The next update for Arknights: Endfield is already going to be a bit different from the usual cycle. Instead of the typical two new Operators, this patch will only introduce Zhuang Fangyi, giving us more time than usual to focus our pulls on her. Seems like the devs knew exactly who everyone was saving for!
But it turns out that is not the only banner we will have to think about.
A Second Banner, Running Alongside the Main One
Alongside Zhuang Fangyi’s release, the update will introduce a separate banner called Fest of Brilliance Special Headhunting.
It is scheduled to run from May 14, 2026, and will overlap with the final week of Zhuang Fangyi’s banner, meaning you will briefly have two banners available at the same time.
This special banner brings back a small set of existing Operators that either come from the Basic Headhunting banner or from previous Chartered Banners:
- Pogranichnik (standard banner)
- Gilberta (limited/previous Chartered)
- Laevatain (limited/previous Chartered)
- Ardelia (standard, also previously given for free at launch)
So rather than introducing any additional new Operator, it is more of a targeted rerun-style banner with a selected pool. All 4 of those characters have a certain value, so the choice pretty much makes sense.
Separate Rules
One important detail is that this banner does not follow the usual headhunting rules.
It is treated as a completely independent banner type, with its own system and no interaction with existing pity or mechanics. That also means it will not affect your progress on other banners.
The catch is that the exact rules have not been fully detailed yet, so it is still unclear how generous (or not) it will be compared to standard banners.
Free Pulls and Extra Rewards
There is at least a small bonus linked to it since a login event will hand out around 5 free pulls specifically for this banner, and you will be able to exchange 5 more pulls in the AIC Quota Exchange tab in the Acquisition Center, so everyone gets a total of 10 free pulls for it.
On top of that, each pull grants a “Bonus Quota,” which can be exchanged for additional rewards, including items like designation permits and token supplies.
Worth Pulling?
Right now, it mostly comes down to what you need.
If you missed some of these Operators, this could be a convenient way to pick them up. But since the banner rules are still unclear, it might be worth waiting for full details before saving your pulls for this. It is definitely worth spending the few free tickets you will get for it, but for more, it really comes down to how many pulls you need to get a character, if you can select the one you want, or if you just get one out of 4 randomly.
If you can select and the pity is lower than the Chartered banner, definitely worth it. But, if you need 80 pulls and the outcome is entirely random… Not so much.
Either way, having a special banner running at the end of Zhuang Fangyi definitely makes this patch feel a bit different than usual!
For more guides and information, check out our latest Arknights: Endfield news!
