The Get Hit by Lightning trial in Arc Raiders is one of the most unusual challenges you will encounter. Instead of hunting down Arc enemies or racking up kills, this trial flips the script entirely and asks you to willingly stand in the path of a deadly electrical strike. It sounds simple, but knowing exactly where to go, what to bring, and how to read the map conditions makes the difference between a frustrating run and a clean three-star finish.
What Is the Electromagnetic Storm Condition?
Before you can get hit by lightning, you need the right map condition active. The Electromagnetic Storm is a rotating modifier in Arc Raiders that blankets the entire map in random lightning strikes. Neither raiders nor Arc enemies are immune to these strikes, which makes every run under this condition significantly more dangerous.
The Electromagnetic Storm appears on a rotation schedule, so it will not always be available when you load into a session. Check the map condition indicator before queuing to confirm it is active. Without this modifier running, lightning simply will not spawn and the trial cannot progress.
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The Electromagnetic Storm modifier must be active before you start your raid. Joining a session without it means no lightning will appear and your trial progress will not advance.
Which Map Should You Use?
Both sources point to slightly different map preferences, so here is the practical breakdown:
If you are only focused on the lightning trial, Dam Battlegrounds works well because the Red Sea location on the northeast side of the map tends to be quieter with fewer players and more open ground. Less activity means you can stand still and wait for strikes without getting caught in a firefight.
That said, if you are working through multiple Week 20 trial objectives at once, Spaceport is the more efficient choice since other tasks in the same trial set are tied to that map.
How to Get Hit by Lightning Step by Step
Here is exactly what to do once you are in a session with the Electromagnetic Storm active:
- Find an open area away from dense cover. Lightning strikes favor exposed terrain and areas with ongoing player activity.
- Watch the ground carefully. When a strike is incoming, a glowing white or blue patch of light will appear on the ground at the target location. This is your visual cue.
- Remove your shield before stepping into the patch. Shields do not reduce lightning damage, so wearing one just wastes shield durability. Pull it off, take the hit, then re-equip it afterward.
- Walk into the glowing patch and wait. The strike will land within a short window. You can also walk into a spot that has already been struck and that still counts toward the trial.
- Stay stationary in the open if strikes are not appearing near you. Remaining idle in an exposed area increases the likelihood of a strike targeting your position.
- Repeat until you have enough hits. Roughly five to six lightning strikes is enough to accumulate the points needed for three stars.
- Verify your progress by opening your Logbook in the pause menu before extracting.
- Extract safely to lock in your trial points.
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Do not forget to re-equip your shield after each lightning hit. Running around without a shield while other players or Arc enemies are nearby is a fast way to lose your gear before you can extract.
What Gear Should You Bring?
Lightning deals a significant chunk of damage per strike. Going in underprepared means you will bleed out before collecting enough hits. Stock up on healing items before the raid:
- Herbal Bandage (bring several)
- Sterilized Bandage (reliable backup)
- Vita Shot (fast burst heal when HP is critically low)
- Vita Spray (area-effect healing option)
- Shield Recharges (to restore shields between hits)
- Spare shields (repeated strikes can fully break a shield, so carry at least one backup)
A medium shield is preferable over lighter options because of its higher hit point pool, giving you more buffer between strikes before the shield breaks entirely.
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Pack at least 15 bandages or herbal bandages for this run. Five to six lightning strikes add up to a lot of damage, and running dry on heals mid-session means either dying or extracting early with an incomplete trial.
How Does Lightning Targeting Work?
Lightning in the Electromagnetic Storm is not purely random. Based on observed behavior during testing, strikes tend to cluster around:
- High-activity zones where players are fighting each other or engaging Arc enemies
- Stationary players who remain in one spot for an extended period
- Open, exposed terrain with minimal overhead cover
This means camping in a single open spot and staying still is actually a reliable way to attract strikes. The Red Sea area on Dam Battlegrounds works well precisely because it is open ground with less competing activity pulling strikes away from your position.
Blue patch marks the strike zone