Arknights Endfield Material Farming (March 2026) Ultimate Guide

Welcome to the frontier of Talos-II. If you’ve been diving into Arknights Endfield, you already know that this game isn’t just about tactical combat; it’s about managing an entire industrial ecosystem. As you progress, you’ll hit the inevitable wall where your Operators feel too weak, and your weapons are underpowered. That’s where the grind begins. But unlike its predecessor, Arknights, farming in Endfield requires a mix of sharp tactical combat and smart industrial automation.

In this comprehensive guide, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about farming upgrade materials for both your Operators and their Weapons. We will cover the basics of the economy, the specific nodes you need to clear, and—most importantly—how to set up your automated industries to do the work for you. Let’s get your base running like a well-oiled machine.

Arknights Endfield Upgrade Material Farming Overview

Before we head out into the wild, let’s break down what we are actually hunting. Arknights Endfield simplifies some of the headache of the original game but adds layers of complexity through its “Industry” system.

Material Type	Primary Usage	Primary Source
Credits	Upgrading Operator Levels	Combat Stages, Assignments
XP Cards	Instant Operator Level Boost	Combat Stages, Industry Production
Promotion Materials	Raising Operator Elite/Class	Combat Drops, Exploration Points
Weapon Parts	Leveling Weapon Proficiency	Combat Drops, Boss Rewards
Skill Modules	Unlocking/Upgrading Skills	Specific Stages, Special Events
Raw Resources	Industry Production (Crafting)	Map Mining, Logging, Gathering

The biggest difference you’ll notice in Endfield is that you aren’t just spending “Sanity” to get items. You are spending “Energy,” but you are also physically walking up to trees, rocks, and enemy camps to grab resources.

Operator Upgrade Material Farming

Your Operators are the backbone of your squad. Keeping them at peak power is non-negotiable for pushing through the story’s harder chapters. Here is how I manage my Operator upgrades efficiently.

Farming for Promotion (Elite Levels)

Promoting an Operator increases their level cap and often boosts their stats significantly. To promote them, you generally need three types of items:

1. Common Basic Materials: Often drops from basic enemies in exploration zones.
2. Rare Components: Dropped by Elite enemies or specific mini-bosses.
3. Special Tokens: Often tied to the Operator’s specific class or faction.

Pro Tip:
Don’t just farm the highest-level stage available. Sometimes, Stage 4-3 has a better drop rate for a specific rare material than Stage 5-1, simply because the enemy composition is more favorable for mass farming. Always check the “Enemy Preview” before deploying.

Efficient Leveling: Credits and XP Cards

Leveling an Operator from Level 1 to Level 50 requires a massive amount of Credits and XP Cards. In the early game, you will be starved for Credits.

My Strategy:

1. Story Stages: Re-play the latest story stage you can clear easily (with auto-battle enabled). These stages usually drop a balanced mix of Credits and XP Cards.
2. The “Credit Run” Loop: Look for stages in the Combat Simulation mode (once unlocked) that have a high Credit drop ratio.
3. Don’t Spread Too Thin: It is better to have one team of 6 high-level Operators than a roster of 20 mid-level Operators. Focus your resources on your main squad.

Weapon Upgrade Material Farming

New to Arknights Endfield is the Weapon system. Your Operators can now equip specific weapons that alter their stats and performance. These weapons need their own specific materials to upgrade.

Understanding Weapon Parts

Weapons generally require generic “Parts” to level up:

• Weapon Parts I/II/III: Dropped by mechanical enemies.
• Refined Alloy: Crafted or found in high-tech ruins.
• Weapon Tuning Kits: Rare drops from elite mechanical units.

Where to Farm:
The best source for Weapon Parts I found is in the Industrial Ruins areas. Look for enemies labeled “Mechanized” or “Automaton.” These enemies drop weapon parts significantly more often than biological enemies.

Weapon Tuning

At higher levels, simply upgrading the weapon level isn’t enough; you need to “Tune” it. Tuning requires specific sub-materials that are often found in Hard Mode (Hazard Level 3+) versions of standard maps. While this is difficult, the stat boost from a fully tuned weapon is massive—it can turn a C-tier Operator into a powerhouse.

Industrial Automation: The Key to Passive Farming

This is the “secret sauce” of Arknights Endfield. You cannot be online 24/7 to click trees. You must build factories.

Setting Up Material Synthesis Lines

In your base management menu, you can construct Production Lines. These lines take raw materials (Wood, Ore, Fiber) and turn them into processed upgrade materials (Components, Alloy, etc.).

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up a Factory:

1. Gather Raw Resources: Go out into the overworld. Use your Operators’ gathering skills to mine Iron Nodes and chop down Wood Nodes. Fill your inventory.
2. Build Storage: Construct a Warehouse. You can’t craft if your inventory is full.
3. Build the Processor: Construct a “Synthesis Machine.”
4. Queue Recipes: Select the material you need most. For example, queue “Pure Iron Ingot” if you are upgrading weapons.
5. Assign Operators: Operators with the “Industry” trait will speed this process up. Keep them assigned to the factory, not your combat squad, if you need passive income.

The “Overnight” Method:
Before you log off, queue up the longest possible synthesis chains. For example, queue Iron Ore -> Iron Ingot -> Steel Component. When you wake up the next day, you will have a stash of high-tier materials waiting for you without spending a single point of Energy on combat.

Exploration and Gathering Strategy

Since Endfield is an open-world/semi-open RPG, you have to go out and get your hands dirty.

The “Sweep” Technique

When you enter a new zone, don’t just head straight for the objective.

1. Scan the Map: Look for resource clusters (groups of 3-4 trees or rocks).
2. Tag Them: Mark them on your map.
3. Loop Back: After finishing your combat objectives, backtrack to these clusters. It ensures your bags are full before you return to base.

Hazard Levels and Drop Rates

Pay attention to the Hazard Level of the zone.

• Level 1-2: Good for basic XP and low-tier materials.
• Level 3-4: Essential for mid-game upgrades.
• Level 5: High risk, but drops the rare materials needed for late-game Elites and Weapon Tuning.

If you are struggling with Hazard Level 4, don’t force it. Go back, upgrade your weapons using the industry tips above, and try again. The drop rate in a zone you can’t clear is zero.

Common Mistakes to Avoid In 2026

After analyzing community feedback and my own playtime, here are the biggest traps players fall into:

• Ignoring the “Industry” Stat: When recruiting or upgrading Operators, ignore their Attack/Defense for a second and check their “Industry” or “Gathering” stats. A high Industry Operator saves you hours of grinding.
• Upgrading Too Many Weapons: Weapon materials are scarce. Pick 3-4 core DPS Operators and funnel all weapon materials into them first. Don’t upgrade weapon tiers for your support units until your main carries are maxed.
• Selling Raw Resources: Never sell your raw Wood or Ore to the shop. The payout is terrible. Always convert them into crafted materials or use them for base upgrades first. Only sell excess Tier 3+ components.

Advanced Tips for Seasoned Players

If you have mastered the basics, here is how to optimize your farming efficiency to the limit.

Energy Management

Energy is your limiting factor. Use your Energy first on Stage Clears that drop materials you cannot craft (like Special Tokens). Use your Automation/Factories for materials you can craft (like generic alloys). Don’t waste energy fighting random mobs if you can avoid it; run straight to the bosses.

The “Restock” Algorithm

The game resets daily supply drops and elite enemy locations. Make a habit of logging in, clearing your daily “Elite Hunts” (which drop rare materials), and then spending your Energy on specific farming nodes.

Team Composition for Speed

When farming, swap out your defensive Supports for speedsters. If you can kill the enemy in 10 seconds instead of 30, you are farming 3x faster. Use Operators with high AoE (Area of Effect) damage to clear waves of fodder enemies instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get Credits in Arknights Endfield?

Currently, the fastest way is to replay the latest unlocked stage of the Main Story that you can auto-battle comfortably. Additionally, keep an eye on the Combat Simulation rotations, as specific “Credit Bonus” stages appear periodically.

How do I get Weapon Tuning Kits?

Weapon Tuning Kits are rare drops from Elite Mechanic Enemies in Hazard Level 3+ zones. You can also sometimes obtain them as rewards from the Combat Board (daily mission system) or limited-time events.

Can I farm materials offline?

You cannot farm new materials offline, but you can process materials offline. If you queue up production in your factory (e.g., turning Ore into Ingots), that processing continues even when the game is closed.

Where can I find Operator Promotion tokens?

Promotion tokens are generally gated behind Boss Battles and specific Elite Stages in the combat menu. For example, an Operator might need a “Guard Token” which drops exclusively from stages containing heavy infantry enemies.

Is it better to save my materials or spend them immediately?

Always spend them immediately to push your main squad’s power level. Being over-leveled allows you to clear higher Hazard zones, which gives you access to better materials. Hoarding Tier 1 materials when you are already facing Tier 3 enemies is a waste of inventory space.

How does the “Hazard Level” affect farming?

Higher Hazard Levels increase the Defense and Attack of enemies but significantly improve the drop rate of rare materials. If you are farming for a specific rare drop and it won’t drop, try increasing the Hazard Level of that stage.

Conclusion

Mastering material farming in Arknights Endfield is a balancing act between aggressive combat expansion and passive industrial management. By combining the active farming strategies I’ve outlined for Operators and Weapons with the passive power of your factory automation, you’ll stay ahead of the curve.

Remember, the key to success is not just grinding harder, but grinding smarter. Focus on your core team, leverage your Industry Operators for passive gains, and always be on the lookout for those high-Hazard elite drops. Good luck, Doctor, and see you on the battlefield.