Arknights Endfield Beta Test II: All Changes & First Impressions
With Beta Test II underway, Arknights: Endfield offers fans a deeper look into its evolving systems, ambitious worldbuilding, and impactful community feedback. Here’s a full breakdown of what’s new, what’s changed, and how players are reacting.
Major Changes in Beta Test II
Story & Progression
- Expanded Main Story: Beta II unveils the Wuling region, introducing new characters, animated cutscenes, and more substantial narrative choices. Players experience branching paths, with dialogue options impacting ally loyalty and quest rewards.
- Multiple Endings & Decisions: Some missions have alternative outcomes, based on player actions—one of the starkest changes from Beta Test I’s linear flow.
Combat System
- Refined Action Combat: Real-time 3D squad-based battles now include improved hit feedback, advanced skill chaining, and a more fluid dodge mechanic. Operator switching and skill rotations have been rebalanced for heightened challenge.
- Skill Synergy Upgrades: Classes (Defender, Sniper, Vanguard, etc.) see better distinctions. Elemental and physical effects now stack, opening complex combos and team strategies.
Operators & Gacha
- Operator Roster Grows: Nine new operators join Beta II, raising the squad count to 24. First-time 6-stars debut, with expanded voice lines and more detailed backstories.
- Gacha System Tweaks: The test features new banners (Horizon, Basic, Chartered), and rates are now shown in detail. Beta feedback suggests a focus on less grindy, more rewarding pull experiences.
Base-Building (AIC System)
- Conveyor-Based Building Upgrades: The AIC home base now supports layout blueprints, automation presets, and conveyor logistics. Players can test new resource structures and share blueprints in community feeds.
- Automation Quality of Life: Automated gathering, crafting, and healing loops are more streamlined, with visual progress indicators and enhanced UI.
Exploration & Companions
- Improved World Design: Collectables, environmental hazards, and map events are increased; item scanning is faster and side-quests are less repetitive.
- Companion Updates: Deployable support units (companions) can now be specialized for speed runs, loot gathering, or exploration events.
First Impressions: Player & Community Reactions
- Visuals & Polish: Testers praise the game’s aesthetics, especially region-specific architecture and atmospheric effects in the Wuling zone.
- Daily Activities: Early feedback highlights the reduced “grind wall,” with flexible stamina management and daily/weekly reward cycles.
- Base System: Players note that Endfield’s blueprints and automation finally make resource/base play “addictive rather than a chore.”
- Bugs & Issues: Some report minor localization errors and occasional pathfinding bugs, but broad consensus sees “drastic improvement” over the first beta.
Key Additions and Tweaks in Beta II
| Category | New Features & Changes |
|---|---|
| Story | Wuling region, animated scenes, branching dialogue |
| Combat | Skill synergy revamp, smoother dodging, better AI |
| Operators | +9 new units, 6-stars, richer voice acting |
| Base-Building | Blueprints, automation presets, resource conveyors |
| Exploration | More items, hazards, upgraded companions |
| Gacha | Banner variety, improved rates display |

