ARC Raiders Frozen Trail: New Map, ARC & Weapons

Frozen Trail is the next major ARC Raiders update, arriving on October 8 with a new map, the Flash Freeze weather condition, the Frigate boss, three new ARCs, an Outpost system, new weapons, and several new gadgets. The update focuses heavily on survival, exploration, and giving Raiders more tools to handle the frozen environment.

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• ARC Raiders Frozen Trail

What’s Coming With Frozen Trail?

Frozen Trail expands the core ARC Raiders loop without simply adding another set of weapons to chase. The update introduces a new location, environmental hazards, enemies, progression systems, and equipment designed around movement and combat.

Here is a quick breakdown of the main additions:

The important part is that several of these systems interact. The new map creates environmental pressure, while the Outpost and upgraded equipment give players additional ways to prepare for it.

Pendola Pass and the Flash Freeze

The biggest addition is Pendola Pass, a new map built around a much harsher environmental condition.

Players investigate the signal of a massive crashed machine while dealing with Flash Freeze, a freezing storm that forces Raiders to think about heat and shelter rather than simply running from one loot location to another.

This new map condition is very similar to Cold Snap, but with the difference that the storm will appear in specific zones rather than across the entire map.

How to Handle Flash Freeze

The safest approach is to treat shelter as part of your route planning.

Don't wait until your character is already struggling with the cold before looking for somewhere to hide. When exploring Pendola Pass, identify buildings and potential fallback positions before committing to a fight or long rotation.

This also matters when carrying valuable loot. Taking an unnecessary fight during a storm can turn a profitable run into a full inventory loss.

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Frigate Is More Than a Traditional Boss Fight

Frigate is one of the more unusual encounters introduced with Frozen Trail.

Rather than fighting a conventional boss by standing outside and unloading ammunition into it, Frigate is a massive flying fortress that has to be infiltrated.

The encounter revolves around getting inside, solving puzzles, and sabotaging the machine before collecting the resulting rewards.

That changes the usual extraction-shooter mindset.

Instead of asking only "How much damage can my loadout deal?", players need to consider positioning, movement, puzzle-solving, and how much time they can safely spend inside the encounter.

The reward is potentially valuable, but the risk comes from committing to an encounter where simply shooting your way through isn't enough.

Three New ARCs: Bully, Scalker and Hydra

Frozen Trail also introduces three new ARC threats, each designed to pressure Raiders differently.

Bully

Bully is a fast, heavily armored ARC that can move while firing.

That combination makes it particularly dangerous when you're trying to reposition. Its mobility means you cannot always rely on simply creating distance and waiting for an opening.

When dealing with Bully, avoid treating it like a stationary target. Movement and cover become important because its ability to advance while attacking can quickly remove safe space.

Skulker

Skulker takes a completely different approach.

This stealth-focused drone acts as a sniper, firing at players before quickly relocating through the air. Its ability to reposition makes it harder to track after the initial shot.

The main danger isn't just the damage from the sniper attack. It's losing track of where Skulker moved afterward.

If you take fire from an unexpected angle, don't automatically assume the ARC is still sitting in the same position.

Hydra

Hydra introduces another layer of pressure by attacking multiple targets simultaneously from Frigate.

This makes the encounter particularly dangerous for squads that become too spread out or fail to coordinate their movement.

The combination of several attack angles can make otherwise manageable situations spiral quickly, especially when players are already dealing with other ARC threats or the environmental hazards of Frozen Trail.

Outpost: Build Your Own Base

Frozen Trail also adds Outpost, a personal base on the surface where Raiders can install functional modules, craft furniture, and customize their space.

But Outpost isn't just a cosmetic housing feature.

One of its most useful additions is a special workbench that allows players to upgrade weapons with additional modifications.

Examples include automatic weather stripping, sights for the Renegade, and incendiary ammunition for the Crotale.

This gives Outpost a practical role in progression. Instead of simply collecting equipment, players can use the base system to improve how specific weapons perform.

Why the Weapon Upgrades Matter

The value of the system comes from specialization.

Rather than every player using an identical weapon setup, upgrades can make certain weapons better suited to particular situations. That becomes especially relevant when an update introduces new enemies and environmental conditions at the same time.

The trade-off is straightforward: improving your gear takes preparation and resources, while running without those upgrades keeps your setup simpler but potentially less specialized.

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Two New Weapons

Frozen Trail adds two new firearms: the Stiletto and Bantam.

Stiletto

The Stiletto is a lightweight combat rifle positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Renegade for PvP.

That makes it particularly interesting for Raiders who want a more economical option for combat runs.

A cheaper weapon can also change how you approach risk. Losing a loadout hurts less when the weapon itself isn't as expensive to replace, which can make aggressive PvP runs easier to justify.

Bantam

The Bantam is a compact revolver built around rapid firing.

It gives players another sidearm option with a more mobile feel, particularly for situations where quickly switching weapons is preferable to committing to a slower firearm.

Neither weapon replaces every existing option. Their usefulness depends heavily on your loadout, preferred engagement distance, and how much risk you're willing to take into a raid.

Three New Gadgets Change Movement and Combat

Frozen Trail isn't only adding guns.

Three new gadgets provide significantly more flexibility during raids.

Grappling Hook

The Grapple Hook can attach to surfaces, help players climb ropes, grab onto ARCs, and swing through the environment.

That gives Raiders another movement tool for both exploration and combat.

It can also create escape routes that aren't available with standard movement.

Tether Launcher

The Tether Launcher connects objects or enemies together.

Its usefulness comes from creating interactions between targets rather than simply dealing direct damage. Creative players should be able to find situations where positioning enemies or objects becomes more valuable than shooting them.

Yank Grenade

The Yank Grenade is designed to disrupt enemies by pulling Raiders out of cover or bringing drones down.

That makes it particularly useful against opponents who rely heavily on defensive positioning.

A well-timed Yank Grenade can force an enemy into the open without requiring a direct elimination.

More Than Combat: Instruments and the Event Pass

Frozen Trail also adds some lighter equipment, including a banjo, harmonica, and camera.

The update also replaces the previous deck system with a more traditional Battle Pass structure.

The event will feature both a free progression path and a paid track containing exclusive cosmetics.

For players mainly interested in gameplay advantages, the important distinction is that the Battle Pass is separate from the practical weapon and Outpost systems.