ARC Raiders Flashpoint Update: ARC Assessor, Vaporizer, New Weapons & Everything You Need to Know

The Flashpoint update is the biggest content drop ARC Raiders has received since launch. Going live on March 31, 2026, it introduces a new category of endgame PvE content called ARC Operations, two weapons built for fighting the new ARC threats head-on, a community project quest line, and several comfort improvements that reduce the time you spend shuffling menus between raids. Here's a breakdown of everything in the patch.

ARC Operations are a new type of major map condition. They're distinct from standard map conditions because they reshape the entire flow of a raid. In Close Scrutiny, the first operation shipping with Flashpoint, less loot spawns around the map. The trade-off? A colossal, unarmed ARC called the Assessor has made a controlled landing somewhere on the grounds.

Celeste flagged it on radar as something new. It stays put after landing and doesn't show obvious aggression on its own. But the ARC patrols surrounding it are heavier than anything Raiders have seen before. The Assessor's hull is likely packed with salvageable resources, making it a high-risk, high-reward target.

Bring your best gear. This isn't a map condition you can coast through with budget loadouts. Check our weapon tier list to make sure you're bringing the right tools for a prolonged fight against heavy ARC resistance.

The Vaporizer is a new flying ARC type spotted patrolling the airspace around Close Scrutiny zones. Whatever the Assessor is doing down there, the ARC clearly doesn't want Raiders anywhere near it.

This enemy is already earning a reputation among early testers for two things: devastating laser attacks and attack patterns that don't follow the standard ARC combat loop. Most flying ARC machines have predictable strafe runs or bombing patterns. The Vaporizer's movements are described as "idiosyncratic," meaning you can't just memorize a dodge timing and repeat it.

If you've been running anti-air loadouts with weapons like the Hullcracker, you'll want to test whether its tracking can keep up with the Vaporizer's erratic flight path. The Canto SMG's fire rate might actually be more practical for landing consistent hits on a target that won't hold still.

A medium-ammo SMG built for close quarters. The Canto fills a gap in the current weapon roster where Raiders needed something faster than a rifle but more reliable than a pistol for dealing with both ARC machines and aggressive players at short range. Medium ammo is abundant compared to heavy ammo, which makes the Canto a solid pick for extended raids where you expect frequent combat. Find its blueprint out in the Rust Belt.

The Dolabra is built to punch through ARC armor plating at close range. Its standout feature is a variable focus mechanic: you can fire a wide burst for crowd control or narrow the beam into a focused funnel of electricity for single-target damage. That flexibility makes it useful against both swarms of smaller ARC and armored targets like the Assessor's escorts. The best place to find the Dolabra blueprint is during the Close Scrutiny ARC Operation.

A defensive gadget that periodically electrifies its surroundings, shocking anything that enters its radius. The Surge Coil solves a specific problem: protecting your back while you're looting, crafting, or holding a position. Drop it behind you while you crack open the Assessor's hull, and anything sneaking up gets zapped. It works against both ARC and other Raiders.

Something has Celeste worried. Radar pings, intercepted recordings, and Raider sightings of strange shapes in the sky during the hurricane are piling up. She and Shani need to build a High Gain Antenna to get a clearer picture of what's happening above the cloud layer.

This is a community project, meaning Celeste and Shani will reach out to Raiders for help gathering specific resources. You'll earn rewards for contributing, but the story implications are the bigger draw here. Whatever they're tracking is being framed as a threat to everyone in Speranza. If you've been following the lore around the ARC's origins and the hurricane, this quest line looks like it will pull those threads together.

Expect new quest steps to unlock progressively throughout April as the antenna gets built.

Your raiding rooster just became more useful. The Flashpoint update lets you feed Scrappy specific items to steer the types of loot he collects while you're out raiding. Feed him materials tied to the resources you need most, and he'll prioritize those categories.

On top of the targeted collecting, Scrappy will also drop higher-value items as long as you keep feeding him consistently. It's a passive income boost that rewards players who are already raiding frequently. If you've been ignoring Scrappy, now is the time to start paying attention to him.

Someone left the doors open at Stella Montis. Shredders, the floating ARC menace previously confined to that map, have now been spotted on Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds during map conditions.

This is a meaningful threat expansion. Shredders are aggressive, fast, and tend to show up at the worst possible moment. If you've only encountered them inside Stella Montis, be ready for them to appear while you're already fighting other ARC on maps where you didn't expect them. Adjust your loadout to include at least one weapon effective against fast-moving aerial targets.

The crafting system got a quality-of-life pass that cuts down on menu navigation. When you're crafting and missing materials, the game now presents a list of available sources directly in the crafting window. You can recycle, refine, or purchase the missing components without backing out to separate tabs.

It sounds small, but anyone who has spent time jumping between the crafting bench, the recycler, the refiner, and the trader shops knows how much time that wastes. This change turns a four-step process into a single window.

The second cosmetic bundle is available on all platforms. The Wasp Hunter set features a mechanistic outfit built from harvested ARC parts, four unique colorways, the Diver Backpack (White), a Scrappy Helmet, the Thruster Hammer Raider Tool, and 2,400 Raider Tokens included.

Three new outfits will roll out periodically through April: