Combat in Arknights Endfield is not just about raw stats or operator rarity. The real strength of your team comes from understanding how damage types, elements, and reactions work together. Whether you are pushing endgame content or trying to clear tougher encounters more efficiently, mastering these systems will give you a huge advantage.
This guide breaks down Physical, Arts, and future Aether mechanics in a simple way, so you can build better teams and play smarter. Also check out our Arknights Endfield Codes for more rewards!
Combat Types in Arknights Endfield
In Arknights Endfield, teams are generally built around three main damage archetypes:
- Physical teams, which rely on kinetic combos and crowd control
- Arts teams, which focus on elemental inflictions and reactions
- Aether teams, a future damage type not yet released
Each archetype plays very differently, so choosing the right one depends on your operators and playstyle.
Physical Teams and the Kinetic Cycle
Physical teams are all about direct damage and control. Instead of elemental reactions, they use a combo loop known as the Kinetic Cycle. Playing this correctly is key to maximizing Physical damage.
How the Kinetic Cycle Works
- Apply Vulnerable You first weaken enemies by applying the Vulnerable debuff. This sets up the rest of the combo.
- Use Crowd Control Skills that Lift or Knock Down enemies increase Stagger and generate more Vulnerable stacks.
- Trigger the Finisher Finishers like Crush or Breach consume all Vulnerable stacks to deal massive damage.
Physics Keyword Glossary
- Vulnerable: Core debuff required for Physical finishers
- Lift: Launches enemies into the air and increases Stagger
- Knock Down: Slams enemies to the ground and increases Stagger
- Crush: Consumes Vulnerable stacks for huge Physical damage
- Breach: Consumes Vulnerable stacks and is effective against shields and armor
Recommended Physical Team Setups
- Pure Physical: Endministrator, Chen Qianyu, Da Pan, Catcher
- Mixed Physical: Endministrator, Chen Qianyu, Perlica, Estella
Arts Teams and Elemental Fusion
Arts teams focus on magical damage by applying elemental inflictions. The main idea is simple: apply elements, then combine them for powerful effects.
Inflict and Burst Strategy
Arts gameplay revolves around applying Arts effects and then triggering either burst damage or utility reactions.
Arts Burst (Damage Focus)
- Triggered by combining the same element
- Example: Cryo + Cryo
- Result: High instant burst damage
Arts Reaction (Utility Focus)
- Triggered by combining different elements
- Example: Cryo + Heat
- Result: Crowd control, damage over time, or debuffs
The Four Main Arts Elements
- Heat: Triggers Combustion-based effects
- Cryo: Causes Solidification and control effects
- Electric: Focuses on Electrification and pressure
- Nature: Applies Corrosion and sustained damage
Recommended Arts Team Compositions
- Heat Focus: Ember, Ardelia, Akekuri, Antal
- Cryo Focus: Last Rite, Ardelia, Xaihi, Akekuri
- Electric Focus: Avywenna, Arclight, Perlica, Antal
Aether (Æther) Teams Explained
At the moment, Aether-type operators are not available in Arknights Endfield. This damage type is expected to bring new mechanics and reactions in future updates. Keeping an eye on Aether releases will be important, as they may shift the current meta significantly.
Advanced Combat Tactics You Should Know
Understanding Stagger Mechanics
Elite enemies have a Stagger Gauge, shown as a yellow bar under their HP.
- Your goal is to fill the gauge or reach a Stagger Node
- When staggered, enemies are interrupted and immobilized
- This creates a safe window to unload high-damage combos
Animation Canceling for Higher DPS
Every operator performs a Heavy Attack after a chain of normal hits. While strong, these attacks have long recovery animations.
- The trick is to cancel the animation
- As soon as the Heavy Attack lands, dodge or use a skill
- This keeps your damage flow smooth and reduces downtime
Off-Field Casting and Quick Swapping
You do not need to control an operator to use their skills.
- While playing your main DPS, activate support skills directly
- Support operators cast from the background
- This allows seamless combo stacking and better reaction timing
Understanding elements, reactions, and combat mechanics in Arknights Endfield is what separates average teams from powerful ones. Physical teams reward precise combo execution, Arts teams shine through smart elemental setups, and future Aether mechanics may redefine combat entirely. By mastering these systems and applying advanced tactics like animation canceling and off-field casting, you will be well-prepared for endgame content and future updates.