If you’re a long-time Arknights fan who’s been hyped for the open-world spinoff, you probably already know the second closed test is live for selected players. I got access to the Arknights Endfield Beta Test II a week ago, and I’ve sunk almost 22 hours into exploring every new zone, testing all playable characters, and digging up hidden content most casual testers skip. This guide breaks down every key change, unmissable reward, and common mistake to avoid whether you already have a beta slot or you’re waiting for full launch to see what’s improved.
What’s New in Arknights Endfield Beta Test II Compared to the First Closed Test
If you played the first 2023 closed test, you’ll immediately notice how much smoother and more polished this version feels right from the opening login screen. The devs clearly listened to thousands of feedback submissions from the first round of testing, and they’ve adjusted almost every core system that players complained about. I was shocked by how much content was added in just 10 months of development.
The biggest changes you’ll spot first include 30% lower stamina costs for all open world activities, a massive quality of life upgrade that fixes the biggest complaint from the first test. You also get 8 new playable characters, including 2 limited 6-star units only available during this beta, so you can test far more team compositions than before. Finally, there are 3 new explorable biomes on top of the original forest zone: a harsh desert, frozen tundra, and smoldering volcanic valley, each with unique world bosses and environmental hazards to navigate.
One small but noticeable change is that character voice lines are now fully voiced for all interactions, not just cutscenes. That makes the story feel way more immersive, and it’s clear the devs are putting a lot of work into making the world feel lived-in. There are still a few placeholder lines here and there, but they’re rare enough that they don’t ruin the experience.
Must-Know Gameplay Changes for Beta Testers
One of the most welcome tweaks in Arknights Endfield Beta Test II is the overhaul to the core combat system. The devs added a new chain skill mechanic that completely changes how you build your teams for tough fights. Before, most players ran mixed element teams to counter different enemy types, but now mono-element teams are far more viable if you know how to use the new system properly.
If you’re just jumping in for the first time, these are the gameplay changes you don’t want to miss:
I was really grateful for the mercy system, because the first test’s world bosses were so tough that a lot of new testers quit before they could even earn their first 6-star character. Now even casual players can beat them after a few tries, which makes the whole experience way more accessible. The chain skill mechanic is still a little unbalanced for mixed element teams right now, but I submitted feedback about that, and I expect the devs will adjust it before full launch.
Exclusive Rewards You Can Unlock During the Beta
A lot of people skip closed beta tests because they think all progress gets wiped with no benefit, but that’s not the case here. Unlike most closed beta tests where all progress is wiped with no carryover, Arknights Endfield Beta Test II offers a range of permanent rewards that will be waiting for you when the full game launches. These rewards are all cosmetic or convenience-focused, so there’s no pay-to-win advantage for beta testers, but they’re still worth grinding for if you have a slot.
The most sought-after reward is the Endfield Pioneer avatar frame, which you unlock for completing the full beta main story line. This frame will never be available again after the beta ends, so it’s a great way to show you were an early supporter of the game. If you reach level 30 with any character, you also get 10 free pulls on the first limited banner when the full game launches, which is worth around $15 in premium currency. If you submit at least 3 valid bug reports or feedback submissions via the in-game tool, you also get a special “Beta Tester” name tag that will display next to your username in all multiplayer modes after launch.
I already submitted 6 bug reports, mostly about clipping issues in the desert biome and occasional frame drops when fighting the volcanic valley world boss, and I got confirmation last night that I qualify for the name tag. You don’t need to be a professional game tester to submit valid feedback either, even simple notes about unclear UI or annoying quest steps count, as long as you’re specific about the issue.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Your Beta Playthrough
I’ve seen a lot of new testers making the same mistakes over the past week that slow down their progress and make them miss out on exclusive rewards. If you’re new to the Arknights franchise, you might be tempted to rush through content as fast as possible, but Arknights Endfield Beta Test II rewards slow, deliberate exploration far more than the original tower defense game does.
The biggest mistake I see is don't waste all your stamina on low-tier materials early on. You’re going to need a lot of high-tier materials to level up the new 6-star characters, so save at least half your daily stamina for elite boss fights once you unlock them. A lot of players burn all their stamina on common upgrade materials in the first two days, then they can’t level up their better characters when they pull them later.
Another common mistake is skipping side quests. A lot of players just rush the main story to unlock the beta exclusive avatar frame, but the side quests give you 2x more experience than main story missions, and some of them unlock exclusive character skins that you can’t get anywhere else in the beta. I skipped side quests for the first two days, and I ended up 5 levels under the recommended level for the third main story boss, so I had to grind extra hours to catch up.
Finally, don’t ignore the base building system. A lot of testers think it’s a useless afterthought, but your base generates passive resources every hour, including stamina refills and premium currency, so upgrading it early will let you progress way faster later on. My friend upgraded his resource generators to level 5 on day two, and he earned almost 3 extra stamina refills a day that I didn’t get because I ignored my base for the first 3 days.
The Arknights Endfield Beta Test II is a huge step up from the first closed test, and it’s clear the devs have put a lot of work into fixing the issues players complained about last time. If you got a beta slot, make sure you take advantage of all the exclusive rewards and test out as many of the new mechanics as you can, since your feedback will directly shape the final version of the game. Even if you didn’t get a slot, you can expect most of these changes to carry over to the full launch, which is shaping up to be one of the most exciting gacha open world games of the next few years.