As the first "Alter" Operator in Arknights, Lava the Purgatory is not just an upgraded version of her original form—she's a robust 5-star Splash Caster that offers substantial team utility and remarkable versatility. Whether you're harnessing her for widespread AoE damage or leveraging her abilities to enhance the performance of other Casters, she proves to be a dependable asset in a variety of team compositions.
Unlike many damage-focused Operators in this tactical game, Lava the Purgatory enhances her teammates while still dishing out potent area Arts attacks. With her two effective skills and a standout talent that accelerates SP generation for your entire Caster squad, she's an excellent choice for more than just specialized scenarios. Let's delve deeper into her capabilities and how to optimize her build.
Operator Overview
Lava the Purgatory is a 5-star Splash Caster renowned for her ability to deliver AoE Arts damage across a broad area. As with all Splash Casters, her attacks affect multiple tiles simultaneously and are particularly effective against enemies with low to moderate RES. What sets her apart is her focus on synergy, thanks to her unique talent and the way her second skill transforms her gameplay approach.
Introduced during the Who is Real event as a welfare Operator, she can be permanently unlocked via Record Restoration. Compared to the original Lava, this version boasts higher stats, access to Elite 2, and a more intricate gameplay style. Although she shares Trust with her original self, her upgrades, potentials, and skills are entirely independent.
Talents: Spell Formation and SP Support
Lava the Purgatory's primary utility in Arknights' combat stems from her talent, Spell Formation. This talent grants her instant SP upon initial deployment and shares SP with other Casters either already on the field or as they're deployed. The amount of SP scales with her promotion level; at Elite 2, she receives 30 SP upon deployment and provides a +4 SP boost to all Casters each time she's deployed.
She synergizes effectively with frontline defenders and medics. Her skill, Ring of Hellfire, safeguards defenders by burning nearby enemies, making her an ideal choice for teams focused on lane control or stall strategies.
Some effective synergy options include:
- Eyjafjalla or Ceobe: For SP boost and combined AoE damage
- Saria or Nearl: Healers who can withstand while Lava burns surrounding enemies
- Other Splash Casters: Goldenglow and Skyfire benefit from faster skill cycles
Lava the Purgatory is an exceptionally refined alter Operator, seamlessly blending AoE damage, utility, and team support. She's user-friendly for beginners tackling early content with her consistent splash damage, yet also offers deep strategic value with her SP-boosting talent and area-control skill. Whether you're deploying a caster-heavy team or simply need an AoE burn zone around your defenders, she brings a wealth of benefits to your squad.
To fully capitalize on her ranged capabilities and enhance visual clarity, consider playing Arknights on PC using BlueStacks. This setup provides a broader view of the battlefield, faster controls, and smoother gameplay—perfect for precisely positioning skills like Ring of Hellfire.
