Progress in Endfield usually comes down to two things: keeping your factory running and making sure your main damage dealer is actually built right. If you're still trying to figure out the explosive quest or you're comparing Arknights endfield accounts before jumping deeper into Talos-2, it helps to understand how these systems connect. Industrial Explosives aren't just a side item. They open blocked routes, reveal hidden loot, and save a lot of backtracking. On the combat side, Zhuang Fangyi is still one of the cleanest Electric carries in the game, but only if you lean into what her kit really wants.
Getting Industrial Explosives Online
The quest starts after you reach the Temporary Shelter and check Andre's message. From there, the real gate is research. You need Packaging Tech under Basic AIC II before the recipe even becomes practical. Once that's done, the chain is pretty simple, though it takes a bit of setup. First, collect Amethyst Ore near the Bridge Approach in The Hub. Run that through a Refining Unit to make Amethyst Fiber, then send it into a Fitting Unit for Amethyst Parts. After that, take Aketine and process it in a Shredding Unit until you get Aketine Powder. The last step is placing a Packaging Unit close to a Sub-PAC, then feeding in both materials. A lot of players miss the placement part at first, and that's usually why the line stalls.
Why Aketine Farming Matters
You can gather Aketine by hand in Valley Pass near the Abandoned Trail, but honestly, that gets old fast. The better move is automation. Put one Aketine plant into a Seed-Picking Unit and you'll get two seeds back. That's the little trick that turns a limited resource into a loop. Feed those seeds into Planting Units, let them grow, then route the harvest straight into Shredding Units. Once the line is connected, your explosive production more or less runs itself. You notice the difference pretty quickly when you're exploring, because you stop worrying about whether the next blocked path is worth using a bomb on.
Building Zhuang Fangyi Properly
Zhuang Fangyi works best when you stop treating her like a generic DPS and build fully around Electric output. Lone Barge is the standout weapon because it gives her the stats she needs and pushes her Electric damage hard whenever she consumes Electrification or fires her Ultimate. If you don't have it, Flickers in the Mist is still a very solid pick thanks to how often she keeps her buffs active. Oblivion also works, especially if your build leans into Intellect. For gear, Xiranflow is the easiest recommendation. It gives her ATK and keeps stacking Electric damage as she plays normally, which is exactly what you want. Bonekrusha can work if you're trying to pump one specific Battle Skill, but most players will get steadier results from Xiranflow over a full fight.
Teams That Actually Let Her Shine
Zhuang Fangyi feels best in teams that keep Electrification on enemies without making her do all the setup herself. Perlica, Avywenna, and Arclight is a strong premium shell because it keeps her rotations smooth and lets her cash out damage more often. A cheaper setup with Perlica, Antal, and Ardelia still gets the job done. Antal helps boost Electric application, while Ardelia keeps the team stable and softens tougher targets with Arts-related pressure. If you're trying to speed up progression, farm smarter, or pick up useful game resources from a marketplace like U4GM while refining your account plans, the big picture stays the same: automate your factory early, then build your best carry around the status effects they actually need.
