ARC Raiders Carry Run

As everyone knows, Frozen Trail—the major ARC Raiders update arriving after a nearly five-month hiatus—launches on October 8. It brings a wealth of new content, including Research Bench, Amplified Weapons, new ARC threats, Ascension materials, a reworked skill system, and the mysterious Frigate.

If you want to dive straight into the new content after the update—rather than spending your first few raids scrambling for basic resources—now is the time to prepare. While not every crafting requirement has been fully revealed, developer previews have given us a good idea of which resources, blueprints, weapons, and gear will become highly valuable once the update goes live.

1. Start Stockpiling Resources

The safest preparation strategy right now is simple: don't sell off all your ARC Raiders items before the update.

Since the new Research Bench will be used to craft and upgrade Amplified Weapons, early previews suggest that these upgrades may require Research Points and specific ARC-related materials.

However, the exact requirements for each upgrade remain unclear, making it difficult to predict which materials will become the most valuable. Consequently, stockpiling supplies is a wiser move than selling off excess materials for a small amount of extra credits.

You don't necessarily need to stuff your inventory with every single item in the game. However, holding onto a supply of rare ARC components could save you a significant amount of resource-gathering time once Frozen Trail launches.

Hold Onto Fireball Burners and Rocketeer Drivers

While we aren't certain of the specific materials needed for every weapon, two items have clearly emerged as focal points following the developer previews.

Previews of Research Bench show that Fireball Burners can be used for weapon amplification; additionally, upgrading Kettle requires Rocketeer Drivers in addition to Research Points. This doesn't mean every amplification will require these materials, but it is a compelling reason to hang onto any Fireball Burners and Rocketeer Drivers you currently own.

Instead of selling them off before October 8, hold onto them and wait for the new crafting system to fully go live. 

Stockpile ARC Components

Frozen Trail update for ARC Raiders focuses on new ARC-related content, including new amplified weapons and Frigate.

Since several new systems appear to rely on ARC materials, stockpiling a supply of ARC components will give you greater flexibility on the day the update goes live.

High-rarity ARC components—such as Queen Cores and Matriarch Cores—are particularly worth keeping. You may need them for Research Bench upgrades, crafting amplified weapons, or meeting other new crafting requirements.

Before the update drops, it is a good idea to run raids specifically to gather ARC components, rather than simply extracting with the most obvious loot.

Hold Onto Your Anvil Splitters

As you may have heard, Frozen Trail update is changing Anvil Splitter; it will no longer function as it did before but will instead be integrated into the amplified weapon system. There has also been discussion about converting existing Anvil Splitters into materials needed for amplified crafting.

Since the specific conversion rates and final changes depend on the live release, the safest approach is simple: do not sell or discard your Anvil Splitters before the update. Keep them in your stash until the new system launches and their specific use is clarified—you might just make a huge profit from this decision!

Stockpile Assorted Seeds for Celeste

Frozen Trail update will also expand Celeste's inventory. Since this trader is closely linked to the new Ascension materials, it is well worth stockpiling plenty of Assorted Seeds.

Acquiring seeds in ARC Raiders is relatively easy—especially when scavenging on Stella Montis map—and a haul of significant value can often be gathered in just over an hour.

Of course, we aren't suggesting you spend all your time farming seeds, but stocking up a bit before the update will give you more options when Celeste's new items become available.

2. Acquire as Many Useful Weapon Blueprints as Possible

Blueprints are another top priority leading up to Frozen Trail update. This update introduces Amplified versions for 15 different weapons; the more weapon blueprints you own, the sooner you can experience this new system.

Weapons featuring Amplification mechanic that have already been showcased or mentioned include Burletta, Renegade, and Rattler.

Not all crafting requirements have been officially revealed, so you don't necessarily need to own every single blueprint. However, acquiring the blueprints for the weapons you wish to upgrade beforehand will put you in a more advantageous position when the update goes live.

Additionally, the introduction of new content makes certain utility gear and weapon blueprints particularly valuable, such as:

• Snap Hook Blueprint: This is especially useful for traversing complex terrain and reaching hard-to-access areas. You can find this blueprint during Electromagnetic Storm map conditions across various maps—most commonly in residential area loot zones.
• Powered Descender Blueprint: This is one of the most crucial blueprints for dealing with the new Frigate threat. Powered Descender enables vertical movement when facing this flying ARC threat. It can be obtained via Hurricane Raid missions or on Riven Tides map.
• Looting Mk. 3 (Survivor) Blueprint: This augment offers extra security when carrying valuable loot. Although it is rarer than some other recommended gear, it proves incredibly useful during high-risk Raid missions.
• Jupiter & Equalizer Legendary Blueprints: Both of these legendary weapons can be obtained through Harvester Event. If you want to stock up on powerful weaponry for high-difficulty ARC encounters, keep an eye on map rotations and seize the opportunity when Harvester event is active.
• Hullcracker Blueprint: If you still have the chance to acquire this blueprint from the current Credits shop, it is definitely worth considering before the system changes.

3. Spend Your Credits Before the Changes

Another important step in preparing for Frozen Trail update is checking your ARC Raiders Credits. Officials have clearly stated that Credits will be completely removed following October 8th update—they won't simply be reset to zero for continued use. Therefore, it is recommended that you spend all your Cred before the update; any rewards unlocked using Cred will not be revoked.

Shani is currently the primary Cred vendor. If you still have a large amount of Cred on hand, check Shani's inventory before Frozen Trail goes live. Depending on your current gear, items worth investing in include:

• Hullcracker Blueprint
• Burletta Blueprint
• Trigger ‘Nade Blueprint
• Medical supplies
• Augments
• Weapon attachments

If items you desire are still available for exchange, do not let a large amount of Cred go to waste.

4. Level up before Frozen Trail launches

If you have recently completed Expedition missions or reset your progress, leveling up before October 8th should be one of your main goals. This is due to the upcoming overhaul of the skill system.

ARC Raiders: Frozen Trail will introduce a vastly different skill system to players; having more available skill points means you can immediately experiment with various builds and playstyles, rather than spending the first few days after the update just grinding for levels.

High-level characters are also better equipped to handle challenging endgame content, such as Frigate encounters.

Therefore, if you are currently at a mid-range level, use the remaining time to push your character level higher and work towards the level cap.

5. Prepare for Frigate's vertical gameplay

One of the biggest additions in Frozen Trail update is Frigate. It is not merely another ground-based ARC enemy but a massive flying vessel; this means that standard horizontal ground gameplay will no longer suffice, and we must shift our focus to vertical, high-altitude assaults.

This implies that mobility gear will probably skyrocket in value after Frozen Trail update. Consequently, try to acquire mobility equipment—such as Snap Hook and Powered Descender—before the update drops.

Having reliable methods for vertical movement can make a huge difference when dealing with airborne ARC units and the hazards surrounding these encounters. High mobility translates to a higher chance of success.

In reality, you don't need to know every single detail about ARC Raiders: Frozen Trail to start preparing. The most important thing is to avoid unnecessarily selling or discarding rare resources before the update. 

Craft your ARC materials, gather useful blueprints, spend your remaining Creds wisely, and ensure your character is sufficiently leveled and geared to tackle the new Frigate content.

This way, once Frozen Trail launches, you can dive straight into using Research Bench, experimenting with amplified weapons, exploring Celeste's new offerings, and figuring out how Frigate encounters work—without having to spend those first few days rebuilding your inventory. Good luck!

ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update will go live on October 8, and the official team will also launch a four-day free play period at the same time. Both new players and returning veterans are expected to join during this period.

The new map in ARC Raiders is not enough to fully solve the game's problems. What the official team urgently needs to address is the rampant cheating, which has become one of the main reasons many players have left the game.

On September 30, the official team also published an announcement on the official website, revealing another update to the anti-cheat system. The update strengthens detection capabilities and places tighter restrictions on the use of alternate accounts. Let's take a look at what the official team has actually done with the new anti-cheat system.

Anti-Cheat Philosophy

The official team stated that cheating undermines the challenge and enjoyment that the game is meant to provide, while also ruining the experience for players who play fairly. They take the issue very seriously and have continued investing significant time and resources into combating unfair gameplay.

The cheating market is constantly evolving. Cheatmakers profit by distributing cheating software to players, and they often bundle malware with it as well. Whenever the official team improves its defenses, cheatmakers adapt and look for new ways to bypass them.

The official team will continue adapting as well. Its growing anti-cheat team constantly detects and blocks new cheats, closes exploited pathways, and adds barriers that make cheating more difficult and less worthwhile. As long as the game remains active, this work will continue.

The official team acknowledged that it has occasionally shared updates in the past, but simply saying that the issue is being addressed is not enough. Sometimes, it deliberately avoids revealing too much because sharing excessive details about the anti-cheat system could make it easier for cheatmakers to adapt. In other cases, changes are tested in the background before being deployed.

Anti-cheat work is not like ordinary game development, where teams simply create content and fix bugs. Instead, it is a constant battle against an ever-present force. Cheatmakers are continually searching for new vulnerabilities, while anti-cheat developers work to counter them. Therefore, silence does not mean the issue is being ignored. The official team wants players to know that it is not overlooking the problem.

Detection Methods

The official team stated that its cheat detection system is becoming stronger month by month. In addition to the kernel-level protection provided by Denuvo Anti-Cheat and detection from Anybrain Anti-Cheat, the team is also using a growing number of in-house models.

The anti-cheat system does not operate completely autonomously. Human involvement remains part of the appeals process to ensure that sanctions are applied fairly.

Account Sanctions

The official team stated that it takes action when there is sufficient evidence proving that a player has cheated. In recent months, it has improved its ability to identify and sanction accounts using cheating software, while also strengthening its response to accounts involved in economic exploits. At the same time, it continues making it more difficult for repeat offenders to return to the game by creating new accounts.

Early on, the official team was too cautious with first-time cheaters and only issued temporary bans, which caused considerable frustration among players. The team heard the community's complaints and acknowledged that the situation should have been handled better.

Permanent bans are now the standard response to all known cheating software. Any account found using cheats will receive a permanent ban, with no warning and no second chance.

The official team has also expanded its license restrictions to prevent another account associated with a sanctioned game copy from continuing to access the game.

It has also tightened restrictions on linked accounts. If an account has previously been linked to a banned game copy, it will also receive a permanent ban.

Steam Family Sharing was previously a major problem, as some players used it to rent out accounts to multiple people, allowing cheaters to obtain access to accounts at a lower cost.

Xbox Game Pass and Xbox game sharing have faced similar issues. The official team hopes to address these problems and reduce the supply of accounts that cheatmakers can rent or distribute.

Hardware Bans

Hardware bans are also part of the sanction system. When the official team has sufficient evidence that a particular machine has been used for cheating, it can prevent the game from running on that system.

The official team is continually strengthening its detection capabilities and has recently lowered the threshold for applying hardware bans. It is also actively researching solutions that could increase the number of systems covered by hardware bans. This should make it more difficult for repeat offenders to return on the same system.

The official team hopes to implement these measures later this year, potentially allowing sanctions to be deployed against nearly every system detected running cheating software.

However, the official team emphasized that hardware bans cannot completely solve the problem. Cheatmakers will continue looking for ways around these restrictions. The team's task is therefore to deploy fixes as quickly as possible and make hardware bans as reliable and effective as possible.

There are also many ways to spoof hardware information and bypass these restrictions. As a result, this remains a cat-and-mouse game and an ongoing battle between detection and evasion. Some people may think the official team does not use hardware bans, but it does. The challenge is that it must continually respond to new bypass methods.

Ban Transparency

The official team explained why some bans are not issued immediately. Players can understandably feel frustrated when they see hackers livestreaming or posting videos of themselves cheating without being banned right away.

There is also plenty of similar content on platforms such as TikTok. However, the anti-cheat system cannot simply issue an immediate ban whenever a behavior appears suspicious, as doing so could result in legitimate players being wrongly sanctioned.

The official team analyzes multiple instances of behavior until it reaches a high level of certainty that the fair-play environment has been compromised before issuing a permanent ban. Otherwise, this could lead to large-scale false positives.

Queue Teaming

Queue teaming refers to players coordinating in advance to enter the same solo lobby and then work together to attack raiders who queued alone.

The official team spent months developing detection capabilities and can now identify coordinated groups with a relatively high degree of reliability. It began separating known queue-teaming groups from one another through matchmaking.

However, encountering other players during a raid through proximity chat and cooperating with them is still allowed.

Cheating has been a persistent problem for ARC Raiders. Its impact may not be as noticeable when the player population is large, but as the player population declines, cheaters become increasingly visible, much like rocks emerging from a river as the water level falls.