Arknights Endfield Story Chapter 1 Guide

Chapter 1: Securing the Hub Base & AIC Factory Deployment

Main Story Progression, Key Systems Introduced, and Strategic Takeaways

This chapter marks a turning point in the early story, shifting focus from survival to long-term control. You stabilize the Hub Base, respond to coordinated Landbreaker attacks, and deploy the Protocol Automation Core (PAC), unlocking large-scale production and automated systems that define future progression.

Primary Story Objectives

• Respond to the Hub Base breach – Triggered after the Landbreaker incursion. You are tasked with securing damaged sectors and re-establishing command control.
• Investigate Landbreaker activity – Identify why raids have intensified and track their movements around the Hub perimeter.
• Deploy the Protocol Automation Core (PAC) – This is the chapter’s core objective. PAC deployment enables automated production and factory-level systems.
• Restore originium-based power flow – Power stabilization is required to bring the AIC Factory online and unlock automation chains.
• Activate the AIC Factory – Once powered and synced with PAC, the factory becomes operational, marking the chapter’s completion point.

Optional Objectives & Missables

• Secure secondary Hub facilities – Optional sectors may remain offline if ignored, delaying future upgrades or bonuses.
• Recover stolen supplies from Landbreaker raids – Missed recovery missions result in permanent resource loss for this chapter.
• Complete NPC follow-up tasks – Certain NPCs offer one-time interactions tied to the crisis. Ignoring them can lock out dialogue, minor rewards, or background context.
• Explore post-raid environmental zones – Some areas change state after the assault and may not be accessible later in the same condition.

Systems Introduced in This Chapter

• Protocol Automation Core (PAC) – Central automation unit responsible for controlling large-scale production and factory logic.
• AIC Factory System – Enables automated manufacturing, resource processing, and future industrial expansions.
• Originium Power Distribution – Power is no longer abstract – flow, stability, and allocation now directly affect base functionality.
• Escalation-Based Enemy Behavior – Landbreakers shift from random encounters to coordinated raids targeting infrastructure.
• Base State Persistence – Damage, repairs, and deployment decisions now have lasting impact instead of resetting between missions.

Hub Base Crisis & Immediate Response

The chapter opens with the Hub Base already compromised. This is not a warning phase — damage has been done. Core systems are unstable, multiple sectors are offline, and personnel are reacting rather than coordinating. The immediate goal is control, not combat.

Landbreaker forces are no longer acting as scattered hostiles. Their assault shows intent: hit infrastructure, disrupt power, and slow long-term recovery. This signals a shift in enemy behavior that will persist beyond this chapter.

Your response focuses on stabilization over retaliation. Instead of chasing enemies, you assess structural damage, restore command flow, and re-secure key operational zones. NPC dialogue during this phase reinforces urgency but also establishes that the base can still function if critical systems are brought back online quickly.

Protocol Automation Core (PAC) Deployment – Key Steps

The Protocol Automation Core (PAC) is not just another quest item – it is the system that permanently changes how progression works. Once deployed, manual recovery and ad-hoc fixes stop being the norm. Automation becomes the backbone of the Hub Base.

• Stabilize the Hub Base first:
  PAC cannot be deployed while core systems are unstable. Damaged sectors, broken power lines, or unresolved alerts will block progress.
• Secure the deployment zone:
  The PAC area must be cleared of hostiles and environmental hazards. Skipping nearby threats can cause deployment interruptions later.
• Restore originium power flow:
  PAC requires a stable originium energy supply. Partial power results in delayed or limited activation.
• Initialize the deployment sequence:
  Once conditions are met, PAC installation begins. This phase introduces automation logic without pausing the world.
• Monitor system synchronization:
  PAC must sync with factory systems and base controls. Desync here does not fail the mission, but reduces automation efficiency.
• Confirm PAC activation:
  Activation is permanent. From this point forward, production, repairs, and upgrades rely on PAC-managed protocols.
• Prepare for post-deployment consequences:
  Enemy behavior escalates after PAC goes online. Automation increases efficiency, but also raises the stakes for base defense.

Landbreaker Threat Analysis

This chapter is where Landbreakers stop being background enemies and start functioning as an organized threat. Their actions here establish patterns that remain relevant well beyond the early game.

Enemy Behavior Changes

Landbreakers shift from reactive skirmishers to purpose-driven attackers. Instead of engaging on sight, they prioritize infrastructure disruption, often bypassing the player to damage systems directly. Encounters become less about clearing rooms and more about controlling space and timing.

You will also notice reduced randomness. Patrols appear where systems are vulnerable, and enemy presence increases around active or recently repaired facilities. This signals that enemy spawns are now influenced by base state rather than static map design.

Raid Patterns & Targets

Raids follow a clear logic. Landbreakers favor:

• Power infrastructure and originium conduits
• Factory-adjacent zones
• Recently stabilized or upgraded sectors

They rarely attack fully inactive areas, which means ignoring optional facilities can reduce pressure in the short term, but slows progression later. Raids are also layered — initial disruption is often followed by secondary hits if repairs begin immediately without securing the area.

Timing matters. Raids frequently trigger during or shortly after major system changes, such as PAC activation or factory startup, reinforcing the idea that progress invites resistance.

Strategic Implications Going Forward

From this point onward, defense is no longer optional or cosmetic. Base expansion directly increases threat exposure. Efficient players will start planning upgrades in clusters, securing zones fully before moving on, rather than spreading progress thin.

Landbreakers effectively become a system-check enemy. Poor power management, rushed automation, or ignored defenses result in cascading problems rather than single failures.

Understanding their behavior here allows you to control difficulty later. A stable, well-defended base reduces raid frequency and impact, while careless expansion turns routine progression into constant damage control.

Arknights Endfield Chapter 1 Rewards

Completing Chapter 1 provides players with key story progression, essential resources, and tools that set up future gameplay. These rewards are both practical and strategic.

Story Progression Rewards

• Unlock new NPC interactions and dialogues (Shauna, Soth, and crew).
• Secure the Valley Fort Outpost, providing a base of operations and shelter for missions.
• Gain intelligence on Landbreaker behavior, raids, and threats for future planning.

Resource Rewards

• PAC-Produced Gear – protective suits, tools, and equipment for crew efficiency.
• Multi-Purpose Drill – necessary for clearing obstacles and advancing missions.
• Protocol Data Loggers – automated monitoring tools for resource management and environmental tracking.

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