Gryphline released a preview video today (the 22nd) for the upcoming Version 1.3 update of 'Arknights: Endfield,' titled 'Searching for the Past.' The video features Producer Hai Mao and Designer Lua, who provide an overview of the update, address user feedback, and outline future improvements.

Ruins and the Past Emerge from Erosion: New Region 'Sword Valley'

Version 1.3 introduces a new sub-region, 'Sword Valley.' Once submerged by the Erosion Tide, the area has resurfaced following the efforts to clear the tide from Wuling. The region is filled with ruins containing remnants of ancient Yan technology and features various mechanics, including elements similar to the Sword Pillars of the Sword Sect.

Special attention was paid to the implementation of fog and clouds to evoke the atmosphere of a long-forgotten secret realm. Volumetric cloud technology was actively utilized for realism, while optimization ensures smooth performance across all platforms, including mobile.

New enemies lurking among the rugged peaks and fog were also introduced. The monkey-like 'Rockhowlers' travel in packs, creating traps by throwing banana peels or bringing along 'Armed Manglers' to launch coordinated attacks. A specific mechanic allows players to trip the Armed Manglers by hitting them with banana peels. Beyond the standard small units, giant boss-level Rockhowlers also appear, featuring challenging patterns such as destroying terrain to cause rockfall, swinging stone pillars, and using area-of-effect roars to stun players.

'Miv,' the Guard with Unique Skill Chains, and 'Camu,' the Debuff and Skill Gauge Recovery Specialist

Next, the Version 1.3 pickup characters, 'Miv' and 'Camu,' were introduced. Miv originally hailed from the Qingpachai, but currently serves as the patrol captain of Wuling City. While Wuling and the Qingpachai have long been at odds, they had been cooperating temporarily to combat the Erosion Tides caused by entities like Nefaris. However, after Zhangfang left a letter and suddenly went missing, Miv suspects her masters—the Three Absolutes of the Qingpachai—and sets out with the Administrator to find them.

Miv, a 6-star Physical Guard, features a unique mechanism reflecting her training under three masters. Her tactical skill, 'Qingpa Three Forms,' is a three-stage input sequence. The first input, 'Dan Yun,' fires a chain to pull enemies; if used on a giant enemy she cannot pull, she pulls herself toward them. The second stage, 'Zhui Xing,' unleashes a flurry of punches ending in a heavy strike. If three or more stacks of 'Unblockable' are consumed by the heavy strike, the third stage, 'Kai Tian,' can be activated.

'Kai Tian' deals massive heavy-type damage without consuming Unblockable stacks, and is not classified as physical abnormal damage or standard battle skill damage. This allows for a pattern of building and consuming Unblockable stacks for burst damage, then switching characters to continue the assault. Additionally, Miv recovers most of her battle skill gauge upon using her first-stage skill, and the consumption for the second and third stages is relatively low, making skill management easier despite the complex chains.

The chain skill 'Unregrettable Fist' triggers when the enemy reaches three stacks of Unblockable, immediately leading into the second-stage battle skill, Zhui Xing. Her ultimate, 'Jie Xin,' launches enemies into the air before slamming them down, allowing the player to transition directly into Zhui Xing afterward.

The next pickup character, 'Camu,' is a vampire and the guardian of Seshka. After discovering that an anonymous blood sample was the cause of the incident in Seshka, he tracks it down and encounters the Administrator. While searching for clues, he begins to confront his own past.

Camu is a Heat-attribute Vanguard characterized by his ability to recover skill gauges through chain skills and ultimates. Activating his battle skill, 'Scorching Flame,' fires heat from his wings to damage enemies and apply a 'Frailty' debuff. Chain skills can be used when the Heat effect is applied or removed from an enemy, and additional Heat damage is dealt to enemies in the 'Burning Flame Wing' state. His ultimate, 'Rain of Blood,' deals area-of-effect Heat damage and changes his battle skill to 'Pursuit,' allowing for chains without consuming the skill gauge. This also recovers the skill gauge, enabling continuous battle skill combos.

Optimization Across the Board: Crisis Contracts, Reserve Power, and Streamlined Daily Missions

Following the character introductions, two new permanent content modes were unveiled. 'Sword Sect Drill' is a combat mode where risk and reward coexist; players draw random cards to increase enemy combat power in exchange for higher rewards. Reaching exactly 10 points maximizes rewards, while exceeding 10 points reduces rewards and increases difficulty. Players can build turrets to assist in combat and earn Wuling management rights upon completion.

Additionally, the 'Crisis Contract'—familiar to players of the previous game—arrives in Endfield with Version 1.3. As the signature high-difficulty challenge of the Arknights IP, it involves selecting various constraints to increase mission difficulty. In Endfield, this includes not only limiting character stats or buffing enemies but also constraints that weaken certain aspects while strengthening others. Players can earn rewards like Oroberyl, and their highest successful records will be displayed on their profile cards.

Various optimizations were also announced. To reduce the tedium of equipment precision forging, players will be able to forge multiple items in a single continuous action. Unwanted weapons can be dismantled in bulk to obtain weapon upgrade materials, and a lock management feature will be introduced. Weapon temperament farming will also be improved, allowing players to designate preferred weapons and immediately verify if they have the perfect temperament. Other quality-of-life improvements include task prioritization and optimized keyboard/mouse and controller controls.

Facility management and factory systems are also receiving quality-of-life updates. A feature will be added to the regional construction system to allow players to view facility items and navigate directly to their locations. An auto-process option for expansion reactors will be set as default, and a 'Reserve Power' feature will be added to provide flexibility when factory production is halted due to energy shortages. Daily missions are being adjusted to increase the weight of Sanity-consuming tasks while lowering the required enemy kill counts for faster completion. Additionally, items for production or clue collection in Jieganghu and variable demand material purchases in random regions will be added to daily missions.

Future Version Teasers: Production Logic, Facility Simplification, and Automatic Zipline Maintenance

Finally, Producer Hai Mao explained the direction for updates following Version 1.3. To prevent the Great Rift approaching the Wuling region, the Administrator's party will head to the northern Forbidden Zone, and players will cooperate with various Operators in other regions to face formidable foes.

A new industrial form, 'Airframe,' will be introduced. This will not only provide new industrial facilities but also be used to improve the production speed and convenience of items using existing scientific technologies, such as Food and Revolution Fragments.

New event types are also in development, such as 'Unknown Zones,' where players traverse fields filled with devices, engage in various types of combat, and collect Oriren fragments. The photography system will also be improved to allow for freer placement of Operators and selection of poses.

Decorative items will be moved to a separate category upon official release to prevent inventory clutter. Other planned quality-of-life improvements include a feature to view proper noun settings in the story, improved controls for clicking overlapping objects in top-down view, and automatic maintenance for public ziplines, alongside entirely new combat content.

Arknights: Endfield Version 1.3 is scheduled for release this June, and further details can be found on the official lounge.