Essence Etching guide in Arknights: Endfield. Learn what Essence is, how to get it, how to etch Essences, best etching goals, and the benefits in AKEF.
Table of Contents
Essence Etching Goals
Aim for Perfect Gold Essences
The ultimate goal is to obtain a Gold Essence that fully enhances the effects of your chosen weapon. Gold Essences can be improved later via Etching, so prioritize securing a good base item.
Purple Essences Cannot Be Etched
Essences come in different rarities, but only Gold ones can undergo Etching. While a perfect Purple Essence works well temporarily, your final goal should always be a Gold Essence.
Compromise with Two Matches
The drop rate for a perfect item is extremely low. For support characters who don't rely as heavily on stats, settling for an Essence with two matching stats is a viable option.
Use High-Stat Placeholders
Until you find a Flawless Essence with three matches, equip one with two matches or high initial stats. Without Etching, these are comparable to ideal items, making them sufficient temporary placeholders.
Essences Enhance Weapons Only
Essences enhance weapons, not characters. You must refine Essences to match the weapon your character is wielding, not the character's own stats. Be careful not to confuse the two.
How to Farm Essence
- Go to Energy Alluvium
- Unlock and Check Contents
- Defeat All Enemies
Each Energy Alluvium drops Essences with specific stats. To get an Essence with three matching stats, you must farm the correct location. Check the Operation Manual beforehand to verify the location and available stats.
Weapon stats consist of "Attribute Stats," "Secondary Stats," and "Skill Stats," which are visible on the weapon Gear screen. If the Essence effect name matches the weapon skill, the skill level will increase.
Unlike Protocol Space, Energy Alluviums are physical locations on the map. You must travel to the location to challenge them. Interact with the rift to view the Sanity cost and reward list.
Engraving Permits allow you to narrow down Essence skills, making farming much more efficient. They can be purchased with Valley Stock Bills, so be sure to stock up before you start refining.
| How to Farm Stock Bills | |
|---|---|
| Valley Stock Bills | Wuling Stock Bills |
When using an Engraving Permit, you must select three Attribute Stats to proceed. Ensure you haven't missed any. The specific Secondary Stats and Skill Stats you choose will be guaranteed.
Once the challenge begins, simply defeat all spawning enemies. You will consume Sanity only when you claim the rewards.
Placing Combat Facilities in the Alluvium's combat area makes defeating enemies easier and speeds up farming.
How to Optimize Essence Farming
Check Weapons for Identical Stats
Weapons that share the same two stats and the same Energy Alluvium can have their Essences farmed simultaneously. Before you start farming, check if you own any weapons that share similar stats.
Check Essence Drops
By selecting the Essence icon on the Energy Alluvium list screen, you can see a list of weapons that can be farmed at that Energy Alluvium. First, check if the Essence for the weapon you want to farm drops in the same location.
Ensure One or Both the Secondary Stats Match
Among the weapons that can drop from the same Energy Alluvium, you can try to get Essences for multiple weapons if either their second or third stats match.
Specify Stats with Engraving Permits
Once you've confirmed which Energy Alluvium contains Essences that fit into multiple owned weapons, use an Engraving Permit to specify the stats. By selecting the Attribute Stats of the weapons you want Essences for, along with the matching Secondary Stats, you can start farming that Energy Alluvium.
 Tip! | Unless you are farming for three weapons or more, you can choose any stat for the 3rd Attribute Stat. |
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Farm for 3 Weapons At Most
Since Engraving Permits only allow for 3 Attribute Stats, try to limit simultaneous Essence farming to only 3 weapons. However, you can theoretically farm for numerous weapons simultaneously, given they all have similar stats.
What Is Essence Etching?
Enhance Essence Skills
Etching allows you to increase the stat level of a gold Essence. This process requires other gold Essences as material and has a chance to fail.
Access from the Essence List
To open the Essence Etching menu, select it from the Essence list that appears when equipping an Essence to any weapon.
Guaranteed Success with Coolant Gel
| Stat | Etch Lv. | Cooling Grease Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Attribute Stat and Secondary Stat | 1→2 | 30 |
| 2→3 | 60 | |
| 3→4 | 120 | |
| 4→5 | 250 | |
| 5→6 | TBA | |
| Skill Stat | 1→2 | 120 |
| 2→3 | 300 |
When an enhancement fails, you receive Coolant Gel. By using this item, you can guarantee an Essence stat level up. This pity system ensures you can eventually reach the maximum level.
| Note! | Every failed upgrade grants 10 Coolant Gels. |
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Recommended Coolant Gel Usage
For the Attribute and Secondary Stat, start using Coolant Gels at +4, whereas the Skill Stat can start using Coolant Gels at +2. As you continue upgrading your Essence, the success rate for etching gradually decreases, so the benefit of a guaranteed success becomes more valuable down the line.
Prioritize Getting All Stats to +3
Because the success rate decreases at higher levels, it is recommended to first upgrade all Stats evenly to +3. In particular, the success rate for upgrading the Skill Stat from +2 to +3 is very low. Once you have enough materials, use Coolant Gel to safely perform the enhancement.
What Is Essence and Its Benefits?
Boost Weapon Stats
Essences are items that raise weapon stat levels. Even a single level increase can significantly boost the damage multiplier, making the right Essence a powerful upgrade.
Matching Stats Required
If the Essence stat does not match the weapon skill, the level will not increase. Randomly equipping Essences without checking compatibility will provide no benefit.
Essence Stats Are Random
Essence skills are randomized when acquired. Using an Engraving Permit significantly improves your odds of getting desired stats, so make sure to prepare them before farming.
Character Enhancement Guide
Promotion Guide
Combat Skills Upgrade
Talents and Base Skills
How to Increase Potential
How to Raise Trust
Weapon Enhancement Guide
Recommended Weapons
How to Craft Gear
Gear Artificing Guide
Best Characters Tier List
Best Weapons Tier List
Best Team Comps
Reroll Tier List
How to Reroll Guide
