While Airi may not be the most eye-catching character in Blue Archive, her unique support abilities can be a game-changer in the right situations. In this RPG, she's celebrated for her ability to manipulate attack speeds, providing both debuffs to enemies and buffs to allies. This makes her an invaluable asset in scenarios where controlling the pace of battle is more critical than dealing sheer damage. Although she's not a common pick for everyday gameplay, Airi shines in specialized late-game raids like ShiroKuro (Insane), where her skills can cleverly manipulate boss mechanics.
Airi might not be essential for new players or general advancement. Her EX Skill is costly and situation-specific, and her overall effectiveness can be limited in battles where enemies remain in cover or are static. Yet, for seasoned players aiming to fine-tune their endgame raid strategies, Airi's unique toolkit becomes a valuable asset when employed strategically.
What Makes Airi Special
Airi's abilities focus on controlling the tempo of combat. Her Sub Skill passively increases the Attack Speed of all her teammates, while her Basic Skill regularly slows down the Attack Speed of a single enemy. This combination can subtly tilt the scales in your favor, particularly in encounters where timing and delaying enemy attacks are crucial.
When building Airi, prioritize stats that enhance her survivability and uptime, rather than focusing on damage output.
Using Airi in Battle
In combat, Airi functions mostly passively. Her Sub and Basic Skills trigger automatically, requiring minimal micromanagement. This ease of use makes her a convenient support option to integrate into your team when her abilities are needed.
If you choose to activate her EX Skill, do so when enemies are navigating through bottlenecks or clustered together. The slow effect can hinder their movement and engagement speed. In the ShiroKuro raid, her skills can be used to alter boss attack patterns, boosting your team's damage output during the second phase.
However, her EX Skill might not be worth the SP cost of 5 in most situations, as it only offers mild crowd control.
Airi isn't a character you'll use daily, unlike the game's top-tier units, but she has her niche. In specific late-game challenges like ShiroKuro (Insane), her unique abilities can significantly impact when used at the right moment. For other scenarios, she remains a specialized support character, best reserved for content that aligns with her strengths.
If you decide to include Airi in your team, focus on leveraging her Sub Skill and pair her with squads that benefit from speed manipulation. For the optimal experience in managing her skills and executing raid strategies, consider playing Blue Archive on a PC using BlueStacks, which offers smoother gameplay and enhanced performance.