In Arknights, summons are units that are deployed by certain Operators and some enemies to help them offensively or defensively.
Summons cannot be placed on tiles that are marked as unavailable, even if their summoning happens automatically by the activation of their respective operator's skill. The skill will nonetheless take effect even if the summon cannot be placed. There are a few exceptions to this latter role in Kal'tsit, whose skills can only be charged and cast if Mon3tr is fielded, and Vigil's second skill, which can only be cast if his Wolfpack is fielded.
Summons that are of a 'fleeting' nature have a limited lifespan and cannot be attacked by enemies (unless stated otherwise, as is the case with Nightingale's Mirages). Examples of these 'fleeting' summons are Silence's Medical Drone, Weedy's Industrial Water Cannon, Shamare's Cursed Doll, and W's Front Toward Enemy. These summons typically do not count towards the unit limit.
Out of all Summons, only the Traps deployed by Trapmasters have the additional restriction of being unable to be deployed on tiles where enemies are situated during the moment of deployment. These Traps, despite not having their lifespan determined within their respective skill's description, behave like the aforementioned 'fleeting' summons otherwise.
Summons cannot be healed in a direct way and should be treated like unhealable operators. Similarly, they are not always affected by certain Collectibles, like the Royal Alliance Treaty by which they can still be damaged by Sarkaz enemies while normal operators cannot.
Friendly[]
Unless noted otherwise, all summons will disappear if the Operator that deploys them is knocked out or retreated.
| Summon | Use |
|---|---|
 |
Deals True damage to nearby enemies and Stuns them when deployed. Cannot be summoned at will, instead automatically summoned when Blazing Sun's Obeisance is activated. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but will self-destruct when Blazing Sun's Obeisance expires. Used by |
 |
Reduces the ATK and DEF of surrounding enemies. Invulnerable and not counted towards the Unit Limit, but will self-destruct after a period of time. Used by |
 |
Attacks deal Arts damage. Cannot be summoned at will, instead summoned through Image Over Form and Finishing Touch. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but will self-destruct after a period of time. Used by |
 |
Push enemies back in each attack. Invulnerable and not counted towards the Unit Limit, but will self-destruct after a period of time. Used by |
 |
Behaves identically to Kazemaru's Substitute. Cannot be summoned at will, instead summoned through Origami Art - Twin Shadows. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but will self-destruct when the skill expires. Used by |
   |
Varies depending on the skill used; see article for details. Up to three (four with Ling's upgraded SUM-Y Operator Module) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Heals surrounding friendly units. Invulnerable and not counted towards the Unit Limit, but will self-destruct after a period of time. Used by |
 |
Taunts enemies, has high HP and RES, and can often dodge Physical attacks. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but loses HP over time. Used by |
 |
Reveals invisible enemies in the surrounding tiles. Also slightly reduces the speed of nearby enemies with Scene's upgraded SUM-X Operator Module. Used by |
 |
Can only be directly healed by Kal'tsit herself and will have 0 DEF if deployed outside her range. Used by |
 |
A weaker illusory double of Phantom which shares his skill and has an independent redeployment time than Phantom himself. Used by |
 |
Reduces the ASPD of blocked enemies. Used by |
| Rosmontis's Tactical Equipment | Reduces the DEF of blocked enemies and Stuns nearby enemies when deployed. Cannot be summoned at will, instead automatically summoned when "As You Wish" is activated. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but will self-destruct when "As You Wish" expires. Used by |
 |
Stuns nearby enemies when deployed. Cannot be summoned at will, instead automatically summoned when Guardian Obelisk is activated. Not counted towards the Unit Limit but will self-destruct when Guardian Obelisk expires. Used by |
 |
Extends the Corrupting Heart's range. Invulnerable and not counted towards the Unit Limit, but will self-destruct after a period of time. Used by |
   |
Varies depending on the skill used; see article for details. Up to three (four with Magallan's upgraded SUM-Y Operator Module) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Nothing special Used by |
 |
Attacks enemies in a range of up to three tiles straight ahead with lower ATK than Pozëmka but benefits from her skills. Has an independent redeployment time than Pozëmka herself. Used by |
Trap[]
Traps are deployed automatically by certain Operators and manually deployed by Trapmaster Specialists, in which case they must deployed on tiles without enemies, although Levitating the enemies gives the player a moment to deploy traps beneath them. When a ground enemy (and only ground enemies) is too close to a trap, it will be triggered; note that invisible enemies will not trigger traps.
Trapmasters can notably replenish their trap's count with their skills.
All traps are invulnerable and do not use up the Unit Limit.
| Trap | Use |
|---|---|
 |
Deals Physical damage when triggered and either Binds or pushes back the victim(s) depending on the skill Robin uses. Up to six/eight (E1)/ten (E2) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
| Front Toward Enemy | Deals Physical damage and Stuns enemies in the surrounding tiles when triggered. Cannot be deployed at will, instead automatically deployed through Jack in the Box. Will disappear if not triggered after 120 seconds. Used by |
 |
Deals Arts damage and drag enemies in the surrounding tiles towards it when triggered. Cannot be deployed at will, instead automatically deployed through Desolate Echoes. Will disappear if not triggered after 30 seconds. Used by |
 |
Damages enemies when triggered with various additional effects depending on the skill Dorothy uses. Up to six/eight (E1)/ten (E2) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Deals Physical damage when triggered and either Stuns or Binds the victim depending on the skill Frost uses. Up to six/eight (E1)/ten (E2) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
Reinforcement[]
Reinforcements are utilized by Tactician Vanguards and can only be deployed on a tile within their attack range, which is designated as a "Tactical Point". When the Tactician attack enemies being blocked by their Reinforcement, the damage they deal is increased.
Should a Reinforcement is KO'd or retreated, it will revive itself over a period of time during which it is invulnerable but can neither attack nor block enemies. Therefore, the Reinforcement can only be relocated by redeploying their respective Tactician.
All Reinforcements cost no DP to deploy and do not use up the Unit Limit.
| Reinforcement | Use |
|---|---|
 |
Nothing special Used by |
 |
Can attack Sleeping enemies, which it will target over the others. Used by |
 |
Can have up to 3 Wolf Shadows that is generated over time; each Shadow increases the Wolfpack's block and attacks' hit counts by 1, and is expended to have the Wolfpack survive a lethal attack with fully restored HP. Used by |
Support Device[]
Support Devices are utilized by Artificer Supporters to augment friendly units. An Artificer can only have a limited number of Support Devices deployed at a time.
All Support Devices do not use up the Unit Limit, are invulnerable, and will self-destruct after some time have passed from when they are deployed.
| Support Device | Use |
|---|---|
 |
Buffs the DEF of a melee unit and grants them Shield(s). Up to three may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Given while Stainless uses the Prototype of Feist's Metal Crab skill. Will be attacked by friendly units, who does no damage towards it and attacks enemies over it. Fires a shot that deals AoE Physical damage whenever attacked enough but loses some HP and can be "repaired" by having Artificer Supporters attack it. Also reduces the Physical damage taken by the friendly unit behind it. Up to two may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Buffs the ATK of a Caster or Supporter (and only Casters/Supporters). Up to two may be deployed at a time. Used by |
 |
Given while Stainless uses Extreme Firepower or Efficient Resupply with different effects depending on the skill in question; see article for details. Only one (up to two from Elite 1) may be deployed at a time. Used by |
Enemy[]
| Summon | Use |
|---|---|
 |
Periodically fires a high-explosive shell straight ahead until destroyed, dealing AoE damage centered on the first friendly unit hit by the shell. Used by |
| Offspring | Entangles an allied unit to damage and Stun them as well as inflicting Nervous Impairment build-up until destroyed. Used by |
| Shanhaizhong Cipher Machine | Buffs the ASPD and speed of enemies, which can stack without a limit. Will be deployed on top of the first Yumen Catastrophe Defense passed through. |
