Mastering Power Grids in Arknights: Endfield

Power is the invisible backbone of your entire operation in Arknights: Endfield. Every production line, defensive structure, and research facility relies on a stable flow of electricity. Understanding how power grids work, how to increase your available power, and how to expand coverage to remote outposts is crucial if you want a smooth, efficient base rather than a patchwork of underpowered buildings.

This guide explains, in a fresh and structured way, how power systems function in Arknights: Endfield, from basic pylons and switches to Thermal Banks, AIC upgrades, and Relay Towers. You will learn how to unlock key technologies, how to fuel your grid with Originium-based resources, and how to troubleshoot common problems like dead switches and powerless facilities.

How Power Works in Arknights: Endfield

In Arknights: Endfield, power is not just a numerical resource; it is represented by a grid that covers areas of the map. Buildings inside that grid can draw power, while structures outside it are effectively offline. Two concepts matter most:

• Total power output – how much electricity your network can produce at once.
• Grid coverage – which tiles on the map are actually connected to that network.

The game models this in a way similar to real-world power systems, where generation, transmission, and consumption must be balanced. If power demand exceeds what your network can supply, facilities will shut down or run at reduced efficiency. This reflects a basic principle of electrical grids: supply must match demand to maintain stable operations .

Key power-related objects

As you progress, you will encounter a set of core structures that define your power infrastructure:

• Electric Pylons – These provide localized distribution of power. Buildings in their immediate area can draw electricity as long as the pylon is connected to the wider grid.
• Power Grid Nodes / Base Core – Your main base facilities often act as central sources and connection points for the grid.
• Switches and powered devices – Environmental objects and mission-related machinery that require an active connection to the grid to function.

While these structures define how power flows and where it can be used, they do not determine how much power you have. That is where Thermal Banks and fuel come in.

Unlocking More Power: Thermal Banks and the AIC Tech Tree

Initially, your power output is limited, which becomes apparent once you start building more factories, processing lines, and advanced modules. To lift this ceiling, you need to access Thermal Banks by progressing the story and developing your AIC technology tree.

Reaching the second AIC tech tier

Thermal Banks are not available when you first begin base-building. You must unlock the second set of AIC upgrades by advancing the main scenario. In practice this means:

• Play through the early missions until you reach a mid-game story chapter that opens up additional AIC research nodes.
• Complete the relevant story mission (often named or highlighted as a major base development milestone in-game).
• Gain access to the second tier of the AIC tech tree, where power-related upgrades become available.

Once this tier is unlocked, look for a node usually labeled along the lines of Power I. Spending a Basic AIC Index (a tech currency you obtain from exploration and VR devices) on that node grants the blueprint to construct Thermal Banks.

What Thermal Banks actually do

Thermal Banks function as your main scalable power generators. Rather than producing electricity for free, they:

• Consume fuel items such as Originium Ore or crafted batteries.
• Convert these items into a continuous power output while fuel lasts.
• Increase your effective power capacity, allowing your network to support more facilities.

This design reflects a broader principle in resource management games and real-time strategy titles: advanced structures often require a steady flow of inputs to sustain production or power . Efficiently supplying Thermal Banks becomes a central challenge as your base grows.

Fuel Sources: Originium Ore, Powder, and Batteries

Not all fuel is created equal. In Arknights: Endfield, you will encounter several resource types that can be burned in Thermal Banks. The game encourages you to move from basic raw materials to refined, high-density fuels as your production lines become more sophisticated.

Using Originium Ore as early fuel

Originium Ore is the earliest and most abundant fuel source. You can mine it directly from resource nodes and feed it into Thermal Banks to keep things running. While this is simple to set up, it has some drawbacks:

• Originium Ore is also needed for crafting and processing; burning it directly can slow other production chains.
• The power output per unit of Ore is not as efficient as advanced fuel options.

Despite this, using raw Ore is recommended early on because it is plentiful and straightforward to manage. As you unlock more complex facilities, you can transition to better fuel.

Transitioning to LC Valley Batteries

Later, you can craft batteries (for example, LC Valley Batteries) to use as a high-value fuel for Thermal Banks. These typically require:

• Originium Powder – produced from Ore by processing machines (like shredders or grinders).
• Amethyst Parts – manufactured from refined Amethyst via fitting or assembly units.

By combining these components in a packaging or assembly unit, you create batteries that:

• Provide more power per unit of fuel item.
• Allow you to store power potential in a compact form, similar to batteries in real-world microgrids, which are increasingly used to stabilize and back up renewable power systems .

It is usually worthwhile to set up a dedicated production line for batteries once your base has enough throughput to sustain it.

Placing Thermal Banks and Building Power Layouts

Once you unlock Thermal Banks, their placement and integration into the grid matter as much as their fuel source. Poor planning can leave you with generators that technically work but cannot supply the buildings that need power most.

Where to place Thermal Banks

Thermal Banks must satisfy two conditions to be effective:

1. They must be within the operational radius of an Electric Pylon or other distribution element.
2. They must be connected to your wider power grid, directly or through a chain of connected nodes.

A practical layout for your main base might look like this:

• A central strip of Electric Pylons running along your main production corridor.
• Thermal Banks placed adjacent to or near these pylons so they can both draw and output power effectively.
• Transport belts, depots, or unloaders feeding Originium Ore or batteries into the Thermal Banks from your storage network.

Example layout comparison

Expanding Power Coverage with Relay Towers

Power output alone is not enough. Many missions and exploration zones require you to supply power to distant structures, puzzle elements, or entire outposts. This is where Relay Towers and grid expansion come into play.

What Relay Towers are for

Relay Towers act like transmission pylons, extending the reach of your grid across the landscape. A chain of Relay Towers can carry power from your core base or an outpost to remote facilities, similar to how real-world high-voltage lines transport electricity over long distances . In-game, the process works roughly like this:

• You place a Relay Tower from your build menu in the field.
• You link the new tower to an existing powered node using a special connection mechanic (often a temporary cable that follows your character, limited to a maximum distance).
• Once connected, the tower becomes part of the same grid, and its surrounding area is energized.

Practical tips for tower chains

When extending your grid with Relay Towers:

• Plan the route first – mark in your mind (or on the map) where the final target is, then place towers step-by-step, ensuring no link exceeds the cable’s maximum range.
• Keep them safe – avoid placing towers directly in enemy patrol paths if combat can damage or endanger your setup.
• Use outposts as hubs – once you unlock new outposts, use them as anchor points for local tower networks to reduce the distance power must travel from the main base.

Powering Outposts and Special Areas

Beyond your central base, Arknights: Endfield introduces specialized zones such as research complexes or industrial parks. These areas often come with their own objectives that depend on powered infrastructure, like activating laboratories or security systems.

Unlocking outposts for regional power

Progressing certain story quests grants access to dedicated outposts in specific regions. Once an outpost is established, it usually functions as:

• A local base-building area.
• A new source and anchor for your power grid.
• A staging ground for further Relay Tower expansion within that zone.

To supply power to, for example, a science complex or research park, you may need to:

1. Complete a quest that unlocks an outpost in the area.
2. Set up Thermal Banks and Electric Pylons at the outpost.
3. Run Relay Towers from the outpost up to the target buildings, being mindful of distance limits.

This layered design encourages you to think regionally about power, rather than treating the map as a single monolithic base.

Automating Fuel Logistics for Stable Power

Even a well-designed grid will fail if your Thermal Banks run empty. To avoid constant manual refueling, integrate your power facilities into your larger logistics network.

Core automation concepts

To keep your generators running with minimal intervention:

• Use depots and unloaders to pull fuel items (Ore or batteries) from storage into Thermal Banks.
• Splitters can split a single belt of Originium Ore or batteries into multiple branches feeding several banks.
• Dedicated belts for fuel help prevent supply conflicts with other production lines.

From a design standpoint, this mirrors the logic of production chains in factory-building games, where reliability hinges on consistently supplying critical resources like fuel or inputs .

Common Power Problems and How to Fix Them

As your base grows more complex, you are likely to encounter recurring power-related issues. Most of them have simple underlying causes.

“Not connected to power grid” on switches

If a switch or puzzle element displays a message indicating it is not connected to the grid, check:

• Whether there is a Relay Tower or powered node within range.
• Whether the tower chain leading back to your base or outpost is fully connected (no missing links).
• If the source of power (Thermal Banks or other generation) is actually active and fueled.

Buildings randomly shutting down

When facilities intermittently stop working, the usual causes are:

• Insufficient power output – your consumption has exceeded what your Thermal Banks can supply. Build more banks or upgrade to better fuel.
• Empty fuel lines – a jam, broken belt, or exhausted ore vein has cut off fuel to your Thermal Banks.
• Grid segmentation – a misplaced tower or unconnected pylon has split your network, so some buildings are no longer on the same grid.

FAQ: Arknights Endfield Power Grids

How do I unlock Thermal Banks?

You must progress the main story until the game unlocks the second tier of the AIC tech tree. Once available, spend a Basic AIC Index on the Power I node (or its equivalent) to obtain the ability to build Thermal Banks.

What is the best early fuel for Thermal Banks?

Early on, Originium Ore is the most practical fuel. It is abundant and easy to mine, letting you quickly stabilize power. Later, transition to crafted batteries for higher efficiency.

Why doesn’t my new Relay Tower expand the grid?

Placing a Relay Tower on the map is not enough. You must connect it to your existing grid using the game’s transmission cable mechanic. If the cable distance is too long or you forget to attach it to a powered node, the tower will remain inactive.

Do outposts need their own power generators?

Yes. While you can run power from far away using Relay Towers, it is usually more efficient to place Thermal Banks at each outpost. This gives each region its own local power anchor and reduces cable distance and tower count.

How can I tell if I need more power generation?

If buildings flicker between active and inactive states, or if your interface shows that power usage is at or above your maximum output, you should add more Thermal Banks or start using higher-grade fuel like batteries.