UmbralMonument
Endfield's Permanent Endgame Mode. Series 6: Howlers of the Crag
Last updated: 2026-08-08
Complete guide to Umbral Monument in Arknights: Endfield, featuring the current 6th series, Howlers of the Crag (launched August 6, 2026). Covers unlock requirements, all four stages and the modifier each one uses to disable a standard tactic, the Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl event window closing August 20, Normal vs Agony modes, medal rewards, team building fundamentals, and archives for Series 5 Contention of Deathly Silences and Series 4 Turbidity Manifest.
*TL;DR - Key Points
- * Permanent Endgame Mode -- New series rotates in roughly every 6-8 weeks
- * Unlock: Complete Paving the Way + Authority Level 30
- * 4-Operator Teams -- Each stage limits you to 4 operators
- * Current Series 6: Howlers of the Crag -- Launched August 6, 2026 with version 1.4, four new stages
- * Normal & Agony Modes -- Clear Normal to unlock Agony (tacticals banned). Agony pays the same items, only the medal differs
- * Every Series 6 stage disables a standard tactic -- kill order, stagger, SP regeneration, and infliction cost each get rewritten
- * Archives on this page -- Series 5 Contention of Deathly Silences and Series 4 Turbidity Manifest deep dives further down
- * Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl -- Bonus event runs August 6, 12:00 to August 20, 04:00 server time
Video Guides
Full-run video walkthroughs for the Series 4 Turbidity Manifest stages: Stage 3 (Tidal Grief), Stage 5 (Blood Debased), and Stage 6 (Cryostatic Connection) with commentary. All three stages remain permanently playable.
Turbidity Manifest Video Guides
Tidal Grief Stage 3: Ardelia Solo Cheese
May 26
Blood Debased Stage 5: Turbidity Manifest Guide
May 26
Cryostatic Connection Stage 6: Turbidity Manifest Guide
May 26
Series 5 Archive: Contention of Deathly Silences
Full-run video walkthroughs for the Series 5 Contention of Deathly Silences stages, which remain permanently playable. Stage 3 (Ritual Vortex) is the caster boss day-one players kept dying to, cleared with a free-to-play heat comp that tanks the boss's ultimate with Ember. Series 6 video guides are in production.
Contention of Deathly Silences Video Guides
Deathly Silences Stage 3: Ritual Vortex F2P Team
Jul 26
Contents
What is Umbral Monument?
Umbral Monument is Arknights: Endfield's permanent high-difficulty endgame combat mode, originally released February 12, 2026. It is designed for players who have completed the main story progression and want challenging content that tests team building and combat execution. New themed series rotate into the same hub every 6-8 weeks. The current rotation is the 6th series, Howlers of the Crag, launched August 6, 2026.
Permanent Mode
Past series stay accessible permanently. Only the bonus event reward windows are time-gated.
Series System
Each themed series brings new stage mechanics. So far: Those Forsaken by the Land, Inorganic Construct, Searing Scars, Turbidity Manifest, Contention of Deathly Silences, and Howlers of the Crag.
4-Operator Teams
Each battle is limited to 4 operators. Every slot matters -- bring the right tools for each stage's mechanics.
Medal System
Earn Engraved Medals for clearing a series in Normal. Trimmed medals require all-Agony clears -- the ultimate flex.
Pro Tip: Check Enemy Intel
Before starting a stage, check the Enemy Intel button in the stage selection screen. It shows enemy types, resistances, and attack patterns, essential for building the right team for each stage. For full enemy rosters across every series (Normal Lv 60 and Agony Lv 90 tiers), see the Umbral Monument Database.
How to Unlock
1. Complete Paving the Way
Finish the main mission Chapter I Process II: Paving the Way. This is a story progression requirement that ensures you have completed the main campaign before tackling endgame content.
2. Reach Authority Level 30
Earn Operational EXP by spending Sanity, completing missions, and finishing daily tasks. Authority Level 30 represents significant account progression and ensures you have the resources to build competitive teams.
Current Series: Howlers of the Crag (Series 6)
Howlers of the Crag is the sixth Umbral Monument series, launched August 6, 2026 at 12:00 server time as part of Version 1.4. Four new stages join the permanent hub, each with Normal and Agony modes, alongside the limited-time Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl event. For the full launch breakdown, per-stage mechanics, Craghowler's stat block, and reward details, see the Howlers of the Crag series guide. Full patch context is on the Version 1.4 patch notes page.
Series Timeline
Series 1: Those Forsaken by the Land · Series 2: Inorganic Construct · Series 3: Searing Scars · Series 4: Turbidity Manifest · Series 5: Contention of Deathly Silences · Series 6: Howlers of the Crag (current)
Launch
August 6, 2026, 12:00 server time across all regions. Stages remain permanently playable.
Event Window
Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl runs August 6, 12:00 to August 20, 04:00 server time. Unlike prior Monumental Etching events, this one has a hard published end date rather than running until the next version. Bonus rewards vanish after it closes.
Four Stages
The shortest full series since Searing Scars. Each stage has Normal (Lv. 60) and Agony (Lv. 90, no tacticals) modes. Clear all four in Agony for the trimmed medal.
Per-Stage Rewards
24,000 T-Creds, 3 Advanced Cognitive Carrier, 1 Mark of Perseverance, 8 Protohedron, and 5 Arms INSP Set. Identical in Normal and Agony, so Agony is purely a medal chase.
Four-Stage Overview
The design theme this series is constraint: every stage installs a modifier that disables a normally-reliable tactic. Stage modifier text is sourced from Game8's Version 1.4 stage pages; the enemy stat blocks below come from our own datamined enemy database.
| Stage | Theme | What It Disables |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Visitors of Qingbo | Mixed Cangzei raider wave, Road Plunderer elite | Focus-fire, kills permanently buff survivors |
| Stage 2: Earthshaking Hazefyre | Bonekrusher Pyromancer boss, endless adds | Stagger, boss is immune to Stagger DMG |
| Stage 3: Mangler and Friends | Armored Manglerbeast boss, rockhowler pack | SP economy, regeneration is switched off |
| Stage 4: King of the Crag | Craghowler boss, squad-wide Stun roars | Infliction cost, statuses never expire |
Stage 1: Visitors of Qingbo
Modifier: Kills Buff the Survivors
Defeating an enemy restores HP to every other enemy and permanently raises their ATK and Max HP. The wave is Road Plunderer, Hill Smasher, Cloud Stalker, Nimbus Razor, and Grove Archer. This inverts the most reflexive habit in the game: picking the wave apart one target at a time hands the last survivor four stacked permanent buffs.
Key Numbers (Road Plunderer, Lv. 90)
- * 733,731 HP / 3,717 ATK / 100 DEF for the Elite (198,003 HP at Lv. 60), poise 320 with 9-second recovery.
- * Physical hits at full value; Heat, Cryo, Electric, and Nature are all resisted at 0.8x. This is the one enemy in the series with a lopsided resistance profile.
- * Grove Archer runs 128,403 HP at Lv. 90, so the chaff dies fast enough that sequencing, not damage, is the real problem.
- * Flatten, don't pick apart: spread damage so health bars fall together, then finish several at once so the stacking buff has minimal time to matter.
- * Break the elite first: clearing chaff while the Road Plunderer watches feeds it four separate permanent ATK buffs before you engage.
- * AoE earns its slot here: wide sweeping kits are worth more than single-target burst, the opposite of most Umbral stages.
Stage 2: Earthshaking Hazefyre
Boss: Bonekrusher Pyromancer (Immune to Stagger DMG)
Despite the stage name the boss is not a Hazefyre beast, it is a Bonekrusher Pyromancer who casts Hazefyre as an ability, damaging all operators continuously. He is harder to interrupt and flatly immune to Stagger DMG. Arts Burst damage is the counter: it deals bonus damage equal to a percentage of his Max HP and temporarily seals him. He also keeps summoning Elite Raiders and Elite Ambushers, and defeating any enemy carrying an Arts Infliction applies one stack of it to everything else on the field.
Key Numbers (Bonekrusher Pyromancer, Lv. 90)
- * 825,447 HP / 4,543 ATK / 100 DEF (222,753 HP at Lv. 60), poise 320 with 9-second recovery.
- * No elemental resistance at all, every element lands at 1.0x. Bring whatever Arts damage hits hardest.
- * 12-meter attack range, the longest in the series by a wide margin, which is why the Hazefyre chip damage is so hard to walk out of.
- * Leave the stagger core home: this is the first Umbral stage where the stagger tier list does not apply to the primary target. Poise-break-then-Finisher produces nothing on him.
- * Arts Burst is the mechanic, not a preference: the %Max HP scaling stays relevant regardless of his health pool, and the seal stops the chip damage.
- * Kill inflicted adds on purpose: the infliction-spread clause turns add waves into your delivery system for pressure on the boss. See the inflictions and reactions guide for which kits apply what.
Stage 3: Mangler and Friends
Modifier: SP Regeneration Disabled
Operators no longer regenerate SP at all. The controlled operator recovers SP only by stepping on banana peels thrown by the rockhowlers. The Armored Manglerbeast periodically casts an ultimate that wipes the peels off the field, deals continuous damage to the whole squad, and grants it high damage reduction while casting. Attack interruptions stop that cast.
- * Leave your SP battery at home: with regeneration off, an operator whose main contribution is feeding the team SP has nothing to feed you. Our SP battery tier list and the SP generators guide are both close to meaningless on this stage. Slot damage, interrupts, or sustain instead.
- * Interrupt uptime is the win condition: the boss ult damages everyone, wipes your only SP source, and makes the boss tanky. Breaking the cast prevents all three at once.
- * Rockhowlers are a resource, not a threat: they are the peel dispensers. Killing them on sight starves you, which is the most common way this stage times out.
- * No stat block yet: neither Rockhowler nor Armored Manglerbeast is in our datamined tables. Both arrived in Version 1.3 alongside Craghowler, placing them in the same Wuling wildlife family.
Stage 4: King of the Crag
Boss: Craghowler (Permanent, Amplified Inflictions)
Combustion, Electrification, Corrosion, Solidification, and Breach applied to the Craghowler become permanent. Combustion, Electrification, Corrosion, Shatter, and Breach also become stronger, and those Arts Reactions and Physical Statuses persist after being consumed. Read together, that means every debuff you land is a permanent, amplified, non-consumable stack. The counter-pressure is Furious Roar, a periodic squad-wide Stun whose duration gradually lengthens in Agony.
Key Numbers (Craghowler, Lv. 90)
- * 1,329,887 HP / 3,304 ATK / 100 DEF (358,880 HP at Lv. 60), poise 320 with 9-second recovery, 2.8-meter attack range.
- * Base resistances: Nature and Ether at 1.0x, Physical, Heat, Electric, and Cryo at 0.8x. But the stage modifier text also states enemies have the same resistance against every element, which contradicts that spread. Treat Nature as a mild edge, not a requirement, and build for infliction variety instead.
- * Applies Slow, per the Version 1.4 patch notes, which specifically improved its visual indicator.
- * Breadth beats burst: a squad that layers four different statuses scales into the fight while a pure single-target comp gets none of the free multiplier. This is the stage where inflictions and reactions stop being background theory.
- * Front-load your damage: escalating Agony Stun windows put a soft time limit on the fight independent of the 10-minute clock. Long fights get strictly worse.
- * Dodge the pillar slam inward: the ground rings expand outward, so move toward the center rather than running away.
Series 5 Archive: Contention of Deathly Silences
Contention of Deathly Silences is the fifth Umbral Monument series, launched July 2, 2026 at 12:00 server time as part of the 1.3 Sketches of Lost Heirlooms update. All six stages remain permanently playable and both medals are still earnable, but its Monumental Etching: Dirge of Grief event closed July 15 at 17:00 (UTC-5). For the full launch breakdown see the Contention of Deathly Silences guide, and for the per-stage deep dive on its hardest fight see the Harrowing Æthillu Stage 5 guide.
Series Design Note
Every enemy in Series 5 shares the same resistance to every element, which made each stage a pure damage-and-timing test. Series 6 goes the other way, installing a distinct tactical constraint per stage instead.
Stage 1: Phalanx of Thorns
Expected Mechanic: Shield Wall
The stage name (CN: a "thorn shield formation") points at shielded enemy lines that punish frontal attacks. Series openers have historically been roster checks rather than gimmick puzzles.
- * Bring guard-break tools: stagger-heavy operators and skills that punish blocking enemies.
- * Flank instead of face-tanking: shield formations in Endfield block from the front; positioning beats raw damage.
- * Check Enemy Intel first: confirm the roster and resistances before locking your team.
Stage 2: Eyes of Solvent Kind
Enemy: Two Tidewalkers (Elite Aggeloi)
A dual-elite fight against two Tidewalkers, the large hovering humanoid Aggeloi ("solvent kind" is the fluid Aggeloi family). They mix tentacle melee strings with Cryo laser volleys that leave delayed detonations, and their hits apply Solidification, freezing the operator they connect with.
Key Numbers (Lv. 90)
- * Base Tidewalker: 825,447 HP / 4,130 ATK; the energized δ variant runs 1,238,171 HP / 4,543 ATK. Both share stagger HP 320, 9-second recovery, and a 1.5x finisher paying 50 SP.
- * Resist Electric and Cryo at 0.8x; Physical, Heat, and Nature all hit at full value.
- * The nine-area ground extension attack is interruptible; the triple laser volley knocks back, applies Cryo Infliction, and leaves delayed detonation marks on the ground.
- * Fight them one at a time: two elites sharing the arena means positioning so only one can reach you; getting sandwiched between tentacle strings is how teams die.
- * Bring a Solidification answer: Xaihi's ultimate cleanses the freeze team-wide, the same panic button that carried Cryostatic Connection.
- * Don't stand on the marks: the laser volley's ground marks detonate late; keep moving after every volley.
Stage 3: Name TBC ("Ritual Vortex")
Day-One Intel: Explosion Burst
The stage day-one players are talking about. Early CN clears flag caster-type enemies whose explosion damage can delete a squishy point operator outright, and successful Agony runs lean on survival-oriented teams over glass cannons.
- * Respect the burst: this is not a stage to face-check with a fragile point operator. Keep HP topped instead of healing reactively.
- * Survival comps are proving out: early Agony clears favor shields and healers over maximum damage.
- * Prioritize the casters: ranged explosive enemies are the kill-first targets; leaving them free-casting is how runs end.
Stage 4: Wading in Raker Turf
Enemy: Rakerbeasts (Elite Wildlife)
The Rakerbeast family headlines this stage. The Glaring Rakerbeast elite runs 1.24M HP at Lv. 90 with fast Physical claw strings, an Enraged state that spams charge-up skills, and a low-HP stealth phase that only ends when you interrupt it.
Key Numbers (Glaring Rakerbeast, Lv. 90)
- * 1,238,171 HP / 4,543 ATK, stagger recovery 9 seconds, finisher pays 1.5x ATK and 50 SP.
- * Resists Cryo and Nature at 0.8x; Physical, Heat, and Electric all hit at full value. Leave the Cryo carries home.
- * Every charge-up is interruptible, including the enrage leaps and the stealth-entry cast.
- * Bring interrupt tools: Chen Qianyu's Momentum Breaker and other stagger skills shut down both the enrage and the stealth phase.
- * Don't chase during stealth: hold your interrupt for the charging animation and it pops the beast straight out.
Stage 5: Harrowing Æthillu
Enemy: Æthillu Phantoms (Revive + Detonate)
Æthillu are ranged phantom wildlife, "manifestations of destruction" summoned by Ardashir's call. Each one revives once after dying, comes back with longer attack range, and can detonate itself for massive damage. The stage is a wave-management fight, not a boss race.
Key Numbers (Æthillu, Lv. 90)
- * 73,373 HP / 3,097 ATK per phantom, 7-meter attack range, short 6-second stagger recovery.
- * 0.8x resistance to every player element (Physical, Heat, Electric, Cryo, Nature). Only Ether hits at 1x, and no playable operator deals Ether, so there is no element cheese: pick your best-built team.
- * Kill everything twice: budget damage for the revive. A wave is not clear until the revived forms are down.
- * Spread out for detonations: the self-destruct is the run-killer; never stack your team on top of a low-HP revived phantom.
- * AoE over single-target: 73k HP phantoms die fast to splash; wave-clear comps (Zhuang Fangyi, Laevatain) fit the enemy density.
Stage 6: Raging Drummer
Boss: Skydrummer (Alpha Howlerbeast)
The Skydrummer is an Alpha-tier howlerbeast whose head and neck membranes unleash hill-shaking howls. Its defining mechanic is the Enraged state at low HP: more frequent charge-up attacks, higher damage, and damage reduction, all of which end when you interrupt it.
Key Numbers (Skydrummer, Lv. 90)
- * 1,100,596 HP / 4,130 ATK, stagger HP 320 with 9-second recovery, finisher pays 1.5x ATK and 50 SP.
- * No resistances at all: every element hits at 1x. Bring your hardest-hitting team regardless of color.
- * Save SP for the enrage: the low-HP Enraged phase is the fight. Interrupt the charge-ups to strip its damage reduction instead of trying to out-DPS it.
- * Same playbook as the Tidalklast: build stagger during charge animations, then dump ultimates in the open window. If you cleared Cryostatic Connection, the rhythm transfers.
Series 4 Archive: Turbidity Manifest
The Turbidity Manifest is the fourth Umbral Monument series. Six stages of escalating water- and corruption-themed challenge, launched May 8, 2026 and permanently playable. The deep-dive guides below cover Stages 3, 5, and 6.
Launch
May 8, 2026, 12:00 server time across all regions. Stages remain permanently playable.
Event Window
Monumental Etching: Corrupting Surge ran May 8 to May 22, 04:00 server time. The bonus Oroberyl window has closed.
Six Stages
Each stage has Normal (Lv. 60) and Agony (Lv. 90, no tacticals) modes. Clear all six in Agony for the trimmed medal.
Equal Resistances
Most enemies share resistances across elements. Your most-built team is your best team. No off-element scramble required.
Six-Stage Overview
| Stage | Theme | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Silent Horizon | Enemies gain ATK the longer the fight runs | |
| Stage 2: Withered Sea | Enhanced enemy stats, wave endurance check | |
| Stage 3: Tidal Grief | Solo-cheeseable, crystal-defense gimmick | Ardelia Solo Cheese → |
| Stage 4: Underflow Chasm | Effigy boss summons waves of Aggeloi | |
| Stage 5: Blood Debased | Imbued Quillbeast boss + endless add spawns | Imbued Quillbeast Guide → |
| Stage 6: Cryostatic Connection | Tidalklast boss, freeze-buff stagger loop | Tidalklast Guide → |
Stage 3: Tidal Grief
Stage Mechanic: Crystal Defense
Blue goos spawn from 24 points and march toward a central crystal. If they pile up there, they detonate together, an unsurvivable damage spike. Win condition is spatial control, not raw DPS.
Ardelia Solo Cheese: Key Points
- * Solo Ardelia run. No other operators in the squad.
- * Lynx set is mandatory, the treatment bonus turns Ardelia's self-heals from "decent" into "literal wall."
- * Push goos away from the central crystal, spread the damage across time.
- * Bank 3 ATB bars before the 8/24 and 12/24 enemy spawn waves.
- * Save Ardelia's ult for the 12/24 wave, the breakpoint where the run lives or dies.
Stage 5: Blood Debased
Stage Mechanic: Add Spam
The Imbued Quillbeast summons regular Quillbeasts on a timer, with the spawn rate ramping up at low boss HP. Lock onto the boss, let your AoE clean the trash, and interrupt the lava-spit charge.
Recommended Teams
Zhuang Fangyi (Electric AoE)
Perlica + Fangyi + Arclight + Antal/Alesh, high-stack AoE turns add spam into free damage stacks.
Yvonne (Cryo Freeze)
Yvonne + Xaihi + Gilberta + Tangtang, Solidification locks adds, Yvonne ults the boss in peace.
Laevatain (Heat Brute Force)
Laevatain + Akekuri + Wulfgard + Ardelia, massive AoE doesn't care how many adds spawn.
Core Loop
- * Tunnel the Imbued Quillbeast, chasing adds wastes damage cycles.
- * Save SP for the lava-spit charge, interrupt the inflate animation for massive Stagger.
- * Use the boss as a shield, position so its body soaks the regular Quillbeasts' projectiles.
Stage 6: Cryostatic Connection
Stage Mechanic: Freeze-Buff Damage Reduction
The Tidalklast hardens its body with ice to gain massive damage reduction. DPS-racing the buff is throwing damage into a wall, the win condition is interrupting its charging animations to build Stagger, then dumping ultimates in the open window.
Recommended Teams
Mono Physical (Best Answer)
Endministrator + Pogranichnik + Chen Qianyu + Lifeng, high base Stagger + Swordmancer Set punches through the buff phase.
Yvonne Cryo (Safe Ranged)
Yvonne + Tangtang + Xaihi + Gilberta, stay out of melee, dump ult during Stagger. Xaihi cleanses Solidification.
F2P Endministrator
Endministrator + Akekuri + Chen Qianyu + Ardelia, budget Mono Physical with Ardelia as the sustain swap.
Core Loop
- 1. Dodge the boss's attacks during the buffed phase.
- 2. Save skills/ults for its charging animations.
- 3. Interrupt to pump Stagger gauge, Chen's Momentum Breaker adds +10 per interrupt.
- 4. Break the buff when the gauge fills.
- 5. Dump damage in the open window before it re-freezes.
Xaihi Is Your Cleanse Button
Xaihi's ultimate dispels Cryo Inflictions and Solidification across the team. Save it for emergencies in Agony, the moment an operator gets frozen, ult Xaihi to break the chain wipe before the auto-swap puts another operator into the freeze zone.
Difficulty Modes
Normal Mode
- -- Tacticals allowed during combat
- -- Recommended Lv. 60
- -- Practice stages and learn mechanics
- -- Required to unlock Agony mode
- -- Rewards: First-clear items, Engraved Medal
Agony Mode
- -- Tacticals prohibited
- -- Lv. 90 enemies, significantly harder stats
- -- Stage 6 twist: Enhanced enemy DMG instantly applies Solidification on hit
- -- More aggressive boss patterns and lower margin for sloppy positioning
- -- Rewards: Trimmed Engraved Medal
Critical Warning: Always practice a stage in Normal mode before attempting Agony. Agony mode requires perfect execution and punishes mistakes severely, especially Stage 6, where a single missed dodge can chain-freeze your entire team.
Rewards
First-Clear Rewards (One-Time)
| Reward | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mark of Perseverance | Profile medal, trimmed version for full Agony clear |
| T-Creds | Standard currency |
| Advanced Cognitive Carrier | Character ascension material |
| Arms INSP Set | Weapon upgrade materials |
| Protohedron | Rare crafting material |
Medal Rewards
Engraved Medal
Awarded for completing every stage of a series in Normal mode (four stages in Howlers of the Crag, six in Series 4 and 5). Shows you've cleared that series.
Trimmed Engraved Medal
Upgraded version awarded for clearing every stage of a series in Agony mode. The ultimate proof of mastery for that series.
Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl (Current)
Limited-time event running alongside Howlers of the Crag. Event window: August 6, 12:00 to August 20, 04:00 server time. Note that this one carries a hard published end date rather than running until the next version update, so do not assume a grace period. Stages remain permanent after the event closes, but the bonus rewards do not. It follows the same recurring challenge structure as prior Monumental Etching events (see the Corrupting Surge table below for reference); check the in-game Event Center for this event's exact tiers.
Monumental Etching: Dirge of Grief (Ended July 15)
The Contention of Deathly Silences event window, July 2, 12:00 to July 15, 17:00 (UTC-5). Its bonus rewards are no longer claimable, though all six Series 5 stages and both medals remain available.
Monumental Etching: Corrupting Surge (Ended May 22)
The Turbidity Manifest's event window, May 8, 12:00 to May 22, 04:00 server time. Kept here as a reference for how Monumental Etching challenge tiers are structured.
| Challenge | Reward |
|---|---|
| Clear each stage once | 150 Oroberyls |
| Participate in Agony Mode 5 times | 150 Oroberyls |
| Deal 500,000 damage | 150 Oroberyls |
| Deal 1,500,000 damage in Agony | 150 Oroberyls |
| Enter stages multiple times | 150 Oroberyls each |
Pro Tip: Manual Claim Required
Monumental Etching rewards are NOT automatically claimed. Visit the in-game event page after every Umbral Monument session and claim your Oroberyls. Once the next version's maintenance begins, the bonus rewards vanish even though the stages stay permanently playable.
Team Building Strategy
Essential Roles
1. Main DPS
Your primary damage dealer. Laevatain, Yvonne, Zhuang Fangyi, or Endministrator.
2. Healer
Mandatory for Agony. Ardelia, Gilberta, Xaihi, or Ember.
3. Sub-DPS/Support
Secondary damage or buffs. Wulfgard, Perlica, or Akekuri.
4. Flex Slot
Adapt to stage needs, Chen Qianyu for Stagger interrupts on Stage 6, Tangtang for AoE control on Stage 5.
Elemental Considerations
Heat (Combustion)
Good sustained damage. Slight C-tier resistance on Quillbeasts but Laevatain shrugs it off.
Electric (Electrification)
Arts DMG Taken debuff. Zhuang Fangyi AoE shines on Stage 5's Quillbeast spam.
Nature (Corrosion)
Resistance reduction. Rare and valuable team-wide buff.
Cryo (Solidification)
Freeze CC on adds. C-tier resist on Tidalklast (Stage 6), Yvonne still works during Stagger windows.
Physical Teams
Physical teams (Crush/Breach) are self-sufficient and don't require other elements. They consume Vulnerability stacks for massive burst damage. Mono Physical is the strongest answer to Stage 6's Tidalklast thanks to its Stagger output.
Arts Intensity Priority
Arts Intensity scales reaction damage:
-- 100 Arts Intensity = 100% bonus damage to reactions
-- Also improves amplification effects (Electrification, Corrosion, Breach)
-- Diminishing returns past 100 on amplification
-- Characters who apply reactions should prioritize this stat
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
1. Focus-Firing on Visitors of Qingbo (Series 6, Stage 1)
Every kill heals the surviving enemies and permanently raises their ATK and Max HP, so deleting targets one at a time hands the last survivor a stack of buffs. Solution: Spread damage so health bars fall together, break the Road Plunderer elite before clearing the chaff, then sweep several enemies at once.
2. Bringing a Stagger Core to Earthshaking Hazefyre (Series 6, Stage 2)
The Bonekrusher Pyromancer is immune to Stagger DMG and harder to interrupt, so the usual poise-break-then-Finisher loop does nothing to him. Solution: Bring Arts damage. Arts Burst deals bonus damage as a percentage of his Max HP and temporarily seals him, which also stops the constant Hazefyre chip.
3. Killing the Rockhowlers on Mangler and Friends (Series 6, Stage 3)
SP regeneration is disabled on this stage, and the rockhowlers' banana peels are your only SP source. Clearing them on sight starves your whole squad. Solution: Keep them alive and producing, collect peels between boss cast windows, and interrupt the Armored Manglerbeast ultimate every time it starts.
4. Playing King of the Crag as a Long Fight (Series 6, Stage 4)
In Agony, the Furious Roar stun duration lengthens as the fight goes on, so a slow attrition run gets progressively worse independent of the 10-minute clock. Solution: Front-load damage, layer as many different inflictions as you can (the stage makes them permanent and stronger), and dodge the pillar slam inward toward the center of the rings.
5. Skipping a Healer in Agony
Agony bans tacticals and consumables on every stage, so your only sustain comes from operator kits. Solution: Always include Ardelia, Gilberta, Xaihi, or Ember in your Agony team.
6. Using the Same Team for Every Stage
Series 6 is built specifically to punish this. Stage 1 wants AoE, Stage 2 wants Arts, Stage 3 wants interrupts and no SP battery, Stage 4 wants infliction breadth. Solution: Rebuild your roster between stages. Operators are not locked after use.
7. Assuming Agony Pays Better
Every Howlers of the Crag stage pays identical items in Normal and Agony. Only the medal differs. Solution: If you are chasing materials before the event deadline, bank four Normal clears first and treat Agony as an optional prestige run.
8. Forgetting to Claim Event Rewards
Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl rewards are not automatically claimed, and this event has a hard end date of August 20, 04:00 server time rather than running until the next version. Solution: Check the event page after every session and claim your rewards immediately.
Quick Reference Checklist
Before Starting
Complete Chapter I Process II: Paving the Way
Reach Authority Level 30
Build at least 2 different 4-operator teams
Level main DPS to recommended level
Stage 3: Tidal Grief
Equip Ardelia with full Lynx set (treatment bonus)
Run solo. No other operators in the squad
Push goos away from the central crystal
Bank 3 ATB bars before the 8/24 spawn
Save Ardelia's ult for the 12/24 wave
Stage 5: Blood Debased
Tunnel the Imbued Quillbeast: let AoE clear the adds
Save SP for the lava-spit charge interrupt
Position so the boss body shields you from add projectiles
Bring AoE: Zhuang Fangyi, Yvonne, or Laevatain
Skip tacticals planning for Agony, Ardelia replaces them
Stage 6: Cryostatic Connection
Don't DPS-race the freeze-buff phase, wait for stagger
Use Chen Qianyu's Momentum Breaker for +10 stagger interrupts
Keep melee carries away from the boss during buff phase
Hold Xaihi's ult as a Solidification cleanse panic button
Save big ultimates for the Staggered window
Series 6: Howlers of the Crag
Series opened August 6, 2026 at 12:00 server time (permanent)
Clear all four Normal stages for the engraved medal
Clear all four Agony stages for the trimmed medal
Agony pays the same items as Normal, only the medal differs
Collect Mark of Perseverance, Advanced Cognitive Carrier, Arms INSP Set, Protohedron
Stage 1: Visitors of Qingbo
Do not focus-fire, every kill permanently buffs the survivors
Bring health bars down together, then sweep several at once
Break the Road Plunderer elite before clearing the chaff
Bring AoE, the Road Plunderer resists everything except Physical
Stage 2: Earthshaking Hazefyre
Bring Arts damage, the boss is immune to Stagger DMG
Use Arts Burst to seal him and deal %Max HP bonus damage
Kill inflicted adds on purpose to spread the infliction
Plan sustain, his 12m range makes the Hazefyre chip hard to escape
Stage 3: Mangler and Friends
Leave your SP battery at home, SP regeneration is disabled
Keep rockhowlers alive, they are the only SP source
Step on banana peels between boss cast windows
Interrupt the Armored Manglerbeast ultimate every time
Stage 4: King of the Crag
Bring infliction breadth, all statuses become permanent and stronger
Front-load damage, Agony Furious Roar stuns get longer over time
Dodge the pillar slam inward, toward the center of the rings
Expect Slow, and respect the 2.8m melee threat zone
Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl
Event runs Aug 6, 12:00 to Aug 20, 04:00 server time
Bank all four Normal clears before the deadline
Manually claim rewards from the event page, they are not automatic
Series 5: Contention of Deathly Silences (Archive)
Series opened July 2, 2026 at 12:00 server time (permanent)
Clear all six Normal stages for the engraved medal
Clear all six Agony stages for the trimmed medal
Collect Mark of Perseverance, Advanced Cognitive Carrier, Arms INSP Set, Protohedron
Monumental Etching: Dirge of Grief (Ended July 15)
Event ran July 2, 12:00 to July 15, 17:00 (UTC-5)
Deathly Silences stages remain permanently playable
Engraved and trimmed medals are still earnable anytime
Monumental Etching: Corrupting Surge (Ended May 22)
Event ran May 8 to May 22, 04:00 server time
Turbidity Manifest stages remain permanently playable
Engraved and trimmed medals are still earnable anytime
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Howlers of the Crag in Arknights: Endfield?
Howlers of the Crag is the sixth Umbral Monument series, launched August 6, 2026 at 12:00 server time with Version 1.4. It adds four new stages, each with Normal and Agony modes, and stays permanently available. Clearing every stage rewards the Mark of Perseverance medal, Advanced Cognitive Carrier, an Arms INSP Set, and Protohedron. A limited-time bonus event, Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl, runs from August 6 at 12:00 until August 20 at 04:00 server time.
What are the four stages in Howlers of the Crag?
In order: Visitors of Qingbo, Earthshaking Hazefyre, Mangler and Friends, and King of the Crag. Each installs a modifier that disables a normally-reliable tactic. Stage 1 permanently buffs surviving enemies whenever you kill one, Stage 2's Bonekrusher Pyromancer boss is immune to Stagger DMG and must be sealed with Arts Burst, Stage 3 removes operator SP regeneration entirely, and Stage 4 makes every Arts Infliction on the Craghowler permanent, stronger, and persistent after consumption.
Why is stagger not working in Earthshaking Hazefyre?
The Bonekrusher Pyromancer boss on Stage 2 is immune to Stagger DMG and is also harder to interrupt than normal, so the usual poise-break-then-Finisher loop produces nothing on him. Arts Burst damage is the intended lever instead: it deals bonus damage equal to a percentage of his Max HP and temporarily seals him, stopping the constant Hazefyre chip damage. He has no elemental resistance at all, so bring whatever Arts damage hits hardest.
How do I get SP in Mangler and Friends?
Stage 3 disables operator SP regeneration completely. The only SP source is stepping on the banana peels thrown by the rockhowlers, so keep them alive rather than clearing them on sight. The Armored Manglerbeast periodically casts an ultimate that wipes the peels off the field, damages the whole squad, and grants it high damage reduction while casting. Attack interruptions stop that cast, which is the single most valuable thing your team can do on this stage.
What element counters the Craghowler on King of the Crag?
By its base datamined values, Craghowler takes full damage from Nature and Ether while resisting Physical, Heat, Electric, and Cryo at 0.8x. However, the King of the Crag stage modifier text states that enemies have the same resistance against every element, which suggests the stage flattens that spread in-fight. We cannot confirm which reading is correct from outside the game, so treat Nature as a mild edge and build for infliction variety instead, since the stage makes every status you apply permanent and stronger.
Is Agony mode worth running in Howlers of the Crag?
Only for the trimmed medal. Every stage pays identical items in Normal and Agony: 24,000 T-Creds, 3 Advanced Cognitive Carrier, 1 Mark of Perseverance, 8 Protohedron, and 5 Arms INSP Set. Agony raises enemies to Lv. 90, bans Tacticals and consumables on all four stages, and on Stage 4 makes the Furious Roar stun duration lengthen as the fight goes on. If you are chasing materials before the Beastly Howl deadline, four Normal clears bank the full payout.
What was Contention of Deathly Silences?
Contention of Deathly Silences is the fifth Umbral Monument series, launched July 2, 2026 at 12:00 server time with the 1.3 Sketches of Lost Heirlooms update. It added six stages, each with Normal and Agony modes, and remains permanently available now that Series 6 has taken over as the current rotation. Its bonus event, Monumental Etching: Dirge of Grief, closed July 15 at 17:00 (UTC-5), but the stages and both medals are still earnable at any time.
What are the six stages in Contention of Deathly Silences?
In order: Phalanx of Thorns, Eyes of Solvent Kind, a third stage whose English name is still being confirmed (its CN name translates to roughly Ritual Vortex), Wading in Raker Turf, Harrowing Æthillu, and Raging Drummer. Stage 2 is a dual-elite fight against two Tidewalkers that apply Solidification, Stage 4 features the Rakerbeast elite family, Stage 5 runs waves of self-detonating Æthillu phantoms, and Stage 6 is a Skydrummer boss fight built around interrupting its Enraged state.
What is the Turbidity Manifest in Arknights: Endfield?
The Turbidity Manifest is the fourth Umbral Monument series, launched May 8, 2026 at 12:00 server time. It introduced six stages (Normal and Agony) themed around water-corrupted creatures, including the Imbued Quillbeast on Stage 5 and the Tidalklast on Stage 6. The series is permanent; its bonus event window (Monumental Etching: Corrupting Surge) closed May 22 at 04:00 server time.
When does Umbral Monument unlock?
Umbral Monument unlocks after completing Chapter I Process II: Paving the Way and reaching Authority Level 30. Each new series (currently the 6th, Howlers of the Crag) is added to the same Umbral Monument hub. Once unlocked, you have access to every series.
What's the difference between Normal and Agony in the Turbidity Manifest?
Normal mode is Lv. 60-recommended and allows tacticals and consumables. Agony mode is Lv. 90, bans tacticals and consumables, and adds series-specific twists. Most painfully on Stage 6 (Cryostatic Connection), where every successful enemy hit instantly applies Solidification, freezing the operator. Clear all six stages on Agony for the trimmed medal.
Can I solo Stage 3: Tidal Grief?
Yes, Tidal Grief is solo-cheeseable with Ardelia in a full Lynx set. The stage's failure condition is geometric (blue goos piling on the central crystal), not raw DPS, so spatial control + Ardelia's self-heal + the Lynx treatment bonus is enough to outlast the run. Bank ATB before the 8/24 and 12/24 spawn waves and save Ardelia's ult for 12/24.
Why does Yvonne work on Stage 6 if Tidalklast resists Cryo?
The C-tier Cryo resistance is real, but Yvonne's burst windows hit during the boss's Staggered phase (when its ice-buff damage reduction drops). Her single-target damage in that window is high enough to compensate for the resistance. Pair her with Xaihi, whose ultimate cleanses Cryo Inflictions and Solidification team-wide, for an Agony-safe ranged comp.
How do I get the Monumental Etching: Beastly Howl rewards?
Beastly Howl runs from August 6, 2026 at 12:00 server time until August 20 at 04:00 server time. Like prior Monumental Etching events, you complete Umbral Monument challenges (clearing stages, entering Agony mode, hitting damage thresholds) to earn event rewards. Rewards must be claimed manually from the in-game event page. They are not automatic, and they vanish when the event closes even though the four Howlers of the Crag stages remain permanently playable. The earlier Dirge of Grief event for Series 5 closed July 15 at 17:00 (UTC-5) and can no longer be claimed.
Can I still get the Monumental Etching: Corrupting Surge Oroberyls?
No. The Corrupting Surge event window ran May 8 to May 22, 2026, 04:00 server time, and its bonus Oroberyls are no longer claimable. The Turbidity Manifest stages themselves remain permanently playable, and the engraved and trimmed medals can still be earned at any time.
Umbral Monument Series Guides
Howlers of the Crag Series Guide (Series 6)
The current series: all four stage modifiers, Craghowler's stat block, team picks per stage, and the Beastly Howl deadline.
Contention of Deathly Silences Launch Guide (Series 5)
The previous series: launch details, unlock requirements, rewards, and the six-stage breakdown.
Turbidity Manifest Series Overview
Launch breakdown, six-stage framing, prep checklist, and the limited-event reward window in detail.
Stage 3: Tidal Grief, Ardelia Solo Cheese
Solo YOLO with Lynx-set Ardelia. ATB management at 8/24 and 12/24 spawn waves.
Stage 5: Blood Debased, Imbued Quillbeast
AoE-friendly comps for Zhuang Fangyi, Yvonne, and Laevatain. Tunnel the boss, AoE the adds.
Stage 6: Cryostatic Connection, Tidalklast
Mono Physical and Yvonne Cryo team comps. Stagger the freeze-buff, dump damage in the open window.
Umbral Monument Database
All battle stages across every rotation with enemy rosters at Normal (Lv 60) and Agony (Lv 90) tiers, boss and elite portrait catalog included.
Series 2 Archive: Inorganic Construct Best Teams
Stage-by-stage team builds for the Inorganic Construct series, still permanent, still farmable.
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