Starting fresh in Arknights: Endfield without spending? You're in luck. The game hands you several powerful operators completely free, and when you combine them strategically, you'll build teams that punch way above their weight class. Here's the thing: knowing which free units to invest in early saves you from wasting precious resources on operators that won't carry their weight. Let's break down the strongest F2P team compositions that'll help you dominate early content and set up your account for long-term success.
The F2P Grind
You'll face a critical decision early on: which operators deserve your limited upgrade materials. Unlike some gacha games where free units become obsolete quickly, Endfield rewards smart F2P planning. Several guaranteed operators provide exceptional value that scales well into mid-game content.
What most players miss is that element synergy matters more than raw rarity. A well-built 4★ support can enable your entire team's damage output, while a poorly chosen 6★ might sit on the bench. Your goal isn't just assembling warm bodies, you're creating functional teams with clear win conditions.
Tip
Focus on building one complete team before spreading resources thin across multiple operators. A fully upgraded core team clears content faster than several half-built units.
Understanding Your Guaranteed Free Operators
Before diving into specific teams, let's examine which operators you'll obtain without pulling the gacha. These form the foundation of every F2P strategy.
Ardelia login reward interface
Ardelia deserves special attention. She arrives with her signature weapon included, making her an unusually efficient investment. You're getting a complete package without spending a single pull, and her utility-focused kit means she'll remain relevant even after you obtain premium operators.
Team #1: The Universal Physical Starter
This composition works immediately and requires zero gacha luck. You'll build around Physical damage with heavy emphasis on stagger mechanics.
Core Lineup:
- Endministrator (DPS carry)
- Ardelia (Support/Healer)
- Aakuri (SP battery)
- Snowshine (Tank)
Your win condition revolves around breaking enemy stagger bars quickly. When you fully stun a boss, Endministrator unleashes devastating damage during the vulnerability window. Aakuri's SP restoration keeps abilities flowing, while Ardelia's corrosion debuffs amplify everyone's output.
The beauty of this team? Every operator comes guaranteed. You can start building day one and immediately begin tackling story content. As you progress through our Arknights: Endfield Ultimate Beginner's Guide, this team will carry you through the initial challenges.
Important
Prioritize leveling Endministrator and Ardelia first. These two form your damage and sustain core. Aakuri can contribute effectively even at lower investment levels.
Team #2: The Heat Specialist Squad
If you're committed to playing Heat element teams, this composition maximizes your F2P potential while leaving room for premium upgrades.
Core Lineup:
- Laevatain (Heat DPS, requires gacha)
- Antl (Heat amplifier)
- Wolfguard (Free from story)
- Ardelia (Support/Healer)
Here's where Antl becomes absolutely critical. His skill applies Heat susceptibility, then his ultimate delivers up to 28% teamwide Heat amplification at max level. That's massive damage scaling for a 4★ operator. When Laevatain triggers her Heat combos, Antl ensures every tick hits harder.
Wolfguard provides additional Heat synergy while offering defensive utility. You obtain him through story progression, making this team surprisingly accessible if you pull Laevatain early. For detailed optimization strategies, check our Arknights Endfield Laevatain Build Guide.
Upgrade Path: If you don't pull Laevatain immediately, substitute Endministrator temporarily. The team still functions with Antl's amplification supporting whatever Heat damage you can generate.
Team #3: The Electric Powerhouse
Electric teams excel at sustained damage and offer strong synergy between accessible operators.
Core Lineup:
- Aviwena (Electric DPS, requires gacha)
- Perilica (Electric support, requires gacha)
- Archlight (Electric specialist, requires gacha)
- Antl (Electric amplifier)
Yes, this team requires more gacha investment than others. However, Antl's dual element support (Heat AND Electric) means your investment in him pays double dividends. His susceptibility application and 28% amplification work identically for Electric damage.
The synergy between Aviwena and Perilica creates powerful chain reactions. When you add Archlight's specialized Electric mechanics and Antl's amplification, you're looking at one of the highest sustained DPS compositions available.
Warning
Only commit to this team if you actually pull the Electric operators. Don't waste resources preparing Antl for Electric if you're running Physical or Heat instead.
Team #4: The Physical Powerhouse (Premium Version)
This represents the ultimate evolution of the starter Physical team, replacing budget options with premium operators.
Core Lineup:
- Pogranichnik (Physical DPS, requires gacha)
- Endministrator (Secondary DPS)
- Aakuri (SP battery)
- Ardelia (Support/Healer)
Pogranichnik brings top-tier Physical damage output, but he's a gacha target rather than guaranteed. If you score him from the 40-pull banner, you've hit the jackpot. His kit synergizes perfectly with the stagger-focused playstyle this team employs.
The SP generation from Aakuri becomes even more valuable here. You'll chain ultimates during stagger windows, converting brief vulnerability periods into massive damage spikes. This team handles boss content exceptionally well once properly upgraded.
Team #5: The Cryo Control Specialists
Cryo teams offer unique crowd control advantages, though they require specific gacha pulls to function optimally.
Core Lineup:
- Lassreight (Cryo DPS, requires gacha)
- Chae (Cryo support, requires gacha)
- Aakuri (SP battery)
- Ardelia (Support/Healer)
Lassreight and Chae create powerful Cryo synergies that slow and control enemies. This team excels in content where you need to manage multiple threats simultaneously. The 40-pull banner gives you a shot at obtaining these operators early.
Aakuri and Ardelia provide the same reliable utility they bring to other teams. You're sensing a pattern, right? These two F2P operators slot into almost any composition because their value comes from team-wide benefits rather than personal damage.
Team formation menu
Resource Management
You'll want to rush upgrades on your favorite operators immediately. Resist that urge. Smart resource allocation separates successful F2P players from those who stall in mid-game.
Priority Investment Order:
- Lock your core carry (Endministrator or your gacha DPS)
- Secure your sustain (Ardelia to prevent team wipes)
- Add utility as needed (Aakuri when SP becomes tight)
- Specialize for elements (Antl only if committed to Heat/Electric)
Keep Aakuri at moderate investment. Her value comes from SP restoration and buffs, not personal damage output. You can leave her several levels behind your main DPS without losing effectiveness.
Antl requires a similar approach. If you're building Heat or Electric teams, invest enough to maximize his susceptibility application and ultimate amplification. If you're running Physical? Skip him entirely and save those resources.
Pro Tip: The Arknights: Endfield AIC Factory Guide explains how to optimize resource production. Efficient factory management accelerates your team building significantly.
Adapting Teams Based on Your Pulls
Your gacha results will determine which team path makes sense. Here's how to adapt:
Scenario 1: You pull Laevatain early Immediately shift to the Heat Specialist team. Invest in Antl alongside Laevatain and Ardelia. This becomes your main team for all content.
Scenario 2: You pull Pogranichnik from the 40-pull banner Upgrade your Physical starter team. Replace Snowshine with Pogranichnik and watch your damage output skyrocket.
Scenario 3: You pull multiple Electric operators Commit to the Electric Powerhouse composition. Antl's dual-element support means you're not wasting resources even if you eventually shift elements.
Scenario 4: No premium DPS from early pulls Stick with the Universal Physical Starter. It remains viable through early and mid-game content. Use our Arknights: Endfield Reroll Guide if you want to try for better starting operators.
Common F2P Team Building Mistakes
Avoid these pitfalls that drain resources without improving performance:
Spreading resources too thin: Building six operators to level 30 accomplishes less than building three to level 50. Focus beats breadth in early progression.
Ignoring element synergies: Mixing Heat, Electric, and Physical operators without proper support creates a team that excels at nothing. Pick an element and commit.
Undervaluing 4★ operators: Antl and Aakuri provide exceptional value for their rarity. Don't bench them just because you pulled a 6★ that doesn't fit your team composition.
Chasing the meta without resources: Seeing a powerful team composition doesn't help if you lack the operators or materials to build it. Work with what you have.
Upgrade materials interface
When to Expand Beyond Your Main Team
Eventually you'll need multiple teams for different content types. Here's when to start building your second composition:
- Your main team hits a resource wall (waiting for specific materials)
- You've cleared all available story content with your primary team
- You pull a premium operator that enables a completely different element
- Special events require team variety
Don't rush this transition. A single fully upgraded team outperforms two half-built teams in most content. For more strategic insights, explore our Arknights: Endfield Team Comp Guide for advanced composition strategies.
Free to Play Strategist
The key to F2P success isn't avoiding gacha, it's making every pull and every resource count. These team compositions give you proven paths to progress regardless of your luck.
Start with the Universal Physical Starter since it requires zero gacha investment. As you accumulate pulls and operators, adapt toward whichever premium team matches your roster. Ardelia and Aakuri remain valuable across all compositions, making them safe early investments.
Remember: element focus beats random power. Pick Heat, Electric, or Physical based on your best DPS operator, then build supporting cast around that choice. Antl's dual-element support makes him exceptionally flexible if you're torn between Heat and Electric. Your F2P journey in Endfield rewards planning over impulse. These teams prove you don't need perfect gacha luck to dominate content, just smart resource management and clear strategic direction.