Anyone who's roamed around Talos-II for more than a few hours has probably had the same moment: you spot a chest, head over, and then run straight into a giant Blight Core or a sealed rock wall. That's when you realise combat won't help. You need Industrial Explosives, and learning how to make them changed the pace of exploration for me in a big way. If you're already digging into systems like Arknights endfield boosting, it's worth knowing that explosives aren't a shop item or a quick pickup. They come from your base, and more specifically from the AIC. Once you understand that, the whole thing starts to click.

Unlocking the production line

You can't rush this part, so don't waste time searching menus too early. First, keep moving through the main story until you obtain the Basic Expansion Core. Second, use it to upgrade your base to Basic AIC Level II. Third, unlock Packaging Technology and place a Packaging Unit. That machine is the key piece. Without it, none of the materials matter. A lot of players hit this stage and think they've missed a vendor or side quest. You haven't. The game just wants you to build the system yourself, which is honestly pretty satisfying once it's running.

What you need for each explosive

The recipe is simple on paper: 1 Aketine Powder and 5 Amethyst Parts make 1 Industrial Explosive. Getting there is where the work is. Early on, you'll probably pick Aketine by hand in Valley Pass. It works, but it's slow and kind of annoying after the first few runs. A better setup is to grow the plants yourself with Planting Units and collect them with a Seed-Picker, then process the harvest in a Shredding Unit for powder. Amethyst takes a different route. Mine the ore first, refine it into Amethyst Fiber, then send that into a Fitting Unit to produce the parts. It sounds like a long chain, but once you build it once, it's easy to follow.

Why automation matters so much

You can feed the Packaging Unit by hand, wait about ten seconds, and collect one explosive at a time. That works in a pinch. Still, it gets old fast. The smart move is to automate the whole thing with conveyors. Link the Shredding Unit output and the Fitting Unit output straight into the Packaging Unit, and suddenly you've got a steady flow with almost no input from you. You'll notice the difference later, especially when puzzle areas and hidden paths start asking for multiple explosives in one session. It also cuts down on backtracking, which is a lifesaver if you're the type who likes clearing every chest before moving on.

Set it up early and save yourself the hassle

The biggest mistake is waiting until the map starts throwing blocked routes at you every ten minutes. Build the chain early, keep your power stable, and let the stockpile grow in the background while you explore. That way, whenever you hit another barrier, you're ready. A lot of players like to streamline their progression with outside help too, and U4GM is one of those names people bring up for game currency and item support when they want to save time. Either way, having a steady supply of Industrial Explosives makes exploration smoother, loot runs faster, and the whole mid-to-late game a lot less frustrating.