While Airi may not be the most eye-catching character in *Blue Archive*, her unique support capabilities can make a significant difference in the right situations. In this RPG, she's renowned for her ability to manipulate attack speeds, offering both debuffs and buffs. This makes her a valuable asset when controlling the pace of battle is more crucial than dealing raw damage. Although she's not commonly used in general gameplay, Airi shines in specific late-game raids, such as ShiroKuro (Insane), where her skills can cleverly influence boss mechanics.
For newer players or those focusing on general progression, Airi may not be a priority. Her EX Skill is costly and situational, and her overall impact is limited 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 a valuable asset when utilized effectively.
What Makes Airi Special
Airi's abilities revolve around controlling speed. Her Sub Skill passively enhances the Attack Speed of all allies, while her Basic Skill frequently reduces the Attack Speed of a single enemy. This combination can subtly tip the scales in your favor, particularly in battles where disrupting or delaying enemy attacks is key.
When building Airi, prioritize her survivability and uptime on the battlefield over damage stats. Keeping her active and healthy is crucial for her to consistently apply her speed control effects.
Using Airi in Battle
In combat, Airi operates largely on autopilot. Her Sub and Basic Skills trigger automatically, requiring minimal micromanagement, which makes her an effortless addition to your support lineup when needed.
If you decide to use her EX Skill, timing is essential. Deploy it when enemies are funneling through bottlenecks or are clustered together to maximize its slowing effect, which can hinder enemy movements and engagements. In the ShiroKuro raid, her skills can be strategically used to alter boss attack patterns, boosting your team's damage output during phase 2.
However, outside of this specific scenario, using Airi's EX Skill might not be worth the 5 SP it costs, especially since it offers only soft crowd control.
Airi isn't a character that most players will use daily, but she has her niche. For late-game challenges like ShiroKuro (Insane), her unique utility can be game-changing if timed correctly. Otherwise, she remains a specialized support unit, best kept on the sidelines unless you're engaging with content that plays to her strengths.
If you're planning to include her in your team, focus on leveraging her Sub Skill and integrate her into squads that benefit from her speed manipulation abilities. For the smoothest experience in managing her skills and raid tactics, consider playing *Blue Archive* on PC with BlueStacks, which offers enhanced control and performance.