Arknights Base Infrastructure and Resource Management Guide

Managing your base in Arknights is about a lot more than just plugging operators into empty rooms and hoping for the best. Between juggling drones, keeping up with your factories, and making sure everyone’s morale doesn’t end up in the red, it can feel a bit overwhelming—especially when you’re aiming to squeeze the most resources out of every minute. Whether you’re still figuring out how to run your first trading post or you’re trying to boost your production setup for that next big banner, there’s a lot to consider behind the scenes. Having a solid grasp of how base infrastructure works and what it means for your LMD, EXP, and recruitment progress really makes life in Rhodes Island smoother, so it’s worth breaking down the basics and a few tips for managing resources better.

Optimizing Base Layout

Getting your Arknights base running efficiently means more than just filling rooms with your coolest operators. The way you set things up—factories, trading posts, power plants, dormitories, and control center—shapes how many resources you actually generate and how much time you spend micromanaging. Here’s how you can tweak your base layout to keep things humming along with the fewest headaches.

Understanding Room Functions

Before arranging your base, it's good to recap what each room type actually does:

• Factories produce Battle Record EXP or Gold Bars.
• Trading Posts let you exchange Gold Bars for LMD (and sometimes Originium).
• Power Plants keep your whole base powered; if you’re short, some rooms shut down.
• Dormitories restore operators' morale so they don’t burn out.
• Office (HR Room) helps you recruit new operators.
• Workshop is where you craft materials.

Each room affects the others, especially factories and trading posts—they’re the lifeblood of your resource flow.

Early Game Layout vs. Late Game Layout

Early Game Priorities

When you’re starting out, you won’t have every room unlocked. Focus on:

• One Factory, One Trading Post: Produce basic EXP or Gold and trade for LMD, the backbone resource for leveling and promoting.
• Three Power Plants: Keeping enough juice is essential, especially as you unlock new floors.
• Dormitory: Don’t neglect dorms—operators recover morale here so they can go back to work.

Your initial base layout will probably look like:

Control Center | Power Plant | Factory (EXP)

Trading Post | Dormitory | Power Plant

HR Office | Dormitory | Power Plant

The idea: balance resource production with a place for your staff to rest.

Expanding for Mid to Late Game

Once you open up the third floor and extra room slots, your goal shifts toward maximizing LMD and EXP, with occasional crafting in the workshop for rare materials.

Popular late-game layouts

• 2 Factories (Gold) + 1 Factory (EXP)
• 2 Trading Posts
• ** Power Plants**
• 2 Dorms

A common setup:

• First Row: Control Center | Trading Post | Trading Post
• Second Row: Factory | Power Plant | Factory
• Third Row: Factory | Dormitory | Power Plant
• Bottom Row: HR Office | Dormitory | Workshop

Why this works: You can run two trading posts at full speed with gold bars from your factories. The two dorms rotate operators for morale recovery. You only need three power plants to keep it all running smoothly.

Fine-Tuning for Efficiency

Adjacency Buffs

Some operators boost output not just by sitting in a room but also when certain rooms are next to each other. For example, placing your trading posts next to your factories makes sense if you have operators with adjacency skills. Always check operator skills—some, like Texas or Exusiai, provide bigger bonuses when placed next to certain facilities.

Operator Specializations

Some operators are made for specific jobs. For example:

• Exusiai — Incredible trading post buff.
• Texas — Factory efficiency monster.
• Specter — Provides useful dormitory morale recovery.

Look for these blue or red facility-specific bonuses on operator stats screens. Sort your operators by their base skills and prioritize setting them in the right rooms.

Minimizing Operator Burnout

Don’t set-and-forget your operators. Overworked staff suffer low morale and reduced efficiency. Rotate your most valuable staff between working rooms and dormitories. Set up a schedule or alarm for swaps every 12-24 hours, or whenever you log in for daily missions.

Drone Usage

Your drones (the green energy you get over time) can speed up base operations:

• Early game: Use drones mostly on trading posts to speed up LMD income.
• Later on: Shift drone usage to factories for EXP generation if you’re leveling up lots of operators, or to the Workshop for event grinds.

Don’t waste drones on rooms that aren’t crucial to your current goals.

Optimal Room Placement

General Principles

• Control Center always stays in the middle top. It doesn’t matter who you assign here early on, but late game, operators with base-wide bonuses (like Amiya) go here.
• Power Plants should be spaced to keep all facilities powered. Three is a sweet spot for most.
• Trading Posts and Factories should be on the same floor or adjacent, especially if you want adjacency buffs.
• Dormitories and HR/Workshop can go on the lower levels; their location affects little aside from personal organization preference.

Sample High-Efficiency Layout

[Control Center] [Trading Post] [Trading Post] [Factory] [Power Plant] [Factory] [Factory] [Dormitory] [Power Plant] [HR Office] [Dormitory] [Workshop]

This keeps your money chain (factories > trading posts) close and the rotation between dorms quick, while three power plants cover every room.

Regular Adjustments

As you recruit more operators and boost their skills, revisit your set-up regularly. Swap out low-skill workers for new talent, and look for opportunities to maximize those adjacency and specialty skills. During events that require mad resource rushes—like limited banners or big crafting events—consider temporary shifts to all-EXP or all-Gold production.

Closing Thoughts

A solid Arknights base layout is the backbone of steady progress—whether you’re chasing that next operator promotion or just want a tidy sum of LMD to try your luck on recruitment. The most important parts: smart room placement, matching operators with their strengths, and staying on top of rotations. With these tips, you can keep Rhodes Island running efficiently, freeing up more time for battles, story, and, of course, gacha pulls.

Factory Production Strategies

Running your factories efficiently is where your base management skills really shine. How you approach production depends on your needs: are you focusing on leveling up operators quickly, or are you saving up LMD for promotions and pulls? Let’s break down the nitty-gritty of factory setups so you’re never stuck waiting on resources.

Understanding Factory Types

In Arknights, factories let you produce three main things:

• Battle Records (EXP) – Used for raising operator levels.
• Gold Bars – Exchanged for LMD in the Trading Post.
• Pure Gold – Used in the Workshop, usually for 5★ and above E2 promotions or crafting high-tier materials.

You choose what each factory produces. This means you can go all-in on Gold Bars if you’re desperate for LMD, or shift over to Battle Records if your operators are underleveled.

When to Produce What

Early Game Focus: EXP

Your squad won’t carry itself, and Battle Records are usually scarce. Set your factories to produce Battle Records for the first week or so. Even with one or two factories, you’ll see faster operator growth.

Mid-Game Shift: Gold Bars for LMD

Once your main team is strong, LMD bottlenecks become real. Shift one or both factories to Gold Bar production, which you then use in Trading Posts for LMD. LMD is needed for everything from recruitment to skill upgrades, so this swap often happens mid-chapter 3 or 4.

Late Game: Balanced Output

Later on, go for:

• One EXP Factory (to keep a steady trickle for new recruits and skill ups)
• Two Gold Bar Factories (maximize LMD conversion)
• Occasional Pure Gold Batches (when prepping for big promotions/crafts)

Swap a factory to Pure Gold if an event or promotion needs it, then switch back once you have enough. Efficiency comes from keeping your output matched to your bottlenecks.

Operator Choices for Factories

Certain operators crank up factory production rates or reduce the consumption of resources like morale. Some standout names:

• Texas – Early access, solid factory buff, especially for gold bar production.
• Logistics Operators (like Myrrh, Scavenger, Mayer) – Each has a unique bonus; look them up to cover gaps.
• Ifrit – Top choice for Battle Record production.

Assign an operator who matches the product you’re making. For instance, Texas in a Gold Bar factory, Ifrit in a Battle Record factory. Check their base skill description and sort by facility skill type.

Stack Your Buffs

Some operators grant extra benefits if placed with others in a factory (like “Team ‘Little Star’” skills). If you have sets like Roberta, Lava, and Ifrit, use their synergies—your production rates will spike. Not all these team bonuses are available early, but keep an eye out as you pull new units.

Timing Factory Collection

The most efficient setups avoid overflow. Factories stop producing once full (often around 2,000 units), so check back at least twice a day. If you’re logging in less frequently, consider producing higher-valued items like Pure Gold or running just enough factories so nothing caps while you’re away.

Using Drones for Factory Boosts

Drones speed up a factory’s timer. Here’s how to get the most out of them:

• Use on factories when prepping for a push (like leveling up for a tough stage)
• Prioritize Battle Record production during new content or operator drops
• Don’t overdo it—using all your drones at once is wasteful unless you desperately need EXP or LMD

A small boost can net you a couple days’ worth of records in one sitting. Save the big dumps for crunch times.

Don’t Forget: Rotate and Rest Operators

Morale matters. Rotating burned out operators into the dorm or swapping to a backup keeps production high. Pair two high-skill workers and rotate them on a schedule—this beats setting-and-forgetting your base team.

Summary: Factory Optimization Checklist

Here’s a quick-reference rundown:

• Match product with your bottleneck: EXP early, LMD mid-late, Pure Gold as needed
• Always assign the best facility operator available
• Check for dual or team skill buffs
• Collect resources before they cap
• Use drones for clutch production, but only when needed
• Rotate operators for max morale
• Adjust factory output based on events, promotions, and your goals

Dialing in your factory production lets you grow Rhodes Island without excessive grind. You’ll have what you need, when you need it—and get plenty more time to enjoy clearing stages and rolling for your favorites.

Trading Post Efficiency

The Trading Post is where all those Gold Bars you make in the factories turn into cold, hard LMD—the game’s main currency for upgrades, recruitment, and lots of other essentials. Dialing in your Trading Post setup can mean the difference between always being broke and having enough LMD for that next big upgrade. Here’s how to get your conversion rates and hourly income as high as possible.

How the Trading Post Works

The Trading Post has a simple job: swap your Gold Bars for LMD. But, there’s a catch—conversion rates and speed depend on who’s working, how many Trading Posts you have, and which base upgrades you’ve unlocked. More efficient setups mean faster, cheaper LMD with less hassle.

Gold Bars to LMD

Every Gold Bar you drop off at the Trading Post slowly turns into LMD. At the most basic level, you get 500 LMD for every Gold Bar. Upgrades and operator skills can boost that, making your resources stretch further.

Multiple Trading Posts

You can have up to three Trading Posts in a fully-built base, and it’s usually best to run two or three as soon as you can. Broader coverage gives you more total LMD and fewer bottlenecks, since your factories are usually cranking out Gold Bars faster than a single Trading Post can handle.

Operator Assignments: Who Goes Where

Operator choice matters a lot here—way more than just filling the slot with someone who isn’t tired. Proper assignments can increase the LMD you get per Gold Bar or speed up exchanges.

Trading Post All-Stars

Some operators stand out thanks to their powerful base skills. Here are some of the top picks for your trading setup:

• Vermeil: Boosts LMD gain per Gold Bar, really shines during early to mid-game.
• Courier: Great early game pick (often in beginner pulls). Trade bonus and easy to raise.
• Lappland: Offers a 45% increase in LMD gain when part of a “Logistics” duo—almost always worth using later on.
• Shaw: Useful early game; pairs with Courier for bonus efficiency.
• Kal’tsit: Endgame option—her Talent and set bonuses with operators like Ptilopsis or Eyjafjalla give top-tier results in high-level bases.

For top efficiency, select Trading Post operators by their base skill description—look for the words “Trading Post” and a percent increase to LMD or faster order completion.

Maximizing Team Bonuses

Some operators have skills that get even stronger if you run them together (for example, Memorial Day team with Lappland/Courier/Shaw). Stacking team skills can boost hourly output by up to 50% or more compared to solo operators. Check your operator roster for team keywords, then put matching operators in the same Trading Post.

Early to Late Game Rotation

• Early game: Place whoever you have with a Trading Post skill—Vermeil or Courier, even Jessica works.
• Mid game: Try duo or trio setups with Lappland, Courier, and Shaw, or similar teams.
• Late game: Aim for full synergy sets. Don’t sleep on 5★ and 6★ operators here; Kal’tsit, Ptilopsis, and top event operators sometimes carry huge efficiency bonuses.

Upgrade Your Trading Posts

Once you unlock the “Order System 2.0” upgrade, Trading Posts process Gold Bars faster, which is key for keeping up with increased Gold Bar production from your high-level factories. High-level Trading Posts also sometimes let you produce Originium Shards (for Originite Prime), but most players stick to LMD.

After the upgrade, keep a closer eye on how fast your Gold Bars are getting used up. Three upgraded Trading Posts can chew through your factory output quickly. Find the balance where output and exchange speed match.

The Running Count: How Many Trading Posts Should You Have?

Two is the minimum for serious farming. Three is optimal if you focus on LMD income, but you’ll sacrifice a Workshop or Dorm. If you’re running three, allocate operators and set up rotations to keep all online—especially during heavy farming weeks. Here are some typical setups:

• 2 Trading Posts / 3 Factories: Good balance for most.
• 3 Trading Posts / 2 Factories: Max LMD, fewer Battle Records.
• 1 Trading Post / 4 Factories: Hyper-exp focused; not for daily LMD farming.

Monitor and Rotate Morale

Operators lose morale while working. Let them rest in the Dorm to recharge—don’t push them to exhaustion, or they’ll hit 0 morale and give you no bonuses at all. Create two teams and swap daily or every 12 hours. Plan swaps around your log-in schedule so there’s always someone fresh at the Post.

Drone Use in the Trading Post

The Trading Post isn’t usually the target for drone boosts (save those for factories), but if you need a quick burst of LMD during events, it’s fine to use some spare Drones to finish an outstanding order. It won’t boost your per-hour rates, just flushes the backlog instantly.

Pay Attention to Capping

Don’t let your Trading Post fill up—once it’s full, extra Gold Bars from factories won’t process, and you’ll lose out on tons of LMD. Pick up your LMD every time you log in, especially if you’re running at high capacity with three Trading Posts.

Quick Checklist for Maximum Trading Post Gains

• Assign operators with Trading Post bonuses—prefer teams with synergy.
• Set up at least two (preferably three) Trading Posts if you want steady LMD.
• Upgrade Trading Posts for faster exchange speed when possible.
• Rotate staff to keep morale high and bonuses active.
• Pick up completed trades often to avoid wasting resources.
• Adjust the number of Trading Posts and factories as your needs shift over time.

With these tweaks and some regular check-ins, your Trading Posts will turn raw factory output into a mountain of LMD—the real fuel for progress in Arknights.

Next up: Let’s look at how to keep your Dormitories running so your workers always bounce back ready for the grind. The Control Center is the heart of your Arknights base. It doesn’t directly produce resources, but it’s the nerve center—everything runs or grinds to a halt based on how you set this up. A well-managed Control Center unlocks your whole base’s potential, so let’s break down how it impacts your daily game and what can make or break your efficiency.

What the Control Center Actually Does

At first, the Control Center might look like just another building you have to build to progress. But it’s quietly the most important room:

• Base Level Unlocks: Higher Control Center levels unlock more rooms—like Factories, Trading Posts, Drones, and Dorms. You’re capped by its level for everything else. Want a third Trading Post? Your Control Center needs to be Level 4.
• Infrastructure Capacity: This is where you see and set the layout for your base, manage room upgrades, and shuffle assignments for other buildings.
• Operator Limits: The Control Center sets the cap for how many operators you can have working across your base. Upgrading it means you can get more hands on deck everywhere else.
• Friend Visit Hub: You access your friends’ bases and set up the “preview” your own friends see from here. Social bonus, if you care about that stuff.

Operator Assignments: Why Assign Anyone Here?

At first, it doesn’t look like you need to put operators in the Control Center—and if you’re just building a skeleton base, you actually don’t. But, the right operators here provide huge bonuses across the entire infrastructure.

Who Should You Assign?

You want operators with skills that say “Control Center.” These typically boost efficiency for all Factories, Trading Posts, Drones, or help morale everywhere.

Top Control Center Operators

• Amiya: Most players use her passively since her base skill raises the limit on how many operators can be working at once.
• Cardigan: Early game, her skill can boost Factories’ output or cut drone cooldowns if paired right.
• Angelina: Later on, her Control Center skill boosts power generation and saves on drone use.
• Event Operators: Some event-limited units come with unique Control Center skills—check the fine print for seasonal advantages.

Stacking and Synergies

Most Control Center skills are “global,” meaning if you meet their requirements, the bonus impacts every relevant room—even Dorms or Workshops. Sometimes, putting two specific operators together (like Amiya and Cardigan) can unlock extra synergy.

Upgrading Your Control Center

You’ll want to hit upgrade milestones quickly. Here’s what’s unlocked at each level:

• Level 1: Basic control, just enough to get going.
• Level 2: Opens up more dorms and your second Factory/Trading Post.
• Level 3: Big unlocks—usually third Factory, higher operator cap, and another Dorm.
• Level 4: Lets you field a third Trading Post or Factory, maxes out your operator slots, and gives your base layout maximum flexibility.

Keep an eye on available building materials, since Control Center upgrades require a fair chunk of resources and time. Never let this lag behind your farming or event plans.

Friend Visit Functions

Besides just resource stuff, this is where you set up your base appearance for friends. You can invite people over, swap clues, and see who’s got their own base up to snuff. If collecting “Friends” clues for credit income, set this up and accept visitors daily.

Advanced Tips: Getting the Most From Your Control Center

• Always Assign Amiya: Unless you’ve got a rare skill to use, keep her parked here for the operator cap.
• Plan for Expansion: Upgrade your Control Center before you hit your resource or operator limits—that way, you won’t stall out waiting on a builder.
• Quick View: The Control Center menu gives a snapshot of staff, their morale, and status across your base. Use this to spot anyone who’s exhausted or a room that’s underperforming.
• Base Clues: Collect and swap clues daily for a steady credit trickle, which helps with furniture and some operator elite costs later.
• Balanced Assignments: Try not to leave the Control Center empty even if the bonuses look small—every percentage point adds up over long AFK farming sessions.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Forgetting to Upgrade: If your base isn’t growing, double check your Control Center level.
• Not Assigning Bonus Operators: It’s easy to push everyone to resource rooms and leave the Control Center empty—don’t lose out on global bonuses.
• Ignoring Clue Swaps: This is free currency—take a minute each day to check in here.

Conclusion

Treat the Control Center as your main management console. Keep it upgraded, fill it with strong operators, and you’ll unlock every other room’s full potential. Most of the time it’s a “set it and forget it” room—but checking it and keeping the right staff assigned quietly boosts your base’s gains over time. If everything else in your base feels slow, this is usually the first place to review. Here’s everything you need to know about managing your Dormitories and Facilities in Arknights, so your base—and your Operators—run at peak efficiency. Whether you’re a newcomer or a longtime player, optimizing these rooms will boost not just resources, but also operator morale and productivity.

Dormitory Management: Keeping Operators Rested

The Dormitory is where tired operators head to recover their morale. Unlike production rooms, dorms aren’t about pumping out materials, but about keeping your staff in fighting (and working) shape. If you neglect your dorms, your base will grind to a halt as burnt-out operators drag resource generation way down.

How Dorms Work

Dorms passively restore morale to any operator assigned there. Once their morale fills up, they're ready to go back to work in Factories, Trading Posts, or other rooms. Each dorm has a morale recovery speed, which can be boosted further by upgrading the dorm or assigning certain operators with relevant base skills.

• Assigning Operators: When an operator's morale drops (watch for the red morale bar or the “!” in staff view), drop them into a dorm slot. You can swap them out even if the dorm is still upgrading.
• Dorm Upgrades: As you level up your dorm, you’ll get:
  • More slots for tired operators
  • Faster morale recovery speed
  • Unlocks for decorating with furniture (which is more than just cosmetics!)

Furniture and Comfort

Think of Comfort as the dorm’s “healing rate.” Higher comfort means morale bounces back faster.

• How to Get Furniture: Rewarded from events, daily missions, or the Furniture Store.
• Placing Furniture: Arrange items in your dorm for the style you want, but also for higher comfort ratings. Every piece contributes.
• Boosting Comfort: Pay attention to furniture sets—full sets usually give extra bonuses. Check comfort ratings in the dorm’s manage menu.

Unique Operator Dorm Skills

Some operators (e.g., Sora, Ceylon) have base skills tailored for dorms. Their presence can boost morale recovery or grant bonus clues/furniture parts. If you’re running a big base, prioritize dorm specialists when slots open up.

Facilities Overview: What Needs Managing (and Why)

Beyond dorms, your base has several facilities to oversee. Each helps support the resource chain or unlocks synthesis, upgrades, and event advantages.

Factory

This is your LMD or material engine. Operators with Factory skills (like Texas or Greyy) fit best here.

• Keep an Eye on Output: Higher morale = higher output = less downtime.

Trading Post

Turn inorganic materials into LMD or Originium—your base’s “money exchanger.”

• Assign Commercial Operators: Exusiai, Lappland, and others offer LMD or efficiency boosts.

Workshop

Here’s where you craft materials and certain rare resources.

• Specialist Staff: Operators with Workshop skills (like Mayer) can reduce crafting costs or boost production.

Power Plant

Drives the entire base by providing power (max out the grid so none of your rooms go offline). Keep at least one operator on duty here to maintain coverage.

Reception Room

Hosts the Clue system for daily credits. Assign clue-boosting operators here for more drops or faster swaps.

Managing Staff Rotation: Avoiding Burnout and Boosting Gains

Efficient staffing is all about timing—don’t leave exhausted operators in resource rooms, or they’ll plummet your output rate. Here’s a routine:

1. Monitor Morale: Use the base overview to spot anyone dipping below 40 morale.
2. Swap Regularly: Move tired staff to the dorm, replace them with fresh operators (preferably with good base skills for the assigned facility).
3. Rest Cycles: If you have limited roster depth, stagger your assignments so there’s always someone rested for each major room.

Dorm Setup Recommendations

• Early Game: You’ll have only one dorm, so rotate your hardest-working operators in first.
• Mid-Late Game: By the time you unlock a second and third dorm, dedicate one dorm to favorites or core farmers, the other to overflow staff and event operators.

Decorate for both looks and comfort, but remember: comfort directly strengthens your whole base’s efficiency by keeping everyone sharp and ready.

Extra Tips for Smart Dorm and Facility Management

• Auto Assign: Use the auto-assign function to quickly fill dorms with those who need rest most, especially if your operator list is long.
• Track Overlaps: Operators with both dorm and production skills can be rotated for maximum value.
• Prioritize Upgrades: New dorm levels and facility upgrades often give the biggest boosts to your daily passive gain.

Wrapping Up

A well-run dormitory means you’re never caught with a full staff of tired operators. Pay attention to comfort, rotate efficiently, and tap into base skills that match operator strengths. With facilities, always keep output and morale in mind. The smoother your rest cycles and the more rested your staff, the more resources—and progress—you’ll pull out of every session. Keep those beds warm, the lounges cozy, and your operators will thank you (in the form of more LMD, mats, and overall smoother gameplay).