Hypergryph's put over 3.5 years into Arknights: Endfield and just finished the first beta test. The second one starts November 27th at 22:00 UTC-5, bringing changes to gacha, base building, open world, combat, and operator archetypes.
Arknights: Endfield is an open-world 3D action RPG gacha game with Factorio-style elements, set in the universe of Hypergryph's Arknights 2D tower defense strategy game. It's slated for early 2026 release, so here's what the devs changed and what the final version might include.
Beta II Launch
The second beta test launches on PC, Android, and iOS. Register through the recruitment survey on the official website. It's limited access with a data wipe, so any progress gets reset at the end. If you're thinking of spending money, hold off until launch.
Reworked Story & New Region: Wuling
The biggest update in Beta II is the revamped main storyline. The devs rewrote big chunks, added animated cutscenes, branching dialogue, and choices that actually change outcomes. That sets it apart from games like Genshin or Wuthering Waves.
There's a new region called Wuling, blending traditional Eastern architecture with futuristic industrial sci-fi. For exploration, teammates give voice lines hinting at nearby treasures or collectibles. There's also a Crate Detector item that highlights missed crates, and companions can grab items for you—solid quality-of-life stuff.
Combat System & Characters
Beta II drops the Specialist class for Vanguard and Striker. Vanguards restore skill points for the team, while Strikers consume elemental statuses on enemies to deal huge burst damage. Nine new operators join across rarities: 6-stars include Ardelia (Eyafjalla from Arknights), Pogranichnik (Hellagur), and Last Rite. There's a new 5-star, Alesh, plus five 4-stars—Antal (12F), Fluorite (Gavial lookalike), Estella, Catcher, and Akekuri. These 4-stars are strong and key for early teams, bringing the total to 24 operators.
Combat has six classes—Guard, Vanguard, Caster, Defender, Striker, and Supporter—and five elements: Physical, Heat, Electric, Cryo, and Nature. Physical isn't really an element; it's the counterpart to Arts. Beta II reworked Physical and Arts statuses. Physical now includes Lift, Knock Down, Crush, and Breach. Lift and Knock Down stagger enemies and build Vulnerable stacks, while Crush and Breach deal extra damage based on those stacks. Arts Inflictions build when you apply the same element twice (up to four stacks), and Arts Reactions trigger from two different elements.
Other combat tweaks: you can dodge twice in a row now. Perfect dodges restore skill points, use less stamina, and work mid-combo without breaking it. Enemies can stagger, and you can target different body parts for varying damage.
Base Building - Automated Industry Complex
In Arknights: Endfield, you automate farming, processing, and production of materials. Set up facilities, link them with conveyor belts, and collect rewards later. If you skip designing, use other players' blueprints. There was debate about blueprints being like cheating, but they're optional—just like watching a puzzle guide online. Use them or not.
Endfield Gacha system
Pull operators from three banners: New Horizons, Basic, and Chartered Headhunting. New Horizons uses in-game currency from exploration. Basic has the standard pool, Chartered gets limited operators. Every banner guarantees a 6-star in 80 pulls; limited banners guarantee the featured one in 120. Featured operators stay in the pool for three banners, so you can still get them later on a 50:50.
For weapons, use Arsenal Issue. You get a 6-star weapon every four pulls and a featured one in eight. From the 10th pull (including it), every 16 pulls gives an Arsenal Offering Crate to pick an off-banner weapon. From the 18th pull, every 16 pulls guarantees a featured weapon. Earn weapon pulls from operator banners or exchange them directly.
Other features and QoL improvements
Photo Mode lets you use a free camera, hide the UI, and snap pics of landscapes or operators.
In co-op, build stuff like ziplines in other players' worlds—they stay and help exploration.
Your Dijang base hub now displays achievements, badges, weapons, and operators for other Endministrators.
The new friend system lets you invite players to visit your Dijang.
The Battle Pass differs from others: hit milestones for base rewards, buy for extras, but you can earn more free extras with Origeometry. Max it out repeatedly to keep getting bonuses from future passes.
Conclusion
Arknights: Endfield Beta Test II packs improvements from first beta feedback. Combat and dodges feel smoother, nine new operators, gacha adjustments, a generous free-to-max Battle Pass, new region, base blueprints, and Photo Mode.
Recruitment's open now, Beta Test II starts November 27th. Full launch early 2026 on PC, iOS, Android, and PlayStation 5.
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