Arknights Endfield Environmental Hazards and Terrain Effects Explained

Environmental hazards in Arknights: Endfield mostly come from region‑specific terrain (fluids, Blight, Corrosion zones) and enemy‑generated fields that alter movement, apply debuffs, or damage over time. Each region layers its own gimmicks on top of normal combat, so learning how hazards interact with your AIC tools and elements is key to safe exploration.

Region-Based Hazards and Terrain

Each major area leans into a different environmental theme.

• Valley IV – rockfalls, Blight, destructible terrain:
  • Updated CBT2 design added more “self‑contained stages” and practical map features; Valley IV often uses unstable rock, Blight fields, and destructible walls that you clear with explosives to open routes or reveal loot.
• Wuling – fluid and Active Blight systems:
  • Wuling’s ecology centers on fluid-based mechanics; you use jet drones to spray fluid and either unlock mechanisms or clear Active Blight from terrain.​
  • Standing in Active Blight or hazardous fluid can damage or debuff you until cleared.

Developers explicitly state that each region gets tailored environmental gameplay, so new areas will introduce their own hazard types built on this foundation.

Blight, Corrosion Zones, and Hazardous Areas

Several hazards are tied to long-term environmental effects rather than instant hits.

• Blight / Active Blight:
  • Corrupted ground or growths that harm units, block paths, or interfere with AIC structures until removed.
  • In Wuling, jet drones and fluid sprays are used to dissolve these patches and regain safe ground.​
• Corrosion zones (for AIC):
  • Areas with environmental Corrosion slowly damage AIC facilities, particularly Geothermal Generators; LDShop notes they lose about 2% durability per hour if placed in Corrosion zones.​
  • Best practice is to place generators in safe ground and run power lines through hazardous areas instead.​

These hazards push you to combine exploration tools (drones, explosives, ziplines) with smart base placement.

Combat-Related Environmental Effects

Combat arenas and overworld fights often include terrain that shapes movement and targeting.

• Interactive terrain:
  • Platforms, cliffs, and elevation changes allow enemies and turrets to gain line‑of‑sight advantages; you can respond with AIC turrets and defensive layouts in invasion spots.​
• Localized fields and effects:
  • While most status effects come from operators/enemies, some hazards (Blight patches, active fluids) behave like persistent AoE zones that apply damage or debuffs when you stand in them, similar in feel to Corrosion/DoT mechanics.

Hands‑on previews highlight that grid‑free movement, interactive terrain, and environmental systems make positioning and hazard awareness important in tougher fights.​

Dealing with Hazards Efficiently

Guides and patch notes suggest several best practices.

• Use AIC tools instead of brute forcing:
  • Clear Active Blight with jet drones/fluids rather than face‑tanking it.​
  • Use explosives for destructible walls and rockfalls instead of slow chip damage.​
• Plan base placement carefully:
  • Avoid building fragile infrastructure (Geothermal, long belts) directly in Corrosion or hazardous zones; treat them as transit corridors powered from safe hubs.
• Read terrain when pathing:
  • Before diving into a hazard‑heavy sub‑area, locate nearby TPs, safe ledges, and alternative routes so you can retreat or bypass dangerous ground.​

Endfield’s environmental hazards are designed less as random annoyances and more as puzzles and planning checks, rewarding players who use AIC tools and terrain knowledge instead of charging straight through dangerous ground.