Arknights Endfield team just dropped their first major Dev Comm since launch, and buried in the patch notes is something every player should pay attention to: a free 6-star standard operator selector. Complete Chapter I Process I (Break the Siege) and you'll receive a Designation Selection Permit in your mail after the February 5th update.
You get to pick exactly which operator you want from the Basic Headhunting pool. For newer players still figuring out team compositions, this is huge. For veterans who got unlucky on the newbie banner, it's a chance to fill gaps. But with five operators to choose from, making the right call matters.
What is the Designation Selection Permit?
The Designation Selection Permit is a reward for completing Break the Siege, the first main mission in Chapter I Process I. Once you finish this quest and log in after February 5th, 2026, check your in-game mail for the permit.
Using it opens a selection screen where you can pick one of the five 6-star operators available in the Basic Headhunting banner:
- Pogranichnik - Physical Vanguard, Breach specialist
- Lifeng - Physical Polearm, Susceptibility and Link applier
- Ardelia - Arts Unit Support, universal buffer and healer (free from sign-in)
- Last Rite - Cryo Greatsword Striker, single-target burst DPS
- Ember - Heat Defender, shields and survivability
This is a one-time selection with no expiration mentioned, so take your time deciding. The permit delivers via mail, not as a popup, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately after the update. Full details in the official Zeroth Directive: DEV Comm.
Who Should You Pick?
Your pick depends entirely on what you already have and what team you're building. There's no single "best" answer, but there are definitely better and worse choices depending on your situation.
THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT. If you're planning to pull on upcoming Gilberta rate-up, wait and see what you get. If you don't have an immediate need (and you don't, since there's no endgame yet), the best choice is to just wait and pick exactly what you need to pass a certain end-game check when it arrives.
Already Have Pogranichnik or Lifeng? Get the Other
Physical teams currently have the highest damage ceiling in Endfield, but they need both 
Pogranichnik and 
Lifeng working together to hit that ceiling. These two operators complement each other in ways that other substitutes can't fully replicate.
If you pulled one of them from the New Horizons banner or got lucky on Basic Headhunting, use this selector to grab the other. A complete Pogranichnik + Lifeng core with 
Chen Qianyu or 
Akekuri as support and 
Endministrator or Da Pan as DPS gives you one of the strongest teams in the game right now.
Starting Fresh with Physical? Pogranichnik First
Between the two Physical cores, Pogranichnik takes priority. Here's why:
Pogranichnik provides Breach, a debuff that exists in a separate damage multiplier from Physical Susceptibility. Nobody else in the current roster can apply Breach reliably. Without him, Physical teams lose a significant chunk of their damage potential.
Lifeng provides Physical Susceptibility and Link, both valuable buffs. But here's the thing: 
Ardelia can apply Physical Susceptibility too. So can 
Estella. The team won't hit its full potential without Lifeng, but it will still function. Without Pogranichnik's Breach? You're leaving damage on the table that nothing else can replace.
Pogranichnik also serves as the team's SP engine. His rotation (Battle Skill + Combo Skill + Ultimate) generates 125 SP per cycle, keeping your whole team's skills flowing. His Ultimate has grouping that pulls enemies together, which Physical teams desperately need given their typically small attack ranges.
Not Building Physical? Ardelia's Potential 1
Everyone gets Ardelia free from the Awakening sign-in event. She's already the best healer in the game and slots into virtually every team composition. So why would you spend a selector on a dupe?
Because Potential 1 Ardelia upgrades her Corrosion consume to also apply Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility with +8% effect. This isn't a minor bump. It means every team she's on, whether Heat, Cryo, Electric, or Physical, gets more damage amplification from her rotation.
This pick makes sense if:
- You're running
Laevatain teams (Arts Susceptibility directly buffs her damage) - You already have Pogranichnik AND Lifeng
- You're not interested in Physical teams
- You want to future-proof while waiting for new operators
Umbral Monument, the endgame combat mode, doesn't even open until later this month. There's no rush to build a second team right now. If you're comfortable with your current setup, banking value into Ardelia's potential is a safe long-term play.
Last Rite - Strong but Demanding
Last Rite represents the current ceiling for single-target Cryo burst damage. When her rotation clicks, she hits like a truck. But getting that rotation to click requires specific teammates, specific gear, and precise execution.
She only generates Ultimate energy from her own Battle Skill and Combo Skill, meaning she's entirely self-reliant for charging her burst. Her Combo Skill requires enemies to have 3+ Cryo Infliction stacks, so she needs teammates who apply Cryo without consuming it. 
Xaihi is practically mandatory. The whole setup is tight, unforgiving, and very much an endgame investment.
If you're still progressing through the story, Last Rite will feel awkward. Her teams don't come online properly until you have the gear and the operator roster to support her. But if you're already planning for Umbral Monument and want to build toward Cryo, she's a legitimate pick.
Ember - Skip for Now
Ember provides shields, healing, and Vulnerable application. On paper, she's a solid defensive option for Physical teams. In practice, she's the weakest choice in this selector.
Her attack speed is one of the slowest in the game, making on-field play frustrating. She functions better off-field, letting her Combo trigger automatically when teammates take damage. But even then, her contribution is mostly survivability in a game where skilled play and proper rotations matter more than tanking hits.
Her only niche is being carried by huge investment and damage vs staggered enemies with specific 6 Star weapon "Sundered Prince".
But at that point you can just use Da Pan.
Physical teams don't need her to function. Laevatain teams don't want her. Cryo teams have better options. Unless future patches significantly buff her kit or introduce content that demands heavy sustain, Ember stays on the bench.
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Operator Breakdown
Here's a deeper look at each operator in the selector, what they do, and where they fit.
Pogranichnik
Pogranichnik is the cornerstone of Physical teams. His Battle Skill consumes Vulnerable stacks to apply Breach, a unique debuff that increases Physical damage taken by enemies in a separate multiplier from Susceptibility. When both Breach and Physical Susceptibility are active, Physical teams see massive damage spikes.
Beyond the debuff, he's an SP battery. His full rotation generates 125 SP, keeping your whole team's abilities cycling smoothly. His Ultimate pulls enemies together with grouping, solving one of Physical teams' biggest weaknesses: small AoE coverage.
He doesn't stack Vulnerable himself, so he needs teammates like Chen Qianyu, Lifeng, or Ember to supply the stacks he consumes. But in the right team, he's irreplaceable.
Lifeng
Lifeng opens fights with Physical Susceptibility on enemies who don't have Vulnerable stacks yet, debuffing them before the damage train starts rolling. His Combo Skill grants Link to himself, a significant damage buff, and his Ultimate dumps Vulnerable stacks while dealing solid damage.
Unlike Pogranichnik, Lifeng contributes meaningful personal damage alongside his utility. He's not just enabling others; he's hitting hard himself. His signature weapon (Mountain Bearer) scales his ATK based on Intellect and Will when applying Physical Susceptibility, making him scale well with investment.
The catch: his Physical Susceptibility can be replicated by Ardelia or Estella. It won't be as strong or as smoothly integrated, but the team still works. That's why Pogranichnik takes priority if you can only get one.
Ardelia
Ardelia is free from the Awakening sign-in, along with her signature weapon Dreams of the Starry Beach. She's the default support for almost every team in the game: Laevatain Heat, Yvonne Cryo, Physical, Electric hybrids, you name it. Her healing is strong, her Battle Skill applies Corrosion, and consuming Corrosion applies Arts Susceptibility for 30 seconds.
At Potential 1, her Corrosion consume gains an additional effect: it now also applies Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility with +8% effect. This matters for every team. Laevatain teams get more Arts amp. Physical teams get Susceptibility without needing Lifeng. Even Cryo teams benefit from the Arts component.
She also spawns healing sheep via her Battle Skill and Ultimate, which heal the lowest HP teammate. Between the sustain, the debuffs, and the universal fit, she's never a bad investment.
Last Rite
Last Rite is a burst-focused Cryo Striker built around consuming Cryo Infliction stacks. When enemies hit 3+ stacks, her Combo Skill (Winter's Devourer) consumes them all for massive damage and Ultimate energy. Her Ultimate is a three-slash nuke with full damage immunity during the animation.
The challenge is her energy system. She can only charge Ultimate from her own skills, not from teammates or SP generation. This makes her rotation tight and demanding. She also needs teammates who apply Cryo Infliction without consuming it (Xaihi is essentially mandatory), and her best performance requires endgame gear like the Tide Surge set and Khravengger weapon.
She works as a Cryo applicator for Yvonne teams as a copium option, but that's not really her purpose. She's meant to be the hypercarry, not the support.
Ember
Only if she's your waifu. No one stops you then.
Ember is a Defender who provides team shields through her Ultimate and healing through her Combo Skill. She also applies Vulnerable via Knock Down on her Battle Skill, giving her some synergy with Physical teams despite being a Heat operator.
The problem is her practical performance. She has one of the slowest attack speeds in the game, making on-field play feel sluggish. Her damage contribution is minimal. She works best off-field, swapping in only to pop Ultimate for shields, but even then she's competing against operators who provide more offensive value.
Ember's only value is very niche hyperinvest build with Stagger and FInal Strike damage, but...other units just do it better and with less investment.Β
Physical teams don't need her survivability if rotations are clean. Laevatain teams prefer offensive supports. She's not bad, just outclassed by every other option in this selector.
Future potential: If Hypergryph adds gear sets or weapons with shield scaling (ATK bonus based on shield value, damage while shielded, etc.), Ember could become significantly stronger. Her Ultimate already grants team-wide shields based on her Max HP, so any shield-scaling mechanics would directly buff her value. Worth keeping an eye on future patches.
Other Zeroth Directive Updates
The free selector is the headline, but the February 5th update includes several other changes worth knowing about.
Full patch notes are available in the official Zeroth Directive: DEV Comm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Designation Selection Permit?
It's a free selector item that lets you pick one 6-star operator from the Basic Headhunting pool. You receive it by mail after completing the main mission Break the Siege (Chapter I Process I) and logging in after the February 5th, 2026 update.
Which operators are available in the selector?
Five standard 6-star operators: Pogranichnik, Lifeng, Ardelia, Last Rite, and Ember. These are all permanent pool operators, not limited characters like Laevatain, Gilberta, or Yvonne.
When do I receive the selector?
After completing Break the Siege and logging in following the February 5th quick update (8:00-8:10 AM UTC+8). The permit arrives via in-game mail, not as a popup, so check your mailbox.
Does the selector expire?
There's NO time limit mentioned on the selector. It sits in your inventory until you use it. The best strategy is often to wait until you actually need a specific character to clear content or complete a team, rather than picking immediately.
Is Ardelia's Potential 1 worth picking over a new operator?
Yes, if you already have Pogranichnik and Lifeng. Ardelia P1 adds Physical Susceptibility and Arts Susceptibility (+8% effect) to her Corrosion consume, buffing every team she joins. Since she's already in virtually every team comp, this is excellent long-term value. If you don't have the Physical core complete, get that first.
Is Lifeng P1 or Ardelia P1 better?
Depends on your roster. Ardelia P1 is universally good across all teams. Lifeng P1 is very strong but only if you're actually using Physical teams. If you already have Pogranichnik and run Physical comps regularly, Lifeng P1. If you want general account improvement, Ardelia P1.
Should I pick Last Rite as a new player?
Probably not. Last Rite requires specific teammates (Xaihi is nearly mandatory), endgame gear sets, and precise rotation execution to perform well. She's an investment for players planning to build Cryo for Umbral Monument content, not a progression pick. Pogranichnik or Lifeng will carry you further in early-mid game.
Should I pick based on what I like or what's meta?
Both are valid. If Ember is your favorite character, pick her and enjoy the game. But if you're asking for optimization advice, the rankings above reflect current endgame viability. Ardelia P1 provides universal value, Physical core (Pogranichnik + Lifeng) dominates their niche, and Last Rite is powerful but demanding.
I'm waiting for Gilberta banner - should I wait to use selector?
Yes. If you're planning to pull on upcoming banners, wait to see what you get first. The selector has no expiration, so use it to fill gaps in your roster after you see your gacha results. No point picking Pogranichnik if you might pull him tomorrow.
Can I get multiple selectors?
Currently this is a one-time reward from the DEV Comm event. Future events may provide additional selectors, but don't count on it. Choose carefully.
Can I save the selector for future operators?
The selector only includes operators currently in the Basic Headhunting pool. Future standard operators may or may not be added to it. There's no expiration mentioned, but there's also no guarantee new operators will become selectable. Best to use it on someone useful now rather than gambling on future additions.
What is Umbral Monument?
Umbral Monument is Endfield's permanent endgame combat mode, featuring high-difficulty stages with Normal and Agony difficulties. The first series (Those Forsaken by the Land) is already available, with more stages opening throughout Zeroth Directive. It's the main benchmark for late-game team building.
Is Ember really that bad?
She's not terrible, just outclassed. Her defensive utility has value, but Endfield rewards offense and clean rotations over tanking damage. Every other selector option contributes more to team DPS or has broader application. If future patches add shield-scaling gear (ATK bonus while shielded, damage based on shield value), she could become significantly stronger since her Ultimate grants team-wide shields. For now, she's the lowest priority pick.