Everything New in the ARC Raiders Flashpoint Update

The ARC Raiders Flashpoint update is here, and it’s one of the bigger content drops the game has seen this year. Going live on March 31, 2026 as patch 1.22.0, Flashpoint introduces a brand new type of map condition called ARC Operations, a deadly new flying enemy called the Vaporizer, three new weapons and items, a new Player Project, major Scrappy upgrades, Shredders spreading other maps, and a pile of quality-of-life improvements that’ll make your time in Speranza way smoother. Whether you’re chasing blueprints or just trying to survive, there’s a lot to unpack – so let’s break it all down. Check the Event Timers to track when the new Close Scrutiny condition is active.

ARC Operations: Close Scrutiny – The New Major Map Condition in ARC Raiders Flashpoint

Flashpoint brings something totally new to ARC Raiders – ARC Operations. This is a new category of major map condition, and the first one is called Close Scrutiny. During this event, a massive machine called the ARC Assessor makes a controlled landing somewhere on the map. It doesn’t seem aggressive on its own, but the ARC patrols surrounding it are unlike anything you’ve dealt with before.

The trade-off here is real. There’s less loot scattered around the map during Close Scrutiny, but the Assessor itself is packed with high-value rewards. This is a bring-your-best-gear situation – don’t expect to cheese it with a free loadout and some Adrenaline Shots. If you’re looking for a challenge that actually pays off, this is it.

New ARC Threat: The Vaporizer

The Vaporizer is a new flying ARC type that patrols around the Close Scrutiny operation. It uses devastating laser attacks and has unpredictable attack patterns that’ll force you to rethink your positioning. These things show up in groups, so if you spot one, expect more nearby. Embark improved directional audio for flying ARC in this patch too, so at least you’ll hear them coming – use that to your advantage.

New Weapons and Items in ARC Raiders Flashpoint

Tian Wen has been busy. Three new pieces of gear are dropping with the Flashpoint update, and you’ll need to track down their Blueprints to craft them. Use the Blueprint Tracker to keep tabs on which ones you still need.

• Dolabra (Legendary Energy Shotgun): This is the headline weapon. The Dolabra lets you punch through ARC armor plating at close range with a variable focus – fire a wide burst to hit multiple targets or a focused funnel of electricity for concentrated damage. The best chance of finding this Blueprint is during the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation.
• Canto (Rare SMG): A new submachine gun running on medium ammunition. It’s built for close quarters combat and gives you a solid option for keeping both ARC and opportunistic Raiders at arm’s length. Check our Loadouts page for build ideas once you’ve got it.
• Surge Coil (Rare Deployable): A deployable device that periodically electrifies its surroundings, shocking anything that gets too close. Think of it as area denial – drop it near a door or loot spot and nobody’s sneaking up on you while you’re busy.

New Player Project: High Gain Antenna

Celeste and Shani have a new job for you. Strange shapes have been spotted in the sky during hurricanes, and they need help building a High Gain Antenna to figure out what’s going on. Like previous Player Projects (such as the Weather Monitoring System), you’ll need to gather specific resources across multiple stages and turn them in for rewards. Whatever they’re tracking up there, the lore hints suggest it’s a threat to everyone – so expect this to tie into future updates.

Scrappy Feeding Boost – Your Rooster Just Got Way More Useful

Scrappy has always been a nice bonus for passive loot, but the Feeding Boost system takes him to another level. You can now feed Scrappy specific items to influence the types of loot he collects for you. Keep feeding him and he’ll start dropping more valuable items in return. This is a great addition for players who want to passively stock up on specific materials between raids.

Shredders Are Spreading Across Every Map

If you’ve been to Stella Montis, you already know Shredders. Now they’re everywhere. The Flashpoint update adds Shredders to Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds. On Dam, they only show up during certain map conditions, but on the other maps you’ll need to stay sharp at all times. These floating menaces hit hard and can catch you off guard in tight spaces – keep your head on a swivel, especially indoors.

Major Balance Changes and Loot Buffs in ARC Raiders Flashpoint

Beyond the headline features, patch 1.22.0 packs some balance changes that’ll affect how you play. Here are the big ones:

• Locked room loot buffed: All locked rooms now drop better loot, with the increase scaled by key rarity. Higher-tier keys like the Raider Hatch Key are now even more worth holding onto. This is a big deal for blueprint farming.
• Baron Husk loot increased: Husks now drop more valuable items. Don’t skip them.
• Custom loadout matchmaking boost: Players who build their own loadout are now more likely to join fresh servers. Embark is specifically targeting the free loadout economy here – free kits are meant as a safety net, not a default playstyle. If you’re gearing up properly, you’ll get better raid timing.
• Rocketeers toughed up: They take less damage from collisions and won’t instantly die when stunned and knocked around. They’re a bit harder to cheese now.
• Fewer Firefly swarms: Reduced chance for multiple Fireflies to spawn together. Plus, the Firefly Burner has a new “extra-spicy” functionality (Embark’s words, not ours).
• ARC detect you faster: ARC units now identify players who are very close in front of them more quickly. You can’t just stand in their face anymore.
• Free Augments are recyclable: You can now recycle free Augments into 6 plastic and 6 rubber parts. A small but nice economy boost.

Map-Specific Updates Worth Knowing About

Every map got some love in this patch. Beyond the Shredder expansion, here are the changes that matter most:

• Blue Gate – Locked Gate rework: Some side entrances now unlock with the main gate, Security Codes come from Code Printers instead of containers, and Security Codes now expire upon extraction. No more hoarding codes across raids. Check our Blue Gate Interactive Map for updated locations.
• Spaceport – Better rooftop rewards: Completing the rooftop activity during the Launch Tower Loot map condition now has a higher chance of dropping high-tier loot. More mushroom spawn locations have been added too.
• Buried City – ARC variety boost: Night Raid now has more variety in Leaper, Bombardier, Bastion, and Rocketeer distribution. Some Old Town streets have been opened up for ARC navigation, so expect to see them in new places.
• Dam Battlegrounds and all maps: More Sentinel spawn points have been added across Dam, Buried City, Blue Gate, and Spaceport. ARC area coverage has been adjusted on multiple maps for better navigation.

Crafting and UI Improvements in the Flashpoint Update

The crafting system got a much-needed overhaul. When you’re missing materials, you can now fulfill them directly from the crafting screen – no more jumping between tabs. The game will show you a list of available sources and let you recycle, refine, or purchase what you need in a single window. For anyone who’s spent way too long clicking through menus to craft one item, this is a massive time saver.

Other UI upgrades worth mentioning: your inventory screen now shows stash value, the matchmaking timer now appears at the bottom of all screens, bundle prices show the full value with a detailed content breakdown, and console players can now toggle HUD visibility (PC players already had this via F10). Quest tracking has also been reworked – progress bars now clearly show what progress you’ll lose if you fail to extract.

Audio and Performance Upgrades

This one’s easy to overlook, but the audio improvements in Flashpoint are pretty meaningful for gameplay. Weapon audio latency has been considerably reduced (on systems with at least 16 GB RAM on Windows), directional audio for flying ARC is better, sounds from behind you are clearer, and you can now hear doors opening and closing from farther away – huge for PvP awareness. Indoor wind sounds have been removed too, so you won’t confuse ambient noise with actual player activity anymore.

On the performance side, texture streaming has been improved to reduce stuttering on lower-spec systems, CPU performance has been optimized, and both Intel XeSS (updated to SDK 2.1.1) and AMD FSR (updated to SDK 2.1.0) have been upgraded for better image clarity and responsiveness.

Other Notable Fixes and Changes

• Remote Raider Flares disarmable: You can now disarm Remote Raider Flares with the Mine Sweeper skill. A nice counter for PvP.
• No more zipline/ladder exploits: Carrying items like Field Crates will now be dropped when you grab a zipline or ladder.
• Tick grab fix: All interactions are now disabled when grabbed by a Tick except the one to fight it off. No more accidentally doing other things while being chomped.
• Late-join ARC spawn fix: Players who joined near the end of the late-join window no longer have ARC spawn on them immediately.
• Leaper aim assist on gamepad: Added aim assist to Leaper legs and core for controller players.
• Fewer Comets on Blue Gate Hurricane: Reduced the number of Comets during the Hurricane map condition on Blue Gate.

New Cosmetics in ARC Raiders Flashpoint

Flashpoint drops alongside the Wasp Hunter Set, the game’s second premium cosmetic bundle. It comes with four unique colorways, the Diver Backpack (White), a Scrappy Helmet, the Thruster Hammer Raider Tool, and 2,400 Raider Tokens. It’s available on all platforms now.

On top of that, three new outfits will roll out through April. The Brigade Set has a Roman centurion-meets-bomber-jacket vibe. The Vanguard Set is riot-ready tactical gear. And the Nascosto Set is for the sneaky players – ghillie-style hood and shoulder pads built for staying out of sight.

More ARC Raiders Resources

The Flashpoint update is a big one, and we’ll be updating our tools and guides as the community digs into the new content. Here’s everything you need to stay ahead:

• Interactive Maps – Find every container, key location, and loot spot across all maps.
• Event Timers – Track when Close Scrutiny, Night Raid, Hurricane, and other map conditions are active.
• Blueprint Tracker – Keep tabs on which blueprints you’ve found and which ones you still need.
• Database – Full stats on every weapon, item, and material in the game.
• Loadouts – Browse and share community loadouts for every playstyle.
• Skill Tree – Plan your build before spending skill points.
• How to Find Every Blueprint – Our master guide to all blueprint locations and methods.
• All ARC Raiders Guides – Browse every guide we’ve published.
• Join our Discord – Chat with the community, share tips, and find squadmates.