Arknights Endfield Long-Term Base Planning – Late-Game AIC Goals and Specialization Paths

Long-term AIC planning in Arknights: Endfield is about turning your base into a specialized, multi-region factory network that feeds gear, outposts, and exploration with minimal micromanagement. Late-game goals focus on scaling to T4 infrastructure, building dedicated Hub vs regional roles, and exploiting advanced systems like fluids, reactors, and combat support towers.

Long-Term Goals for a Finished AIC

Endgame base guides converge on a few clear targets.

• T4 infrastructure and full AIC Plan progression: unlock all key Resourcing, Logistics, Processing, Power, Combat, and Exploration branches.
• Continuous, hands-off production: Hub and regional AICs run stable lines for batteries, Cuprium, explosives, plant goods, and gear materials that keep Outpost Orders and shops supplied.
• Integrated combat/exploration support: fully powered gun/medical/grenade towers, ziplines, reactors, and field stashes that make late exploration and endgame expeditions smoother.

By this stage, your AIC functions as a persistent “macro endgame” alongside combat modes.

Hub vs Regional Specialization

Late-game advice emphasizes distinct roles for Hub and regional AICs.

• Hub AIC (Core base):
  • Only the Hub has a Depot Bus with extra input/output ports, making it ideal for large, centralized lines.​
  • Reddit theorycrafting suggests using Hub for:
    • Two product lines feeding four Thermal Banks with high-grade HC batteries (purple).​
    • One line for Buck Capsules (energy/exploration) and one for gear materials.
• Regional AICs (Valley IV, Jinlong, Wuling, etc.):
  • Best for 2–3 small lines or one large line each, focused on local specialties (Cuprium, fluid systems, hydroponics, etc.).
  • Late-game branches introduce fluid-based systems, pumps, pipes, and reactors for water-based mining and advanced plant production.

This split keeps the Hub as a heavy industrial center while regional nodes handle niche outputs and regional Orders.

Late-Game Specialization Paths

Once core automation is maxed, specialization revolves around three pillars.​

• Energy & batteries:
  • Scale HC (high-capacity) battery lines and Thermal Banks to power more distant, complex layouts and combat towers.​
  • Guides recommend dedicating multiple Hub product lines specifically to battery production.​​
• High-tier materials and gear components:
  • Build large, stable chains for Amethyst/Ferrium components and advanced gear mats so you can mass-craft blue/purple gear.​
  • Endgame factory runs focus on these “deep” chains, not basic bars.​​
• Exploration and combat support:
  • Fully unlock Combat and Exploration AIC Plan branches (Defense/Wilderness/Area Denial towers, ziplines, bounce devices, field stashes).
  • Late layouts are designed to keep these tools powered across large zones for long expeditions and high-end fights.

Memu’s base guide describes endgame layouts as “scale and efficiency first,” using calculators like AKEF’s AIC tools to plan facility counts and power budgets.

Long-Term Planning Tips

Experienced players and beta veterans highlight a few strategic habits.

• Plan product roles per region: e.g., Hub for batteries/gear, Valley for Cuprium and explosives, Jinlong for fluid mining/hydroponics.
• Use Blueprints and calculators to standardize efficient lines and avoid re-solving ratios for every AIC.
• Regularly audit bottlenecks: smooth inputs and outputs, balanced miners/refiners/factories, and no overbuilt deadweight chains.
• Align base planning with Outpost Orders and Regional Development, so everything you produce has a high-value sink in shops and contracts.​

Handled this way, long-term AIC planning turns into shaping a layered industrial web where each node has a clear purpose, feeding your combat, exploration, and gacha progression for the lifetime of the account.