DEPOT NODES GUIDE
Locations, Storage Upgrades, AIC Integration & Delivery Unlocks
Last updated: 2026-02-03
* TL;DR - Key Points
- * 4 Depot Nodes total: 3 in Valley IV (Originium Science Park, Origin Lodespring, Power Plateau) + 1 in Wuling
- * Upgrade costs: Level 1 (4,500), Level 2 (40,000, unlocks delivery), Level 3 (240,000 Stock Bills)
- * Valley IV max capacity: 80,000 units per item type (3 nodes maxed); Wuling: 48,000
- * Capacity is per item type, not a shared total -- default stack cap is 8,000 before upgrades
- * AIC integration: 6 PAC ports per node, plus Depot Bus for additional I/O via Loaders/Unloaders
- * AIC Index costs: Expansion I (15 pts), Depot Bus (20 pts), Power I (25 pts)
- * Protocol Stash returns outputs to depot without consuming bus slots -- ideal for high-throughput lines
Contents
What Are Depot Nodes
Depot Nodes are regional storage hubs that sit at the intersection of exploration, factory automation, and the outpost economy. They control how much of each item you can store, enable delivery jobs for Stock Bill income, and connect your AIC factory production lines to the broader game economy.
Storage
Raise per-item storage caps across the region. Higher caps mean your factories can stockpile more without hitting limits.
Delivery
Level 2+ nodes unlock delivery jobs that convert stored goods into Stock Bills via the transport system.
AIC Bridge
Connect factory production to depot storage via PAC ports and the Depot Bus for automated logistics.
Why They Matter
Without upgraded Depot Nodes, your factory output hits storage caps and stalls, Outpost Orders cannot pull items because the depot is full, and delivery income is locked entirely. Depot Nodes are the bottleneck that governs your entire economic throughput.
All 4 Depot Node Locations
There are four Depot Nodes spread across the game's regions. Three are in Valley IV and one is in Wuling. Each must be individually discovered and activated.
| # | Region | Location | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley IV | Originium Science Park | AIC Steward quest (Depot Node I) -- unmissable story node |
| 2 | Valley IV | Origin Lodespring | North of Mines Cable Car Station TP -- after Lodespring Crossing mission |
| 3 | Valley IV | Power Plateau | West of Plateau Trunkway TP -- during "Entering the Endgame" mission |
| 4 | Wuling | Tianjing Courtyard (South) | After "Destination Wuling" mission -- defeat enemies, activate bridge, costs 12,500 Wuling Stock Bills |
Valley IV (3 Nodes)
The first node at Originium Science Park is part of the mandatory tutorial. The other two require progressing through Lodespring Crossing and the endgame missions respectively. All three use Valley Stock Bills for upgrades.
Wuling (1 Node)
The Wuling node is gated behind the "Destination Wuling" main mission and costs 12,500 Wuling Stock Bills just to activate. It operates on the separate Wuling Stock Bill economy and serves the entire Wuling region's storage needs alone.
Pro Tip: Don't Skip Exploration Nodes
The Origin Lodespring and Power Plateau nodes are easy to walk past during exploration. Make a point to activate them as soon as you access their respective areas. Even a Level 1 upgrade on a second node expands your total regional storage significantly.
Upgrade Costs & Benefits
Each Depot Node can be upgraded through three tiers. Every tier increases storage capacity and may unlock new functionality. Upgrades are paid with the regional Stock Bill currency.
| Upgrade | Cost (Stock Bills) | Storage Added | Cumulative | Features Unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 0 to 1 | 4,500 | +3,000 | 3,000 | Basic Depot storage |
| Level 1 to 2 | 40,000 | +6,000 | 9,000 | Goods Delivery, Light Miscellany, Small Crates |
| Level 2 to 3 | 240,000 | +12,000 | 21,000 | Raw Materials, Medium Crates packing |
Total Investment Per Node
Total to Level 3 -- 284,500 Stock Bills (4,500 + 40,000 + 240,000)
All 3 Valley Nodes -- 853,500 Valley Stock Bills total
Wuling Node -- 284,500 Wuling Stock Bills + 12,500 activation
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Level 1 is cheap and essential. Level 2 is the critical unlock (delivery income + 6,000 more storage). Level 3 is expensive but provides the most storage per upgrade (+12,000) and unlocks higher-value delivery crates. Level 2 on your first node is the single highest-priority upgrade in the Depot system.
Storage Capacity
Understanding how depot storage works is critical because the capacity system is not intuitive. The limit applies per item type, not as a shared pool.
How Capacity Works
Per Item Type -- The capacity limit defines the maximum quantity for each individual item type, not the total number of items stored. You can store up to the limit for each item independently.
Default Stack Cap -- Before any upgrades, items cap at 8,000 units per stack, which quickly becomes restrictive with mass-produced trade goods.
Node Stacking -- Multiple nodes in the same region contribute to a shared regional capacity pool. More upgraded nodes = higher regional per-item limit.
Regional Capacity Limits
| Region | Nodes | Max Capacity (All Maxed) | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley IV | 3 | 80,000 per item type | Valley Stock Bills |
| Wuling | 1 | 48,000 per item type | Wuling Stock Bills |
Pro Tip: Monitor Storage Levels
If your factories are producing items that consistently hit the depot cap, it means production is outpacing consumption. Either increase Outpost Orders to drain the excess, run deliveries to convert surplus to Stock Bills, or upgrade more nodes to raise the ceiling. A full depot is a silent economy killer.
AIC Factory Integration
On the AIC factory side, the Depot is the central storage that all factories in the same region read from and write to. Understanding the connection points is key to efficient automation.
PAC Ports (Direct Connection)
Each Depot Node has 6 PAC ports for direct belt connections to your AIC production lines. Items routed via conveyor belt to a PAC port transfer directly into the Depot.
PAC ports are limited to 6 per node. For factories that need more connections, you must use the Depot Bus system.
Depot Bus System
The Depot Bus creates a shared resource highway between factories and the Depot, extending beyond the 6 PAC port limit.
Bus Loaders -- Push items from production lines onto the shared bus
Bus Unloaders -- Pull items off the bus into Depot storage
AIC Index Research Costs
| Research Node | AIC Index Points | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion I | 15 | Expands AIC area for more facilities |
| Depot Bus | 20 | Unlocks Bus Loaders and Unloaders for depot I/O |
| Power I | 25 | Increases available power for facilities |
Protocol Stash Bypass
Protocol Stash structures transfer items directly to Depot storage without consuming Depot Bus slots. This makes them ideal for high-throughput production lines where bus congestion is a concern. If you are running a continuous loop (like the Sandleaf Powder chain), Protocol Stash is the more efficient routing choice.
Troubleshooting Depot Connections
If items are not moving into the Depot, check that: all buildings have power, belts are correctly snapped to depot interfaces, and the target depot stack is not full. A full stack for a specific item silently blocks the entire belt line feeding that item.
Upgrade Priority Strategy
With limited Stock Bills, knowing what to upgrade first makes a meaningful difference in your progression speed.
Recommended Upgrade Order
- 1. First node to Level 1 -- Basic storage to start feeding Outpost Orders (4,500 bills)
- 2. First node to Level 2 -- Unlocks Delivery Jobs, the critical income source (40,000 bills)
- 3. Second node to Level 1 -- Expands regional storage capacity cheaply (4,500 bills)
- 4. First node to Level 3 -- Higher-value delivery crates and +12,000 storage (240,000 bills)
- 5. Spread remaining upgrades -- Balance across nodes for maximum regional capacity
Early Regions First
Upgrade depots in Valley IV first. Costs increase sharply in later regions (Wuling activation alone costs 12,500), and Valley IV has three nodes giving more total capacity per bill spent.
Level 2 ROI
The Level 2 upgrade (40,000 bills) pays for itself in one delivery run (~55,000 bills at full integrity). This is the single best investment in the entire Depot system.
Delivery Unlock at Level 2
Upgrading any Depot Node to Level 2 unlocks the Goods Delivery system, opening a significant Stock Bill income stream.
What Level 2 Unlocks
Goods Delivery -- Pack goods from your Depot and deliver them to NPCs for Stock Bills
Light Miscellany Packing -- Basic delivery items available immediately at Level 2
Small Crates Packing -- Packaged goods with moderate delivery value
Level 3 Adds More
Upgrading further to Level 3 (240,000 Stock Bills) unlocks Raw Materials and Medium Crates packing, which yield higher Stock Bill returns per delivery run.
Full Delivery Guide
For the complete delivery walkthrough including cargo integrity mechanics, zipline routes, friend transfers, and optimization strategies, see the Delivery Jobs Guide.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
1. Ignoring Depot Node Upgrades
Storage limits throttle your entire economy. If Outpost Orders cannot pull items because the Depot is full, you lose income. A maxed production line feeding a capped depot is production wasted.
2. Skipping the Level 2 Upgrade
The 40,000 Stock Bill cost pays for itself in a single delivery run. Every day you delay Level 2 is a day of lost delivery income. This is the highest-ROI upgrade in the system.
3. Confusing Capacity with Total Storage
Capacity is per item type. Having 80,000 capacity does not mean 80,000 total items -- it means each item type can stack up to that regional limit independently. This is a common source of confusion.
4. Bottlenecking on 6 PAC Ports
Once your factory grows beyond simple production chains, 6 direct connections are not enough. Research the Depot Bus (20 AIC Index points) for additional Loader/Unloader I/O that scales with your factory complexity.
5. Not Using Protocol Stash for High-Throughput Lines
Protocol Stash bypasses bus congestion and transfers instantly to the depot. For continuous production loops (like Sandleaf Powder), routing through Protocol Stash instead of the bus prevents bottlenecks.
6. Upgrading Only One Node
Spreading upgrades across multiple nodes provides more total storage per region. A Level 1 upgrade on a second node (4,500 bills) adds 3,000 capacity cheaply, compared to the steep cost of pushing your first node from Level 2 to 3.
7. Forgetting the Wuling Node
The Wuling Depot Node operates on Wuling Stock Bills and serves the entire Wuling economy. Its 48,000 max capacity is all you have in that region -- neglecting it caps your Wuling progression.
8. Not Automating Factory-to-Depot Flow
Manual item transport is slow and does not scale. Automate with belts to PAC ports, Protocol Stashes, or the Depot Bus. Your factories should feed the Depot continuously without player intervention.
Quick Reference Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Depot Nodes are in Arknights: Endfield?
There are 4 Depot Nodes total. Three in Valley IV (Originium Science Park, Origin Lodespring near Mines Cable Car Station, Power Plateau west of Plateau Trunkway TP) and one in Wuling (south of Tianjing Courtyard after the Destination Wuling mission).
How much does it cost to upgrade Depot Nodes in Arknights: Endfield?
Level 0 to 1 costs 4,500 Stock Bills and adds 3,000 storage. Level 1 to 2 costs 40,000 Stock Bills, adds 6,000 storage, and unlocks delivery jobs. Level 2 to 3 costs 240,000 Stock Bills and adds 12,000 storage. Total per node to max: 284,500 Stock Bills.
What is the maximum Depot storage capacity in Arknights: Endfield?
Valley IV can reach 80,000 units per item type across 3 maxed nodes. Wuling reaches 48,000 units from its single maxed node. Capacity is per item type, not a shared total across all items.
How does the Depot Bus connect to Depot Nodes in Arknights: Endfield?
The Depot Bus is a shared logistics highway researched via AIC Index for 20 points. Bus Loaders push items from factory production onto the bus, and Bus Unloaders pull them off into Depot storage. This supplements the 6 PAC ports each Depot Node provides for direct AIC connections.
When do deliveries unlock at Depot Nodes in Arknights: Endfield?
Delivery jobs unlock when you upgrade any Depot Node to Level 2 (costs 40,000 Valley Stock Bills). This also requires completing the AIC Steward questline. Level 2 grants Light Miscellany and Small Crates packing; Level 3 adds Raw Materials and Medium Crates.