Zipline & Relay Tower Guide

Ziplines and Relay Towers are essential infrastructure tools in Arknights: Endfield that dramatically improve exploration efficiency, unlock new areas, and create fast-travel networks across the game world.

What Are Ziplines?

Ziplines are player-built cables that connect two points, allowing you to rapidly travel between them by sliding down the line.

Think of them like the ziplines in games like Death Stranding or Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—once built, they become permanent shortcuts that save massive amounts of time.

Unlocking Ziplines: Field Mobility II

Ziplines aren't available from the start. You must unlock Field Mobility II through your AIC tech tree.

How to Unlock Field Mobility II

Step 1: Find VR Simulator Stations

VR Simulator stations are scattered across the game world. They look like terminals with holographic displays.

Step 2: Complete Tutorial Missions

Interact with VR Simulators to activate tutorial missions. Complete these to earn Factory Index points.

Step 3: Spend Factory Index Points

Open your AIC Plan (press T on PC) and navigate to the Exploration section.

Spend Factory Index points to unlock Field Mobility II, which includes zipline construction.

Requirement: Approximately 1,500-2,000 Factory Index points (exact value TBD at launch).

Note: Focus on unlocking Resourcing, Logistics, Processing, and Power tech tree nodes first if you're resource-limited. Ziplines are quality-of-life improvements, not mandatory for progression.

Building Ziplines

Once Field Mobility II is unlocked, you can build ziplines anywhere in the game world.

Zipline Construction Requirements

Materials needed per zipline:

• Construction materials (varies by distance)
• Power connection (for some ziplines)
• Protocol Capacity space (limited per zone)

Note: Early-game ziplines use minimal resources. Late-game long-distance ziplines may require more materials.

How to Build a Zipline

Step 1: Find Your Starting Point

Position yourself at the higher elevation point where you want the zipline to start.

Important: Ziplines only work downhill or flat. You cannot build ziplines that go upward—gravity physics apply.

Step 2: Open Build Mode

Access your AIC Build Menu (keybind TBD, likely B on PC or radial menu on mobile).

Select Zipline Tower from the construction options.

Step 3: Place the First Tower

Place the first zipline tower at your current location.

Step 4: Walk to the End Point

Move to where you want the zipline to end. This should be:

• Downhill or at the same elevation
• Within cable distance range (see distance limits below)
• Clear of major obstacles (trees, buildings, etc.)

Step 5: Place the Second Tower

Place the second zipline tower at the endpoint.

The game will automatically connect a cable between the two towers, creating a usable zipline.

Step 6: Test Your Zipline

Approach either tower and interact with it. You'll slide along the cable to the other end.

Zipline Distance Limits

Ziplines have a maximum cable length before you need to build intermediate towers.

Maximum distance per cable segment: ~100-120 meters (estimated, exact value TBD)

For longer routes, build multiple zipline towers in a chain:

Tower A → Tower B (100m) → Tower C (100m) → Tower D (100m)

This creates a zipline network spanning 300+ meters.

Zipline Strategy

Where to Build Ziplines

• ✅ Mountain descents: Save 2-5 minutes per trip
• ✅ Between farming locations: Daily Rare Growth/Ore routes
• ✅ From teleport points to quest locations: Reduces travel time by 50%+
• ✅ Across canyons and water: Shortcuts that avoid long detours
• ✅ Between outposts and resource nodes: AIC logistics efficiency

Where NOT to Build Ziplines

• ❌ Short distances you can run in 10 seconds: Waste of materials
• ❌ Routes you only use once: Save Protocol Capacity for frequently traveled paths
• ❌ Uphill routes: Physically impossible—ziplines require downward or flat paths

What Are Relay Towers?

Relay Towers are power distribution structures that extend your AIC's power grid across the game world.

Two Primary Functions:

1. Power Distribution for Mining and Facilities

Relay Towers connect power from your PAC (central power source) to:

• Electric mining rigs (for passive ore generation)
• Electric Pylons (which wirelessly power nearby facilities)
• World devices and machinery (unlocks new areas)

2. World Progression Unlocks

Many areas contain dormant ancient machinery blocking paths. Connecting power via Relay Towers reactivates these devices, opening new exploration zones.

Relay Tower Power System

How Power Connections Work

Power flows from:

PAC (Central Power Source) → Relay Tower → Relay Tower → Electric Pylon → Facilities

Maximum connection distance: 80 meters (direct line distance, not walking distance)

Important: The 80-meter limit is straight-line distance, not path distance. Terrain obstacles make actual walking distance shorter, so plan accordingly.

Building Relay Towers

Step 1: Start at a Power Source

Begin at your PAC (in your AIC base) or an already-powered Relay Tower.

Step 2: Initiate Power Connection

Interact with the power source and select "Extend Power Grid" or similar option.

Step 3: Walk to Connection Point

Walk up to 80 meters away in the direction you want to extend power.

Distance indicator: The game shows a visual indicator of remaining connection range as you walk.

Step 4: Place Relay Tower

When you reach your desired location (within 80m), place a new Relay Tower.

The tower automatically connects to the previous power source.

Step 5: Repeat to Extend Further

From the new Relay Tower, you can initiate another connection and walk another 80 meters to place the next tower.

Example power grid:

PAC → Relay Tower A (80m) → Relay Tower B (80m) → Relay Tower C (80m) → Relay Tower D (80m)

This extends power 320 meters from your PAC.

Advanced Relay Tower Tips

Tip 1: Build Towers in Reverse

You can place unpowered Relay Towers first, then connect them to your grid later.

Use case: Scout your desired power route, place all towers, then connect them afterward.

Tip 2: Towers Power Map Devices Directly

Relay Towers can plug directly into world machinery (like locked gates or dormant factories) without needing an Electric Pylon as an intermediary.

Tip 3: Electric Pylons for Mining Rigs

Mining rigs cannot connect directly to Relay Towers. You must:

Relay Tower → Electric Pylon → Mining Rig (wireless connection)

Electric Pylons wirelessly power all facilities within range (radius TBD, estimated ~30-50 meters).

Tip 4: Inside Your AIC Base, Pylons Auto-Connect

Within your Core AIC Area, Electric Pylons automatically connect to your power grid—no manual relay tower setup needed.

Protocol Capacity Limits

Each map zone has a Protocol Capacity limit—the maximum number of player-built structures (ziplines, relay towers, mining rigs, etc.) you can place in that area.

Typical Protocol Capacity: ~50-100 structures per zone (exact value varies by zone)

What counts toward capacity:

• Zipline towers (each tower = 1 unit)
• Relay towers (each tower = 1 unit)
• Mining rigs (each rig = 1-2 units)
• Other AIC facilities (varies)

Strategy: Prioritize structures that provide the most value:

1. Electric mining rigs (passive resource generation)
2. Relay towers for world progression (unlocks new areas)
3. Ziplines for frequently traveled routes
4. Optional/convenience structures last

Note: You rarely hit Protocol Capacity limits in normal play unless you're building excessively.

Zipline + Relay Tower Synergy

Optimal exploration setup:

1. Extend your power grid to a high-elevation point
2. Build a zipline from that point down to a frequently visited location
3. Power mining rigs along the route for passive resource generation

Example:

PAC → Relay Tower Chain → Mountain Peak → Zipline → Valley (with Rare Ore deposits)

This creates a fast-travel route and passive mining income in one infrastructure chain.

Common Infrastructure Mistakes

Exploration Efficiency Tips

Daily Farming Routes with Ziplines

Optimize Rare Growth/Ore farming:

1. Build ziplines connecting all Rare Growth spawn points in a zone
2. Create a circular route: Teleport → Zipline A → Farm → Zipline B → Farm → Zipline C → Return
3. Reduces farming time from 15-20 minutes to 5 minutes

Example route in The Hub:

Teleport Point → Zipline to Pink Bolete Location 1 → Zipline to Pink Bolete Location 2 → Zipline back to Teleport

Time saved: ~70% reduction in daily farming time

Relay Tower Expansion Priority

Recommended progression:

Phase 1: Core Mining Operations

• Power mining rigs in The Hub
• Power mining rigs in Originium Lodespring

Phase 2: World Unlocks

• Extend power to locked gates and story progression areas
• Unlock Wuling region access points

Phase 3: Convenience Network

• Build ziplines for daily farming routes
• Create fast-travel shortcuts between major zones

FAQ