Progression & Materials Farming Guide
Complete farming locations for all materials
Every operator, weapon, and skill in Arknights: Endfield requires specific materials to level up. This guide covers every farming location for upgrade materials, from basic items to high-tier Deep Dive materials.
Material Categories Overview
| Category | Materials | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Operator EXP | Combat Records, Cognitive Carriers | Level operators 1-60 and 60+ |
| Operator Promotion | Protodisks, Protosets | Unlock level cap breakpoints |
| Weapon EXP | Arms (3 rarities) | Level weapons |
| Weapon Tuning | Cast Die, Heavy Cast Die | Unlock weapon level caps |
| Skill Leveling | Protoprism, Protohedron | Level skills 1-9 |
| High-Tier Materials | 5 gold-tier materials | Level 80+, weapon mastery, skill mastery |
Operator Leveling Experience Materials
Combat Records and Cognitive Carriers
Combat Records: Level operators from 1 to 60
Cognitive Carriers: Used for promotion beyond level 60
Rarity only affects how much EXP is granted per item. Both are available from:
Protocol Space: Operation EXP
Location: Core AIC Area
Difficulty 4 offers the most balanced mix of both types.
Manufacturing Cabin (AIC)
Your OMV Dijiang features a Manufacturing Cabin where operators passively produce these materials over time. Slow but sustainable for long-term stockpiling.
Operator Promotion Materials
Protodisks and Protosets
Required for: Promoting operators beyond level 20, 40, 60, and 80 brackets
Protodisks: Used for early promotions (levels 20 and 40)
Protosets: Used for mid-to-late promotions (levels 60 and 80)
Protocol Space: Promotions
Location: Core AIC Area
Different difficulties offer various mixes of Protodisks and Protosets.
Alternative sources:
- AIC Quota Exchange: Trade character tokens (from duplicate pulls) for Protodisks
- Daily/Weekly Missions: Rewards Protodisks
- Event Shops: Limited quantities during events
Promotion Bracket Material Requirements
| Level Cap | Protodisks | Protosets | Rare Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 → 40 | 8 | — | 3x Pink Bolete |
| 40 → 60 | 25 | — | 5x Red Bolete |
| 60 → 80 | — | 24 | 5x Ruby Bolete |
| 80 → 90 | — | 36 | 8x Bloodcap |
Weapon Leveling Experience Materials
Arms (All Rarities)
All three rarities of Arms items provide weapon EXP at any stage, as long as the weapon is tuned and has room for growth.
Protocol Space: Weapon EXP
Location: Core AIC Area
Alternative method: Use duplicate low-tier weapons as EXP fodder
- Tier 3 weapons = 500 EXP
- Tier 4 weapons = 1,500 EXP
Weapon Tuning Materials
Cast Die and Heavy Cast Die
Required for: Unlocking weapon level caps at 20, 40, 60, and 80
Cast Die: Used for levels 20 and 40
Heavy Cast Die: Used for levels 60 and 80
Protocol Space: Weapon Tune
Location: Near Originium Byproduct Processing Center
Both material types available from the same location at different difficulties.
Weapon Tuning Material Requirements
| Level Cap | Cast Die | Heavy Cast Die | Rare Ore |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 → 40 | 5 | — | 3x Kalkonyx |
| 40 → 60 | 18 | — | 5x Auronyx |
| 60 → 80 | — | 20 | 5x Umbronyx |
| 80 → 90 | — | 80 | 8x Wulingstone |
Skill Leveling Materials
Protoprism and Protohedron
Required for: Leveling operator skills from level 1 to 9
Protocol Space: Skill Up
Location: Core AIC Area
A combination of both materials carries a skill from level 1 to 9. Beyond level 9, skill mastery requires special high-tier materials.
Priority: This is one of the highest-priority Protocol Spaces. Skills dramatically increase operator effectiveness.
High-Tier Materials (Gold Tier)
High-tier materials are used for:
- Operator levels 80+
- High-level weapon upgrades
- Skill mastery (level 9+)
All five gold-tier materials are acquired through Deep Dives—high-difficulty challenges that recommend teams of level 80+ operators.
Each Deep Dive location provides:
- Fixed drop: The main material for that location (guaranteed)
- Random drop: Chance for two other select high-tier materials
1. D96 Steel Sample 4
Location: Mines Cable Car Station (Originium Lodespring)
Accessed from ground level.
Fixed Drop: D96 Steel Sample 4
Random Drops: TBD
2. Metadiastima Photoemission Tube
Location: Power Plateau (Valley IV)
Approach from Plateau Trunkway, one level below Bonekrusher Warcamp teleport point.
Fixed Drop: Metadiastima Photoemission Tube
Random Drops: TBD
3. Quadrant Fitting Formation
Location: Tianshi Bureau Academy (Wuling City)
Top of building—stairs located on south side.
Fixed Drop: Quadrant Fitting Formation
Random Drops: TBD
4. Tachyon Screening Lattice
Location: Jingyu Valley (near Sky King Flats Sub-PAC, Wuling)
Fixed Drop: Tachyon Screening Lattice
Random Drops: TBD
5. Triphasic Nanoflake
Location: Bureau of Swordmancers (Wuling City)
Ground level entrance.
Fixed Drop: Triphasic Nanoflake
Random Drops: TBD
Rare Growths Farming Locations
Rare Growths are organic materials required for operator promotions.
Pink Bolete
Location: The Hub
Found at Rare Growths nodes south and west of Old Water Plant.
Spawn: Up to 6 per location
Respawn: 24 hours (real-time)
Required for: Level 20 promotion (3x Pink Bolete)
Red Bolete
Location: Originium Lodespring
Required for: Level 40 promotion (5x Red Bolete)
Ruby Bolete
Location: Jingyu Valley (Wuling)
Required for: Level 60 promotion (5x Ruby Bolete)
Bloodcap
Location: TBD (high-level zones)
Required for: Level 80 promotion (8x Bloodcap)
Rare Ore Farming Locations
Rare Ores are required for weapon tuning.
Kalkonyx
Location 1: The Hub—west of Woodland Fringes on ridge
Location 2: Originium Science Park—north above Research Center and south beyond Kohl Plant
Required for: Weapon tuning at level 20 (3x Kalkonyx)
Auronyx
Location: Originium Lodespring
Found east of Logistic Area and south of Logistic Area at Rare Ore deposits.
Required for: Weapon tuning at level 40 (5x Auronyx)
Umbronyx
Location: Jingyu Valley (Wuling)
Available at the start of Chapter 2 story mission.
Required for: Weapon tuning at level 60 (5x Umbronyx)
Wulingstone
Location: TBD (high-level Wuling zones)
Required for: Weapon tuning at level 80 (8x Wulingstone)
Farming Priority Guide
Daily Priority
- Sanity-gated materials (Protocol Spaces):
- Skill materials (Protoprism/Protohedron) — Always highest priority
- Promotion materials (Protodisks/Protosets) when approaching level caps
- Weapon materials (Cast Die/Heavy Cast Die) for weapon progression
- World farming (no Sanity cost):
- Rare Growths (Boletes, Bloodcaps) — Farm when available, respawns every 24 hours
- Rare Ores (Kalkonyx, Auronyx, etc.) — Farm when approaching weapon tuning levels
- Deep Dives (late-game):
- Only after reaching level 80+ operators
- Focus on one material at a time based on immediate needs
Long-term Strategy
- Stockpile basic materials early: Farm Protodisks and Protoprisms even when you don't immediately need them
- Plan promotions around Rare Growth respawns: Don't rush promotions if you're waiting for respawns
- Deep Dive when ready, not before: Attempting them under-leveled wastes time and Sanity
Common Farming Mistakes
Not farming Rare Growths daily: 24-hour respawn means you lose materials if you skip days
✅ Farm every 24 hours to stockpile for future promotions
Wasting Sanity on low-priority materials: Operation EXP and T-Creds are inefficient
✅ Focus Sanity on skills and promotions
Attempting Deep Dives too early: You'll fail and waste Sanity
✅ Wait until you have level 80+ operators before tackling Deep Dives
Not using AIC for passive material generation: Manufacturing Cabin produces EXP items automatically
✅ Set up automated production chains for passive income
FAQ
Q: Can I farm materials infinitely?
A: Sanity-gated materials (Protocol Spaces) are limited by daily Sanity regeneration. World materials (Rare Growths/Ores) have 24-hour respawn timers.
Q: Which Protocol Space should I prioritize?
A: Skill materials (Protoprism/Protohedron) first, then promotion materials (Protodisks/Protosets) when approaching level caps.
Q: Do Deep Dives cost Sanity?
A: Yes. They're high-difficulty Protocol Spaces that require Sanity and recommend level 80+ operators.
Q: Can I trade materials between types?
A: No direct trading. However, you can exchange character tokens for Protodisks at the AIC Quota Exchange.
Q: What happens if I miss a Rare Growth respawn?
A: The timer continues. You can farm it whenever you return, but you lose potential stockpiling time.