Arknights has captivated global players with its deep strategic tower defense gameplay, rich dystopian storyline set in the world of Terra, and a diverse roster of unique operators. As the game marks its 6th anniversary, a grand celebration is underway, centered around the vibrant Carnival Side Story event "Ato" from the Summertime Beats arc.
This milestone event brings a host of exciting offerings, including fresh operators, daily free headhunting pulls, high-efficiency farming stages, and exclusive themed furniture. Whether you’re a new player just stepping into Terra or a veteran Doctor, this guide will help you navigate all aspects of the 6th anniversary Ato event to maximize your gains.
If you’re looking to get more information about Arknights, feel free to check out the related guides below:
These guides can help you boost your progress and enhance your overall gameplay experience.
By the way, if you’re already eager to play Arknights, we highly recommend playing Arknights on PC and Mac with MuMuPlayer for a smoother gameplay experience. MuMuPlayer is the top Android emulator that offers optimal gaming performance with smooth keyboard and mouse controls, high FPS, and multi-instance support.
You could also directly download Arknights PC on MuMuPlayer if you don’t want to miss out on the latest game updates.
Arknights 6th Anniversary: Ato Event Overview & Schedule
The core of Arknights 6th Anniversary Global is the Ato Side Story, a Carnival-style event that blends a lighthearted summer festival atmosphere with efficient resource farming. Set in the Higashi region at Mitsukue, this event serves as the 38th Side Story and the 5th Carnival-style event in Arknights, following the familiar and player-friendly loop of past Carnival events. Below is the official event schedule to help you plan your participation:
Key Event Schedule
- Ato Side Story (Carnival): Starts on January 16, 2026, and ends on February 6, 2026. This three-week event encompasses story stages (LS), farming stages (ES), an exclusive event shop, and themed furniture rewards.
- Hanabi Exiled Limited Banner: Available throughout the entire Ato event period. The standout feature of this banner is the daily free headhunting pull, which does not count towards pity and cannot be carried over to the next day.
- Mikage Restaurant Furniture Set: Unlocked during the Ato event. After the event concludes, this themed furniture set will be moved to the permanent shop, allowing players who missed it to collect it later.
Detailed Breakdown of Arknights 6th Anniversary Ato Event Content
Gameplay: Story & Efficient Farming
The Ato event blends a lighthearted Higashi festival story (with Matsukiri as a standout Vanguard) and efficient farming. Progress: Clear low-sanity LS stages to unlock ES stages (main event currency source). Key farming tips: Focus on the hardest ES stage (e.g., ES 8) for 3-star clears (highest sanity efficiency); use auto-deploy for consistent farming. With 21 days of event time, clearing the shop twice is achievable without heavy sanity refreshes.
Welfare Rewards: Free Operator & Shop Priority
- Free Operator: 5-star Vanguard Matsukiri (Higashi Strategist class), valuable for early/mid-game. Her potential tokens are available in the event shop for full potential unlock.
- Event Shop Priority: Tier 3 materials/module parts (top) > Matsukiri tokens > Mikage Restaurant furniture > Headhunting permits/data contracts > Skins > EXP cards/LMD (last). The event offers ~470 Tier 3 materials total, making it ideal for stockpiling upgrade resources.
Limited Banner: Hanabi Exiled Pull Strategy
- Featured Operators: 6★ limited Defender Hoshiguma the Breacher (meta tank, must-spark for F2P), 6★ Supporter/Healer Haruka (AFK healing potential), 6★ Kichisei (rate-up powerhouse), 5★ Matsukiri (boosted rates).
- Pity & Free Pulls: 300 pulls guarantee Hoshiguma the Breacher (spark system); 70% rate-up for featured 6★ after pity. 21 daily free pulls (Ato duration, non-pity, non-carry-over). Total free pulls may exceed 50 with login bonuses/Orundum (per 5th Anniversary patterns).
- Pull Advice: F2P prioritize daily free pulls and aim for 300-pull spark if possible; returning players fill roster gaps (focus on Hoshiguma if lacking tanks); spenders push further if Hoshiguma fits account goals.
Play Arknights on PC or Mac with MuMuPlayer
For the ultimate gaming experience, we suggest you download Arknights PC on MuMuPlayer. This emulator offers several advantages:
1. Smooth Gaming Experience
Enjoy smooth, stable gameplay with high FPS—perfect for long sessions, exploration, or fast-paced moments. The larger screen and sharper visuals also make details, UI, and effects easier to read.
2. Smart & Customizable Controls
Customize smart keyboard and mouse mappings for precise and comfortable control. MuMuPlayer also supports gamepad input, offering a familiar, PC-like playstyle for any game genre.
3. Multi-Instance Productivity
Run multiple instances at the same time to boost efficiency. Ideal for managing accounts, farming resources, or multitasking between different in-game activities.
4. Full Platform Support
Fully compatible with Windows and macOS, delivering optimized performance across devices.
Conclusion
Arknights 6th Anniversary’s Ato event offers a joyful summer carnival experience with abundant rewards. Elevate your gameplay by playing Arknights on PC with MumuPlayer: optimized keyboard/mouse controls for precise stage clears, stable performance to eliminate lag, and customizable keymaps for efficient farming. Gear up with MumuPlayer and make the most of this milestone celebration!
