Arknights: Integrated Strategies (IS) 4 Guide
You win in IS4 by understanding how it works and making good choices every time you play. Integrated Strategies is like a roguelike game. You make teams, deal with random events, and handle new problems. IS4 adds new paths, operator modules, and unlocks after you clear stage 3-8. You will see the game is faster with easier rules. There are new ways to change your game and special modes like Assassination and Execution. Be ready to use helpful tips and simple steps to learn each part.
Integrated Strategies Basics
IS4 Gameplay Overview
Integrated Strategies 4 lets you play Arknights in a new way. You enter a roguelike mode, so each run is different. The game makes a new map every time you play. You pick your path and meet random events. You have to make choices that help or hurt you. The Bahomu team finds this mode very replayable. The table below shows what makes this mode special:
|
Core Element |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Randomization |
Every game gives you a new place to play. This changes how hard it is and makes you want to play again. |
|
Variety |
You can try many paths and ways to win. This keeps the game fun and new. |
|
Weighted actions/punishment |
Your choices matter a lot. Every choice can change your game. |
You will see different paths on the map. Some go to battles. Others go to shops or special events. You need to plan your way and be ready for surprises.
Key Terms and Mechanics
Before you start, learn some important words and rules. These help you make smart choices in Integrated Strategies. The table below explains what you should know:
|
Key Term/Mechanic |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Maximize Enhancements |
Enhancements make your team better. Always try to get more. |
|
Prioritize Operations |
Operations give you Rec. Vouchers. You need these to get and upgrade Operators. |
|
Rogue Trader Strategy |
Buy things that help your team. If you need Operators, get Rec. Vouchers first. |
|
Downtime Recreations |
Save your stuff. Only use these near the end of your run. |
|
Adaptability in Gameplay |
Every run is new. Change your plan if things go wrong. |
|
Planning with Hope |
Use Hope carefully. This keeps your team strong and balanced. |
IS Modules are also important. These modules give Operators new powers or make them stronger. Pick modules that fit your team. This helps you build your squad and beat tough stages.
Unlocking IS4
You can unlock Integrated Strategies 4 after you finish stage 3-8 in the main story. When you clear this stage, IS4 will show up in the game menu. You can start playing and try all the new things right away.
Starting Your Adventure
Operator Costs
You need to watch your resources when you start a run in Integrated Strategies. Each operator has a cost. This cost uses a resource called Hope. You spend Hope to add strong operators to your squad. Early in the game, you have a small amount of Hope. You should pick operators that give you good value for their cost. Some operators cost less but still help your team a lot. Try to balance your team so you do not run out of Hope too soon.
Building Your First Squad
A strong first squad helps you win more battles. You want to cover all the main roles. The table below shows a good setup for your first team:
|
Role |
Recommended Operators |
|---|---|
|
Vanguards |
Wan Ching (front), Grani (back) |
|
DPS |
Tequila and Flamebringer |
|
Healers |
Lumen (global healing), Silence (single target) |
|
Flex Slots |
Gladiia (pulling), Robin (trap setup) |
You should set Skill 2s to auto-activation for Silence and Tequila. This makes your battles smoother. Place Gladiia in the middle of the map. She can cover more ground and help your team. Wan Ching works better than Myrtle for early DP and team buffs.
Early Game Choices
You make many choices at the start of each run. Pick paths that give you more resources or new operators. Try to get a healer early. This keeps your team alive. Use shops to buy items that help your squad. If you find a strong operator, spend Hope to add them. Always look for ways to improve your team before hard battles. In Integrated Strategies, smart early choices make your run much easier.
Squads in Integrated Strategies
Squad Types
You build your squad in Integrated Strategies by choosing from different types. Each squad type gives you a unique way to play. Some squads focus on offense. Others help you defend or heal. You see squads that use fast-redeploy operators. These squads let you react quickly to threats. You also find squads that use crowd control. These squads slow down enemies and protect your team.
|
Squad Type |
Main Feature |
Example Operators |
|---|---|---|
|
Offense |
High damage output |
Tequila, Flamebringer |
|
Defense |
Strong protection |
Grani, Robin |
|
Healing |
Team recovery |
Lumen, Silence |
|
Fast Redeploy |
Quick response |
Gravel, Red |
|
Crowd Control |
Enemy management |
Gladiia, Texas the Omertosa |
You pick a squad type based on your play style and the stage you face. Offense squads help you clear waves fast. Defense squads keep your operators safe. Healing squads give you more time to win. Fast redeploy squads let you fix mistakes. Crowd control squads make hard stages easier.
Synergy and Roles
You make your squad stronger by using synergy. Synergy means your operators work well together. You want operators who boost each other's skills. Ling, Texas the Omertosa, and Skadi Alter show strong synergy. They help your squad stay strong in many stages. Versatile operators adapt to different roles. You use them in offense, defense, or support. Heidi gives passive buffs. These buffs help your team scale early and stay tough.
-
Ling summons units that block enemies and deal damage.
-
Texas the Omertosa controls crowds and gives extra deployment points.
-
Skadi Alter fits many team setups and brings strong damage.
-
Heidi boosts your whole squad with passive skills.
You build your squad by mixing roles. You need vanguards for deployment points. You add defenders for protection. You use healers to keep your team alive. You pick DPS operators for damage. You add support operators for buffs and crowd control. You look for operators who fit more than one role. This makes your squad flexible.
Tip: Try to balance your squad. Do not fill your team with only damage dealers. You need healers and defenders to survive tough battles.
Adapting to Resources
You manage resources every run in Integrated Strategies. Hope is your main resource. You spend Hope to add operators to your squad. You start with low Hope. You pick operators who give you good value for their cost. You look for operators who fit many roles. This saves Hope and makes your squad stronger.
You also use Rec. Vouchers. These vouchers let you recruit new operators or upgrade your squad. You earn vouchers by winning battles and making smart choices. You spend vouchers in shops or events. You plan your squad based on the resources you have. You avoid spending all your Hope early. You save some for strong operators later.
-
Choose operators with low Hope cost for early game.
-
Save Hope for high-impact operators in late game.
-
Use Rec. Vouchers to fill gaps in your squad.
You change your squad as you get more resources. You swap out weaker operators for stronger ones. You add new roles when you need them. You adapt to the challenges each stage brings. Integrated Strategies rewards you for smart resource management and flexible squad building.
Operation Rewards
Reward Types
You get many rewards for finishing operations in Integrated Strategies 4. These rewards help you grow your squad and move forward in each run. There are different kinds of rewards you can earn:
-
You get coins and premium gems as currencies.
-
You find items that stack or have special effects.
-
Energy lets you do more actions and play extra stages.
-
Team rewards help you and your whole squad.
Pay close attention to every reward you get. Some rewards help you right away. Other rewards help you later in the game. You use coins to buy operators or items in shops. Premium gems unlock cool features or rare upgrades. Items make your team stronger or help in hard battles. Energy lets you keep playing without stopping. Team rewards make your whole squad better.
Maximizing Gains
You can use smart plans to get the most from your operation rewards. The table below shows ways to get more rewards:
|
Strategy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Maximize theme-specific enhancements |
Enhancements give your squad extra power. Always look for these during your run. |
|
Prioritize Operations |
Operations give you Rec. Vouchers. Use these to recruit and promote operators. |
|
Focus on Emergency Operations |
Early Emergency Operations give you Collectibles with less risk. On higher floors, check if the reward is worth the risk. |
Always search for enhancements that match your squad’s theme. These make your operators stronger and help you win more fights. Try to finish as many Operations as you can. This gives you more Rec. Vouchers and helps you build a better team. Emergency Operations can give you rare Collectibles. In early stages, they are easy to get. On later floors, think about your Life Points before taking risks.
Tip: Plan your moves before each operation. This helps you avoid mistakes and get better rewards.
Progression Tips
You can use different plans to move forward in Integrated Strategies 4. The table below explains some tips for progression:
|
Strategy Type |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
|
Arbitrary Progression |
Easy to use; good for beginners |
May not fit your personal pace |
|
Autoregulatory Progressive Resistance Exercise (APRE) |
Adjusts to your performance; personalizes progress |
Can fail if your performance is not typical |
|
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) |
Lets you change your pace day by day |
Needs accurate self-rating |
Start with simple progression if you are new. This helps you learn the basics. As you get better, try APRE or RPE methods. These let you change your progress based on how you feel and play. Always check your results and change your plan if needed. This keeps your runs fun and helps you reach higher floors.
Success Tips
Planning Your Path
You need to plan your route before each stage. Look at the map and choose paths that match your squad’s strengths. Some routes offer more battles, while others give you shops or events. If your team feels strong, you can pick harder battles for better rewards. If you need to recover, choose paths with healing or shops. Always check what lies ahead. This helps you avoid surprises and keeps your squad safe.
Tip: Use the preview feature to see what each node offers. This helps you make smart choices and avoid risky fights when your team is weak.
Managing Risks
You face many risks in Integrated Strategies 4. Some stages have tough enemies or special rules. You must decide when to take risks and when to play it safe. If your squad is healthy and strong, you can try emergency operations for rare rewards. If you lose too many operators, pick safer paths to recover. Watch your Life Points. If you run low, avoid high-risk battles.
-
Take risks early when losses are easier to recover.
-
Play safe if you have low Hope or few operators.
-
Use healing nodes to restore your team before big fights.
Using Artifacts and Events
Artifacts and events can change your run. You collect items called collectibles. These give your squad bonuses, but some have drawbacks. You find three types of collectibles:
|
Type of Collectible |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Normal |
The most common collectibles. |
|
Rare |
Rarer than Normal collectibles. |
|
Super Rare |
The rarest collectibles. |
Normal collectibles appear often and give small boosts. Rare and Super Rare collectibles offer stronger effects. Some collectibles may have handicaps, so read their descriptions before choosing. Events can also give you new operators, healing, or special items. Always weigh the benefits and risks before picking up a new artifact or making an event choice.
Operator Picks
Top Operators
You want strong operators in your squad. These operators help you win more battles and handle tough stages. The Bahomu team has a few favorites. The table below shows some of the best picks for IS4. Each operator brings unique skills to your team.
|
Operator |
Role |
Why Pick Them? |
|---|---|---|
|
Ling |
Summoner |
Controls crowds and blocks foes |
|
Texas the Omertosa |
Vanguard |
Gives DP and stuns enemies |
|
Skadi Alter |
DPS |
Deals high damage, fits many teams |
|
Heidi |
Support |
Boosts squad with passive buffs |
|
Lumen |
Medic |
Heals whole team, removes debuffs |
You should look for operators who can fill more than one role. Ling summons units that block and attack. Texas the Omertosa helps you deploy faster and control enemies. Skadi Alter brings strong damage and works in many squads. Heidi gives your team extra power with her buffs. Lumen keeps your squad healthy and safe.
Situational Choices
Some operators work best in certain situations. You need to pick them when you face special challenges or stages.
-
Gravel: Use her for quick redeploys and blocking key enemies.
-
Robin: Set traps to control enemy movement.
-
Silence: Heal single targets when you face strong bosses.
-
Gladiia: Pull enemies into traps or away from your team.
-
Red: Handle fast-moving threats with burst damage.
You should watch the map and enemy types. Pick operators who solve problems you see in each run.
Team Balance
You need a balanced team to succeed in IS4. Mix roles so your squad can handle any challenge. Use vanguards for DP, defenders for protection, medics for healing, and DPS for damage. Add support operators for buffs and crowd control.
Tip: Always check your squad before each stage. Make sure you have enough healing, defense, and damage. Swap operators if you see gaps in your team. A balanced squad gives you more options and keeps your run safe.
You do well in IS4 by being flexible and learning from each run. Changing your plan helps you handle new problems. You pick different squads for each stage. Staying flexible helps you get better results.
Trying new squads and operators helps you think ahead and plan better:
|
Study |
Findings |
|---|---|
|
Selkowitz et al. (2017) |
Watching new squad members helps you notice more things. |
|
Roth et al. (2020) |
Testing new ideas helps you plan missions and manage your team. |
Try out new mechanics and modules. Logos gets stronger damage with modules. SilverAsh can come back faster with upgrades. These changes help you win more fights. Keep testing and changing your plan to get good at IS4!
See Our Top 10 Arknights Figures
FAQ
How do you unlock Integrated Strategies 4?
You unlock IS4 after you clear stage 3-8 in the main story. The mode appears in your game menu. You can start playing IS4 right away.
What happens if your operators die during a run?
Operators who fall in battle become unavailable for the rest of your run. You can revive them at certain event nodes or by using special items. Plan your team to avoid losing key members.
Can you save your progress in the middle of a run?
Yes, IS4 lets you save your progress. You can exit the mode and return later. Your run continues from where you left off.
Which operators should you prioritize early in a run?
Pick operators with low Hope cost and flexible skills. Vanguards, healers, and versatile DPS help you clear early stages. Add stronger operators as you earn more Hope.
Are artifacts and collectibles permanent?
No, artifacts and collectibles only last for your current run. You lose them when your run ends. You must collect new ones each time you start a new adventure.




