The Flashpoint update for Arc Raiders introduced a new tier of material grind that is making players sweat. Assessor Matrix is the new crafting component everyone needs, and the game is not making it easy to collect.
The core problem is the volume required. The High-Gain Antenna project demands 24 Assessor Matrixes, which is a significant ask given how the drop works. Each matrix only comes from one specific source, under one specific map condition, with Arc machines and rival players actively trying to stop you.
What the Close Scrutiny event actually is
Assessor Matrixes are locked behind the Close Scrutiny map condition, a rotating event that Embark has confirmed will always be active on at least one available map at any given time. When Close Scrutiny is live, three-legged platform units called Assessors drop from the sky and land across the map.
Spot one landing and you will see it emit red laser beams once it touches down. Each Assessor has three breachable containers, and every single one of those containers has a chance to yield an Assessor Matrix. Get lucky and one pod run nets you 3 materials. Most runs will not be that generous.
danger
Assessors also have a chance to drop the new Dolabra blueprint and various Arc materials, so the pods are worth contesting even if the Matrix drop rate disappoints you on a given run.The containers do not just hand over loot, either. Assessors arrive with a heavy Arc escort, and the high-value nature of the pods means other players will be moving toward the same objective.
Why farming these is harder than it sounds
The combination of Arc defenders and player competition is what makes Assessor Matrix farming genuinely punishing. You are not just fighting machines. You are racing other squads to breach containers before they do, while Vaporizers and other Arc units are actively hunting everyone in the area.
Bringing Arc-shredding weapons like the Hullcracker or Aphelion is not optional here. Wolfpacks are worth packing too if Vaporizers are spawning nearby. Healing supplies should be treated as mandatory loadout items, not afterthoughts.
Close Scrutiny event indicator
Three approaches have emerged from the player base for handling contested pods:
- Stealth breach: A Photoelectric Cloak lets you slip in and out while other players and Arcs are distracted. You grab the loot, they fight each other.
- Smoke cover: Throwing smoke grenades while breaching a container breaks Arc tracking. Less gear-dependent than the cloak, and it works well when you just need a few seconds to crack a pod open.
- Squad push: Coordinate with teammates to clear the Arc defenders fast, breach all three containers simultaneously, and split the materials. More exposure to PvP risk, but you move through pods much faster.
None of these approaches makes farming feel effortless. Collecting 24 Assessor Matrixes across multiple raids is a genuine time investment, and the randomness of the drop means some sessions will feel like a complete waste.
The bigger picture behind this grind
Assessor Matrix is part of a broader pattern in the Flashpoint update, which has been stacking up difficult material requirements alongside new content. Players who already struggled with Vaporizer Regulator farming are now looking at another high-effort material tied to a major crafting project.
Embark's lead developers have previously stated that balance and end-game content are a top priority, so how this grind is received by the community will likely influence future tuning. The Close Scrutiny event being permanently active on at least one map is already a concession to accessibility, but the drop rates from individual containers remain the real variable.
For players working through the High-Gain Antenna project, the path forward is straightforward even if it is not short: check which map has Close Scrutiny active, load in with your best anti-Arc loadout, and prioritize Assessor pods over everything else in that session. For more on what the Flashpoint update brought to the game, the official Arc Raiders news page has the full breakdown from Embark. You can also browse more guides on GAMES.GG as the community continues mapping out the most efficient farming routes. Make sure to check out more:
