STATE GUIDE
Combat States & Status Effects Explained
Last updated: 2026-01-23
* TL;DR - Key Points
- * 5 Elements: Physical, Heat, Electric, Cryo, Nature
- * Arts Inflictions stack up to 4, trigger Arts Bursts
- * Elemental combos trigger powerful Reactions
- * Physical builds Vulnerable stacks for Crush/Breach
- * Stagger enemies for Finisher damage + SP restore
- * 4 Attributes: Strength, Agility, Intellect, Will (affect ATK scaling)
The Five Elements
Every Operator in Arknights: Endfield specializes in one of five elements. Each element has unique mechanics and synergizes differently with your team.
| Element | Effect | Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Applies Vulnerable stacks | Shatter (on frozen) |
| Heat | Heat Infliction (DoT) | Combustion |
| Electric | Electric Infliction | Electrification |
| Cryo | Cryo Infliction | Solidification |
| Nature | Nature Infliction | Corrosion |
Arts Inflictions & Bursts
How Arts Inflictions Work
When you deal damage with Heat, Electric, Cryo, or Nature arts, you apply an Arts Infliction to the enemy. This debuff deals bonus elemental damage and can stack up to 4 times.
Arts Burst
Each time you add a new stack of the same element, you trigger an Arts Burst - a spike of bonus elemental damage. This makes mono-element teams particularly effective for sustained damage.
Elemental Reactions
When you apply a different element to an enemy that already has an Arts Infliction, you trigger a powerful reaction.
Combustion (Heat)
Apply Heat to an enemy with another elemental debuff. Creates an explosion and applies a strong damage-over-time effect. Perfect for burning down tough enemies.
Corrosion (Nature)
Apply Nature damage to a debuffed enemy. Lowers defense over time, making them take more damage from all sources. Essential against tanky enemies.
Electrification (Electric)
Hit a debuffed enemy with Electric damage. The enemy takes increased Arts damage from all attacks. Great for amplifying your elemental DPS.
Solidification (Cryo)
Apply Cryo to a debuffed enemy. Freezes the enemy, completely stopping them in their tracks. Frozen enemies can be Shattered for massive bonus damage.
Shatter (Physical + Frozen)
Hit a frozen (Solidified) enemy with Physical damage. Deals a huge burst of Physical damage and breaks the freeze. One of the strongest combos in the game!
Physical Status System
Physical damage works differently from elemental arts. Instead of Inflictions, it applies Vulnerable stacks.
Vulnerable
Physical attacks apply Vulnerable, which stacks up to 4 times. Once active, you can hit with a Physical Status skill to consume the stacks for powerful effects.
| Status | Effect | Consumes Stacks? |
|---|---|---|
| Crush | Massive burst Physical damage | Yes (all) |
| Breach | Reduces Physical defense | Yes (all) |
| Lift | Lifts enemy + Stagger damage | No (adds 1) |
| Knock Down | Knocks enemy down + Stagger damage | No (adds 1) |
Pro Tip: Physical Combo
Build up 4 Vulnerable stacks using Lift/Knock Down, then use Breach to lower defense, followed by Crush for maximum damage!
Stagger Mechanics
All enemies have a Stagger Meter (white bar under HP). Mastering the stagger system is key to effective combat.
Building Stagger
Final Strikes (end of basic attack combos) and many skills accumulate Stagger damage. Physical skills tend to deal more Stagger than elemental ones.
Staggered State
When the Stagger bar fills, enemies become Staggered:
- * Enemy is immobile temporarily
- * Enemy takes increased damage
- * Your first basic attack becomes a Finisher
Finisher Attacks
When you hit a Staggered enemy with your first basic attack, it becomes a powerful Finisher:
- * Deals massive burst damage
- * Restores SP for your team
- * Resets enemy Stagger meter to full
Pro Tip: Stagger Loop
Master the "build stagger - trigger stun - land Finisher" loop. This is your primary way to restore SP and deal burst damage in harder content. Plan your skill rotations to maximize stagger!
Buffs & Debuffs Reference
Buffs (Applied to Allies)
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Amp | Increased damage for a specific element (Arts Amp, Heat Amp, etc.) |
| Protection | Temporarily reduces incoming damage |
| Shield | Absorbs incoming damage (some variants block specific types) |
| Link | Team buff granting increased damage to next skill cast |
Debuffs (Applied to Enemies)
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Susceptibility | Target takes increased damage of a specific type |
| Weaken | Reduces enemy damage output |
| Slow | Reduces enemy movement speed |
Character Attributes
Every Operator has 4 core attributes. Each character has a Main Attribute (highlighted yellow) and a Sub Attribute (highlighted gray) that provide ATK bonuses.
| Attribute | Primary Effect | ATK Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Increases Max HP | Main: 0.5% / Sub: 0.2% |
| Agility | Increases Physical DMG Reduction | Main: 0.5% / Sub: 0.2% |
| Intellect | Increases Arts DMG Reduction | Main: 0.5% / Sub: 0.2% |
| Will | Increases Treatment Received | Main: 0.5% / Sub: 0.2% |
Example: ATK Scaling
An Operator with 100 points in their Main Attribute and 100 points in their Sub Attribute gains:
(100 x 0.5%) + (100 x 0.2%) = 70% total ATK bonus
Secondary Stats (Gear & Weapons)
Offensive Stats
- * Critical Rate / Critical Damage
- * Physical/Arts DMG Bonus
- * Elemental DMG (Heat, Cryo, Electric, Nature)
- * Ability DMG Bonus
- * Arts Intensity
Utility Stats
- * Ultimate Gain Efficiency
- * Energy Regeneration
- * Cooldown Reduction
- * Treatment Bonus
- * Imbalance Efficiency (Stagger)
Combat Strategy Tips
Team Composition
Either go mono-element for consistent Arts Bursts, or build around reaction chains for big combo damage.
Shatter Combo
Against tough enemies: Apply element - trigger Solidification - switch to Physical DPS for Shatter burst.
Early Corrosion
Use Corrosion early in fights to lower defense, making all subsequent damage more effective.
SP Management
Plan your stagger rotations - Finishers are your main source of SP recovery in extended fights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five elements in Arknights: Endfield?
The five elements are Physical, Heat, Electric, Cryo, and Nature. Physical applies Vulnerable stacks, while the other four apply Arts Inflictions that can trigger elemental reactions.
How do elemental reactions work in Arknights: Endfield?
When you apply a different element to an enemy with an existing Arts Infliction, you trigger a reaction: Combustion (Heat), Corrosion (Nature), Electrification (Electric), or Solidification (Cryo). Shatter occurs when you hit a frozen enemy with Physical damage.
What is the Stagger system in Arknights: Endfield?
Enemies have a Stagger bar that fills when hit by Final Strikes and certain skills. When full, enemies become Staggered (immobile) and take increased damage. Your first basic attack on a Staggered enemy becomes a Finisher that deals massive damage and restores SP.
How does the Vulnerable system work?
Physical attacks apply Vulnerable stacks (max 4). These can be consumed by status skills: Crush deals burst damage, Breach reduces Physical defense, while Lift and Knock Down add stacks and apply crowd control.