Arc Raiders Flashpoint Update Rundown

The Flashpoint update is Arc Raiders' third major content drop of 2026, and it's arguably the most disruptive one yet. Two new guns, a brand-new flying Arc enemy, Shredders breaking out of Stella Montis and spreading to every map, a reworked crafting menu, and a new map condition that's basically a PvP magnet. There's a lot to process before you head topside.

The Vaporizer in action

What's in the Arc Raiders Flashpoint update?

Flashpoint launched on March 31 and sits as the third of four updates in the Escalation expansion, following January's Headwinds and February's Shrouded Sky. The fourth and final update, Riven Tides, is due in April and promises a new map and a large Arc unit. For now, here's everything Flashpoint adds:

• New map condition: ARC Operation: Close Scrutiny
• New Arc enemy: The Vaporizer
• New weapons: Canto SMG, Dolabra Energy Shotgun, Surge Coil deployable
• Shredders now appear on all maps
• New player project: High Gain Antenna
• Scrappy feeding system update
• Streamlined crafting menu
• New cosmetic bundles

What are the new weapons in Flashpoint?

For the first time in a while, Arc Raiders is getting new guns. Three new pieces of kit have been added, all built with Arc combat in mind.

Canto SMG

The Canto is an SMG that fires Medium Ammo, which makes it genuinely unusual for its weapon class. Every other SMG in the game, including the Bobcat and Stitcher, runs on Light Ammo. That Medium Ammo pool is shared with several anti-Arc weapons, so the Canto slots naturally into an anti-Arc loadout without forcing you to carry two separate ammo types. Expect it to become a go-to for players who spend a lot of time clearing drones and crawlers at close range.

Dolabra energy shotgun

The Dolabra fires Energy Ammo and comes with a variable focus mechanic. You can switch between a wide burst for crowd control and a tight electrical beam for focused damage. The blueprint for this one drops via the Close Scrutiny map condition, so you'll need to survive an Assessor run to unlock it. Another strong anti-Arc pick at close quarters.

Surge Coil deployable

The Surge Coil is a placeable device that periodically electrifies the area around it, damaging anything that gets too close. Think of it as a Jolt Mine with a wider, repeating effect rather than a single trigger. Useful for holding a room during an Assessor extraction or covering a flank while looting.

Flashpoint's new anti-Arc weapons

What is the Close Scrutiny map condition?

Close Scrutiny is a new type of map event called an ARC Operation, which is distinct from standard map conditions. When it's active, overall loot across the affected map is reduced. The trade-off is the ARC Assessor, a heavily guarded Arc unit that drops rare components and, according to Embark Studios' official Flashpoint breakdown, at least one blueprint for the new Dolabra shotgun.

The Assessor is surrounded by increased Arc patrols and the new Vaporizer enemy, making any approach dangerous. Unlike the Harvester, you won't have a Queen breathing down your neck nearby, but the reduced map loot means other squads will be funneled toward the same objective. Expect these zones to be contested heavily.

Close Scrutiny ARC Operation zone

Who is the Vaporizer and how dangerous is it?

The Vaporizer is a new flying Arc unit that uses a laser weapon and, according to IGN's Flashpoint update breakdown, travels in groups. Embark describes it as having "idiosyncratic attack patterns," which is developer language for "it won't behave like anything you've fought before."

Based on available footage, the Vaporizer appears to be roughly the same size as other small flyers, not a Rocketeer-scale threat. It shows up as part of the Close Scrutiny condition protecting the Assessor, though whether it also spawns independently outside that condition isn't fully confirmed yet.

The laser attack is the main concern. It's a sustained beam rather than a burst, which means repositioning mid-fight matters more than it does against standard Arc. The Energy Ammo weapons added in this same update are likely the intended counter.

What changed with Shredders?

Shredders have escaped Stella Montis. Previously confined to that one location, these tanky shotgun enemies now appear across Blue Gate, Buried City, Spaceport, and Dam Battlegrounds under certain map conditions. It takes two Hullcracker hits to drop a Shredder, and they were recently named the deadliest Arc type in the game by the official Arc Raiders account.

This is the least welcome part of Flashpoint for players who preferred the other maps as relatively Shredder-free zones. The silver lining is that this appears to be tied to specific conditions rather than a permanent baseline spawn across all areas.

What is the High Gain Antenna project?

The High Gain Antenna is a new player project that has Celeste and Shani building a device to track aerial threats. Given the Vaporizer just arrived and Riven Tides is teasing a large new Arc unit, this project is almost certainly seeding the narrative setup for April's finale. Expect the usual loop of gathering specific materials across raids to progress it and unlock associated rewards.

How does the Scrappy feeding system work?

Scrappy, Speranza's resident rooster, now has a feeding mechanic. Give him specific food items (Apricots, Mushrooms, and similar consumables based on early testing) and he'll prioritize gathering that type of loot. Keep the feeding consistent and he'll also bring back higher-value items. The effect isn't permanent, so you'll need to keep supplying him to maintain the bonus.

What changed with crafting?

This is the quality-of-life change that matters most. The old crafting system required you to jump between multiple menus whenever you were short on a component, checking your inventory, visiting traders, and running refinery options separately. The new streamlined menu shows you a list of available resources and lets you recycle, refine, or purchase what you need from a single window.

After spending time navigating the old system, this is a genuine improvement. It won't change how you play topside, but it will cut down the time spent in the bunker between raids significantly.

What are the new cosmetic bundles?

The Wasp Hunter Set launched alongside the update for $20. It includes the Wasp Hunter outfit with four color variants, an Oxygen Tank backpack, a Scrappy helmet, a new Raider Tool, and 2400 Raider Tokens. Three additional sets, the Brigade Set, Vanguard Set, and Nascosto Set, will roll out at unspecified points throughout April.

What's coming after Flashpoint?

Riven Tides is the final Escalation update and is shaping up to be the biggest. Embark has confirmed it will include a new map, a new large Arc (potentially Queen or Matriarch scale or larger), a new map condition, and an expedition window. The High Gain Antenna project is almost certainly connected to that rollout.

For more Arc Raiders coverage and the latest on what's coming with Riven Tides, browse our gaming guides as Embark releases more details ahead of the April drop.