Arknights Herzenfolgen Guide: Best Farming Stages, Lessing Unlock & Boss Fight Strategy

The “Herzenfolgen” event in Arknights is one of the most thematically rich and mechanically intricate side stories ever released. Set in the musically steeped nation of Leithanien, this event blends classical aesthetics with innovative gameplay, a gripping narrative, and a completely unique approach to combat dynamics.

In its 2025 Global rerun, all stages are unlocked from the start, and players are given an opportunity to earn valuable materials, unlock a free 6☆ operator, and immerse themselves in the legacy of the Witch King. This guide offers a full walkthrough of the event’s systems, stages, strategies, and story, designed to benefit both new and veteran players alike.

Arknights Herzenfolgen Duration & Access

Herzenfolgen is a Side Story event, part of a Thank-You Celebration, that originally ran in late 2024. It is now available as a rerun on Global servers from May 22, 2025 to June 5, 2025 (UTC-7).

To access the event, players must have cleared Main Story 1-10. During the original run, stages unlocked gradually across weeks:

• Main stages (ZT-1 to ZT-10) opened first,
• Followed by EX stages in Week 2,
• And S stages in Week 3.

However, during the rerun, all stages are available from the start. Returning players will retain their previous stage completions, but first-clear rewards are still available for any new or uncleared stages.

Event Format

Herzenfolgen introduces several types of stages and side systems:

• ZT-1 to ZT-10 – Main story stages
• ZT-EX-1 to EX-8 – Challenge EX stages
• ZT-S-1 to S-5 – Ultra-difficult “Die Macht ist grimm” stages
• Herzenfolgen Investigation Mini-game – A mission-based logic puzzle system
• Venesuhrenturm Task List – Event mission objectives

All of these are accessed via a dedicated event menu. The event stages drop a special event currency through Investigation rewards, which can be used in the event shop to purchase valuable materials and rewards.

After the Event

Once the event ends and the shop closes:

• The story stages will be added permanently to the Side Story archive.
• You’ll still be able to clear any missed stages for Originite Prime.
• However, event medals must be earned during the event period and won’t be available afterward.

Key Rewards

Free Operator: ★6 Lessing

• Lessing is a Dreadnought Guard and the featured free operator of the event. He is obtained by playing the Herzenfolgen investigation mini-game, specifically by completing the first Covert Investigation, which rewards Lessing’s Recruitment Contract.
• Additional Covert Investigations grant Lessing’s Potential Tokens to increase his potential. Completing all investigations also grants a Kernel Token, which is used to unlock or improve Lessing’s Module.

Event Shop

The shop contains:

• High-value upgrade materials
• Battle records
• Furnishings and a new furniture set
• Operator skins
• Unlimited Loxic Kohl (a new addition exclusive to the rerun version of the event)

This setup makes the event especially rewarding both for new and returning players.

Stage Walkthroughs

The event stages introduce new Leithanian mechanics and enemy types, ramping up in difficulty. Below is a stage-by-stage overview with strategy tips for each:

ZT-1

A straightforward opener. Features basic Remnant enemies (musicians with low stats). Use your typical low-level squad; a single AoE caster or sniper can handle the slow waves easily.
No new mechanics yet – just practice efficient deployment and DP generation.

ZT-2

Introduces more enemies in lanes. Recommend bringing a Vanguard for DP and a Medic as enemy numbers increase.

Focus fire on Remnant Orchestra Wind Players (they deal ranged damage) before they pile up. Still simple, but mind the slightly faster spawn rate.

ZT-3

First appearance of Tuning Nodes (gadget on the field). This is a tutorial stage (ZT-TR-1 is a training stage) explaining how Variation works.

Enemies start to exhibit Variation phases – alternating Passionate vs. Melancholic aura (more on this in Mechanics).

Use the Tuning Node provided to switch the music mode if needed. Strategy: when enemies get a big DEF debuff in Passionate mode, drop your DPS to exploit it, then swap to Melancholic if you need to slow their attack speed. Practice using the Node timing here.

ZT-4

Introduces Remnant Orchestra Drummers (long-range AoE attackers). Spread out your units to avoid splash damage.

When the Passionate variation (yellow aura) is active, Drummers’ attack range increases – be careful, or use the Tuning Node to delay that state.

Anti-air snipers or fast-redeploy assassins can help pick off ranged enemies quickly. A healing defender guarding the lane can soak the occasional AoE hit if needed.

ZT-5

This stage starts mixing enemy types. You’ll face Remnant Orchestra Choristers who can heal other enemies during Passionate variation.

Prioritize killing Choristers (e.g. use Arts damage or burst skills) before the yellow phase, or switch to Melancholic (purple) to prevent their group heal.

Bring at least one strong Arts damage dealer for high-DEF enemies and use the Variation to your advantage – e.g. in Melancholic, enemies are slower and hit harder, so stall and heal through it, then finish them off during Passionate when their DEF drops.

ZT-6

More numerous mobs and introduction of Aspect Devices on the field (Aspects of Annihilation/Creation appear from here on).

This stage teaches that hitting the Aspect of Annihilation causes the Aspect of Creation to fire a powerful shot at enemies.

Use this environmental weapon to help clear bulky enemies. For example, place a ranged unit to deliberately attack the Annihilation crystal when tough foes line up with the Creation device – the reflected projectile deals heavy Physical damage equal to what the crystal took.

Balance normal DPS with using these devices. A Defender or Slow Supporter to cluster enemies in the line of fire can maximize the device damage.

ZT-7

This is a good farming stage (drops Oriron Clusters). Tactically, it features mixed waves with variation phases.

Remnant Orchestra Cellists debut – in Melancholic they gain high ATK (150% boost) but attack slower. Don’t let them free-cast in purple mode; either burst them quickly or stall until Passionate mode (when their ASPD is normal).

Challenge here is managing two lanes converging – use an AoE Guard or Caster on the convergence point.
In Challenge Mode, enemy ATK is increased (making Melancholic hits very painful), so use the Tuning Node liberally to minimize time in Melancholic, and keep your ranged units healed up.

ZT-8

A tougher stage with heavy enemies and multiple Tuning Nodes. Drops Integrated Devices (rare material).
Remnant Conductor enemy appears, buffing others. Also, Witch King’s apparitions start to show (stronger “Witch King’s Orchestra” versions of enemies).

Here you must use Variation control: for example, Witch King’s Wind Players will stun your operators for 10 seconds in Melancholic – avoid letting them act in that phase! Either eliminate them quickly or switch to Passionate when they’re attacking.

A well-timed Node activation can nullify a dangerous Melancholic period. Also utilize Aspect devices: repeatedly attack the Aspect of Annihilation to bombard bulky foes with the Creation’s projectiles – this helps shred the high-HP targets.

Challenge Mode: Raises enemy speed, meaning they reach your defenses faster. Consider bringing slower or controllers (like Myrtle S2 for global slow or Angelina) to cope. Set up kill-zones around the Aspect devices. Borrow a high-level AoE Guard or Ifrit to handle the denser waves if needed.

ZT-9

A high-tier farming stage (drops Loxic Kohl ~92% rate). This stage has numerous enemies and a two-pronged attack (enemies from left and top).

Variation swaps more frequently here. Ensure you have two solid lane-holders (defenders or duelist guards) and sufficient healing on each lane.

Remnant Tuner enemies show up who can buff or debuff with music – take them out early (they often appear in the back).

Use Fast-Redeploy units (like Gravel) to assassinate Tuners or at least stall them. In Passionate mode, many enemies move very fast (MSPD doubled) and can overwhelm; don’t hesitate to trigger a Tuning Node to push into Melancholic if your blockers are struggling. Conversely, if a big wave of armored enemies arrives, staying in Passionate helps kill them faster due to their DEF halved.

Pro Tip: Time your Arts burst (e.g. Eyja’s Skill or SilverAsh S3) during Passionate to melt waves. Challenge Mode: reduces the number of deployment slots, so you must drop some operators – prioritize a balanced team (at least one tank, healer, slow, and DPS).

Use Support Units if necessary (a max-level Mountain or Thorns can solo a lane here). With fewer ops, leveraging the Aspect of Creation shots becomes even more crucial for damage.

ZT-10: Final Story Stage

ZT-10 is the final story stage, featuring a multi-phase battle against the Witch King’s apparition (Herkunftshorn). This fight introduces unique mechanics and requires smart positioning, healing, and use of event devices.

Phase 1 – Setup Phase

The boss begins stationary and periodically summons waves of Orchestra enemies. Use this opportunity to set up healing support. Bringing Medic Defenders or multiple Medics is important, as his area-wide Arts attacks will frequently damage your squad.

Phase 2 – Sovereign’s Edict (Unique Variation Phase)

Once the Witch King enters his second form, the fight changes. The usual Variation mechanic stops oscillating, and instead, a fixed Variation activates for the rest of the battle. This might be a permanent Allegro (faster enemies) or Adagio (increased enemy attack).

Tuning Nodes are disabled here, so you cannot control the Variation anymore. The key to surviving is to clear his summoned adds quickly and use this window to deal as much damage to the boss as possible.

Core Mechanic – Aspect Devices

The Witch King has extremely high DEF and RES, making operator attacks weak. To damage him effectively, use the event’s core mechanic:

• Attack the Aspect of Annihilation (the black crystal).
• This causes the Aspect of Creation (the golden crystal) to fire a high-damage projectile at the boss.
• The projectile deals damage equal to what you dealt to the Annihilation crystal.

Position your ranged units so they can target the Annihilation crystal when the Witch King is lined up with the Creation crystal’s firing path. You can also use high-HP summons like Thermite or Lancet-2’s healing drone—placing them directly on the Annihilation crystal will instantly trigger a damage shot.

Additional Stage Tips

• Keep your operators spread out to reduce the effect of AoE Arts.
• Pay attention to phase changes like global AoE or random explosions—retreat fragile units and redeploy later if needed.
• Healing throughput matters. Use cooldown heals or shielding effects to handle burst phases.

Challenge Mode – Strategy Changes

Challenge Mode increases the boss’s ATK and how often he uses Arts. It also removes any margin for error.

Suggestions for Challenge Mode:

• Bring two shield-based healers, such as Nightingale (to create cages) or Honeyberry (to resist elemental damage).
• Use defenders or support units like Nian or Shalem to fortify the frontlines.

The main strategy remains unchanged: use the Aspect devices to deal damage and stay ahead of the boss’s summoned units. Good healing and proper placement will carry you through.

Once the Witch King falls, the stage ends. You’ll unlock the final part of the story and be one step closer to completing all event challenges.

EX Stages (ZT-EX-1 ~ EX-8)

The Extreme stages are harder versions that assume you’ve mastered the mechanics. They feature combinations of enemies and gimmicks not seen in the story stages.

For example, ZT-EX-4 has heavy use of Tuning Nodes with fast variation swaps, and ZT-EX-7 pits you against waves of elite enemies in narrow timing windows.

Generally, for EX stages, bring your strongest squads (Elite 2 level 50+ recommended) and make full use of Variation control and Aspect devices. Some tips for notable EX stages:

ZT-EX-6

Very tight deployment limit and strong enemy buffs in Passionate mode. Use slow debuffs (Suzuran or Angelina) to manage enemy speed when they go allegro. Prioritize killing Witch King’s Trumpeters quickly – in Passionate they deal Arts damage that can shred your high-DEF units.

If you have Młynar or Ch’en Alter, their burst can wipe these out fast. Use the Tuning Node to force Melancholic if your blockers need relief from DPS.

ZT-EX-7

Swarms of flying enemies plus ground elites. Anti-air Snipers are a must (Exusiai, Kroos alter, etc.). Witch King’s Hornists in this map gain huge buffs in Passionate (they do Arts damage) so consider keeping the stage mostly in Melancholic to reduce their ASPD.

However, Melancholic gives them +150% ATK in some cases, so it’s a double-edged sword – better to burst them down before they can attack. A Fast Redeploy or Phantom can help pick off ranged units that hide behind others. Aspect devices here can one-shot the dense waves if used correctly; set up a strong defender to hold enemies in the projectile path.

ZT-EX-8: Perpetuum Mobile (Final EX Stage)

This is the final EX stage of the event—a harder version of ZT-10’s boss fight, with more mechanics, tighter restrictions, and no room for error in Challenge Mode.

Normal Mode:

You’ll face the Witch King’s second form, with alternating Variations and added enemies. The core mechanic is timing your DPS bursts when the boss is vulnerable.

• Use stall tactics like invulnerable/dodge operators (e.g., Shieldguards, Bibeak Helidrops) to control the boss.
• Trigger the Aspect of Creation (the yellow node) repeatedly to deal heavy damage.
• Keep at least one Tuning Node charged. When the boss enters a dangerous state (like high-speed mode), use it to swap to a safer Variation and relieve pressure.

Challenge Mode (CM) Tips:

EX-8 CM is one of the toughest stages in the event. Here’s what changes:

• Buffed HP/ATK for the boss and all enemies
• Severe deployment limit – often just 6 operators total

Recommended strategies:

• Borrow a maxed Surtr or Ch’en Alter to nuke the boss during DPS windows.
• Set up the Aspect of Annihilation (portal) in front of a strong ranged attacker.
  • Keep placing it so it gets destroyed and re-summoned.
  • Each cycle triggers a powerful hit from the Aspect of Creation, effectively shredding the boss with correct timing.

Final Tips:

• This fight is all about timing, patience, and control.
• Use supports liberally—don’t hesitate to bring powerful friend units.
• Clearing EX-8 CM unlocks the last medals, which are needed for the Trimmed Medal set.

S Stages (ZT-S-1 to S-5): Extreme Challenge Content

The “Die Macht ist grimm” stages are extra-difficult missions designed for advanced players. These S stages are unlocked later in the event and focus on complex mechanics and team-building challenges.

What to Expect:

• These stages are mainly for lore, medals, and bragging rights—they don’t drop any farming materials.
• Enemies are much tougher and assume you have a well-built, near end-game roster.
• Each stage features unique mechanics. For example:
  • ZT-S-3: You must juggle multiple Aspect of Annihilation crystals.
  • ZT-S-5: A long battle against buffed Witch King Remnants, with shifting Variation effects that change mid-fight.

How to Approach Them:

Think of these like mini Contingency Contract (CC) stages:

• Analyze threats: Identify the toughest enemies or hazards.
• Counter strategically:
  • Use Arts DPS vs. high-DEF enemies.
  • Bring snipers vs. flying units.
  • Consider stallers or summons in DP-restricted maps.

To earn the trimmed medal, you must clear all S stages on Challenge Mode, which applies extra restrictions.

ZT-S-5 Challenge Tip:

In this mode, you face stronger Witch King attacks and a hard DP cap. Units that don’t cost DP (like Ling’s summons or robot operators) can help ease deployment pressure.

Important: If these are too difficult, it’s okay to skip them. You won’t miss any mats—just some event-limited medals. You can always replay them later in the Event Archive, though medal rewards will no longer be available.

General Tips for Stages

• Always read the stage briefings for hints on new mechanics.
• Utilize the free Practice tickets to learn the enemy patterns, especially for EX and S stages.
• Don’t forget you can borrow a friend’s Support Unit – a high-level AoE Guard or Boss killer can trivialize an otherwise difficult map.
• And remember, if you fail an attempt, you don’t lose Sanity, so feel free to retry and adjust your squad or strategy!

Farming Guide

One of the main draws of Side Story events is efficient material farming. Herzenfolgen offers several stages with excellent drop rates for valuable materials, alongside event currency. Below are the best farming stages for event currency and materials:

Why these stages:

All event stages drop the special event currency (♪ “Die Klänge von den Erinnerungen” notes) at roughly 1 per sanity spent (e.g. 21 currency per run on 21-cost stages). Thus, the best farming stage is determined by material needs, since currency yield is proportional to Sanity cost.

Among the stages, ZT-9 stands out with an exceptional Loxic Kohl drop rate (~92%), making it one of the most efficient Kohl farming nodes in the game (~22–23 sanity per Kohl vs. ~36 sanity per Kohl in typical story stages). ZT-7 and ZT-8 offer Oriron Clusters and Integrated Devices respectively – while their drop rates are lower, these items are higher-tier and normally harder to farm (Devices especially, as they usually have ~40% drop rates in story).

In fact, a community farming analysis noted that farming Devices in ZT-8 and Kohls in ZT-9 is more sanity-efficient than most story stages.

Efficiency Tips for Farming Event Currency

If your goal is to clear out the event shop, you’ll need to earn enough currency through both first-time clears and farming.

First-Time Rewards:

• Do every event stage at least once to earn first-clear and mission rewards. This gives you around 1,580 currency.

Total Needed to Clear Shop:

• According to LootBar estimates, the total currency needed to buy all limited shop items is about 2,167. So you’ll need to farm around 587 more currency after one-time clears.

Best Stages for Farming:

If you’re farming for both currency and valuable materials, use the following stage recommendations:

• ZT-9 – Great overall value. Drops Loxic Kohl, used heavily for skills and promotions. Most recommended.
• ZT-7 – Focus here if you need Oriron Clusters for future E2 or Mastery upgrades.
• ZT-8 – Ideal if you need Devices, also used in high-end upgrades.

Based on Penguin Statistics:

• ZT-7 gives Oriron Clusters at ~27 sanity per drop
• ZT-8 gives Devices at ~36 sanity per drop
  (Both better than story stages)

If You Only Want Currency:

Stages like ZT-10 offer straight 1:1 currency-to-sanity rates (e.g., 22 sanity → 22 currency), but don’t give useful drops. You’re better off farming ZT-7 to ZT-9 to get currency + valuable mats.

About Emotion Notes (Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear):

All event stages have a chance to drop Emotion Notes used in the mini-game. You don’t need to farm a specific stage—just farm normally and you’ll naturally gather enough.

If you ever run low on a certain note, you can convert extras through the event interface (usually at a 3:1 ratio or similar).

Sanity management:

As always, try to use your Sanity efficiently during the event – consume Potions or use the bonus Sanity potion (if provided in daily logins) to maximize farming. However, don’t burn out – remember the event will become permanent (except shop) after this run, so you can still access stages later for story or practice. The shop currency and rewards, though, are limited to the event duration, so prioritize those.

If you find yourself short on time, focus on farming the stage that gives the material you need most (e.g. if you’re low on devices, spam ZT-8 even if its currency per sanity is the same as others, because you benefit from the devices). Any leftover currency after buying out the important stuff can be spent on the shop’s Infinite items (more on this below).

Reward Breakdown

Event Shop & Currencies

The event uses a currency often referred to as Investigation Supplies or event mission rewards (shown as musical notes currency in-game). You earn these from clearing event stages (first-time clears give a lump sum, repeats give amounts per run) and by completing Venesuhrenturm missions (the event missions list). You then spend this currency in the Event Shop. Key items in the shop include:

Elite Materials:

• Typically, there are 1–2 Tier-5 materials (e.g. D32 Steel, Polymerization Preparation, etc.) and several Tier-4 materials (like Oriron Cluster, Polyester Pack, Optimized Device, etc.) available in limited quantities.
• For example, in this event’s shop you could exchange for things like Oriron Clusters, Sugar Lump, Polymerized Gel, etc., which are highly valuable for promotions and skill upgrades.
• Always prioritize the highest tier mats first – they have the best Sanity value since these mats are hard to farm otherwise.

Skill Books and Chips:

• The shop usually offers LMD (money) packs, Battle Record (EXP) packs, and possibly Tier-3 Skill Summaries. Grab these after mats if you need them – they save you some base farming.
• Sometimes event shops also include Chip Catalysts or furniture parts; check if any are listed, as those should be high priority too (Catalysts are rare).

Furniture & Other:

• The event features a new furniture theme (see below). Parts of the Ludwigs-Universität Lecture Hall set are actually rewards from Herzenfolgen investigations and Venesuhrenturm missions, while the rest can be bought either via the event story (Herbstmondeskonzert) or Furniture Store.
• The Herbst Musikhaus furniture set is directly in the Furniture Store for purchase (with Furniture Parts) during the event – it’s not bought with event currency, but it’s worth mentioning as part of the event rewards.
• The shop may instead offer a Furniture Part pack (exchange currency for parts) to help you buy these sets.

Infinite Exchanges:

• Once you’ve bought out the limited stock, any extra currency can be spent on infinite items. Notably, in Herzenfolgen’s rerun, an ∞ Loxic Kohl exchange is available.
• This means after clearing the shop, you can convert remaining currency into as many Loxic Kohls as you have sanity for – a great way to stockpile this material. (In the first run of the event, infinite exchanges were typically just for small rewards like extra Battle Records or lower-tier mats; the rerun added Kohl to infinite stock as a quality of life upgrade.)
• If you still have currency after getting Kohls, convert to whatever is left (often infinite LMD or exp). It’s recommended to farm until you purchase all limited items, as they give the most value.
• Infinite Kohl is a bonus if you want to continue farming beyond that for future needs.

Shop Currency Priority:

Here’s a suggested order to spend your event currency:

1. Lessing (Operator)

• You get Lessing for free by completing the event’s investigation missions. You don’t buy him from the shop. His potential tokens and one Kernel (for his Module) also come from those missions. Just follow the event missions and unlock him step-by-step—no currency required here.

2. High-End Materials

• Start with any Tier-5 materials (usually only 1–2 are available). Then go for Tier-4 mats like Clusters, Devices, Incandescent Alloy, etc. These are hard to farm and give the best return for your currency.

3. Skill Summaries & Catalysts

• If the shop offers Skill books (especially Tier-3) or Chip Catalysts, buy those next. These often block progress when leveling up operators or unlocking skills.

4. Furniture / Furniture Parts

• Only buy furniture if it’s exclusive to this event or helps complete a set. Most event furniture is unlocked through missions or milestones. You can skip the shop versions unless there’s a pack or piece you’re missing.

5. LMD & Battle Records

• These are lower priority since you can generate them in the base. Only spend on them if you have leftover currency. Choose the highest-tier XP and LMD packs for best value.

6. Infinite Kohl (Optional)

• After buying out all limited items, spend extra currency on infinite Kohl. It’s a great way to farm extra Polyester or Loxic Kohl—materials used in many promotions and upgrades. This is optional, but useful if you’re lacking these mats.

Quick Tip:

If you’re short on time or sanity, focus on Lessing and the rare mats first. It’s fine to skip things like lower-tier materials or excess LMD – those can be farmed later, whereas these event-exclusive opportunities (free 6★ operator and cheap high-tier mats) are limited.

Free 6★ Operator: Lessing

The highlight of the Herzenfolgen event is the free ★6 operator Lessing, a Dreadnought Guard. This is one of the rare times Arknights gives a 6★ for free—so don’t miss him!

How to Unlock Lessing:

• You unlock Lessing by getting his first Folder from the Herzenfolgen mini-game.
• This is done by completing the first “Covert” investigation—available on Day 1 of the event.
• Once you get that Folder, the game will reward you with Lessing right away.

How to Max His Potential:

• There are 5 total Folders (for Potential 2 to 6), earned from daily covert missions.
• You’ll also get a Kernel Token from the final investigation. This is used for unlocking or upgrading Lessing’s Module.
• Just complete all investigations to get all his enhancement items.

What to Expect:

• Lessing joins at Level 1, so you’ll need to train and promote him like any other operator.
• He’s a strong Guard with good stats and a unique talent that synergizes with Leithanian operators.
• For new players, he’s an excellent addition to your team and can carry you far with some investment.

Don’t forget: Claim him as soon as you finish the first investigation. He’s one of the best free rewards in the game!

Skins (Outfits)

There are no free event skins given directly (no “free outfit reward” like some events have), but Herzenfolgen introduced several new outfits in the store and brought back some older outfits for a limited time. These outfits are purchased with Originite Prime (the premium currency), not event currency.

During the event (until May 28, 2024 in the first run; similar duration in rerun), the following were available in the Outfit Store:

New Skins (EPOQUE series) – Five new costumes debuted:

• Lances of Kaliskas – Ashlock’s formal attire (Victorian-style dress uniform).
• Noon Twilight – Absinthe’s school athletic uniform outfit.
• Royal Guardswoman – Bagpipe’s military academy uniform (dress blues).
• W Dali – Młynar’s “knight-errant” outfit (a rugged Kazimierz traveler look).
• Wingbreaker – Texas the Omertosa’s sleek suit with dynamic effects.

These new skins cost the usual 18 OP (for 6★ like Texas/Młynar/Bagpipe) or 15 OP (for 5★ like Ashlock/Absinthe). They are purely cosmetic, but quite stylish, fitting the event’s classical music and Leithanien theme.

Rerun Skins

A large batch of older outfits returned for sale during the event, including fan-favorites like “Become Anew” (Skadi the Corrupting Heart’s dress), “Melodiosa” (Flametail’s concert attire), “Silent Arrow” (GreyThroat costume), and many more. If you missed these previously, this event was an opportunity to grab them. They were also available at their original costs (usually 15 or 18 OP depending on rarity).

None of these outfits provide gameplay advantages, so consider them optional. If you have spare Originite Prime and really like the design of one of your operators, you might pick it up. (Notably, Lessing himself got a skin – “By My Will” outfit – during the event, which was actually given out in the CN anniversary and made available in the global rerun.

It cost 18 OP and dresses Lessing in a cool black suit. This was mentioned as Lessing’s cool outfit returned.) Again, it’s purely cosmetic; you don’t need the skin to use Lessing effectively.

Furniture Sets

Two furniture themes tie into this event’s setting of Zwillingstürme (Leithanien’s capital and academia):

Ludwigs-Universität Lecture Hall

A lecture hall themed set (desks, chalkboards, etc., referencing the university in the story). Parts of this set are obtained for free by participating in the event:

• Completing certain Herzenfolgen investigations and Venesuhrenturm missions awards some furniture pieces.
• Other pieces are unlocked via the Herbstmondeskonzert (an in-event story segment; often Arknights gives some furniture via reading side stories) and the rest can be bought from the Furniture Store for Furniture Parts.

By the end of the event, you should be able to collect the full Lecture Hall set if you do all missions. This set, when completed, provides a comfort boost in the Dormitory as usual.

Herbst Musikhaus

A music house themed furniture set (grand piano, record shelves, etc., evoking a classical music hall). This set is available in the Furniture Store for purchase during the event. That means you use your saved Furniture Parts (or Originite Prime as a last resort) to buy each piece. It is not given via missions. If you’re a furniture collector or love the aesthetic, consider buying it before it rotates out. Otherwise, it’s optional – it doesn’t affect gameplay, only your base’s look and comfort.

Both sets fit the event’s aesthetic (high society and music). They don’t cost event currency, so they won’t interfere with your shop spending. But do keep an eye on the Venesuhrenturm mission rewards so you don’t miss the free furniture pieces. Also note, once the event is over, any un-purchased furniture (like Musikhaus pieces) might not return for a long time, so decide if you want them now.

Other Rewards

Medals:

As a Side Story, Herzenfolgen comes with a set of event medals (visible in the Path of Glory interface). There is a trimmed medal for completing all missions including challenge modes. Many medals relate to Herzenfolgen investigations (e.g. solving all puzzles, finding the “Sudden Event” secret investigation) and completing all stages with certain criteria.

If you’re a completionist, aim to finish these before event end. Notably, after this rerun, the medals cannot be obtained again, so this is the last chance to get them. The medal set description even reflects the story’s outcome: “the nightmarish echoes have at last faded” – signifying you brought peace back to Zwillingstürme.

Login Bonuses:

During the event period, there was a special login event called Candleglow Sonata. It granted an extra free Headhunting pull on the limited banner (By My Will banner) and allowed one free roll each day on that banner.

This isn’t directly part of the gameplay guide, but if you logged in daily, you got a bunch of free recruitment chances for the new units (like the limited operator, if any, on rate-up). Make sure to claim any such one-time rewards (e.g. the free 10-roll ticket) from your mail. These login perks are time-limited to the event duration.

Orundum & OP:

By clearing all event stages, you earn a hefty chunk of Originite Prime (each first-time clear of a stage gives 1 OP, totaling 41 OP from all stages) and a good amount of Orundum from missions. This is enough for a few extra headhunt pulls.

If you can’t beat some EX challenges now, don’t worry – as mentioned, you can clear them later for the OP once the event is permanent (just no medal). Always try to clear what you can for those precious OPs.

Story and Lore Summary (Spoiler-Light)

Set in the music-rich nation of Leithanien, Herzenfolgen unfolds in its capital, Zwillingstürme, during the grand Empresses’ Festival, a yearly celebration marking the end of the tyrannical Witch King Herkunftshorn. The nation now enjoys peace under twin Empresses who commemorate this victory with the performance of the sacred symphony, the Güldenesgesätz.

The Disruption Begins

Mysterious disruptions plague public concerts in the city—spectral attacks with no trace of the perpetrators. You, the Doctor, are discreetly hired to investigate. Soon, it becomes clear: a group called the Echoes of Herkunftshorn, fanatics loyal to the deceased Witch King, aim to use the festival’s music to resurrect their fallen ruler.

They steal a piece of the Güldenesgesätz and plan to corrupt it into a dark symphony capable of channeling Herkunftshorn’s power.

Leithanien’s Countermove

In response, Empress Hildegard recruits key allies:

• Ebenholz, a noble with the cursed power of the Voice of Terra, once used to defeat the Witch King.
• Fremont, an aged Sarkaz necromancer known as the “Lich King,” who aids from the shadows.
• Lessing, Fremont’s apprentice, becomes your partner in uncovering the truth across the city.

Together, you investigate mysterious deaths and crimes, including a murdered noble, and encounter Arturia, a once-revered musician turned Remnant conspirator. Her Arts, driven by emotion and melody, manipulate minds and memories.

The Plan Unfolds

Despite your team’s efforts, the Remnants succeed in activating the Genesis Horn, a massive dark spire from the Witch King’s era. As the corrupted symphony plays, Herkunftshorn’s apparition manifests, accompanied by an army of spectral musicians. The fanatics, in cult-like devotion, sacrifice themselves to fuel the resurrection.

Final Battle

With the city under siege, you, Ebenholz, Lessing, and allies like Viviana (Candle Knight) push to stop the Witch King. Ebenholz engages the revenant in an Arts duel, using the emotional energies you collected during the investigation. Meanwhile, Arturia plays a twisted counter-melody to aid the Witch King from atop the tower.

You deploy Aspect instruments to weaken the apparition, and with Ebenholz’s final act—sacrificing his voice—the Witch King is defeated, his echo sealed, and the Genesis Horn destroyed.

Aftermath

• Arturia is arrested, unrepentant in her beliefs.
• Lessing joins Rhodes Island as a new operator.
• Ebenholz, scarred but alive, reconciles with his homeland.
• Viviana returns to Kazimierz, her perspective forever changed.

The public only hears of a mysterious “incident,” while the Empresses silently tighten their defenses. The emotional power of Arts and music remains a central theme, tying every twist of the story together.

Herzenfolgen is a haunting narrative about memory, power, and emotion, wrapped in orchestral grandeur—one that resonates deeply in both gameplay and lore.

Miscellaneous: Event Mechanics & Gameplay Tips

The Herzenfolgen event introduces unique systems that fundamentally change how you approach combat and progression. Understanding these mechanics is key to mastering the event’s stages and unlocking all rewards.

Variation System (Passionate / Melancholic)

Each stage operates on a musical variation cycle, visually displayed at the top of the screen as a scrolling musical bar. These shifts affect enemy behavior globally:

1. Passionate Variation (Allegro)

• Visual: Yellow notes and vibrant audio cues.
• Effects:
  • +50% Attack Speed
  • 2× Movement Speed
  • -50% Defense
• Implication: Enemies attack and move faster, making them hard to stall—but they’re easier to kill with physical damage.

2. Melancholic Variation (Adagio)

• Visual: Purple notes and slower music.
• Effects:
  • +20% Attack
  • -50% ASPD
  • -50% Movement Speed
• Implication: Enemies hit harder but much slower—ideal for stalling, crowd control, and setup.

Variation Tips:

• Many enemies gain unique abilities during a specific variation:
  • Trumpeters deal Arts damage in Passionate.
  • Wind Players inflict a 10s stun during Melancholic.
  • Choristers heal nearby allies in Passionate.

Pro Tip: If an enemy becomes extremely dangerous in one variation (like Wind Players in Melancholic), aim to eliminate them during the safer phase (Passionate).

Tuning Nodes (Manual Variation Control)

Tuning Nodes appear on some maps as glowing musical glyphs. These devices let you control the active Variation manually.

How They Work:

• Nodes charge passively and can be triggered when a variation is currently active.
• Deploying a unit on a charged Node instantly switches the variation to the opposite state (or cancels it).
• Nodes usually cooldown between uses—so they must be timed wisely.

Tactical Uses:

• Slow down a fast wave (flip to Melancholic).
• Stop a healing buff (e.g., Choristers in Passionate).
• Adapt during Challenge Mode stages where the variation is locked or highly dangerous.

Pro Tip: Always check the HUD’s music bar and plan your node activation just before major enemy waves or boss skills. During late stages (e.g., ZT-10), the variation may lock—so use Nodes while you can.

Aspect of Annihilation & Creation (Environmental Damage System)

These paired devices add a new layer of strategy to combat:

Device Roles:

• Aspect of Annihilation: A crystal that absorbs damage from attacks (player or enemy).
• Aspect of Creation: A forward-facing, invulnerable device that fires a powerful projectile whenever the Annihilation device is damaged.

Key Mechanics:

• The projectile deals equal physical damage to what the crystal took.
• Only the first enemy hit takes the projectile damage.
• Creation changes position between pre-set tiles during the stage.

Strategic Use:

• Place Snipers or Casters near Annihilation to bombard enemies with indirect damage.
• AoE units can trigger blasts that obliterate dense enemy waves.
• Against high-DEF bosses (like the Witch King), focus fire on the crystal to bypass their defense completely.

Pro Tip: Annihilation devices have aggro level 2, drawing ranged enemies’ attacks. This can help protect your operators. However, if enemies hit the crystal, it still triggers Creation’s projectile—so stay alert and use this intentionally.

Herzenfolgen Mini-Game (Investigation System)

Beyond combat, the event includes a clue-solving puzzle mode centered around emotional Arts and deduction. This is how you unlock and upgrade Lessing.

Daily System Structure:

• Routine Visitations: 3 daily cases that reward currency and 1 Covert Investigation Token.
• Covert Visitations: Use the token to attempt a story-based puzzle tied to Lessing’s lore.

Puzzle Mechanics:

• Compose an Arts Tune by selecting 3 “Emotion Notes”:
  • Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear
• The combination yields:
  • An Aspect (emotional state)
  • A Way of Want (motivation)
• You must deduce the correct combination from dialogue clues or trial and error.

Tips for Solving:

• Wrong guesses don’t consume resources, so you can experiment freely.
• Community guides list all correct combos, but solving it yourself adds story immersion.
• Final Puzzle (“Tomorrow’s Opus”) unlocks after crafting 30 tunes total and reveals the narrative’s conclusion.

Pro Tip: Read the text carefully. A character described as cold but motivated by love might be “Remorse + Affection.” If stuck, the game may auto-highlight correct note types after several failures.

Quality-of-Life Upgrade: Auto Farming

This event introduced a major QoL feature—Continuous Auto-Deploy:

• After 3★-clearing a stage, you can enable looped auto runs.
• This greatly improves farming efficiency, especially for ZT-7, ZT-8, and ZT-9.

Ensure you’ve cleared TR-6 in the main game to unlock auto-deploy functionality.

Finally, enjoy the event! Herzenfolgen is lauded for its blend of gameplay and story – take the time to read the story segments if you can, and immerse yourself in the music (the OST is fantastic for this event). Good luck with the stages and puzzles, Doctor, and may you successfully conduct this investigation to its grand finale!

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