After sinking 40+ hours into Arknights: Endfield since launch, I've made every rookie mistake so you don't have to. This guide covers the essential tips every new player needs—from building your first team to understanding the gacha system and factory automation.
Quick Answer
- Best starter team: Laevatain, Perlica, Gilberta + any healer
- Don't reroll—the pity system is generous (5★ every 10 pulls)
- Focus on Physical teams—Breach is easy to apply and deals massive damage
- Prioritize Stock Bills—they gate all progression
- Set up factory automation early—the AIC system is your best friend
1. Don't Waste Time Rerolling
I know it's tempting. Every gacha guide tells you to reroll until you get the perfect 6★ unit. Skip it in Endfield.
Here's why: each reroll takes 20-45 minutes to reach the gacha. The pity system guarantees a 5★ operator every 10 pulls, and you'll hit the 6★ pity at 80 pulls regardless. The game throws enough free currency at you in the first week that you'll build a solid roster naturally.
Pro tip: Save your Oroberyls for limited banners instead of burning them on the standard banner early.
2. Understanding the Gacha Pity System
Endfield's gacha is surprisingly fair for a free-to-play game:
- 5★ Pity: Guaranteed every 10 pulls
- 6★ Pity: Guaranteed at 80 pulls
- Featured 6★ Pity: Guaranteed at 120 pulls (if not obtained at 80)
The featured guarantee only triggers once per banner, so plan your pulls carefully. If you're close to pity on the standard banner when a limited banner drops, it might be worth finishing those pulls first—pity doesn't carry over between banner types.
3. Build a Physical Team First
Physical teams dominate the current meta. Why? Breach status is ridiculously easy to apply and amplifies all physical damage.
Your priority units:
- Laevatain (6★) — Top-tier DPS, shreds everything
- Pogranichnik — Breach applicator, works great even at lower rarity
- Gilberta — Groups enemies together for devastating AoE
- Administrator — Solid support, free from story
Electric teams (Antal, Arclight, Perlica) are also viable but require more investment to reach their full potential.
4. Stock Bills Are Everything
Stock Bills are Endfield's core progression currency. You need them for:
- Upgrading operators
- Unlocking new content
- Factory expansions
- Basically everything important
Early game priority: Complete the main questline before anything else. It's the fastest Stock Bills farm and unlocks critical systems.
5. Master the AIC (Factory Automation) Early
The Automated Industry Complex separates Endfield from typical gacha games. This isn't just a side feature—factory automation is essential for late-game progression.
Key principles:
- Start simple: one production line, one output
- Automate basic materials first (Iron, Copper, basic components)
- Use splitters and balancers to manage multiple outputs
- Check the blueprint library—don't reinvent the wheel
I spent hours manually crafting materials before realizing the AIC could do it passively. Learn from my suffering.
6. Gear Sets Matter More Than You Think
When enemies start hitting harder, raw stats won't save you. Gear Sets provide the secondary stats that make or break your team:
- Defense Sets — Keep your team alive
- Crit Rate Sets — Essential for DPS operators
- Agility Sets — More actions = more damage
- Intellect Sets — For support/healing builds
Don't sleep on gear upgrades. A well-geared 5★ will outperform a naked 6★ every time.
7. Complete Your Dailies (But Don't Burn Out)
Dailies give consistent rewards, but Endfield's daily grind is heavier than most gachas. Here's what to prioritize:
- Must do: Daily missions, Stamina spending, Event stages
- Should do: AIC check-ins, Resource expeditions
- Skip if tired: Repeated material farms (automate these instead)
Remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint. Missing one day won't kill your account.
8. Join a Guild Immediately
Guild benefits unlock early and compound over time:
- Bonus rewards from guild missions
- Shared resource pools
- Access to guild-only content
- Community knowledge (ask questions!)
Even a casual guild beats solo play. Don't be shy—most guilds are recruiting new players.
9. Know Your Operator Roles
Building a balanced team means understanding what each operator brings:
- DPS: Laevatain, Ivonne, Fluorite — Your damage dealers
- Support: Perlica, Administrator — SP generation and buffs
- Tank: Ardelia — Soaks damage so others don't
- Debuffer: Gilberta, Pogranichnik — Crowd control and status effects
Tip: Don't stack four DPS operators. One tank + one support + two DPS clears faster than pure glass cannon.
10. Pace Yourself Through the Story
Endfield's story is surprisingly good. The worldbuilding on Talos-II is interesting, and the characters have actual depth.
Don't skip cutscenes on your first playthrough. You'll miss context that makes the gameplay more meaningful. Plus, story stages give the best rewards per stamina spent.
Save the skip button for your second run or farming alt accounts.
Pro Tips
- Check redeem codes weekly — Free Oroberyls and materials get released regularly
- Don't level everyone equally — Focus resources on your main 4-6 operators first
- The stock market mini-game is actually worth learning for bonus income
- 4★ operators like Akekuri are viable throughout the game—don't ignore them
- Farm gear during downtime—it's the biggest power spike mid-game
FAQ
Q: Is Arknights Endfield free-to-play friendly?
A: Yes. The pity system is generous, and you can clear all content with free units. Spending just accelerates progression.
Q: What platforms is Arknights Endfield on?
A: PC (Epic Games Store + standalone launcher), PS5, iOS, and Android. No Steam version currently.
Q: How long does it take to finish the story?
A: Main story takes roughly 20-30 hours depending on your pace. There's substantial post-story content.
Q: Who's the best starter 6★ to aim for?
A: Laevatain or Ivonne. Both dominate the current meta and will carry you through early-mid game.
Q: Can I play Endfield without playing original Arknights?
A: Absolutely. It's a standalone game with its own story. Some references exist, but they're optional lore.
Summary
Arknights Endfield rewards preparation over grinding. Build a physical team, master factory automation, and don't waste time rerolling. The game is generous enough that smart resource management beats whaling every time.
Welcome to Talos-II. Good luck out there, Endfieldeer.
