As the inaugural "Alter" Operator in Arknights, Lava the Purgatory isn't just a beefed-up version of her original form—she's a formidable 5-star Splash Caster that adds significant team utility and surprising versatility to your roster. Whether you're deploying her for her raw AoE damage or leveraging her to enhance the performance of other Casters, she proves to be a reliable asset in a variety of team compositions.
Unlike many damage dealers in this strategic game, Lava the Purgatory not only dishes out powerful area Arts attacks but also supports her allies. With two effective skills and a notable talent that accelerates SP generation for your entire Caster squad, she's an excellent choice for a wide range of scenarios. Let's delve deeper into her capabilities and explore how to optimize her build for maximum impact.
Operator Overview
Lava the Purgatory is a 5-star Splash Caster renowned for her ability to deal AoE Arts damage across a broad area. Similar to other Splash Casters, her attacks hit multiple tiles simultaneously and are particularly effective against enemies with low to moderate RES. However, her standout feature is her talent-driven synergy and the unique gameplay shift her second skill offers.
Introduced as a welfare Operator during the Who is Real event, she can be permanently unlocked through Record Restoration. Unlike her original counterpart, Lava the Purgatory boasts enhanced stats, access to Elite 2, and a more complex playstyle. While she shares Trust with her original version, her upgrades, potentials, and skills are entirely distinct.
Talents: Spell Formation and SP Support
In the realm of Arknights' combat, Lava the Purgatory's primary utility stems from her talent, Spell Formation. This ability grants her immediate SP upon deployment and shares SP with other Casters on the field or when they are deployed. The SP values scale with her promotion level; at Elite 2, she gains 30 SP on drop and provides an additional +4 SP to all Casters each time she's deployed.
Her synergy extends well with frontline defenders and medics. Ring of Hellfire safeguards defenders by inflicting burn damage on nearby enemies, making her an excellent choice for teams focused on lane control or stall tactics.
Effective synergy options include:
- Eyjafjalla or Ceobe: For SP boosts and combined AoE damage
- Saria or Nearl: Healers who can endure while Lava burns surrounding foes
- Other Splash Casters: Goldenglow and Skyfire benefit from accelerated skill cycles
Lava the Purgatory is a meticulously designed alter Operator, seamlessly blending AoE damage, utility, and team support. Her ease of use makes her perfect for early content due to her dependable splash damage, yet she offers deep strategic value through her SP-boosting talent and control-oriented ring skill. Whether you're running a caster-heavy lineup or need an AoE burn field to protect your defenders, she brings substantial value to your team.
To fully harness her ranged capabilities and enhance your gameplay experience, consider playing Arknights on PC with BlueStacks. This setup offers a broader view of the battlefield, more responsive controls, and smoother performance—ideal for precisely placing skills like Ring of Hellfire where you need them most.