[Chen Qianyu Cosplay] Cleaving the Horizon with a Sword: Crisp Tactical Techwear Style from Arknights: Endfield

Looking back at this look for Chen Qianyu from Arknights: Endfield the moment I held the heavy sword, I felt quite a sense of achievement. The overall styling was prepared thoroughly this time, from the tailoring of the costume to the details of the props, striving to capture that sharp crispness from the in-game art.

First off, regarding this long sword prop—it had more weight than expected. Purely hand-assembled with an internal support structure added, its center of gravity felt great when swinging it around without feeling top-heavy, which was super helpful for pulling off various combat poses. Glove details weren't spared either; the fingertips were made thinner, giving direct feedback when gripping the hilt without affecting motion fluidity during shooting. Long before deciding to do this Arknights cosplay, I reviewed the game's concept designs over and over, taking detailed notes especially on costume paneled seam construction and weapon architecture.

When picking fabrics for the costume, to recreate that tech aesthetic with subtle sheen yet matte finish, I visited several fabric markets and ultimately selected a teal composite fabric that offered thickness while staying structured. The paneled design of teal jacket and gray cuffs is super eye-catching, while the high-neck base layer combined with the jacket's crisp shoulder line greatly contoured the upper body, making the posture look sharp and energetic. The skirt section used a softer material for ease of movement. For the wig, the white streaks woven into black hair are the soul of the look—this layered, slightly messy design, paired with the black folded horns with holographic reflections on top, gave instant character recognition visually. The boots featured a knee-high black leather design that visually lengthened leg proportions when paired with the short skirt, while the unique slit at the collar and metal buckles oozed tactical techwear crispness.

During shooting, the photographer was amazing at capturing light and shadows; when the lights hit, clear silhouettes of the black sword and myself cast onto the back wall, instantly bursting with tension. To express the character's aura, I tried adjusting my gaze and head angle several times to maintain a calm, focused state. Studio lights can be hot, and combined with this costume's thermal layering, sweating happened quickly, posing a real test for the makeup. Fortunately, the base makeup was built solid this time, pairing with slightly cool-toned eye makeup to present a cool, composed, and firm state.

Working with the photographer was super smooth—he guided me on using the greatsword's length to create visual extension in the frame, while I tried to convey the character's personality through subtle facial expressions without breaking character. Comparing with the original character concept art, I tried my best to restore that slightly proud expression. In fact, there are many subtle details on the costume, like metal waist chains, zipper pull shapes, and subtle textures on the skirt hem—accessories that add weight and tactile quality when walking or turning around. The only slight flaw was that this fabric's wrinkle resistance made it tricky to maintain, requiring constant attention to smooth out folds during shooting.

Every time I go for an outdoor shoot or studio shoot as part of my Coser daily life, I gain fresh understanding of the character. Chen Qianyu's design isn't flashy or overly ornate; rather, it wins through crisp tailoring and cool color tones. I believe the core of cosplay isn't just changing into a outfit, but expressing the character's presence within their specific world. This photoshoot basically met expectations—retaining costume details while capturing that sharp edge of tactical techwear style. Although shooting the full set was tiring, looking at the finished photos truly makes it all feel worthwhile.