Arknights: Endfield 1.6 Si Build Guide – Best Teams, Weapons & Pull Advice

1. Si Overview: The Ultimate Cryo & Heat Support?

Si is a 6-star Cryo Supporter introduced in Arknights: Endfield Version 1.6, Sanctuary of Ink. She's much more than a standard damage buffer, combining Fixed DMG, damage transfer, Cryo/Heat Infliction, and Combo Skill cooldown reduction.

Why Si Is Special

• Artful Intent: Stores part of the damage dealt to a marked enemy, then releases it as large-area Fixed DMG.
• Inksoul: Transfers incoming attacks and effects to its linked enemy. Perfect for slippery bosses.
• Dual-Element Support: Applies Cryo or Heat Infliction depending on the operator in Team Position 1.
• Combo Skill: Triggers when Cryo or Heat Infliction is consumed or absorbed, with stronger finishing damage based on the stacks consumed.
• Ultimate: Boosts teamwide Cryo and Heat damage while reducing the Combo Skill cooldown of the first operator.

Key Takeaway: Si doesn't just increase damage. She makes your main DPS more consistent, especially against highly mobile bosses and scattered enemies.

2. Si's Skills Explained: Master Artful Intent & Inksoul

Basic Attack | Artistic Urge

Si performs up to 5 Cryo attacks. Her finishing move deals additional Cryo DMG and restores SP.

Combat Tip: Basic attacks are mainly for SP recovery. Si isn't designed to stay on the field as your primary damage dealer.

Battle Skill | Brushwork Realm

Si's Battle Skill revolves around three actions: applying Artful Intent, summoning Inksoul, and triggering the final damage settlement.

Phase 1: Apply Artful Intent

Damages and briefly immobilizes an enemy while applying Artful Intent, which records a portion of the damage the target receives.

When the mark expires, the stored value is released as large-area Fixed DMG.

The Infliction type depends on Team Position 1:

• Heat operator in Position 1: Applies Heat Infliction.
• Any other element in Position 1: Applies Cryo Infliction.

Phase 2: Summon Inksoul

Recast the skill to spend SP and pull an Inksoul from the marked target.

• Attacking Inksoul transfers damage to the linked enemy.
• Infliction, control, and interruption effects can also transfer.
• You can interrupt certain enemy charging attacks by hitting Inksoul.
• When the linked enemy is defeated, Inksoul can move to another target.

Important: Hitting Inksoul and its linked enemy simultaneously does not double-count damage.

Against bosses that constantly dash, teleport, or move out of range, Inksoul lets your DPS keep attacking without chasing the target.

Phase 3: Finish the Painting

Activate the final stage to end Artful Intent early and immediately release its stored damage as AoE Fixed DMG.

Pro Tip: You don't always need to wait for the mark to expire. Trigger the settlement after your main DPS finishes a burst window or before the boss enters another phase.

Combo Skill | Fully Envisioned

Si's Combo Skill can trigger when your team consumes or absorbs Cryo or Heat Infliction.

She summons an ink dragon that deals multiple hits of Cryo DMG. Its finishing hit becomes stronger with more Infliction stacks consumed.

Best Synergy: Laevatain can absorb multiple Heat Infliction stacks at once, making her an excellent partner for Si's Combo Skill.

Ultimate | No One Spoils the Fun

Si summons an ink dragon to deal Cryo DMG and grants valuable teamwide buffs:

• Cryo DMG Amp
• Heat DMG Amp
• Reduced Combo Skill cooldown for Team Position 1

This makes Si especially useful for DPS operators who rely on frequent Combo Skills, such as Yvonne and Last Rite.

Talent & Skill Priority

Si's supporting effects focus on improving the Combo Skill rotation of the operator in Team Position 1.

Gameplay Priority:
Consistent Combo Triggers > Artful Intent Timing > Inksoul Uptime

Keep her support effects active rather than forcing extra field time.

3. Best Weapons & Essence Stats for Si

For Si, prioritize Intellect, Efficacy, and Cryo DMG. Her main job is enabling your team while contributing damage through her skills.

Best Weapons

Rating	Weapon	Why Use It?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best	Jade Vessel Signature Weapon	Strong Intellect, Cryo DMG, and Efficacy synergy. The preferred choice for Si's support and sub-DPS role.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alternative*	Long Heritage Protocol Pass	An alternative mentioned in early build recommendations. Check weapon-type compatibility before investing.

*Long Heritage is listed as a Sword in available weapon data, while Si uses a Great Sword. Do not treat it as an equipable alternative unless this changes in-game.

Best Essence Stats

Build Tip: Si isn't a traditional on-field carry. Prioritize her support utility and skill consistency instead of stacking Crit stats at the expense of her main role.

Where to Farm Essence Materials

Check the relevant Essence and Engraving material drops in:

• Valley IV: Hub Area and Originium Research Park
• Wuling: Cangjian Valley

Always confirm the available drops and material names in the in-game farming menu.

4. Best Si Team Comps: Cryo, Heat & Fun Builds

Si's team-building rule is simple: Place your main DPS in Team Position 1 to determine her Infliction type. The remaining operators should help apply, consume, or absorb Infliction stacks.

Team 1: Yvonne Cryo Team — Best All-Round Pick

Cryo DPS | Faster Combos | Consistent Boss Damage

+ + +

Team: Yvonne (Position 1) + Si + Tangtang + Xaihi

How It Works

• Yvonne: Main Cryo DPS and burst damage dealer.
• Si: Cryo Infliction, Inksoul, Fixed DMG, and Combo cooldown support.
• Tangtang: Supplies additional Cryo Infliction.
• Xaihi: Provides valuable Cryo team support.

Si helps Yvonne cycle Combo Skills faster, while Inksoul lets her maintain damage against mobile enemies.

Alternative: Consider Gilberta if Tangtang is unavailable. Other utility operators can replace Xaihi depending on your roster, but make sure your Infliction rotation still works.

Recommended For: Yvonne mains looking for smoother rotations and more reliable boss damage.

Team 2: Laevatain Heat Team — Big Burst Potential

Heat DPS | Stack Consumption | AoE Damage

+ +

Team: Laevatain (Position 1) + Si + Camille + Flex

How It Works

• Laevatain: Main Heat DPS.
• Si: Applies Heat Infliction based on Position 1.
• Laevatain consumes multiple Heat Infliction stacks to enable stronger Si Combo hits.
• Artful Intent and Inksoul add extra AoE potential and improve target accessibility.

Why It Works: Laevatain's multi-stack Heat consumption is a natural match for Si's Combo mechanic.

Use the flex slot for survivability, additional Infliction, or team buffs.

Team 3: Si Main DPS — For Dedicated Si Mains

Experimental Build | Combo-Focused Damage

+ + +

Team: Si + Arcane + Tangtang + Xaihi

This experimental setup focuses on enabling Si's Combo Skill and Artful Intent damage through her teammates.

It's a fun option for Si enthusiasts, but don't expect it to outperform well-built Yvonne or Laevatain carry teams.

Team-Building Warning: Avoid running Si in pure Nature or Electric teams without reliable Cryo/Heat Infliction consumption. You'll lose a major part of her Combo Skill value.

5. Is Si Worth Pulling? Best Value at P0

Si is a mechanics-focused support, not just another stat buffer. Her pull value depends heavily on your current roster.

Is Potential 0 Enough?

Yes. Si is fully functional at Potential 0 (P0). Her key mechanics, including Artful Intent, Inksoul, dual-element support, and Combo cooldown reduction, are already available.

For most players, securing one copy is a better starting point than chasing extra Potentials.

Should You Pull Jade Vessel?

Jade Vessel is designed to improve Si's support and damage performance, but its exact value depends on the final weapon stats and your available alternatives.

F2P Recommendation: Prioritize Si P0 first. Consider her signature weapon or higher Potentials only if your resources allow.

Planning to pull Si and her signature weapon? Compare your Arknights: Endfield top up options before committing. Set a budget and prioritize the upgrades that matter most to your team.

Final Verdict: A Game-Changing Support for Cryo & Heat

Si solves three common problems:

1. Mobile Bosses: Inksoul allows consistent damage without constantly chasing enemies.

2. Limited AoE Damage: Artful Intent converts recorded damage into a large-area Fixed DMG hit.

3. Slow Combo Rotations: Her Ultimate helps the first operator use Combo Skills more frequently.

If you've already invested in Yvonne or Laevatain, Si is a strong support candidate. If your roster focuses mainly on Nature or Electric teams, she's much less essential.

Bottom Line: Si is worth considering for established Cryo and Heat teams. P0 is the sensible stopping point for most players.

Follow Keygold for more Arknights: Endfield guides, operator builds, and version updates!

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Si

Q1: Does Artful Intent's Fixed DMG benefit from damage buffs or Vulnerability?

No. Based on the published mechanics, the Fixed DMG settlement ignores DEF and resistance and is not directly amplified by regular damage-bonus or Vulnerability multipliers. However, buffs can still affect the original damage recorded by Artful Intent.

Q2: Can enemies destroy Inksoul?

Inksoul acts as a damage-transfer target rather than a separate enemy with its own HP bar. If the linked target dies, it can transfer to another enemy.

Q3: Can Si trigger her Combo Skill frequently?

Yes, provided your team consistently consumes or absorbs Cryo or Heat Infliction. Actual trigger frequency still depends on cooldowns and your team's Infliction supply.

Q4: Is Si better with Yvonne or Laevatain?

Both are strong options. Yvonne benefits from smoother Combo rotations and consistent damage, while Laevatain makes excellent use of multi-stack Heat Infliction consumption.

Q5: Is Si usable without her signature weapon?

Absolutely. Her core utility comes from her skills, so she can still provide Artful Intent, Inksoul, and valuable team buffs without Jade Vessel.

Q6: Should new players pull Si?

If you already own Yvonne or Laevatain, Si is worth considering. Otherwise, building a reliable main DPS team should usually come first.

Summary: Si is a unique Cryo Supporter who brings Fixed DMG, reliable boss targeting, and faster Combo rotations. For Cryo and Heat teams, she's one of Version 1.6's most interesting support options.