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Arknights Codes: How to Redeem Free Rewards
Arknights codes are short alphanumeric strings that Hypergryph distributes during livestreams, version updates, and anniversary events; entering one in the in-game redemption page or on the official redemption site grants free rewards such as Orundum, Headhunting Permits, LMD, and upgrade materials. Most codes are case-sensitive, expire within a few days to a few weeks, and are region-locked to the server your account was created on — a code that works on the Global server almost never works on the Japanese, Korean, or Chinese servers, and vice versa. The single most common reason a code fails is not a typo but a server mismatch or an already-expired code, so check both before re-typing.
What Current Arknights Code Rewards Typically Contain
Reward tiers have stayed fairly consistent across recent event cycles. According to the game’s official patch notes and livestream announcements, codes generally fall into four rough tiers:
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| Code tier | Typical rewards | Where it comes from | Typical expiry window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livestream / anniversary | 600–1,200 Orundum, 1–2 Headhunting Permits, 30,000–60,000 LMD | Official CN or Global livestream events | 3–14 days |
| Version update | 200–600 Orundum, 10,000–20,000 LMD, T2–T3 materials | Maintenance compensation posts | 7–30 days |
| Merch / collaboration | Furniture parts, 1 Headhunting Permit, cosmetic items | Partner campaigns, offline events | Often no stated expiry — but subject to change |
| Bug compensation | 100–300 Orundum, sanity potions | Post-maintenance fix notices | 7–14 days |
Because Orundum and Headhunting Permits are the only rewards that directly convert into pulls, a livestream-tier code is worth roughly one-third to one-half of a single ten-pull depending on the exact bundle. That is the practical reason to redeem quickly rather than stockpile codes.
Redemption Requirements You Have to Meet First
Before any code will work, four conditions almost always apply:
- Doctor level 2 or above. A freshly created account cannot redeem until it has cleared the opening tutorial, which ends around level 2.
- Correct server. Global (EN), JP, KR, and CN are separate databases. Codes are issued per region and are not cross-usable.
- Correct account binding. On the web redemption page you must log in with the same Yostar/Hypergryph account that is bound to the game, not a guest or a linked social login you no longer use.
- Case-sensitive entry. Codes are usually uppercase; some contain digits and both cases deliberately. “ARKNIGHTS” and “arknights” are different strings.
In-Game vs. Web Redemption
The in-game route is faster: open the terminal-style menu, go to the settings/friends area, find the redemption input, and paste the code. The web route exists because the in-game input has historically been disabled or unreliable on some platforms and regions, so many players redeem on the official site and then claim the mail in-game. If the in-game field rejects a valid code, the web page is the standard workaround.
Step-by-Step: Redeeming an Arknights Code
- Confirm the code matches your server. Check the source post for a server tag (EN, JP, KR, CN). Reason: region-locked codes always return “invalid” rather than a clear “wrong server” error, which sends players hunting for typos that do not exist.
- Log in to the official redemption page with your bound account. Reason: guest accounts and unbound social logins cannot receive mailed rewards, so the code may register but the mail never arrives.
- Select the correct server from the dropdown. Reason: the page defaults to one region, and picking the wrong one routes the reward to an account that does not exist.
- Enter your in-game nickname and UID exactly. Reason: the redemption system validates UID against the logged-in account; a nickname mismatch alone can block the submission even when the UID is right.
- Paste the code, not type it. Reason: codes mix uppercase, lowercase, and digits, and manual entry is the second-most-common failure cause after expiry.
- Submit, then open the in-game mail and claim within the mail’s own expiry. Reason: redemption success and mail delivery are separate systems; the mail itself usually expires in 30 days, so an unclaimed reward can still be lost.
A Concrete Example
Say a livestream code rewards 600 Orundum, 1 Headhunting Permit, and 30,000 LMD. Redeem it the day it drops, open the game, and claim from mail within the mail window. If you instead save the string for three weeks, the code itself has most likely expired — the 600 Orundum is gone and no amount of retrying recovers it. The mail expiry is separate: if you redeem on day 13 of a 14-day code but do not open the game until day 45, you can also lose the reward to the mail timer.
Common Code-Entry Problems and Fixes
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Invalid code” | Typo, wrong case, or expired | Copy-paste from the source; check expiry date |
| “Code already used” | Redeemed on this account before | Codes are single-use per account — no workaround |
| Redeemed but no mail | Wrong server selected or account not bound | Re-check server and binding; mail can take a few minutes |
| Page times out or errors | Livestream-day traffic spike | Wait 10–30 minutes and retry; the code window is usually days, not minutes |
| Works for friends, not you | Different server region | Confirm your server in the account screen; region codes do not transfer |
Why Some Codes Seem to Vanish Fast
Livestream codes are typically capped by both a time window and, in some cases, a redemption volume limit. The practical consequence is that the earlier you redeem after an announcement, the safer you are — especially for high-value anniversary codes. Codes distributed only in Chinese-language streams are frequently mislabeled by third-party aggregators as global-safe; per the game’s official notices, region tags are authoritative and aggregator labels are not.
Durability of the Habit: How to Never Miss a Code
Code rewards are consumable by nature — once expired, they cannot be recovered, and once claimed, the Orundum is spent on pulls. The ownership reality is that a code is only as valuable as the speed with which you redeem and claim it. Two habits cover almost every case: (1) redeem the same day you see an official announcement, and (2) claim mail within a week of redeeming. Players who do both rarely lose rewards; players who hoard codes “for later” lose the majority of them to expiry. There is no consumable, subscription, or upgrade that extends a code’s life — the timers are fixed by the publisher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Arknights codes work across all servers?
No. Global, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese servers are separate, and each code is issued for a specific region. A code that works on Global will return an invalid error on JP, KR, or CN. Always match the code’s region tag to the server your account was created on.
How long do Arknights codes stay valid?
Expiry varies by tier. Livestream and anniversary codes often last 3–14 days, version-update and compensation codes typically last 7–30 days, and some merchandise or collaboration codes carry no stated expiry. Treat any code older than two weeks as likely dead unless the source explicitly states otherwise.
Why does it say my code is already used?
Each code can be redeemed only once per account. If you enter it yourself on an earlier date, or if the code was shared publicly and bound to a limited number of accounts, the system will reject it. There is no way to reset or reuse a consumed code.
I redeemed successfully but got no rewards — what happened?
Check that you selected the correct server and logged in with the account bound to your game profile. Rewards arrive by in-game mail, which can take a few minutes; the mail has its own expiry, usually around 30 days, after which the reward is lost even though the code itself was accepted.
Should I type a code or paste it?
Always paste. Arknights codes deliberately mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and digits, and manual entry is one of the most common causes of “invalid code” errors. Copying directly from the official announcement avoids both typos and accidental autocorrect changes.
Where do legitimate codes come from?
Official livestreams, in-game notices, the publisher’s social channels, and patch-note posts are the reliable sources. Third-party aggregator sites often relabel region-specific codes as global-safe, which is why a code that “should work” fails — verify the region tag against the publisher’s own notice before assuming the code is broken.