While not the most eye-catching operator in Blue Archive, Airi brings a specialized support package that becomes valuable in precise situations. As a tactical RPG unit, she excels at manipulating combat tempo through attack speed alterations rather than brute force. Though rarely used in general content, she finds purpose in challenging endgame raids like ShiroKuro (Insane) where her unique controls interact well with boss mechanics.
Understanding Airi's Role
Airi isn't recommended for beginners focusing on story progression. Her EX ability demands significant resources for situational benefits, and she struggles against stationary or entrenched enemies. But for veterans perfecting endgame strategies, she offers valuable niche applications when mastered.
Airi's Unique Value Proposition
The true strength of this support unit lies in her bidirectional speed manipulation. Her passive Sub Skill enhances allies' attack frequency while her Basic Skill periodically hinders enemy assault pacing. This dual-effect creates subtle but crucial combat advantages, particularly where disrupting enemy attack rotations proves decisive.
Skip damage-enhancing equipment and instead invest in survival gear - keeping her on the battlefield matters more than offensive output.
Combat Deployment Strategies
On the battlefield, Airi functions as a set-and-forget support character. Her autonomous skills require minimal player intervention, making her an accessible tactical option when speed controls become relevant.
When utilizing her EX ability, time it during critical movement phases - either as enemies funnel through choke points or cluster together. The deceleration effect can disrupt enemy positioning strategies. Against ShiroKuro, specifically, her toolkit enables precise pattern manipulation during the second combat phase for optimal damage windows.
Outside special circumstances, her EX skill generally isn't SP-efficient - the 5-cost investment only provides movement impairment without hard crowd control effects.
Final Assessment
Airi occupies a specialized support niche rather than being a general-use staple. Her real value emerges in carefully selected endgame encounters like ShiroKuro (Insane), where her speed-based utility creates measurable advantages. For most players and most content, other support options will serve better. But when her particular skillset aligns with encounter requirements, she becomes a surprisingly effective tactical tool.
Deploy her primarily for her Sub Skill's passive benefits in speed-sensitive compositions. For optimal combat precision when executing her abilities during intensive raids, consider playing Blue Archive on PC via BlueStacks for enhanced control responsiveness and performance stability.
