Theorylytics

Lavos vs Valkyr

Same Support / Healer fantasy — which support kit fits your squad and mission rota?

TL;DR — Quick Pick

Pick Lavos if…

  • You want the squad gap filled by Lavos's vibe — The serpents of Lavos encourage him as he transmutes the battlefield.
  • Valkyr's pitch (“Valkyr was modified into a highly motivated and fearsome killer”) isn't what you're missing — Transmutation Probe is.
  • You value Lavos's orb-efficiency passive for longer ability spam on dense holds.

Pick Valkyr if…

  • You want the squad gap filled by Valkyr's vibe — Valkyr was modified into a highly motivated and fearsome killer.
  • You'd rather build around Paralysis than live in Lavos's Transmutation Probe loop.
  • You're buying into Valkyr's passive — valkyr accumulates Rage when hitting or killing enemies with melee weapons, increasing her Melee….
Verdict

Both fill the Support / Healer lane. Lean Lavos for orb economy and Transmutation Probe; lean Valkyr for Paralysis and Paralysis. Mission Usefulness is where they split: Steel Path (Strong vs Excellent — edge Valkyr); speed clears (Situational vs Excellent — edge Valkyr).

At a Glance

Lavos
Stat
Valkyr
Support / Healer
Role
Support / Healer
NaramonNaramon
Aura
MaduraiMadurai
Match the priority to your main ability
Mod Priority
Match the priority to your main ability
Ophidian Bite
Kit Opener
Rip Line

Mission Usefulness

Mission
Lavos
Valkyr
Steel Path Survival / Defense / Disruption
Strong
ExcellentWinner
Mobile Defense / Excavation
Excellent
Excellent
Exterminate / Capture Speed Runs
Situational
ExcellentWinner
Spy / Rescue / Nightmare
Situational
Situational
Open World / Bounties
Strong
Strong
Long-Range Gunplay / Eidolon-Style Content
Weak
Weak

When Each Shines

Lavos

  • Transmutation Probe carries mid-mission casts; Catalyze is the density payoff.
  • Long holds where energy comfort matters — Lavos's loop stays online without babysitting orbs.
  • Missions that reward committing to Lavos's full ability loop instead of dabbling.

Valkyr

  • Paralysis carries mid-mission casts; Hysteria is the density payoff.
  • Mod focus stays on match the priority to your main ability so the cast loop doesn't fall over mid-rota.
  • Missions that reward committing to Valkyr's full ability loop instead of dabbling.

Mod Scaling Focus

Lavos

Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.

STR
Raises damage and effect potency across Lavos’s Strength-scaling abilities.
DUR
Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Lavos if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
RNG
Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Lavos is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
EFF
Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.

Valkyr

Match the priority to your main ability — Strength or Duration first for most kits, then Efficiency, then Range.

STR
Raises damage and effect potency across Valkyr’s Strength-scaling abilities.
DUR
Extends channeled / timed effects — often comfort on Valkyr if the kit leans on buffs or zones.
RNG
Helps radius / targeting tools. Dump it if Valkyr is mostly self-buff or exalted weapons.
EFF
Keeps ability uptime comfortable, especially on longer Steel Path missions.

Who Should You Pull?

Lavos
Pull Lavos if…
  • Energy / health orb rooms are common in your rota and Lavos gets more mileage out of every pickup.
  • Squad comps where someone has to own tile clear alone — Lavos is the frame you trust for that job.
  • Valkyr can stay on the shelf; Lavos is the one you'll actually Forma twice.
  • Even after Helminth, Vial Rush and later abilities are still the reason Lavos earned potato.
  • Your endgame loadout screen should show Lavos before it shows another same-role experiment.
Lavos Full Guide
Valkyr
Pull Valkyr if…
  • Paralysis into Hysteria is the cast story you want to master — not a random subsume mashup.
  • You'd rather specialize hard into Paralysis than stay generic in the Support lane.
  • Skipping Lavos frees a craft slot — you'd rather finish Valkyr properly.
  • Valkyr rates higher on Steel Path holds (Excellent vs Strong) — that rota is where you actually play.
  • Inventory space / foundry queue: Valkyr jumps the line over another Lavos craft.
Valkyr Full Guide