Welcome to Talos-II, the industrial frontier of Arknights: Endfield. Your team of four Operators is ready, but survival requires more than just button-mashing. The game’s combat system is deep and nuanced, rewarding players who understand mechanics like Stagger, SP management, Combo Skills, and Elemental Reactions.
This guide is your tactical manual. Learn to control the battlefield, maximize your Operators’ synergy, and unleash devastating chains that make the difference between a frustrating wipe and a satisfying victory.
Core Combat Mechanics: Your Foundation
Before diving into combos, you need to understand the core systems that govern every battle.
Skill Points (SP): The Team’s Shared Fuel
SP is a shared resource among your four Operators. Displayed as three small bars above your active Operator's HP, SP powers Battle Skills.
SP Generation:
Final Strike: Completing a basic attack combo restores SP.
Perfect Dodge: Timing a dodge as an enemy attack flashes red refunds stamina and grants bonus SP.
Combo Skills: Some automatically restore SP or enable reactions when conditions are met.
Efficient SP management is essential for maintaining pressure throughout fights.
The Stagger System: Controlling the Fight
Enemies have a white Stagger Bar beneath their health. Your attacks fill this bar, with Final Strikes and certain Physical skills contributing the most.
Key Points:
Full Stagger: Stuns the enemy, making them fully vulnerable and increasing damage taken.
The Finisher: Your first hit on a fully staggered enemy deals massive burst damage and restores SP for your team.
Mastering the "build stagger → trigger stun → land Finisher" loop is the backbone of all effective combat rotations.
Operator Control & Perfect Dodges
You directly control one Operator at a time; the others auto-attack. Switching is instant.
Perfect Dodge Tips:
Executes flawless avoidance, refunds stamina, and grants bonus SP.
Timing it correctly is critical for long fights and sustaining SP.
Pair dodges with skill activations to maximize damage windows.
Advanced Systems: Physical & Elemental Synergy
Arknights: Endfield features Physical and Arts (Elemental) systems, creating layered strategies.
Physical System: Stacks and Payoffs
Vulnerable Debuff: Applied via Lift, Knockdown, or other effects.
Stacking & Consuming: Some Operators “build” Vulnerable stacks while others “consume” them to deal massive physical damage.
Pro Tip: Pair a Vulnerable builder with a stack consumer for optimized damage loops.
Arts System: Elemental Reactions
Arts damage includes Heat, Electric, Cryo, and Nature. Applying two elements triggers Elemental Reactions:
| Reaction | Components | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Combustion | Any → Heat | Explosion + burning damage over time |
| Electrify | Any → Electric | Enemy takes increased Arts damage |
| Corrode | Any → Nature | Reduces enemy defense over time |
| Solidify | Any → Cryo | Freezes enemies, crowd control |
| Shatter | Physical → Frozen | Massive physical burst, breaks freeze |
Tips for chaining reactions:
Freeze → Shatter for burst Physical damage.
Apply Electric → SP-generating loops with Combo Skills.
The Crown Jewel: Combo Skills
Combo Skills trigger automatically under specific conditions. They cost no SP and are the heart of team synergy.
Example Triggers:
Chen Qianyu: Activates when an enemy becomes Vulnerable.
Endministrator: Activates after any teammate performs a Combo Skill.
Synergy Loop:
Operator A triggers a condition → Operator B’s Combo activates → Operator C follows. Mastering this sequence lets you chain attacks that feel unstoppable.
Building Your First Synergistic Teams
1. Accessible Electric Team (Beginner-Friendly)
Main DPS: Avywenna (5★) – High burst damage on electrified enemies.
Support/Enabler: Perlica (5★) – Applies Electrification.
SP Generator: Arclight (5★) – Restores SP when enemies are electrified.
Sustain: Estella (6★) or Ardelia (6★) – Healing and debuff reduction.
Synergy: Perlica electrifies → Avywenna attacks → Arclight restores SP, creating self-sustaining damage loops.
2. Physical Team (Free & Early-Game Friendly)
Main DPS: Endministrator (Free) – Versatile physical damage.
Sub-DPS/Enabler: Chen Qianyu (Free) – Applies Vulnerable stacks.
SP Generator/Support: Pogranichnik (6★) – Consumes Vulnerable to boost physical damage.
Sustain: Ardelia (6★) or Ember (6★) – Healing and tanking support.
Synergy: Stack → consume Vulnerable → Endministrator unleashes heavy attacks → combo skills chain automatically.
Sample Combat Rotation: Physical Team
Engage & Build: Chen Qianyu applies multiple Vulnerable stacks.
Generate & Debuff: Pogranichnik consumes stacks via Breach, dealing high damage and generating SP.
Unload & Combo: Endministrator attacks and triggers Final Strike; Combo Skills from teammates chain automatically.
Control & Sustain: Ardelia heals and buffs; monitor Stagger bars for Finisher windows.
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Animation Cancels: Cancel attack animations into skills or dodges to maximize DPS.
Positioning: Attacks targeting weak points accelerate Stagger gain.
Tactical Items: Use items to enhance SP regen, healing, or buffs strategically.
Glossary: Quick Reference
Stagger: Enemy bar that, when full, stuns.
Finisher: First attack on a fully staggered enemy for burst damage.
Vulnerable: Physical debuff stacks consumed for high damage.
Elemental Reactions: Effects triggered by combining two elements.
Combo Skills: Automatic skills triggered by certain conditions.
Perfect Dodge: Timed dodge granting SP and avoiding all damage.
Master the Frontier
Combat mastery in Arknights: Endfield isn’t about rarity—it’s about understanding mechanics, timing, and synergy. Start with one team, practice rotations, and learn Perfect Dodge timing. Soon, you’ll transition from reacting to controlling the battlefield and executing flawless chains.
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