Arknights is a tower defense strategy RPG developed by Hypergryph and published by Yostar. The game blends real-time strategy, gacha mechanics, and deep tactical gameplay in a dystopian world where players, known as Doctors, deploy unique Operators to defend against incoming enemy waves.

Degenbrecher is a sixth Swordmaster Guard and one of the game’s most powerful melee DPS and debuff specialists, excelling in burst damage and crowd control.

Degenbrecher specializes in Nuking, DPS, and Debuffing. As a Swordmaster Guard, she performs double-hit attacks in rapid succession, effectively doubling her damage output. However, despite hitting twice, she is still considered to have attacked only once, meaning she gains 1 SP per attack under offensive SP recovery mechanics. To balance this, her base ATK is on the lower side compared to other Guards.

Statistically, Degenbrecher has moderate HP, above-average DEF, and can block up to two enemies. However, her DP cost is quite high, increasing with each promotion.

Background and Lore

Originating from Leithanien, Degenbrecher is a Caprinae who, despite her inability to wield Originium Arts—a rarity among her kind—rose to prominence through sheer physical strength and martial skill. Her early life remains shrouded in mystery, but it’s known that she endured a relentlessly painful youth, possibly due to her unique condition. Seeking purpose, she ventured into Kazimierz, where she participated in the Kazimierz Major, the nation’s premier knightly tournament. Astonishingly, she secured championship titles for three consecutive seasons (the 19th to 21st Majors), defeating renowned knights such as the Diamond Knight, Azure Knight, and Silver Knight. These victories earned her the moniker “Black Knight.” ​

However, her dominance unsettled the Major’s stakeholders, who viewed her as a threat to their interests. Before they could act against her, Enciodes Silverash, head of the Karlan Trade Co., intervened by hiring Degenbrecher as his personal bodyguard. This alliance allowed her to leave the competitive knight circuit and align with Silverash’s endeavors in Kjerag. ​

Connections to Key Figures

• Enciodes Silverash: As the patriarch of the Silverash family and leader of Karlan Trade, Enciodes recognized Degenbrecher’s unparalleled abilities and employed her as his bodyguard. Their professional relationship is built on mutual respect, with Degenbrecher serving as a steadfast protector and enforcer of Enciodes’ interests. ​
• Gnosis: During the events in Kjerag, Degenbrecher confronts Gnosis, a former ally turned adversary. Despite Gnosis’ formidable ice Arts, Degenbrecher’s sheer physical prowess allows her to subdue him effortlessly, showcasing her dominance even against Arts users. ​
• Sharp: An elite operator known for his combat skills, Sharp engages Degenbrecher in battle. Their encounter is intense, with Degenbrecher acknowledging Sharp’s abilities by choosing to wield her preferred weapon against him—a sign of respect in her warrior ethos.

Combat Prowess and Equipment

Degenbrecher is a master of various martial weapons, notably her greatsword and dual-wielded swordbreakers. Her combat style is characterized by overwhelming strength and speed, enabling her to dispatch foes swiftly. Despite lacking Arts abilities, she compensates with techniques such as powerful strikes that can penetrate heavy armor and rapid movements that disorient opponents. Her resilience against Arts-based attacks further underscores her as a natural-born warrior. ​

Her weapon of choice, the swordbreaker, is a traditional Chinese weapon designed to damage or break opponents’ swords. This choice reflects her pragmatic and formidable approach to combat.

Talents

Born Warrior

• Grants a 10% chance to deal increased damage and Frighten enemies (reducing their ASPD) for a short time.

Living Legend

• Attacks against Frightened enemies ignore a portion of their DEF, allowing her to deal significantly higher damage to debuffed foes.

Skills

1. Pure Force (Skill 1)

• When charged, deals increased Physical damage to up to five enemies in adjacent ground tiles.
• Simple and reliable but overshadowed by her stronger skills.

2. Silent Derision (Skill 2)

• Slashes up to five (six at Mastery) enemies twice, or three times if they are being blocked.
• Each slash deals a significant portion of her ATK as Physical damage.
• Always triggers Born Warrior, ensuring enemies are Frightened.
• Can store two charges, allowing for strategic use.
• Great for consistent multi-target DPS but lacks the overwhelming burst of her third skill.

3. Return to Silence (Skill 3 – Recommended)

• Unique among Swordmaster Guards for having automatic SP recovery, allowing consistent charging.
• Degenbrecher becomes invulnerable and delivers 10 rapid slashes to up to five (six at Mastery) enemies within a 2-tile radius.
• Each slash deals a high portion of her ATK as Physical damage and always procs Born Warrior.
• Enemies are slowly pulled toward her during the attack.
• After the slashes, enemies take an extra powerful finishing hit and are forcefully pulled closer.
• Delivers massive burst damage, making it her best and most recommended skill.

Operator Module

SWO-X: Footnotes of the Past

• Increases Skill Damage by 10%.
• Improves HP, ATK, and DEF.
• Upgrading further boosts Born Warrior’s damage multiplier, enhancing her overall performance.

Base Skills

Degenbrecher excels in the Trading Post, where her skills improve order acquisition efficiency.

Intimidate (Elite 1)

• Increases order acquisition rate by 20% but reduces the order limit by 2 (cannot go below 1).

Imposing Presence (Elite 2 Upgrade)

• Boosts order acquisition rate to 25%, but reduces order limit by 6.

Champion’s Bearing

• Increases order acquisition rate by 25% for every 5 additional order limit provided by other Operators in the same Trading Post, up to 100% max boost.

Best Uses & Recommendations

Degenbrecher is a top-tier Swordmaster Guard with a relentless combat style. Her double-hit mechanic, combined with her DEF-ignoring debuff, makes her excel in high-damage situations.

Her best skill, Return to Silence, provides massive burst damage, invulnerability, and automatic SP recovery, making her one of the best multi-target melee DPS units in Arknights. She is ideal for handling swarms of enemies, especially in high-pressure situations where survivability and raw damage output matter most.

Recommended Skill Priority:

• Return to Silence (S3) – Highest priority
• Silent Derision (S2) – Strong alternative
• Pure Force (S1) – Least priority

Degenbrecher thrives when paired with SP generators, DEF debuffers, or operators who can sustain her in battle. She is especially effective in high-density enemy waves, allowing her to make full use of her AoE slashes.

Team Synergy:

• SP Generators: Operators like Ptilopsis can help her charge her skills faster.
• DEF Debuffers: Units like Shamare or Weedy can help her deal even more damage.
• Sustainers: Medics like Silence or Warfarin can keep her alive while she slashes away.

Degenbrecher is an S-tier Nuker Guard who thrives in scenarios requiring high burst damage. If you’re looking for an offensive powerhouse who can obliterate multiple enemies at once, she is a fantastic investment. While her high DP cost and lower base ATK might be drawbacks, her invulnerability, multi-hit attacks, and automatic SP recovery more than make up for it.

Degenbrecher is best suited for players who enjoy aggressive melee DPS playstyles and want a Guard that can single-handedly clear waves of enemies. With proper investment, she will carve her way through the toughest battles with unmatched precision and power. For the best gaming experience, try playing Arknights on PC with BlueStacks, which offers a bigger screen and smoother gameplay.