Cryo 
Vanguard 
Sword Introduction
Alesh is a 5-star character in Arknights: Endfield (AKE). Alesh wields a Sword and belongs to the Vanguard class. Alesh also has access to the Cryo element. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Alesh's best build, including recommended Weapons, Gear pieces, Stats, and the strongest team compositions and rotations that maximize their potential.
Attributes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ●Can forcibly apply Solidification through exclusively Cryo Infliction (not normally possible).
- ●Battle skill can return a large portion of the SP spent on it.
- ●Generates bonus SP for the team through Combo and Ultimate.
- ●Cryo Infliction on Ultimate.
- ●Can grant even more SP when getting lucky with combo.
- ●Strong supportive weapon and set options.
- ●Low Combo Skill cooldown compared to others that can actually be taken advantage of.
Cons
- ●Sometimes you get unlucky...
- ●No buffing outside of sets and weapons before unlocking P3.
Lore
"You can always retrieve a cast lure when angling. But in real life, there's no easy way out once you're in hot water." Introduced by a liaison from the UWST Security Bureau, Alesh joined Endfield Industries to take on communications and cover duties in the frontier. When he's not on the job, he doubles as the instructor for Endfield's angling class. He isn't keen on talking about his "boring" past. All that's known is that he clawed his way through the frontier's underclass, enduring strife and betrayal at every turn. In the end, he left the streets behind with one blind eye and a body worn by exhaustion. By trade, Alesh is a fin seller, spending his days absorbed in angling. But beneath that laid-back surface lie sharp instincts and keen judgment. In a pinch, his eyes cut like the tip of a hook, and he has got as many tricks for handling trouble as he does for reeling in a catch. On missions, he wears that same easy smile, pulling off victories where no one expects them.
Skill Priority
Off Field: Ultimate > Battle Skill = Combo Skill = Basic Attack
Skills
Basic Rod Casting
BASIC ATTACK:An attack with up to 5 sequences that deals Physical DMG. As the controlled operator, Final Strike also deals 17 Stagger.DIVE ATTACK:Basic attack performed in mid-air becomes a dive attack that deals Physical DMG to nearby enemies.FINISHER:Basic attack performed near a Staggered enemy becomes a finisher attack that deals massive Physical DMG and recovers some SP.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| BATK SEQ 1 Multiplier | 39% |
| BATK SEQ 2 Multiplier | 23% |
| BATK SEQ 3 Multiplier | 62% |
| BATK SEQ 4 Multiplier | 62% |
| BATK SEQ 5 Multiplier | 124% |
| Finisher ATK Multiplier | 900% |
| Dive ATK Multiplier | 180% |
Unconventional Lure
Hooks a block of ice and slams it to deal Physical DMG to the enemy target. When hitting a target with Cryo Infliction, Alesh consumes all of the target's Cryo Infliction stacks, forcibly applies Solidification to the target, and recovers some SP based on the number of stacks consumed. The SP recovery effect can only trigger 1 time, even if the skill hits multiple enemies.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| DMG Multiplier | 450% |
| SP Recovery by Consuming 1 Infliction Stack | 15 |
| SP Recovery by Consuming 2 Infliction Stacks | 25 |
| SP Recovery by Consuming 3 Infliction Stacks | 35 |
| SP Recovery by Consuming 4 Infliction Stacks | 45 |
| Stagger | 10 |
Auger Angling
Opens an angling hole beneath the enemy that deals Physical DMG and recovers some SP. The skill has a chance to hook a Rare Fin that greatly increases the DMG dealt and recovers some more SP.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| DMG Multiplier | 300% |
| Chance to Catch the Rare Fin | 10% |
| Enhanced DMG Multiplier | 480% |
| SP Recovery | 15 |
| Bonus SP Recovery | 10 |
| Stagger | 10 |
One Monster Catch!
Alesh hooks a fin of unbelievable size and slams it to deal Cryo DMG and apply Cryo Infliction to enemies in a large area of effect in front of him. He recovers some SP on hit, with additional SP gained for each target defeated.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Cooldown | 20 |
| Ultimate DMG Multiplier | 980% |
| Base SP Recovery | 25 |
| Bonus SP Recovery per Target Defeated | 15 |
| SP Recovery Limit | 100 |
| Stagger | 20 |
Talents
Assign to Control Nexus to grant all operatorsâ Mood Regen +8/12%.
Assign to Reception Room to grant operators a small Clue 1/Clue 1 Rate-UP: UWST (activates upon assignment; effects of the same type cannot stack)
After Solidification or Originium Crystals are applied to a nearby enemy, Alesh gains 3/4 Ultimate Energy. If the Solidification is applied by Alesh, double the amount of Ultimate Energy gained. Effect can only trigger once every 3s.
Combo skill Auger Angling improved: Every 10 Intellect grants Rare Fin catching chance +0.2/0.5% (max: +30%).
Potentials
Battle skill Unconventional Lure improved: SP Recovery grants an additional 10 SP.
Strength +15, Intellect +15.
Combo skill Auger Angling improved: After catching a Rare Fin, the entire team gains ATK +15% for 10s. This effect cannot stack.
Ultimate One Monster Catch! improved: Ultimate Energy cost -15%.
Ultimate One Monster Catch! improved: Hitting a target below 50% HP increases the DMG Multiplier to 1.5 times the original.
Recommended Weapons
Alesh best Weapons are placed in order of what fits their playstyle the most. Check the comments to get additional context.
Stat 1 Boost - 9/9Strength: +124Stat 2 Boost - 9/9Cryo DMG Bonus: +34.70%Passive Boost - 9/9Attack: +14.00%After the wielder's Battle Skill applies Solidification, target enemy suffers Cryo DMG taken +19.6% for 15s.
Alesh's Signature weapon, which has ideal passive stats for him and has an absurdly strong weapon effect that drastically boosts his supportive capabilities within Cryo teams. Applying Solidification with it equipped causes the target to be debuffed with a huge Cryo DMG Taken debuff, which is a rare multiplier, making it more valuable than other buffs like ATK% or DMG%. While this weapon is incredibly useful in Cryo teams that allow Alesh to Solidify, it's not nearly as useful or competitive with other options outside of that.
Stat 1 Boost - 9/9Will: +156Stat 2 Boost - 9/9Attack: +39.00%Passive Boost - 4/9Attack: +16.00%After the wielder's skill recovers SP or grants a Link state, the entire team gains ATK +8% for 20s. Max stacks for effects of the same name: 2. Duration of each stack counted separately.
In teams where Alesh's Signature doesn't work, you can instead use Thermite Cutter as a generic supportive option for boosting the team's damage. The main stat of this Sword isn't correct for Alesh, but the passives and Weapon Effect more than make up for it unless you're specifically building your Alesh with a focus on damage. The weapon effect itself only requires Alesh to recover SP with his abilities to activate and apply an ATK% boost to the whole team. The safest option to invest in for support Alesh, unless you know you'll be playing him in teams where his Signature works.
Stat 1 Boost - 9/9Intellect: +124Stat 2 Boost - 9/9Ultimate Gain Eff.: +37.10%Passive Boost - 9/9Attack: +14.00%Arts Intensity: +70
If you have neither of the weapons above, you can instead use Fortmaker in the meantime for its passive Ultimate Gain, which will help Alesh reach his Ultimate more quickly.
Gear Sets
Alesh best sets are placed in order of what fits their playstyle the most. Check the comments to get additional context.
Combo Skill CDR +15%. When the wearer recovers SP with a skill, the team gains DMG +16% for 12s. This effect cannot stack.
Despite not having perfect gear pieces with ideal stats for Alesh, Frontiers is still his best set in most teams thanks to its 3P Set Bonus, which allows him to grant the squad a DMG% boost he can easily maintain throughout the fight. Also, while the gear pieces aren't optimal for dealing damage with him, they all have a large amount of Intellect, which is powerful for boosting his attribute scaling talent.
Dupes Review
Battle skill Unconventional Lure improved: SP Recovery grants an additional 10 SP.
Increases the base recovery of Aleshâs Battle Skill by another 10 SP, making it even more efficient to use, raising the overall SP economy of Alesh and his teams another notch.
Strength +15, Intellect +15.
A small boost to Strength and Intellect, resulting in a minor damage increase and improvement to Aleshâs odds of catching a Rare Fin if you havenât already maxed out his talent Veteran angler yet, but nothing game-changing.
Combo skill Auger Angling improved: After catching a Rare Fin, the entire team gains ATK +15% for 10s. This effect cannot stack.
Introduces a buff to Aleshâs kit, boosting his supportive capabilities in teams up a level. After catching a Rare Fin, Alesh grants the entire team a 15% ATK buff for 10 seconds. Won't be up consistently unless you get lucky with back-to-back Combo Skills, but nice when it does activate.
Ultimate One Monster Catch! improved: Ultimate Energy cost -15%.
Reduces Aleshâs Ultimate Cost by -15%, taking it from 100 energy to 85, improving accessibility, leading to more frequent SP recovery for the team, more Cryo Infliction, and some extra damage plus Stagger.
Ultimate One Monster Catch! improved: Hitting a target below 50% HP increases the DMG Multiplier to 1.5 times the original.
Boosts the damage of Aleshâs Ultimate by a huge 50% (unique multiplier) but only while enemies are below 50% HP. Averaging this bonus out, itâs still equivalent to a 25% damage increase to one of Aleshâs highest damaging abilities, making it a solid overall damage boost for the fisherman.
Calculations
Alesh team calculations information aren't available yet. They will be added soon.
Team Compositions
Synergies
Overview
Kit Intro
Alesh is a 5-star, Cryo, Sword support damage dealer specialized in SP recovery, a bit of Cryo Infliction, and forcibly applying Solidification by consuming Cryo Infliction. This opens up the reaction to mono-elemental Cryo teams without the need to invest in another element. The main reasons to bring Alesh to the team are if you specifically need Solidification, or you’re looking for a solid SP generator with Infliction application, or all of the above.
No matter what you’re after from Alesh, you’ll want to activate his Combo Skill. To do so, you’ll either need to consume an Arts Reaction or Originium Crystals, something which might sound hard but is easier than you might expect. Many elemental teams consume reactions such as Combustion, Corrosion, or Electrification to do damage or apply buffs, and triggering the Shatter effects of either Originium crystals or Solidification also counts. Using Alesh’s combo not only awards a solid amount of SP on average but also has a very short cooldown, so triggering it as frequently as possible should definitely be part of your game plan.
While Alesh’s combo is generic and can be used freely in a wide range of teams, if you want to get the most out of him, you’ll want to double down on his specialty, Solidification. The reason for this is that the rest of Alesh’s kit, one of his core talents, gains additional effect when he himself Solidifies - his Battle Skill generates SP when applying Solidification, and his Ultimate applies Cryo Infliction. Alesh can be played without using all of that, but doing so is giving up a large part of his identity and a big chunk of what makes him unique compared to other characters.
All up, if you can utilize what makes Alesh special, namely his Cryo-based utility, then you might find him the perfect slot for your team. However, if all you want is SP and maybe some buffing capabilities, he might not be the right fit.
Unlike a character like Akekuri, though, Alesh isn’t generic; he instead belongs within the reaction consumption niche due to his combo trigger requiring the consumption of either Originium Crystals or an Arts Reaction to trigger.
Combo
Alesh’s Combo Skill has a very short cooldown and is the most generically useful and powerful part of his kit, thanks to its mostly easy-to-activate trigger requirement, only needing the consumption of any Arts Reaction or Originium Crystals. When used, it causes Alesh to go fishing, which deals some Physical damage, Stagger, and recovers a solid amount of SP.
What makes this combo unique, though, is that depending on your luck, Alesh can either catch an original fish or a “Rare Fin”, which causes the ability to deal more damage and generate almost twice the SP. The base chance to catch a Rare Fin is only 10%, but it can be increased to up to 40% with talents.
Battle Skill
Alesh’s Battle Skill is far more specific but also very powerful in the right teams. Using it causes him to deal Physical damage, Stagger, and consume all Cryo Infliction stacks on the target to forcibly apply Solidification. Depending on how many Cryo Infliction Alesh consumes, he’ll also recover SP for the team as well. This ability isn’t going to be used in every team, but in the ones it’s applicable to, it’s a powerful tool for gaining access to an Arts Reaction that might be essential but awkward to get to.
Note: Solidification applied with this ability has all the usual scaling, except for not dealing any up-front Cryo damage.
Ultimate
Similar to his Battle Skill, Alesh’s Ultimate isn’t always going to be a stand-out winner in all teams he’s played within, but in the compositions that can make use of it, it’s a very nice boost. Using it costs a higher than average 100 energy, but thanks to one of his talents, this isn’t quite as bad as it might sound. Upon activation, it deals AoE Cryo Damage, some Stagger, and applies Cryo Infliction to all targets hit.
The Cryo Infliction is the true benefit of this ability. In teams that can make use of it, it’s a big addition, but in other teams, it can actually get in the way, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Fortunately, this ability also has another effect, and that’s that it restores a good chunk of SP on hit, with even more granted if you manage to skill an enemy with it.
Passives
Alesh’s talents are both majorly impactful to his build and how quickly he can access his Ultimate. His first talent, Flash-frozen Freshness, grants him 6 extra energy whenever a nearby enemy is Solidified or encased in Originium Crystals by the team, with a cooldown of 3 seconds. If Alesh is the one applying Solidification to the enemy, though, he instead gains 12 energy. A solid and consistent additional source of energy, which allows Alesh to reach his Ultimate much more quickly in fights.
Alesh’s other talent directly informs how you’ll want to build him when considering gear and weapons. After unlocking, it causes every 10 Intellect Alesh has to improve his chance at catching a Rare Fin by 0.5% up to a maximum of 30%, meaning to max it out, you’d need a whopping 600 Intellect. For a build dedicated to maximizing support and SP recovery, this talent offers the option to sacrifice damage to improve that playstyle. But even for damage-focused Alesh builds, this talent still offers a nice boost to one of Alesh’s main draw card abilities.
Gameplay
Depending on the team you’re using Alesh in, you may not use some of his abilities as frequently or at all, but here is a general outline of what to look out for when playing him:
- In all teams, when Alesh’s Combo Skill is available, make sure to use it as soon as able unless you’re capped out on SP already.
- Use Alesh’s ultimate for even more SP recovery and a burst of damage. But be mindful of the Cryo Infliction it applies, if applicable, time it so you get the most use out of it, or so that it doesn’t interfere with the rest of your team's combo. As an optional stretch goal, try to last hit weaker enemies with this ability’s hit for additional SP recovery.
- In teams where it’s relevant, use Alesh’s Battle Skill to convert Cryo Infliction into Solidification.
Detailed Review
Update History
Patch 1.0
January 21st, 2026
Patch 1.0
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