As Arknights: Endfield expands its reach, a vibrant community of modders has emerged to provide technical enhancements and visual refinements for the PC version. These community-driven projects focus on improving the user experience by introducing tools the official client does not currently offer, such as performance optimizations and privacy features.
While these modifications are largely visual and run locally on your machine, it’s important to remember that they are third-party tools and not officially supported by Hypergryph. Most players use them to personalize their experience while following community safety guidelines to minimize risks to their accounts.
How to Install Mods in Arknights: Endfield
Modding Arknights: Endfield mainly relies on using a dedicated loader that applies changes while the game is running, rather than modifying the core game files directly. This makes the process safer and easier to manage, especially if you want to add or remove mods later.
Before getting started, make sure you’re using the native Windows version of the game. Emulated versions, such as those run through Google Play Games, are generally not compatible with most modding tools.
It’s also worth noting that Arknights: Endfield is not available on Steam. Because of that, the setup differs slightly from other games that rely on Steam Workshop or built-in mod support, and you’ll need to handle installation manually through external tools.
The XXMI Launcher Method
XXMI is a well-known, open-source mod manager that you can download directly from its developer. The process is straightforward:
- Go to the official XXMI Launcher repository on GitHub and download the latest version, following the installer instructions
- Open the launcher, select Arknights: Endfield (via the “+” icon), and click Install to set the game up for modding
- Download mods from trusted sites like Nexus Mods or GameBanana, and place them in the Mods folder inside the launcher directory
- Launch the game through XXMI and confirm that your mods are working properly
This tool isn’t limited to one game. It also supports other titles like Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero, making it a popular option for players who regularly mod multiple games.
Forcing DirectX 11 for Better Mod Compatibility
While the XXMI method is reliable, there may be cases where mods don’t work as expected due to how Arknights: Endfield is built. The game uses Vulkan, a modern graphics API designed to run efficiently across multiple platforms like PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile devices. However, many modding tools are designed with DirectX 11 in mind, as it tends to be more predictable and widely supported for this type of modification.
Because of this difference, conflicts can occur. If the game defaults to Vulkan, some mods may fail to load properly. To improve compatibility, you can force the game to run using DirectX 11:
- Locate the game’s
.exefile (typically in a folder similar toC:\Program Files\GRYPHLINK\games\Endfield) - Right-click it and select Create shortcut
- Right-click the shortcut, open Properties, and find the Target field
- Add a space at the end, then type
-dx11 - Click Apply, then launch the game using this shortcut
This ensures the game runs on DirectX 11, which improves compatibility with most mods. In some cases, you may need to combine this method with the XXMI launcher for best results. messing with DirectX 11, but there is always a possibility that you’ll have to do both methods to get the mods to work.
The Best Mods for Arknights: Endfield
Now that you know how to install mods in Arknights: Endfield, it’s worth exploring some of the most useful options currently available. Most mods focus on improving usability, visuals, or quality-of-life rather than drastically changing gameplay systems. For that reason, this list avoids purely cosmetic swaps and instead highlights tools that provide practical, meaningful improvements.
Advanced UID & HUD Control
This mod gives Arknights: Endfield players far more control over what appears on screen, allowing you to toggle various HUD elements on or off depending on your preference.
While its main appeal is immersion, it also doubles as a useful privacy tool. One of the key elements it can hide is your UID (unique ID), which is normally displayed for identification purposes, such as submitting bug reports.
Even though a UID cannot be used to directly hack your account, it can still expose certain details about your profile, like progression level or high-value characters. In some cases, bad actors have used this information for scams or social engineering attempts. Because of that, hiding your UID can be a small but meaningful safeguard, especially if you share screenshots or gameplay clips online.
Aurylene Beacon
If you enjoy exploration in Arknights: Endfield, the Aurylene Beacon mod is one of the most practical tools you can install. Aurylenes are valuable collectibles that provide useful upgrades, but they are often scattered across difficult terrain or hidden in hard-to-reach areas. Finding them naturally can take a significant amount of time.
This mod simplifies the process by projecting a visible beam into the sky that points toward nearby aurylenes. The marker typically works within a radius of around 100 meters, making it both accurate and easy to follow.
It also functions consistently across all regions of the game. Even though aurylenes are tracked separately by area (for example, Valley IV versus Wuling), the mod treats them uniformly, making it a reliable companion no matter where you are exploring.
WetFX
WetFX addresses one of the more subtle shortcomings in Arknights: Endfield: its fluid and surface effects. In the base game, water interactions are handled through fairly simple overlays, which can sometimes look flat or disconnected from the environment. This becomes more noticeable in areas where weather or fluid interaction plays a larger role.
The mod improves this by introducing proper “wetness” mapping. Surfaces react more naturally to rain, clothing appears convincingly damp, and ripple effects feel more grounded in the environment. It’s not a gameplay-changing addition, but it adds a layer of visual polish that can make certain moments feel much more immersive.
StarLuxe ReShade Shaders
For players who want to significantly improve the visual presentation of Arknights: Endfield, StarLuxe ReShade Shaders offer a flexible and impactful solution. This tool allows you to apply custom lighting and color presets that enhance depth, contrast, and vibrancy. The result is a more cinematic look, especially in the game’s alien landscapes like Talos-II.
One of its strengths is flexibility. You can switch between different visual profiles, such as “Luminescence” or “AstralAura,” even while the game is running. This makes it easy to tailor the experience to your preferences without committing to a single style. Since it operates purely as a visual layer and doesn’t interact with gameplay systems, it’s also considered a safe way to enhance the game’s aesthetics.
Endfield Uncensored (Vulkan)
Despite its name, this mod has nothing to do with explicit content. Instead, it focuses on removing certain visual restrictions in Arknights: Endfield, specifically transparency filters that appear when the camera zooms in too closely on characters or environmental objects.
These filters are part of the game’s default presentation system, but they can sometimes obscure details you may want to see more clearly. By removing them, the mod allows for a cleaner, more direct view, especially during close-up moments. In practice, this makes it easier to appreciate character models and environmental design without interference.
RenoDX
RenoDX is one of the more technically ambitious mods available for Arknights: Endfield, focusing on improving graphical fidelity and giving players more control over visual settings. It introduces features like adjustable HDR controls, enhanced environmental detail (such as small plants and textures), and improved cloth behavior, where clothing reacts more naturally to movement.
Technically, it works by modifying shaders, buffers, and overlays, while also allowing user-defined settings to be saved and adjusted. Although the base game does support HDR, those settings are largely inaccessible to players. RenoDX fills that gap by exposing controls and giving you the ability to fine-tune the visual experience to your liking.
Final Thoughts
Modding is one of the biggest advantages of playing on PC, and Arknights: Endfield is already building a strong foundation in that area. Right now, most available mods focus on visual improvements and quality-of-life features rather than major gameplay changes. That’s largely a good thing, as it keeps the experience stable and avoids interfering with the game’s core systems.
It’s also worth pointing out that the community has, so far, avoided tampering with the game’s gacha mechanics. Any tools claiming to alter those systems should be treated with caution, as they are often scams and can lead to serious account issues.
At this stage, Arknights: Endfield is still a relatively new release, having launched on January 22 and only recently receiving its first major content update. Because of that, the modding scene is still evolving. As more players experiment and new tools are developed, it’s very likely that we’ll see even more advanced and refined mods emerge over time, further expanding what’s possible within the game.
