Time: 2025-12-27 by mmojugg Game: ARC Raiders Guide Tags: ARC Raiders General
Cold Snap (Patch 1.7.0, live since December 16) brings permanent snowfall, Frostbite survival mechanics, and boosted drops—while limited Flickering Flames/Candleberry Banquet events run until January 13, 2026. With the free Goalie Raider Deck now available and Expedition departures ongoing.
This hub collects every single guide we've published to help you dominate the Rust Belt.
Last Updated: Dec 27 2025
Essential starters for smooth progression and early economy building in the frozen Rust Belt.
Core mechanics and survival basics for new raiders entering Cold Snap conditions.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Comprehensive starter loadouts, extraction fundamentals, and Frostbite avoidance. | |
Proven lone-wolf tactics for consistent extractions. | |
Must-know hidden mechanics and early loot spots. | |
Community etiquette and hidden game rules explained. | |
High-impact survival techniques from veteran play. |
Quests, social hub, and early unlocks to build momentum fast.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Full quest progression with rewards and vendor unlocks. | |
Trader strategies, stash management, and underground economy. | |
Fastest path to the premier farming map. |
Fast cred and XP sources for quick upgrades.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Optimized cred routes and high-value flips. | |
Top underground XP farming locations. |
Central hub for all item, utility, and gear mastery—grouping workshop upgrades with specialized guides for ammo, healing, quick-use items, augments, grenades, traps, and shields.
Station bundles, material locations, and fast progression for crafting efficiency.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Bundle farming and station efficiency tips. | |
Detailed hotspots across all maps. |
Healing, ammo, quick-use items, grenades, traps, and shields for complete loadout control.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Best nature heals to counter Frostbite drain. | |
Optimal stockpiling for sustained firefights. | |
Full breakdown of grenades, traps, and utilities. | |
Complete tier list and situational uses. | |
Post-balance grenade performance rankings. | |
Deployment strategies and counterplay. | |
Defense layering optimized for Cold Snap threats. | |
Deep crafting and synergy strategies. |
High-value resources and trinkets boosted by Cold Snap drops—pair with workshop mastery for faster crafting.
Top items to keep, sell, or craft with during winter events.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Highest-value trinkets and materials ranked. | |
Prime material hotspots post-update. | |
Advanced extraction techniques for maximum hauls. |
Permanent unlocks thrive with Cold Snap container boosts—focus Stella Montis and snowy alternatives.
Highest traffic routes for 75+ blueprints, boosted in Loading Bay during blizzards.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Most efficient tunnels and chamber loops. | |
Quest rewards and hidden blueprint caches. | |
POI bonuses and Matriarch zone extras. | |
Targeted high-value blueprint acquisition. |
Trackers, event boosts, and alternate map routes.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Complete volume farming tracker. | |
Universal hotspots and night run optimizations. | |
Winter-specific puzzle and container bonuses. | |
Learning mechanics, material costs, and priority order. |
Blue Gate and other maps for diverse blueprint/mod drops.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Frozen valley high-value paths. | |
Quest-tied blueprint extras in winter conditions. |
Meta shifts favor energy penetration and Frostbite resistance post-1.7.0.
Tier lists, attachments, and specific weapon breakdowns.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Current top shields and passives with Cold Snap rankings. | |
Full attachment system and modded weapon builds. | |
Legendary attachments and weapon synergies. | |
Side-by-side meta weapon comparison. | |
Raid-type specific loadout recommendations. | |
In-depth energy weapon performance analysis. | |
Rare weapon viability and acquisition paths. |
Skill synergies and customization options.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Full breakdown of Goalie Deck rewards and farming. | |
Current meta skill trees and weapon pairings. | |
Detailed evaluation of niche skill utility. | |
All cosmetics including free Goalie Raider Deck. |
Detailed breakdowns of key maps, enemies, and tactical tools—optimized for Cold Snap conditions and hourly modifiers.
Cold Snap routes, puzzles, and loot hotspots across major locations.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Snow-covered loot paths and positioning. | |
Step-by-step winter puzzle solutions and rewards. | |
High-priority POI in blizzard conditions. | |
Frozen lake rotations and sightlines. | |
Valley navigation and modifier adaptations. | |
Hourly cycle prediction and counterplay. |
Boss clears, PvP, and advanced combat strategies.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Complete ARC type weaknesses and patterns. | |
In-depth combat guide for all enemies. | |
Phase-by-phase Stella Montis boss strategy. | |
Sub-2-minute boss clear technique. | |
Efficient structure destruction methods. | |
Player engagement meta and positioning. |
Optimization for smoother Cold Snap runs.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Best graphics, FPS, and visibility tweaks. |
Track seasonal progress, weeklies, and balance changes.
Winter-limited content including Flickering Flames until Jan 13, 2026.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Event-exclusive rewards and progression path. | |
Current global goals and contribution tips. | |
New seasonal gear stats and sources. | |
Event schedules and participation strategies. |
Weekly challenges and 3-star strategies.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Full ranking system and leaderboard climbing. | |
Universal high-score optimization tactics. | |
ARC Raiders Season 2 Trials Leaked Rewards Rank Tiers Toxic Swamp Event | Upcoming rewards and tier previews. |
Loadout and route for that specific week. | |
Early December challenge walkthrough. | |
November weekly strategies and scoring. | |
Solo-viable routes for max points. |
Latest balance, exploits, and roadmap details.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Line-by-line analysis of 1.7.0 changes. | |
Official roadmap with adaptation advice. | |
Key features from the major content drop. | |
Complete 1.3.0 patch notes review. | |
Meta shifts after 1.3 balance pass. | |
Insight into removed features and Snowfall origins. | |
Solo strategies post-grenade rebalance. | |
Hotfix impact on farming economy. | |
Stella Montis introduction and launch fixes. | |
Known exploit patches and workarounds. | |
Direct developer commentary on balance. |
Reset mechanics and permanent rewards.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Long-term impacts of departure events. | |
Rewards, contribution, and reset timing. |
Player peaks, reviews, and shop services.
Guide Title | Description |
|---|---|
Full game evaluation and standout features. | |
Player surge analysis and future roadmap speculation. | |
Secure options for coins, materials, and boosts. |
Stella Montis Loading Bay and underground tunnels offer the highest container density for consistent blueprint drops. Focus on high-traffic POI routes, clear side objectives during quests, and prioritize maps with active environmental modifiers for bonus rates. Night runs reduce PvP interference while maintaining solid yields. Many experienced raiders supplement missing or rare blueprints directly to spend more time on challenging extractions rather than repetitive farming loops. Check our Stella Montis Blueprint Farming Guide, 13 Efficient Farm All 74 Blueprints, and ARC Raiders Blueprint Farming Mastery Guide for detailed routes.
Top augments prioritize a mix of shield regeneration, carry weight increases, and environmental resistance to handle prolonged raids and heavier loot. Passives that boost energy penetration or recoil control pair strongly with leading weapons. Meta shifts occur with major balance updates—always cross-reference our Best Augments in ARC Raiders: Complete Tier List and Augments Mastery Guide for the latest rankings and synergies.
Frostbite drains health rapidly in exposed areas—move quickly to indoor zones or heated structures as soon as the meter appears. Stock nature-based healing items and quick-use consumables that provide temporary warmth. Avoid lingering on frozen surfaces, which accelerate drain and impair movement. Proper augments and insulated gear significantly extend outdoor tolerance. See our ARC Raiders Healing Mastery Guide: Items & Tips for best counters.
Energy weapons with high armor penetration excel against reinforced enemies and shielded players, making options like Equalizer and Jupiter perennial favorites. Pair with a reliable kinetic secondary for close-quarters flexibility. Loadout choice depends on map modifiers and playstyle—consult our ARC Raiders Are Equalizer and Jupiter Good?, Top Attachment Utility and Weapon in ARC Raiders, and ARC Raiders Complete Weapon Ranking Compare for detailed comparisons and raid-specific
Refined, topside, nature, and rare trinket materials consistently offer the highest crafting and trading value, especially those required for top-tier augments, mods, and workshop upgrades. Focus on event-boosted drops and high-yield POI when available. Basic recyclables are useful for ammo sustain but lower priority—refer to Pay Attention to ARC Raiders Most Valuable Items and ARC Raiders Every Workshop Materials Location for priorities. Many raiders secure bundles of premium materials to bypass inconsistent farming.
Maximize points by completing primary objectives quickly, minimizing deaths, and hitting all secondary goals (speed, no damage, full clears). Use meta loadouts adapted to the week's modifiers, pre-plan routes, and practice efficient positioning. Solo players benefit from conservative playstyles. Our ARC Raiders Trials Ultimate Guide to Rank Mastery and ARC Raiders Trials Guide: 3-Star Max Points provide optimal paths, scoring tips, and loadout suggestions for current and upcoming challenges.
Expedition windows reward permanent account-wide buffs like skill points and stash upgrades based on personal contribution. Build stash value early with high-worth materials and credits before announcements. Monitor in-game caravan progress to time your deposits—consistent preparation across cycles yields the best long-term gains without last-minute pressure. Full details in our ARC Raiders Expedition Reset Complete Guide and ARC Raiders Expedition What It Means for Players.
Cold Snap has made ARC Raiders more challenging and rewarding than ever. Many raiders choose to stock up on coins, material bundles, rare blueprints, modded weapons, and other essentials from our secure shop to maximize boosted drops and focus on high-stakes gameplay. Stay warm and extract rich in the Rust Belt.
Bookmark this constantly evolving hub for the latest updates!
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