AN-94

Overview

The shining star on DEFY in physical combat lore wise, AN-94 proves to be an excellent unit gameplay wise as well. While she possesses decent stats for an AR, it’s her Skill that makes her shine both her passive which provides an extra shot per dummy link every time she changes targets, and especially because of her active Skill, which essentially doubles her DPS. As later content for non Grenadier ARs is more centered around ARs with RoF or Multi-hit oriented skills, AN-94 is among the best ARs in the game, and only lags behind top ARs like G11. Even then, she still is one of the best ARs in the game, and still remains relevant.

AR chip

AN-94 biggest needs are FP and RoF buffs, both which are supplied by AR chips. Because her Skill is a double shot rather than a RoF buff, AN-94 ends up being one of the ARs benefited the most from it, to the point that she becomes a better option than her comrade in arms, AK-12.

Strengths

For Ak-12, I have a great Passive skill

Being a passive means that, even at Skill Level 1, AN-94 gets the full benefit of this effect. By getting a second shot per dummy link every time she switches to a new target, AN-94 becomes an excellent DPS dragger for 0-2, for newer Commanders who manage to acquire her, and an excellent option against packs of low HP enemies, such as Dinnergates, Strelets and Rippers/Vespids, where she can reliably activate her passive. She is also an excellent farming unit because of this, being able to be fielded solo or with one HG when other ARs would require more expensive setups.

For AK-12, I have a great Active skill

Not only does her Skill have a good uptime of 6s/8s at SL10, but her active Skill essentially doubles her DPS by guaranteeing every shot each dummy link shoots is a double shot. This makes AN-94, post skill activation, compete with top self-buffers, like AK-12 and AR-15, as her DPS essentially doubles. Her skill is also great at dealing with enemy dummy link protection, as the extra shots can finish up enemy dummies that would otherwise eat up the shot of another 94 dummy link in a manner similar to AR-15’s Skill 2.

For AK-12, I have good stats

Bearing 55 FP, one of the highest Acc stats among ARs at 67, and a RoF of 76 places her in the upper stratum of ARs stat wise. Her DEFY sisters, AK-12 and AK-15, both which have good stats, have 56 FP, 62 Accuracy and 78 RoF, and 58 FP, 52 Accuracy and 77 RoF, respectively. Even AR-15, one of the best self-buffers, at Mod III and with both her SPEQs sits at 55 FP, 78 RoF and 75 Accuracy.

For AK-12, I’m great against KCCO unarmored

Post chapter 11, Damage buffing ARs fell off in usage in favour of RoF ARs, due to the peculiarity of Orthus(Doggos), a KCCO enemy, which deploys a shield and reduces damage taken to 1 per hit. Because 94’s Skill is a double shot, she is an excellent counter to those units, right after G11. 

Note that this holds true if the team can’t kill Doggos fast enough (i.e. low rarity fairies). For experienced Commanders, with 4 or 5 star fairies, K2 and G11 prove to be a better option for max damage dealt and minimal damage taken.

Weaknesses

I couldn’t protect AK-12 because I struggle against armored enemies

Because her Skill is a double shot, rather than a 100% damage buff, AN-94 suffers heavily against armored enemies. For example, she especially struggles against armored SF units in night missions, and against armored KCCO enemies, which usually have high values or armour, that fairy buffs/M4 tiles aren’t enough to help her overcome.

I couldn’t protect AK-12 because I have later skill activation

As she only activates her skill at the 6 seconds mark, AN-94 falls behind other early self-buffers, like AR-15, on early to mid content, as the fights tend to end on the 10 seconds mark. This makes her not ideal for newer Commanders who manage to pull her. 

Meanwhile, on more recent content, K2 pulls ahead because of her high early DPS, which makes her a good option to strike down Doggos before they pull up their shields.

I couldn’t protect AK-12 because of my rarity

AN-94 is among the rarest ARs, and rarest dolls in the game, making just obtaining her difficult and raising her expensive as the likelihood of dupes to save cores is low..

I couldn’t protect AK-12 because of G11Mod

G11Mod’s Skill 2 guarantees an extra hit for every shot while her skill is active with up to 300% her actual Damage, which makes AN-94 lag behind against high HP enemies. With the release of G11Mod in Dual Randomness, AN-94 gets outclassed, and is relegated to forever live in G11Mod’s shadow. 

Team Options

Vector

UMP45

M4A1 MOD

JS 9

94 can comfortably sit on Position 7 and buff the entire front row. As she buffs 55% Accuracy and 16% Evasion, maintanks and direct fire SMGs can greatly benefit from her buffs. Even if her tile buffs aren’t the best, there’s little reason to field 94 in either position 1 or position 4.

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