Base power output determines how fast your operations progress in Arknights: Endfield, and small upgrades can snowball into major gains. Learn how precise adjustments in the Thermal Bank facility and energy management routines can push your production far beyond standard limits.
How to increase base power output in Arknights: Endfield
To raise your base power output, prioritize unlocking the Power I node in the AIC Factory Plan so you can build and place Thermal Bank facilities, then keep them fueled with Originium Ore early on and transition to LC and SC Valley Batteries as your production grows for higher, longer-lasting energy gains.
To increase the power output in your factory above the base 200 energy points, you need a Thermal Bank. This facility uses originium ores or batteries to produce energy, increasing the total power output of your factory depending on the source of energy. It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t increase the base power output, but complement it using Thermal Banks.
Before you can build a Thermal Bank, you must first obtain its recipe by unlocking the “Power 1” node in the AIC Factory Plan menu. This node is located in the Basic AIC 2 level, which becomes accessible by using the Basic Expansion Core, given to you by the end of the main quest “Paving the Way.” Once you unlock this node, you can build a Thermal Bank which requires 10 origocrusts and 10 amethyst parts.
You must feed a Thermal Bank with either originium ores or LC valley batteries for it to work and produce energy. If it’s not receiving one of the two energy sources, a Thermal Bank stops working and the factory’s total power output goes back to its base value.
The quantity of energy points a Thermal Bank produces depends on the power source you are using. By feeding it with originium ores, the facility only adds 50 energy points to the grid. However, if you use batteries, it produces 220 extra energy points, more than double the base power output.
How to unlock Thermal Banks in AIC Factory Plan
To unlock Thermal Banks in the AIC Factory Plan, you need to progress the AIC tech tree and open a specific node in the Power branch.
Requirements to unlock Thermal Banks
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Reach Basic AIC Tier II in the AIC Factory Plan (unlocked by clearing main story quest “Paving the Way”).
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In the AIC Factory Plan, go to the Power tree/section.
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Unlock the Power I node (this is the node that gives you the Thermal Bank blueprint).
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Prerequisites for Power I:
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Electricity I node unlocked.
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Power Relay node unlocked.
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At least 1 Basic AIC Index (Index Point) to spend on the Power I node.
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Once you unlock Power I, you:
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Get the Thermal Bank added to your Facility List/blueprints so you can build it in the factory.
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Receive one free Thermal Bank to place and test immediately.
If you tell me which nodes you currently have in the Power tree (e.g., Electricity I, Power Relay), I can walk you through exactly what to unlock next and where it is on the Plan screen.
Best fuels for Thermal Banks
Thermal Banks have three main practical fuels, each good at different stages of your factory progression.
Early game fuel
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Originium Ore: ~50 power for 8 seconds per unit, very easy to supply straight from mines, perfect when you just need “some” extra power and don’t have a crafting chain yet.
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Best use: first Thermal Banks, small valley setups, temporary boosts when you’re still figuring out layouts.
Mid game fuel
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LC Valley Battery: ~220 power for 40 seconds per unit, much better density than raw Ore and less frequent refueling.
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Best use: when your lines are stable and you can support Packaging; ideal for keeping several banks running without massive belts of Ore.
Late game fuel
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SC Valley Battery: ~420 power for 40 seconds per unit, highest power per item and best for tight spaces.
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Best use: dense, high-demand grids where space is limited and you want to minimize the number of banks and belts.
Practical recommendation
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Start with Originium Ore, then transition most banks to LC Batteries once Packaging is online, and finally switch key banks to SC Batteries for your main production hub.
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You can keep a mix: Ore-fed banks for overflow mining lines, battery-fed banks for your critical production blocks.
