The global launch of Arknights: Endfield on January 22, 2026, has dropped players onto the hostile surface of Talos-II, introducing a complex hybrid of real-time RPG combat and industrial factory simulation. For many Administrators, balancing the demands of squad management with the intricacies of the Automated Industry Complex (AIC) can be overwhelming. If you want to avoid early resource bottlenecks and dominate the battlefield, you need to prioritize the right systems immediately. This Arknights Endfield beginner tips guide breaks down the essential strategies to master squad optimization and build a thriving industrial empire from day one.

1. Rush Story Chapter 3 to Unlock the Full AIC System

It is tempting to wander off and explore every corner of the map immediately, but this is a classic trap. Your first priority should be pushing the main story until you clear Chapter 3. This specific milestone unlocks the full potential of your Automated Industry Complex (AIC).

Before this point, you are effectively playing a simplified version of the game. Reaching Chapter 3 grants access to critical infrastructure blueprints and the ability to automate the production of EXP materials and essential gear. If you spend too much time exploring early, you will find yourself manual-mining resources like a stone-age scavenger while under-leveled enemies wipe your squad. Unlock the factory tools first, then explore with the backing of an industrial engine.

2. Master the Power Grid Connection Chain

The most common frustration in the Endfield base building guide is figuring out why your machines aren't receiving power. The game uses a specific hierarchy for electricity distribution that you must respect to create a stable grid.

Power originates from your Protocol Anchor Core (PAC) or Thermal Banks. To distribute this power, you must use Relay Towers to extend the grid's reach—these act like long-range power lines and can connect up to 80 meters away. However, Relay Towers do not power machines directly. You must place an Electric Pylon near your facilities to broadcast wireless power to them. Remember the chain: Source → Relay Tower → Pylon → Machine. Mastering this flow is the key to expanding your footprint across Talos-II.

3. Arknights Endfield Squad Optimization: Focus on One Core Team

Resources for leveling characters are scarce in the first week. Instead of spreading your EXP chips across eight different characters, pour everything into a single, versatile squad of four.

A highly effective best early game Operators Endfield setup is the "Heat" starter team, featuring Laevatain (Striker), Antal (Supporter), Wulfgard (Guard), and Ardelia (Healer). Laevatain serves as an incredible beginner-friendly carry who deals massive area damage without requiring complex positioning. Alternatively, the Physical team built around the Endministrator and Chen Qianyu offers excellent stagger potential against bosses. Choose one lane and stick to it until your factory can support a second squad.

4. Talos-II Automation Tricks: Avoid Corrosion Zones

As you expand your factory, you will encounter dangerous environmental hazards known as Corrosion Zones. A critical mistake new players make is placing sensitive equipment like Geothermal Generators directly inside these zones.

Structures placed in Corrosion Zones lose roughly 2% durability every hour, eventually leading to catastrophic failure and expensive repairs. The smart play is to build your power generation in safe zones and use Relay Towers to run power lines into the danger zones only for the mining rigs that absolutely need to be there. This keeps your expensive infrastructure safe while still harvesting rare resources.

5. Manual Gathering Beats Early Automation

This sounds counter-intuitive for a factory game, but early on, manual gathering is far more efficient for certain materials. The "Growth Chamber" facilities that automate plant collection produce resources very slowly until they are significantly upgraded.

For the first few days, you are better off manually harvesting plants and berries while exploring. Save your factory's power and footprint for mining ores and smelting ingots, which are far more tedious to collect by hand. Treat the Arknights Endfield resource management loop as a hybrid system: automate the heavy industry, but handle the agriculture yourself until you reach the mid-game.

6. Break the Stagger Bar, Then Burst

Combat in Endfield is not just about spamming skills off cooldown. Elite enemies and bosses possess a white "Stagger" gauge beneath their HP bar. While this bar is active, they take significantly reduced damage.

Your tactical priority should be using skills that inflict heavy stagger damage (often from Breaker or Striker class operators) to deplete this gauge. Once the enemy is staggered, they are stunned and take bonus damage. This is your window to unleash your "Arts Burst" elemental combos and Ultimate abilities. syncing your team's cooldowns for this specific window will double your effective DPS compared to firing them randomly.

7. Use Blueprints to Eliminate Spaghetti Belts

The Arknights Endfield factory guide community has already solved many efficiency problems. The game provides "Blueprints"—pre-designed layouts for production lines that are optimized to prevent conveyor belt jams.

Especially for new players, trying to freehand a complex smelting array often leads to "spaghetti" belts that cross over each other and cause gridlock. Crossing belts slows down throughput and makes future expansion a nightmare. Use the default blueprints for your initial Mining and Smelting setups. They are compact, efficient, and allow you to copy-paste entire production modules as your needs grow, saving you hours of reconstruction time later.