ARC Raiders Frozen Trail is the game’s largest update since launch. Released on October 8, 2026, Update 2.0 adds the snowy Pendola Pass map, the fallen Emperor endgame area, the airborne Frigate operation, three new ARC enemies, two weapons, several traversal and control gadgets, a customizable Outpost, Amplified Weapons, a redesigned Skill Tree, and a new Reward Pass system.
The update is much larger than a new map rotation. Frozen Trail changes how Raiders move, research equipment, customize weapons, earn seasonal rewards, and plan late-game progression. It also introduces new materials and keys connected to the Emperor, Frigate, Research Station, and Gunsmith Level 4.
This complete ARC Raiders Frozen Trail update guide explains what changed, how Pendola Pass works, how to enter the fallen Emperor, what the new ARC enemies do, and which new weapons and items are worth understanding before your next raid.
Quick summary: Frozen Trail 2.0 is live with Pendola Pass, Frigate and Redirection map conditions, Bully, Skulker and Hydra enemies, Stiletto and Bantam weapons, Amplified Weapons, Grappling Hook, Cameras, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, Mountaineer’s Detector, Outposts, 22 new quests, Weapon Stencils, Skill Tree changes, and a 60-level Reward Pass.
Article updated October 11, 2026. Frozen Trail had been live for three days when this guide was reviewed. Drop rates, known issues, recipes and balance can change through follow-up Live Updates.
The Frozen Trail update launched on October 8, 2026 for ARC Raiders. Embark describes it as the largest update released since launch, and its feature list supports that description: a new region, endgame operations, progression systems, equipment, enemies, quests and broad quality-of-life changes arrived together.
The limited free-play period runs from October 8 to October 12, but the Frozen Trail content remains part of the game after the trial period ends.
| Category | Frozen Trail Addition | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| New map | Pendola Pass | A vertical frozen region containing the fallen Emperor and new loot systems |
| Map conditions | Frigate and Redirection | Provide access to high-level ARC operations and Emperor-related materials |
| New ARC | Bully, Skulker and Hydra | New combat patterns and progression components |
| Weapons | Stiletto and Bantam | New early-game rifle and heavy-ammo hand cannon options |
| Advanced weapons | Amplified Weapons | Adds fifth-quality branching upgrades to 15 launch weapons |
| New equipment | Grappling Hook, Cameras, Tether Launcher, Yank Grenade, Mountaineer’s Detector | Expands traversal, control, photography and exploration |
| Base progression | Outpost and Research Station | Adds controlled research, rooms, furniture and Amplification access |
| Character build | Revamped Skill Tree | Creates stronger decisions within each branch |
| Seasonal progression | Frozen Trail Reward Pass | Replaces Cred with Reward Points and reorganizes old Decks |
Pendola Pass is an old Italian village and Exodus transport hub located beyond the mountain ridge surrounding the Rust Belt. Its landscape mixes frozen settlements with large transit infrastructure, including an observatory, buried train depot, supermarket, town square, railyard and mountain routes.
The map is more vertical than a flat looting route. Rooftops, steep slopes, high structures and deep transit areas make movement tools valuable. The Grappling Hook and the new Scrambling movement can create paths that were not practical with the older traversal kit.
The largest landmark is the fallen Emperor, a massive downed ARC containing rare technology. The Emperor is not simply another roaming boss. Its interior functions as a dungeon-like endgame area that requires a dedicated access item.
Pendola Pass tests a Dynamic Loot Zone system. The loot type associated with an area remains consistent—a Residential zone does not suddenly become Industrial—but the value of that area can change from one raid to the next.
This means a fixed “best loot route” is less reliable on Pendola Pass. Read the current raid, watch player movement, and adjust instead of repeating one memorized loop. A usually strong location may be less rewarding in the next session, while a normally ignored section can become valuable.
Pendola Pass tip: Build your route around the active map condition, the location of extracts, and the value you have already secured. Continuing toward the Emperor or Frigate after finding a rare Blueprint may turn a successful raid into an avoidable loss.
Pendola Pass can experience brutal Flash Freeze conditions. When the event begins, Storm Huts become useful shelters and loot opportunities. They can contain Raider supplies and new crafting resources connected to Frozen Trail progression.
Listen for the warning and avoid staying exposed without a route to cover. The map’s vertical terrain can make a nearby shelter take longer to reach than it appears. During the condition, Storm Huts may contain materials such as Epoxy Buckets, Insulation Rolls and Radial Presses, as well as weapons, healing supplies, ammunition, and a possible Mountaineer’s Detector.
The Emperor is a gigantic ARC unit that has already fallen on Pendola Pass. Its collapse is the narrative reason ARC forces have moved into the region. The valuable content is inside the machine, where Raiders can search for Amplification components and the Emperor Modulator used in advanced progression.
You cannot enter by walking up to any opening. The main access route requires an Emperor Gateway Conduit. Getting that item connects the Redirection map condition, Damaged Emperor Relays, Harvester Payloads, three ARC Couplers, and a rare Blueprint.
| Emperor Access Item | Main Source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Emperor Gateway Conduit Blueprint | Harvester Payloads during Redirection | Unlocks the Conduit crafting recipe |
| ARC Conductive Coupler | Redirection payload loot | One of three distinct Conduit components |
| ARC Insulated Coupler | Redirection payload loot | One of three distinct Conduit components |
| ARC Plated Coupler | Redirection payload loot | One of three distinct Conduit components |
| Emperor Gateway Conduit | Crafted from the three Couplers | Opens the fallen Emperor |
Extraction warning: the Blueprint and Couplers are not guaranteed from every payload. Once you find a missing component, decide whether another relay is worth the risk. Other Raiders can see the activity, hear the impact, and contest the loot.
The Emperor interior is late-game content with traversal and environmental challenges. Its loot includes components connected to the Amplified Weapon system, and it is an important source of the Emperor Modulator.
The Emperor Modulator is required for the Gunsmith Level 4 progression. Because of its rarity and value, place it in your Safe Pocket immediately when possible. Do not stay for additional low-value loot if losing the Modulator would delay your main upgrade.
Frozen Trail was only recently released when this article was updated. Exact interior routes and the best extraction path may change as players discover more layouts and Embark addresses collision or progression issues.
The Frigate is one of the largest ARC vessels seen in the Rust Belt. It appears as a special map condition and patrols after the fall of the Emperor. Raiders can find a way aboard, navigate internal passageways, unlock routes and fight through ARC defenders while other players compete for the same high-value operation.
One known boarding method uses circular drones deployed by the Frigate. Disrupt a drone, climb or grapple onto it, and ride it upward. Once aboard, prepare for close-quarters fighting against enemies such as Rocketeers, Vaporizers and the new Hydra.
The Frigate is not a normal surface loot area. Bring enough ammunition, healing and durability for a long engagement, but remember that every expensive item can be lost if you fail to extract.
| Enemy | Behavior | Practical Response |
|---|---|---|
| Bully | Aggressive machine that rapidly pushes and pressures your position | Use hard cover, time your damage and keep a disengagement route |
| Skulker | Stalks near the edge of vision, attacks when attention moves elsewhere, then retreats | Watch flanks and avoid tunnel vision during another fight |
| Hydra | Three-part autonomous turret built to pressure several targets | Split attention, rotate cover and attack during safe damage windows |
The Hydra is associated particularly with the Frigate and Emperor defenses. Its multi-weapon structure makes remaining in one exposed position especially dangerous.
The Stiletto is a light-ammo battle rifle intended as an accessible alternative to the Renegade. It is relatively cheap to craft, manageable in early progression, and effective when fired with controlled timing at range.
The weapon rewards steady input. Firing as quickly as possible sacrifices accuracy, so the Stiletto is better suited to deliberate shots than uncontrolled button mashing. Use it when you want a ranged light-ammo option without committing to a more expensive late-game rifle.
The Bantam is a compact revolver using heavy ammunition. It is designed to damage both Raiders and ARC and includes a distinctive hip-fire capability for close, reactive engagements.
Frozen Trail also moves the Anvil from Green to Blue rarity because it was outperforming weapons inside and above its former tier. The Bantam now fills the uncommon hand-cannon role with a power level intended to fit that position more appropriately.
| New Item | Main Function | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Grappling Hook | Climb, rappel and swing across gaps | Pendola Pass vertical routes and Frigate boarding |
| Basic Camera | Photography gadget used by quests and the Codex | Early photo objectives and Outpost unlock |
| Advanced Camera | Expanded photography functions | Zoom, focus, aperture and creative capture |
| Tether Launcher | Connects two points and restrains targets | Controlling Raiders or attaching them to moving ARC |
| Yank Grenade | Pulls a nearby target with explosive force | Dragging enemies from cover or bringing flying ARC down |
| Mountaineer’s Detector | Exploration tool associated with the frozen frontier | Pendola Pass exploration and condition-based looting |
| Banjo and Harmonica | Playable social instruments | Squad interaction and social moments |
The update also adds new research, furniture, Stencil and Amplification components. Do not sell unfamiliar Frozen Trail loot until you check its description, Research Point value, Outpost recipe use, and trader value.
Amplified Weapons introduce a fifth quality tier for 15 weapons at Frozen Trail launch. The system is unlocked through a fully upgraded Outpost Research Station and gives supported weapons branching modifications that can significantly change their behavior.
Examples shown by Embark include a fully automatic Burletta, a scoped Renegade, and a Rattler with either incendiary ammunition or a 64-round magazine. This turns weapon progression into a build choice rather than one fixed vertical upgrade.
Amplified weapons also require valuable components and repair planning. Decide which gun fits your regular playstyle before consuming rare Frigate or Emperor resources.
Frozen Trail adds a personal Outpost unlocked by the three-stage Sheltered Retreat Project at Raider Level 18. The base can be expanded with modules and decorated using 100 Furniture Designs.
Its Research Station gives players a more controlled alternative to depending entirely on random Blueprint drops. Items extracted from Topside can provide Research Points, which are applied to selected research projects. Some projects also require specific materials or gameplay objectives.
The Outpost is also the gateway to Amplified Weapons, making it a functional part of endgame progression rather than only a housing feature.
The Skill Tree was redesigned to make build choices more meaningful. Underperforming skills were changed or replaced, the layout was reorganized, and major branch decisions now use explicit choices.
Do not copy an older build without checking whether its route still exists. Frozen Trail can move, replace, or change the value of the skills supporting that build.
The new Reward Pass system evolves the previous Raider Deck structure. Cred has been removed and replaced by Reward Points, which automatically progress the pass you currently have active.
The Frozen Trail Pass contains 60 levels across Free and Premium tracks. Older Raider Decks remain available inside the Legacy Pass, and previously earned rewards are preserved. Only one Reward Pass can be active at a time.
| Feat Difficulty | Reward Points | Weekly Milestone Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 15 | +1 |
| Medium | 25 | +2 |
| Hard | 50 | +3 |
Three weekly milestones are available at four, eight and 12 milestone progress. Each awards 250 Reward Points.
Weapon Stencils are new cosmetic patterns learned similarly to Blueprints and applied using Stencil Parts found Topside. Fourteen Stencils launched with the update: eight can be found Topside, five belong to the Premium Pass, and one is exclusive to the Collector Set DLC.
A stenciled weapon remains normal loot. If another Raider defeats you, they can take the weapon together with its applied Stencil appearance.
Frozen Trail also includes 100 Furniture Designs: 73 found Topside, 22 from Outpost upgrades, four from the pass, and one from the DLC.
Frozen Trail creates several separate progression goals: new materials, Research levels, Blueprints, Outpost objectives, Reward Pass progress, quest completion and flexible raid targets. Ordering one does not automatically complete the others.
Compare the current ARC Raiders boosting services and choose the page matching the exact result you need. Blueprints, Materials, Workshop Upgrades, Weekly Trials and general Account Leveling are measured differently.
For a new Frozen Trail activity that is not yet offered as a fixed selection, the ARC Raiders Hourly Service can cover an agreed gameplay priority during booked time. Confirm the goal before ordering. Random Emperor, Frigate or payload drops cannot be treated as guaranteed unless the order explicitly lists that item or result.
Embark listed several issues at launch and stated that fixes were already being prepared. Relevant examples include:
Check the latest Live Update before assuming a current issue still exists.
Frozen Trail Update 2.0 launched on October 8, 2026.
The new map is Pendola Pass, a frozen Italian village and Exodus transport hub beyond the Rust Belt. It contains the fallen Emperor, new enemies, vertical traversal and Dynamic Loot Zones.
The Emperor on Pendola Pass has already fallen. The main challenge is gaining access to its dungeon-like interior using an Emperor Gateway Conduit and surviving the hazards and competition inside.
Play Pendola Pass during Redirection, activate Damaged Emperor Relays, call down Harvester Payloads, obtain the Conduit Blueprint, and collect the Conductive, Insulated and Plated ARC Couplers required to craft it.
The Stiletto is a controllable light-ammo battle rifle, while the Bantam is a compact heavy-ammo revolver with a unique hip-fire function.
Frozen Trail adds the aggressive Bully, the stalking Skulker and the three-part Hydra turret. The Frigate is a major ARC vessel presented through a map condition and onboard operation.
They are fifth-quality versions of supported weapons with branching behavior-changing upgrades. Fifteen weapons support Amplification at launch, unlocked through a fully upgraded Outpost Research Station.
No. It offers rooms and furniture, but it also unlocks the Research Station and is required for advanced Amplified Weapon progression.
Yes. Frozen Trail replaces Cred with Reward Points for the new Reward Pass system. Previous Raider Deck progress remains available through the Legacy Pass.
Frozen Trail adds meaningful reasons to return whether your priority is exploration, combat, collection or long-term progression. Pendola Pass changes movement and loot planning, the Emperor and Frigate provide difficult objectives, and the Outpost gives late-game weapons a more directed upgrade route.
The best approach is not to rush every new system simultaneously. Unlock the Outpost, learn Pendola Pass with controlled risk, save new ARC components, then choose whether your first late-game target is Research Level 4, the fallen Emperor, the Frigate, or an Amplified version of a weapon you already use.
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