Airi may not be the most eye-catching character in Blue Archive, but her unique support toolkit can truly shine in the right scenarios. In this engaging RPG, she's renowned for her attack speed debuffs and buffs, making her a valuable asset when controlling the tempo of battle is more crucial than dealing sheer damage. While she might not be a common choice for everyday play, Airi finds her niche in specific late-game raids like ShiroKuro (Insane), where her abilities are key in manipulating boss mechanics effectively.
For newer players or those focused on general progression, Airi isn't a priority build. Her EX Skill is costly and situational, and her overall impact can be underwhelming in scenarios where enemies remain in cover or are stationary. However, for seasoned players aiming to fine-tune their endgame raid strategies, Airi can be an invaluable tool when deployed with precision.
What Makes Airi Special
Airi's toolkit revolves around speed control. Her Sub Skill passively enhances the Attack Speed of all allies, while her Basic Skill consistently reduces the Attack Speed of a single enemy. These complementary skills can tilt the battle in your favor, especially in situations where disrupting or delaying enemy attacks is vital.
When building Airi, prioritize her survivability and uptime on the field over damage stats. Keeping her active and healthy is key to leveraging her support capabilities.
Using Airi in Battle
In combat, Airi operates mostly passively. Her Sub and Basic Skills trigger automatically, requiring minimal player intervention, which makes her an easy addition as a support unit when needed.
If you decide to use her EX Skill, timing is everything. Deploy it when enemies are navigating chokepoints or are clustered together to maximize the slow effect, which can hinder their repositioning or engagement speed. In ShiroKuro, particularly, her skills can be strategically used to manipulate boss attack patterns, enhancing your team's damage output during phase 2.
However, outside of this specific scenario, her EX Skill may not justify the 5 SP cost, as it only offers soft crowd control.
Unlike the game's top-tier characters, Airi isn't a go-to for most players, but she has her moments. In late-game content like ShiroKuro (Insane), her unique utility can make a significant difference when timed correctly. Otherwise, she remains a niche support unit, best reserved for content that aligns with her strengths.
If you're planning to utilize Airi, focus on her Sub Skill and integrate her into teams that benefit from speed-based support. For the best experience in managing her skill activations and raid strategies, consider playing Blue Archive on PC with BlueStacks for smoother controls and enhanced performance.