When putting together a squad in 'The King of Fighters AFK' (hereafter KOF AFK), the primary concerns are synergy and elemental attributes. Synergy kicks in once you field two to three fighters sharing the same trait, while matching elements against a raid target or boss's weakness is the effective way to stack up extra damage.

But there's more to squad building than just those two pillars. You need to keep a close eye on the active skills—specifically the buffs and debuffs. From raw attack and crit damage boosts to defensive buffs, getting the right mix is what separates a decent team from a powerhouse. To save you the headache, KookminTree has compiled the essential allies who pack these offensive buffs.

Boosting the main damage dealer's weight class: 'Attack Power Increase'

There are five primary fighters for this role: Legends Ralf, Mary, and Yuri, alongside Uniques Dolores and Lucky. Naturally, higher rarity means higher buff levels and beefier coefficients. If you haven't managed to pull the Legends yet, do yourself a favor and slot in one of the Uniques.

Ralf uses an active skill to grant [Attack Power Increase LV4] for two turns to allies in a different row, bumping attack by 40%. Crucially, don't place Ralf in the same row as the fighter you want to buff. Ralf gains a 20% max HP boost when stationed in the front, making it ideal to keep your main DPS in the back while Ralf holds the line. At 5-star ascension, the coefficient climbs to 50%.

Push Ralf to 7 stars, and the finish skill adds [Crit Damage Increase LV2], granting a 30% crit damage boost. Reach 10 stars, and that level hits 3 with a 45% coefficient. Effectively, a well-invested Ralf acts as a dual-buff machine for your backline. With the 'Solid' synergy, which boosts allied HP and crit damage resistance, Ralf is a sturdy babysitter for any main dealer.

Unlike Ralf, Mary grants [Attack Power Increase LV4] to allies in the same row, including self, for two turns. Since Mary's passive grants a 20% agility boost when placed in the back, pairing Mary with your main DPS in the rear is the way to go.

Like Ralf, Mary sees buff level improvements at 5-star ascension, while the 7-star mark adds [Agility Increase LV2] to the finish skill, shared with allies in the same row. At 10 stars, the buff improves to a total of 30% agility, helping the team cycle their turns faster.

Mary's active and finish skills are 'grapple' types, meaning targets can't evade—a massive plus. Since both are single-target, the damage output is respectable, making Mary a dual-threat buffer and DPS for content with fewer enemies. The downside? The 'Solid' synergy doesn't perfectly gel with Mary's kit. Also, watch out for bosses that are immune to grapples.

Yuri also buffs the same row, including self, with the same level and coefficient as Ralf and Mary. At 7 stars, Yuri's finish skill gains [Haste LV1], reducing the cooldown of remaining turns by 20% for allies in the same row.

Yuri’s active is a grapple and the finish is a strike-type, both single-target. However, Yuri starts with lower damage coefficients than Mary. Yuri’s 'Wedge' synergy buffs all allies' penetration and HP, which works nicely with the attack buffs given how penetration helps bypass enemy defenses.

If you are missing the top-tier picks, Uniques Dolores and Lucky are perfectly capable substitutes. Both provide [Attack Power Increase LV3] for 30% attack over two turns. Dolores targets allies in different rows, while Lucky covers the same row. Invest them up to 10 stars, and their buff levels match the base Legend fighters.

Maximizing crit potential: 'Crit Damage'

Next, consider your crit damage buffs. Your main options are Shermie and King (Legends) and Shingo and Eiji (Uniques). As always, higher rarity translates to better performance, so prioritize those Legends.

Shermie’s active skill grants [Crit Damage Increase LV4] to allies in a different row for two turns, a massive 60% boost. With a 20% max HP passive in the front, keep Shermie up front to protect your backline dealers.

At 5 stars, the buff hits LV5 with a 75% coefficient. At 7 stars, the finish skill adds [Crit Increase LV2], providing an extra 10% crit rate. Shermie is a self-contained crit engine. The 'Wedge' synergy is the cherry on top, boosting team penetration and HP. Plus, being a grapple-based fighter, Shermie’s hits are guaranteed to land.

King provides [Crit Damage Increase LV4] to the same row for two turns. With a passive agility boost in the back, King belongs next to your main DPS. Unfortunately, King’s skills are all strike-type, meaning enemies can counter or evade, which is a bit of a gamble.

Like Shermie, King gets buff improvements at 5 stars, and at 7 stars, the finish skill adds [Haste LV1], reducing cooldowns by 20% for allies in the same row.

For crit damage, Shingo and Eiji are your go-to Uniques. Shingo buffs different rows, while Eiji handles the same row, both granting 45% crit damage for two turns. Push them to 10 stars, and they hit that 60% threshold, making them more than viable if your Legend roster is looking thin.