My Essential Guide to Starting Arknights in 2026

As I awoke to my role as the amnesiac Doctor of Rhodes Island in 2026, the sprawling, years-deep world of Arknights felt both thrilling and daunting. Leading a mobile city of Infected Operators against countless threats is a monumental task, especially with so many updates and systems layered on over time. My journey from a confused newcomer to a more confident strategist was built on a few fundamental pillars that I believe every new Doctor should know. These principles helped me navigate the tactical tower defense challenges and the rich, sometimes overwhelming, ecosystem of the game.

1. The Foundation: Building a Balanced Team 🛡️⚔️

Right from the start, I learned that success hinges on a well-rounded squad. Arknights features eight distinct classes, each a crucial cog in the machine. My early goal was to aim for a core team with two of each primary class, plus one Specialist and one Supporter. Understanding their roles was my first lesson in strategy.

Class	Primary Role & Why It Matters
Vanguard	🏃 The DP engine. They generate Deployment Points to get my team on the field fast.
Sniper	🎯 Essential for air defense. They deal ranged physical damage and are the only reliable counter to flying enemies early on.
Guard	⚔️ The frontline damage dealers. They excel in melee combat, cutting down enemies that break through.
Caster	🔮 The magic artillery. They dish out Arts damage, which is key for punching through high-defense foes.
Defender	🛡️ The immovable wall. With high HP and DEF, they block enemies and protect my softer units.
Medic	💖 The lifeline. They keep everyone standing with crucial healing. Never leave home without at least one!
Specialist	🎭 The versatile wildcards. They can push, pull, stall, or redeploy quickly for tricky situations.
Supporter	📊 The force multipliers. They buff allies, debuff enemies, and often deal Arts damage on the side.

I quickly realized that operators can sometimes blur these lines—finding a Medic who could also deal damage was a game-changer! But starting with a balanced roster gave me the tools to handle most early threats.

2. Strategic Flexibility: Adapting Your Formation 🔄

I made the classic mistake of trying to force my favorite squad into every mission. It didn't work. Arknights demands constant adaptation. Each stage is a puzzle, and my squad composition is the key. For instance, when I faced enemies with sky-high physical defense, my Snipers and Guards struggled. The solution? Swapping in more Casters to exploit their low Arts Resistance. Conversely, waves of Drones forced me to bench some melee units and field extra Snipers. The mantra I live by now: Analyze the enemy, then adjust the team. There is no "one-size-fits-all" squad for the entire story.

3. The Opening Move: Always Lead With Vanguards 🚩

My early stages were chaotic until I mastered the opening sequence. The first operator I deploy is almost always a Vanguard. Their rapid DP generation is the catalyst for my entire strategy. I learned to deploy two Vanguards quickly to accelerate my economy, then later retreat them to free up deployment slots for my heavier hitters like Guards and Casters. Treating Vanguards as a temporary, essential investment rather than permanent fixtures transformed my early-game stability.

4. The Primary Objective: Focus on the Story 📖

With so many game modes vying for my attention—Integrated Strategies, Contingency Contract, Stationary Security Service—it was tempting to dive into everything. Veteran players advised me to resist that urge. For my first few weeks, I focused solely on progressing through the main story chapters. This served multiple critical purposes:

• ✅ It unlocked core game features gradually, preventing overwhelm.

• ✅ It completed new player missions, showering me with essential rewards.

• ✅ It provided a steady stream of Orundum (for recruitment) and upgrade materials.

• ✅ It served as the perfect training ground to learn mechanics organically.

I saved the complex side modes for later, once my roster and game knowledge were firmly established.

5. Economic Engine: Developing the Rhodes Island Base 🏗️

The Rhodes Island Infrastructure Complex (RIIC) is the silent workhorse of my progress. Nearly all my LMD (money) and EXP come from here. Ignoring it is the fastest way to stall your progression. I prioritized upgrading it as soon as possible. For layout, I faced a classic choice:

• The 2-5-2 Layout (Early-Game Focus):

  • Structure: 2 Trading Posts, 5 Factories, 2 Power Plants.

  • Setup: 2 Factories produce Pure Gold (for LMD), 3 produce Battle Records (EXP).

  • Pros: Maximizes raw resource generation. Perfect for the initial desperate need for cash and EXP.

  • Cons: Limited power prevents full facility upgrades.

  • My Verdict: I started here and it fueled my initial growth spurt.

• The 2-4-3 Layout (Mid-Game Optimization):

  • Structure: 2 Trading Posts, 4 Factories, 3 Power Plants.

  • Pros: Provides enough power to fully upgrade all facilities. Offers a strong, balanced income of LMD and EXP.

  • Cons: Slightly lower raw output than 2-5-2.

  • My Verdict: I transitioned to this once my core operators were leveled, valuing the upgrades and stability.

6. Growing the Family: Recruitment and Headhunting 🎯

While Headhunting with Orundum is the flashy way to get new operators, I never underestimated the Recruitment system. Using Recruitment Permits and selecting Job Tags allowed me to strategically fill gaps in my roster. It's a fantastic, low-cost way to get new units. The thrill of seeing a Top Operator or Senior Operator tag is real—it guarantees a 6-star or 5-star operator, respectively! I check recruitment daily; it's a steady source of potential and surprise.

7. The Best First Investment: The Newbie Banner ✨

My very first Orundum spending priority was crystal clear: the Newbie Banner. This banner allows up to 20 pulls, with the first ten-pull guaranteeing a 6-star operator from a powerful, curated list. The available operators are exceptional foundations for any account:

• Archetto (Sniper) 🏹

• Flametail (Vanguard) 🛡️

• Mountain (Guard) 🐯

• Suzuran (Supporter) 🦊

• Thorns (Guard) 🌵

• Weedy (Specialist) 🚰

Securing one of these powerhouses gave me a massive head start. I avoided the standard Kernel Banner unless a specific, desired operator was featured, instead saving for the rotating Headhunting banners after securing my beginner's guarantee.

8. The Doctor's Best Tool: Never Fear Using a Guide 🗺️

Perhaps the most liberating lesson I learned was to embrace the community's wisdom. Arknights has a deep well of mechanics, and some stages are brutally clever puzzles. Whenever I was stuck—whether on a story boss, a resource-farming strategy, or an upgrade priority—I looked up a guide. The community has created exhaustive resources: stage clear videos, operator tier lists, farming efficiency charts, and base optimization guides. Using these isn't cheating; it's learning from collective experience. This game is complex, and seeking knowledge is a sign of a good Doctor.

My journey in Arknights has been a rewarding challenge of strategy, resource management, and adaptation. By focusing on these core principles—building a balanced team, adapting to challenges, mastering the economy, and wisely using available resources—I found my footing in the vast world of Terra. Now, as I look toward future events and chapters, this foundation makes every new threat an exciting puzzle to solve, not an insurmountable wall. Good luck, Doctor. Rhodes Island is counting on you. 🏥