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Arknights Endfield Multiplayer: What You Can and Can’t Do With Friends

Card No. 06·12830 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

Arknights: Endfield is primarily a single-player game, but it does include a limited multiplayer component that lets you visit friends’ bases and deploy your characters to assist them. You can co-op in specific modes and use a friend’s unit as support, but you cannot free-roam the open world together or play through the entire story in co-op.

How Multiplayer Works in Endfield

Endfield’s multiplayer is built around the concept of “Endfield Industries” and your base of operations, the Ark. The core loop is about managing your Ark and exploring the planet Talos-II. Multiplayer is an extension of this, not a separate mode. The main ways you interact with other players are through a friends list and a system that lets you visit each other’s Arks. When you visit a friend’s Ark, you can see their base layout, interact with some facilities, and leave a support unit that they can use in their own missions. This is similar to the support unit system in Arknights, the predecessor game, but with a more persistent and interactive base-visiting component.

What You CAN Do With Friends

  • Visit Friends’ Arks: You can travel to a friend’s base and walk around it. This is not just a static view; you can see their buildings, decorations, and even the characters they have assigned to facilities.
  • Deploy Support Units: You can set a specific character (or a team) as your “support unit” for your friends to use. When your friend goes on a mission, they can select your support unit to join their squad, just like in the original Arknights.
  • Co-op in Specific Modes: Endfield features a co-op mode for certain endgame or event-specific content. This is typically a boss fight or a resource-gathering operation that is designed for two players. You and a friend can queue up together for these specific missions.
  • Send and Receive Supplies: The game has a system where you can send resource requests to friends, and they can send you materials you might be short on. This is a limited daily interaction but helps with resource management.
  • Chat and Emotes: A basic chat system exists for friends, and you can use emotes when visiting or in co-op missions to communicate quickly.

What You CANNOT Do With Friends

  • Full Co-op Campaign: You cannot play through the main story missions or the open-world exploration in co-op. The story is strictly single-player.
  • Free-Roam the Open World Together: While you can visit a friend’s Ark, you cannot join their game session and run around the open world of Talos-II together. The world is instanced per player.
  • Trade Items: There is no player-to-player trading of items or resources. The supply system is the only way to share, and it is limited to specific materials.
  • Build Together: You cannot co-build on a friend’s Ark. Base construction is entirely single-player.
  • PvP: There is no player-versus-player combat in Endfield. The multiplayer is strictly cooperative.

How to Add Friends and Co-op

To add friends, you typically need to exchange player IDs or use a friend code system. Once you are friends, you will see each other’s support units and Arks. To start a co-op mission, you usually go to the specific mission node on the map that supports co-op, then select “Create Room” or “Join Room” and invite a friend from your list. The host controls the mission, and the guest brings their own squad plus the host’s support unit. Communication is usually done through the in-game chat or external voice chat, as the game’s built-in voice chat is not confirmed.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A common misconception is that Endfield is an MMO or a full co-op RPG. It is not. It is a single-player game with social features. Another issue players often run into is the support unit system: you can only use a friend’s support unit if they have set one, and you cannot use it in all modes. Some co-op modes have a level requirement, so you may not be able to join a friend if your characters are under-leveled. Also, the co-op mode might be limited by a daily entry count, so you can’t farm it infinitely.

Comparing to Other Games

Endfield’s multiplayer is closer to games like Genshin Impact or Tower of Fantasy in that it’s a gacha game with a limited co-op component, but it’s more restricted than Genshin‘s. In Genshin, you can join a friend’s world and explore, fight bosses, and gather materials together. In Endfield, you cannot do that. It’s more like the support unit system in the original Arknights, but with a base-visiting feature that feels like a social hub. It’s less about shared world progression and more about helping each other out with resources and specific challenges.

Is Multiplayer Worth It?

For most players, the multiplayer features are a nice bonus but not the core of the game. The base-visiting and support units add a layer of social interaction that can help with resource management and tackling hard content. However, if you are looking for a game to play entirely with friends, Endfield will not satisfy that desire. It is best enjoyed as a single-player experience, with multiplayer as a supplementary feature to get help or show off your base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play the entire story with a friend?
No, the main story and all open-world exploration are single-player only. Co-op is limited to specific missions and boss fights.

How do I use a friend’s support unit?
When you are about to start a mission that allows support units, you will see a selection screen. You can choose a friend’s support unit from a list. It will count as one of your squad members.

Can I visit a friend’s base anytime?
Yes, as long as you are friends, you can visit their Ark. However, there may be a cooldown or a limited number of visits per day to prevent server overload.

Is there cross-platform multiplayer?
This depends on the platforms Endfield launches on. If it launches on PC and mobile, cross-play between those is likely, but console cross-play is not guaranteed. Check the official announcements for platform-specific details.

Can I trade items with friends?
No, there is no direct trading. You can only send and receive specific resource requests, which are limited in quantity and type.

Does co-op give better rewards?
Co-op missions typically give the same rewards as solo missions, but they may have a separate reward pool or bonus for the first completion. It’s mainly for fun and assistance, not for better loot.

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