Arknights: Endfield Chen Qianyu Build Guide

Chen Qianyu Character Overview & Tier Rating

Chen Qianyu is a 5-Star Physical Guard who focuses on crowd control and team support through Lift, Stagger, and Vulnerable effects. Instead of relying purely on raw damage, she creates openings for teammates by disrupting enemy attacks and increasing the damage they take.

A skilled swordswoman trained at Tianjian Hall, Chen Qianyu developed her own swordsmanship after years of traveling across Talos-II. She later joined Endfield Industries as a member of the Crisis Team, where her optimism and determination quickly made her one of the team's most dependable operators.

Basic Information

Strengths

• Applies Lift, Stagger, and Vulnerable consistently.

• Strong utility against bosses and elite enemies.

• Beginner-friendly and available early in the game.

• Fits well in most Physical-focused teams.

Weaknesses

• Lower personal DPS than dedicated damage dealers.

• Relies on teammates to maximize her debuffs.

• Less effective in teams that don't benefit from crowd control.

Tier Rating

Overall Rating: S Tier

Chen Qianyu remains one of the best early-game operators thanks to her reliable crowd control and team utility. While she won't replace a dedicated main DPS, her ability to control enemies and boost team damage makes her a valuable pick throughout most of the game.

Is Chen Qianyu Worth Pulling?

Yes, especially for new players. Chen Qianyu offers a great mix of crowd control, debuffs, and consistent Physical damage, making her a reliable pick throughout the early and mid-game. Her ability to apply Lift, Stagger, and Vulnerable also makes her a valuable support for Physical-focused teams.

While she isn't the highest-damage Guard in the late game, her utility and ease of use keep her relevant in a variety of team compositions.

Pull if you need a beginner-friendly Physical Guard or want a strong crowd control unit.

Skip if you already have multiple high-end Physical DPS characters and are looking purely for maximum damage output.

How to Get Chen Qianyu

Chen Qianyu is one of the first Arknights: Endfield characters you'll unlock during the main story, making her available to every player without relying on the gacha system. Since she joins your squad early, she's an excellent choice to invest in while building your first team.

If you're planning to strengthen your roster with future banners, an Endfield top up can help you obtain premium currency for pulls and character progression. Even as you unlock more operators, Chen Qianyu remains a reliable option thanks to her crowd control and team utility.

Chen Qianyu Upgrade Costs & Build Materials

Maxing out Chen Qianyu requires a significant amount of promotion materials, skill materials, and T-Creds. Below are all the resources needed to fully upgrade her, from Elite 1 to Elite 4 and max skill levels. Prioritize promotions first to unlock her full kit before investing heavily in skill upgrades.

Promotion Materials

Chen Qianyu's Skill Upgrade Materials

Here is exactly what you need to grind out to max out one of Chen Qianyu's skills.

Chen Qianyu Skills & Talent Breakdown

Chen Qianyu's kit revolves around Lift, Stagger, and Vulnerable, allowing her to control enemies while enabling teammates to deal more damage. Her skills flow naturally into each other, making her an excellent sub-DPS for Physical teams.

Soaring Break (Basic Attack)

Performs a multi-hit Physical combo. Basic attacks can transition into aerial attacks against lifted enemies, while attacking staggered targets triggers a powerful finisher that restores SP.

Ascending Strike (Skill)

Launches an enemy into the air and inflicts Lift, creating an opening for follow-up attacks and combo skills.

Soar to the Stars (Combo Skill)

Activates when an enemy becomes Vulnerable, dashing through the target and dealing Physical damage to all enemies in its path. Best used after triggering Lift or Stagger.

Blade Gale (Ultimate)

Unleashes a series of rapid slashes that deal heavy Physical damage. The final hit delivers the highest damage, making it Chen Qianyu's strongest burst skill.

Slashing Edge (Talent)

Using skills grants an ATK buff that stacks multiple times, significantly increasing sustained damage during extended fights.

Momentum Breaker (Talent)

Interrupting an enemy's charging attack applies additional Stagger, making it easier to break elite enemies and bosses.

Skill Priority

Blade Gale (Ultimate) > Ascending Strike (Skill) > Soar to the Stars (Combo Skill) > Soaring Break (Basic Attack)

Upgrade the Ultimate first for the biggest damage increase, then prioritize Ascending Strike to improve crowd control and combo consistency.

Best Weapons for Chen Qianyu

Choosing the right weapon can significantly improve Chen Qianyu's damage output and consistency. Prioritize weapons that boost Physical DMG, Critical Rate, or Agility, while also enhancing her ability to capitalize on Stagger and Vulnerable effects.

Rapid Ascent (Best-in-Slot)

Rapid Ascent is Chen Qianyu's strongest weapon thanks to its high Critical Rate and Physical DMG bonuses. Its passive further increases the damage of Battle Skills and Ultimates against Staggered enemies, perfectly matching Chen's crowd-control focused kit and making it the best option for maximizing burst damage.

Glorious Memory (Best Alternative)

Glorious Memory is an excellent substitute if Rapid Ascent isn't available. It provides Agility and Critical Rate, while its passive boosts Ultimate damage after applying Vulnerable. Since Chen can consistently trigger Vulnerable during combat, she can maintain the weapon's damage bonus with little effort.

Sundering Steel (Best 5-Star)

Among 5-Star weapons, Sundering Steel offers the highest overall value. It increases Agility and Physical DMG while providing a stacking ATK buff after applying a Physical status. Although Chen cannot fully maximize its passive on her own, it still delivers strong and reliable performance throughout most content.

Prominent Edge (Best Budget Option)

Prominent Edge is the best choice for players who don't have access to higher-rarity weapons. Its passive grants a sizable ATK boost after using a Battle Skill, which Chen can activate consistently during her normal rotation, making it a solid early-game weapon with excellent value.

Best Team Compositions for Chen Qianyu

The F2P Starter Team

Endministrator + Chen Qianyu + Ardelia + Akekuri

Describe the combat loop where Chen controls the battlefield and applies Vulnerable stacks, allowing the Endministrator to capitalize on the openings.

Advanced Physical Breach Team

Lifeng + Mi Fu + Chen Qianyu + Pogranichnik

Break down this premium setup where Chen acts as the primary debuff applicator, while Pogranichnik and Da Pan consume those Vulnerable stacks to trigger massive damage spikes and generate team-wide SP.

FAQs

Is Chen Qianyu worth building?

Yes. Chen Qianyu is one of the best free 5-Star Guards for early and mid-game progression. Her Lift, Stagger, and Vulnerable effects provide valuable team utility, making her a solid investment even after you unlock stronger DPS operators.

What is the best weapon for Chen Qianyu?

Rapid Ascent is her best-in-slot weapon thanks to its Critical Rate and Physical DMG bonuses. If you don't have it, Glorious Memory is the best alternative, while Sundering Steel is the strongest 5-Star option.

What is the best Memory Set for Chen Qianyu?

For endgame content, prioritize the recommended Swordmancer Memory Set to maximize her Physical damage and combo potential. During the early game, AIC Heavy paired with Miner Gauntlets offers a reliable setup until better gear becomes available.

Do I need to pull duplicates for Chen Qianyu?

No. Chen Qianyu performs perfectly well at Potential 0. While upgrades like P1 (Shadowless) and P4 (Improvised Chi Xiao) provide useful damage and quality-of-life improvements, they aren't necessary for her to perform effectively.

Can Chen Qianyu fit into non-Physical teams?

Yes, but she performs best in Physical-focused teams. Her Lift and Stagger mechanics work in any composition, but her Vulnerable effects are most valuable when paired with teammates that deal Physical damage.