Checkpoint Nodes

Checkpoint Nodes are a key stop in Expedition Mode where players can hire Units, buy items and decide whether to keep going or extract with their current haul. Unlike combat nodes, nothing attacks the payload here, making Checkpoint Nodes the safe planning phase between fights.

This is also the only point where players choose to Extract, ending the run early and locking in rewards earned so far instead of pushing further into the map for bigger payouts at greater risk.

Players can hire Units for their Expedition at a Yen price. Hired Units are randomly picked from a player's already-owned roster and are limited to single placements each. There's a universal cap of 14 placeable Units shared between every player on the stage, so hiring decisions affect the whole team, not just one player.

Selling a hired Unit does not refund it to the player's hotbar, so hiring is a spend-it-to-use-it decision rather than a temporary loan.

Every Checkpoint Node includes a Checkpoint Shop offering Tomes, Repair Hammers and Anvils in exchange for Yen. Tomes are itemized versions of Traits that can be assigned to chosen Units for the rest of the Expedition.

Repair Hammers are the only way to heal the Expedition payload directly, each restoring 750 Health, with a maximum of 1 available per Checkpoint Node. Anvils unlock stat upgrades during the run, including damage buffs, SPA buffs, summon health buffs and Yen buffs, among others.