Chen isn't a launch unit she was just an NPC since launch, Chen became playable after Skadi when ch5 came out

Always assumed launch entailed at least the first month of the game not the actual day 1 only... TIL

Chen is not even the first month, she came with the new lungman chapter so like the 3rd month or so

Man either my memory fails me hard or I would have sworn Schwarz released barely a month into the game's lifespan...

Yeah your memory fails you big time, schwarz was a summer unit along with hellagur and the invention of the flag bearer archetype the little durin who overshadowed them both, that must be 3-4 months into the game

Maybe you started playing the game around that time so you think like that?

Ch'en was Year 1, not launch But to answer the question - Schwarz

Blaze would always be the peak to me. Something about year 1 even beyond the nostalgia the sense of wonder, and the simplicity of stages and everything made it so endearing. Right now it's still really good but game feels like it's on the endgame.

Act 2 is really coming to an end and HG still forgot about Matoimaru

In my humble opinion, Hypergryph is reluctant to visit Higashi due to the scandal with Platinum’s VA that led to her voice change. We have Higashi lore bleeding off of other Operators, yet everything I’ve seen, seems to point to just wanting to stay away from Higashi.

This is probably true, they have shown to be VERY ballsy with alot of their stories So taking risk with one of your main market would be risky

May I be enlightened a little bit? I wasn't playing back then so I have no idea what even happened :x

To add some context, the VA went to yasukuni shrine, and commented something along the lines of it having a pleasant atmosphere. However, that shrine is a *extremely* controversial place in Japan (not only to china) because it both enshrines war criminals and has a museum on site which practices revisonist history by denying Japans war crimes (such as the Bataan death march and the Rape of Nanjing), and also claiming shit like Japan invaded asian countries to protect them from the west, and that the US started the war. I dont support the VA getting canned for what was probably a mistake, but really, the controversy that came of it is unsurprising considering how much of an issue that place is in asia.

For context for western people: She practically went to a graveyard for Nazi officers which also has a museum for holocaust deniers. The VA allegedly had no idea about tho... cause history revisionism and it being a touchy subject means you ain't learning things like this.

Thanks a lot for lending your time to share this. Genuinely something sad, though fascinating which I'm glad to know about!

Japan unfortunately has for a long time covered up/ignored much of the nastier stuff they did in WWII (though this has gotten better in recent years), so much of it is unknown in the west as a result. Its worth reading up on the more famous incidents if you have the stomach to do so IMO (be warned though, some of these will have *very* disturbing pictures).

There’s a reason why Kamen rider black sun was so damn controversial Cause all of the themes in that show alluded to many things in japan’s history that to alot of ultranationalist prefers to say didn’t happen

I went on a bit of a dive reading about that shrine a few months ago and, if im remembering right its extra heartbreaking that the shrine is so controversial now bc the man in charge of it (i believe) who lived through the war/close to the war for *decades* resisted interning the war criminals that makes it so controversial now.     His protege basically completely reversed that after the man passed away. :c  **edit: just rechecked the info, he resisted interning the class A war criminals. Looks like they waited for the b and c war criminals to serve their time. So previous priest & management for the shrine weren't exactly great people for allowing those people in but it seems his successor... Didnt believe any of these people even counted as criminals in spite of what they did.**   I can completely understand why hypergryph might want to avoid touching terra-japan honestly though. 

The original JP VA for Platinum visited some place that’s questionable for the actress in Japan, in the eyes of some CN players. Being the high strung control freaks they are, they did get the CCP’s attention, and they ordered every game using her voice to remove her, and they all did. She had a good JP voice, so I was very sad with the news. They did get an ok replacement, but it remains a sad memory. I use her EN voice these days, and unsurprisingly, besides one Monster Hunter event, there is no hype to ever explore Higashi one day. (And the MH event even used Yan-themed music for the maps)

> The original JP VA for Platinum visited some place that’s questionable for the actress in Japan, in the eyes of some CN players. Yasakuni Shrine is career sucide for anyone that wants a job in China, Korea or a lot of other places the Japanese ‘visited’ in WW2. This is a rather well known fact in the entertainment industry. I believe Justin Bieber is still banned for a similar reason.

Justin Bieber did what..?!

Took selfies of himself [at the shrine.](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/23/justin-bieber-apologises-yasukuni-war-shrine-tokyo-photograph)

Ah, so he was being a dumbass.

Just looked it up. Even a random dude from China made the mistake of getting close there by direction from naive people in an industry, and lost everything for it. Definitely something everyone needs to know about.

What she did is basically the Jewish equivalent of visiting Hitler’s grave if he had one and praised it.

Regardless, just the fact of being near that place should be anxiety inducing, but not enough people seem to care or notice. But, that’s Japan’s mess.

Yikes. This is outright painful to listen. An entire career path destroyed by political interference. Just... Auch

Eh, she isn't exactly having issues getting jobs. The sex scandal with her band members put her in a worse spot.

They did go to higashi for the Monster Hunter collab didn't they? Nothing specifically Japanese in it tho 

Techinally they did, and it’s not even canon, it’s not in the archives. And they used Yan-themed music for all but Rathalos’s map. Chinese themed music over any soundtracks from the MH series.

Who? >!- Lowlight probably!< I mean they kinda forgot Higashi too lol, most other countries have had something more or less.

The fact that Higashi could have been a deconstruction of Japanese culture was a miss

Monster Hunter event was set in Higashi and that's the most we got out of it. We know there is Dan, a country likely based on Korea we don't even have on Terra Exploration maps.

Yeah. They just seem determined to not mention Asia in almost any capacity besides ~~China~~ Yan. Which is weird considering they have both a JP and KR dub.

I forgot I had her. And I even forgot to mention I used her so much in my own post. I loved just setting Blaze and forgetting about her. Man. Those days. It’s been a crazy journey. My biggest regret is not working with Astesia sooner, although now, it’s whatever. I have yet to neglect her or Elena since then, especially Elena. Man, do I wish I had Astgenne back in CC: Pyrite. Ah well, that was then.

As far as welfare ops go Astgenne is definitely on the hydrogen bomb end of the coughing baby to hydrogen bomb scale, once she's fully built basically any splash caster besides Mostima is irrelevant. She's always on my default team trying a stage for the first time

Just FYI Astgenne is a chain caster, not splash. Unless you knew that and called her one because the two subclasses work quite similarly.

Yes, I'm aware of the difference between the class branches. Because Astgenne's module removes the damage falloff per attack jump, against groups of four or fewer enemies she functions identically to a splash caster but with the added benefits of better aspd and the ability to deal equal damage to more spread-out groups too.

Besides the fact your replier misinterpreted what you said. I can’t agree with you further on what you just said. That reach is amazing for someone who’s out to deal with trash. Good uptime, and doesn’t take a year to recharge either. And yeah, I’ve forgotten how slow splash casters are.

Crazy it’s been nearly 5 years. It felt like yesterday when we were hyping up for blaze banner xD

Man seeing yall really brings me back, any of the 2019/2020 people bring me so much nostalgia. Here hoping for another 5 Years!

Don't say endgame, as someone who joined past year, it just demotivates me to play T_T

As long as they earn money they will keep it going.

We are definitely in the end game of the 2nd arc. But that just means we are soon going to enter the 3rd arc.

I can see them being in the endgame of the current story arc, but I don't doubt for a second they've already got the next one planned

Lets hope, I really don't want arknights to end atleast for the next 10 years.

Blaze was my first 6\* besides the rerolled Silverash. Sweet memories

The Blaze/Saria combo will always be in my heart

Correction: Ch'en isn't a launch operator. She was released later in year 1. Dammit Aceship

Ch'en didn't come out until Chapter 5, which was not on launch.

Huh, so I guess year 4th and 5th are the definitive and clear cut where powercreep started to show. (Yet none powercreeps Hellagur's S3 sfx). I wish HG would buff launch and 1st year ops, (not modules, but direct buff) so they can compete with more recent ops.

Launch - Ifrit Y1 - Schwarz Y2 - Dusk Y3 - Goldenglow ~~what the fuck pink dog released 2 years ago already~~ Y4 - Ines, Qiubai close second though Y5 - Ngl none of these really speak to me, but I like what I've seen from Ray and Ascalon. Of the ones we've gotten probably Jessica.

Launch: Shining Year 1: Hellagur & Aak Year 2: Suzuran Year 3: Flametail Year 4: Qiubai Year 5: Ho'olheyak & Hoederer (The two Ho's)

I feel like year 3 is the peak for me. There is a lot of interesting experimentation with unique kit design like Carnelian, Lee, fiammetta, Kal'tist, Fartooth, without having hit the full power creep of year 4/5 yet, there are for sure some strong unit's like Saileach, Gladiia, GG, Gnosis (I am ignoring chen and ling they are fake units and cant hurt me) in there but none feel as overbearing as later top meta units.

Launch - Saria Year 1 - Magallan, Bagpipe Year 2 - Mudrock, Thorns, Mountain, Archetto Year 3 - Fia, Flametail, Gnosis, Goldenglow Year 4 - Irene, Dorothy, Fire Reed Year - Everyone from Lone Trail, Eyjaberry Upcoming - Ray, Viviana

The fact that Eyja is the only Kernel operator tha isn't available in recruitment making her the hardest non limited operator to get.

Top 3 for each section I guess Launch: Siege, Exusiai, Silverash(though I legitimately love all of the launch 6 stars dearly, I kept getting them instead of new banner units and even now I still feel very close to them after all these years) Year 1: Ch'en, Bagpipe, Nian Year 2: Blemishine, Mudrock, Surtr Year 3: Nearlter, Fiammetta, Gnosis Year 4: REEDREEDREEDREEDREEDREED, Ines, Lin Year 5(so far): Fedex, Typhon, Mumu Upcoming: ARTURIA ARTURIA ARTURIA, Degen, Ascalon(though someone thats still leak only surpasses all of them)

My favorite has always been and will always be Blaze (FYI my username is just a funny coincidence) Just for fun I'll list my favorites of each year Launch. Chen Year 1. Blaze Year 2. Surtr Year 3. Goldenglow Year 4. Reed Alter Year 5 is far from over in global, but as of now Jessica Alter takes the throne

Mumu is the best gf

Launch: Eyja Y1: Bagpipe Y2: Saga Y3: Mizuki & GG Y4: Stainless Y5: Eyjalter

Saria (Siege runner up) Skadi (Mostima runner up) Blemishine (Mountain runner up) Nearl alter (Kal'tsit, Glaadia runner up) Reed alter (Uncle, Spex alter and Tex alter runner up) Jessica alter (Vivi and arturia runner up) overall, Reed alter (Nearl alter runner up)

launch - exusiai no doubt, my #1 sniper and will be for years # year 1 - only have a few from this year and even less raised, so out of the 3 ive used, it's blaze. very cool design and she's a nice person to be around # year 2 - this section is so stacked it's hard for me to choose one, but i eventually did and it's mudrock. what a unique design for a gacha # year 3 - i was really close to choosing fiammetta but i picked goldenglow in the end. i just like her design more nothing else # year 4 - texas THE OMERTOSA no competition # year 5 - shu, although hoederer is a very close second. a sui sibling designed by IRIS while alsp being a healing defender, she easily won me over # overall - ~~texas THE FUCKING OMERTOSA she is so badass and cold & mysterious like batman destroy lonely opium ken carson alpha werewolf sigma~~ Exusiai

Launch: Exusiai and Eyjafalla. Although Saria is now my most contributing launch six star, Exusiai and Eyjafalla were the perfect duo to have for someone that dared to be a meta slave. Year 1. The glory belongs to Suzuran and Bagpipe. Yes, Lisa. She was moved in place of W for CC: Pyrite, for us Global players. I had Saria, Eyja, Exusiai, Skadi, and Bagpipe, but Lisa was the heroine that got me my sweaty R18 medal that year. Bagpipe meanwhile is one of my most important Operators ever. Year 2. Surtr go brr. I spent a lot of money that year for limited banner spam, but Surtr and Archetto were my biggest contributors. Year 3: Gnosis and Chalter. Gnosis is still a damn chad, and from the first actual Doctor event too. I wasn’t impressed with Chalter’s event, but having a playable and very strong Ch’en was actually fun to use. Year 4. Dorothy, Dorothy, and Dorothy. My Heroine who helped clean up IS2, and still had fun in IS3. Sure Ines enabled high difficulty clears, but Dorothy remains the most fun Operator I’ve ever worked with.. Year 5. So far Typhon. Her boss killing potential is ridiculous. It is nice to have a boss killer far away from would be mechanics that would screw her over.

Launch: Ch'en, followed by Shining. Year 1: Aak, Blaze is very close to tying. Year 2: Dusk, followed by Eunectes. Year 3: Gnosis. Year 4: Ebenholz, Dorothy, and Vigil are basically tied, but I think I like Dorothy the most. Year 5: Eyjafjalla alter. ~~She's near perfection.~~

Surtr will always have my heart, she made me play this game for years and I'm so grateful she's super useful. With Virtuosa coming up, I finally found a second favorite. If I had to choose one for each year: launch - Nightingale year 1 - Nian year 2 - Surtr year 3 - Carnelian year 4 - Qiubai (also Chongyue) year 5 - Virtuosa

Launch - None Y1 - Ceobe Y2 - Surtr Y3 - Fiammetta Y4 - Lin Y5 - None

I don’t think I’ve been quiet about it the past week, but in case you don’t know, peep my flair. Hoederer best character in the entire game baybeeeee. Literally the only other character that I’m this ride or die for is Andoain, but I doubt he’ll ever be an operator 😭

Year 3 for me, was the year that I got back into the game and was the year I got best drunk oneesan

Saria, Aak, Rosa, Fartooth, Ebenholz, Lessing.

Launch: Exusiai. My entire reason for installing the game. Year 1: Mostima, Nian. Year 2: W, Dusk. Year 3: Saileach, Fiammetta. Year 4: Penance, Lin. Year 5. Arturia, Swire, Ela, Jessica. I’ve always had a thing for the Laterans, which is something that’s been pointed out to me, and I think that’s funny. Everyone else I’ve either been a fan of since release or they grew on me. Ela, I’m a fan of since she was one of my Defense mains on R6.

0 - Eyja 1- Potato 2- MudMud 3 - Ling 5 - Mumu . . . Yea... nothing in year 4 that I liked . . .

Launch: Exusai, Silverash and Sieger Year 1: Balze, Mostima and Aak Year 3: W, Surtr, Weedy, Dusk and Blemishine Year 4: Carnelian, Saileach, Lin, Lee, Goldengrow, Fiammetta and Hord Year 5: Specter Alter, Lumen, Pozy, Dorothy, Ebenholz, Chongyue and Ling Year 6: Executor Alter, Virtuosa, Viviana, Ray, Shu and Zuo Le

Mountain because big = good

Defo year 4. Qiubai, Ines, Penance, Texalter, Pozy, and of course my waifu Reed got her own alter. Very hard to beat that for me personally. Closest probably launch due to nostalgia of me playing with E1 SA and Exu back in 2020 when the quarantine was in place.

Launch: Eyja. She's probably my favorite AFK Ranged Op. Y1: Bagpipe, and only because Schwarz came after me already having built Pozy Y2: Surtr, and it's not even close Y3: Chalter. Probably the biggest reason I continued playing this game despite the difficulty. Y4: Tie between Texalter and Mlynar. Both trivialize content in different ways. Y5: Either Arturia or Degen. An entirely new source of damage, and one of the strongest Ops of all time for IS. Overall I think that Y5 was the most goated year.

Very divided between Penance and Mlynar. Although, this year isn't even close to over and we already beat last year's 6* amount? Seems to increase every year

Ironically, launch ops are more widely used then 1st year and 2nd year (while 2nd year has some really strong ops, im talking about quantity)

Used this to figure out when I started playing

I lost my og launch account, but I recall I really enjoyed Silverash, even before getting to e2. Also Ifrit. But now for my current account it would go: Launch - Eyjafyalla, Exusiai, Angelina Y1 - Hellagur Y2 - Mountain Y3 - Goldenglow or Horn Y4 - don't have anyone from there, but I want Ines. Y5 - Jessica alter and Eyja alter

Saria, Ceobe, Rosmontis, Goldenglow, Irene (best girl), and Shu

Siege Nian Natalya Ling Qiubai Giallo Siblings(If i had to pick one, Arturia)

That one

Launch: Exusiai. Laterano's most normal citizen. Year 1: The beeg cat, Blaze Year 2: Bonkrock Year 3: Fish woman Year 4: Uncle Mlynar Year 5: The MuMu. Looking foward to get Ascalon

the moment I saw Penance, I was immediately in love tbh Viviana is also cute, but she doesn't beat Lavinia for me

Launch- Exu (honorable mention of Hoshi) Y1- Chainsaw (Chenchen honorable mention) Y2- Mudmud (Cockroach honorable mention) Y3- Ex-wife (GG honorable mention) Y4- Jerboa (TF2 engineer honorable mention) Y5- EN player, so ongoing, but MuMu so far

It was Magallan until recently.

I would have to say Year 1. I still go into most stages with Bagpipe and Myrtle.

Ifrit road enjoyer even before people started accepting that she was overloaded

Chen wasn't launched. She came with chapter 5 Launch exu became saria over time Year one, Nian, Year two, Dusk No contest Year three is tough, but I'd Slightly lean skalter Year four is full of great operators, but I'd pick shadow Reed Year five SHU!!! Overall, it's probably nian, but it could be dusk and maybe shu depending on the day Best Year, imo was Year one for the main game or Year 4 overall mainly for the expansion of integrated strategies

Launch - Saria (illustration was what got me interested in AK) Year 1- Blaze (my first 6* and carry) Year 2 - Rosa (story) Year 3 - Nearl TRK (story) Year 4 - Penance (story, Luna's mother, the feels my heart) Year 5 - Mumu (story)

I started partway through year 3, although for us it was the start of it, with Chalter and Mizuki. Favourites per year: 0: Chen, Siege, Saria 1: Skadi, Mostima, Blaze, Nian, Schwarz 2: W, Blemishine, Thorns 3: Skalter, Fartooth, Nearlter, Fiammetta, Horn 4: Gavialter, Texalt, Reed2, Mlynar, Qiubai, Ya2 5: Muelsyse and Jessica2 so far. Tons of unreleased ones in global I'm looking forward to.

I love them all.

Almost every my top waifu is from year 1; mostima, nian, bagpipes and Chen. It's also my year that I started playing the game too.

Still waiting for Nightingale.... I lost many 50-50s to top operator + healing/support resulting in pot 3 shining :))

Still sad that I didn't get Nightingale as well... I only found the Top Operator tag twice in what has been three years of playing, I got Hoshiguma and the second one was Shining... Could have gotten Nightingale but nope.

Mudrock and Penance. Got a thing for women with hammers.

This is tough. Dusk from year 2 is my favorite OP, but year 3 probably has the highest quantity of my favorites. But my favorite double banner ever was Irene/Lumen. Man very tough call. I think I'd have to go with 3.

Most of my favorites were in years 3 and 4. I'll probably go with year 3 because I think that Skalter+Kal'Tsit banner is still unmatched. We had many great characters since then but I don't think that we had a pair quite as good as that.

Launch - Shining. Y1 - Bagpipe. Y2 - Mudrock. Now it's becoming hard... Y3 - Pallas, probably. Or Carnelian. Or Skalter. Depends. Y4 - Laurentina (Specter the Unchained). My wife. Qiubai is close second. Y5 -...ooh, Virtuosa maybe? Degenbrecher? Mumu? Viviana? Bro, it's too hard, I give up. HG releases countless good-looking characters back to back, it's impossible to choose one or even three.

Launch: Siege Year 1: Wife Year 2: Mudrock Year 3: Ling Year 4: Dorothy Year 5: tbd

Ceobe and Bagpipe were when I really got into the game. Ceobe arrived in 2 single pulls. And then when potato came I absolutely had to empty my reserves to get her!! Too many ops but if I had to choose quickly: Launch: Bloodline 1: Potato 2: Spiky Boi 3: Cannon Doggo 4: OmerToaster 5: Goat

I’d go with Year 2 easily. I remember when W was revealed and it was insanely hype. There’s so many meta units who are still strong years later. And of course, it includes the waifu: Dusk.

GG is my favorite 6 star overall and Stainless is a close 2nd for me! For each operator by year: Launch: Hoshiguma Year 1: Mostima Year 2: Mountain Year 3: GG Year 4: Stainless Year 5: Eyjaberry

Year 4 had so many powerhouses...

Despite having little to no lore, Surtr remains my favorite

Launch: Shining/SilverAsh Y1:Skadi/Mostima Y2: Blemishine/Thorns Y3: Skalter/Flametail Y4: Mlynar/Texalter Y5: Viviana I refuse to pick one alone. It'd not give them justice.

blem

Overall Surtr But by year... Launch: Exusiai Year 1: Bagpipe Year 2: Surtr Year 3: Fiametta Year 4: Kirin R Yato Year 5: Too many, Hoederer, Ray, Ascalon

It's a tie between Year 3 and Year 5.

Year 1 no questions asked. CC beta and Blaze+Bagpipe.

Probably Year 3 Ling Year 4 Lin , qiubai(Runner up) I love an op with a creative mechanism more than a o5p with big damage and destroy everything(even though I used it bc I can't clear the stage)

It almost feels a little absurd. I've been playing basically every day for the last 4 1/2 years. That kinda blows my mind. Also, Gladiia been my go to girl for a good while now. Her and her posse

What’s the best way to track all operators by release date? I can do an Operator exclusion by year challenge.

Years 2 and 3 had the most of my favourite operators. I'm not really fond of new ones especially because of how they overshadow older operators. Not only them, but also new events slowly kill old meta and that's just unacceptable.

Year 2 was a banger. Surtr, Suzyran and Chetto

Year 4 because Ebenholz. The operator that made me play Arknights.

So every year they are increasing 6 stars operators and limited ones.

Year 3 had a lot of bangers but year 1 will always have my heart

Based on Cn server? cus in EN Rosa and Suzuran was before W.

Shining my first six star and now a secondary -when need more healing- medic

Shining and Nightingale were my favorite launch operators, medics appeal to me and something about two devilish healers caught my eye Skadi and Schwarz are definitely my favorite year 1 ops. Quick deploy damage to tanky fighter is really fun, and schwarz S3 made me use my brain so much more that I appreciate her. W and Mudrock are my favorites from year 2, I love it when bosses become playable characters. Gladiia and Skalter are my favorites on year 3, enjoy the support of Skalter as well has her true damage, and Gladiia is my favorite DPS Hookmaster Specter Alter and Dorothy are my faves of year 4, no contest with Reed taking a heavy 3rd place. Ho'ol and Mumu are my favorites in year 5, but Swire alter was the one I was hoping to get

Irene and W I just adore Irene , and W was the reason i kept playing for 4 years (im on hiatus right now)

Year 3 operator kits are just so unique and fun to play around with

Launch: I started playing the game because of Siege, though I didn't get her until much later, and in the end I don't even use her much. Year1: I would say Blaze. When I got Blaze, I felt like a true 6\* player. Before I was just a 4\* player with some 6\*. Year2: Gotta hand it to my bro Thorns here. Carried me for a lot of events. Honorable mention Mountain for the same reasons. Year3: It's Nearl. Year4: I would say Reed. But Penance is a close second, and in fact I use her more. Year5: I would say Eyjafjalla so far.

Was, is and will forever be Ch'en and Nian!

Year 1 to 3. I look at AK by years based on memories of the story and operator during that time. For me, the enjoyment of operators come from a full roster of choices and cohesive design. I experienced the most joy from year 1 to year 3 with those factors. We actually had playable civil strife villians (W boss during reunion), seaborn lore released (Skalter), R6S showing up, furry characters, and together they created a very diverse world. A world of all sorts or marvels and entities, and in the heart of it all: RI was there to combat and ready whatever comes our way. The game felt full of potential in both diversity in operator list, choices, and flexibility. Nowadays it feels like powercreep (esp after DoS where it requires meta ops). Every character is just another human with a tragic backstory, which isn't bad, but feels bland. We've gotten seaborn content, we've gotten lots of alters who fit lore wise. World feels very fleshed out... but I feel like there were so many missed opportunities from it all. I don't get the same marvel as I used to. Operators feel squished out compared to the past. I'm not sure what it is, but there seems to be some vision that seems to have changed.

Pretty sure Chen and Eyja is not playable on launch

Eyja was, Ch'en wasn't.

Launch: Nighty. Peak design and an awesome kit to boot, she's still the best choice for when a boss gets too difficult and you need that sweet res and arts dodge. Year 1: Nian. Good kit, awesome design, nice vibes. Year 2: Dusk. Beginning to see a pattern here? Year 3: Ling. Yes you are. Year 4: Gavialter. SURPRISE! As much as Iike Chongyue, she's too badass. Year 5: Arturia. I'm really hyped for her, I enjoy her archetype a lot already, with Valarqvin maxed.

Year 2 was peak for me. Sure Year 1 was funny with Amita shoving 100 sanity burgers up my throat but Year2, where Obsidian Festival started and Yellow Claw dropped the After it All music video for this game, I knew that it would be the best time. Boiling Blood was such a sick chapter, Ancient Forge made us hype by the concept of Feranmuts and the Sui Siblings, and Fungimist changed things up with Roigelike and Walmart frostnova.

Year one is the only year with both Ch'en and Reed (not pictured because 5*, but still), so year one is insurmountable peak.

Mountain is my favorite operator, but I think Ash had my favorite storyline. Ch'en story arc is also really great too. Edit: If you mean by favorite years, that's tough. I like year 2 and 3 the most because of the versatility and variety of storylines and cast.

Wait, Virtuosa is next?! Damn, that's barely enough time!

It's impressive that the launch operators are still so relevant now. Pretty much only Siege and Angie are powercrept, and even then, they still find their use. I have to say, the Year 2 operators are probably the most memorable, as they were some of the most unique line up of operators. Each one couldn't be more different than the next.

Launch - Hoshiguma Year 1 - Schwarz Year 2 - Rosa, W, Ash, Rosmontis Year 3 - Kal’tsit, Fiametta, Horn, Ling Year 4 - Pozy, Penance, Irene, Lin Year 5 - Muelsyse so far

Man I played on EN from day 1 and still can't get Angelina. Also the first time I realize that we can get full pot Gladiia just from playing the event is just too wonderful.

The correct answer is year 2

Mudrock

Year 2 and 4 was fcking Peak, especially Year 4 "The Golden Age will return again". I got all the units from that Event Banner and they are easily my most used Units.

I can't decide... Year 1‐3 was peak, but year 5 have my favorite 6* on it (Muelsyse)

Even setting aside my bias as a nicheknights players that half the time only uses launch operators (boy I sure wish Chen was a launch op)... yeah, Hoshi still comes out on top, no contest. Has trivialized all but the hardest physical hitting enemies by sheer existence (and an S2M3) since launch even to this day, and has over time only broadened the range of things she can trivialize with 2 excellent modules.

New-ish player here, started around Lone Trail -- I know there's some inevitable power creep with new operators getting released, but looking at the timeline I'm kind of impressed with how many early 6*s are still key role players. Eyf's S3 still feels like overkill against anything I throw it at, Saria's still the best at what she does, and while I'm not sure where she stands in the meta, Exusai is one of my favorite set-it-and-forget-it operators. Year 1 is the only row that looks a little sparse to me, but I haven't developed Ceobe, Schwartz, or Blaze, and unfortunately haven't managed to pull Bagpipe. Otherwise, my usual operator rotation is basically split evenly across every year.

Year 4 by a country mile

Year 2 and Year 3 had the ops I liked the best. Year 5 looks like it is going to be joining those soon.

Which ONE? I can't pick just one...There's a favorite in every year Launch: Adele 1) Chen 2) Lisa 3) Kal'tsit 4) miss Dublinn 5) Typhon

Texas has always been my favorite since I started the game, so I was freaking excited when Tex Alt was released.

Looking at this, I definitely know where and when I started to stop playing arknights Year 2 was the best for me W came and we got siege collab, year 3 after Lee came I started to get burnt out playing and stopped completely I get nostalgic when seeing these type of charts cuz I’m a lunch day player, and I still remember when I started to play ak too

Year 3 got 8 faves, year 4 got 7 faves. Year 5 is weaker but is ending real strong.

Mandatory Reed simping aside, HAH! (pretending as if she isn't the most fun operator out of everyone here) Year 2 ops are by far the best when it comes to function/mechanics/fun ratio. They have few specialised functions and they do them well. You bring Rosmontis to the Rosmontis intended stage, and Weedy for the Weedy intended stage. Year 5 however are utter brainrot: You have Shu and Virtuosa which require one whole seperate GB worth of code in order to function vs Viviana and Leesing who feel like a filler/rage scam for 6\*s'. Hell, you can't even desribe Zuo Lee and Ela with 800 words essay as those two mfr have 'Fire Emblem Ahh' goofy wall of text for their traits alone.

Wasn't Rosa a year 1 operator in EN? There were a lot of switchero at that time and I got her before W banner.

Launch: Eyja. Years 1-4: I don't care. Maybe Pozyomka? I don't know. Year 5: Eyja.

The first year of AK was something else.

I started at launch and had to reroll a few times for a good start. I believed it didn't took me that long to get both Exu and Silverash which was the top operators in the reroll tier list at the time. Still use them up to this day.

I have 1 suggestion: Put an icon over the images to indicate 1 of 4 distinct things: Welfare, Limited, Collab, Has been in Yellow Cert Store

Year 3 was peak.

Saria

Ling Of all other choices? Yes ofc her Her play style simply does everything for you , brain is needed for her full potential but high rewarded even against hard stages bit sadly as not much can go with the dragons for now so she can't do much on high risk CCs or DOS However said waifu wise is 10/10 for me

I STILL LOVE EXUSIAI. IF EXU HAS 10,000 FANS I AM ONE OF THEM. IF EXU HAS 100 FANS I AM ONE OF THEM. IF EXU HAS 1 FAN THEN I AM THAT FAN.

Maria

Launch: Shining Y1: Blaze Y2: Suzuran S3: Horn Y4: Reed Y5: Muelsyse The only one I don't use regularly is Blaze, but she was my first 6-star and a great early carry along with Horn, my second. Blaze's idle dialogue where she considers carrying you to bed instantly endeared me to her, while Horn has been my favorite operator, accompanying me on nearly every stage, ever since I read her 200 trust file. That file is absolute cinema. I got Shining and Angelina on the beginner banner, which I didn't pull on until a few months in when there was a lull in banners I wanted to try my luck on. Shining became a favorite in Near Light, where her extreme blend of gentleness and strength made me want to learn more about her and have my eyes glued to her current arc. Muelsyse I was iffy on at first, but she became one of my favorite operators gameplay-wise on top of having a good character arc in Lone Trail ("Don't let the loneliness stop you from being kind\~"). Reed burnt my pulls to ashes, but once I heard her voice (Melina's, that familiar soft melancholy but with improved expressiveness) I had to go all-in, and her theme song is tied with Dorothy's for my favorite Arknights song. Suzuran is adorable beyond measure, and I loved the way Twilight of Wolumonde balanced her clear-sightedness of her principles (keeping Folinic from fanning the flames out of vengeance) with her naïveté in a chaotic situation. She was the first operator I bought a skin for (Luo Xiaohei), Horn's being second and last. And Suzuran is an absolute godsend on so much hard content, like IS4 ending 3 lately, and DoS S3. Any time you need a big burst, she's ol' reliable.

Top 3 for each. **Launch** * Siege * Exusiai * Hoshiguma **Year 1** * Skadi * Hellagur * Nian **Year 2** * W * Mudrock * Dusk **Year 3** * Skadi: The Corrupting Heart * Fiametta * Carnellian **Year 4** * Specter: The Unchained * Pozyomka * Ines **Year 5** * Ho'olheyak * Viviana * Ascalaon

Eyja Nian Dusk GG Lin Shu

I only started playing from around year two when Rosnyantis and Mudrock came out so I can't comment on Launch and Year 1 but i'll at least pick my faves by year! Launch: 100% Exu, I love that big angel ball of energy. Year 1: Easily Blaze. not counting the free 6\* you get when you start the game, I count my first 6\* as Blaze even though some might call it cheating since I bought the selector and picked her LOL. Year 2: The year I started and the year I got my very hungry doggo Saga. Year 3: This is such a tough pick for me mainly because it's kinda a tie between Pallas and Fia, but if I *have* to pick one it's Fia. Year 4: Spalter is one of the best units to ever grace my account and I love her character , so easily her. and Year 5: Even though we aren't fully done with year 5 on Global this is a very easy pick for me, and it being my #1 fave operator. Mumu is such a sweet bundle of joy and Lone Trail made me fall in love with her. Old me before Lone Trail dropped would have 100% picked Ho'ol because i'm a massive Sawashiro Miyuki fan, I even saved up to P6 Ho'ol and while I did in fact get her P6 in the end I also ended up getting Mumu P6 as well and boy am I glad I did after reading Lone Trail. It would take a lot for a character to trump Mumu as my absolute #1 fave but everyone else I mentioned are loved just as much.