Arknights Guide: Building and Using the Alter Caster

As the first "Alter" Operator in Arknights, Lava the Purgatory isn't just a beefed-up version of her original form—she's a versatile 5-star Splash Caster who adds significant team utility and flexibility to your squad. Whether you're looking to maximize her area-of-effect (AoE) damage output or enhance the performance of your fellow Casters, Lava the Purgatory fits seamlessly into a variety of team compositions.

Unlike many damage-focused Operators in this tactical game, Lava the Purgatory not only delivers powerful AoE Arts attacks but also supports her allies. Equipped with two robust skills and a standout talent that accelerates SP generation for your entire Caster team, she's a valuable asset in any scenario. Let's delve deeper into her capabilities and explore how to optimize her for your roster.

Operator Overview

Lava the Purgatory is a 5-star Splash Caster renowned for her ability to deal 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. However, what sets her apart is her talent that enhances synergy with other Casters and the unique gameplay introduced by her second skill.

Introduced as a welfare Operator during the Who is Real event, she can be permanently unlocked via Record Restoration. Compared to the original Lava, this version boasts superior stats, access to Elite 2 promotions, and a more intricate playstyle. While she shares Trust with her original counterpart, her upgrades, potentials, and skills are entirely distinct.

Talents: Spell Formation and SP Support

In the strategic battles of Arknights, Lava the Purgatory's primary utility stems from her talent, Spell Formation. This talent provides her with immediate SP upon deployment and shares SP with other Casters on the field or when they enter the battlefield. The SP boost scales with her promotion level; at Elite 2, she gains 30 SP upon deployment and grants an additional +4 SP to all Casters each time she's deployed.

She also synergizes well with frontline defenders and medics. Her skill, Ring of Hellfire, protects defenders by burning nearby enemies, making her an excellent choice for teams focused on lane control or stall strategies.

Some effective synergy options include:

• Eyjafjalla or Ceobe: For an SP boost 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 highly refined Alter Operator, seamlessly blending AoE damage, utility, and team support. She's easy to integrate into early game content due to her consistent splash damage, yet she offers profound tactical advantages with her SP-boosting talent and her area control skill, Ring of Hellfire. Whether you're assembling a team heavy on Casters or simply need an AoE burn field to support your defenders, Lava the Purgatory is an excellent addition to your lineup.

To fully leverage her ranged prowess and enhance your gameplay experience, consider playing Arknights on PC with BlueStacks. This setup provides a broader view of the battlefield, faster controls, and smoother performance, enabling you to strategically deploy skills like Ring of Hellfire with precision.