Arknights launched its Retracing Our Steps update on April 9, 2026 on iOS and Android. The 40th Side Story and 10th Celebration event in the Snow and Silver Steel arc runs until May 5, 2026. New six-star Caster Astgenne the Lightchaser debuts.
What Is Retracing Our Steps?
Retracing Our Steps is the 40th Side Story and 10th Celebration event in Arknights, and the third event in the Snow and Silver Steel story arc. Developed by Hypergryph and published globally by Yostar, the event runs across three stages:
- Pilgrimage through the Blizzards
- Road of Reformation
- Heart of Karlan
Completing each stage earns event currency for the limited-time shop. The reward pool includes Headhunting Permits and additional items.
New Operator: Astgenne the Lightchaser
Astgenne the Lightchaser is a six-star Caster operator whose attacks deal AoE Arts damage while her skill is active. She is the free operator of this event, awarded to players who complete the Oracular Riddles mission. No gacha pull required. Her operator token is also earnable through the event shop.
Thank You Rewards
Yostar issued Thank You rewards alongside the patch. The reward pool includes Headhunting Permits distributed via the in-game Mail and Events tab.
What SEA Players Should Know
Arknights has an active SEA playerbase across Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The event runs on a single global server.
High-traffic periods at the start of major Arknights updates can cause slowdowns in the first hour. Wait 30 to 60 minutes if you hit loading issues. With the event running through May 5, pacing your Sanity spend across the window is more efficient than rushing all three stages on day one.
What Comes Next
The week following a major Arknights patch typically brings operator balance notes via official social channels and the in-game Notice board.
Last updated: April 16, 2026.
Sources: Arknights Terra Wiki | GamesPress official announcement
