The patch 1.29.0 update for ARC Raiders quietly dropped a new weapon that a lot of players missed: the Rascal, a rare grenade launcher designed specifically for shredding ARC enemies. Think of it as the budget version of the Hullcracker, and honestly, that framing undersells it. The crafting cost is accessible, the ARC armor penetration is rated "Very Strong," and players are already posting clips of taking out Shredders in 3 hits.
Where to find the Rascal blueprint
Unlike some weapons tied to specific map conditions, the Rascal blueprint can drop across every map in the game. It spawns in containers, lockers, weapon cases, and raider caches, which means there's no single guaranteed location to farm. Raider caches during the Hurricane major map condition offer some of the best blueprint spawn rates, so that's your best starting point if you want to find one fast.
Raider cache blueprint drop
Here's a breakdown of the high-value loot locations by map where you should focus your search:
Dam Battlegrounds
- Hydroponic Dome Complex
- Control Tower
Buried City
- Hospital
- Space Travel
- Town Hall
Spaceport
- Arrival Building
- Departure Building
Blue Gate
- Gate Approach
- Pilgrim's Peak
Stella Montis
- Medical Research
- Cultural Archives
Riven Tides
- Hotel Panorama Azzurro
- Port Authority Building
- Azzurro Beach
How to craft the Rascal grenade launcher
Once you have the blueprint, head to the Gunsmith workbench. One important detail the patch notes muddied: early patch notes suggested the Rascal could be purchased from trader Tiana Wen, but that turned out to be incorrect. Crafting is the only confirmed route.
Your Gunsmith workbench must be at level 3 (max level) before the recipe unlocks. If yours isn't there yet, check out the best guns, modifications, and upgrades guide for workbench progression tips.
Here are the exact materials required:
Is the Rascal worth using?
The short answer: yes, specifically against ARC enemies. The weapon's description is explicit that the explosive projectile only detonates against ARC targets, so don't bring it expecting to use it in PvP fights against other raiders. That's a hard limitation.
For ARC combat, the value proposition is real. Players have already shared footage on social media of taking out Shredders in 3 Rascal hits, which is a significant time-to-kill improvement over most standard weapons against heavily armored ARC units. Compared to the Hullcracker, the Rascal trades some performance ceiling for dramatically lower crafting costs and easier material acquisition.
The Rascal will not detonate against human enemies. Carrying it as your only launcher means you're unprotected against hostile raiders. Pair it with a reliable PvP weapon.
The real advantage here is disposability. With a Hullcracker, losing your weapon to an ARC fight or a hostile raider is painful. The Rascal's cheap crafting cost means you can run multiples per session without stressing about losing one. That changes how aggressively you can play around ARC encounters.
For a full breakdown of every weapon system and crafting strategy in the game, the ARC Raiders guides collection has everything you need to plan your next raid loadout.