- What to know
- Quick overview of total power loss
- Why your base suddenly loses all power
- The critical difference between switching off and stashing
- Why protocol stashes block recovery
- Using thermal banks to restart power generation
- Gradually rebuilding with batteries
- Safely bringing your base back online
- How to avoid total power loss in the future
- Preventing total power loss
What to know
- Total power loss triggers when demand exceeds supply and the base drops to emergency power
- Switching off facilities is not the same as stashing them
- Protocol stashes silently drain power and are often the real cause
- Thermal Banks and batteries are the only reliable way to recover
In Arknights: Endfield, power management can spiral out of control faster than the game explains. When your base hits a total power loss, it can feel like progression has been completely blocked. Facilities shut down, crafting becomes impossible, and even fixing the problem seems unclear unless you understand how the power system actually works. The key is knowing what still consumes power even when nothing appears to be running.
Quick overview of total power loss
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Emergency state | Base is forced into a fixed 200-power buffer |
| Common mistake | Switching off instead of stashing |
| Hidden drain | Protocol stashes consume power continuously |
| Recovery method | Thermal Banks fueled with Orenium |
| Long-term fix | Battery production and power surplus |
Why your base suddenly loses all power
Total power loss happens when your base’s total energy consumption goes beyond what your generators and batteries can supply. When this occurs, the game forces an emergency state and gives you only 200 power to work with. This is not spare energy—it exists solely so you can dismantle or reorganize your base.
The main issue is that many structures still reserve power even when they are idle. If too many of these remain placed, your power number stays red and blinking, preventing recovery.
The critical difference between switching off and stashing
One of the most misunderstood systems in Endfield is the difference between switching off a facility and stashing it. Switching off only stops production, but the structure still counts toward power usage. Stashing removes the structure entirely and refunds its power cost.
During a blackout, switching off mining machines, ziplines, turrets, and crafting stations is necessary, but it is often not sufficient on its own. These steps reduce load, but they may not bring power below the emergency threshold.
Why protocol stashes block recovery
Protocol stashes are the most common reason players get stuck in total power loss. They look harmless, but they consume power constantly and cannot be switched off. The only way to stop their drain is to stash them completely.
Once protocol stashes around your base are removed, you will usually see your power finally drop below 200. This is the real turning point, because it allows rebuilding instead of endless dismantling.
Using thermal banks to restart power generation
Thermal Banks are the foundation of recovery. They generate power slowly but consistently, without causing sudden consumption spikes. After clearing enough power drain, your first priority should be building Thermal Banks and feeding them raw Orenium rocks.
Raw Orenium provides very low output, and recovery is slow. However, it is stable, predictable, and does not rely on a functioning production chain, which makes it ideal during a blackout.
Gradually rebuilding with batteries
As your power begins to rise, you can transition into battery production. Green batteries are the first meaningful upgrade and noticeably improve output when placed in Thermal Banks. Later, blue batteries further increase generation, giving your base breathing room.
This stage requires patience. Reactivating too many facilities too early is the fastest way to trigger another collapse.
Safely bringing your base back online
Once your total power reaches around 800, it becomes safe to reactivate mining facilities. Focus on blue, purple, and brown rocks to restore your resource flow. It’s important to reactivate systems gradually, rather than all at once, to avoid power spikes.
When your base exceeds 1000 total power, purple battery production becomes viable. Purple batteries dramatically stabilize long-term power, making future blackouts far less likely.
How to avoid total power loss in the future
The safest long-term strategy is maintaining consistent surplus power. Thermal Banks should always be fueled, batteries should be stockpiled even when you don’t urgently need them, and protocol stashes should always be treated as active power consumers, not free storage. Expanding your base without scaling power generation is the most common cause of repeated outages.
Preventing total power loss
Total power loss in Arknights: Endfield feels brutal, but it’s designed to teach restraint and planning. Once you understand that stashing matters more than switching off, and that Thermal Banks are the backbone of recovery, blackouts stop being game-ending moments and become manageable setbacks. Build slowly, overproduce batteries, and keep your grid power-positive.
