Equipment & Modules

Optimize your Arknights Operators with Equipment and Modules. Learn to acquire, upgrade, and strategically deploy these crucial enhancements.

Understanding and effectively using Equipment and Modules is paramount to optimizing your Operators' performance and tackling the most challenging operations in Arknights. This comprehensive guide will walk you through acquiring, upgrading, and strategically deploying these crucial enhancements, ensuring your squad is always battle-ready.

Acquiring Module Resources

The journey to powerful Operator enhancements begins with careful resource management and strategic engagement across various game modes. Module acquisition involves two primary components: Module Data and specific Module Materials.

Module Data Acquisition

Module Data is the primary currency for unlocking and upgrading Modules. Consistent farming is key:

• Integrated Strategies (IS): This game mode is the most reliable source for Module Data.
  • Initial Clear Rewards: Always prioritize clearing new IS seasons and specific stages within them, as they often offer significant one-time Module Data rewards.
  • Repeat Farming: After initial clears, certain IS stages provide Module Data as a guaranteed or high-probability drop. Focus on these stages during your IS runs. For example, in IS#3 "Mizuki & Caerula Arbor," stages like "Forgotten Relic" or "Lost in the Mist" can yield Module Data. In IS#4 "Phantom & Crimson Solitaire," stages such as "Whispers in the Dark" or "Crimson Troupe's Finale" are good targets.
  • Weekly/Monthly Rewards: Participate in IS regularly to earn weekly and monthly rewards, which often include Module Data.
• Event Shops: Limited-time events frequently feature Module Data in their event shops. Always prioritize purchasing these, especially if you are actively upgrading Modules.
• Contingency Contract (CC) Stores: During Contingency Contract events, the permanent and rotating stores may offer Module Data as a purchase option using Contract Bounties.

Module Material Acquisition

Beyond Module Data, each Module requires specific materials for activation and upgrades. These materials are often tied to the Operator's class and rarity, and their acquisition is integrated with your Base operations and standard farming routes.

• Universal Materials:
  • LMD (Lungmen Dollars): Essential for all upgrades. Optimize your Base's Trading Posts to produce LMD orders, supported by Factories producing Gold Bars.
  • Battle Records: Used for leveling Operators, which is a prerequisite for Module activation (E2). Ensure your Factories are producing Strategic Battle Records.
• Class-Specific Materials: These are primarily obtained from Resource Search stages, specifically the "Chip Search" and "Tactical Drill" operations. These materials are crucial for Elite promotions and skill leveling, which are often prerequisites for Module activation.
  • Chips & Chip Packs: Required for Elite 1 (E1) and Elite 2 (E2) promotions. Since almost all Modules require an Operator to be E2, farming these is non-negotiable.
    • Chip Search Stages: These stages rotate daily, providing specific class chips. Plan your farming around the daily rotation to acquire the chips for your target Operators.
      • Tactical Drill (Caster/Supporter Chips): Available Monday, Thursday, Sunday. For example, TD-6 provides Caster Chips.
      • Strategic Battle (Vanguard/Guard Chips): Available Tuesday, Friday, Sunday. For example, SB-6 provides Vanguard Chips.
      • Heavy Impact (Defender/Specialist Chips): Available Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday. For example, HI-6 provides Defender Chips.
      • Precision Strike (Sniper/Medic Chips): Available Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday. For example, PS-6 provides Sniper Chips.
    • Chip Packs: These are higher-tier chips required for E2 promotion. They are crafted in the Workshop from 4 basic Chips of the same class and 1 Data Supplement Tag.
  • Skill Summaries: Used for skill leveling, which, while not always a direct Module prerequisite, significantly enhances an Operator's overall performance and synergizes with Module benefits. Farm from "Tactical Drill" stages.
    • Tactical Drill Stages: These stages also drop Skill Summaries (e.g., Tactical Drill 1 for Skill Summary - I, Tactical Drill 2 for Skill Summary - II, etc.).
• Standard Upgrade Materials: These are common materials like Orirock Cluster, Sugar, Polyester, etc., which are used in various quantities for Module upgrades.
  • Main Story Stages: Farm these materials from their respective main story stages with high drop rates (e.g., 1-7 for Orirock Cluster, 4-6 for Sugar, 4-9 for Polyester). Always check the in-game material drop rates to find the most efficient stages.
  • Event Stages: Limited-time events frequently offer significantly boosted drop rates for common materials or introduce new materials required for Modules. Always check event drop tables and prioritize farming event stages for materials you need, as they often provide better sanity-to-drop ratios than main story stages.
• Base Facilities for Material Production: Your Base is crucial for processing raw materials into higher-tier components.
  • Workshop: This facility is essential for refining raw materials into higher-tier components needed for Module upgrades (e.g., turning Orirock Clusters into Orirock Cubes, or Sugar into Sugar Packets). Ensure your Workshop is upgraded to its maximum level to unlock all available recipes and reduce processing time. This is also where you'll craft Chip Packs.
  • Factory: Factories produce Gold Bars and Battle Records, which are then used by Trading Posts and for Operator leveling, respectively. Optimizing your Factories ensures a steady supply of these foundational resources.
  • Trading Post: Trading Posts convert Gold Bars into LMD, a critical currency for all in-game activities, including Module upgrades.

Module Activation & Upgrades

Once you have the necessary resources, activating and upgrading Modules is a straightforward process, but requires careful consideration of which Operators to prioritize for maximum impact.

1. Meet Prerequisites: Before an Operator can equip a Module, they typically need to meet specific conditions:
   • Elite 2 (E2) Promotion: Almost all Modules require the Operator to be promoted to Elite 2. This is a significant resource investment, so plan accordingly.
   • Trust Level: Operators usually need a certain Trust level (often 100% or 200%) with the Doctor. This is accumulated by deploying them in stages, assigning them to Base facilities, or using Trust items.
   • Specific Operator Level: While less common, some Modules might have a minimum Operator level requirement at E2.
2. Navigate to Operator Details: From the main menu, select "Operators," then choose the specific Operator you wish to equip a Module for.
3. Access Module Tab: Within the Operator's detailed view, locate and tap the "Module" tab. Any available Modules for that Operator will be displayed. Operators typically have one or two unique Modules available to them, each offering different enhancements.
4. Activate Module: Select the desired Module. The game will display the required Module Data and other materials. Review the stat bonuses and talent enhancements. Confirm to activate the Module. This initial activation grants the Operator a significant stat boost and often a unique talent improvement, marking it as Module Level 1.
5. Upgrade Module Levels: Modules have multiple levels, typically up to Level 3. Each level requires additional Module Data and specific materials, increasing in cost and complexity.
   • Module Level 1 (Initial Activation): Provides the base stat bonuses and the first stage of talent enhancement. This is often the most cost-effective upgrade for the benefits gained.
   • Module Level 2: Further enhances the Operator's stats and often improves the talent's effectiveness or adds a secondary effect. This upgrade usually requires more Module Data and higher-tier materials. For example, upgrading from Level 1 to Level 2 might require 30 Module Data, 20 LMD, and specific T3 materials like Grindstones or Keton Colloids.
   • Module Level 3 (Max Level): Maxes out the Module's potential, offering the largest stat gains and the most powerful talent enhancement. This is typically the most resource-intensive upgrade, demanding a substantial amount of Module Data and rare materials (e.g., 60 Module Data, 50 LMD, and T4 materials like Polymerization Preparations or D32 Steel). Fully upgrading a Module significantly boosts an Operator's power ceiling and can fundamentally alter their role or effectiveness in combat.

Strategic Module Deployment

Not all Modules are created equal, and not all Operators benefit equally from their Modules. Strategic deployment is key to maximizing your squad's potential and making the most of your valuable resources.

Prioritization Guidelines

• Core Operators First: Focus on activating and upgrading Modules for your most frequently used and impactful Operators. These are typically your main damage dealers, critical healers, or essential crowd control units. For example, a Module for a strong DPS unit like Surtr, Ch'en the Holungday, or a critical support like Saria will yield immediate and noticeable benefits.
• Understand Talent Enhancements: The most significant aspect of Modules is often the improvement to an Operator's talent. Read these descriptions carefully. Does it boost their primary role? Does it enable new strategies? For instance, a Defender's Module might increase their Block count, fundamentally changing their utility, or a Sniper's Module might grant them increased attack range against specific enemy types. An example is Exusiai's Module, which can significantly boost her damage against low-defense enemies, solidifying her role as an anti-air specialist.
• Consider Synergy: Some Modules synergize exceptionally well with other Operators or specific team compositions. A Module that increases the attack speed of all allied Snipers, for example, would be incredibly powerful in a Sniper-heavy squad. Similarly, a Module that enhances a specific archetype's healing or damage output can elevate an entire strategy. For instance, Ptilopsis's Module, which further reduces skill SP costs for all allies, is invaluable in skill-spamming compositions.
• Resource Management: Module upgrades are expensive. Plan your Module Data and material farming routes efficiently. Don't spread your resources too thin; focus on fully upgrading a few key Modules before moving on to others. It's often better to have a few fully optimized Operators than many partially upgraded ones. Prioritize Modules that offer the biggest "bang for your buck" at Level 1 or Level 2, especially if Level 3 is prohibitively expensive for a marginal gain.
• Future-Proofing: While it's tempting to upgrade every Module immediately, consider the long-term meta and upcoming content. Some Modules might become more relevant with new enemy types, game mechanics, or the release of new Operators that synergize with existing Modules. Stay informed through community discussions, official announcements, and content creator analyses to make informed decisions. For example, Modules that provide Arts damage resistance might become more valuable in stages with heavy Arts damage threats.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Wasting Resources on Niche Operators: While every Operator can be useful, avoid investing heavily in Modules for Operators you rarely use or who only excel in very specific, infrequent scenarios, especially early on. Your resources are limited, so allocate them to Operators who will see consistent use across several content.
• Ignoring Prerequisites: Ensure your Operators meet all E2 and Trust requirements before attempting to activate Modules. Farming for these after acquiring Module Data can be frustrating and delay your progress. Always check the Operator's profile for specific requirements before committing Module resources.
• Neglecting Base Optimization: A poorly optimized Base will severely bottleneck your material production, slowing down Module upgrades. Regularly check and adjust your Base's facility configurations (e.g., 2-4-3 or 2-5-2 setups for Factories/Trading Posts) and Operator assignments to maximize LMD, Battle Record, and material processing output.
• Not Checking Event Shops: Event shops are often the most efficient way to acquire rare materials and Module Data. Missing out on these can set back your Module progression significantly. Always clear out event shops of Module-related materials and Module Data, as their value often outweighs other items.
• Upgrading Modules Blindly: Don't just upgrade a Module because it's available. Carefully read the Module's description, especially the talent enhancement, and consider its impact on the Operator's role and your overall strategy. Some Modules offer only minor stat boosts, while others fundamentally change an Operator's utility. Prioritize those that provide significant strategic advantages.