fast, and high-DEF enemies, along with effective range and targeting priority.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types and mob density.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Medics

Medic Tier List

These rankings reflect each Medic's healing throughput and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to keep the squad alive through sustained and burst damage.

Medic Rankings

Medics are your lifeline, the ranged healers that keep operators standing through everything the enemy throws at them. The best ones pair high healing throughput with the range, target count, or extra utility to cover an entire squad at once. Their performance decides whether your team survives the damage spikes that endgame content is built around.

Tier	Operator
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Medic Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Medic Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to healing throughput, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Healing Throughput: Healing per second, burst healing, and the ability to keep multiple operators topped off.
• Coverage: Range, target count, and how much of the squad the operator can sustain at once.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Secondary Utility: Debuff cleansing, damage, buffs, or aerial healing that add value beyond raw sustain.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different damage profiles and incoming threats.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Casters

Caster Tier List

These rankings reflect each Caster's damage output and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to deal ranged Arts damage and cut through high-DEF enemies.

Caster Rankings

Casters are your ranged Arts damage, ignoring enemy DEF to threaten the armored targets that Snipers and Guards struggle against. The best ones bring high single-target burst, wide AoE, or the consistency to carry a clear on their own. Their performance decides how cleanly you deal with heavily armored enemies and dense waves alike.

Tier	Operator
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Caster Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Caster Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to Arts damage output, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Damage Output: Peak single-target and AoE Arts damage.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Target Coverage: Effectiveness against high-DEF, grouped, or fast-moving enemies, along with range and targeting behavior.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types and mob density.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

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Supporters

Supporter Tier List

These rankings reflect each Supporter's utility and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to amplify the squad through buffs, debuffs, and control.

Supporter Rankings

Supporters are the force multipliers of a squad, the ranged operators that weaken enemies, strengthen allies, or lock down threats so the rest of the team can do its job. The best ones swing an entire fight with a single skill, turning hard clears into comfortable ones. Their performance decides how much more your damage dealers and defenders can get away with.

Tier	Operator
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Supporter Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Supporter Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to the strength and reliability of their support, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Support Strength: The magnitude of the operator's buffs, debuffs, or crowd control, and how much they swing a fight.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Reliability: Uptime, range, and how consistently the support lands across different enemies and conditions.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to fit into a wide range of squads and strategies.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode.

Specialists

Specialist Tier List

These rankings reflect each Specialist's utility and overall performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. Operators are ranked on their ability to solve specific problems that no other class handles as well.

Specialist Rankings

Specialists are the toolbox of Arknights, a diverse class spanning fast-redeploy plays, enemy displacement, traps, and more. The best ones answer problems that would otherwise sink a clear, shoving threats off the map, plugging gaps in seconds, or dodging damage no one else could survive. Their performance is measured less by raw numbers and more by how decisively they handle the situations they are built for.

Tier	Operator
SSS
SS
S
A
B
C

Specialist Tier Definitions

To help you understand each operator's placement, this tier list uses the following ranking system. All grades assume full investment (E2, max level, Potential, Masteries, and Module).

Specialist Ranking Criteria

Rankings are based on performance across Arknights' endgame modes, Integrated Strategies and Contingency Contract. The biggest weight goes to the impact and flexibility of their utility, the defining role of the class, and to overall ceiling at full investment. Strong play in a single mode is not enough on its own, since grades account for the whole game.

• Utility Impact: How decisively the operator's core function, whether displacement, fast redeploy, traps, or dodging, solves problems.
• Ceiling: Peak value at full investment, weighted more heavily than ease of use.
• Flexibility: How many situations the operator's toolkit applies to, rather than a single narrow use case.
• Versatility: Consistency across IS and CC, and the ability to adapt to different enemy types and map layouts.
• IS Module Value: Whether the ISW-α (IS-specific) module meaningfully shifts the operator's value, since IS is a major mode. Fast-redeploy Specialists are a prime example, since their IS value can far exceed their general value.

Conclusion

The Arknights meta is always shifting. New Operators, new modules, and new endgame challenges mean today's rankings can look very different a few updates from now. Whether you're building around the current top tier or investing in a favorite, having enough Orundum and resources to pull and build your Operators makes all the difference. For players short on pulls, top-up on LootBar's own Arknights Top-up page now