The Tactical MK.3 (Smoke) is one of the more useful augments added to ARC Raiders in the Riven Tides update. Its core trick: when your shield breaks, it automatically deploys a smoke grenade. No button press, no panic fumbling. The smoke just goes off, giving you a window to reposition or disengage. Getting the blueprint, though, requires some map knowledge and a bit of patience with RNG.
Where to find the Tactical MK.3 Smoke blueprint
The blueprint spawns as a random loot drop inside containers, lockers, and drawers across three maps. None of these locations guarantee a drop, but based on community testing documented in the source, these are the spots with the most favorable odds.
Tactical MK.3 Smoke augment stats
Riven Tides (best map for this blueprint)
Riven Tides is the recommended starting point. According to Deltia's Gaming, the blueprint can appear in lockers and drawers at two specific POIs: the Port Authority Building and the Tennis Court. The beach containers and the Stacking Yard containers are also worth checking on the same run. Running all four locations in a single raid maximizes your chances without wasting a deployment.
Riven Tides does not require a Night Raid condition for the blueprint to spawn here, unlike the other two maps. Run it during any raid type.
Buried City (Night Raid required)
On Buried City, you need the Night Raid condition active before the blueprint becomes available. Head to the Research building and the Space Travel building. Loot every container, drawer, and locker you find inside both structures. Skipping either building cuts your chances significantly.
Buried City Night Raid loot spots
Stella Montis (Night Raid required)
Same condition applies here: Night Raid must be active. The target area is Medical Research, where the drawers are the primary loot containers to check. Stella Montis has heavier raider traffic than the other two maps, so the source recommends carrying an augment with Safe Pockets before heading in. Losing the blueprint to a death on extraction would sting.
Do not head to Stella Montis Medical Research without a Safe Pocket augment equipped. The area sees consistent PvP pressure, and an unsecured blueprint is gone for good if you die.
What maps can you find the Tactical MK.3 Smoke blueprint on?
Based on available information from Deltia's Gaming, the blueprint has been confirmed on three maps:
Other maps have not been confirmed as drop locations yet.
How to use the blueprint once you find it
Extracting with the blueprint is only half the job. Back in Speranza, open your inventory and locate the blueprint. Click on it and select "Learn and Consume." This permanently adds the Tactical MK.3 (Smoke) to your craftable augments list. The blueprint itself is destroyed in the process, so do not try to sell or trade it first.
How to craft the Tactical MK.3 Smoke augment
Once learned, the augment requires two materials to craft:
- 2x Advanced Electrical Components
- 3x Processors
Advanced Electrical Components are not trivial to source, so plan your material farming before you commit to crafting. For help tracking down other craftable items and their material requirements, the ARC Raiders all blueprint locations guide covers a broad range of recipes and where to farm the inputs.
The Tactical MK.3 (Smoke) blueprint is consumed on use, meaning you need to find a new copy if you want to craft multiple augments or replace a lost one.
What does the Tactical MK.3 Smoke augment actually do?
The augment auto-deploys a smoke grenade the moment your shield breaks. The ability has a cooldown, so it will not trigger on every single shield break in rapid succession. Outside of that special ability, the full stat sheet according to Deltia's Gaming is:
- Durability: 100
- Max Loadout Weight: 50
- Shield Compatibility: Light, Medium
- Quick Use Slots: 5
- Deployable Utility: 2
- Safe Pockets: 2
- Carry Capacity: 19
The 2 Safe Pockets built into this augment are particularly valuable since they protect your most important items on death. Pairing this with the auto-smoke means you have both a survival tool and item protection in one slot.
Is the Tactical MK.3 Smoke worth farming?
For players who run aggressive builds or frequently find themselves in mid-fight shield breaks, yes. The auto-smoke removes the reaction time problem entirely. You do not need to recognize that your shield broke and then decide to pop smoke. It happens automatically, which is a meaningful advantage in close-range fights.
The 2 Safe Pockets also make this augment genuinely useful beyond just the smoke ability. Most augments at this tier do not come with Safe Pockets, so the utility stacks up. If you want to expand your blueprint collection further, check out the ARC Raiders blueprint farming guide for proven routes and material optimization strategies across all maps.
For more ARC Raiders content covering weapons, blueprints, and gear, browse more guides on GAMES.GG.