You'll probably smack into the power limit in Arknights: Endfield before you even realise you're "building a base." That starter cap looks fine while you're placing a couple of machines, then you add one more line, one more miner, and everything starts flickering. If you're trying to keep your momentum up with Arknights endfield boosting or just pushing story progress, that power dip is the thing that suddenly slows every plan down, because the game won't let you simply upgrade a stat and move on.
Unlocking the First Real Fix
The annoying part is you can't solve it right away. You need to play on until you clear "Paving the Way," which opens up the Power I node in the AIC Factory Plan. That's when Thermal Banks finally enter the picture, and yes, they feel like a lifeline. But they're not a set-and-forget generator. They're hungry, all the time, and if you feed them raw Originium Ore early on you'll get power, sure, but you'll also notice you're constantly running back to restock fuel instead of expanding.
Stop Feeding Ore, Start Printing Batteries
If you want fewer surprise shutdowns, batteries are the first upgrade that really changes your day-to-day. LC Valley Batteries and SC Valley Batteries stretch the same input much further, so your grid isn't living paycheck to paycheck. The bigger win, though, is what batteries let you do: automate the boring part. Set up a Packaging Unit to convert Originium Powder and Amethyst Parts into batteries on a steady loop, then route them into depots and loaders so your Thermal Banks get topped up without your attention. It's the difference between "I'm managing fuel" and "the base runs while I'm out scouting."
Power Isn't Just Generation, It's Delivery
Even with plenty of charge, you'll hit another snag the moment you place a mining rig far from the hub. Power has to physically reach the site, and that means Relay Towers and electric pylons, placed by hand, across awkward terrain. You'll end up doing little reroutes and nudges, because one pylon too far can leave a whole branch dead. A simple habit helps: expand in clean segments, test the connection, then build the next piece, instead of throwing down ten machines and hoping the cables behave.
Keeping the Grid Comfortable Long-Term
Once your battery line is automated and your pylons are laid with some care, the game gets a lot calmer. Your factories stop stalling, your remote outposts stay online, and you can focus on pacing your expansion instead of putting out fires. And if you're looking to save time on the grind for materials or key upgrades, it's worth checking marketplaces like U4GM for currency or item services so you can spend more of your session building and exploring, not waiting on bottlenecks.
