How to utilize ARC Raiders Photoelectric Cloak and Smoke Grenades to loot Assessors with less fighting?

Category: ARC Raiders Posted: Apr 10, 2026 Views: 16

Posted: Apr 10, 2026

Source: IGGM

Typically, the most exciting additions in any ARC Raiders update are the new map events (provided, of course, that new ones have been added). These events not only offer increased rewards but also dictate the overall level of danger during your raids.

The most recent Flashpoint update introduced a new event dominated by a specific type of ARC device: Assessors. This event is known as Close Scrutiny.

While the true danger lies not in the devices themselves, but rather in the enemies they attract, mastering a few tips for quickly looting the contents of Assessors will allow you to extract sooner, thereby avoiding unnecessary combat with additional foes.

In this guide, we will outline effective strategies and gear recommendations for dealing with Assessors, enabling you to swiftly clear Close Scrutiny event.

How to utilize ARC Raiders Photoelectric Cloak and Smoke Grenades to loot Assessors with less fighting?

How do Assessors work?

When a Close Scrutiny event spawns on the current map, red beams of light will periodically appear in the sky; these serve as a visual harbinger of ARC Assessors' arrival.

Assessor device itself is a large, stationary tripod-mounted machine containing three lootable compartments. Opening these compartments yields various rewards, the rarest of which is Assessor Matrix, an item obtainable exclusively through this method.

Assessors will not directly attack you; however, damaging or breaking them triggers an alarm that attracts other nearby ARC units to your location. Naturally, this also includes other players who may be looking to loot the device themselves.

The indispensable Photoelectric Cloak

Before diving into specific strategies for handling Assessors, you must first familiarize yourself with Photoelectric Cloak, and ideally, ensure you bring one along every time you attempt a Close Scrutiny event.

This item falls under Quick Use category in-game. Although it boasts a high Epic rarity level, fortunately, crafting it does not require a specific blueprint; you simply need the necessary base materials and a related workshop.

Once you equip the cloak, your movement speed will be reduced; however, you will gain an invisibility effect. Regardless of your actions, whether moving, looting, or interacting with objects, no ARC enemy will be able to detect you.

Since PvP encounters in standard raids can be particularly treacherous, you might be accustomed to filling your inventory slots with high-damage weaponry, meaning Photoelectric Cloak often sees limited use. However, it proves to be an incredibly practical and effective tool, specifically within the context of Close Scrutiny events.

One important caveat to note is that using the cloak consumes energy. Furthermore, even if you equip multiple cloaks, they all draw from and share a single, unified energy meter. Energy will only begin to regenerate once you deactivate the cloak and cease using its invisibility effect.

The most common method: Smoke Grenades

Currently, assuming you have Photoelectric Cloak equipped, the method most players choose to minimize exposure time and evade enemies is the use of Smoke Grenades.

Although these grenades deal no direct damage to enemies, once thrown, they generate a cloud of smoke that obscures the line of sight for both PvP and PvE enemies for 20 seconds. This creates a window of opportunity for you to quickly loot the area and extract.

Given that you may encounter an Assessor more than once during a single run, you will need to carry a substantial supply of Smoke Grenades; however, crafting this item requires the corresponding blueprint.

Therefore, if your budget allows, it is best to buy ARC Raiders blueprint on IGGM! This will enable you to stockpile Smoke Grenades much faster and in greater quantities.

Alternatively, if you don't mind the extra hassle, you can opt for Li'l Smoke Grenade, which can be crafted without a blueprint. It functions identically to the standard Smoke Grenade, but its smoke lasts for only 6 seconds.

Consequently, you will need approximately three Li'l Smoke Grenades each time you attempt to breach an Assessor. The optimal moments to deploy them are:

One second before you begin the breach.
When the breach progress reaches approximately one-third completion.
Immediately upon the completion of the breach.

Rest assured that the breach progress will not be interrupted during this process. The time gained should be sufficient for you to finish looting; once done, simply activate your Photoelectric Cloak and extract.

Utilizing bushes for concealment

In certain maps, such as Buried City and Dam Battlegrounds, bushes or dense foliage may be found in the immediate vicinity of where Assessors spawn. You can leverage these natural cover spots to your advantage, potentially eliminating the need to use Smoke Grenades entirely!

First, ensure that ARC enemies, drawn to your location by Assessor's alarm, do not have their optical sensors glowing red (indicating a red alert or hostile lock-on).

Instead, look for a yellow glow, which signifies that they are currently in Search Mode and have not yet pinpointed your exact location.

Under these conditions, you simply activate your Photoelectric Cloak and crouch quietly within the bushes, most enemies will be unable to detect your presence and will eventually wander away (a mechanic introduced in Patch 1.23.0).

Furthermore, if other players in the area happen to be spotted by the enemies before you are, you can take advantage of the ensuing chaos to rush in and loot the supplies directly, without needing to expend any Smoke Grenades.

Even if ARC bots spot you during this process, do not panic. Simply activate your cloak immediately, take cover behind the nearest piece of terrain, and give the enemies a moment for their aggro status to reset.

Stockpiling repair and crafting materials

It is worth noting that crafting Photoelectric Cloak or Smoke Grenades both requires various materials. Furthermore, the cloak is prone to damage during use and must be repaired promptly.

To ensure this, you should regularly farm and stockpile the following materials:

Photoelectric Cloak crafting: 2x Advanced Electrical Components, 4x Speaker Components
Photoelectric Cloak repaired: 1x Advanced Electrical Components, 2x Speaker Components
Smoke Grenade crafting: 14x Chemicals, 1x Canister, Smoke Grenade Blueprint
Li'l Smoke Grenade crafting: 5x Chemicals, 1x Plastic Parts

The above outlines a reliable strategy for safely looting Assessors while minimizing combat encounters as much as possible. May every one of your Close Scrutiny expeditions be a bountiful success!

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Previous: ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 adds exclusive Vanguard Set and fixes game-breaking damage bugs to guarantee your experience

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ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 adds exclusive Vanguard Set and fixes game-breaking damage bugs to guarantee your experience
Following last week's Flashpoint update, delivered via a new patch, ARC Raiders has released its customary weekly update this week: Patch 1.23.0. This patch aims to address various issues that have emerged within the game over the past week.

It is worth noting that this patch was released a day later than ARC Raiders' usual weekly update schedule (which typically falls on Tuesdays). However, this delay has had a negligible impact on the overall gaming experience.

Patch 1.23.0 isn't limited solely to bug fixes; it also introduces the new Vanguard Set. If you wish to delve deeper into the details, please read through the guide below.

What does Vanguard Set look like?

As the only substantial new content introduced in Patch 1.23.0, Vanguard Set actually made its debut during the previous Flashpoint and Beyond promotional campaign, where it was even featured as a key highlight.

This set offers three distinct color schemes and boasts extensive customization options. You can freely mix and match various components, including a combat teddy bear charm for the leg, an alternative backpack, and a wasteland-style helmet.

To acquire this set from the in-game store, you will need 1,600 Raider Tokens. It is important to note that this reflects a discounted rate; the duration of this sale remains unknown at this time.

Additionally, the store currently features other discounted cosmetic items, such as Brigade Set. You are free to choose whichever items appeal to your personal taste, as none of them provide any combat-related bonuses.

Combat-related bug fixes

Given that Flashpoint update introduced a wealth of new mechanics and gameplay features, it is entirely normal for some bugs and instability to arise during the initial launch period.

Among the combat-specific bugs addressed, the most notable fix concerns Rocketeers, which would occasionally emit incorrect alert sounds during battle, mimicking the audio cues of Vaporizers instead.

Such errors are not uncommon in the game; they likely stem from the fact that these robotic enemies are designed based on a shared underlying archetype, leading to minor internal conflicts within the system's trigger mechanisms.

Obviously, this isn't a game-breaking issue; however, for players who rely on pattern recognition and audio cues to identify enemy types, this bug fix will undoubtedly result in a significantly smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.

Another noteworthy fix included in this patch addresses Trigger 'Nade. Prior to the release of Patch 1.23.0, if two Trigger 'Nades were detonated in proximity, they would sometimes deal up to triple the intended damage.

While this could provide a temporary tactical advantage during combat, it ultimately disrupted the balance of the game's item and combat systems, particularly to the detriment of PvP experience for the majority of players.

In fact, the numerical bug associated with Trigger 'Nade had long been a source of player frustration; now, with the release of Patch 1.23.0, it has finally been restored to its intended functionality.

Additional bug fixes related to combat are listed below:
- Fixed an issue where items could not be used immediately if the player switched to an item while holding down the fire button.
- Fixed an issue where weapons and items would sometimes fire automatically.
- Fixed an issue where the camera would remain stuck on one side due to improper shoulder-switching.
- Fixed an issue where using Anvil Splitter did not incur the intended spread penalty.
- Removed the ability to place barricades while riding a zipline.
Map-specific bug fixes

This section is relatively brief, with most fixes primarily impacting your experience when completing new quests or trials. Specific fixes include:
- Fixed an issue where players could occasionally catch fire while standing outside the locked room in Stella Montis Medical Research area.
- Fixed a rare issue in Stella Montis where bullets could sometimes penetrate through floors to hit targets.
- Fixed an issue in Buried City where certain staircases were missing.
- Fixed an issue during Locked Gate event where players were sometimes unable to interact with the code printer.
Bug fixes related to Close Scrutiny

Close Scrutiny is a new map event introduced in Flashpoint update. Its core mechanic involves ARC Assessors spawning periodically across the map while the event is active.

You can loot these devices to obtain rewards; however, doing so triggers an alarm that attracts additional enemies. Naturally, eliminating these enemies yields even more loot.

This mechanic ensures that farming Close Scrutiny inevitably results in chaotic combat scenarios, with a ceaseless influx of various ARCs and Rats, which, in turn, led to a series of technical issues. Fortunately, most of these have now been resolved:
- Fixed an issue where Rocketeers and Vaporizers would exhibit abnormal behavior while idle.
- Fixed an issue where Assessor platforms might not display correctly after a player reconnected to the game.
- Fixed an issue where Vaporizers would sometimes get stuck when approaching Assessors.
- Fixed an issue where Assessors would fail to return to their orbital trajectory.
- Fixed an issue where ARC summoned by Assessors would fail to properly exit an area after remaining stationary for an extended period.
- Fixed an issue where pings directed at Assessors on the map would inaccurately reflect their actual location.
- Fixed an issue where players could get stuck while transitioning between platforms during Assessor missions.
- Fixed an issue in Buried City where Assessors and Probes could spawn in the exact same location.
Additional bug fixes

In addition to the aforementioned bug fixes, which are critical to the core gameplay experience, ARC Raiders Patch 1.23.0 also addresses several visual and UI-related issues, such as incorrect displays in the weapon upgrade interface and helmet visors appearing completely transparent.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that while the game has been continuously working to resolve the game crashes frequently reported by players, the issue has yet to be completely eliminated.

Consequently, Patch 1.23.0 includes additional fixes targeting crashes specifically triggered by certain visual effects. Unfortunately, the underlying causes of these crashes remain unclear at this time, meaning they may potentially recur in the future.

That concludes the full details regarding Patch 1.23.0. We anticipate that our regular weekly patch release next week will proceed on schedule; in the meantime, please continue to enjoy the thrilling combat experience offered by Close Scrutiny!

If you're looking to take down even more enemies and boost your farming efficiency in the newly optimized Close Scrutiny event, you can try to buy ARC Raiders blueprints from IGGM.

Not only does this allow you to craft powerful weapons on demand to aid you in battle, but the service provided by IGGM is also the fastest and most secure on the market, guaranteed to keep you one step ahead of the competition!
ARC Raiders April Riven Tides Update Release Date, Map Clues and Preparation Guide

With the official launch of Flashpoint update, players have mostly focused their attention on the new gear additions. However, the update also quietly tweaked the world map - a move that actually serves as a clue planted by the developers for the upcoming Riven Tides update in April.

It's been five months since the last new map was introduced, and players have been waiting a long time. Many have even grown tired of the current content and decided to step away. Riven Tides update is your chance to bring your friends back to ARC. Let's take a look at what other exciting content it has in store.

What does Flashpoint Bring?

Flashpoint isn't just a content update - it's a structural adjustment at the system level. The team used it to tweak respawn mechanics, loot density, and pressure levels. Because players had been finding ARC encounters too easy, and the development team wanted to raise the challenge again. However, the developers also introduced new weapons and ARC Raiders blueprints to ensure players had the incentive to tackle this high-difficulty content.

Flashpoint update may also be serving as a prelude to Riven Tides. Since the current roster of ARC enemies no longer poses a significant threat to veteran players, the new map conditions introduced in Flashpoint have raised the game's difficulty baseline. Riven Tides is expected to build upon this foundation by introducing even more challenging content.

Riven Tides Release Date

A community manager for ARC Raiders confirmed on Discord that Riven Tides update will go live at the end of the month. This aligns with the previously shared roadmap, and now it's officially verified. Based on the confirmed late-April timing, the expected release date is April 28.

New Map Details

The new map features a coastal setting and includes a global environmental condition whose specifics have yet to be revealed. It will also introduce a large ARC enemy classified as boss-tier - on par with massive foes like Bastion, Matriarch, and Queen. Players briefly caught a glimpse of this enemy in earlier trailers and on Art Station.

Additionally, the team has confirmed that the third expedition window will open alongside this update. And before the major update arrives, the developers have already been dropping subtle environmental clues in recent patches.

Map changes

Before Flashpoint update, the big map looks standard - nothing particularly eye-catching. After Flashpoint update, when you open the map, you'll notice some changes in the bottom-left corner.

When you examine the in-game map closely, you'll find sticky notes, stickers, images, and small icons added to that corner. One beach image, in particular, hints at the new map's setting.

The Beach Image

The image shows a coastline with a clear beach aesthetic. It looks a bit worn and faded, but a sticky note underneath clearly states: This image matches the location. That strongly suggests the picture points to an actual place on the map.

Next to the image is a label: Hotel Beachfront. Around this location, you'll also spot many Easter egg-style details. For example, a keychain with the number 9 on it - clearly corresponding to a room number. The development team enjoys using numbers to guide players toward different areas.

The key also features text like "goods access" or something similar, possibly linked to residential supplies noted elsewhere in the bottom-left corner. Specifically, those supplies include cleaning products and chemical components.

Putting all these clues together, the map doesn't point to a vague water area - instead, it indicates a heavily damaged beachfront building complex, centered around a ruined coastal hotel. The seawall view in the photo matches the area marked on the map perfectly.

Although the team hasn't officially announced the exact location for Riven Tides, the new clues, sticky notes, and highly suggestive photos on the world map allow us to reasonably infer that the new map lies in the bottom-left corner of the main map, next to the volcanic uplift and directly below Buried City.

How to Prepare for Riven Tides?

If you don't plan to join the expedition, my advice is to make sure you have enough long-range weapons. The new map seems to feature more elevated open areas, so you'll need firearms with good reach. At the same time, because there will be interiors like hotel buildings, close-quarters weapons are also essential for moving through those spaces.

Given that Riven Tides location sits right next to the volcanic uplift and considering the hinted open coastline, this area is likely to be extremely challenging. So beyond weapons, you should prioritize upgrading your mobility gear. The new map may have many sightline control zones, with an overall open feel. Based on concept art from Artstation, some areas look quite exposed.

Ziplines, portable cover, and smoke grenades are items you should stock up on in advance - especially smoke grenades, which are currently severely underrated in the game. Almost every loadout benefits from carrying smoke grenades. They're highly effective against both ARC enemies and other players, especially on exposed bridges or flooded checkpoints.

Looking at all the maps released so far, the development team has always pursued a distinct identity for each one, ensuring no two maps feel the same. So for players, the new map arriving in the coming weeks is something truly worth looking forward to.
ARC Raiders High-Gain Antenna Project Guide | Complete it fast based on Close Scrutiny Event
Whenever a substantial content update is released, ARC Raiders typically introduces a long-term project to serve as one of your primary sources for earning rewards during that specific phase. The recent Flashpoint update introduced High-Gain Antenna project.

The mechanics of these projects are somewhat similar to the preparation phase of an Expedition: you are required to gather specific materials.

However, unlike Expedition prep phase, which wipes your inventory upon completion, finishing a project rewards you with loot instead.

In this guide, we will introduce High-Gain Antenna project, covering key details such as the materials you need to collect to complete it, ensuring you can efficiently track and advance your progress at any time.

High-Gain Antenna project overview

While they may not have a direct impact on gameplay mechanics, every project in ARC Raiders comes with its own unique backstory and lore, which is typically conveyed through accompanying trailers.

The trailer for the Flashpoint update stars Celeste and Shani; through the newly introduced Close Scrutiny events and the subsequent arrival of ARC Assessors, it underscores the critical importance of establishing early warning systems and locating these devices.

Consequently, from a narrative standpoint, High-Gain Antenna project requires you to complete it in order to better monitor the movements and activities of Assessors.

In practical gameplay terms, this translates to a multi-stage process where you must collect and submit specific materials.

How to complete this project?

This project is divided into three distinct stages, fewer than Weather Monitor System project introduced in the previous Shrouded Sky update.

Each stage requires you to collect four specific types of materials; completing the requirement for each individual material unlocks a corresponding reward.

The rewards are highly diverse, ranging from fully assembled weapons and various weapon attachments to Raider Tokens, which can be redeemed for other items.

Furthermore, given the introduction of new enemy types and map events, the majority of material collection tasks across these three stages will require you to engage in combat.

Therefore, be sure to properly gear up and arm your character before you begin working through the project's progression.

Stage 1: Sturdy Base

The materials required for this stage, along with their corresponding rewards, are listed below:
- 25x ARC Alloys: Torrente II
- 10x ARC Flex Rubbers: Extended Medium Mag III
- 10x ARC Performance Steels: Extended Barrel
- 15x Advanced ARC Powercells: Padded Stock
ARC Alloys are a material of Uncommon rarity; they are dropped by almost every type of ARC enemy upon defeat, and can also occasionally be found while scavenging randomly throughout the environment.

In comparison, the methods for acquiring ARC Flex Rubbers are slightly more limited. These can be found while scavenging, but they will only drop after you have killed the following enemies:
- Baron Husk
- Bastion
- Bombardier
- Leaper
- Matriarch
- Queen
- Sentinel
- Tick
- Vaporizer
Among these, Vaporizer is a new enemy introduced in Flashpoint update, a relatively dangerous flying ARC unit.

It is worth noting that defeating a sufficient number of Vaporizers is also one of the objectives for this week's Trials; therefore, you can complete both the trial and this project simultaneously.

The acquisition methods for ARC Performance Steels and Advanced ARC Powercells are essentially identical to that of Flex Rubbers, with the only difference being the specific range of enemies that yield them:

ARC Performance Steels:
- Baron Husk
- Bastion
- Bombardier
- Hornet
- Leaper
- Matriarch
- Queen
- Surveyor
Advanced ARC Powercells:
- Bastion
- Bombardier
- Comet
- Courier
- Leaper
- Matriarch
- Queen
- Rocketeer
- Rocketeer Husk
- Sentinel
- Surveyor
- Vaporizer
Although the specific enemy types differ slightly, there is a significant degree of overlap between the lists.

Therefore, as long as you make a point of killing every ARC bot you encounter during each scavenging run, you should be able to complete the material collection for this stage quite quickly.

Stage 2: Data Logger

The materials required for this Stage, along with their corresponding rewards, are as follows:
- 15x ARC Coolants: Bobcat III
- 15x ARC Thermo Linings: Extended Light Mag III
- 4x Vaporizer Regulators: Vertical Grip III
- 6x Assessor Matrixes: 100 Raider Tokens
For the first three items on this list, the collection methods are the same as for most Stage materials: they can be obtained through scavenging or by killing specific enemies:

ARC Coolants:
- Baron Husk
- Comet
- Fireball
- Pop
- Queen
- Sentinel
- Surveyor
ARC Thermo Linings:
- Baron Husk
- Comet
- Fireball
- Pop
- Queen
- Sentinel
- Snitch
- Tick
- Turret
- Wasp
Vaporizer Regulators:
- Vaporizer
- Courier
As for Assessor Matrixes, while they can occasionally be found during general scavenging, we highly recommend looting ARC Assessors instead.

Although the device itself poses no direct offensive threat, it will attract other hostile bots, as well as other players, so proceed with extreme caution.

Stage 3: Parabolic Dish

The materials required for this stage, along with their corresponding rewards, are as follows:
- 10x Surveyor Vaults: Vita Spray
- 20x ARC Synthetic Resins: Photoelectric Cloak
- 15x Vaporizer Regulators: Snap Hook
- 18x Assessor Matrixes: 400 Raider Tokens
Note that the last two items on this list are identical to those required in Stage 2, so we will not reiterate the methods for obtaining them here. However, it's worth gaining a deeper understanding of their specific functions.

Specifically, Vaporizer Regulators can be used to craft Dolabra, while Assessor Matrixes are primarily used for recycling to obtain other common items.

While you may occasionally stumble upon Surveyor Vaults during raids, a more reliable method is to hunt down and eliminate Couriers or Surveyors. The primary function of this material is to upgrade your Medical Lab.

Finally, to acquire ARC Synthetic Resins, prioritize eliminating the following enemies:
- ARC Probe
- Baron Husk
- Deforester Husk
- Matriarch
- Queen
- Sentinel
- Shredder
- Snitch
- Spotter
- Turret
- Wasp
Most efficient completion strategy

As you can see, obtaining almost every required material involves eliminating ARC bots. Given this, we recommend focusing your efforts directly on Close Scrutiny events and looting ARC Assessors.

The rationale behind this is twofold: first, you can directly acquire the specific materials you need; and secondly, the noise generated by Assessors quickly attracts large waves of ARC enemies, allowing you to rapidly clear them out and simultaneously gather multiple types of materials.

Project reward analysis

While there are no additional rewards upon completing the entire project, the rewards offered at each individual stage are excellent in their own right.

Stages 1 and 2 focus primarily on weapons and usable mods, designed to boost your combat effectiveness.

Stage 3 rewards include Vita Spray, which allows you to restore your own or your teammates' health during combat. Photoelectric Cloak to aid in stealth operations, and Snap Hook to enhance your climbing efficiency.

As for Raider Tokens, you can redeem them at the in-game store for the latest cosmetic items or premium Raider Decks to customize your character, making you the most eye-catching presence in all of Speranza!

That covers everything you need to know about High-Gain Antenna project. Although it may seem complex at first glance, simply focusing on ARC Assessors will allow you to complete it in no time!
How to complete ARC Raiders Week 23 Trials faster and farm Vaporizer Regulators to claim Dolabra by the way?
Although an increasing number of players have begun to complain that the weekly trials in ARC Raiders are becoming repetitive, they still hold value as a source of daily progression and rewards within the game.

This week marks the 23rd round of weekly trials since the game's launch, and, as usual, it consists of five distinct missions. We have outlined the details of each mission below, along with instructions on how to complete them.

Damage ARC enemies in Buried City Old Town

Combat elements feature prominently in this week's trials; the first mission requires you to eliminate any type of ARC enemy within Old Town section of Buried City map. To achieve a three-star rating, you must eliminate a sufficient number of enemies quickly.

Old Town is situated in the southern part of Buried City map. Characterized by high enemy density and rapid respawn rates, it serves as a critical combat zone, a location that has frequently been selected as the battlefield for previous trial missions as well.

Since this mission places no restrictions on enemy types, you can earn trial points by eliminating any ARC bots you encounter. If you wish to complete the objective more quickly, we recommend prioritizing farming runs within the vicinity of Santa Maria Houses and Red Tower.

Disarm mines during Locked Gate

Locked Gate is a dynamic event that spawns exclusively on Blue Gate map. During this event, the entrance to the underground tunnels becomes locked; you must locate four security codes to unlock the main gate and gain access to the loot cache hidden within.

Building upon this premise, a landmine is buried at the location where each security code is hidden. The objective of this specific trial mission is simply to disarm these mines.

Therefore, if you are not particularly interested in the loot associated with Locked Gate event itself, you may disarm the mines and then immediately leave the area. You can then wait for Locked Gate event to respawn, repeating the process until you have achieved a three-star rating.

Under normal circumstances during Locked Gate event, we would recommend collaborating with other players to locate the security codes.

However, to maximize the number of mines disarmed within a single trial run, it is more efficient to tackle this objective solo. The locations of all security codes are as follows:
- Raider's Refuge Security Code
- Pilgrim's Peak Security Code
- Reinforced Reception Security Code
- Ancient Fort Security Code
A special note of caution applies to Pilgrim's Peak: in addition to the landmine, this location is guarded by two Rocketeers, enemies that will attack you using both lasers and missiles.

The most effective strategy for dealing with these enemies is to take cover and aim your fire directly at their thrusters. If you manage to climb above a Rocketeer, you can also focus your attacks on the top of its thrusters.

Search Raider Caches

This should be one of the easier challenges to complete in Week 23. Simply travel to any map, excluding Stella Montis, to conduct a raid; you will probably stumble upon Raider Caches during the process. They emit a faint audible hum, making them easier to spot.

While searching for these caches is a specific challenge objective, the caches themselves are valuable regardless, as they contain various types of loot, including rare ARC Raiders blueprints.

Notably, we recommend attempting this task only after Uncovered Caches event has spawned on your current map. During its active duration, this event significantly increases both the spawn rate of caches and the quality of the loot found within them.

Damage Wasps

Wasps are a relatively common type of small, flying PvE enemy in ARC Raiders. While a lone Wasp poses little threat, they can become quite troublesome when encountered in swarms.

To eliminate Wasps more quickly, you should first seek cover, then use a ranged weapon to target their four thrusters. These thrusters are unarmored; destroying them causes Wasp to lose stability and crash.

In addition to helping you complete the challenge, Wasps drop loot upon death, specifically, Wasp Driver, which is a unique drop exclusive to this enemy type.

This item is not only essential for upgrading your workshop or completing various projects, but it can also be utilized as a throwable item in combat.

Damage Vaporizers

Vaporizers are the newest type of PvE enemy introduced to the game via the recent Flashpoint update; they pose a significantly higher threat level than Wasps. They attack using laser beams and are protected by an energy shield that absorbs incoming damage.

Currently, the most effective strategy for eliminating them is to first maintain a safe distance. Throw any type of grenade to trigger Vaporizer's energy shield.

Once the shield deactivates, aim for the enemy's underside to expose its core components, then concentrate your fire to finish it off.

The unique loot drop associated with Vaporizers is Vaporizer Regulator. This item is required to complete the new High-Gain Antenna Project and is also a necessary crafting material for the new weapon Dolabra.

Optimal strategy for completion

In fact, challenges 1, 3, 4, and 5 can be tackled simultaneously, as Old Town area frequently features spawns for Raider Caches, Wasps, and Vaporizers.

Interestingly, following the release of Week 23 Trials, many players expressed dissatisfaction with the landmine-disarming mission, finding it both incredibly boring and quite tedious. The developers may well consider removing this gameplay element in the future.

That wraps up everything we have to share with you this time around. You can choose to complete all the missions in a single sitting whenever you have free time, or tackle a portion of them each day, the choice is entirely up to your personal preferences!
ARC Raiders Close Scrutiny Event offers additional chances to acquire more Blueprints | How to defeat Vaporizers and Shredders?
The new Close Scrutiny map event has gone live alongside Flashpoint update. This event doesn't significantly alter the environment itself; instead, it focuses on introducing a special type of ARC device known as Assessor.

You must locate and activate these devices to reap the event's most valuable rewards; however, doing so will inevitably attract a swarm of enemies, as well as rival PvP players, all vying for the same loot.

So, how exactly does this event work? How can you survive until the end and make off with the prizes? We're here to show you how.

Close Scrutiny mechanics

Periodically, this event will trigger across any of the outdoor maps, meaning Stella Montis is excluded. While the event is active, the drop rate for standard loot across the map is reduced; however, the quality and quantity of loot obtained by eliminating ARC enemies are significantly boosted.

Therefore, your primary objective is to locate as many Assessors as possible, which spawn exclusively during Close Scrutiny events, activate them to claim their internal rewards, and eliminate any additional bots that are drawn to the area by Assessors' activation.

Common rewards found within Assessors include ARC Raiders blueprints, ARC materials, and supplies that can be submitted toward the new High-Gain Antenna project.

Compared to other methods, the likelihood of finding blueprints for the newly introduced weapons, Canto and Dolabra, is significantly higher within Assessors, making them an opportunity you won't want to miss!

However, given the inherent dangers of the map event itself and the heavy combat focus of Close Scrutiny, we strongly recommend participating only if you are sufficiently well-geared. And ideally, if you are playing as part of a squad with friends.

It is also worth noting that while Close Scrutiny is active, all locked doors across the map become unlocked. This means you can freely loot locked rooms and areas, even if you don't possess the corresponding keys!

How to utilize Assessors?

A few minutes after Close Scrutiny begins, Assessors will begin to spawn periodically across the entire map. Unlike smaller bots or those adept at camouflage, Assessors are massive, tripod-mounted devices that descend from the sky emitting a distinct red glow, making them quite easy to spot.

Once you've located an Assessor, rest assured that it will not attack you directly. Simply wait for it to deploy its internal platform, then climb up one of its legs (the structural supports) to access its loot pool and claim your rewards.

However, once an Assessor is opened, it immediately triggers a piercing alarm that draws in other combat-class ARCs from the vicinity. And naturally, alerts any other Raiders currently venturing through the area.

If you are playing solo, or if your squad lacks sufficient overall combat strength, we recommend using proximity chat to establish friendly communication with nearby strangers; cooperate to defeat ARC enemies, and then split the loot evenly.

As long as you remain in the area, Assessor will continue to attract incoming enemies. Therefore, the optimal strategy is to designate one or two team members to handle looting the device while the others focus on eliminating the bots; once all supplies have been secured, extract immediately.

If you still prefer a solo playstyle, or wish to minimize risk as much as possible, consider equipping a Photoelectric Cloak from the outset to approach the device undetected. Once the alarm sounds, deploy smoke grenades and set up Surge Coils.

Enemy types to watch out for

Theoretically, once the alarm sounds, any type of enemy present in the vicinity of Assessors will be drawn toward the source. However, particular attention should be paid to two specific threats: the newly introduced Vaporizer and Shredder, which is now making its debut across all maps.

Vaporizer

Introduced as part of Flashpoint update, Vaporizer is a large, airborne ARC unit boasting formidable offensive and defensive capabilities. It specializes in attacks utilizing a line-of-sight laser beam, which ignites intense fires at any location it makes contact with.

The moment you land a hit on a Vaporizer, regardless of the method used, it will passively activate a shield capable of blocking all projectile damage. Note, however, that this shield operates on a cooldown timer.

Consequently, the best strategy for dealing with a Vaporizer is to first move quickly to find cover, then avoiding its laser sweep attacks. Next, use any projectile weapon to land a hit from a safe distance, thereby triggering Vaporizer's shield.

Once the shield deactivates and enters its cooldown phase, aim your high-damage weapon at the small rectangular panel located on the underside of Vaporizer; firing at this specific point will force its core components to become exposed. Continue firing at the exposed core to bring the enemy down.

Besides the rewards found within the Assessor itself, Vaporizer drops other loot upon destruction; furthermore, the quantity of ARC materials dropped increases during Close Scrutiny event:
- ARC Powercell
- ARC Alloy
- Electrical Components
- Advanced ARC Powercell
- ARC Flex Rubber
- Energy Clip
- Heavy Gun Parts
- Vaporizer Regulator
Shredder

This enemy previously spawned exclusively in Stella Montis, but it can now be encountered across all maps. Although it is not a true airborne ARC unit, it hovers slightly, granting it superior mobility compared to standard ground-based enemies.

Shredder's primary attack involves firing multiple shrapnel projectiles in all directions, followed by periodic charge-ups to unleash a larger, explosive blast.

Currently, the most effective strategy for defeating a Shredder is to bombard it with grenades while simultaneously using firearms to target its thrusters or propulsion units (the blue jet vents or propellers).

Potential loot drops include:
- Shotgun Ammo
- ARC Powercell
- ARC Alloy
- Mechanical Components
- Simple Gun Parts
- ARC Synthetic Resin
- ARC Thermo Lining
- Shredder Gyro
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PvP strategies

The appearance of Assessors inevitably attracts other players roaming the vicinity, either to compete with you for the loot or simply to lie in wait and ambush you once you have finished clearing the area.

Therefore, in addition to bringing reliable gear, your squad should designate one member to serve as a dedicated lookout during the latter stages of the encounter.

This individual should focus on preventing rats from approaching and ensuring that a sufficient number of Surge Coils are deployed.

That concludes our guide to ARC Raiders Close Scrutiny event. If you and your friends are confident in your abilities, gear up and embark on your adventure now!
ARC Raiders best farming routes for Canto, Dolabra, and Surge Coil during Flashpoint | How to get these new gear?
Since the release of ARC Raiders Flashpoint update the day before yesterday, you may already completed several raids featuring brand-new map conditions and ARC enemies. But have you found the new weapons yet?

As the first ARC Raiders update of 2026 to introduce new gear, Flashpoint brings with it two new firearms, Canto and Dolabra, as well as a special electrical device: Surge Coil.

While this new gear isn't necessarily more powerful than existing items, it certainly offers a fresh experience! If you haven't acquired them yet, why not follow this guide to farm for them?

Surge Coil

Surge Coil is a quick-use defensive device. Once deployed, it periodically electrifies the surrounding area; anyone entering the radius will receive an electric shock that briefly stuns them.

So Surge Coil is an ideal item to deploy in advance when you are scavenging for loot in a small area by yourself, helping to prevent other players from ambushing and looting you.

How to obtain it?

This item can only be obtained through crafting. You will need to farm for the corresponding ARC Raiders blueprints, then gather the following materials to complete the crafting process at Explosives Station:
- 1x Electrical Components
- 1x Sensors
- 1x Hornet Driver
Surge Coil blueprint has a chance to appear in any container on the map following Electromagnetic Storm event. The drop rate is reasonably high, and you have an even greater chance of finding it inside locked rooms.

Electrical Components can be found while scavenging, or they can be crafted at a Refiner 1 station by consuming Plastic Parts and Rubber Parts.

Sensors drop after killing Snitches and Surveyors; they can also sometimes be found by looting Androids or Server Racks. If you have enough seeds, you can also acquire them by trading with Celeste.

As for Hornet Driver, it drops after killing any number of Hornets; you may also find a few by looting any ARC Couriers you encounter.

Canto

This is a fully automatic, large-caliber submachine gun that uses medium-caliber ammunition. It possesses a moderate level of penetration against ARC armor.

Although Canto's damage per shot isn't particularly high, its rapid fire rate ensures that its overall performance is slightly superior to that of other common SMGs.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Canto is currently the only firearm in the game that requires upgrades to increase its magazine capacity.

However, once upgraded to its maximum level, its total damage output per magazine remains quite impressive. And if you struggle to manage recoil, Canto might not be the right fit for you.

How to obtain it?

Since Canto was introduced only recently, known methods for finding the weapon itself are currently quite limited; therefore, we highly recommend obtaining it through crafting instead.

To do so, you will need to upgrade your workshop to Gunsmith 3, locate the blueprint, and gather the following materials:
- 2x Advanced Mechanical Components (Scavenging, killing Matriarchs and Queens, crafting)
- 5x Magnets (Scavenging, trading with Celeste)
- 3x Medium Gun Parts (Scavenging, killing Bastions and Sentinels, crafting, trading with Celeste)
Currently, the most reliable method for farming Canto blueprints is to open caches during the Hurricane map event. However, the tricky part is that these caches contain a wide variety of potential blueprints.

Consequently, if Canto is the only item you are after, you may need to invest a significant amount of time farming in Hurricane event. That said, as the game progresses, it will probably be added to a wider range of loot pools.

Dolabra

This is arguably the most anticipated piece of new gear, after all, it even received its own dedicated teaser short! As an energy clip-powered shotgun, Dolabra offers two distinct firing modes.

More specifically, when you aim down sights (ADS), its energy beam becomes highly focused and concentrated, allowing for precise, long-range strikes.

Conversely, if you choose to hip-fire, Dolabra's shot spread mimics that of a traditional shotgun, making it ideal for clearing out groups of lower-level enemies.

In essence, you can leverage these two vastly different firing modes to flexibly switch between them based on the immediate combat situation, a capability that proves invaluable during chaotic firefights.

While the shotgun mode may arguably outperform the focused-beam mode, the sheer value of having two distinct weapon effects packed into a single equipment slot makes it an undeniably worthwhile choice.

How to obtain it?

Currently, the only confirmed method for obtaining this weapon is through crafting, and its blueprint can only be acquired by looting a special device known as ARC Assessor.

ARC Assessor is periodically air-dropped onto the battlefield during Close Scrutiny, a new map condition introduced in Flashpoint update. You must travel to the designated drop site and forcibly breach the device to retrieve its contents.

It is worth noting that activating an Assessor will attract a greater number of other ARC enemies; moreover, the surrounding area is likely to be swarming with other players waiting to loot, making for a chaotic scene.

Therefore, we recommend bringing smoke grenades and a Photoelectric Cloak when farming for Dolabra blueprint. This allows you to discreetly locate the spawn point while others are embroiled in combat, quickly secure the reward, and make your escape.

Additional materials required to craft Dolabra include:
- 3x Shredder Gyro (Scavenging; obtained by killing Shredders)
- 3x Magnetic Accelerator (Scavenging; obtained by killing Matriarchs and Queens, or via crafting)
- 2x Vaporizer Regulator (Scavenging; obtained by looting ARC Couriers or by killing the new enemy type, Vaporizer)
That covers all the current methods for obtaining the three new gear items introduced in ARC Raiders Flashpoint Update, along with their primary combat effects. Without further ado, get out there and start farming and crafting!