Arknights Endfield introduces a large number of systems very early, and it is easy to lose momentum by focusing on the wrong things at the wrong time. Between story progression, base management, power networks, crafting chains, regional development, and multiple side systems, many players end up stalled without a clear sense of priority.
This guide is designed as a practical progression checklist. It explains what to focus on, what to delay, and how the game’s systems connect to each other as you move from early to mid game. Rather than optimizing everything at once, the goal is to help you push forward efficiently, unlock key systems on time, and avoid common progression traps.
If you feel overwhelmed, unsure what to do next, or stuck behind level or system gates, this guide will give you a clear structure to follow and help you keep moving forward.
Table of contents
- Core Progression Rule
- Regional Development and Sub-Bases
- First Major Checkpoint
- Zip Line Placement
- Second Major Checkpoint
- Early Crafting Priorities
- Gear Crafting Management
- Handling Progression Walls
- Regional Subsystems to Prioritize
- Team Building Strategy
- Battle Pass and Optional Content
- Final Progress Checklist
Core Progression Rule
Push the Main Story First
Your top priority should always be the main story. Push it as far as the game allows before touching anything else.
Most major systems in Endfield are locked behind account level, and account level is strongly tied to story progression. Deliveries, factories, sub-bases, upgrades, and regional development all depend on how far you have advanced.
If you stop pushing too early and start focusing on side systems, you will slow your overall progression.
Regional Development and Sub-Bases
Why Regional Development Matters
Regional Development is one of the most important systems in the game. It controls your sub-bases and generates regional currency, specifically Valley Stock Bills.
Each region has stored savings that you extract by trading goods. This currency is required for gear upgrades, system unlocks, and progression gates later in the game. If you ignore this system, you will eventually hit a hard wall.
Your first major progression milestone is unlocking sub-bases and gaining access to Regional Development.
First Major Checkpoint
Unlocking the Electric Mining Rig
Once you unlock the Electric Mining Rig, your focus should shift to full map control.
Fully Exploring the Map
Physically explore every accessible part of the map. Do not just open the map screen and move on. Travel through it to uncover ore nodes, rare resources, and key points of interest.
From the Core AIC area, begin building a large-scale electrical network. Any time you see an ore icon, route electricity to it using relay towers and pylons. Long cable runs across the map are expected and unavoidable.
Your goal is to connect every viable resource node back to your core infrastructure.
Prioritizing Timed Resources
Rare plants, mushrooms, rocks, and skill-related nodes are on timers and should be collected early.
If areas are blocked by fog, they are usually tied to world quests. These appear on the minimap as green or blue markers.
Zip Line Placement
Why You Should Delay Zip Lines
Zip lines are limited. Most maps cap you at around 20 placements.
Placing them too early almost guarantees you will waste them. By exploring the map naturally first, you will later recognize where zip lines actually provide value.
Early game focus should be electricity and resource routing, not mobility shortcuts.
Second Major Checkpoint
Managing Power Capacity
Once your network expands, you will eventually hit power limits. This is when Thermal Banks become relevant.
Thermal Bank Guidelines
A good rule is to never build more than four Thermal Banks. Once you reach that number, if you are still running out of power, you are usually close to unlocking the next battery tier anyway.
Overbuilding Thermal Banks is inefficient and unnecessary.
Batteries as an Income Source
Batteries are not only used for power. They are also excellent trade items for Regional Development and generate strong income returns.
Even a simple battery crafting setup contributes meaningfully to progression.
Early Crafting Priorities
Keeping the Base Active
Never let your base sit idle. Even a simple setup running continuously is better than nothing.
Recommended Early Pipelines
A reliable early-game setup includes:
- Originium Ore refined into Origocrust.
- Amethyst Ore refined and processed into Amethyst Parts.
- Battery crafting running in parallel.
These materials match early regional trade demands and require minimal micromanagement.
Later Crafting Focus
For later regions, prioritizing Ferrium Parts and Steel Parts is sufficient. Complex recipes can be ignored unless you want to optimize heavily.
Gear Crafting Management
Avoid Overcrafting
Gear production continues indefinitely and consumes power even when you no longer need the materials.
Only run gear crafting while actively playing. Otherwise, you will overproduce components and waste power.
Regional Currency Still Applies
Gear upgrades still require regional currency, making Regional Development mandatory even if your gear materials are ready.
Handling Progression Walls
Level Gates in the Story
Eventually, the story will stop you with level requirements. When this happens, avoid brute-forcing every available system.
Avoid Tutorials When Possible
Tutorial missions are slow and tedious. Only complete them if required or if you need the currency rewards – Oroberyl for pulls.
Better Sources of Experience
World Exploration
Chests provide large amounts of experience. Gold chests give especially high returns. White triangular markers also grant experience, and there are many scattered throughout the world.
Stamina Missions
Complete each stamina mission once to unlock it. After that, rotating early tiers over several days provides steady experience.
Side Quests
Side quests are one of the most efficient experience sources. Many reward between 200 and 600 experience, which adds up quickly.
Regional Development Requirements
Some story nodes require specific Regional Development levels, forcing engagement with that system.
Regional Subsystems to Prioritize
Recycling Stations (Owls)
Recycling stations are inexpensive early and remain consistently priced across regions. Pushing them to level three early is efficient, and every owl on the map is worth upgrading.
Trading Posts (Rabbits)
Trading posts operate on a buy-low, sell-high system – Elastic Goods. They can generate massive profits but require upfront currency.
Early on, they are a lower priority, but they must still be upgraded to meet progression requirements. Their real value appears in the mid to late game.
Depots Nodes and Cargo Runs (Boxes)
This is the most impactful subsystem overall.
Depots increase storage capacity and allow you to pack goods for delivery. Delivering goods manually can generate over 130,000 regional currency per run.
You can also accept up to three delivery jobs from friends per day, earning both regional currency and credits.
Reaching level two here as early as possible should be a top priority.
Upgrade depots in early regions first, as costs increase sharply in later areas.
Team Building Strategy
Limit Your Focus
Do not spread resources across too many characters. The upgrade curve becomes extremely steep.
Focus on four characters and four weapons early on. You will eventually need to level everyone for base skills, so early upgrades are not wasted, but spreading too early will stall progress.
Strong General Picks
Adelia is an extremely strong support and fits into nearly every team. Akekuri is another strong generalist due to her SP regeneration, which benefits all compositions.
Physical teams are the easiest to build early, but overall team synergy matters more than chasing specific units.
Battle Pass and Optional Content
Battle Pass Recommendation
The middle-tier battle pass is worth purchasing. It provides critical materials needed for early E3 and E4 promotions and refunds more currency than it costs if completed.
Optional Areas
Some areas, such as the Aburrey Quarry, are not required for story progression. You can skip them entirely and still progress smoothly using the methods in this guide.
Final Progress Checklist
When in doubt, return to this loop:
- Push the story as far as possible.
- Fully explore the map.
- Build the electrical grid.
- Connect all resource nodes.
- Invest in Regional Development.
- Upgrade owls, boxes, and rabbits.
- Repeat when a new area unlocks.
Following this structure turns Endfield from a confusing system overload into a manageable and efficient progression experience.
Videogames.
Gym.
My dog.
Sneakers.
Manga.
In that order.
