As the first "Alter" Operator in Arknights, Lava the Purgatory transcends her original form to become a formidable 5-star Splash Caster, offering not just raw power but also significant team utility and strategic flexibility. Whether you're looking to maximize her area-of-effect (AoE) damage or enhance the performance of other Casters, she proves to be a versatile asset in a variety of team compositions.
Unlike many other damage-focused Operators, Lava the Purgatory excels in supporting her teammates while delivering potent AoE Arts attacks. Equipped with two impactful skills and a unique talent that accelerates SP generation for the entire Caster squad, she's a valuable addition to any lineup, well beyond specialized scenarios. Let’s delve deeper into her capabilities and optimal build strategies.
Operator Overview
Lava the Purgatory is distinguished as a 5-star Splash Caster capable of dealing AoE Arts damage across a broad area. Her attacks affect multiple tiles simultaneously, making her particularly effective against enemies with low to moderate resistance (RES). What sets her apart is her talent that fosters synergy and her second skill, which significantly alters her tactical approach.
Introduced during the Who is Real event as a welfare Operator, she can be permanently acquired through Record Restoration. While she shares Trust with her original counterpart, Lava the Purgatory boasts superior stats, access to Elite 2, and a more nuanced gameplay style, with separate upgrades, potentials, and skills.
Talents: Spell Formation and SP Support
In Arknights' combat system, Lava the Purgatory's primary utility stems from her talent, Spell Formation. Upon deployment, this talent instantly grants her SP and extends this benefit to other Casters, either already on the field or newly deployed. At Elite 2, she receives 30 SP upon deployment and provides a +4 SP boost to all Casters each time she's placed on the field.
Her synergy extends to frontline defenders and medics as well. With Ring of Hellfire, she can protect defenders by inflicting burn damage on nearby enemies, making her an excellent choice for strategies focused on lane control or stalling tactics.
Good synergy options may include:
- Eyjafjalla or Ceobe: Benefiting from SP boosts and combining for amplified AoE damage.
- Saria or Nearl: These healers can endure while Lava inflicts burn damage on surrounding foes.
- Other Splash Casters: Operators like Goldenglow and Skyfire can leverage faster skill cycles thanks to her.
Lava the Purgatory stands out as a highly refined Alter Operator, seamlessly integrating AoE damage, utility, and team support. Her splash damage makes her accessible for beginners tackling early content, while her SP-boosting talent and ring-based control skill offer profound tactical advantages. Whether you're deploying her in a caster-centric team or need an AoE burn field to bolster your defenders, she's a versatile asset.
To fully harness her ranged capabilities and gain better visual clarity, consider playing Arknights on a PC with BlueStacks. This setup offers a broader view of the battlefield, faster controls, and smoother gameplay, enabling precise placement of skills like Ring of Hellfire.
