AIC Expansion & Products

Manage and expand your Arknights Automated Industry Complex (AIC) to craft materials and upgrade Operators. Optimize your production for efficient progression.

The Automated Industry Complex (AIC) is your central hub for crafting essential materials and expanding your operational capabilities in Arknights. Efficiently managing and expanding your AIC is crucial for progressing through the game, especially when it comes to upgrading Operators and facilities. This section will guide you through the process of expanding your AIC and the valuable products you can synthesize, ensuring your Rhodes Island base operates at peak efficiency.

Unlocking AIC Expansion

To begin expanding your AIC, you'll need to acquire specific items that act as keys to unlock new production slots and facility upgrades. The primary item for this is the Basic Expansion Core.

• Acquiring Basic Expansion Cores:
  • Main Story Operations: These cores are often rewarded for completing specific main story stages. Prioritize clearing new stages as they become available. For example, clearing certain stages in Chapters 0, 1, and 2 often yield these as first-time clear rewards.
  • Event Shops: During limited-time events, event shops frequently offer Basic Expansion Cores in exchange for event currency (e.g., Event Token). Always check the event shop's inventory, as these are often a cost-effective way to obtain them.
  • Weekly Missions: Certain weekly missions might include Basic Expansion Cores as rewards for completing specific objectives, such as clearing a certain number of operations or consuming a set amount of Sanity. Ensure you're consistently completing your weekly objectives.
  • Supply Operations: Keep an eye on the rotating Supply Operations, particularly the Resource Acquisition Operations. Occasionally, these can drop Basic Expansion Cores, though this is less reliable than other methods and usually has a low drop rate.
• Using Basic Expansion Cores:
  1. Navigate to your Automated Industry Complex (AIC) from the main menu. This is typically accessed via the "Base" icon.
  2. Look for available expansion slots or facility upgrade prompts. These are typically indicated by a '+' icon on an empty slot or a clear "Upgrade" button on an existing facility.
  3. Select the desired expansion or upgrade. The game will prompt you to consume a Basic Expansion Core (and potentially other materials like LMD or specific chips).
  4. Confirm the expansion. Each successful expansion will increase your AIC's capacity (e.g., adding a new Factory or Trading Post) or unlock new production capabilities within an existing facility.

Key AIC Products and Their Uses

Once your AIC is expanded, you can begin synthesizing a wide array of materials crucial for Operator promotion, skill upgrades, and facility construction. Understanding which materials to prioritize is key to efficient progress and avoiding bottlenecks in your development.

Tier 1 Materials (Basic Synthesis)

These are foundational materials often used in large quantities for early-game promotions and as components for higher-tier synthesis. They are relatively easy to farm directly from operations, but the AIC provides a consistent, Sanity-free method of acquisition once you have a surplus of their base components.

• Sugar: Essential for many early Operator promotions (e.g., Kroos E1, Fang E1) and a component in Sugar Pack.
  • Primary Farming Locations:
    • 1-7: "Abandoned Mine" - Drops Sugar. Excellent for early farming.
    • 2-4: "Deserted Outpost" - Drops Sugar.
    • 3-2: "Urban Outskirts" - Drops Sugar.
  • AIC Synthesis: Requires 1x Sugar Substitute. Sugar Substitute can be obtained from various operations and event shops.
  • Strategy: While farmable, synthesizing Sugar in the AIC can be useful if you have an excess of Sugar Substitute and need to quickly craft a large quantity without spending Sanity.
• Polyester: Another common material for promotions (e.g., Jessica E1, Cardigan E1) and a component for Polyester Pack.
  • Primary Farming Locations:
    • 1-8: "Abandoned Mine II" - Drops Polyester.
    • 2-8: "Deserted Outpost II" - Drops Polyester.
    • 3-4: "Urban Outskirts II" - Drops Polyester.
  • AIC Synthesis: Requires 1x Polyester Fiber. Polyester Fiber is a common drop from various operations.
  • Strategy: Similar to Sugar, direct farming is often more Sanity-efficient for large quantities, but AIC synthesis offers a convenient alternative.
• Orirock Cube: Ubiquitous material, used in almost every promotion and synthesis recipe across all tiers. You will always need more Orirock Cubes.
  • Primary Farming Locations:
    • 1-7: "Abandoned Mine" - Excellent for farming. Often considered the most Sanity-efficient stage for Orirock Cubes.
    • Any stage with rock formations: Most early stages (Chapters 0-3) have a high chance to drop Orirock Cubes.
  • AIC Synthesis: Requires 1x Orirock. Orirock is a very common drop from early stages.
  • Strategy: Due to its extremely high demand, it's often more efficient to farm Orirock Cubes directly from stages like 1-7. AIC synthesis is primarily for converting excess Orirock into Cubes if you're desperate or have a massive surplus.
• Manganese Ore: Used for promotions of certain Operators (e.g., Gavial E1, Cuora E1) and as a component for Manganese.
  • Primary Farming Locations:
    • 2-5: "Deserted Outpost" - Drops Manganese Ore.
    • 3-7: "Urban Outskirts" - Drops Manganese Ore.
  • AIC Synthesis: Requires 1x Manganese Fragment. Manganese Fragment drops from various operations.
  • Strategy: Manganese Ore becomes increasingly important for mid-game promotions. Balance farming with AIC synthesis based on your current needs and fragment supply.
• Grindstone: Essential for promotions of certain Operators (e.g., Lappland E1, Silverash E1) and a component for Grindstone Pentahydrate.
  • Primary Farming Locations:
    • 2-6: "Deserted Outpost" - Drops Grindstone.
    • 3-8: "Urban Outskirts" - Drops Grindstone.
  • AIC Synthesis: Requires 1x Grindstone Fragment. Grindstone Fragment drops from various operations.
  • Strategy: Grindstones are highly sought after. Consider farming stages with good drop rates if you need a significant quantity, otherwise, AIC synthesis can supplement your supply.

Tier 2 Materials (Intermediate Synthesis)

These materials require Tier 1 components and are vital for mid-game Operator promotions (Elite 1 for 4-5 star Operators, Elite 2 for 3-star Operators) and more advanced facility upgrades. They are exclusively obtained through synthesis in the AIC or as rare drops from specific high-difficulty stages or event shops.

• Sugar Pack: Synthesized from 3x Sugar. Used for higher-tier promotions (e.g., Exusiai E1, Saria E1) and as a component for Integrated Device.
  • Strategy: A constant demand. Ensure a steady supply of Sugar through farming or AIC synthesis to keep your Sugar Pack production flowing.
• Polyester Pack: Synthesized from 3x Polyester. Used for higher-tier promotions (e.g., Liskarm E1, Ptilopsis E1) and as a component for Integrated Device.
  • Strategy: Similar to Sugar Pack, this will be in high demand. Prioritize its synthesis once you have a stable Polyester income.
• Orirock Cluster: Synthesized from 3x Orirock Cube. A cornerstone for many mid-game promotions and advanced material synthesis (e.g., Orirock Concentration).
  • Strategy: Due to its high demand across almost all Operator types and tiers, consider dedicating AIC slots to continuous Orirock Cluster production once you have a stable supply of Orirock Cubes. This is one of the most frequently synthesized materials.
• Manganese: Synthesized from 3x Manganese Ore. Used for mid-tier promotions (e.g., Specter E1, Warfarin E1) and as a component for Manganese Trihydrate.
  • Strategy: Keep an eye on your Operator promotion plans. If you have several Operators requiring Manganese, start synthesizing early.
• Grindstone Pentahydrate: Synthesized from 3x Grindstone. Used for mid-tier promotions (e.g., Eyjafjalla E1, Ifrit E1) and as a component for Grindstone Micro-Concentrate.
  • Strategy: Another highly demanded material, especially for powerful Caster and Supporter Operators. Prioritize its synthesis if you're planning to E1 these units.
• Aerospace Material II: This is a critical component for certain facility upgrades (e.g., upgrading Power Plants, Workshops, or Dormitories) and higher-tier equipment.
  • Synthesis Recipe: Typically requires a combination of basic materials like 2x Orirock Cube and 1x Polyester. (Note: Recipes can vary slightly with game updates, always check in-game.)
  • Importance: Prioritize synthesizing this when you need to upgrade key base facilities that boost your LMD or EXP production, as these directly impact your overall progression speed. Upgrading your Power Plants is often a good early investment.

Advanced Materials (Complex Synthesis)

These materials are typically required for Elite 2 promotions of 5-star and 6-star Operators, as well as the most advanced facility upgrades. They often demand significant quantities of lower-tier materials and specialized drops from higher-difficulty operations (e.g., Chapter 4+, Annihilation, or specific event stages). Their synthesis times are also considerably longer.

• Integrated Device: A high-demand material for many Elite 2 promotions (e.g., Silverash E2, Exusiai E2, Saria E2).
  • Synthesis Recipe: Often requires 2x Polyester Pack, 1x Orirock Cluster, and 1x Device. Devices are rare drops from specific stages (e.g., 4-4, 5-4).
  • Strategy: Begin farming for its base components (Polyester Pack, Orirock Cluster, and Device) early, as the synthesis time can be lengthy and the demand is high. Consider dedicating a Factory slot to this when you're preparing for an E2 promotion.
• Keton Colloid: Another crucial Elite 2 promotion material, particularly for Caster and Supporter Operators (e.g., Eyjafjalla E2, Ifrit E2, Ptilopsis E2).
  • Synthesis Recipe: Typically involves 2x Sugar Pack, 1x Manganese, and 1x Keton. Ketons are rare drops from stages like 4-6, 5-6.
  • Strategy: Similar to Integrated Device, pre-farming the components is key. Keton Colloid is often a bottleneck for Caster-heavy rosters.
• Orirock Concentration: The highest tier of Orirock material, essential for many high-end E2 promotions and some advanced module upgrades.
  • Synthesis Recipe: Requires 2x Orirock Cluster and 1x Orirock Cube.
  • Strategy: Given the sheer volume of Orirock Cubes and Clusters needed, this is a long-term synthesis goal. Ensure your Orirock Cube farming is robust.
• Manganese Trihydrate: High-tier Manganese material for E2 promotions (e.g., Specter E2, Hoshiguma E2).
  • Synthesis Recipe: Requires 2x Manganese and 1x Manganese Ore.
  • Strategy: Often needed for Defender and Guard E2s. Plan ahead by farming Manganese Ore and synthesizing Manganese.
• Grindstone Micro-Concentrate: Top-tier Grindstone material for E2 promotions (e.g., Silverash E2, Lappland E2).
  • Synthesis Recipe: Requires 2x Grindstone Pentahydrate and 1x Grindstone.
  • Strategy: A critical material for many powerful Operators. The demand for Grindstones at all tiers is consistently high.
• RMA70-12: A specialized advanced material used for certain E2 promotions (e.g., Blaze E2, Thorns E2) and module upgrades.
  • Synthesis Recipe: Requires 2x RMA70-10 and 1x Orirock Cluster. RMA70-10 is a rare drop from stages like 4-7, 5-7.
  • Strategy: RMA70-12 is notoriously difficult to acquire due to the rarity of RMA70-10. Prioritize farming the base component when its stages are available or during events.

Optimizing Your AIC Production

To maximize your AIC's output and ensure a smooth progression, consider these strategies:

• Prioritize High-Demand Materials: Always check upcoming Operator promotions and facility upgrades you plan to undertake. Use external resources like Aceship's Material Planner or similar tools to anticipate material needs. Focus your AIC production on items you'll need soonest, especially those with long synthesis times or rare components.
• Balance Farming and Synthesis: Some materials are more efficient to farm directly from stages (e.g., Orirock Cubes from 1-7 due to high drop rates and low Sanity cost), while others are best synthesized (e.g., Orirock Clusters, Aerospace Material II, or any Tier 2+ material). Understand the drop rates and Sanity costs of stages versus the cost of base materials for synthesis. Generally, if a material is a direct drop from a stage with a good drop rate, farming is preferred. If it's a higher-tier material, synthesis is the only option.
• Utilize Operator Skills: Certain Operators have base skills that boost production rates or reduce material consumption in the AIC.
  • Factory Operators: Assign Operators with skills like "Standardization" (e.g., Franka, Silverash) to Factories to increase production speed. Operators like Mayer or Exusiai can boost specific material production.
  • Workshop Operators: Operators like Amiya or Kal'tsit can reduce the material cost or increase the speed of material processing in the Workshop.
  • Trading Post Operators: While not directly AIC production, efficient Trading Posts (e.g., with Ptilopsis, Schwarz) ensure a steady flow of LMD and Battle Records, which are also essential for progression and indirectly support AIC by funding upgrades.
  Regularly check your Operators' base skills and assign them strategically to maximize output.
• Expand Strategically: Don't just expand for the sake of it. Consider which production lines will benefit most from additional slots.
  • Early Game: Prioritize expanding your Factories to produce basic materials (Orirock Clusters, Sugar Packs, Polyester Packs) and your Power Plants to support more facilities.
  • Mid-Game: Expand your Trading Posts to convert excess Battle Records/LMD into valuable materials or LMD itself. Consider a second Workshop if you find yourself constantly needing to synthesize advanced materials.
  Each expansion costs resources (Basic Expansion Cores, LMD), so make informed decisions based on your current bottlenecks.
• Monitor Inventory and Needs: Regularly check your in-game inventory and compare it against your upcoming promotion and upgrade plans. This helps you identify material shortages before they become critical and allows you to adjust your AIC production accordingly.

By diligently expanding your AIC and strategically producing materials, you'll ensure a steady supply of resources, allowing your Rhodes Island operation to flourish and your Operators to reach their full potential, ready to face any challenge ahead.