The Crash Mat is one of the most immediately useful items added to Arc Raiders with the Riven Tides update. Throw it below you, land on it, and you take a fraction of the fall damage you'd normally eat. Sounds simple, but finding the blueprint and knowing exactly where to look is where most players get stuck.
What does the Crash Mat actually do?
The Crash Mat deploys a small tube-like inflatable surface when thrown at the ground. Land directly on top of it and you take dramatically reduced fall damage. According to testing documented by Deltia's Gaming, jumping from the top of a building onto a properly placed Crash Mat results in losing close to just 20% health, compared to the far heavier toll of an unassisted drop from the same height.
The catch: it's a small target. You need to aim your fall accurately, or you'll miss it entirely and take full damage anyway. The Crash Mat is also a single-use consumable, so if a squadmate has already used one, don't follow them down onto it.
Practical uses include rapid escapes from elevated positions during firefights and getting to exfil points faster without burning through medkits.
Crash mat deployed and ready
Where to find the Crash Mat blueprint
The blueprint doesn't have a guaranteed fixed spawn point. It can appear in bins, lockers, and containers across multiple maps. That said, two locations have a noticeably higher concentration of blueprint spawns.
Stella Montis: Loading Bay
The Loading Bay on Stella Montis is the go-to spot. The area is packed with large loading containers spread across multiple levels. Search the shelves inside each container. High-tier loot and blueprints appear here more often than in standard zones, making it worth clearing the whole area rather than checking one or two containers and moving on.
Loading Bay on Stella Montis
Riven Tides: Stacking Yard
The new Riven Tides map added with the same update includes the Stacking Yard, which mirrors the Loading Bay in terms of cargo density. Same approach applies: search every container.
Miniature Voyage event
The Miniature Voyage event (currently live as of late April 2026) offers a direct path to the Crash Mat throwable itself without needing the blueprint at all. Accumulate 2,700 merit points and exchange them for the Crash Mat as an event reward. This is the fastest route if you're struggling with RNG on the blueprint hunt.
How to craft the Crash Mat
Once you have the blueprint, you need a Utility Workbench at Tier 2 before you can craft anything. Upgrade your utility station first if it isn't there yet.
With the workbench ready and the blueprint learned, the Crash Mat only requires two materials:
- 1x Electrical Components
- 1x Durable Cloth
Both materials are common enough that crafting multiples per raid is realistic once you have the blueprint. Given that each Crash Mat is single-use, stocking up before a session is worth the effort.
How to use the Crash Mat effectively
Equip it as a consumable and throw it like a grenade. The mat deploys on impact with the ground, and a small puff of smoke marks the exact landing zone. That smoke is your target. Jump from above and aim for it precisely.
The best window to use it is when you're on elevated ground during or after a fight and need a fast exit without burning movement time on stairs or ladders. It's also useful for getting down to exfil quickly when the clock is running.
For more Arc Raiders content covering the Riven Tides update and beyond, browse more guides to stay on top of every new mechanic and item as they drop.