MASTERING ENDFIELD: MEDAL TRIMMING GUIDE
If you’ve played the original Arknights, you know that “Trimming” a medal is the ultimate flex—it’s the difference between saying “I beat this” and “I mastered this.”
In Endfield, this system has evolved into a multi-layered architecture involving the Path of Glory, Umbral Monument, and the high-stakes Re-Crisis boss battles. Here’s everything you need to know about the grind for those iridescent borders.
1. The Anatomy of the Medal System
In Endfield, medals aren’t just participation trophies. They are divided into functional categories that track everything from your factory output to your combat prowess.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
- Gilding (Quantitative): This usually applies to exploration and grind-heavy tasks. If you open 95% of the crates in Valley IV, your medal gets a “Gilded” frame. It signifies dedication and time spent.
- Trimming (Qualitative): This is the “Elite” status. It’s reserved for performance peaks—beating a boss under a certain time limit or clearing a stage without using tactical items.
| Medal Category | Base Acquisition | Trimming/Gilding Condition | Visual Indicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umbral Monument | Clear stages on Normal | Clear all stages on Agony | Iridescent Finish |
| Boss Re-Crisis | Defeat boss in Protocol Space | Beat boss in “Deep Dive” (<120s/240s) | Chromatic Animation |
| Ultimate Weaponry | Acquire a 6-star weapon | Reach Total Skill Level 25 | Glowing Certification |
| Exploration | Visit all Tele-Protocol Points | Open ~95% of region crates | Gilded Frame |
| Wondrous Medals | Complete hidden tasks | Usually binary (unlocked/hidden) | Unique Iconography |
2. The Umbral Monument: Testing Your Limits
The Umbral Monument is the permanent endgame of Endfield. Unlike seasonal events that disappear, this is a fixed benchmark. To even start this journey, you need to reach Authority Level 30 and finish the “Paving the Way” process in Chapter I.
The “Agony Mode” Ruleset
To trim an Umbral Monument medal, you have to clear the entire series on Agony Difficulty. This isn’t just “more HP/more DMG”; it fundamentally changes how you play:
- No Tactical Items: Forget your healing sprays and gadgets. You rely entirely on your Operators’ skills and your ability to parry.
- Permadeath: If an Operator falls, they stay down. If your main DPS dies, the run is usually over because of the strict 10-minute timer.
- Mechanical Punishments: Agony mode adds modifiers that target specific playstyles.
Case Study: Inorganic Construct Stage 3 In this stage against the Walking Chrysopolis, the modifier makes dodging cost 15% of your current HP. If you spam the dodge button like you’re playing a standard action game, you’ll kill yourself faster than the boss will. The “Trim” here requires you to master Parrying or use Operators with high Stability to tank hits without moving.
3. Boss Re-Crisis: The “TTK” Meta
“Time-to-Kill” (TTK) is the name of the game for Re-Crisis trimming. These medals require you to enter Deep Dive difficulty and obliterate bosses within very narrow windows.
Rhodagn: The 120-Second Shield Check
Rhodagn (The Bonekrushing Fist) has a massive energy shield. To get the trim, you need to break that shield and the boss in under two minutes.
- The Meta: Players use the Endministrator and Gilberta. The Administrator’s Ultimate creates a field that allows Gilberta’s multi-hit attacks to shred the shield in seconds.
Triaggelos & Marble Aggelomoirai: The 240-Second Dance
These bosses give you four minutes, but they are much more mobile.
- Triaggelos: It loves to dash away. Trimming requires “Stunlocking”—using Operators like Alesh or Chen Qianyu to apply “Lift” or “Stun” so the boss can’t escape your big damage windows.
- Marble Aggelomoirai: This boss is tanky. Most players use Ginseng Meat Stew (27% ATK buff) and a “Stagger Build” to keep the boss vulnerable for as long as possible.
4. The “Ultimate Weaponry” Trim (The Math)
This is arguably the hardest medal to trim because it’s a resource sink. It requires a weapon to reach a Total Skill Level of 25. Since each of the three weapon skills caps at Level 9, you need near-perfection ($9 + 9 + 7 = 25$).
How to hit Level 25:
- Weapon Tuning (Level 90): You must tune the weapon to Stage 4. This is the only way to unlock the cap for the first two skills to reach Level 9.
- Weapon Potential (Duplicates): The third skill is gated by “Potential.” To get it high enough to reach the 25 total, you usually need several duplicates of the weapon.
- Essence Etching: You need high-tier Essences that have been maxed out to provide the final “bump” to these stats.
Pro-Tip for F2P Players: You don’t need a Potential 5 6-star weapon (which is very expensive). Many 5-star weapons share the same Essence type as their 6-star counterparts. You can max out a 5-star weapon (easier to get duplicates for), use a “Perfect” Essence, and still secure the trim.
5. Industrial Support: Logistics Matter
You cannot separate the combat from the factory. To achieve these trims, your Wuling and Valley IV bases must be optimized.
- Elite 4 (E4) Materials: The materials needed to push an Operator or weapon to the level caps are concentrated in the Wuling region.
- Consumables: A successful Deep Dive run often depends on high-tier food buffs. If your factory isn’t pumping out Ginseng and meat, your DPS will likely fall short of the 120-second mark.
6. Hidden “Wondrous” Medals
Finally, there are the secret achievements. These don’t show up in your log until you do them. While they don’t have “trimmed” variants, they are often iridescent by default.
- Shoulder to Shoulder Delivery: Stop using the Tele-Protocol and deliver goods in person multiple times.
- Immense Trust: Max out the Trust levels of multiple Operators through recruitment and interaction.
The Verdict: Mastery Over FOMO
Unlike many modern RPGs that use seasonal “Fear Of Missing Out” (FOMO) to drive players, Arknights: Endfield focuses on permanence. These trimmed medals are always there, waiting for you to get stronger, smarter, and more efficient.
Trimming a medal isn’t just about having the best gear; it’s about proving you understand the mechanics of Talos-II better than anyone else.
Would you like me to break down a specific team composition or gear set for one of the Agony Mode stages?